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Chapter: 233

Since the gods disappeared, there have been humans on the surface… Hmm, I feel like I need to tweak the term “human” a bit.

What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be a person? What distinguishes them from elves, dwarves, and beastmen?

Can they all be lumped together and called humans? Is it only those without long ears, who aren’t short, and lack animal traits that can truly be called human?

Well, let’s think about that later. Ideally… it would be best to consider all intelligent beings as humans, while the existing humans are referred to by another name.

Like elves and dwarves, or beastmen. We definitely need clear terms to identify them. Hmm…

Human, Homo sapiens… those are technically different beings, so let’s skip that, and mankind… that’s a term for all of humanity, including elves and dwarves.

In the end, the only thing left is “human.” Hmm. Let’s gradually spread the term “human.”

Anyway, the background for the increase in the human population is a complex mixture of several factors.

Diverse beliefs. Many gods. Conflicts stemming from different faiths. The various wars, big and small, referred to as holy wars.

Most of those gods that caused such wars have either vanished or lost their divinity, which is the first reason.

The second reason is… the increase in food production. Specifically, the cultivation of rice.

The rice I gifted to the Ratkin and Maybel was a crop that could produce much more food compared to barley or wheat when comparing equal land sizes, and unlike the previously primary staples of wheat and barley, it thrived in subtropical climates.

Barley and wheat tended to struggle in areas with heavy rainfall or warm climates, so in those places, they primarily grew potatoes and other vegetables, but now rice became an additional option.

Moreover, with the significant yield, rice was enough to feed many and then some, so selling off that surplus for trade was a given.

As merchants began to understand the usefulness of rice, they bought seedlings to sell elsewhere, spreading rice farming to regions where wheat and barley struggled in hot, humid subtropical climates.

Thus, the varied food sources like wheat, barley, rice, potatoes, and the corn previously cultivated by the lizardmen started to appear in different environments.

With an increase in the amount of food produced, it meant living many more lives, which naturally resulted in an increase in population, as those who previously starved to death now had food to live.

This increased population further boosted overall productivity.

Pioneering untapped lands, hunting monsters that threatened safety, and more merchants moving abundant goods, all while becoming priests of the Church of Life, which was now beginning to rise as a primary religion.

With more people overall, humans were able to undertake many tasks.

Among those tasks… was, of course, war.

It was only natural. Even with an abundance of surplus food and overall production, plunder through war was still a viable option.

Increasing manpower based on the growing population and attacking other city-states was… perhaps a natural process.

Thus, kings praying to Mars, the god of war and one of the surviving gods, stirred up many wars.

“Are humans only capable of war?”

Asherat grumbled. I can understand that sentiment. But what can we do?

Conflict is an inseparable element for humans.

Conflicts between individuals. Conflicts between groups. Conflicts between nations.

As long as they have will and act according to that will, conflict is an unavoidable consequence.

“Still, it does accelerate development, doesn’t it?”

“That’s true, but it’s a pity that the increase in life is now being reduced by war.”

Well, there’s not much we can do about that.

At least, it’s a blessing that there aren’t massacres occurring even when wars are fought.

Perhaps because the concept of nations and ethnicities is still thin in this age. Commoners weren’t bound to nations. Some crossed borders to survive, and others became prisoners and switched sides.

In the era where every single commoner directly correlated to national power, winning wars with minimal casualties and absorbing as many prisoners as possible was the shortcut to becoming a strong nation.

What if they don’t switch sides? Naturally, they’ll become slaves. This is an age where slavery is the norm. Well, better than dying!

And my teachings on valuing life were rather widespread. If my faith, the Church of Life, committed mass murder… well, that wouldn’t end well.

Occasionally, there were foolish kings who slaughtered prisoners during wartime, but… it wasn’t long before uprisings occurred, and they were ousted from the throne.

The kings who broke the unspoken rule of not harming prisoners likely wouldn’t be seen as proper kings by today’s humans.

“Still, aren’t things stabilizing slowly?”

“That’s true, but among many kings, the one who is the most active is…”

As many nations engaged in wars, one nation stood out prominently.

A country claiming to be a descendant of Arcadia, led by a young king who proclaimed himself a servant of the Goddess of Life and the God of War.

Starting from a small city-state, this valiant king led countless wars to victory and expanded his power.

Instead of wielding a spear or sword, he raised a flag as his weapon, commanding wars that garnered him support and allowed his nation to grow.

“The brave young king, Lucius. Among all the kings, he is the most promising.”

While I could not ascertain his exact lineage, he was likely a descendant of the Arcadian royalty… and surprisingly, he possessed the flag and military strategies once gifted to Makairodous.

Starting with hundreds of troops, he had now acquired several city-states. As a result, talk of the king having the reincarnation of Makairodous was circulating.

Though I don’t think he could unify all lands. Some areas are blocked by mountain ranges difficult for armies to traverse, while others are obstructed by seas or swamps.

However, it seems he intends to recover all the territories of the old Arcadia. If he achieves that, he could establish a nation of considerable size.

Perhaps even one that could be called an empire.

“I should pray that the young king brings an end to all wars.”

“With that flag and military strategy, it’s entirely possible.”

With proper military tactics and real-time communication with his generals through that flag, honestly, he wouldn’t be able to lose even if he wanted to.

One day, when he has enough territory, if he holds a coronation ceremony recognizing him as the rightful heir of Arcadia stored in the temple of Sirius… well, let’s bless him.

I can’t go there in person, but sending a few angels to deliver blessings should suffice.

“As for humans, that’s that. Hmm… how’s the situation in the Underworld?”

“The Underworld? It’s the same as always, bogged down with work.”

Despite being a war that avoids killing prisoners, war is still war. As long as they’re wielding spears and arrows at each other, casualties are unavoidable.

Thus, the increase in work due to war in the Underworld is just a given.

If I had to mention something noteworthy, it’d be that the trial standards in the Underworld have eased a bit, so now there occasionally are people who pass trial and enter paradise.

The stringent criteria set by the three judges of the Underworld were slightly relaxed, allowing those who lived without causing harm and did decent deeds to access paradise.

Thanks to that, one or two people enter paradise each year.

On another note… Talos has taken a vacation?

Talos, who participated in the wars of the gods, asked me for a favor as a reward: a bit of time off.

He wanted to explore the vast surface world. Apparently, he grew tired of monitoring souls in the stifling underground.

Originally thought to be mere lifeless statues, I felt bad leaving him imprisoned after realizing he had a proper sense of self… so I occasionally grant him vacations.

Emerging from the gate at the northern tip of the Underworld, Talos has been wandering about, gathering tales as the traveling giant, but that’s a small story and can be set aside.

Aside from that… the gods in the Divine Hall have been rather quiet lately, and my children are behaving well.

Anyway, thanks to the reduction of gods causing various incidents, the world has calmed down significantly.

For a while, I should enjoy watching the humans.

 

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