---

Encia looked down at their translucent left hand.

That left hand, made of magical power, swirled with threads of magic and faith like a tangle of yarn.

“I feel something… strange.”

“What a truly bizarre sight.”

Under the skeletal structure of magic and skin, Encia’s left hand was formed by a fusion of faith and magic, pulsing like blood and flesh.

After glancing at that left hand, Encia lightly clenched it into a fist, and their left hand transformed to appear just like their original one.

“The sensation of magic and faith intertwining feels incredibly strange, but with this… I can definitely handle faith.”

“Only the left hand for now, though.”

“Hmm. I’ve tested this with the intention of giving up my left hand, so shouldn’t I just change my whole body now?”

“Don’t! Really.”

“Why? Since I’ve tried it like this, it should be fine to change, right? Besides, I don’t have much attachment to human flesh.”

Many had similar thoughts before, but thinking about what had happened to them… well, hmm…

Ah, but Encia has a divine essence to act as a core, so maybe it’ll be okay?

But I can’t deny it’s a risky endeavor.

“Let’s take it slow. Take it slow. If you rush into something irreversible, it could lead to problems that can’t be fixed.”

Well, in that case, I might be able to manage somehow.

“Okay. Then I’ll gradually change my body.”

“Right. Taking it step by step is important.”

So Encia began to slowly, ever so slightly, transform their body.

Starting with the left hand, changing the whole left arm, and then altering both legs as well, even gradually changing their right arm and internal organs.

Encia created the necessary internal organs using magic and transformed every part except the heart and brain.

It was reminiscent of the Ship of Theseus, but I couldn’t stop Encia.

Actually, even if I tried, Encia wasn’t going to listen. It would be pointless.

“I really hoped Sia would live more like a human.”

“The life of a human versus becoming a god through divine essence. It’s obvious which is more important, right?”

Ugh… Well, if one could ascend to become a god after ending their life, who wouldn’t want that? If they could escape the limitations of the flesh and reach divinity, who would deny it?

Limited life, weak power, a bound life.

It would feel like liberation from all of that. They’d want to sacrifice their life to become a god.

That’s why Encia wasn’t listening to me.

“Tia doesn’t understand humans. Doesn’t understand life. Doesn’t understand the meaning of living within limited time.”

“What? Saying that the Goddess of Life doesn’t know life? Someone might claim that’s blasphemy if you tell others.”

“But it’s the truth. Tia exists in such a high place, overseeing the world for eternity. Everything in this world must seem like weak, frail creatures, yet Tia still watches over it. Tending to this world. That’s why I think Tia deserves respect.”

“Respect, huh…”

“If we were to compare Tia to humans, it’d be like caring for the tiniest ants… no, even smaller, insignificant bugs. Helping lives that could be easily ignored.

But that’s such a tiring task.”

Tiring, huh… Hmm, is that all?

I don’t know. Sometimes things not going my way can be frustrating, but the basic approach is to… hmm, no, am I neglecting life?

Aside from when I was hibernating… hmm… haven’t I neglected them almost never?

When I pray, they answer. After death, I cleanse their souls for reincarnation, and I punish the gods who torment them alongside many other things…

Hmm… have I done nearly everything?

“So, I think it’s best for Tia to have many subordinates to assist her.”

“Not subordinates, but I do have plenty of children.”

Except for the one who escaped, the others are all doing their jobs… hmm… the Sylphid doesn’t really have a defined role, but if more people set sail on the distant sea, work will come naturally.

As the Goddess of Life or overseeing death, I created fragments to handle it all, so I’ve managed to have enough leisure even during my hibernation.

“I think the best thing is to do nothing at all.”

“Doing nothing is still a bit much.”

“Tia, that way of thinking is workaholism.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You’ve been working for so long; perhaps it’s instinctually searching for work?”

Workaholism on an instinctual level? What even is that?

“The world Tia has nurtured shouldn’t be that fragile.”

Encia spoke with confidence, but… really? Can I be fine just watching it all?

I don’t know. I wish it were so… I wish it were! But I still feel so anxious!

“And if I become a god… I’ll be able to assist Tia.”

“Even just saying that is appreciated.”

“What do you mean just saying? I mean it!”

With that, Encia transformed their body into a translucent form composed of magical power.

Having changed every part except the heart and brain, Encia was now just at the edge of humanity.

One more step, and they’d ascend to become a god.

As a god with a once-human body.

“Are you really not going to regret this?”

“What could I possibly regret? My parents have passed, and my disciple has become a fine mage.”

“But… you’re giving up the human path.”

“Tia, you place too much value on the existence of humans.”

Encia spoke in a calm voice, as if implying my thoughts were wrong. As if saying that this wasn’t the truth.

“I don’t know why you value humans so much, but they aren’t as great as you think they are.”

“…….”

“From your actions, it’s clear you care for humans. You value them. But the value of humans isn’t something worth maintaining at the cost of delaying ascending into divinity.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s how it is.”

Encia smiled weakly, almost like they were pleased to have the same kind of dialogue we had flipped to the opposite side.

“Still, for Sia’s disciple…”

“I’ll pass on everything to Cecil. And if I become the God of Magic, I’ll always keep an eye on Cecil.”

But would that child accept it?

Even if Encia were to ascend as a god, would the ones left behind think similarly?

Such thoughts…

“Is that so.”

I couldn’t help but feel I’d be forced to accept it when faced with their indifferent acceptance.

“Surprisingly, you’re taking this quite well.”

“I’m a mage. Handling magic involves wielding great power, which inherently comes with risk. Therefore, a mage always keeps death close at hand.”

Being a mage is that dangerous of a vocation… well, I can’t deny that.

Using magic incorrectly can lead to massive explosions.

“A mage is someone who willingly hones their skills, accepting such dangers.”

“Excluding you, of course.”

“Excluded, you say?”

“Excluded? Why?”

“Well, you casually use spells that break the conventional wisdom of mages, like changing the weather. You never seem to struggle with it. Meanwhile, I, your disciple, would collapse from exhaustion after just changing the weather once.”

Upon hearing Cecil’s words, Encia subtly averted their gaze, pretending to be oblivious.

“The magic I learned from Tia is great! It’s just that you’re the one who finds it tough. But it’s not dangerous, right?”

“That’s true, but every time I hear of mages exploding, I get chills down my spine. Not that I regret becoming a mage, though.”

“You don’t regret it, huh?”

I had heard somewhat about Encia’s disciple. Life as a mage was certainly better than being a slave.

Anyway, after Encia and their disciple chatted about things.

“So, I’m planning to ascend to godhood soon, so I’m thinking of passing on everything I own to you.”

“Everything from the master?”

“Yes. I have no children, and you’re my only disciple. There’s no one else I can pass it on to.”

Cecil pondered for a moment at Encia’s words and then spoke.

“I understand. I will strive to carry on the master’s legacy, ensuring your name lives on.”

“Oh, that’s fine. On the contrary, I hope my name gets erased as much as possible.”

“What?!”

Cecil was aghast at Encia’s statement.

It was hard to grasp why one would want their name erased.

“Why? The name of a great mage like you should be engraved in history forever!”

“Because, I’ll soon ascend as a god and no longer be human. I feel that having the name I had in human form would be like shackles.”

“Shackles…?”

Ah, it seems they’re still bothered by the [Sientia ≠ Encia] issue.

“So, all my accomplishments should go to you. All the assets I’ve accumulated, the countless books I’ve gathered, the rights to the books I’ve written—everything is yours.”

“But….”

Cecil couldn’t easily accept such words. Naturally, it’d be hard to accept taking everything from someone akin to their parents.

“But instead… hmm. I have one request.”

As if to lighten Cecil’s burden, Encia added.

“Yes, yes! I’ll grant any request! Just say the word!”

With resolve shining in Cecil’s eyes at Encia’s words, Encia smiled softly.

“Please gather as much knowledge and many books as possible. And build a place to store them… a library.”

“A library…?”

“Yes. Create a building that assembles as much knowledge as possible from this world and attach the name Sientia to it. That is my request.”

That was Encia’s final request.

 

---