---

So, Sia, who was left to stay in my temple, exclaimed:

“I can’t believe I’m actually seeing the gods I’ve only read about in books! This is so moving!”

“It’s great to see your enthusiasm!”

“Yeah! I think becoming a god was a good choice!”

As she met countless gods, her curiosity began to get satisfied. For Sia, who was both a mage and a scholar, the new environment of the Divine Hall was more than sufficient to quench her thirst for knowledge.

The gods, who were intrigued by a fellow god who was of human origin, enjoyed conversing with Sia. Seems like it was a win-win situation for everyone involved.

“You’re called Vulcan, right? The god of invention and blacksmithing? I heard you used to belong to the pantheon of Olympus!”

“Yes, that was a long time ago. Now… I have no connection with them at all.”

“Is that so? But records say you were definitely known as Hephaestus…”

“T-That’s… my dark history… I’d prefer if you forgot about it…”

Is it really enjoyable for you…?

Anyway, while some gods felt uncomfortable as Sia enthusiastically dug up the pasts of other gods, they didn’t show it when they realized I was behind her.

And besides, even though Sia was rummaging around, she wasn’t causing any major incidents. She was just satisfying her own curiosity, so there shouldn’t be any big problems.

…Right? No big problems, I hope?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The god of magic, Sientia, blended into the other gods in the Divine Hall.

The other gods, seeing Sia’s joy in sharing conversations and weaving the knowledge of gods into books, began accepting her as just a human-born god who liked to listen to stories.

After a little while, when Sia’s temple was completed, she remodelled the interior into a gigantic library filled with the books she wrote.

Due to her turning the whole temple into a library, Ashearat kept whining about how there was no space to rest, but—

Anyway, Sia was busily preserving the knowledge and history of many gods and other things in her library.

But… isn’t that something a god of magic should not be doing? If anything, isn’t it more like something the god of knowledge should do?

So, when I asked Sia why she created a library, she said:

“A library? It’s just a hobby!”

“A hobby?”

“Yeah, a hobby. To be honest, I expected that upon becoming a god and coming to the Divine Hall, I’d encounter various kinds of knowledge… but there’s just nothing!”

Gods don’t create libraries because most think they need to remember everything themselves.

Of course, some knowledge was lost because such a god got kicked out of the Divine Hall.

“There are no gods willing to do the troublesome task of writing books. Gods don’t die from external factors, so they don’t feel the need to record the knowledge they possess.”

“That can’t be right! Knowledge should be preserved and maintained to be passed on! That’s why books exist! To share one’s knowledge with others!”

Sia said that and took a moment to catch her breath before shouting:

“So! I turned my temple into a library! To preserve more knowledge! To share more knowledge!”

Sia declared confidently. However…

“Are there any gods using that library?”

Gods are entities full of self-esteem and narcissism. They’re proud beings who easily reject others’ knowledge.

Would those gods be willing to read a book containing different knowledge?

“That’s…”

Naturally, there were no gods using Sia’s library.

No, they probably didn’t even know the library existed! Gods are fundamentally narrow-minded beings who are uninterested in anything not related to their divinity.

“Books that no one reads are just piles of paper, you know?”

“Ugh…”

“It’s great that you want to gather and store knowledge. But using your temple for a library no one is using… doesn’t that seem a bit problematic? Maybe it’s time you restore it back to its original state…”

“Well, all I need is users, right?!”

“Users…?”

“As long as it’s a library for someone to use, that counts! It doesn’t have to be a god!”

What on earth is she talking about? Who would use the library in the Divine Hall besides gods?

I thought to myself…

“How about it! Tia! Look at the number of visitors!”

Before I knew it, Sia’s library had become a popular place for many visitors.

Only…

“This isn’t… meant for gods to use, right?”

“However, many people are making use of it.”

Sia’s chosen method was… to turn the library into one for those thirsting for knowledge, not for the gods.

In other words, it was a library meant for those living on the surface.

“Of course, not everyone can use the knowledge of my library!”

“Restrictions?”

“Of course! The entrance fee is one book. Among those who offer a book, I choose those with an endless thirst for knowledge… and allow them to read my book in their dreams.”

“In their dreams?”

“Yeah, in their dreams. I can’t give them the real thing.”

Sure enough, those pale figures clutching books in Sia’s library were there for a reason.

To summon human consciousness briefly into the library through dreams to read books feels like a dream-like library.

“So, I keep those books given by humans in the library and let them read. This way, I can increase the library’s stock without writing anything myself. Of course, I did limit the number of users.”

Sia said that proudly, and I found myself at a loss for words.

Hmm… Eventually, Ashearat will end up scolding her over this.

Oh, by the way, do I still have a wish ticket left for Sia?

In any case, it seems I can’t kick her out of the temple. Yeah.

Wait, what does Sia plan to use her wish ticket for?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

“Mom, who is this human?”

One day, suddenly visiting Sagarmatha commented softly while observing Sia, who was busy writing a new book in my temple’s room.

“Sagarmatha? What brings you to the Divine Hall?”

“I thought since you were so quiet, there might be something going on.”

“Because I’m being quiet? Really gives off the vibe that you believe I’m always stirring things up, huh?”

I can actually be quiet sometimes! Like during hibernation! Or hibernation!

“So, who is this human again?”

“Human? This is a god, despite appearances. Though they are of human origin.”

Sagarmatha looked at Sia again and subtly shook her head.

“To us, she looks like a human pretending to be a god.”

“Well, I suppose that’s how it is in your eyes.”

My children are regarded as mere rookies by other gods, so it goes without saying for Sia, being a human-origin god.

“Still, a human-origin god. Just like those beastmen before. I think you tend to favor different kinds of life a bit too much.”

“Is that so? I didn’t intend for that to happen, though…”

“Even if you didn’t intend, it seeps into your actions.”

Hmm. But as the Goddess of Life, isn’t it okay to favor life?

Isn’t it perfectly natural for the Goddess of Life to cherish life?

“Anyway, it doesn’t seem right to reduce the number of gods so drastically and then increase them again.”

“What’s wrong with one or two gods?”

“Thinking about numbers alone, maybe so. But the issue lies with how other gods perceive it. They’ve decreased in numbers, and they might be unhappy about humans becoming gods.”

Indeed. There’s a possibility they could see it as discrimination.

On top of that, it could also compound their feelings of favoritism towards life.

“Well, let them be upset if they want. Everyone’s free to feel that way.”

Besides, I already planted enough diversions to quell any major grievances.

Any problems shouldn’t arise.

“Hm. If that’s how you feel… I won’t bring it up again.”

Sagarmatha said that and quietly approached me.

“Still, please don’t just focus on humans. Sometimes pay attention to us too.”

“So that’s your true intention.”

I gently patted the head of Sagarmatha, who had silently leaned against me.

No matter how ancient or dwarf-like they are, or even the highest mountain, to me, they’re just cute little ones.

Sometimes, wouldn’t a child want to pull on a parent’s sleeves?

For a moment, I tenderly patted the tiny Sagarmatha who was whining in a small voice.

“Oh, by the way. I had another purpose in coming to see you, Mom.”

“Purpose?”

“Yeah, purpose.”

What could have been so important that Sagarmatha, who seemed heavy-footed, came directly to the Divine Hall?

“What is it?”

“It seems something’s going on with Sylphid. I came to ask if you know anything.”

“Sylphid?”

Is something happening with Sylphid?

“Sylphid always travels the world with the wind, and usually around this time of year, she circles near me and then heads west… but this year, she’s just sending winds and hasn’t shown up. Mom, do you perhaps know anything?”

“Well… I don’t specifically know anything.”

Is she, who enjoys roaming freely, not doing her usual traveling?

This… is quite suspicious!

“Hm. If you don’t know, then no one does.”

I’m feeling a bit worried. I hope she’s not stirring up trouble somewhere!

“I guess I’ll have to go look for her.”

“Yeah, please, Mom.”

It’ll be quicker for me to search for her than if Sagarmatha traipses around, as long as it’s not deep underground.

 

---