---

“Did you say Baal’s spirit is still around?”

“Yes. It should be in the underworld. It seems that since it’s the first time a god has died, they don’t know how to handle it, so they’ve put it on hold.”

The death of a god. It’s the first time in this world, so I can’t blame them for feeling lost.

Erebus? He didn’t die; he just ran away. Anyway.

“Then, I guess the priority is to talk to Baal first.”

“Yeah. Well, you can do that. I think it would be good to talk to the other kids too, though.”

“We can do that later. For now… we need to talk to Baal, whether to revive him or smash the heads of his fragments to restore his divinity. We need to do something.”

It was a bit unexpected that the fragments were acting on their own. If it’s causing problems because they’ve been left to their own devices… I can’t just sit back and watch.

Above all, Baal is the one I bestowed the crown upon as the king of the gods. Discrediting that authority is tantamount to going against my will.

Looking at Shamash, whose expression had stiffened for some reason, I said.

“Did you say the fragments of Baal are in Olympus, the Ennead, the Aesir, and the Lokapala?”

“Yeah, yes. They’ve been divided in various ways, but those four are the largest factions.”

“What names are they using? I doubt they’re just going by Baal’s fragments.”

At my words, Shamash pondered for a moment before responding.

“The fragment in Olympus goes by the name Zeus. In the Ennead, it’s Amun. In the Aesir, he’s called Odin. And in the Lokapala, he’s referred to as Indra.”

All names that were once revered as the kings of gods.

Well, no matter their names, it’s irrelevant to me. I won’t allow those who defy what I’ve set in motion to just continue as usual.

“But, Mom… are you planning to punish those guys?”

“Um? Yes. I’m thinking of shattering them to the point where not even a bone fragment is left.”

“Ah, uh… if possible, can’t you just let them be?”

“Um? Why?”

Why is Shamash saying such things? Letting those who broke my rules go free?

“We’ve been thinking while talking with Baal’s spirit… and it seems like they want to keep things as they are if possible.”

“Keeping things as they are? Seriously?”

“Yes. Baal himself.”

Is he really saying that?

Letting those who sullied my authority just go?

“Uh, Mom! Please don’t get angry! Please just listen to me! Okay?!”

“I’m not angry.”

“No, I can clearly see that you’re angry! Annihilation cannot happen! Destroying the world you’ve painstakingly created is not okay!! Just like during the dragon’s end, when you get angry, it doesn’t just end nicely! It wouldn’t be strange for the world to end just like that!”

Annihilation. Hmm. We can’t have that. If I smash everything because I’m slightly angry, I’d be no different from a child.

Even if this world is like a model garden, it’s been meticulously nurtured, so I can’t just destroy it over a moment’s anger.

Just simmering inside, but still…

“We’ve tried convincing Baal somehow, but he said he doesn’t want to come back. He felt it was too much to manage all the gods alone. He claimed it was an excessive burden.”

“An excessive burden…”

Did I place too big and heavy a load on Baal?

Still, as the god of the sky, I thought he had enough power as the king of gods. Who would have thought he couldn’t last even 300 years?

Was my judgment too hasty?

“And though Baal’s fragments have defied him a little, they’re ruling as kings of their own factions, and it’s going surprisingly well. While they might not match Baal in ability, divided amongst themselves, they manage smoothly. If I go after those fragments now… I think it would cause great chaos.”

I stared intently at Shamash, who was making excuses, and quietly said.

“Is that truly the only reason?”

“Huh? Ah, um… well, for the most part, yes, but they do treat us with respect….”

So, their relationship isn’t as bad as I thought.

“There are many who treat us kindly, referring to us as the primal light, the god of brilliant light, the god of the sun, etc. They really do honor us.”

So you want me not to break those who show a bit of hospitality?

Sigh… It’s a request from a child of mine. But I can’t just let those guys go. Sigh…

I guess I should talk to Baal’s soul first.

“So, how about first speaking with Baal? If you talk to him directly, maybe he’ll change his mind. Right?”

“That’s true.”

There’s a saying from the other world, right? If you don’t want to, don’t do it.

Even in the highest position as the king of the gods, if he doesn’t want to, it’s pointless.

“You said Baal’s spirit is in the underworld?”

“Yes. It should be with the fragments you created. Judging the god’s spirit is also a tricky situation.”

In that case… going to the underworld is the priority.

If Baal truly gave up being the king of gods… what should I do? What choice should I make?

Humans created the concept of gods to understand what they didn’t know, but as time passed and their wisdom grew, their dependence on the gods should diminish.

Someday, humans must break free from the gods and become beings that think on their own.

Then, perhaps… reducing unnecessary gods would benefit humanity?

Of course, it’s not something to decide right now.

“Mom? What are you thinking so deeply about?”

“Um. No, I was just wondering if having so many gods in this world is a problem. If there are too many gods for Baal to manage, it might be better to reduce their numbers for the sake of this world.”

“Uh, that statement gives me chills. Are you saying we should reduce gods like pulling weeds…?”

Shamash shuddered a bit. Seeing him like that made me chuckle softly.

“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t do anything to you guys.”

Even if I reduce their numbers, I wouldn’t harm those I’ve nurtured.

Ah, right. Rather than reducing the gods, it might be better to lower their statuses.

If the gods of the mountains or rivers had their divinity stripped, they could be treated as spirits of the mountains and rivers… It could be better this way.

And I could demote those I don’t like to monster-like treatment, right?

Right now, most monsters are merely beastly forms. This world could use a wider variety of monster forms.

To achieve that, it seems I must do something about those Baal’s fragments.

“Somehow, it feels like your personality has changed a bit.”

“Huh? You think so?”

“Yeah. Before you slept, you seemed very benevolent, you know? Even if a problem arose, you seemed like you’d let it slide… but now, um… it seems like you’re judging more emotionally.”

Judging emotionally, huh. Hmm… did I?

I don’t feel I’ve changed much… uh. Hmm. Could it be…

“Is it because I severed the fragments?”

“Huh?”

“Taking away the fragments that worked as the goddess of life and those that handle the trials of the underworld before I slept. Maybe separating the divinity has affected me too.”

It might seem questionable that just separating the divinity would have such an impact, but… considering Shamash’s judgment, I trust it.

Moreover, I already confirmed that divinity influences personality through the goddess of life. If separating the divinity that changed my personality results in another change… it’s plausible.

Divinities might hold only a fraction of my true power yet have a considerable impact… it’s quite troublesome.

“Then I’ll head to the underworld.”

“Yes! Have a good trip!”

Since I told Asterios I’d be back in seven days, I need to wrap up everything I can before then.

First, I’ll talk with Baal, meet with the other kids, and… Baal’s fragments too… hmm.

Oh, I should leave a warning.

To Baal’s fragments, an unavoidable warning.

“Then, Shamash, let them know.”

“Huh?”

“Tell them I’ll be visiting them personally soon.”

I’ll meet them, evaluate them, and then decide.

Whether to crush them or simply punish them while letting them go. I can decide that after meeting them in person.

“Shamash, don’t get too biased just because they treat you well. As the god of law and justice, you shouldn’t act partial, you know.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I gave a slightly skeptical glance at Shamash and shook my head before heading to the underworld.

First, let’s meet Baal’s soul. I can decide afterward.

 

---