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Chapter 158: King of Gods (3)
Chapter 158: King of Gods (3)
After being enthroned as the King of the Gods, Baal diligently carried out his duties.
Looking down from the sky above, he managed the countless gods. From minor disputes among the gods to desperate battles where they would not hesitate to kill each other, Baal suppressed each and every one of those conflicts to manage the gods.
Of course, the haughty gods were not easily controlled, but as the God of the Sky, Baal was able to subdue even the most powerful gods. Before Baal's lightning, any god was equally pierced through.
After repeatedly rushing around managing the countless gods, Baal came to Sagarmatha's room where I was staying and started complaining.
"It's so tiring..."
"Yes, it's not an easy task."
Baal, who still had a youthful air about him, cried out in frustration.
"Aren't I clearly a higher god? Then why don't they listen to me obediently? Are these gods all deaf with their ears plugged up? Or do my words just scatter and disappear? Why don't they ever listen to me?! Does the King of the Gods have no authority at all?!"
Listening to Baal's loud complaints, he seemed like a small bird chirping.
"They are originally such beings, you see."The haughty nature, who were born from the gathered thoughts of humans, is only natural.
They are beings who were born from humans' fear and admiration for the things they could not understand. Since they existed above humans from the very beginning, they naturally consider themselves superior even after establishing their own identity.
It's a good thing that Baal became the King of the Gods. If I had done that job, I might have just smashed and annihilated all the gods.
"But don't some gods listen to you obediently?"
"Some gods...?"
"Yes. Some of the gods of the mountains or rivers seem to follow your words without much trouble."
Baal nodded slightly at my words.
"It's only a tiny number, but there are at least some gods who listen to me."
They have to listen, since they were once dragons who lost their physical bodies and became spirits, managing to settle down and become gods before losing their memories.
Gods like Yama, the mountain god of North Mangsan, went through such a process to become gods.
However, they are an extremely small minority, and most have forgotten that they were once dragons.
"But that's only a tiny fraction! The rest completely ignore my words like a dog barking! Ugh, it's so frustrating!!!"
Baal started lying on the ground, complaining in frustration. He must have really been having a hard time.
Maybe I should give him a tip.
"Do you want an easier way to deal with those fellows?"
"Yes! I don't want to be ignored anymore! But I can't just beat them up and destroy them either! Do you have a good method? Tell me!!"
Baal, who had been lying on the ground complaining, quickly sat up and clung to my legs, looking quite desperate.
"Haughty gods won't be easily suppressed by force, so it's better to use a different method. For example... spreading rumors about that god among humans."
"Rumors?"
"Yes, didn't you use that when you gave birth to Nyx?"
"Nyx... Hmm, so if I spread rumors like that, it'll work?"
"That's right. Use those rumors to lead the situation in a way that's favorable to you. They are beings bound by human thoughts, after all."
This method can only be used in an era where the rumors haven't spread far yet.
However, if you're not an entity separate from those rumors, you'll inevitably be influenced.
"You could also try changing the essence of that gods, or just slightly altering it, and then threatening the gods. But well, you can choose whichever you prefer."
Since they are bound by human thoughts, they can be changed by humans.
If a solemn and strict gods suddenly becomes a ridiculous existence like a clown, and if that gods become aware of its own change... the emotion that gods would feel would probably be fear.
If humans possess the power to alter the very nature of gods, it is only natural for them to feel terrified.
And there is power in that fear.
"Or... you could spread rumors about creating another god to replace that god, and thus destroy the god that is rebelling against you and create a new god."
Of course, it takes considerable time for a gods to be born from human thoughts, so this would be a last resort.
"Isn't that a bit too much...?"
"It's a last resort, you see. Hmm. If you don't like that, how about dividing the gods?"
"Dividing? Into two?"
Like splitting a sword to make twin blades... no, this is just a hypothetical discussion.
I cleared my throat and spoke.
"Fundamentally, gods tend to have more than one aspect, don't they?"
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For example, myself - the Goddess of Life and the Creator Dragon God. Additionally, the Destruction Dragon God and the goddess Gaia of the earth... and... huh? Why is there also a god of hunting? Is that a faith from the elves?
Anyway, it is common for gods to have multiple aspects. Dividing those aspects into separate gods could be a way to weaken them.
Well, there are some gods who only possess an extremely limited essence, but those gods are usually quite weak.
Gods like that would probably obediently follow Baal's words with just a single command.
"Dividing... I never even imagined such a thing."
Well, of course. Who would think of dividing gods?
If I hadn't even considered the idea of somehow separating my aspect as the Goddess of Life into an automated response system, I wouldn't have thought of it either.
By the way, that automated response system for prayers is still unfinished. It's not easy, you know.
"Well, since it's about splitting an intact gods, you'll have to be very careful in using it. It could cause major problems if done wrong."
"I see... I need to use it cautiously and sparingly."
Unless the gods is truly at the point of rebelling or revolting, it's probably best not to use it.
Dividing gods into multiple parts could lead to serious issues.
If the absolute last resort is to destroy and recreate gods, then this method would be right before that.
"But if we can divide the gods, can we also combine two gods into one?"
"Hmm, who knows."
If division is possible, then combination should be as well, but... how would that work?
"I haven't tried it, so I'm not sure."
It's a possibility, but I've never actually done it before.
As we were discussing these matters with Baal,
"I'm back."
Sagarmatha, the owner of the room, had returned.
After quickly leaving to receive the prayers of many dwarves, it seems the task is now complete.
"Welcome back, Sagarmatha."
"Hmph, I'm tired..."
With a brief response, Sagarmatha was about to come to my side, but then noticed Baal and her expression hardened.
"You. What are you doing here?"
She spoke in a low voice, with a chilling tone.
"I had something to consult Gaia about."
"This is my room. You have no place here. Leave."
Her soft voice, yet filled with coldness. Baal casually brushed off Sagarmatha's words.
"Well, I've finished what I needed to discuss, so I'll be going now. Gaia, I'll come by again next time."
"Don't come back."
With those ominous words from Sagarmatha, Baal quickly left the room.
Truly, why are these two on such bad terms? Is it because one is the God of the Sky and the other the god of the earth? Or is there some other reason?
I wish they could get along better.
After Baal left, I placed Sagarmatha's head on my lap and said, "Can't you get along better with that fellow?"
"No. Impossible. I can't live under the same sky as that bastard."
Wow, they really seem to hate each other.
I wonder what Baal did to make Sagarmatha dislike him so much. I just don't understand it.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The search for clues about the name Baal and the God of the Sky continued.
There were no more leads in the records I had access to, so it was time to look for clues elsewhere.
Referencing the records of other races would be the best next step.
If any race had long history, it would be the elves who live for centuries, but unfortunately, Alfheim, the city of the elves, is not accessible to just anyone.
Instead, I could try the dwarves. Luckily, I had helped some dwarves in the past, and the dwarves are thorough when it comes to favors. If I asked for their help by reminding them of the past assistance I provided, the dwarves would not hesitate to help.
And while they don't live as long as the elves, the dwarves have a much longer lifespan than humans, so... perhaps they could provide some clues about the name Baal or the God of the Sky.
With that hope, I headed to the dwarven capital, Nidavellir.