Chapter 503: The Editor(3)
Chapter 503: The Editor(3)
Just to be clear, I don't favor Luminous over Mora, or vice versa. They are both wonderful individuals; I have no reason to play favorites.
The reason I visit Luminous more often is quite simple: he’s closer. His temple is right in front of the Academy.
On the other hand, visiting Mora requires Cecile’s help. Whether I go to our territory or to Helium, teleportation is a must.
Furthermore, it doesn't end there; Cecile has to wait outside until my prayer is finished.
Since I can reach Luminous’s temple on foot with plenty of time to spare, it’s much more relaxed. Mora’s situation, however, requires a lot of effort in many ways.
Of course, that was in the past. Now that I have relatively more free time, I visit both of them equally. It just so happened that my most recent visit was to Luminous.
But to hear that I had somehow been disrespectful to Mora... I was beyond bewildered; I was starting to get anxious.
I worried that I might have done something wrong without realizing it. I wondered if the influence of Blood and Iron had reached Mora as well.
In fact, looking at the way the world was turning right now, I wouldn't have a leg to stand on even if I had done something wrong. As the Goddess of Death and Rest, she must be busier than anyone.
So, I entered Mora’s temple, my nerves on edge. The moment I heard Cecile’s words, I had a gut feeling that if I postponed this, something bad would happen.
[Hey. Let me ask you one thing.]
'......Please, go ahead.'
[Aren't you favoring Brother Luminous a bit too much?]
'......'
As soon as I began my conversation with Mora, the expected scolding followed. I couldn't find a single word to say in response.
She was usually playful, but the atmosphere felt different now. If nothing else, I could clearly sense a strong tone of disappointment.
Was she truly disappointed because I only visited Luminous? Or was there another reason?
As a mere mortal, it was difficult for me to know right away. The only answer was to find the reason through a slow, steady conversation with her.
'......That's not it at all. You're both wonderful, so why would I play favorites?'
[Then were you planning to consult only Brother Luminous on such a grave matter? Without even giving me a thought?]
'Uh......'
I had no defense. I could only flounder inwardly at Mora’s reproach.
I had intended to visit Luminous to choose between the two methods of suppressing the wave of National Self-Determination.
As I mentioned, Luminous’s temple was close, and I figured I could get advice quickly. It wasn't that I was treating Mora like an afterthought.
But it seemed Mora was dissatisfied with that. Considering she went as far as to ask Cecile—who was essentially her herald—it must be a significant issue.
[That clueless side of yours is part of your charm, I suppose. Though you do occasionally pull off stunts so absurd they baffle even us.]
'......'
[But listen, child. Brother Luminous and I are Transcendent Beings—gods who preside over specific authorities. Our influence waxes and wanes according to the flow of the world. Until now, we both gained great power because we shared a common enemy in the Demon Worshippers, but things are different now. You know it too, don't you? The more turbulent the world becomes, the more things start to happen.]
I couldn't deny a single word Mora said. Everything she said was right.
Due to a global economic stagnation comparable to the Great Depression, the Minerva Empire had become a toothless tiger, a revolution had broken out in Machina, and Stavirk was shouting for independence.
Other countries were in similar straits. In the Duchy of Bellua, they were clearing away the bodies of investors every other day, and Albenheim was working hard to plug its own leaks.
It was as if the words I wrote had sent a tsunami, not just a wave, crashing across the world. It was inevitable that the gods, who feed on the faith of mortals, would be affected.
'......But Lord Luminous said it was fine, that these were things bound to happen anyway?'
[That is also true. You prevented a worst-case scenario where a catastrophic panic could have erupted. Since the bubble burst before it got any bigger, the side effects are relatively minor.]
Things are already this horrific, and she calls it "minor"? Just how bad would it have been in the original history?
[However, we cannot simply leave things as they are. It might sound harsh to a mortal like you, but we are beings who gain nourishment through mortals. Even a mere mention of us can increase our power. In other words, the stronger our influence, the stronger our power becomes. And that power, in turn, flows back to you all. It’s a circular structure.]
Hirt, Luminous, and Mora—these three are Transcendent Beings. They possess authorities and power so vast that they could treat mortals as "mere nothings."
While there are many restrictions on their direct intervention, they can exert immense influence if they are able to act.
It might sound a bit frightening, but at least to me, they were kind. Even if it started as an accident, they were the ones who had granted me numerous conveniences.
'Does that mean if things continue like this, Lord Luminous’s influence will grow stronger?'
[Smart, despite being clueless. Exactly. If things continue this way, my brother’s influence will grow. If you had made the choice on your own, it would be one thing, but if you consult only him before deciding, it puts me in a difficult position, doesn't it?]
'Ah.'
So she really was upset that I didn't visit. There were official reasons, but personal feelings were mixed in as well.
As Mora said, if I hadn't visited anyone and made the choice myself, they both would have just let it slide.
But since I only visited Luminous and left it at that, Mora must have felt more than just a little slighted—she was genuinely hurt.
I thought I wasn't playing favorites, but I was wrong. I couldn't tell if I had just been thoughtless or if the scale of things had simply grown too large.
'I'm sorry. I thought it was fine back during the Xenon Biography days, so I......'
[As I said, that was because we had a common enemy in the Demon Worshippers. But now, you are changing the entire world, aren't you? So, from now on, don't just visit my brother; come to me as well. I can give you advice too.]
'Does that mean your opinions differ?'
Solving one question only led to another.
If their opinions were the same, this wouldn't have happened; she must have sent Cecile because they were completely at odds.
Luminous is the God of Light, and Mora is the Goddess of Darkness. Light and darkness are inseparable, yet they are complete opposites.
In fact, although the two were born as twins, they differ in many ways. This situation must be because of that.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to call for me.
[......They have to be different.]
Mora answered with difficulty. It was obvious she had hesitated to respond.
I wondered for a moment if it was an answer that required such hesitation, but I took it as a sign of how serious the situation was.
[However, as I always say, the choice rests solely with you. We are literally just giving advice; which path you take is up to you.]
'Thank you.'
[Don't thank us. We're the ones who should be grateful. Though Mother is going to be in quite a bit of pain from now on......]
'......'
That really stung my conscience. If the Industrial Revolution breaks out after the introduction of mana engines, harming nature will become relatively frequent.
However, as the saying "Trial of Nature" suggests, if one harms nature recklessly, they might be severely punished by super-sized monsters.
Still, the fact remained that more resources than ever would have to be used, so I couldn't help but feel sorry.
[Anyway, I have only one request for you. Just as you thought, build up a massive amount of manuscript within a week. And through that, temporarily extinguish the sparks in Stavirk. That is what I want.]
'Conversely, Lord Luminous probably wants to wait and see how things play out?'
[Exactly.]
'Hmm......'
I wondered why Luminous suggested watching the situation while Mora urged me to extinguish the sparks. I was a little curious.
Luminous is the God of Light and Hope, and Mora is the Goddess of Darkness and Rest. Since they were opposites from birth, there must be a reason.
'Come to think of it, Lord Luminous did participate in many major wars, didn't he?'
[Gasp......]
Huh? Did I hear that right?
'Did you say something?'
[I didn't say anything?]
I guess I misheard then. After hearing Mora’s answer, I fell back into thought.
Continuing from what I was thinking, Luminous had historically participated in many major wars. To be precise, people who were close to "combat" generally worshipped Luminous.
Luminous’s divine power shows various effects, but the most representative ones are related to the "physical body."
From strengthening the body to granting special abilities like buffs in a game, or cleanly healing external wounds.
It was full of effects that warriors, whose bodies are their sole assets, couldn't help but worship. Naturally, these warriors would have participated in numerous battles or wars.
'On the other hand, Lady Mora......'
Like her title "Rest," she is someone who loves peace. She is very close to peace, as well as mental fields.
When the madness-driven Savior swept across the land, she protected the demons who were being helplessly slaughtered, and before that, she embraced the Dark Elves.
Above all, while she might have been active in the shadows, there are almost no records of her directly influencing a war.
At most, it would be something like a follower of Mora leading an assassination. Regardless, the fact remains that she is quite distant from war.
'War and peace are also opposite situations. They would differ in that aspect as well. Then, does Lady Mora dislike Blood and Iron?'
[N-No! No way! If anything, my brother probably hates it more!]
Mora, who had been reading my inner thoughts until now, spoke up in a flustered voice.
Since it was a shout echoing in my head rather than my ears, I had no choice but to snap out of my thoughts. Being startled was a bonus.
'I-Is that so? That's unexpected. But for Lord Luminous to hate it......'
[Don't worry about him! You just keep on writing exactly as you have been. Oh! And while you're at it, why not reveal the atrocities of other countries as well, not just Nazi Germany? Individuals might go to war for justice, but on a national level, there was a lot of controversy, wasn't there?]
It was obvious she was trying to change the subject, but her opinion made sense. It was just that the Holocaust created such a massive impact; the war crimes committed by the Soviet Union were no small matter either.
Then there was Japan, which committed acts that abandoned humanity without question, and even the United States had the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, even if it wasn't a war crime.
Above all, "war" exhausts people to the point of complete ruin. There were cases where even American soldiers were broken by PTSD and justified crimes they didn't even realize they were committing.
As I had emphasized before, I wasn't writing Blood and Iron to glorify war, but to show its horrors.
Making Hitler look like a protagonist was part of that. I wanted to give the readers the shock of realizing they had supported such a demon.
'You don't have to worry about that. I have no intention of glorifying war.'
[Thank you so much. Then, you want this to pass quietly?]
'Since I'm the one who caused it, I have to take responsibility now.'
I had already set my course toward taking responsibility. If I left it like this and an independence war broke out, Lina might collapse.
Besides, I need to be more careful following this incident. The Great Depression was a bit of forced angst, but I was the one who triggered it.
I need to hasten the Industrial Revolution, the immediate introduction of mana engines.
'This much should be fine, right?'
[There will be a setback in the supply of mana engines, though. It’s hard to make them yourself, so you’ll have to source them from Machina. Plus, there will be a labor shortage, not a job shortage, in raw material-related fields, including mining.]
'Oh, shit. Ah, sorry.'
Nothing is going right. When I hurriedly apologized, Mora laughed and comforted me, saying it was fine.
'Anyway, you can help me gather the amount I want within a week, right? You said regression is possible, so making time flow slower should be possible too.'
[Hmm...... That’s true, but...... it will be a little—no, very—hard for you. You’ll have to stay cooped up in a separate space where time flows slowly. Plus, since it consumes your divine power rather than ours, only you can enter and exit.]
Is it like the Room of Spirit and Time? Except for the part about consuming my divine power, it sounds exactly like that.
'Is the divine power consumption very high?'
[It is high, since you're slowing down the flow of time. Of course, since you're not regressing, your divine power will replenish faster than it's consumed. You won't need to eat separately, and you won't need to sleep. It’s literally a place for mental training, but......]
'That sounds fine.'
It’s exactly what I need in this situation. If that’s the case, I should be able to write up to the Invasion of Poland within a week.
However, Mora didn't seem very keen on the idea. She tentatively asked for my opinion in a somewhat ambiguous tone.
[Will you be okay? I’m telling you in advance, time is a field that even we find difficult to touch. It might be different from what you expect.]
'I can come out, right?'
[You can come out once the time you designated is over. You can also set the time outside and the time inside separately.]
Mora’s explanation continued. When one day passes in the outside world, a week could pass inside, or even fifteen days. She said I could set it however I wanted.
However, there was a difference here too. Assuming a week passes inside, I could also decide whether one day or two days pass outside.
She said the divine power consumption varies drastically depending on the time difference between the two spaces.
'Then, based on one day of outside time, what is the maximum range of time I can set?'
[At most, maybe three years?]
That’s much longer than I expected. I felt a bit uneasy for a moment, then asked another question just in case.
'......Then how far back can I regress?'
[One month from now. Don't take time reversal lightly. Even if you can slow down a flowing stream, it’s hard to make it flow backward, isn't it?]
I nodded at the clear analogy. Anyway, now that I could get Mora’s help, all that was left was preparation.
[Maybe this is a chance to fix that clueless side of yours a bit.]
'Me?'
[Yes. You.]
'......?'
Should I just decide to leave things as they are? I’m already starting to feel anxious.
'Ah, right. Lady Mora. Just in case, there’s a third option. Complete cessation of serialization. This is also, in its own way......'
[If you don't want to be tied to a cross and burned at the stake, just write.]
'Yes, ma'am.'
I guess I can't make those kinds of jokes anymore. I slunk out of the chapel, feeling thoroughly chastened.
'I feel like I’ve gained two editors.'
The only downside was that those editors were gods who held the world in their hands.
*
[Is this really the right thing to do?]
A woman speaks as if reproaching herself. She silently watched Isaac as he left with a relaxed mind.
She truly doubted if this was the right thing. No matter how much it was for him, fundamentally, it was a plan for a god—for herself.
If she had given him even a slight hint, it would be one thing, but she had said nothing for the sake of shock therapy.
At this rate, Isaac might resent her, or even worse, be disappointed in her.
[Why didn't you just leave him be? It would be hard for those around him, but it would be fine once the boy realized his responsibility, even if it was late. We could have just given advice and warnings as we always do.]
A man speaks nonchalantly beside Mora. At this, her eyes twitched before she turned her gaze toward him.
Mora’s twin brother and the God of Light and Hope, Luminous. Unlike Mora, his opinion was to leave Isaac as he was.
[......I know.]
The Goddess of Darkness and Rest answered softly. As seen in her earlier muttering, she too inwardly questioned if this was right.
However, as the Goddess of "Peace," she couldn't easily let this situation slide. Moreover, as seen with the Machina Revolution and the Great Depression, he had already caused the entire world to fluctuate.
If that shaking gradually became unstable, cracks would form, and those cracks would remain everywhere, becoming a massive conflagration that would swallow the world.
As the one presiding over "Peace," it was a problem she simply could not turn a blind eye to.
[Mora. War happens everywhere. And humanity will mature further through that process. The boy will also see that and gain a sense of alarm, even if it’s late. There’s no need to go as far as giving him ascetic training.]
[So you want to just let it go? For whose benefit? You’re just bored because there have been almost no wars for the past 100 years, aren't you?]
At Luminous’s words, Mora snapped at him with a hint of anger. It was a reaction unimaginable for her, who was usually so playful.
Luminous remained silent in the face of her anger. War and peace. They were such contradictory situations, yet ironically, they were meaningless if even one of them was absent.
If left alone, Luminous’s influence would grow; if the opposite happened, Mora’s influence would grow. And Isaac had sided with Mora.
[The more chaotic the world is, the better it is for you, Brother, but not for me. I have a duty. A duty to make the world peaceful.]
[Even if the boy resents you for this? As you know......]
[I know.]
Mora irritably cut off Luminous’s words. She then looked at Isaac, who had returned to the dormitory.
[For now......]
Mora, who had trailed off for a moment, spoke in a voice completely devoid of confidence.
[I can only hope it goes well.]
It was not the kind of thing a god who sees the future should say.