Chapter 532: The Invasion of Poland(3)
Chapter 532: The Invasion of Poland(3)
[...Are you here?]
As soon as I began my prayer in the private chapel, Luminous greeted me.
His voice was soft yet cautious, perhaps due to what had happened recently. Fortunately, he didn't seem to be avoiding me.
As I’ve said many times, I have no intention of making enemies of the gods. I want a win-win relationship, so it’s best to clear the air.
'Have you been well?'
[I was scolded severely by Mother... but I have been well.]
Even a god is weak before their mother. Besides, hadn't there been testimony that time itself had stopped back then?
It wasn't just a scolding; all divine authority had been temporarily suspended.
'Judging by your voice, it sounds like you really caught it.'
[...I am sorry.]
'It’s fine. Thanks to that, I realized you’re "human" in a different sense. I also want to offer my sincere apologies for that part.'
Luminous likely knew about the verbal abuse I had hurled at Mora.
I had called her "disgustingly human"—an insult so disrespectful to a god that it wouldn't have been strange if I’d been struck by divine lightning on the spot.
However, my mental state had been severely shaken at the time, and more importantly, the gods were the ones who had erred first.
There were plenty of mitigating circumstances. Furthermore, hadn't Mora been taken away by Hirt afterward?
Therefore, I only intended to apologize for the verbal abuse. Of course, that apology should go directly to Mora, not Luminous.
'May I ask what Lady Mora is doing now?'
[She is currently regretting what she did to you. She said that if you visit later, she will apologize sincerely.]
'Please tell her I’ll come to see her soon. There’s a lot I need to settle with her.'
It was practically treating a god like a messenger boy, but they were the ones in the wrong. Hirt hadn't exploded in rage for no reason.
Moreover, I had restrictions placed on me. If they were to act out first, the gods of Earth wouldn't just sit idly by.
Of course, I had no intention of using this to power trip. I didn't have the guts for that in the first place.
[Thank you. We have wronged you in many ways... yet all we can give you in return is divine power.]
'It’s fine. But there is one thing I’ve been curious about.'
[What is it?]
'If regression is possible, why didn't you think to turn back time?'
In truth, if they had made a mistake, they could have just rewound time. They certainly had the power to do so.
On that day, I was too furious to even think of it, but as time passed, it remained a lingering question.
For the record, it wasn't an idea that occurred to me when I met Hirt either. Our conversation had been more person-to-person rather than god-to-mortal, which played a big part.
[It is because of the gods of Earth. Turning back time for such a reason would be the same as interfering with you. Furthermore, attempting a regression without a just price would severely deplete our divinity.]
'So it’s a combination of factors.'
[You could say that.]
One way or another, they seemed very conscious of the gods of Earth. I suppose it makes sense, given the sheer number of gods and believers there.
Every single believer serves as nourishment, increasing a god's influence. This was something I’d learned in theology.
Even just looking at the Christian God, whom more than half the population believes in—His power must be beyond imagination.
'Anyway, why did you call me here?'
[The Holocaust...]
'Pardon?'
Luminous trailed off for a moment before asking in a cautious tone.
[The worst massacre in the history of Earth's humanity. May I ask when the Holocaust will appear?]
It was a rather unexpected question. I couldn't help but tilt my head upon hearing it.
I thought he’d just asked me to visit for a simple check-in, but I was wrong. The question was far outside my expectations.
'Why do you ask?'
I asked back innocently. It was such a sudden question that I responded reflexively.
We had been comfortable with each other before the Ascetic Incident, and unlike Mora, Luminous hadn't really done anything wrong to me.
If I had to nitpick, it was that he’d hidden the fact that he was the God of War and tried to use that to fan the flames of conflict.
Perhaps that was why my voice carried a bit of an edge as I fired a question back at Luminous.
'Are you worried that the war won't break out properly if the Holocaust appears?'
[War is filled with madness, but ironically, it is declared by extremely rational people. However, the Holocaust was a massacre carried out by those consumed by madness.]
'...'
It was a perfectly clear rebuttal. I couldn't find a single word to argue back.
In reality, unlike the Holocaust, Nazi Germany starting a war was a natural progression of events.
The Treaty of Versailles was practically full of holes and did nothing but fuel the German people's desire for revenge.
Although anti-Semitism was rampant in society, at that time, Jews still considered themselves citizens of their respective countries.
Hitler had craftily exploited this; if time had simply flowed on, Israel might never have been founded naturally.
'......Then why are you asking?'
[Because there is a place you need to visit before you write about that.]
'A place I need to visit? Where is it?'
[The place where an insolent bastard resides.]
'?'
I heard the answer, but I didn't understand it at all. At the same time, I was a bit surprised.
To hear the word "bastard" come from Luminous, who usually spoke so mildly.
Even his tone made it clear how much he disliked this person. I grew curious about who could possibly provoke such a reaction.
'I won't know where that is if you just say it like that.'
[The place where the Grey Desert Expedition went, remember?]
'The Kingdom of Gerios?'
The exploration of the Kingdom of Gerios had been ongoing.
They said it was taking a long time because the Kingdom of Gerios, which once occupied the entire west, was simply too vast.
As the duration stretched on, the absence of Elena and Cindy grew longer as well. The fact that I’d been left high and dry for so long was just a bonus.
'You want me to go there?'
[Yes. Of course, I am not telling you to go right this second. You just need to go before the Holocaust appears in your story.]
'And the reason?'
I couldn't understand why he’d specifically pointed out the Holocaust, the worst massacre in history, nor why he wanted me to go to the Kingdom of Gerios.
Normally, I would have willingly granted the request without much thought, but after learning about Luminous's hidden title and the Ascetic Incident, I was hesitant.
Therefore, unless Luminous provided a valid reason, I had no reason to go to the Kingdom of Gerios. The moment he tried to interfere with me directly, the gods of Earth would step in anyway.
In short, it meant he had to "persuade" me. I was curious to see if Luminous could pull it off.
[...]
Luminous didn't answer my question for a while. I opened my eyes, wondering if the connection had been cut, but the statue was still glowing with golden light.
It meant he was deep in thought. I waited patiently for him to speak.
After some time had passed, Luminous spoke in a low, heavy voice.
[...The past.]
'The past?'
[That fellow—ahem.]
Luminous cleared his throat, having almost called the person "that bastard" again. He really seemed to despise them.
[That person will tell you a little bit about the past. He might also make a proposal to you.]
'What good does it do me to know the past of you and the other gods...'
I was about to ask what the benefit was when I hesitated.
What if the reason Luminous pointed out the "Holocaust" among so many things was because it was connected to their past?
The question flashed through my mind. One might say I was jumping to conclusions, but he had practically pointed it out directly.
'......Lord Luminous?'
[Speak.]
'I have one thing to ask. Can you answer me honestly?'
[That is fine.]
The Holocaust was something carried out by Nazi Germany—that is, by a state. It is a clear example of what happens when an entire nation falls into madness.
There have been countless instances in history where an entire nation was consumed by madness and committed massacres.
But the Holocaust went beyond simple massacre; it was closer to "slaughterhouse butchery."
That was why so many countries condemned it again and again.
'If I find out about that, will it be a positive thing for you, or the opposite?'
However, if a "god," rather than a state, had committed a comparable massacre... honestly, I might just accept it as the way of the world.
For example, there's the "Great Flood" that frequently appears in myths—a disaster where over ninety percent of the population is wiped out in a single stroke.
Or a god directly scattering a plague to punish humans, or causing a drought to last for years.
To a god, the lives of mortals are like flies. Beings that are terrifying, yet unavoidable, like a natural disaster.
But seeing as he specifically mentioned the Holocaust, there was definitely something there that went far beyond such disasters.
[It could be both, or it could be neither. It will depend on your choice.]
Luminous gave an ambiguous answer.
It seemed he couldn't easily give a definitive statement since he couldn't accurately read my future.
Of course, to me, it felt like he was just dumping responsibility onto my shoulders. I frowned.
'Are you shifting the responsibility again? You might as well just tell me to stop writing.'
[That is absolutely not it. It is just... isn't there a saying that it's better to face the music sooner rather than later?]
'And what does that mean?'
[Since every story you write causes all sorts of incidents, I thought it might be better to reveal our past, even if just a little...]
'...'
This time, I was the one left speechless. With both Xenon's Saga and Blood and Iron hitting like a one-two punch, the gods must be very anxious.
Hadn't Mora ruined everything with the Ascetic Incident because she couldn't handle that anxiety? Yet, they couldn't touch me directly.
So, they’d rather just come clean. However, not through their own mouths, but by borrowing someone else's help.
'......It seems it’s a past that’s difficult for you all to speak of directly.'
[...]
Luminous didn't respond to my blunt remark. As everyone knows, silence can often be taken as affirmation.
But it felt like he was placing an unnecessary burden on me. Couldn't I just finish Blood and Iron and be done with it?
I couldn't for the life of me predict why they were doing this to me.
'Couldn't I just finish Blood and Iron and call it quits? I've made plenty of money.'
[Wouldn't it be a bit shameless for the boy who wrote Xenon's Saga out of boredom to say that?]
'...'
He really knows how to shut me up. Honestly, I had no rebuttal for that.
I really felt like I might start another work just because I was bored. My hands would probably itch too much to stay still.
Luminous gave a rare, weak chuckle at my silence, then spoke seriously.
[The fundamental reason is that it feels as though our past will be revealed before long anyway. The progress of science has far exceeded our expectations.]
'What does science have to do with your past?'
[The answer to that is what that fellow will tell you.]
'Man. You're really making me curious.'
I let out a short laugh and spoke clearly.
'Fine. I'll go. Since you answered honestly, Lord Luminous.'
[Thank you. When do you plan to depart?]
'I have quite a backlog of chapters saved up...'
Coincidentally, I had just finished writing up to the German-Soviet War, where the Holocaust begins.
'I think it would be fine to leave as early as tomorrow.'
So, going tomorrow should be no problem.
At my decisive answer, Luminous was silent for a moment before speaking in a heavy, somber voice.
[......Please, do not hate us.]
It was a deeply meaningful statement.
*
Around the same time. A tavern in Machina.
"We have to start by making a lump of iron float on the sea! What if we recklessly try to make it fly and the wings break? Do you even know what a ship is?"
"Absolutely not! We start by making the ship fly! Why would we ever need to land on the sea? The sky is much better!"
Two dwarves were shouting at each other, locked in a heated argument.