Chapter 537: Myth(1)
Chapter 537: Myth(1)
"Patricide" and the "End of the World" are recurring narratives that frequently appear in mythology.
For patricide, the most prominent example is Zeus from Greco-Roman mythology; for the end of the world, there is Ragnarok from Norse mythology.
In particular, few narratives carry as much impact as patricide, which is why it is frequently adapted across various media.
There are so many instances that it’s hard to count them all. At the drop of a hat, someone is tearing the Creator of the world limb from limb to fashion a new universe or overthrowing their own father.
Perhaps that’s why, even when I learned that Luminous and Mora had committed such a betrayal, I was merely surprised for a moment before moving on calmly.
Even in Greece, things were...
Betrayal of one's parents was the baseline. The guy who held the title of Chief God went around committing every crime imaginable—rape, incest, adultery, you name it.
In fact, it wasn't just the Chief God; even the "decent" gods were a tiny minority. Hestia was perhaps the only one worth mentioning.
Furthermore, they were so petty that they would rain down divine punishment at the slightest provocation. Granted, the temperaments of the ancient Greeks were far from normal, but the gods were undeniably small-minded.
In other words, even Mora—who had subjected me to that absurd ascetic ordeal—was a total saint compared to the Greek pantheon.
Moreover, they hadn't committed this act blindly; they were reacting against the ideology of the God of the Sea.
If they had overthrown their father without any justification, it would be one thing, but since they had a clear motive, I couldn't exactly fault them.
The details of the world's end are still a mystery since the process wasn't explained in depth, but...
Earth is a place that has analyzed not only mythological extinctions but biological ones as well.
A prime example is the "Great Flood," famous for Noah’s Ark—a story where Yahweh personally delivered judgment when human corruption reached its peak.
In that myth, Noah built a massive ship, an ark, to save humanity and the animals.
Additionally, according to the contents of the scroll, the world was destroyed due to a war between the gods.
Looking at this alone, it was remarkably similar to "Ragnarok" in Norse mythology.
It’s hard to take a side because both Luminous and the God of the Sea have a point.
This was something I had been contemplating steadily. Should humanity be kept inside a birdcage, or should that cage be destroyed?
The God of the Sea took the route of destroying the cage, much like Earth, whereas Luminous and Mora vehemently refused.
Their justification was sufficient: Earth itself is currently suffering from all sorts of environmental pollution.
Of course, it’s the humans who are screwed, not the planet, but the planet still ends up riddled with ailments all the same.
This is why ideologies are so terrifying.
Even if the God of Earth had left a mess behind, from the perspective of the God of the Sea, it must have looked like a culture several eras ahead of their own.
However, his great mistake was resorting to coercion instead of slow persuasion.
It was ironic that while the God of the Sea denounced Luminous and Mora as tyrants, he himself possessed the temperament of one.
Seeing them rebel against their father really does make it feel like a true myth.
Regardless, it was a fascinating truth. The scale was insanely massive, but the war followed a pattern similar to human conflicts.
Furthermore, two things interested me the most: the fact that the Beastkin's homeland lay across the sea, and that in the distant ancient past, there were far more gods than there are now.
I would have to enter the palace to learn the specifics, but I could grasp the general situation. This was likely why I had been sent here.
Now they finally feel like actual gods.
Up until now, they had felt so human that I’d wondered if they were truly gods, but seeing this changed my mind.
Patricide and a war of the gods. And the end of the world that occurred in between.
As the essential elements of mythology emerged one after another, they finally felt divine.
Moreover, this was a myth that represented both the "End" and the "Beginning." To uncover the full scope of this mythology, a more thorough investigation was required.
"Fascinating? Is that all?"
Elena, who had been listening to my brief impressions, asked me with a look of utter bewilderment.
It wasn't just her; the others looked the same. They were staring at me with startled eyes, clearly taken aback.
For someone like me, who had been exposed to the "hardcore" myths of my previous life, this was nothing more than a mild, watered-down version.
"Yes. Though I am a bit surprised that there's a god who was erased from all records."
"What about the Great Cataclysm? No thoughts on that? Luminous-nim or Mora-nim could cause another Great Cataclysm at any moment."
"Ah."
So that was it. I nodded as I realized what they were afraid of.
If they were shocked because they had never encountered such a brutal myth before, the root of their fear was the very existence of the gods.
If the gods had all vanished together, it would be one thing, but Luminous and Mora had maintained their existence even after the destruction.
From the perspective of mortals, it meant they lived in fear, wondering, What if those gods cause another Great Cataclysm?
To use an analogy, it was like living in constant anxiety that Stalin might initiate another Great Purge.
"Hmm... well. I can't say for certain since the data is still too scarce, but I'm sure they won't."
"Why do you say that?"
"If they were going to do that, they would have started by crushing every last Demon Worshipper."
Of course, destroying the world just to eliminate Demon Worshippers would be overkill. It would be like burning down the house to catch a few fleas.
However, the influence of the gods on the current world wasn't as significant as one might think. Unlike in Greco-Roman mythology, they could only exert indirect influence.
This, too, was likely related to the war or the Great Cataclysm recorded in the scrolls. The information was simply too lacking.
"However, the fact that Luminous-nim and Mora-nim overthrew the God of the Sea—their father—is... a clear act of patricide. A sin is a sin, but the reason behind it is what matters most. Besides, the God of the Sea accused the other gods of being tyrants, yet he himself is showing the traits of one."
"So, what you're saying is... the materials are too insufficient to understand the full context?"
"Yes. You know what that means, right?"
"Hmm..."
Elena’s expression grew somewhat calmer after hearing my explanation. Her green eyes, shining behind her glasses, exuded an intellectual aura.
It seemed she had been consumed by fear after encountering records that far exceeded her expectations.
But as a scholar, she couldn't blindly condemn Luminous and Mora.
As I had repeatedly stated, the evidence was far too thin.
"...I almost made a grave mistake. You're right. We can't judge based on this alone. I suppose I was momentarily overwhelmed because it's a story of the gods."
"It happens. I was quite surprised myself."
"You seem remarkably composed for someone who was 'quite surprised.'"
"I've always been the stoic type."
In truth, it was because I’d had so many metaphorical vaccinations. Elena let out a small chuckle at my slick response, the tension finally easing.
Amidst the slightly relaxed atmosphere, I continued examining the scrolls before asking Siris.
"Anyway, you're saying this material came from inside the palace?"
"Yes. The people from Savior threw the scrolls into the sea, but I retrieved them in secret."
"They threw them into the sea instead of burning them..."
If it were a past they truly wanted to erase, they would have burned them. But Luminous hadn't done that.
This meant that, for whatever reason, he wanted this past to be seen.
Was he seeking atonement, or was he indirectly asking for help?
I didn't know what message Luminous wanted to convey to me, but for now, I needed to do my job.
Is the reason there are so few gods compared to Earth because they all died in the war?
That was highly probable. In Ragnarok, almost everyone died except for a few gods.
I wasn't sure what the inner workings were, but there was no harm in uncovering them slowly.
"I'll keep these for now. Oh, but if you have anything you need to study, feel free to hold onto them."
"It's fine. I've already studied everything except the language. I'd love to do a joint study, but..."
Elena looked at the scrolls, her scholarly passion beginning to stir, replacing her fear of divine punishment.
A fierce curiosity and a thirst for knowledge began to glint in her green eyes.
I didn't mind a joint study, so I shrugged and readily gave my permission.
"Do as you wish. However, you must not disclose a single piece of information until we have definitive data. Based on this alone, the gods might be perceived as evil."
"Do you not define the patricide and the Great Cataclysm committed by the gods as evil?"
"It's not that. I'm saying we should package it in a more beautiful and noble way. Even if they show human flaws, they should still maintain divine dignity."
Back on Earth, I had read comics related to Greco-Roman mythology. At the time, I thought Hera was a villain and Zeus was pitiable.
But as I grew older, I realized Hera was the pitiable one and Zeus was a total scumbag. At least, that's how it looked on the surface.
From a philosophical standpoint, overthrowing the father can also represent breaking free from fixed conventions.
Furthermore, in ancient Greece, the Temple of Zeus also served as an orphanage.
While the divine punishment Hera dealt represented hardship itself, Zeus became the father of orphans, providing the support needed to overcome those hardships.
Viewed this way, he couldn't be dismissed as a simple scumbag, and there was plenty of room for various interpretations. Luminous might be similar.
But since the gods of Earth interfered here, the story might be a bit different.
That was why I needed more data. And to get that, I would likely have to cross the sea—the homeland of the Beastkin.
I rolled up the scrolls and handed them to Siris. Since I had come here empty-handed, it was better for her to keep them.
"I'm going to head inside the palace now. You all are going to continue the exploration, right?"
"Of course. I think I can work with a lighter heart starting today."
Elena stretched, her expression looking much more relieved. It seemed she had been struggling to hold it all in.
I chuckled at the sight and stepped out of the basement. As soon as I emerged, the distinct saltiness of the sea hit my nose, and a parade of deep blue waves filled my vision.
The sea—the source of all life and a perilously dangerous environment.
The God of the Sea...
The God of the Sea, presumed to be Luminous's father, had his throne usurped by Luminous. To be precise, he was likely sealed.
Perhaps the reason no more angels were being born was that their father, the God of the Sea, was imprisoned. It was a hypothesis, but it felt surprisingly plausible.
Then the 'Father of All Things' worshipped by the Demon Worshippers must be the God of the Sea...
The puzzle pieces were clicking into place. The Demon Worshippers were likely ostracized for trying to uncover the truth.
Even if Luminous or Mora didn't step in personally, the religious institutions would have branded them as heretics and insulted them.
That didn't mean I was defending the crimes they had committed.
No matter how tragic their circumstances, the sins they had wrought were too horrific to be forgiven.
Still, he's better than Zeus. If I imagine Luminous committing rape or incest...
Was the thought too blasphemous, even for a mere imagination?
CRACK-BOOM!!
Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck the middle of the sea I was watching.
BOOM-CRACK!!
Not just one, but two. One of those was likely Luminous, and the other was Mora.
I couldn't help but flinch at the perfectly timed double strike. The people behind me shouted something, but it didn't register.
If nothing else, Luminous and Mora certainly seemed like "realistic" siblings. Seeing them act in tandem like that proved it.
"A-Are we going to be okay? Should we stop the research now?"
Elena, her face pale from the unheralded lightning, asked me. It seemed she took those bolts as a warning.
I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly and spoke with a bitter smile.
"It's fine. I just had a stray, useless thought..."
"What kind of thought?"
"The kind that makes divine punishment seem justified."
"...Could you please make sure the collateral damage doesn't reach me?"
With that, Elena and her colleagues began to edge away from me.
Since this was clearly my fault, I could only offer an awkward laugh.
After parting ways with Elena’s group, I headed toward the rest area Kate had mentioned.
As much as I wanted to continue our conversation, I had work left to do and had to move on.
When I arrived at the rest area, Kate greeted me as if she had been waiting.
"You've arrived. Shall we depart immediately?"
"Yes. It's really okay for me to enter the palace, right?"
"Permission has already been granted, so it is fine."
And so, I finally stepped into the long-awaited palace.
Just as Elena had grumbled, the entrance was under heavy guard.
Given that scrolls containing the gods' past had been found inside, such security was only natural.
However, it was almost comical how helpless those guards were against Siris’s stealth abilities.
"Welcome, Lord Xenon. It is an honor to meet you."
As soon as I entered the palace, I met an elderly priest with a unique appearance.
His caterpillar-like eyebrows almost completely covered his eyes, and his beard was so lush it gave him the impression of a benevolent grandfather.
It was our first meeting, but based on his attire and aura, he was clearly a high-ranking priest.
"My name is Deimos Randel. I am a faithful servant of Luminous-nim."
"Ah."
I had heard the name Deimos Randel before. He was the person in charge of this Grey Desert expedition and one of the Cardinals of the Holy Nation 'Savior'.
Since he was equal in rank to Kate, I offered a polite greeting.
"It is an honor to meet a servant of the Light. I am Isaac Ducard Maishal, the second son of the Maishal family. I have heard much of your name, Lord Deimos."
"Ho ho ho. Surely that cannot compare to the fame of Lord Xenon."
My conversation with Deimos wasn't long. It consisted of simple pleasantries and talk about Luminous.
However, knowing that I was heading deep into the palace, he didn't forget to leave a bit of a warning.
"You will need to keep your wits about you. You should be fine with Cardinal Kate protecting you, but there are many things that will startle you in various ways."
"Are there ghosts or something?"
I asked jokingly, thinking he was just trying to scare me.
"Yes. There are."
"...Pardon?"
"They are vengeful spirits with a resentment so thick that even our divine power cannot resolve it."
He was serious. Deimos said this with a chuckle before heading out of the palace.
I felt a sudden surge of tension, regretting that I had even asked. I absolutely loathed ghosts.
"Um... Kate-ssi?"
"Yes. Please, speak."
"If you don't mind, could I hold onto your arm?"
"Pardon?"
When I made the incredibly cowardly request, Kate blinked her large eyes in confusion.
I knew I looked like an idiot, but even in my past life, I couldn't stand anything related to "horror."
I was the type to react violently even to jump scares. Mari used to tease me often because my reactions were so "delicious."
"...If it can be of help to you, Lord Isaac."
"Thank you."
Kate offered her arm, her face turning slightly red. I timidly grabbed hold of it.
[Aaaaahhh!! Help... Save me...!]
"Gah!"
My untimely haunted house experience had begun.