Chapter 539: Myth(3)
Chapter 539: Myth(3)
Let me ask you a question. If a god has no followers to believe in them, does that god still have a reason to exist?
A god exists through the faith of their followers, even if that faith goes unrewarded.
In the distant past, every nation on Earth worshipped its own unique deities, but today, the majority believe in a single God. Yet, this does not mean the existence of the gods they once worshipped is entirely meaningless.
Mythology serves as the first narrative and the foundation of philosophy, and it continues to be studied and re-evaluated to this day. Therefore, for a god’s existence to be completely extinguished, not only must the records be destroyed, but even the oral traditions passed down from person to person must vanish.
The easiest and most effective way to achieve this is through physical means.
Just as Hitler orchestrated the Holocaust to eradicate the Jewish people, it was presumed that Luminous had committed a similar atrocity.
"...Are you saying Lord Luminous committed a massacre?"
I asked, my heart divided between shock and doubt after hearing about a past that far exceeded my expectations. It was surprising enough that Luminous’s hidden divinity was 'War,' but to think he had carried out a slaughter comparable to the Holocaust...
He usually exuded the atmosphere of a gentle, kind older brother. Yet, such a terrifying past lay hidden beneath the surface.
At the same time, a question arose. What kind of war could it have been for Luminous to resort to such a genocide? I wondered if there was a justifiable reason, or if it was born of pure greed.
As they say, the kindest people are the most terrifying when they lose their temper.
[Hmph. I didn't think I'd be able to speak of this. Normally, I would have been forbidden. It seems that fellow Luminous trusts you quite a bit.]
"Pardon?"
King Morgan suddenly changed the subject. He stroked his chin, looking surprised himself, as if he hadn't expected to be able to voice those words.
[It is nothing. Regardless, since Luminous has seen fit to relax the restrictions, there is more to tell. Are you curious as to why he committed a massacre that would erase even the existence of gods?]
"Yes. I know Lord Luminous is the God of War. But surely there must be a reason for a massacre of that scale."
Even the Nanjing Massacre is often dismissed as a madness born of war. But the Holocaust remains a uniquely horrific chapter in world history that left the entire globe in shock. No matter the reason, such an act remains insanity. Luminous had done the exact same thing.
The only difference was that Nazi Germany lost, while Luminous won. Given that even the records were wiped clean, there seemed to be a deeper story.
[A reason, you say... Unfortunately, even that is not entirely clear. We crossed the sea to find records, but even those were incomplete.]
"So you don't know?"
[It is not that I don't know, but rather that the details are imprecise. What I can tell you is that war breeds madness. And not even the God of War is immune to it.]
It was exactly what Luminous had told me before. War breeds madness, yet those who declare it are perfectly rational. In other words, it was a war so overflowing with tragedy that even the God of War succumbed to insanity.
Since it was a war of the gods to begin with, it was only natural for madness to prevail. However, I still couldn't imagine the Luminous I knew falling into such a state and slaughtering both gods and their followers.
"...It's hard to believe."
[Whether you believe it or not is your choice. I merely speak the truth.]
"Could you explain the reason in more detail? As Your Majesty said, Lord Luminous is the God of War, and war breeds madness. But that alone feels like a very weak justification for a genocide."
Even Hitler had to incite all of Nazi Germany to bring about the Holocaust. It was a massacre that could never have happened if Hitler alone had been mad. Yet, the people of Nazi Germany willingly followed orders. It was a bizarre madness, one that led to the theory of the 'banality of evil.'
I wondered if Luminous’s case was similar, or if there was another reason entirely. If he had simply committed a massacre for no reason... I felt I would be deeply disappointed.
[You seem to have a surprisingly deep faith in Luminous. Tell me, do you know that he even committed the sin of patricide?]
"I do. I also have a rough idea about the existence of the god related to the sea."
[Hmph. Fascinating. Usually, one's faith would waver at such a revelation. Is this truly the perspective of a soul from another world?]
"What?"
King Morgan stroked his chin, looking intrigued. I couldn't help but be slightly startled. Surprisingly, he had known all along that I was a soul from another dimension.
Between the reconstruction of the past and his open criticism of Luminous, it was clear he was far more than a mere mortal.
[Why so surprised? It is hardly a shock.]
"How did you deduce that?"
[From many things.]
With those words, King Morgan made a gesture with his hand. Suddenly, books that hadn't been there before began to float in the air. Thanks to my divine power, my vision was much sharper than before, and I quickly identified them.
The Xenon Biography and Blood and Iron. They were all works I had written.
[I was able to guess a little through these. Had you been a soul returned from the future, I would have noticed. But I felt no such signs. As for Blood and Iron, there is no need for further explanation. Do you understand what I mean?]
"Yes."
One thing was certain: King Morgan was a being who had long since transcended the vessel of a mortal. I didn't know what trials he had faced after the events the wraiths had shown me, but seeing his soul bound here, I suspected he was deeply connected to the gods.
[May I ask where you came from?]
"Earth. It's just a guess, but I believe I came from the world that enchanted the God of the Sea."
[What? Hahahaha!]
Rumble!
I didn't know what was so funny, but King Morgan burst into a boisterous laugh. His laughter was deafening, but more than that, the entire audience chamber shook as if an earthquake had struck. I had suspected it when I saw the reconstructed wraiths, but King Morgan was capable of physical interference despite being a spirit.
How powerful must he be for his laughter alone to shake the palace? I found myself curious about the strength he possessed in life.
[Interesting. Truly interesting. You mean to say you are from the home of the gods who captivated the God of the Sea?]
"It's only a theory. But the possibility is high."
[Fascinating. Earth... I do not know what kind of place it is, but it seems to exert a significant influence on our world. Yet, the circumstances of your arrival seem different from that, do they not?]
"Yes. What happened was..."
Just as King Morgan had answered me sincerely, I answered his questions faithfully. I started with the story of the demon worshippers' summoning ritual and Grandfather Clark, who had completely ruined it. I told him how the failed ritual had brought me here, and how I had written books using the knowledge of my past life. I even mentioned how those books had gone beyond mere cultural shock and completely disrupted this world.
As I unfolded my story piece by piece, King Morgan stroked his beard. I could see the intrigue in his eyes.
[Truly fascinating. To think the world that once directly and indirectly influenced the destruction of this world is exerting its influence once again. By the way, are you certain that what those demon worshippers tried to summon was indeed the God of the Sea?]
"I'm not sure about that myself."
[Hmm. That is quite strange. The God of the Sea was not exiled; he should be sealed somewhere in this world. I cannot understand why you were the one brought over.]
"..."
I furrowed my brows. He had said it in passing, but King Morgan’s point was incredibly sharp. If what he said was true, the demon worshippers should have been trying to summon the sealed God of the Sea. Although the attempt failed, I, who belonged to a different dimension, was brought here instead.
Was the 'coordinate' wrong because of Grandfather Clark's interference, or was the 'target' wrong from the start? I had just accepted it until now, but something felt off.
Were the demon worshippers really trying to break the seal on the God of the Sea?
If not, what on earth were they trying to summon? Because Grandfather Clark had leveled the entire summoning site, it was difficult to grasp the full details.
My mind became a tangled mess. I had come here to find answers, but it felt like the questions were only multiplying.
"Now that you mention it, it is strange. Why was I, someone living on Earth, brought here?"
[That is something you had best ask Luminous directly. Though whether he will give you an answer is another matter. Now, it is your turn. What do you wish to ask?]
"Lord Luminous... in the past, like Hitler... no, never mind."
I almost committed a grave discourtesy. But the thought of someone purging humanity across racial lines naturally brought that man to mind. Fortunately, no divine punishment fell upon me; it seemed the thought was overlooked, however bitter it might be.
"Your Majesty said that Lord Luminous slaughtered even the believers to ensure the extinction of the gods."
[Indeed.]
"Was there a reason to go that far? War breeds madness, but Lord Luminous is a god. Is there something so significant that it could sweep even a god into madness...?"
[Precisely.]
Before I could even finish my sentence, King Morgan affirmed it with a heavy voice. I fell silent at his words. There was an event significant enough to drive the gentle Luminous into madness. That was what King Morgan was saying.
I wondered what it could be, or if it was simply the war itself.
Just as a strange tension began to settle, King Morgan curled his lips into a smile, leaned forward, and spoke. His tone was no longer arrogant; he sounded more like a sage imparting a story.
[Young descendant. If your father were to fall deeply into a certain ideology and tread a path of ruin, what would you do?]
"I would think once more on whether that path is truly wrong, and if it is, I would do everything in my power to stop him."
Those weren't empty words; I would stop him by any means necessary. He was already a man with many emotional scars; if he fell into a dangerous ideology, there would be no turning back.
King Morgan seemed to feel the sincerity in my resolve, as he nodded and continued.
[Luminous was much the same. He judged that his father had fallen into a twisted ideology and was heading down a path of ruin, so he rose in rebellion. But a rebellion without a cause cannot win hearts. Even if the one leading it is the God of War. The War of the Gods was a conflict where countless deities were intricately entangled.]
"...Are you saying there were many gods who believed the God of the Sea was heading down the wrong path?"
[Yes. Let me ask you something. Does your world have mana or magic? Looking at this book, it seems it does not.]
King Morgan pointed to Blood and Iron among the floating books. Naturally, I nodded in affirmation.
[As I thought.]
"Does the fact that my world lacks mana and magic have something to do with this?"
[Then, have you ever wondered why mana, magic, and divine power exist in this world?]
"That's because..."
I started to say "because it's a fantasy world," but I stopped mid-sentence. Between the summoning ritual and everything else, once I started questioning things I had taken for granted, nothing seemed simple anymore.
Because it's natural. Because it's obvious. Because it would be strange if they weren't there.
But the moment I applied a scholar's curiosity to these questions, I found myself frowning. For now, the hypothesis that scholars in this world agreed upon was this:
"...Is it not the power that the gods bestowed upon humanity?"
[Indeed. Then do you know why your world lacks mana, magic, and divine power, even though God exists there?]
"..."
[It is only natural that you do not.]
The reason why various mythologies, including Greek and Roman, exist only as 'myths' and not as religions.
[It didn't matter if the God of the Sea won or lost.]
The reason why no other races exist on Earth, only humans.
[Humanity was destined for extinction regardless. Luminous fought desperately to prevent that.]
In this world, the God of the Sea lost.
[And in that process, an unavoidable madness bloomed.]
On Earth, Yahweh won.