Creator God (1)
From the mouth of the Constellation, Ruler of Crimson Beauty, came these words.
"What do you think of the Mortal Federation, O great god?"
The Constellation, Ruler of Crimson Beauty exuded a different aura from when we'd last met. This feeling... longing. Yearning. A faint undercurrent of vengeance, perhaps.
According to the history Beatrix had shared, the Ruler of Crimson Beauty, the red goddess, had once suffered an invasion of her planet by the mortal empire, hadn't she?
I stayed silent, offering no reply, and she seized the initiative.
"I simply cannot view the Federation favorably."
"Why is that?"
"Because it existed even before the empire rebranded itself as the Federation. I remember the mortals' atrocities all too clearly."
Back then, when I'd taken Beatrix away, the Ruler of Crimson Beauty had seemed utterly indifferent. Even when a few mortals from her acknowledged autonomous planet pledged themselves to another constellation, she hadn't batted an eye.
"Mortals, who were once no more than insects, banded together, slaughtered my apostles, and invaded my territory. No matter how much time has passed, I cannot forget it."
Until now, she'd endured out of powerlessness, but she still harbored that grudge? Her planet was her territory, after all. Not an inaccurate way to put it.
"When those vile creatures united, I had no means to counter them. And when the great galactic deity sheltered them, I lost all will to fight."
Silent Starlight had protected the Super Galactic Empire Federation on orders from an Outer God, but from the perspective of a Planet Spirit who didn't know that, it must have been utterly frustrating.
"But since you appeared, the mortals have begun to rediscover their awe of the divine..."
"So? Get to the point."
"By nature, mortals should kneel beneath immortals. Please, lend your voice to help us petition Silent Starlight with our grievances."
"Grievances?"
"Yes. Starting with their titles."
She wanted to submit opinions to a Galaxy Spirit but needed a bit of backing to make it count.
"They were demoted to 'constellations' and stripped of the reverence due to gods. We seek to reclaim that."
"I'm not interested in ruling planets myself anymore. After my world was invaded by mortals, I set aside such petty pride."
"Why should I help?"
It didn't match my stature to casually float such ideas to a Galaxy Spirit, so she wanted my endorsement. Not sure if she grasped the core issue.
She wasn't even asking me to dismantle the Federation outright.
"There are many in the Federation who share my views. All of us, myself included... would serve you. If you intend to wield influence in this dimension..."
From there, it devolved into talk of what the Federation would become, promises of what they'd do if I just lent a hand.
But the red goddess held no appeal for my collector's itch. A lifeform made of crimson ore had been novel at first, but it grew tiresome upon repetition. Even knowing she'd committed acts bordering on evil by karmic standards stirred no thrill.
She didn't even have a cute appearance to pique my interest.
"We offer you everything we have, so please, just aid us a little..."
I'd hoped for something more entertaining—like her origins, or secrets of this dimension. How dull.
This temporary body felt stifling. Maybe I should visit my avatars. Beatrix was probably broadcasting comfort to her planet's people, and Yuna might have returned to her homeworld?
Speaking of constellations reminded me of that adorable azure dragon from before. With a title like Owner of the Blue Breath, did it spew azure flames from its maw? Plasma, superheated gas—who knew? I wanted to witness it firsthand. If I could craft dragons in my own dimension someday...
"...What do you think?"
"Hm?"
I snapped out of my reverie and looked ahead. The red mannequin stared back at me. When had she finished talking? I'd zoned out for a moment, and it was over.
"Sorry, but I'm not interested. The Federation's amusing as is—don't meddle too much."
"Ah...!"
The ore-composed Planet Spirit showed a flicker of disappointment.
She'd guarded the planet until Beatrix's birth, so listening was the least I could do. But nothing more. It was another dimension, after all.
Still, my conversation with her hadn't been entirely fruitless. Obvious as it might be, not all constellations loved the Mortal Federation—despite the threat of alien constellations.
Their unity wasn't as ironclad as it seemed.
I dissolved the stifling temporary body and waited a bit. Vivian returned from outside.
"Was the conversation satisfactory, my Constellation?"
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster asks about the constellations' views on the Federation.
"...Shall I speak of constellations particularly friendly or dissatisfied with the Federation?"
My avatar glanced up at the void with a mildly surprised expression.
I'd had zero interest until moments ago, but the red goddess's visit had piqued my curiosity a tad.
Constellations and mortals entangled in politics? I knew of theocracies, but gods and humans coexisting in governance...
"Beatrix might explain this better, but since it's your request, Constellation, I'll elaborate."
Beatrix was half politician, after all. Made sense.
"First, today's visitor, the Ruler of Crimson Beauty, exemplifies the anti-Federation stance. Excluding her, quite a few harbor grudges from the Galactic Empire days."
Hm.
"Overall, constellations friendly or neutral toward the Federation make up about 70%."
Which implied roughly 30% dissatisfied with the Super Galactic Empire Federation. A significant number, yet not overwhelming.
That was just the outspoken ones. Many hadn't committed to a stance or were wary of Silent Starlight's gaze.
No wonder their response to alien constellations felt lukewarm. Some probably thought a Federation collapse would restore the divine-mortal hierarchy.
As long as their planets and avatars were safe, other constellations wouldn't care.
So, what about Vivian?
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster asks if you're concerned about the Federation.
"If the Federation falls, may I entrust myself to you, Constellation?"
A subtle hint. I could almost glimpse the sentiments of those constellations wishing for the mortal cluster's downfall.
I withdrew my gaze from that dimension and surveyed the universe housing my true body.
Last time I'd checked, the lifeforms I'd created seemed mired in a Stone Age civilization.
But with the planet's time accelerated, surely they'd formed groups by now?
Silent cosmic void. Upon my right palm, a supergalaxy the size of a fingernail.
I zoomed in once more, peering below. Like a human peering at microbes through a microscope, Shub's children came into view first.
Far smaller than Shub herself, yet grander than typical Galaxy Spirits—deities stirring.
A god of foam writhing its body, another blinking its tens of thousands of eyes.
Father. Children. Creation. Observation.
Shub, sensing my gaze after so long, spoke up. No more gods being born now?
Well, plenty already existed. With Shub's creations halted, progeny from lesser deities proliferated.
They typically spawned mortals or undergods resembling themselves. In that dimension's terms, Planet Spirits and Single Planet Restricted Spirit Bodies abounded.
Areas beyond the planet I directly observed flowed at normal time rates, so life evolved slowly—but life was life.
Those adapted to Cosmic Power multiplied like weeds.
Yet only here resembled Homo sapiens sapiens even slightly.
"Kivor zhal'nek tu shari"
"Shaanik zhurai thomen vath"
My planet's humanoid-like beings. Dual hearts, organs storing Cosmic Power within.
A casual scan revealed medieval-level civilization. Too tiny to see clearly, but leaders existed, as did soldiers wielding unknowable metals.
Powerful lifeforms, no doubt. But the planet's flora and fauna had mutated too, forcing competition and survival that birthed civilization.
Dinosaur-like beasts spewing crimson flames from vast maws or turning transparent—first I'd seen such.
From tribes to villages, then nations. Progress inevitable.
Science's path was unclear, but medieval era achieved.
Lifestyles diverged markedly—clothing, food, daily life far from standard medieval.
Like a medieval world with superhumans and monsters?
"Nara fuvak shentol zhi!!"
Channeling Cosmic Power into weapons, they charged plant-like monstrosities with roars.
But those monstrosities felt off. Similar to the space monsters from that dimension?
I'd never imported any here. Dimensional walls intact—no breaches.
Shub's doing, then?
Shub. Did you place anything on the planet of those humans... no, bipedal walkers draped in thin materials?
...?
Denial. That place. Father. Management. Prohibited.
She claimed no interference since I managed it directly.
Then... why were space monsters from that dimension appearing here too?