Duamutef (1)
A short while ago, in the large lecture hall at Lichten Academy.
"Intelligent beings' faith— in other words, their devotion— gives rise to divinity, and when that divinity accumulates, a god is born."
A professor stood at the podium in the lecture hall, delivering his lecture in a leisurely tone.
"Gods are made of divinity, and they expend that divinity to exert influence. When a god performs a miracle, its believers produce even more faith in response, replenishing the god's divinity. That's the structure."
"Yawn... when's this gonna end?"
Albus muttered to Valt with half-lidded eyes.
"Dunno... feels like we've got a ways to go."
Valt propped his chin on the desk, looking bored out of his mind.
"So, one might ask: if gods could freely work miracles in the mortal realm, wouldn't they gain endless divinity? But it's not that simple. If it were, we'd see gods descending to earth, granting our every wish like some paradise. In reality, gods' interventions in the mortal realm are heavily restricted."
"Yawn... why's this guy always droning on about the same crap?"
Albus rubbed his eyes with his hand.
"Since ancient times, countless scholars have studied the conditions and limits of divine intervention on earth, but nothing's been properly uncovered— aside from the fact that gods have far less leeway than you'd think."
Because he kept repeating what he'd already covered in previous lectures, not just Albus and Valt but a good number of other students were dozing off too.
"Looks like rehashing old material is making it hard for everyone to stay tuned in."
The professor pushed up his glasses with a finger.
"In that case, let's try something you'll actually care about. Luddera. It's all over the continent these days."
"...Luddera?"
Albus reacted instinctively when the name of the world he'd created slipped from the professor's lips.
"Haha, dude. Waking up just from hearing Luddera? You're too far gone."
"...Don't wanna hear that from you."
Albus shot Valt a quick glare before focusing intently on the professor.
Luddera was the hottest topic on the continent right now, but no professor had ever brought it up in class before.
Even after a full audit of all accounts, most professors were playing Luddera, yet none mentioned it during lectures.
These same profs who loved yapping about themselves.
"Looks like Luddera perks everyone right up, huh?"
The professor smirked as the mere mention brought the students to life.
"The dean's orders forbid discussing it in class, but as an educator— and a researcher— I can't just gloss over it."
'Banned by the dean himself?'
Why?
Albus pondered the reason.
'Maybe because the academy's core purpose is transmitting traditional norms and order to students.'
Students needed to absorb time-honored knowledge and discipline, but if they got hooked on Luddera's instant thrills, proper education could fall apart.
Especially since Luddera was so new and already stirring up societal chaos— the older generation had every reason to want educators staying mum.
"Alright, everyone. It's been nearly ten years since Luddera appeared to us. But back in the early days, it was just a vast, empty landmass. Like a new continent had popped up— but with way lower density than reality."
A few students raised their hands at the professor's words, but he calmed them with a gesture and continued.
"Haha, I know. Even early on, it had stuff like respawning after death or special items you don't get in real life. Point is, early Luddera was worlds apart from what it is now. The Labyrinth Tower and Labyrinth Shop caused massive shifts, but Luddera has been evolving steadily for a decade. Almost like its master has some grand design."
The professor's glasses glinted under the lights.
"Gods exist through faith as power, and wield that power. But wielding it comes with restrictions. If you were a god, what would you do? You'd seek ways to use power in the mortal realm, right?"
Murmurs rippled through the students.
"Here's my take: Luddera is a loophole the god— the GM— found to exert influence in reality. Dropping Miracle Spring Water across the continent? That's part of it."
The students nodded along, convinced by the professor's certainty.
'...Me?'
The actual GM was too stunned by the absurdity to speak.
"And that's not all. The Labyrinth Tower alone rocked the continent. Let's talk floor 2."
Snap.
The professor snapped his fingers, and a holographic model of the Sprigganz Great Desert materialized in the air.
"Floor 2 of the Labyrinth Tower, conquered by the Beast King. There, he uncovered the truth about the beastmen's lost god, Duamutef. Thanks to that, beastmen realized their roots truly existed and gained proper faith. That faith flowed to the GM... but here's the thing."
The high-quality hologram— like it was made just for this moment— had every student in the hall holding their breath, waiting for more.
"If beastmen's restored faith in Duamutef recreates divinity? If that divinity gathers to reform Duamutef? A vanished god could revive."
"A god reviving?"
"Is that even possible?"
The students erupted in chatter.
"Quiet, quiet. Class isn't over. Save the chit-chat. What I'm getting at is this: The GM created Luddera to wield power in the world. He made floor 2 to revive the extinct god Duamutef. If the beastmen's god really returns? Then every floor likely serves some special purpose of the GM's. That's all."
* * *
"Huuuuaaaah."
As the lecture ended, Albus and Valt let out massive yawns and headed out.
"I'm dying of sleepiness."
"Albus. What do you think?"
Valt asked, his face a bit tense.
"About what?"
"The GM. You think he really made Luddera with some big purpose, like that prof said?"
Albus was dumbfounded.
'Purpose? Sure, I had one. Make something fun 'cause life was boring as hell.'
Thwack.
"Ow! Albus?"
Albus flicked Valt's forehead as he pondered.
"What're you gonna do, even if you knew? Fight the GM? And risk losing access to Luddera?"
"Nah, not that, but..."
"Then quit stressing over nonsense. It's a god. Nothing we can do about it anyway. Just ignore it."
'I'm the GM, duh. I did it for kicks.'
"...Yeah. Makes sense."
Valt nodded at Albus's words and matched his pace.
"Starving. Wanna grab food?"
"Yeah. Before the crowd hits."
That was the moment they stepped out the lecture hall door.
Thud.
"...Huh?"
Something small bumped into Albus's stomach.
Albus looked down.
"Ehehe!"
A silver-haired girl was nuzzling her face into his chest.
'...Who the hell is this kid?'
He'd never seen her before.
With her delicate features and porcelain skin, she'd grow into a beauty who could shake the continent.
"Hi! I'm a goddess!"
'Poor kid's delusional?'
Calling herself a goddess out of nowhere.
Probably some staff kid wandering the academy.
Lost child. Take her to the student council?
That was Albus's thought— until.
"Daddy!"
Duamutef shouted loud and clear.
Murmurs exploded around them.
Albus was already under scrutiny from that saintess incident.
And right at the lecture hall entrance, swarming with students exiting class.
Countless witnesses to the scene.
"Isn't that the guy the saintess called her husband?"
"Yeah! Already got a kid?"
"How bad a parent are you to let her crash class?"
"Silver hair matches his. Def his."
"Bernier ducal family's got that silver hair trait, right?"
"That saintess rumor! Wasn't malicious after all?"
"...Doesn't look like it."
"Didn't expect a kid too."
"Saintess and a cutie... Ugh, jealous!"
"The saintess with a guy...? No way!"
"I'd take the kid over her."
"What kinda perv are you?!"
"Dude... you...?"
Even Valt stared at Albus with shaky eyes.
"I-I didn't do anything! H-How?!"
Albus was just as baffled, failing to process.
Why's this kid calling me daddy?
Why's she rubbing her face on me all happy?
The stares and attention pouring their way.
The envy aimed at Albus made Duamutef scowl.
"Eek! Too noisy here!"
She threw her arms wide, hugging Albus's waist tight.
"Huh?"
Whoosh.
The next instant, Albus found himself standing in the middle of a desert.