The Vacant Throne (2)
“Didn’t you say Baal’s soul is still around?”
“Yes. It’s in the Underworld. Since it’s the first time a god has ever died in this world, they’re holding off on processing it because no one knows what to do.”
A god’s death. No wonder they’re stumped in this world where it’s never happened before.
Erebos? That wasn’t death—he just ran away.
Anyway.
“Then the first step is talking to Baal.”
“Yes. Um, well, you could do that. But it might be good to chat with the other kids too.”
“That can wait. For now… I’ll talk to Baal. Whether I revive him or smash the heads of his fragments to restore his divinity, I have to do something.”
His fragments acting on their own was a surprise. If letting them handle things their way caused this mess… I can’t just sit back and watch.
Above all, Baal was the one I crowned as king of the gods. Undermining his authority is the same as defying me.
I looked at Shamash, whose expression had stiffened for some reason, and said,
“The fragments of Baal are in Olympus, the Ennead, the Aesir, and Rokapala, right?”
“Yes, that’s right! They split into various smaller pieces too, but those four are the biggest ones.”
“What names are they using? They wouldn’t just go by ‘Baal’s fragment.’”
Shamash thought for a moment before answering.
“The one in Olympus calls himself Zeus. In the Ennead, it’s Amun. The Aesir call theirs Odin. And in Rokapala, he’s known as Indra.”
All names of gods once hailed as kings. Whatever they call themselves, it doesn’t matter to me. I have no intention of letting those who defy my will run free.
“But Mom… are you planning to punish them?”
“Hm? Yeah. I’m thinking of pulverizing them until not even a bone shard remains.”
“Ah, uh, well… Couldn’t you maybe just… let them be?”
“Hm? Why?”
Why would Shamash say something like that? Leave alone the ones who shattered the rules I set?
“We talked it over with Baal’s soul and thought about it a lot… but they seem to want to keep the status quo.”
“Status quo? The status quo?”
“Yes. Baal himself.”
Is that really something to say right now? Leave the ones who tarnished my authority alone?
“W-Wait, Mom! Don’t get mad! Just hear me out, okay?!”
“I’m not mad.”
“No, you’re clearly mad! I can see it! We can’t have total annihilation! You finally made this world, and destroying it would be a waste!! It was like that at the end of the dragons too—once you get angry, it never ends well! The world could just crumble, and no one would be surprised!”
Annihilation. Hm. No, we can’t have that. Smashing everything in a fit of rage would make me no better than a child. Even in a model garden of a world like this, one I’ve carefully tended… I can’t just wreck it all over a little anger.
Though yeah, it’s bubbling up inside me a bit.
“We tried to convince Baal too, but he doesn’t want to come back. He said managing all the gods alone was too much. It was a burden beyond his worth.”
“A burden beyond his worth…”
Did I saddle Baal with too heavy a load? He was a sky god—I thought he had the power to rule as king of the gods. And he couldn’t even last 300 years? Was my judgment too hasty?
“His fragments rebelled a little, but they’re ruling their factions as kings, and it’s going surprisingly well. They lack Baal’s raw ability, but splitting the gods’ domains among them makes management smoother. If you crush those fragments now… it’d cause massive chaos, I think.”
I stared at Shamash as she rattled off excuses like a lawyer, then said quietly,
“Is that really the only reason?”
“Huh? Ah, well… yeah, mostly. But they treat us so politely…”
In other words, things aren’t bad between them.
“They call me primal light or radiant light god or sun god, and they’ve made places for us. They treat us extremely well.”
So that’s it. She wants me to spare the ones who butter them up. Tsk… It’s a request from one of my kids, but I can’t just let those guys off the hook.
Sigh… Talking to Baal’s soul comes first, I guess.
“So, why not talk to Baal first? If you speak to him directly, he might change his mind. Right?”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
There’s a saying in that other world: even the chief priest can quit if he hates it. Even the highest position like king of the gods means nothing if he doesn’t want it.
“You said Baal’s soul is in the Underworld?”
“Yes. With the fragments you made. Judging a god’s soul is ambiguous too.”
Then… the Underworld first.
If Baal really wants to abandon the throne of king of the gods… Hm. What should I do? What’s the best choice?
Humans created gods to understand the unknown, but as their wisdom grows, reliance on gods fades. Someday, humans must break free and think for themselves.
In that case… maybe reducing unnecessary gods would help them?
Not right now, of course.
“Mom? What’re you thinking so hard about?”
“Hm. Nothing. Just… maybe this world has too many gods. If even Baal can’t manage them all, reducing their numbers might be for the best.”
“Th-That’s kinda creepy. Talking about culling gods like pulling weeds…”
Shamash shivered slightly. I gave a small chuckle at the sight.
“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t do anything to you kids.”
Even if I trim numbers, I wouldn’t touch the ones I raised. Ah, right. Instead of reducing gods, maybe demote their status. Turn mountain gods or river gods into spirits of mountains or rivers…
Hm. That might be better. And while I’m at it, I could downgrade the ones I don’t like into total wrecks—treat them like monsters.
Most monsters now are just beast-shaped. The world could use more variety.
For that, I’ll have to deal with Baal’s fragments somehow.
“You seem… different, Mom. Your personality’s changed a bit.”
“Hm? You think so?”
“Yes. Before you slept, you were… super benevolent? You’d let problems slide if possible. But now… you seem more emotional in your judgments.”
Emotional judgments. Hmm… Did I change that much? I don’t feel different… Hm. Wait.
“Maybe it’s because I split off the fragments?”
“Huh?”
“Before sleeping, I detached the Life Goddess fragment for that role, and the one for judging in the Underworld. Separating my divinity like that might be affecting me.”
I wondered if splitting divinity into fragments would impact me that much… but Shamash’s take is reliable. And divinity influencing personality? I already confirmed that with the Life Goddess aspect—it changed my own temperament. Detaching it could shift things again…
Divinity’s power is a speck compared to my true strength, but its influence is huge. What a hassle.
“Then let’s head to the Underworld.”
“Yes! Take care!”
I told Asterios I’d be back in seven days, so I need to wrap up what I can before then. Talk to Baal, meet the other kids, deal with his fragments…
Ah, right. Leave a warning first. An unavoidable one for Baal’s fragments.
“Shamash, pass this to Baal’s fragments.”
“Huh?”
“Soon, I’ll come for you myself.”
I’ll meet them, judge them, then decide. Crush them or just punish lightly and forgive—after seeing them in person.
“And you, Shamash—don’t take their side just because they treat you well. The goddess of law and justice can’t play favorites.”
“Yes, I know.”
I shot her a skeptical glance, shook my head slightly, and headed to the Underworld.
First, meet Baal’s soul. I can decide after that.
