The Vacant Divine Throne (4)
"What? You're saying you're going to reincarnate a god as a human? Isn't that unprecedented?"
After wrapping up my conversation with Baal, I relayed the details to Thanatos, who reacted with genuine shock.
"Sure, there's no precedent, but I don't think it's impossible."
"Well... hmm. If we treat a god's soul the same as any ordinary creature's soul, it might be feasible. But considering how a soul influences the body, they'd reincarnate as someone with far superior abilities compared to regular humans. That opens the door to other potential issues we can't ignore."
"Other issues... like what?"
At my question, Thanatos paused thoughtfully before responding.
"The first problem is whether a god's soul, reincarnated as a human, should be judged by the same standards as ordinary humans after death."
"Hmm... because it's a divine soul, it shouldn't be judged by the same yardstick as a regular human soul?"
"Exactly. Even if it's a god's soul reincarnated as a human, it would be problematic to judge it by the exact same criteria used to punish other humans. So, for divine souls, we'd need stricter standards that match their capabilities and inherent nature."
Hmm... Indeed, considering the potential of a divine soul, judging it by human standards would create issues of fairness. We'd have to pay special attention to that. Or maybe, since it's a divine soul, we should apply even more rigorous criteria. Establishing new standards like that... hmm. It might require consultation with the other underworld gods. And who knows, maybe gods besides Baal... could be forcibly ousted from their thrones and reincarnated as humans too. We'd need to prepare accordingly.
"For cases where a divine spirit reincarnates as a human, let's establish new criteria. Unlike ordinary souls, they'll inherently possess exceptional abilities, so we'll need even stricter standards."
A human bearing a divine soul would surpass ordinary humans in ability. If such a being commits a crime... they'd undoubtedly commit far greater sins than others. Thus, harsher punishment is warranted.
"Understood. Once you set those criteria, I'll consult with the others and finalize them accordingly."
"Mm. If you need help, I'll join in."
"Thank you for offering, even with your busy schedule, but if you provide the rough guidelines, the rest can be handled sufficiently by us and Hades."
"Hmm... is that so?"
"Yes. Once we resolve how to handle divine souls, everything else will proceed smoothly."
Hmm. As expected, experts in their field are reliable. Of course, they've been judging as underworld gods for ages. That experience doesn't go to waste.
"Then, I'll leave the follow-up to you. And Baal's matter... I leave it in your hands too."
"Yes, leave it to me."
Part of me wanted to cheer up the downcast guy somehow... but in this situation, anything I say might backfire. I could only hope he'd use his human life as a respite to recover his weary soul.
Until that day came, Baal's divine throne would remain vacant.
"How's the investigation going?"
In the room provided by Hwang Dong-kyung for researching the king of the gods. Walls plastered with countless notes. I'd been holing up here day and night, poring through volumes of books for clues, but with scant progress, it was wearing thin—right when Hwang Dong-kyung showed up.
"As you can see... I've found a few minor clues, but they're not enough to grasp any real leads."
Faint mentions of the heavens in dwarven folktales and legends—usually as a villain or bystander. I'd pieced together those slim hints about the heavens, but nothing linking them to Baal.
Researching dwarven lore had been enjoyable at first. But with hundreds, thousands of them, it started to drag.
At this rate... it'd just be endless investigation without end. I needed a breakthrough...
"I see. What about these, then?"
Hwang Dong-kyung gestured to the servants behind him, who set down stacks of neatly bound books they'd been carrying, piling them in one corner of the room.
A considerable volume of ancient tomes. Even with my limited knowledge, they screamed historical significance—more suited to a museum than here. I was speechless.
"Judging by your face, it seems I've done rather well procuring them."
"These books... what in the world..."
"Seeing your investigation wasn't advancing, I tapped my personal connections to gather these from various places. Mostly pre-empire texts and regional folktales. Asking the elves grated on me a bit, though."
Books held by elves? Come to think of it, a few were on extremely aged parchment. Given elves' aversion to plant-based materials, parchment books meant elven works. Records from a long-lived race spanning a millennium... they might even cover facts from before humanity documented history.
"If that's true... most human historians would pay a fortune for even a single line from those books."
"Exactly. They weren't cheap. Anyway, these are the best I could manage. Please don't damage them. Return them intact, and it'll count as a loan instead of a purchase—they'll refund part of the cost."
Gathering books like these... must have been a massive expense, even for Hwang Dong-kyung.
"My thanks."
"Mm. If you're grateful, find some clues. I can't invest unlimited funds in you, after all."
I nodded slightly at Hwang Dong-kyung's words. Having received this level of support, I had to produce results to call myself a proper scholar.
Gazing at the mountain of books, I renewed my resolve inwardly.
......
A month later.
"This is..."
I swallowed dryly, staring at the threads connecting the pinned-up notes.
"If this is true, it'll send shockwaves through academia."
What started as a search for the god titled king of the gods had led to a revelation that would rock theology and history.
The notes detailed countless gods' names—tens of times more than those on the current Pantheon Roster. These gods lived in an era called the age of the gods, when deities supposedly walked the earth.
But the truth differed.
The age of the gods wasn't when gods roamed the world.
Strictly speaking, it was... the era when countless gods flourished on earth only to vanish due to some catastrophe.
More accurately, the age of the gods' downfall.
And likely... the god called Baal, king of the gods, vanished due to that downfall.
But.
"What caused the gods' downfall? And how did some survive to reside in the Pantheon?"
Questions lingered there.
Something capable of toppling gods... another god, or perhaps a dragon. But war among gods themselves? Or against dragons? No way to know. Utterly baffling.
I lacked pieces to fit the puzzle. More clues needed. Without decisive evidence, any claim in academia would just earn mockery.
And... a hasty announcement would tarnish the Pantheon's authority, dooming me to never see sunlight again.
The reveal had to be cautious, ironclad, all at once.
Then... my name would be etched in history.
"For now, more research."
Elven records described alliances of gods from various cultures, ruled by a supreme deity. Multiple claimants to king of the gods.
They shared traits: self-proclaimed sky gods wielding thunder as weapons.
Perhaps their archetype was the sky god Baal.
A stretch, but it connected dots.
Baal, sky god of thunder, ascends as king; his faith scatters worldwide, syncretizing into local myths as other king gods.
It explained much.
Like the bull-headed warrior god and labyrinth deity Asterios from ancient Minoan isle, absorbed as subordinate to the Pantheon's guardian Sirius, spreading globally to become the Eastern Udu Cheonwang, blending into myths.
Baal's faith likely followed suit, evolving until his name faded.
Wait... Asterios faith?
A faint spark crossed my mind.
Bull-headed god... Udu Cheonwang. Minoan warrior god. Bull-headed warrior faiths worldwide.
A thin thread connected in my head.
The spread of Minoan warrior god and Udu Cheonwang aligned with the gods' age.
Chronologically close.
Hmm... no, is it? Just speculation?
My intuition screamed a link to Baal, but logic saw none.
Ugh... Hard-earned knowledge versus innate instinct—which to trust?
No idea. Truly no idea.
But ignorance wasn't reason to quit.
I picked up the book beside me once more, seeking solid clues.
