The One Who Serves God (4)
"But finding a soul isn't easy. Distinguishing one with no memories from the rest is like picking out a single grain of sand from an endless beach. Still, are you willing to do it?"
The priest nodded at my words.
"I'll do anything to see my family again."
"You said anything, right?"
You really shouldn't toss around words like that. This kid has no idea of the weight they carry.
"Finding your family's souls within a human lifespan won't be simple. So, let me make you a proposal."
Talent is something you can never have enough of.
"How about working in the Underworld?"
"The Underworld? Me?"
"Yes. I'd nearly finished building it, but a shortage of talent has kept operations from starting."
Of course, this kid's far too green to manage the whole Underworld on his own. He can wield divine power, sure, but he's still just human. Still, any gaps can be filled. If he's short on power, I can always give him more. With a moderate boost, he could at least reach the level just below Yanluo—a mid-tier administrator. Maybe enough to oversee one layer?
"Plus, if you work there, every soul will pass through the Underworld. Wouldn't that help you find your wife and child's souls?"
Scanning every soul making up the Cloud Whale's body would be less efficient than checking them at the central hub.
Of course, it won't be easy. Countless souls will flow through daily.
"The Underworld... But could someone like me really handle it?"
"Why not?"
What matters isn't raw power or talent. It's how well you work. That's the key.
"Honestly, unless you work in the Underworld and search for them there, recovering your family's souls is next to impossible. There are hardly any other options."
Going to the Cloud Whale and inspecting each soul in its body one by one? Yeah, no. It listens to me well enough these days, but I doubt it'd go that far. And above all, a human's short lifespan is the real issue.
"Understood. To go to the Underworld... do I just die?"
"No, not yet. Operations haven't started. Live out your current life for now."
"But... a life without my wife and child is too painful..."
The priest spoke in a depressed tone.
Hm. He's lost his purpose in life.
"Then how about leaving records of the afterlife... the Underworld?"
"Records of the Underworld?"
"Yes. Just leak a bit of information about it."
He sounded puzzled.
"What good would that do?"
"A lot."
I examined the souls in my hand as I spoke.
"First, it means we can spread knowledge of the Underworld to humans."
"Spread word of its existence?"
"Exactly. If countless humans learn of it and believe... their perception will reshape reality. Even if parts don't function perfectly as I designed, their faith will warp reality to normalize it."
I've confirmed this through Yanluo and the Cloud Whale. Mass belief changes reality. The Underworld should be no different.
"Second, spreading this info plants the idea of posthumous judgment in people's minds."
"Posthumous judgment..."
"If they believe they'll be judged in the Underworld for their sins, it instills at least a minimal sense of guilt, right?"
It acts as a deterrent against wrongdoing. And if they learn sinners suffer horribly in hell... crimes would drop, building a baseline conscience.
"So, write various texts until your lifespan ends. Then, when you die, I'll take you to the Underworld and put you to work."
"Understood. Though my body is frail, I'll dedicate this life to the Mother of Life."
"Good. I leave it to you. And about your wife and child's souls..."
"Yes?"
I looked at the two souls in my hand.
Hm... I can't keep holding these forever. Need somewhere to store them. What can hold souls...? Maybe make something and test it out.
"For now, I'll store them in objects you can carry. Can't keep them in my hand indefinitely."
Half-souls. How to contain them? Plenty of ways, but the simplest is gems.
I created two emeralds the size of my fingertip joint. One round, one square. I infused the souls: wife's into the round one, son's into the square. They settled perfectly inside.
Hm, plenty of capacity since it's not full souls. As long as the gems don't break, they'll stay put.
I sent the two emeralds to the priest.
"Your wife is in the round emerald, your son in the square one. Keep them safe. If they break, we'll have to search again."
If I catch it right away, easy. Otherwise, I'd have to tear up the earth. Total hassle.
"Th-thank you... Thank you...!"
"Spend the rest of your life writing books. I'll guide you on what to write."
He's called wise among humans, so his words will carry weight. Through him, I could leave behind many books.
─────
After that, he wrote in his spare time while serving as priest, but...
"Mother of Life... We lack clay tablets. Can't write so much on these."
"Troublesome. Filled up after just a few lines."
This era's media were clay tablets and parchment, but parchment was expensive and rare. Writing on it would make it a luxury symbol for the rich.
In the East, they used bamboo slips, but no bamboo here in the West.
Problem.
Ugh. No choice. Time to introduce papyrus!
For primitive paper, papyrus is the way.
I spoke to the Lizardmen grand sorcerer.
"Can you hear me?"
"Oh! The Great Genesis Dragon speaks to me! May your glorious name illuminate the world!"
No need for the flowery stuff.
"I seek a plant in Lizardmen swamp territory. Can you find it?"
"The Genesis Dragon seeks a mere plant? What for?"
"A material to create something helpful for all. It's one to two meters tall, like a reed with leaves spreading outward from the top. Search for it."
"Understood. I'll send out the Lizardmen."
Good. Swamp plant, so they'll find it quick. Might even become their main export.
Best if they discover it themselves... but Lizardmen won't need paper. They'd never feel the lack without prompting.
Like humans with clay tablets, Lizardmen haul huge stone slabs easily. Carving letters into rock with claws. Overwhelming strength means no need for paper.
Anyway, papyrus grows in swamps, so if it exists here, it'll be in their territory. If not, I'll make seeds and plant them.
"I've instructed them to find a writing alternative to clay tablets."
"What kind?"
"Like plant-based parchment. Thin, light, perfect for recording words."
If papyrus is found and made, the world's knowledge level will soar. A mass medium instead of limited clay or parchment. Intellectual progress overall.
Oh, right—what about the elves? To them, papyrus might seem like flaying family hides—stem pith, but descriptively similar.
Eh, elves can't be helped. They instinctively avoid even fruits evolved to be eaten for seed dispersal. Let them stick to parchment.