Chapter 146: The Gods' Trial (1) |
"Alright, then who should go first?"
Shamash said as she looked around at the other children.
"I think it's best to start with the easy ones. Hmm...."
"I'll go last."
Sagarmatha said in a calm voice.
"Hmm. What kind of test did you all bring?"
"That's a secret. We all agreed to keep it a secret, remember?"
Hmm... So the contents of the tests are also secret from each other? I'm curious to see what kind of tests will come up.
"Mine isn't that easy either... In that case, I'll go before Sagarmatha."
Huh, so everyone brought difficult ones?
At the children's words, Baal's face started to look slightly tense. Since everyone said their tests weren't easy, he couldn't help but feel nervous.
"I didn't really have anything in mind, so I just brought something simple... Shall I go first?"
"Okay, then Ifrit will go first. But what kind of test did you bring?"
At Shamash's words, Ifrit hesitated slightly before speaking.
"There are quite a few gods wandering around in the desert near me. I'd like to properly subdue and pacify those fellows."
Hmm, a very simple test.
"But were there really that many gods around Ifrit's place?"
"Since it's an endlessly harsh environment for humans, there are many gods born out of fear. I would get annoyed and want to beat them up sometimes, but somehow they'd hide away as soon as I started moving."
At Ifrit's words, Shamash spoke with an expression that showed she understood.
"Ah, that? It's that sensation of feeling small when a stronger god moves, isn't it? You feel it when Mom moves, don't you?"
"Uh... Well... Was there something like that? I don't really remember."
"Eh? Was it just me who felt that way? How about the other kids?"
"I don't either."
"Me neither."
"So it was just Shamash?"
At the children's words, Shamash's expression became one of confusion.
"So I was the only one feeling that... Thanks to that sensation, I could easily sense Mom's location."
"How unfair."
"Why do you get to have something like that?"
Hmm, the conversation is veering off track.
"Alright, everyone calm down. The story isn't progressing."
At my words, the slightly agitated atmosphere settled down. Good. I discreetly gestured to Ifrit to continue the story.
"Anyway, come back after subduing all the gods in the desert. That's my test."
Truly a simple test from Ifrit.
Hearing the content of the test, Baal spoke with a confident expression.
"If it's a test like that, I can definitely do it!"
Baal, full of self-confidence.
Hmm, I don't know what kind of gods the desert gods are, but compared to the god of sky, their divinity must be weaker...
Well, it should be fine. After all, he is a god of the sky.
"Ah, of course, you're not allowed to get help from Mom! Understand?"
Ah... I was planning to lend a little help if needed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The one who overcomes the trials given by the gods will seize glory.
This is a common story found in mythology. The gods test the hero, and the hero overcomes the test.
Attempts have been made endlessly to find the archetype of such stories.
Some have called Rychlen, the hero among heroes, the archetype of that myth, while others have claimed the story of the hero chosen by the goddess of life as its origin.
In the meantime, a stone tablet was excavated from the depths of the sea.
Originally a clay tablet, but turned to stone due to high heat and pressure, the inscription on it read:
[The one who overcomes the trials of the seven gods shall possess this world.]
The excavation of this tablet sparked heated debates among many theologians and historians.
What gods do the seven gods refer to? What are the trials they have set? And what does it mean to possess this world?
The gods of the pantheon, who seemed to know the answers, remained silent.
As if they could not reveal the answers.
And just as the meaning of the tablet's inscription remained undiscovered, and the tablet itself was about to be forgotten in the depths of memory,
my friend came to me with another fragment of a tablet.
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The small tablet fragment my anxious friend brought, which he had never shown to anyone else.
The inscription on that tiny fragment read:
[The King of the Gods, his name shall be Baal.]
An incomprehensible inscription.
A king among the gods? When the gods existed as the sole rulers of heaven and earth, was there another god above them, a king? If there was, was it a god other than the Goddess of Life, who is called the supreme god?
I did not know. The name Baal was also a story I had never heard before.
After showing me the tablet fragment, my friend left with an anxious gait, and I never saw or heard from him again. He must have perished somewhere.
But setting aside my friend's story,
if, just if, the god called Baal, the King of the Gods, had truly existed.
Why did this god, called the King of the Gods, disappear?
Why do the gods not mention the existence of such a being?
Why were we unaware of this god?
I do not know. I could know nothing.
Perhaps this name should not be revealed. Perhaps it is a name that the gods of the time have buried in history.
It may be a name that must never be uttered. A name that must never be spoken.
From the moment I thought so, I was gripped by fear.
I felt as if someone was watching me. I began to distrust the people around me.
Everything led to distrust.
Was this the conclusion my friend had also reached? Is that why he was so anxious?
Struggling in the grip of the fear crawling up my spine, I have decided to record the information I have gathered about Baal in this research notebook, and to burn all other clues, sealing the memory within the notebook.
So that I may never see this name again. So that I may not be put in danger by this name.
Someday, when the gods no longer show interest in humans and faith weakens,
may this research notebook reach those who seek the truth. With a faint prayer.
May the truth that cannot be known now be passed on to the future.
- From the research notebook of a certain historian.
This research notebook never fell into human hands.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"O gods of the desert! I, the God of the Sky, have come to rule over you as your king!"
The young gods of the desert, with animal heads, influenced by the presence of the water deities in the area, fiercely resisted Baal's proclamation, and the battle between the God of the Sky and the desert gods lasted for days.
The result, as one would expect, was Baal's victory.
The gods born from the scorching winds, the flowing sands, and other natural forces - none of them could defeat Baal, who was born from the sky itself.
Faced with the immense power pouring down from the sky, the desert gods had no choice but to kneel.
Well, it's only natural. The power possessed by Baal, who was born from the sky itself, was the greatest among the newly born gods.
The faith of those who longed for the sky, all of that faith flowed into Baal. It was only natural.
The gods born from the fear of the harsh environment of the desert could not defeat Baal.
"The first trial has been passed smoothly!"
"Un. Now it's getting a bit quiet around here."
Ifrit, was the goal not to pass the trials, but to make the surroundings quiet?
Well, it doesn't matter. Just the fact that Baal has subjugated various gods is enough to demonstrate his power.
"Then next, shall we do Sylphid or Yggdrasil? Who wants to go first?"
"Me! I'll go first!"
Sylphid said with a confident expression.
"Let me tell you in advance! My trial won't be easy!"
Oho. Sylphid is speaking so confidently. I'm curious what kind of trial it is.
"My trial is! A race against me! From the eastern end of this continent to the western end! Fly quickly! It's a one-on-one race!"
There was a reason for her confidence.
"By the way! Teleportation and the like are prohibited! You must use only that incarnate body! That's the condition!"
Sylphid, with such a condition, there are hardly any gods who can beat you in speed.
At most, Shamash could transform his incarnate body into light and shoot it, but... hmm... even teleportation is prohibited.
Well, that's just too heartless.
If Baal were under the sky, he could teleport and move, but if even teleportation is prohibited... there's no answer, is there?
"Whatever! I'll give it a try!!"
Surprisingly, Baal boldly accepted Sylphid's trial.
"Baal, Sylphid's speed is no ordinary thing. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I too will never be defeated under this sky! It's fine! I can do it!!"
Hmm... if it goes well, that would be good, but... this condition is just too heartless, you know. Hmm...
Should I lend a hand just a little?