-Conversation between Aion and Deme at a certain place-
「So, who’s the root of all evil? Or should we look into it somewhere else?」
Deme completely drooped down.
I guess he never expected that even the greater god of time would cooperate with me.
The greater god of time is a greater god that is under the direct control of the god of creation and is a special being.
「…..it’s Tantas.」
Tantas.
As I recall, he is a greater god who watches over a planet near that planet in question.
Right, he is.
「He did something a few decades ago.」
There was no damage to the planet and even to the children that time.
Therefore, he was only lightly punished.
This time, not only were the apprentices were taken advantage of but planets and children were also harmed.
There are also reports of damage to the divine beasts.
He’s going to be heavily punished this time.
「Well, I don’t really care about him. Deme, why did you break the rules?」
What bothers me is Deme.
The other greater gods will do something about Tantas.
He must be obeying someone’s order.
-0-
Deme stares at me.
As we looked at each other, he suddenly smiled bitterly.
Then, Deme is momentarily enveloped in light.
When it subsided, his appearance already changed.
「I haven’t seen that look for a really long time.」
In front of me, instead of an old man with long gray hair and long beard, is a young man with short gray hair.
「Yes, it’s been a while since I appear like this.」
At some point in time, Deme changed the way he looked and spoke.
He looked like a timeworn old man and his speech is a little distinctive.
When I saw him like that the first time, I was surprised.
-0-
Why had he changed his appearance and the way he speaks?
The reason is something obvious.
God’s appearance won’t change no matter how much time passes.
Perhaps Deme wanted to change even a little.
Even I had changed my appearance before because I wanted to experience aging.
It felt empty so I only did it once.
「When I found them out, those apprentices had already summoned heroes. It’s a failure. Five children were involved, four of whom I saw off back to their planet but the last one vanished before my eyes.」
That should be him who’s surviving on the planet.
「I thought of finding him right away but he had already received the gifts of a summoned hero. After confirming that, I….」
Hero summoning gifts. Gifts that transform a normal human into a hero.
Well, as far as I’m concerned, that was binding.
To forcibly make someone a hero.
「I was sure he would have died before I could find him. Since the hero summoning failed, there’s no way that child could endure the gifts. Even if he could withstand it, I thought his power would soon rampage and he would die.」
Certainly. An ordinary child would not be able to withstand the enormous amount of power that came along with the gifts.
That’s why hero summoning incorporates a technique to remold the body so that it could withstand the gifts.
If a hero summoning failed, that means the children involved would be receiving the gifts with their original bodies.
It’s normal for Deme to think he would die.
-0-
But that’s the strange part.
Why was he able to endure the gifts?
Moreover, they are gifts for four heroes. Even an apprentice may or may not be able to endure it.
As for the rampage of power, he has the opportunity to dissipate his power but that would be nothing but a miracle.
But that’s how he managed to survive.
However, the reason how he was able to endure the first gift was investigated but when I looked at the result of the investigation, I didn’t get anything.
「So I did not look for him.」
「……I see.」
If it was the old Deme, I’m sure he would have looked for him no matter how slim the chances are.
「That’s why I’m so surprised when I monitored the apprentices and found a whole new planet and on that planet was the child I thought was dead.」
I stare at Deme, who’s shaking his head, smiling bitterly while recalling it.
He looks like an old man with tired eyes even though he’s supposed to be young again.
「I immediately pretended that I knew nothing about that child and then, everything was as Aion said. I tried to cover my first error in judgment. 」
Trying to erase a planet is how you cover your mistake?
「Are you telling the truth?」
「….yeah, you’ve known me for a long time. Well, it doesn’t really matter if I made a mistake.」
「What do you mean, Deme?」
「Aion, don’t you think we’ve lived far too long? I no longer love the planets nor my children.」
Indeed. I think I have lived too long too.
However, in my case, I still love my planets and children.
「I’ve changed my appearance and turned my gaze away for a long time. And yet, the moment I met that child, I was filled with hatred. That child did nothing wrong. He was even relieved when he met me, that’s it. However, for some reason, I felt hatred when I saw his face. So I wanted to remind that child that there are some things that can’t be helped.」
……you’re breaking my heart, Deme.
God is immortal so we’ll never die.
For those who have life span, this may be something to envy but in reality, it’s hell.
Because there’s no end.
It’s natural because we are immortals but the fact that we can’t meet our end is tougher than anyone can imagine.
-0-
When one’s apprenticeship is over, a new god will be born, an immortal god.
You will never age, never get sick.
At the start, you’ll be able to grasp where you are standing.
And the road beyond the path that only gods can walk in.
I can still remember how happy I was to have my own planet. I used all my power to help my children live in a better environment and every day was fulfilling.
However, as time goes by, longer time goes on. Little by little, you’ll lose sight of that path that you should be walking in.
One day, you’ll just ask yourself, “Where am I headed as a god?”.
That time, I tried to look back and remember the past but it was so far away that I don’t even know if I was right.
Having lived for too long, anyone would be mentally exhausted.
「Aion, why can’t the children stop fighting?」
I can see frustration and hatred on Deme’s face.
「Haa, I wonder.」
「I worked hard. I led those children down to a path where they can all live together however, they betrayed me again and again. They killed each other, even their own family. How can they do that!」
One of the main causes of mental exhaustion is the children.
Among the children, the humans, beastkins, dwarves, elves, and chimeras are very problematic.
And I’m not saying that they should love each other to return the love we give them.
There’s nothing wrong with them going to a direction other than where you led them.
-0-
However, killing their own kind or killing each other because they look different is what wears our hearts out.
It’s not about the food chain where many things are intertwined but from a god’s point of view, them killing each other is meaningless.
It may be meaningful to the children who live there but to us, it’s a truly exhausting act.
That’s because we have to think which side would do the planet good if we want to end the conflict.
That’s the time when we need to decide which children to abandon……..
There was a time in the beginning when I was desperate and wondered what was wrong with me.
It was so long ago that I no longer remember exactly how I felt back then but it must have been very painful because I still feel pain.
「You find it hard, why? Those children are our creations.」
「…..you’re right. There was a time when I thought they were cute. But that was too long ago.」
Deme quickly makes eye contact with me.
「Aion, do you still love your children.」
「Ah, I still feel that way.」
「I see. I feel a little envious. Come to think of it, that child is still alive, right?」
That child?
You mean him?
「Yeah. A few days ago, they took control of the planet, and now, there is a very strong barrier that makes anyone unable to see what’s happening inside.」
Deme looks confused.
Why are you acting like that?
Did I say something funny?
「Funny, I thought I fixed it….」
Fixed?
I thought I had it all figured out since the god of time showed me the past of that planet but you did something else?
Is that related to the creation of that powerful barrier?
「What did you fix?」
「I just made sure that his hero summoning gifts work.」
「W-what did you say!」
「Sorry.」
Is he safe?
No, I have no choice but to believe in him since he managed to survive until now.
「Haa, do you know anything about the magic stone of fortune?」
「You don’t have to mind it, Aion.」
「Why?」
That magic stone of fortune is the only thing that can kill a god.
There’s no way I wouldn’t mind it.
「That thing on that planet is one of the failures. It’s just a stone with power.」
「Is that so?」
「Yeah, even Tantas can’t take out the real magic stone of fortune. He only managed to take out a failure.」
Right. It’s a good thing that it was not a magic stone that can kill a god.
However, even if it is a useless magic stone, it has enormous power.
If that power were to be misused, even the nearby planets would be affected.
「Even so, I think we should mind it.」
「….I suppose so」
Deme smiles bitterly.
He should be young-looking but he gives out a tired old man aura.
「I should get going.」
「No, Deme. You will come with me.」
「Eh?」
「We’re going to that planet and you’ll apologize to him. That’s your responsibility.」
Deme’s eyes widened a little but smiled sadly and agreed.
Seeing that, I thought of my future self.
I still have love for my children.
However, compared to the past, there’s a vast difference.
I wonder how long will I be like this.
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