Volume 8 Chapter 14 There Are Various Gods, Huh
"That's right, isn't it? Look, you heard it――yes?"
I unintentionally stared at Kagami-san's face.
"Huh, they really exist?"
"They do."
"For real?"
"For real."
It's not that I don't trust Kagami-san, but I need to make sure this information is solid.
Looking at Tsukiko next to me, she hesitated before speaking.
"There are beings called gods."
"That's right, Kou."
"What you've been saying since earlier is totally crazy. Are you stupid?"
I couldn't retort.
But wait.
"Are there really gods? I've been back in this world for quite a while, and I've never felt any such presence."
"Well, if you've been living in the city, you wouldn't encounter them."
With a resigned expression, Kagami-san explained.
"Oh, when it comes to Japan, gods and 'Mystery' are surprisingly close. Depending on whether negative thoughts gather, you get 'Mystery,' and if positive vibes come together, you get a god. So, you know, sometimes 'Mystery' turns into a god, or a god shifts to 'Mystery.' It's not that rare, really."
Huh, I kinda knew the gist of how 'Mystery' is born, but it's still a pretty fuzzy concept.
"Take, for example, that oni Yuusuke and Tsukiko battled. It was enshrined in a shrine as a rough spirit ('aramitama'). They revere it as a god because it's scary, and well, sometimes, they even ask it nicely not to misbehave."
"But for what it was, that guy was a pretty standard dangerous being."
"It doesn't change that fundamentally it attracts fear, so it doesn't turn into a positive presence. Well, either way, you won't come across local gods in modern times unless you go to, like, hidden places or some not-so-developed village untouched by modern civilization."
"Why's that?"
"Thanks to the progress of scientific civilization and the spread of the internet, you see."
Kagami-san answered simply.
As we were pondering, Kagami-san took out her smartphone and said,
"Science and technology are the exact opposite of mysteries and magic. As science advances, concepts like gods and 'Mystery' lose their power. Moreover, thanks to the internet, people can easily find answers now. If something believed to be a miracle is explained as just a physical phenomenon, interest wanes, you know?"
"Oh, I see, something like that."
Whether it's right or wrong, most situations can be explained for the time being, he continued.
"So when asked if there is a god, we answer yes. As for whether there is a god in the modern era capable of large-scale miracles, well, we don't know."
Kagami-san concluded it like that.
Hmm, it was enlightening. People's thoughts have given rise to gods and 'Mystery.'
I've heard something similar.
Then, Lisha murmured, perhaps thinking the same thing.
"Hey, doesn't this kinda remind you of that story about Hero-sama we heard the other day?"
"'The Chosen Hero (Brave Face),' right? Yeah, the principles are kinda similar."
Well, that was also about turning feelings for the Hero into power.
"So, Yusuke-san might've turned into a ghost too, depending on the situation, huh...?"
"Not wrong as a story, but maybe use slightly better words?"
If I became a ghost, I'd suddenly become cute, you know. If that happened, Eris's concerns wouldn't be entirely unfounded.
While Lisha and I were nodding in agreement, Kou had a somewhat indescribable expression.
"What's up?"
"Well, I get that there are gods in this world too, but it's quite different from ours, don't you think?"
"Huh?"
Thinking, "What's he talking about?" I looked at Kanami behind me, and she had a similar expression to Kou.
"Yeah, that's right. Essentially, they're different things."
"What do you mean?"
Tsukiko asked.
"Goddesses and demon god are said to have existed since the beginning of creation, you know? The sacred goddess was born, and along with her, the shadowy being known as the demon was brought into existence. Therefore, we who were born by the will of the gods are also opposing entities."
"Hmm, so basically, gods were around before humans, right?"
"In a nutshell, that's right."
It's like the chicken and egg debate, isn't it? Or maybe not.
Kagami-san, who had been listening to Kanami's story, nodded and said, "Oh, I see."
"The gods of Asteris are synonymous with the gods of our mythological system. When it comes to legendary gods or heroes of that caliber, they might have existed in the past, but in modern times, observation would be impossible, you know?"
"Is that so? Greek mythology is famous, and with the theory you mentioned earlier, they could appear, right?"
"Well, you see, just because something is famous doesn't mean anything. They only truly exist as gods when people genuinely believe in them. Even if they're brought into every kind of creation, even gender-bent, do you think their divinity is preserved?"
"I guess not."
Fame doesn't necessarily equal power, huh? That logic would mean any gods appearing in Japan would inevitably turn into beautiful girls. Well, that's something I'd like to see.
"So, it wouldn't be surprising if there's a land god-class being on the side of Try Order."
We heard, our expressions serious.
Either way, whether this is the God-Demon War or not, our mission remains the same. Protect Lisha and expose the full picture of the battle.
In a way, this is a chance. If I can decipher the rituals of this battle, I might be able to intervene in the God-Demon War, a magical conflict of gods.
Even if it's the will of the gods, I can't let different races be forced into killing each other, especially in front of Kanami and Lisha. Whatever the purpose of scattering the Hitogata is, next time they appear, I'll break through from there to wherever this 'master' is.
However, despite my determination, the Hitogata never appeared again.
While I was wondering why, the answer came a week later in the worst possible way.
===
November 27, Sunday.
To expose the shadowy figure is, ironically, to reveal what they have been hiding behind the curtain. Not externally, but internally. Those who have been averting their eyes must now step onto the stage.
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