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"…Grandpa, are you a god?"
"Yes. Believe it or not, I am a god."
The girl—Rosheeda-kun—and I had settled by the lakeside, engrossed in idle conversation. Centuries ago, I was a familiar face throughout the world, and those who didn't know me were rare. However, ever since Ishvaldi became a functional nation, I had mostly remained within its borders, acting as the nation's deity rather than an individual god. Even people living abroad, though aware of my existence, rarely had actually seen me in person. At best, they'd only seen my portrait.
"Oh. So that means, Grandpa, you're our father, right?"
"…Father?"
"Yeah. Because you created us, didn't you? So you're our father."
Rosheeda's words left me momentarily agape. "Father"—well, in terms of being the progenitor of humanity, it wasn't wrong. It wasn't wrong, but having never been called that before, it felt refreshingly new.
"Hmm, that's not bad."
I wondered if Graciano-kun or Elyshifan-kun would call me that too. I considered it for a moment but immediately shook my head, dismissing it as impossible. Not just them, but every citizen of Ishvaldi without exception worshipped me as a supernatural being. It was highly likely they'd consider such an easygoing relationship disrespectful now. In contrast, the girl before me was completely different from them.
Firstly, though she was surprised to learn I was a god, her demeanor showed no change whatsoever. It wasn't that she was looking down on me; rather, I found myself drawn to her unpretentious nature. And above all, what particularly caught my eye was…
(What incredible latent magical power. Could this possibly be even greater than Elyshifan-kun's…?)
An immense magical power resided within her small body. She was only twelve years old, I learned when I asked. Still in the midst of her growth spurt, her talent astonished me. She was truly a prodigy, one born every few centuries, or even millennia. Had I ever encountered another human being in my existence who could rival her?
(If I were to share my power with her, how much… no.)
It would be a lie to say I wasn't interested. However, she wasn't a soldier. From our conversation, she didn't seem to be the type to enjoy fighting. If she wished for it, I would share my power, but if not, I shouldn't interfere.
"—pa. Are you listening, Father?"
"Hm? Oh, yes, I am. So, 'Father' it is, then?"
"Was that not allowed?"
"No, it's fine. It's refreshing. But I feel a little bad for Rosheeda-kun's real father."
"…My parents died when I was little."
Her casual words made me freeze slightly. Now that I thought about it, it was strange for such a small girl to be alone so deep in the forest.
"…Was it some kind of illness?"
"Well, yes. Both of them caught a plague… it seemed to happen very quickly."
"Plague." That word snagged my attention. When I asked her the name of the illness, it was, as expected, the same pathogen I had identified about ten years ago.
The spread of an unknown disease had been reported through the nation. It was contagious, spreading from person to person, causing the infected's magical power to rampage, leading to a terrifying death within three days. Upon receiving the report, I immediately moved to resolve the anomaly. For a god, pathogens posed no threat, and the disease quickly subsided.
…However, it was not without casualties. I could resurrect those who had recently died. But there was a risk of further infection if the bodies of those who died from the plague were left uncremated, so they had been cremated. Even I couldn't resurrect those without both body and soul. Among those who had lost family members, some conveyed their inexpressible feelings to me through their gazes and attitudes. They were grateful that I had resolved the cause of their loss, but they silently questioned why I hadn't come sooner. Was I not a god? Their unspoken voices were clearly felt. I distinctly remember the trouble I had calming Elyshifan-kun, who was angered by their reactions and moved to confront them.
(She must have been about one or two years old at the time. It's understandable if she doesn't remember the details of that period.)
Otherwise, she wouldn't be so casual with me. If I had acted sooner, her parents might have been saved. She had a right to know. At the very least, I, as the cause, couldn't simply befriend her in silence. It was different from the citizens of the nation. Though it pained me to potentially distance myself from her, who treated me so naturally, I had no choice but to accept it.
"Rosheeda-kun. The truth is—"
I told her everything: how I had identified the cause of the disease and eliminated it, how I had resurrected the infected and those whose bodies remained, and how her parents might have been saved if I had acted sooner. At first, Rosheeda tilted her head, looking at me curiously, but as the story sank in, she listened in serious silence.
"—The fact that your parents couldn't be saved is also my responsibility. I apologize."
As I bowed my head in apology, the girl, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
"I see… Thank you."
"…Huh?"
Instead of the words of resentment I had braced myself for, I received words of gratitude. Startled, I hastily looked up to see the girl with a faint smile on her face.
"I couldn't save your parents, you know?"
"I couldn't save them either."
"You were still a child, though…"
"Even other adults couldn't do anything, could they?"
"I was able to do something."
"And you did, didn't you? Thanks to that, no more lives were lost. I was small back then, so I don't remember everything, and to be honest, I barely remember my parents. But I somehow remember that they cared for me deeply."
──So, thank you. For saving everyone.
Her words made my eyes widen. Indeed, my actions likely minimized the damage. If a hundred people heard this, ninety-nine would undoubtedly praise my actions. However, for the remaining one, the victim, it wasn't something that could be easily dismissed as "good."
"…You."
"Hmm?"
"Why do you hold such a view? I have the duty and power to guide you all. It's only natural for you to be saved. The ones who fell through were entirely my fault. You have every right to curse me."
"I wouldn't do that."
"Why not?"
"Why, you ask? Because you tried your best, Father. I think it's wrong to criticize someone who tried their best, even if they couldn't reach their goal."
"That's…"
"Oh, but there's one thing I don't like."
Rosheeda-kun, who had been faintly smiling, suddenly frowned and glared at me. I resigned myself to accepting whatever she said, assuming she had some lingering feelings.
"I don't like that you think it's natural for you to be blamed."
"Huh?"
A completely unexpected remark escaped her lips, making my eyes go wide.
"Because, thanks to you, Father, so many people were saved. You don't have to look so gloomy; you should be prouder. And it's the same with other people… everyone immediately goes, 'To Creator God-sama~ To Creator God-sama~' whenever something happens. Don't they ever think of trying to do something themselves?! Don't you think so?!"
"Eh?! No, well… but it would be fine if I just tried harder—"
"Naive! Because Father is like that, everyone doesn't feel like trying harder themselves! Do you understand that?!"
"Ah, yes, I'm sorry."
"Besides—"
From then on, her complaints flowed out like a dam breaking. My first impression of her was that she was a quiet girl, fitting the word "lady," but seeing her express dissatisfaction with hardly any change in her expression felt incredibly odd.
"—So… sigh, well, whatever. What I want to say is this: humanity, we aren't that weak."
"..."
That's not true. Humans die easily. Unlike me, they can't live for a century, and various hardships await them even in their short lives. They are weak creatures that would easily perish without me, a God. In fact, many people lost their lives helplessly to a single pathogen that was nothing to me. Rosheeda-kun is only twelve. The world is not so small or kind that it can be measured by your values. As an elder, I had to convey that truth, a wall she might one day encounter.
Yet… why? Looking into her eyes, those words of denial caught in my throat and wouldn't come out. Perhaps sensing my feelings, she spoke as if lecturing me.
"Compared to you, Father, we might not be strong at all. We might fail many times. I'm still a child, so they tell me it's dangerous to go into the forest, but I came here alone, and I became friends with everyone."
At Rosheeda-kun's words, the animals, who had kept a certain distance from me, approached us. Some magic allowed the control of animals, but she showed no sign of using it. Unbelievably, she must have fostered a friendship with them without magic. It wasn't something an ordinary person could do, nor would they even attempt it. Yet, she accomplished it. No, she probably didn't even think of it as an accomplishment.
"It's amazing to be able to do things alone, but isn't it lonely? I think it would be more fun if everyone worked together."
"Work together…"
I had never thought of that. To me, humans were objects to protect, beings to be cared for. No matter how many humans gathered, they could not compare to me. Therefore…
"…Is it still too difficult?"
"Yes, it is. It's always been my natural assumption to protect them. I've always thought that way."
"Then at least here, you don't have to be so tense. There's just me and these guys here, and even a god can vent their frustrations sometimes, can't they?"
"But that would trouble you…"
"Hah, Father, you're always working hard, aren't you? Besides, just listening isn't a bother at all. You worry too much. If you keep thinking so hard about everything, you'll go bald."
"G-going bald is a bit…"
I instinctively clutched my head, trembling. Gods are immutable; thus, my appearance wouldn't change. Yet, a shiver ran down my spine. How casually this child said something so dreadful.
(And she says it's okay to vent… I never thought I was particularly pushing myself.)
This was something I had done as a matter of course, even before creating the nation. I did it because I wanted to, so I had never felt it was hard. Yet, from her perspective, did it seem like I was pushing myself? She was a type I had never encountered before. Many had sought my help, but no one had extended a hand to me. There were those who followed behind me, but no one tried to walk beside me.
(Perhaps I simply didn't believe in them, in humans' potential. I feel like I might understand that with her.)
"…Understood. Then, if you don't mind, may I occasionally share things with you?"
"!!—Yes, if I can be of help."
Upon my words, Rosheeda-kun smiled. It wasn't the slight upturn of her lips from before, but a full, blossoming smile like a flower.
(I thought she was quite calm for her age, but when she smiles, her face looks her age.)
Today was a good day. It was a place I had stumbled upon by chance, but I had an unexpected encounter. God is immutable. However, to make the world better, perhaps I, too, must change. Well, for today—
"The sun is setting. Shall we head back from here? I'll see you home?"
"Eh?! N-no, no, it's fine. It'd be bad."
"Children shouldn't be so reserved. Besides, I'd be worried leaving you here alone."
"Uh, um… that is…"
"?"
I tilted my head at Rosheeda-kun's sudden flustered behavior. At first, I thought she was simply being considerate about me escorting her, but it seemed there was more to it. As I pondered if there was some other reason, her earlier words suddenly resurfaced.
'Compared to you, Father, we might not be strong at all. We might fail many times. I'm still a child, so they tell me it's dangerous to go into the forest, but I came here alone, and I became friends with everyone.'
"…I see. Since you came here without your family knowing, if I'm with you, they'll know you entered the forest, won't they?"
"!!"
Considering the age at which she lost her parents, it was impossible that she had lived alone all this time.
"I'll apologize with you, so shall we go home?"
"Don't treat me like a child."
"But you are a child."
A laugh escaped me at Rosheeda-kun's pouting, displeased expression. I had thought she was quite mature, but in some ways, she was still very much a child.
"Come on, let's go."
"No, really, it's fine. If they find out I came into the forest on my own, it'll be hard for me to come here again…"
"Hmm..."
That… felt a little sad. Even in this short time, I understood how much she cherished this place and the animals. Taking that away from her felt somewhat wrong. The animals here seemed fond of her, and it would probably be much less dangerous than her going somewhere else.
"…Understood. Then, at least I'll accompany you to the edge of the forest. That much should be fine, right?"
"If that's the case, then… okay, my house is that way."
I began walking beside Rosheeda-kun as she led the way.
"Are you pretty free, Father?"
"That's rude. Believe it or not, I'm the leader of a nation, you know?"
Walking side-by-side with the setting sun behind them, they looked just like a close parent and child.
A Shift in Routine
The next morning.
In the castle town of Ishvaldi, the Creator God was present. It was early morning, just after sunrise, so the main street, usually bustling with people, was sparsely populated. He had originally planned to be away for several days, but after his encounter with a certain girl, he decided to return to the nation.
"Oh, Creator God-sama!"
Even so, a keen-eyed woman of middle age spotted him and rushed over, her face brightening. As she approached, he realized he recognized her face. She was, if he recalled correctly, a farmer. Not just her, but he often received requests from those directly involved in the nation's food supply, more than from others. Sometimes it was to simply accelerate crop growth, other times it was to regenerate crops damaged by storms.
"Good morning, Creator God-sama. You're out early."
"Yes, I had some errands to run."
Given that he had snuck out of the castle, he couldn't quite say that he had been outside the nation until just now. He vaguely explained, and the woman, without a hint of suspicion, simply replied, "Is that so?" with a smile.
"So, do you have a request for me?"
"Yes. Actually, I was hoping to ask for your power again…"
As he listened, it was, as usual, a request to accelerate the growth of new crops she had started cultivating. Normally, growing crops required a mountain of tasks: suitable soil and climate, sufficient water, pest control, and so on. However, if he used his power, none of that was necessary. The time to harvest would be drastically cut, there would be no pest damage, and the taste would be guaranteed. Given all that, it was only natural for everyone to rely on him.
"I see, I understand. Then, let's get started immediately…"
"? Creator God-sama?"
It was a normal, unchanging routine. It was his duty to fulfill a request from a beloved child. That had always been the norm. However—
'Humanity, we aren't that weak.'
The words of the girl he had met only yesterday resurfaced in his mind.
"......"
"Um… is something wrong?"
"No, nothing at all. Here, take this."
"…Uh?"
The woman tilted her head, looking at what he had pulled out: a large bag filled with white granules. In short, it was fertilizer.
"It's a special blend of fertilizer I concocted."
"I know it's fertilizer, but…"
"It might be sudden and confusing, but I think the harvest will be better if everyone cultivates it together, rather than solely by my power. It will require a little more effort, but what do you think?"
"…If Creator God-sama says so."
The woman looked at him and the fertilizer in his hand alternately, her expression confused by his sudden proposal, but she nonetheless trusted his words and accepted the fertilizer. She bowed deeply and departed, clutching the fertilizer. Watching her go, he nodded with satisfaction.
(Little by little. Just little by little is fine. If I don't interfere and create more opportunities for them to act… surely…)
Surely, that would lead to a foundation where the world could exist peacefully even without him. Then, a world where everyone was truly happy…
It was an ordinary morning in an ordinary day. A scene as everyone prepared to begin their usual day. It was a small change, like a pebble dropped into the vast ocean. Yet, starting today, this nation would undergo significant transformation.
──At that moment, no one realized that this would become the turning point leading to the world's destruction.