#1067 A Beautiful War

Well, this all started rather abruptly.

A debate among the gods.

For some reason, the war goddess Athena and the war god Velesares have decided to descend to the mortal realm to clash over their opinions.

The topic of today’s debate is how to deal with the excessive population growth.

Thanks to a recent baby boom, the total population of this otherworld has skyrocketed. In fact, it has practically doubled.

When the population grows too much, it’s only natural that land and food become scarce.

What awaits us is a disastrous outcome.

It’s understandable that the gods would want to do something to prevent that.

But the god who proposed their own theory seems a bit... dubious.

The goddess of war herself, Athena.

Just what method does she plan to use to tackle the population increase?!

“Uh, I’ll be your moderator today. I’m the Saint. Nice to meet you all.”

“What?! You’re the saint?!” Momoko, standing next to me, is utterly shocked.

“Today’s debate participants are Velesares from the East and Athena from the West.”

“O Saint, I am truly grateful that thou hast provided us a place for our debate and agreed to serve as mediator,” Velesares says graciously.

I can tell he’s being considerate toward us.

“Hmph, how pitiable of thee to curry favor with mankind, Velesares! ‘Tis because of such behavior that, like Hephaestus, thy membership among the Twelve Olympians is rather ambiguous!”

Excuse me?

What kind of way is that to talk to our Velesares?

And did she just insult Hephaestus too? The god who’s helped me the most?!

“Eek?! What meanest thou, human?! Dost thou intend to threaten me, a goddess?!”

“There are few humans who can intimidate a god. I sought the Saint as mediator for that reason and because I hoped he would render a fair judgment in our forthcoming debate.”

Ah, being counted on like that makes me blush.

I owe a lot to Velesares on a daily basis, so if he’s relying on me, I’ve got to step up!!!

And so, today’s debate is taking place on our farm.

Some of the locals are gathering, drawn by the gods’ presence.

There’s not much else to do in winter, after all.

“Hmph, then let me proceed with mine argument forthwith! Though mine logic is so perfect, it may end with me doing all the talking!”

Ugh, just get on with it, please.

I’d rather you just leave without talking, but since I’m here, please keep it brief.

Let’s recap... The topic is how to adjust the excessive population growth, right?

“We should reduce them through war!!!”

All right, that’s a hard no.

Is what I’d like to say, but since the debate has just started, let’s at least hear her out.

“‘Tis a simple matter! What hath grown too much must be diminished! It is rational! If humans art being born in excess, then we shall slay as many as art born to restore balance! And the most fitting means for that is war!!!”

Athena speaks gleefully.

“War is when mankind engageth in endless slaughter amongst themselves! Through it, we can suppress the swelling of the populace and maintain an appropriate number! In this world, wars were waged until a few years past, but since they abruptly ceased, population growth hath become uncontrollable!!!”

“...”

Wait, wait, wait.

Let’s not start killing people just yet.

“Verily, humanity needeth war! For humankind, who increaseth recklessly like rats, there must be a divine system to manage and regulate them! That is war! War is the supreme gospel the gods have bestowed upon mankind!!!”

“That is not so.”

Ah, finally, someone is objecting to this crazy goddess.

Though he’s also a war god, his views are completely opposite.

“Athena, thy premise is flawed from the very start. Thou speakest of human procreation as if it were evil itself, but is not the increase of population a good thing? Numbers art strength. The more numerous, the more a species prospereth. Why wouldst thou deny this?”

“I say that overpopulation is a problem. And there is no tool more convenient than war to fine-tune it!”

Athena continues to spout dangerous ideas without a second thought.

Well, she is the goddess of war, so maybe it’s to be expected.

And now, the male war god’s perspective.

“Misunderstand me not. Indeed, war is an inseparable factor from human history, but it is but one aspect. War is not the essence of mankind.”

“What? War is the very essence of humanity!”

“Humans have, even whilst contending, toiled, pondered, researched, and advanced. Thus have they built culture and civilization. That is the true essence of humanity and what sets them apart from other creatures. No other being possesseth the ability to advance civilization.”

“But was it not war that advanced that civilization? ‘Necessity is the mother of invention.’ New technologies have always been created to slay many foes!”

“Not so. Such is oft said, but in truth, new inventions art mostly born in peaceful times, when culture and civilization flourish. Nay, war causeth civilization to regress. Conflict robbeth people of freedom, and mass slaughter burieth even rare talents.”

Th-This is starting to feel like an actual debate...!

Was this really supposed to be a debate?

“Athena, indeed, war taketh many lives. One might think it aideth in population control. Yet, in the end, the truth is that war is calamity and naught but regression of all things.”

“Wh-What?! Even thou art a god of war, thou deniest war?!”

“Precisely because I am a war god who governeth battles, I understand the malevolence of conflict more than any. A war god understandeth that his duty is to protect people from the scourge of war and to ensure as many as possible return alive. We art gods who avert misfortune.”

“Thou art wrong! I am the very embodiment of war—the brightest highlight in human history! Wars where countless heroes shine and art sung of by bards! I rule over that war and am likewise a being beautiful and splendid, praised by all humanity!” Athena says, practically swooning over her own words. “War is beautiful! War is resplendent! In history, it is war that is most fervently recounted! Humanity should rejoice when war is waged! They should thank us for granting brilliance to their lives!!!”

“The brilliance of human life lieth simply in living earnestly. And within that act of ‘living earnestly’ is included struggle.”

“And I say that war emiteth the strongest brilliance among them! The current world is shrouded in the darkness of stagnation! The war that continued for centuries hath ended, and it hath lost its beautiful luster! Therefore, I, the goddess Athena, propose to bestow new brilliance!!!”

Athena is vehemently arguing, almost spitting as she speaks.

She seems desperate to impose her own sense of justice.

“I have long thought it strange! That the humans lost the previous war! I, the war goddess Athena, stood with them! ‘Tis absurd that I, who governeth victorious wars, should see those I support lose!!!”

“Victory and defeat art ever part of battle. Athena, art thou attempting to rekindle war because thou art displeased with the previous outcome?”

“Is that so wrong?! I am the goddess who governeth victory! The deity who beareth the beauty and pride of war! It is unacceptable that I should bear the burden of defeat, so we shall wage war anew to set the rightful result! And in the process, many mmortal shall perish, adjusting the population to proper levels! ‘Tis killing two birds with one stone; is it not splendid?!”

It’s far from perfect.

So she wants to start a war just to satisfy her own desires?

“At present, the world is stable. A wise king hath ended the strife, and the collective will of the world is to use all power and wisdom for progress. We must not allow the whims of gods to disrupt this stability.”

“I am the goddess of victory! I cannot accept the humiliation of tasting defeat! Surely thou agreest that it is acceptable for humanity to wage war once more so that I may triumph! Miserable thou who governeth over defeat cannot understand!!!”

“Victory and defeat art inherent in battle. It is natural that the defeated bear the harsher fate. It is also logical that those in hardship require the help of gods. Therefore, I became the god of lost battles to protect the weak and the oppressed.”

“Spurious reasoning! The weak and defeated have no right to divine protection! Only victors art loved by the gods! Think not that all humanity hath the right to be loved by the gods!!!”

“So thou choosest to see only the positive facets of war? Ignoring the negative entirely, highlighting only the beautiful and glorious to adorn thyself?”

“That is precisely what a goddess of war is! In wars where I, Athena, descend, victory alone sufficeth! Therefore, the last war where mine own protected humans lost was indeed a mistake! To correct this error, we must wage war once more! Dost thou not agree?!”

She really expects us to agree with that?

I mutter as Athena’s gaze locks onto me.

“In the name of the war goddess Athena, I command thee! Humans, take up arms once more and ignite conflict! Fear not, for this time I shall fully support thee to ensure thine victory! I shall disregard the divine rule against excessive favoritism! With mine ultimate Athena Arc, I shall obliterate the opposing demons and merfolk!”

...

“And this time, humans shall become the masters of the world, and I, the goddess Athena, shall be revered eternally as the supreme deity! I am the most beautiful and mighty goddess! The golden apple should be bestowed upon me! I shall make that Poseidon taste the humiliation of defeat once more! Hooooo-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!!!”

Athena continues to ramble on about her own desires.

Well, she is the goddess of war, but it seems she has nothing else on her mind.

Now, what should I do?

The person next to me is trembling.

As if she’s trying to suppress an anger she can’t control.

That person is... the hero Momoko.

“Momoko, are you okay?”

She silently shakes her head at my question.

Even speaking might cause what she’s holding back to erupt; it must be tough.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to hold back.”

With that one sentence, it seems I released her restraints.

I hear a snapping sound, like something breaking.