#981 The God of Happy Endings

Continuing the chat with Cronus and Sugawara no Michizane.

So, what are you two plotting together?

Spill the beans.

First up, Sugawara no Michizane’s testimony:

“Hm-hm-hm... Oh, saint, dost thou know what kind of deity I am?”

“A god of curses?”

“Those were the wild days indeed...”

Okay, I know you’re hinting at something else.

You’re the god of scholarship, right?

The god of all knowledge that every civilization eventually needs. The indispensable method to acquire post-birth intelligence.

“Indeed, for all beings, the pursuit of knowledge is essential! Through the study of wisdom, one attains the full measure of their capabilities as a person. It is no exaggeration to say that it is knowledge that shapes humanity itself!”

“Verily, one is not truly human merely by birth! A person is born human, yet it is through learning and study that one becomes a complete and true human being! Thusly!”

Even Cronus is getting in on this now.

“I create them!”

“I teach them!”

“TOGETHER, OUR POWERS MAKE HUMANS THE PERFECT BEINGSSSS!!!”

The god of Eastern learning and the god of Western agriculture, arm in arm, laughing heartily.

...Yeah, I get what you’re saying, and it makes sense.

But coming from you two, it feels off somehow.

“So, Cronus, you’re helping Sugawara no Michizane?”

“Indeed. It is not enough to simply let people multiply aimlessly. If they do not understand right from wrong, they shall continue to cause chaos and wars, becoming a blight on the land.”

That’s where Michizane comes in.

“By spreading the knowledge that I possess, under the protection of Lord Cronus, humanity shall greatly flourish. With this wisdom, they shall become enlightened beings, establishing nations and creating laws that shall guide all of humankind towards righteousness.”

“I shall be the one to bring them into existence!”

“And I shall be the one to educate them!”

“With a seamless two-pronged approach, Lord Michizane and I art the perfect combination to protect and lead humanity. Indeed, it is a divine union!”

Hahahaha! The two gods laugh again.

Noisy.

Hmm, who knew these gods had such synergy?

Who was it that brought them together?

It was me. Right.

Did my meddling make these two gods from different dimensions meet and form this partnership?

No, I can’t take all the blame.

Gaia, who brought Cronus back on a whim, shares some responsibility, too.

“Thank you, gods, for bringing my wittle brotherrrr.”

Junior cheerfully thanks them.

“Oh, what a cute child. How it brings back memories. Zeus was once this innocent, too.”

Please don’t compare my child to that scoundrel god.

“Verily, the children born into this world shall be guided by mine own divine wisdom. They shall learn, be taught, and become individuals of great renown. Indeed, even those who art being born as we speak shall follow this path. Now then, to which esteemed institution of higher learning dost thou aspire?”

“Samurai Schoooool.”

Junior’s innocent response makes me smile.

Meanwhile, Platy is fervently praying beside us...

“Please, let my sons get into good schools! Good schools! Good schools! Good schools!!!”

She’s praying non-stop.

...Platy, who was once a symbol of rebellion as one of the Six Witches, is now like this...

Motherhood sure changes people.

“Verily, never did I imagine to encounter such fortuitous companionship in this otherworld, O Lord Cronus! We art deities destined to aid one another!”

“Indeed, indeed! In this light, it seems we art kindred spirits, and our meeting is naught but fate’s own decree!!!”

Gods talking about fate?

But now that you mention it, they do have similarities.

Both Cronus and Michizane rose to the top through their own abilities in their respective worlds.

Cronus became the king of the Titans.

Michizane became a high-ranking court official.

But right when everything seemed perfect… everything went downhill.

“HM?”

Lord Michizane was exiled due to political rivals.

Cronus lost a war with his sons and was sealed deep underground.

A tragic end.

You could say they had that in common.

“THE GENT IS RIGHTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!”

Don’t shout in unison. These two gods are getting too chummy with each other.

“Verily, the saint speaks truth! No matter how many art born and receive the finest of educations, if in the end they art betrayed and perish in wrath, it is all for naught!”

“Even in the event of defeat in war, the more effort exerted in the struggle, the more tragic and sorrowful the final calamity becomessssss!”

Both gods are crying and wailing excessively.

Did I trigger some trauma in them?

“Indeed! Our numbers are insufficient! To ensure that many art born, educated well, and meet a blissful conclusion, we must summon the deity who governs over happy endings! The third member of our council!”

“Verily, a happy end is precisely what we require most! For it is victory that begets friendship and diligence! O saint, dost thou know of a deity who presides over happy endings?”

Even if you ask me that out of the blue…!

Hmm, let’s see, from my limited mythological knowledge...

How about Izanami from Japanese mythology, who boasted, ‘I’ll kill a thousand every day!’?

That’s more of a tragic figure, I guess.

There aren’t many gods who specifically handle the concept of happy endings…!

As I was feeling lost…

“Such disgraceful behavior.”

“WHO’S THERE?!”

A figure appears, looking like a mummified monk.

Sensei, who gained eternity through death, the Lifeless King?

“What brings you here, Sensei?”

“I came to offer New Year’s greetings and check on the summoned gods.”

Ah, right. The gods can only descend to the mortal world if Sensei summons them.

But still…

“As gods, how can you be so pitiful? Fearing the inevitable end, can you live life fully?”

“U-Um...?”

That’s Sensei’s commanding presence.

He’s speaking boldly even to gods.

“Indeed, as the gods say, a good birth and upbringing would make the world flourish. But if the end is also decided by the gods, human life loses its meaning.”

“What dost thou mean…?!”

“No matter how much the gods nurture them, each human’s life is their own. Where they go and how they end up is up to them. Even if it’s a tragic end, if it’s what they desired, it’s a good death.”

When Sensei, now a Lifeless King, says it, it sounds more mysterious and persuasive.

“If everything is left to the gods, life has no purpose. Gods, please watch over them until they are born and raised.”

“HOW TOUCHINGGGGGGG!”

The gods suddenly start crying.

“Such profound words...! Sensei, please join our group!”

"Be born well, live well, and die well! We shall become a perfect and complete unit with the triad of us divine beings!"

Then they cling to him.

“Ah! I just offered my opinion! I’m just an ordinary immortal, unworthy of standing with gods…!”

“Don’t say that, join usssssssss!”

“Please guide usssssss!!!”

Even gods seek Sensei’s wisdom.

To think that’s Sensei’s greatness even reached the gods…

That thought alone moved me deeply.

But the baby boom triggered by Cronus’ concern… It’s good to know it wasn’t due to the Christmas spirit.

Since births are inevitable, we’ll rely on Lord Michizane’s blessings to provide a proper education.

No matter how they come into this world, we’ll give them all the love we can!!!