Chapter 76
"Wait, you're a goddess of justice?" Vasileios exclaimed loudly in surprise.
"Amongst several other titles, did I not mention them?" Bahamut replied with equal surprise.
"Quick, tell us what your other titles are," Dimitra eagerly asked.
"Well, some refer to me as the goddess of justice, destruction, and the sea. There are others I don't particularly like, such as the 'cosmic whale' or 'sea serpent,'" Bahamut replied, her face scrunching up.
"Whoa, the titles sound so random. How do justice, destruction, and the sea even go hand in hand?" Michalis asked.
"Fufufu, even I find some of my titles and abilities quite weird. For example, my form of justice is one tempered with mercy and punishment with forgiveness. But that could easily change, as I can also become the incarnation of destruction," Bahamut paused.
"As for the goddess of the sea titles, sea serpent and cosmic fish, it's an embarrassing story I do not wish to share," Bahamut said.
"Oooh, Bahamut-chan has such a hidden juicy story. Now I am definitely curious about what happened," Vasiliki responded.
Flick!
"Ouch, why did you hit me?" Vasiliki questioned.
"Silly girl, I won't be telling that story to anyone," Bahamut replied, flicking Vasiliki with her tail on the head.
"So, do all gods of justice enforce the same form of justice?" Eleni asked curiously.
"Hmm, that is a tough question," Bahamut said, taking a contemplative look.
"The answer would be no," she replied after a short while.
"Why, though?" Eleni asked.
"Another god/goddess may not see mercy and forgiveness as a necessary part of justice. So it is simply a matter of perspective," Bahamut explained.
"I have an unrelated question," Nikolaos said, his face taking a serious look.
"Isn't it possible for the gods in all their power to destroy all the monsters and let the world become peaceful?" Nikolaos asked.
The room fell silent, everyone staring at Bahamut, waiting for an answer.
'Isn't that like a taboo question, but I am curious if such a thing is possible, even though I probably already know the answer,' Draco thought.
"It is possible, yet also impossible," Bahamut replied, confusing everyone.
"Can you please explain?" Clair asked.
"I should probably start from the beginning, though I will omit many details that only gods are allowed to know," Bahamut replied.
"First of all, gods are forbidden from using their arcanum in the lower world. This was a rule made to prevent us from directly or indirectly twisting the mortal world. Well, it was also done out of boredom, since most gods lacked for nothing in the upper world besides entertainment," Bahamut began.
"So, are our just lives viewed as entertainment by the gods?" Michalis asked, a bit shocked by Bahamut's wording.
"No, silly. Not every god thinks that way. Like you mortals, there are gods considered good and some bad. In the end, good and evil is only a matter of perspective," Bahamut replied.
"I see," Michalis muttered, a bit dissatisfied with the answer.
"Anyway, if this rule is broken, the god/goddess will be forced back to the upper world, never to return. And this rule is reinforced by the primordial gods," she explained.
Clair gazed at Bahamut, her eyes brimming with curiosity.
"Primordial gods, you say?. What can you tell us about them?" she asked.
Bahamut's expression grew pensive as she considered how to best explain the complex hierarchy of the upper world.
"Even amongst the gods, there are intricate and often invisible ranks," she began, her tone measured and thoughtful.
"The primordial gods are a rare and enigmatic breed, predating the creation of pantheons. A simple explanation is that they are the oldest and possibly strongest gods/goddesses in the upper world" she said.
“Ooooh, are you perhaps a primordial god” Eleni asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“Sorry to disappoint you little one, but I am not that old.” Bahamut replied with a light chuckle.
Eleni had a slightly disappointed look on her face upon hearing the answer.
Bahamut felt a bit irked seeing Eleni's disappointed face, so she felt the need to impress her.
“If it’s any consolation, I am just a rank below the primordial gods” Bahamut said, a hint of pride in her tone.
Draco almost couldn’t hold himself from laughing out-loud at the scene.
Eleni’s face lit up and she leaned in, captivated by the revelation.
"Please, continue." Draco said, hinting at Bahamut to continue the earlier topic.
The group listened intently, their interest in Bahamut's words growing.
Bahamut sighed, her expression growing somber.
"It's true that the gods possess the power to obliterate the monsters that plague your world. However, to do so would be to upset the delicate balance that holds it in place." Bahamut explained.
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled children.
"The dungeon that plagues the lower world is not as simple as you all might think," Bahamut said, her voice grave.
"It is a threat that even the gods have to approach with the caution." she paused, allowing her words to sink in.
"The dungeon is quite resistant to divine power, and has even adapted to somehow absorb it, using that energy to strengthen itself further. So many realized that we might just make the situation worse" she said.
"Absorb divinity? That sounds incredibly dangerous. Does that mean the gods are limited in their ability to intervene and is the dungeon also a divine being?" Clair's brow furrowed in concern.
"Kind of," Bahamut replied, her voice tinged with hesitation but elaborated no further.
"However due to a pact whose details I cannot disclose, as well as the efforts of a certain god who has managed to suppress the dungeon, the mortal world has been spared from total annihilation thus far." she said.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock. "Annihilation? You mean the dungeon could potentially destroy the entire lower world?" Michalis exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief.
Bahamut nodded. "Indeed, the dungeon detests the gods and would likely retaliate with its full power on the mortal world should we break the agreed pact," she explained.
"Then why don't the gods unite and strike the dungeon at once? Surely that would be possible," Nikolaos asked, his brow furrowed in contemplation.
"Sadly, that is going to be extremely difficult," Bahamut replied.
"The gods aren't exactly united or like-minded, the same way all you mortals aren't." she added.
She paused, gathering her thoughts.
"I mentioned before that some gods are only in the mortal world for entertainment and want to keep the status quo. Taking that away from them would lead to another set of problems, especially since there are some extremely powerful gods amongst them." she explained.
Bahamut's gaze grew distant. "And before you ask, the answer is that it would be almost impossible. There are many gods that wield the power to destroy the entire mortal world. The gods are eternal, and many are whimsical, so a compromise had to be made." she said.
'Does Bahamut have the power to destroy the world too?' Draco couldn't help but wonder.
Clair felt a chill run down her spine at the gravity of the situation.
"Over the eons, several hardworking gods have tried various means to help the lower world," Bahamut continued, her voice tinged with a hint of regret.
"As you all already know, the spirits and dragon-kin were one of such methods tried, all in an effort to contain the dungeon's influence. But you can all guess how that ended up," she said, a touch of sorrow in her words.
"So around a thousand years ago, some gods decided to descend upon the mortal world and bestowed the blessing of Falna," Bahamut revealed, her gaze distant, as if recalling a distant memory.
"This divine gift had empowered and unlocked the potential of mortals, granting them the strength and abilities to venture into the dungeon and challenge its dangers. This was a way created by the gods to contain the dungeon without breaking the pact, a secondary effect was that it gave mortals a fighting chance and kept a bunch of annoying gods entertained." she added.
Bahamut paused, her expression thoughtful.
"Well, there are several other factors and reasons too many to name that played a part in everything, but I can't exactly say it all, so let's end it here." she concluded.
Michalis leaned back on the couch, a pensive expression on his face.
"Phew, that was a lot to take in," he murmured, his voice tinged with a mix of concern and awe.
The group fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts, contemplating the gravity of the situation they now found themselves in.
"What, are you all perhaps disappointed in the gods or perhaps me?" Bahamut asked, her voice carrying a hint of sadness.
Draco let out a heavy sigh, his brow furrowed as he contemplated an answer. "We don't know what to think," he admitted, lacing his words with a touch of uncertainty.
"It's a lot to process, but on another note, there's really nothing to think about. We should simply leave the problems of the gods to the other gods. After all, all we can do is deal with mortal problems anyway." he replied.
Draco wasn’t really surprised or bothered by Bahamut's revelations.
There were already various theories on online forums about the Danmachi world, in his old world.
While he had been privy to these insights, the rest of his familia were not.
So he gave such an answer to steer their minds away from spiraling down a rabbit hole of uncertainty.
Sensing the emotional turmoil that had gripped the group, Bahamut decided to interject.
"I may be forbidden from using my full abilities, but that does not mean I am without means to aid you. I will provide guidance, offer knowledge, and empower those among you who prove worthy." Her words were laced with a sense of authority, yet tempered with a genuine concern for their well-being.
Vasileios spoke up, his voice tinged with a hint of skepticism.
"And what else do the gods seek in return for such aid?" he questioned, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The goddess's expression grew sad, she was not expecting such a question from any of the children.
Thwack !!
“How can you ask such a thing, look how sad you made her” Dimitra immediately scolded Vasileios.
"From me, nothing more than your continued dedication to the cause of positive justice and the protection of the innocent. It is up to you children, to take up the mantle of heroism and face the darkness head-on." Bahamut replied, after a moment of contemplation.
The room fell silent, the gravity of Bahamut's words settling over the group like a heavy blanket.
They knew the task before them would be immense, but the goddess's faith in their abilities had kindled a spark of determination within their hearts.
Vasileios, his voice firm and resolute, spoke up.
"That we can accept. We will do whatever it takes to rid the world of these monstrosities and restore peace” he answered.
Bahamut's eyes shone with pride, and she nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.
Draco, however, couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the goddess's motivations.
'Why does it seem as though she is trying to lead them down the path of heroism?' he thought, his mind working overtime to unravel the complexities of the situation.
Bahamut didn’t have any reason to disclose all this information as it could easily backfire and destroy their new fragile familia.
But she did it, she brought them down and then firmly planted the seed of a noble goal in their young minds, while also strengthening their trust and reliance on her.
‘Is this her attempt to……’ Draco thoughts were cut short.
Bahamut's gaze had met his own, Draco felt a chill run down his spine.
It was as if the goddess could see straight into his soul, her smile carrying a hint of amusement, as if she had already read his mind.
She then raised a finger, placing it on her lips, a gesture signalling him to keep quite.
'How frightening, yet weirdly charming and amusing' Draco mused, giving her a nod of understanding.
What Bahamut had done wasn’t a bad thing, telling someone to be a hero was pointless.
They needed to strongly desire to be one, and saving the world from the dungeon just seemed to be the right goal to implant in their young minds.