“Isn’t the sky the highest thing? It’s above everything, so it’s obviously the most amazing! So why aren’t you praising me?!”
The sky-blue little dwarf was squealing and flailing around dramatically. That’s Baal for ya.
I sighed while looking at the rambunctious little one.
“I have much to say, but let me ask you one thing first. How did you know I was here?”
“Auntie Shamash told me.”
Ah… Auntie…
Calling Shamash ‘Auntie’… You’re something else, kid.
“Call her ‘Sister,’ not ‘Auntie.'”
“No way! Based on age alone, she’s definitely an aunt!”
“Hmm, yes, she is older…”
So, does that mean I should be called ‘Auntie’ too?
I’ve gotten used to being called ‘Mother,’ but ‘Auntie’ feels a bit off.
“So, give me some praise already! Grandma!”
“Grandma…?”
That was unexpected ambush.
Perhaps I should commend my own patience for not spewing flames in that instant.
“Don’t call me Grandma…”
“But based on age alone, you’re basically ancestor-level, right?”
“That may be true, but…”
Using age as a weapon like that… Not just any kid could pull that off.
“Huff, huff… Deep breaths… Huff…”
Just ignore it. He’s just a clueless kid after all. Like a day-old pup who doesn’t know to fear lions.
If I got mad at every little thing he said, it would show how small-minded I truly am. A deity getting upset over childish words… Not a good look.
So, let’s move on.
“It’s not about age. Wouldn’t you get annoyed if someone called you ‘kid’?”
“But it’s the truth! Auntie or Grandma.”
“Shamash and I might overlook such terms, but be careful what you say in front of other children.”
Shamash probably thought complaining about such things was unnecessary and let it slide… But other kids might take offense and react strongly.
Anyway…
“Did you really come all this way just to get praised?”
“Yep!”
Even though I hold the position of Supreme Deity… Newer gods tremble and hide just from seeing me, yet this guy boldly comes seeking me out. Is he fearless or just reckless?
“Praise isn’t something you can just demand. You need to do something praiseworthy first. Just being born with certain traits isn’t enough to earn praise.”
Sure, we could compliment先天적인 appearance, but fundamentally, praise is for achievements, right?
You don’t get praised just for being the Sky God by birth.
“Hmm… Something praiseworthy…”
The sky-blue kid pondered deeply at my words, then spoke up with an idea.
“I’ll become super great! Like… King! King of the Gods! Then Grandma will praise me, right?”
“Let’s drop the ‘Grandma’ thing…”
“But what else should I call you?”
“I do have a name, you know. Though I’m not telling.”
At this, Baal puffed his cheeks in frustration before speaking.
“Why won’t you tell me your name?”
The reason for not revealing my name…
There’s no real reason, but… Let’s exaggerate a bit and mess with this kid.
“In truth, my name is sealed.”
“Sealed?!”
“Yes. The power within my name is so overwhelming that hearing it would drive weaker beings insane and kill them instantly.”
“Crazy… die…?”
“And even gods aren’t exempt. Hearing or saying my name would destroy their deity status, making them lose their divine seats. That’s why I’ve self-sealed my name.”
Of course, it’s all lies.
I’ve never told anyone my name, and there’s no such power in it anyway.
How could someone know a name they’ve never heard?
“So, curious about my name?”
Smirking slightly, I asked Baal, who started trembling with fear.
He must be imagining the horrors of learning such a terrifying name and panicking accordingly.
Hmm. My attempt to mildly scare him turned out pretty entertaining.
“Well, then! We can use another name, right?”
“Hm?”
Another name?
“Like how Auntie Shamash calls you Mom or Mother of Life? Those work fine, right?”
“That’s not a name.”
“But! Then! Call you something else instead of that scary name! Some kind of title works too, right?”
I nodded slightly at Baal’s suggestion.
Though there’s nothing scary about my name in reality.
“Then! Grandma will get a new name from me!”
“Can we stop with the ‘Grandma’ already…”
Ignoring my protests, Baal shouted despite his pale face.
“Gaia!”
“Hm?”
“Gaia will be your new name! No more Grandma! No using the scary name! And no ‘Mother of Life’ either! From now on, it’s Gaia! Gaia!”
The wailing sky-blue kid. Watching him, I let out a small sigh.
“Do as you wish. Whatever.”
By the way… Gaia… Isn’t that the Earth Goddess from Greek-Roman mythology? Worth checking on Wikipedia sometime.
「Earth Goddess from Greek-Roman mythology. The earth itself. The world itself.
She’s also the Goddess of Creation and Mother of the World.」
Hmm… This… It strangely matches my profile.
Skipping over the Earth Goddess part… Being the Goddess of Creation and Mother of the World…
「The source of life, existing simultaneously with the birth of the world. The origin of matter and the rules of the world itself.
A goddess possessing the ability to create new beings and worlds.
Known as the Goddess of Reproduction, Creation, and Life, she governs oracles, prophecies, and oaths.」
Hmm… What is this? Am I…?
No way. I’m not some Earth Goddess! I’m just a silver dragon who creates various things!
But… Why so many overlapping points? Why? She’s clearly a deity from another world!
While deep in thought, a small voice came from beside me.
“Does the name Gaia displease you?”
Baal, looking anxious and somewhat timid. Hmm… Seeing this small child make such an expression… Displeases me.
Whatever happens in another world is none of my concern. There is there, here is here.
Different worlds. Let’s draw the line.
“The name Gaia suits me well.”
“Really? For real?”
“Yes.”
Baal reacting intensely to my single word. Truly a young child.
Hmm. If I raise this kid properly… Could it reduce some of the faith directed at me?
As the Sky God and King of the Gods, he’d be suitable to take over some divine responsibilities.
Though he’s a bit任性and has a touch of arrogance, those can be corrected through proper education.
If I keep being the Supreme Deity forever… I might actually turn into the literal Goddess of Life.
Good. Let’s raise this brat.
Let’s cultivate him into the Sky God and King of the Gods, then pass off some divine duties.
That way… My workload will decrease a bit. Yep, let’s do it.
For my peaceful life. Aim for the ultimate layabout lifestyle!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Gaia. Mother of all lands.
Her name arose during the era when countless gods were born into the world.
It marked the beginning of the Age of the Gods.
While ancient deities like the Mother of Life existed beforehand, their roles were mainly related to natural phenomena.
In the gaps left by these ancient gods, a new generation of gods was born.
Gaia was one of these new gods.
Various theories exist about her origins, but currently the most prominent is the Four Elements Theory.
According to this theory, the four ancient element gods – Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth – maintained the balance of the world.
Originally, the Mountain God Sagarmatha served as the Earth element, but opinions arose that a mere mountain god couldn’t represent the entire earth, leading to its demotion – some say conflicts with dwarves led to reducing Sagarmatha’s divine status – and thus the need for a new Earth God arose, resulting in Gaia’s birth.
However, the Gaia faith eventually merged into the worship of the Goddess of Life.
Thus, the name Gaia became one of the alternate titles for the Goddess of Life rather than an independent Earth Goddess.
– From “The Age of the Gods,” author unknown.
Note: Many claims in this book were later refuted or deemed unreliable, leading to its recall and destruction.
