It’s Not Night - Chapter 210.3 - END

Ah, now I understand why my sisters were so eager to create the world following Mother. For me, the world felt like an endless feast.

Most of all, watching the people who cried out to find the gods sparked my interest. Did they know what we were when they called for us? As I swept up the ever-changing pieces of fragments, I occasionally found those I liked and granted their wishes.

Of course, if their wishes led to unexpected results, it didn’t matter to me.

After all, I granted their wishes, didn’t I?

But this behavior wasn’t just mine. As the world began to grow more chaotic, mother summoned all the gods and forbade us from intervening in the world.

In the end, we were bound by a taboo, and I could no longer grant their wishes freely. For someone like me, who thrived on consuming their greed while fulfilling their desires, this was a sad development.

[Nera, Nera! My sister!]

A long time passed after the prohibition. Bored and doing nothing, one day Basham came to visit me. Her gaze was once again gleaming with the same curious greed that had always marked her.

I thought to myself, ‘She’s found another of her wicked tricks,’ and welcomed Basham with an eager heart.

[If it’s not something interesting, I’ll throw you out immediately. So, what is it?]

[Don’t you want to intervene in the world?]

[Basham, you’re speaking strangely. How can that be? I haven’t done anything for such a long time under Mother’s watch.]

I gave Basham a doubtful look, and Basham chuckled, pleading with me to trust her. She needed my help for this, she said. I decided to at least listen, lending her an ear.

[So, you want to create a situation where we have no choice but to intervene?]

[Mother forbade it, so we’ll just have to get her permission.]

[And how do we do that?]

Basham whispered once more in my ear.

[Use our sister as bait?]

[My sister, bait?! I’d rather call it help. So, will you help me or not?]

I thought for a moment. But in the end, I had no choice but to nod. What was there to hesitate about? I was the god of greed and conflict, and I was always bound to act on my instincts.

It was all because of Basham’s instinct that she kept pulling off unimaginable pranks.

[Alright. I’ll help you.]

[Of course! I knew you’d help me.]

[So, who will be the one to serve as bait?]

At my question, Basham gave a sly smile. Then, she took my hand and said,

[Nera, it’s up to you to choose.]

[Me?]

[I’m giving you the chance, especially for you.]

I didn’t decline. I carefully thought of the other sisters. Who would be the best? Someone who, even if tricked, would quickly snap out of it and return to their original self…

A certain sister quickly crossed my mind, and I smiled.

[Have you decided? Who is it?]

[Let’s go with Anat.]

[Anat?]

I turned my head to look at the domain where Anat would be. Anat was the only one among the gods who, when others hesitated to intervene in the world, stood firm and maintained her boundaries.

So, I thought, if it were her, she would soon be able to break free from our prank. Anat was that wise and clever.

[Yes, Anat is perfect for this. She’s smart, after all. There’s no way she’ll get stuck in that foolish love trap you’re talking about.]

Basham nodded enthusiastically, agreeing with me.

[Yes, you’re right. Then you spread the rumor about the fire. I’ll get everything ready!]

With that, Basham jumped down below. As I watched my sister move away from me, I couldn’t help but hum a little tune, excited.

Alright, who should I spread the rumor to? For the first time in a while, I listened carefully for voices calling out to me.

Among them, a voice full of strong yearning reached my ears.

“Give me the strength to become strong. Give me the power to save everyone! If you’ve made us like this, you should also give us the power to survive!”

A desperate cry. It resonated with me deeply.

The more intense the desperation, the harder it is to get up again after a fall. I liked that voice because of its depth. So, I decided to grant its wish.

【A place high, touching the sky. There is a power there that will never fade. Seek the one with two wings. The one who holds fire will rule the world.】 Of course, no one knows what consequences this wish will bring.