Household Of Gods
2 weeks passed since I was born, and Ojii-san appeared before me again.
Ojii-san has shown up alone and is sitting right beside the bed. The shrine maidens have also been cleared out, and there are only us two in this room.
『Oh, Tsukuyomi. How is it. Have you settled down?』
He speaks to me with telepathic conversation while making a gentle smile like a nice old man.
Ojii-san, as you would expect from being Otou-san’s parent, his appearance resembles Otou-san. A slender physique with a height of over 190cm. He has golden hair with green eyes. But his gaze is sharper than Otou-san. He also has a stern-ish vibe.
『Yes. I have a general idea, of the family structure』
While lying on the bed, I direct just my eyes to Ojii-san.
『You already found out that Gento has 8 whole wives huh!』
『Eeh, one way or another』
『How many years did Tsukuyomi live in the previous life?』
『Yes. I lived until 25 years old』
『25 years old? You sure died unexpectedly young huh. Was it an illness?』
『No. It is hard to say this, but it is because I killed myself after my lover, who passed away from an illness』
『What! You killed yourself! Hmm……』
Ojii-san made an ever so slightly grim expression. As I thought, maybe I shouldn’t have said something like this?
『As I thought, it is not a good thing huh. Killing yourself』
『No, I wouldn’t exactly say that. I suppose it means you have circumstances enough to justify killing yourself after all. Besides, it’s a different world from this place after all……it’s just that, I suppose there’s pretty much nobody who kills themselves in this world. That’s why even if you talk to other people about it, they probably won’t understand』
『Is there nobody who kills themselves in this world! Why is that so?』
『In the first place, the birth rate of humans is low. Just being born is a miracle in itself. Especially for a boy. There’s nobody who considers voluntarily dying when they went through all the trouble of being born』
『Eh? Are there few men? The population was over 7 billion people in my previous world if I remember correctly, and the proportion of men and women was about the same』
『Wha-, what? 7 billion! The total population is only about 500 thousand people in this world. Furthermore, amongst them, the ratio of men is only 1 to 5 women, you know!』
『Eーh! Is the population so few, and furthermore, are there only that many men! Aah, that is why it is polygamous huh』
『That’s right. Tsukuyomi really is smart huh. What did you work as in your previous life?』
『I was a doctor』
『What is a ‘doctor’?』
『Are there no doctors in this world? A ‘doctor’ refers to someone whose job is to treat the illnesses of humans』
『Aah, a chief priest shoulders the burden of that job in this world』
『Chief priest? Is it somebody who is in the shrine?』
『Yeah. It’s called a ‘grand shrine’. That’s the place we treat the illnesses of people』
『Is that so』
『I see! Tsukuyomi was a doctor huh! That, too, is no wonder why you are smart』
Ojii-san’s smile is becoming even bigger, and he’s nodding.
『Oh, Tsukuyomi. I have a request for you. Will you hear me out?』
『If it is within my capabilities』
『I want you to unravel why, there are few children born, and even fewer are men in this world』
『 It is true that I was a doctor of obstetrics and gynaecology in my previous life, so I understand the workings of how a child is made. I also understand how a boy and a girl are born differently』
『Ooh! Is that so! As I thought, Tsukuyomi will be the saviour of this world!』
『Sa-, saviour! Is it? This here me? I am a person who killed myself and ran away from life in my previous life. I do not think I am a person who can stand in such an inordinate position……』
『Tsukuyomi went through an experience agonising enough for you to kill yourself in your previous life. An experience like that is not something everybody will go through. Well then, has Tsukyomi thought about the point of you continuing to carry the agonising memories of your previous life, even when you have been reborn into this life?』
『That is……I considered that maybe it is the punishment towards the me who ran away from life』
『I don’t think that’s quite it. Humans can well understand the viewpoint they were placed in and the knowledge and experience they acquired. But, understanding the viewpoint, knowledge, and experience of others, is something beyond them, right?』
『You need to be able to have various perspectives on things in order to guide people in the right direction. Tsukuyomi has agonising and tragedic memories. In that case, maybe you’re able to be considerate of the feelings of those who are similarly in an agonising situation, no?』
『So that I can notice those who are in a tragedic situation like the me in my previous life, and pick them out. Is that perhaps what you mean?』
『Umu. Yeah. I’m not saying to save and guide every single human being. Tsukuyomi can probably just learn about it in your life from now on』
『Yes. I have a feeling I understood it just a bit』
『Aah, that’s right. I didn’t mention it yet. Oh, Tsukuyomi. You were born in a household of Gods』
『Gods? Does ‘Gods’ refer to the so-called deities people worship?』
『Exactly so. Tsukuyomi is the heir to the household of Gods』
『Please wait! A household of deities? Am I not a human then?』
Ojii-san continues talking unimpededly with a smile.
『No. You’re a human. Me too, Gento too. And then Tsukuyomi too. It simply, means we possess powers that ordinary humans do not possess. We’ll bleed if we trip and hurt ourselves; we’ll die if we get stabbed in the heart with a sword. It’s just that, we pretty much never die from illnesses』
『Ha-, haa……well then the ‘powers’, what kind are they?』
『Yeah. For example. Hovering heavy objects in midair. Sending it flying far away. Gathering the clouds and making it rain. Having telepathic conversations with fellow power bearers like this. Reading the thoughts of the other party. Predicting the future. And you’re also capable of instant teleportation, as well as treating people’s illnesses 』
『Are ordinary people not capable of those things?』
『They are not. Aah, the powers of Tsukuyomi’s father, Gento, are, unfortunately, weak. He only has the power of healing. And every one of his wives, they’re ordinary humans. It’s just that if they are my, Gento, and Tsukuyomi’s children, even the girls possess the sole power of healing』
『Well then, my 14 elder sisters are capable of healing illnesses huh』
『Yeah. They’ll be dispatched to the respective countries’ grand shrine after coming to age, become the chief priest, and assume the role of healing the illnesses of the people』
『Grand shrine? is it. What is the place here called then?』
『This place is called the Moon Palace in the Moon City. It’s just a mansion though』
『Palace? But I do not see any guards or knights here though; is there no need for security?』
『There are no groups that will try to attack God’s palace. Well, even if there were, I would notice it through my clairvoyance, and I could fend them off even if we were attacked. It’s unnecessary』
『I see. Understood. Is my only job to raise the birthrate of humans then?』
『To start off with. And it’s also essential to make a boy who will inherit these powers. But, this can come gradually afterwards』
『By the way, what is the extent of the strength of my powers?』
『Un. First, even solely from the fact that you’re capable of this telepathic conversation, we can tell that you have quite a bit of power. For the rest, Gento and I will gradually teach you afterwards, so we’ll probably know the amount of power through the scale and strength of what you can do』
『Understood. On what basis do the humans of this world treat our household as Gods and worship us then?』
『Yeah. Even in Tsukuyomi’s previous world, were those called Gods not primarily humans?』
『……true enough……now that you mention it, I have a feeling that many revered heroes of wars and humans possessing superhuman powers』
『It’s the same. Even in this world, you’ll be worshipped and revered just by exhibiting a slightly different power from people』
『Well then, is there no particular need to fuss over the behaviours and appearances of a God?』
『Yeah. I think you can just behave the same as ordinary humans usually』
『I am slightly relieved to hear that. By the way, how is the relationship between God’s household and the respective countries? Are there also countries that go to war?』
『There have been wars since a long time ago. The disputes over territories and resources. This is also your typical greed for a human after all』
『But there are overwhelmingly more women in this world, right. Do female soldiers fight?』
『Of course. Men do not go out into the battlefield for the most part. They’ll be targetted concentratedly, kidnapped as a trophy, and end up being turned into a stud after all』
『What an indescribable, mysterious feeling huh』
『But war hasn’t occurred since my generation. Because I made them stop』
『What kind of power did you use to stop the wars?』
『God provides Radiance to humans. I’ll stop providing Radiance for the countries that war and not let them use it. Is what I said. Well, it’s the power of threats』
『Providing Radiance. Is it? What is ‘Radiance’?』
『It’s the energy of vehicles that moves ships and whatnot. The same also goes for the light of street lamps and lighting in houses. Since there are tons of other mechanics and devices that are operated with Radiance. People can no longer live properly if it’s stopped』
『The ‘Radiance’ of this world, might be the same as something called ‘electricity’ in my previous world. How do you go about creating that Radiance?』
『I don’t know the way to create it either. It seems to be a device created a very long time ago, at the same time this world was built. It has continued providing Radiance without breaking』
『People researched for many years and came to understand quite a bit about how to use Radiance, but nobody knows anything about the device of the source of Radiance. Yeah, Tsukuyomi might understand it with your previous life’s knowledge』
『I see, I know little of engineering since I was a doctor, but I do want to give it a look』
『Hmm. Well, everybody has things they’re good at and bad at after all. Don’t worry about it even if you don’t know』
『Speaking of which, the lighting is on in this mansion at night as well huh. This is also something through Radiance huh』
『Yeah』
『Well then, are you receiving some kind of compensation in return for providing that Radiance to the respective countries?』
『Umu. We are collecting taxes according to the respective country’s Radiance usage amount』
『Is that just the share of operation fees of the grand shrine in the respective countries and the provisions for the people who work there? Or are you collecting quite a bit more?』
『It includes this Moon Capital’s annual expenditure, but we are not collecting that excessively currently』
『Well then, in most countries, they worship the God that provides Radiance, heals the citizens’ illness, and the relationship with the respective countries is good. Is what it means huh』
『Umu. I think so』
『Okay. I fully understood. Ah. That’s right. About my previous life’s memories and my powers, only Ojii-sama knows about them currently, but is it better not to talk to Otou-sama nor Okaa-sama about them in the future as well?』
『No, it’s alright to talk about it with the people of this household. However, in the case where you are talking about it with the humans of the lower world, you better do it after considering carefully』
『Yes. Understood』
『Well then, the simple way of using the powers will be taught to Tsukuyomi starting from Gento. I’ll inform Gento beforehand to send you my way once there is nothing to be taught by him. You’ll learn to be able to use all your powers by the age of 5』
『Eh? By the age of 5, is it? Is that not very little time?』
『No, I believe that if it’s Tsukuyomi, you would be able to do it』
『Is there some reason to rush to learn how to use the powers?』
『Umu. It’s the problem with Tsukuyomi’s heart. You have the experience of killing yourself in your previous life. The fact that you killed yourself probably means you had an unimaginable pain and sorrow』
『The day Tsukuyomi was born, when I first saw you, I saw that your heart was shrouded in darkness. Even just a bit is fine, you have to heal it while it’s early』
『Heal my heart……』
『Umu. For a heart’s problem, no matter how much a third party tries to heal it with words, as long as the person himself doesn’t try to stand back up, it’ll be ineffective. This Moon City is spacious, but if you look at it from the human world outside, it’s the same as being imprisoned』
『I think that at least from 5 years old until you come to age, it’s a good idea for Tsukuyomi to live with Armeria in your mother’s home country, Nemophila Kingdom』
『With Okaa-sama?』
『You’ll live there with humans of the same age. However, only Gento and I are able to teach you how to use your powers. That’s why I want to make you learn it by five years old, even if it’s a bit of a rush. Well, if it’s Tsukuyomi, you should be able to do it without any problem』
『Ojii-sama, thank you, for thinking that far for my sake. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart』
『Hmm. It sure feels weird to be thanked so courteously by a baby huh. You better study properly then』
Ojii-san said that and went back with a smile.
I slightly understood this world, and it looks like it’s quite a different world from my previous life’s world. It’s a world with a lot of women. I suppose there are a lot of various unique details even if you just think about it for a bit.
Yeah. Let’s first focus on learning how to use the powers and whatnot by 5 years old. The population’s problem is probably still way into the future.
Okaa-san entered in Ojii-san’s place. Okaa-san talked while letting me suckle on her breast.
“Tsukuyomi. You were talking to Gyougetsu-sama for quite a long time huh. I wonder what you were talking about. Even though you can’t talk to me. Ara? But I wonder if you can hear what I’m saying?”
I looked up at my mother’s face with my eyes while suckling on her breast. It’s all because I can’t let out my voice yett……
“Myy, you responded to my words with your eyes!”
Huh? I wonder if my thoughts were somehow conveyed to her? As I thought, it might be easy to be in sync with Okaa-san.
Nevertheless, I can’t imagine this beautiful person is my mother. It gets somewhat restless deep inside my chest when I’m being hugged by this person. As I was looking up at my mother’s beautiful face while thinking about such random things, I was assailed by sleepiness.
I thought about all kinds of things today and ended up getting exhausted. I then fell asleep as is while being hugged by my mother.
