Chapter 43: Hachiman
Hachiman had no intention of first clearing up Rusa's confusion, even though he had heard everything Rusa whispered.
He first descended to the ground.
The crowd parted like a tide—or more accurately, they crawled away—making a path for Hachiman.
No one dared approach him, not even the Sera priests. In fact, some of them had the courage to kneel but stayed far enough to avoid being close to him.
Even people in later times would feel awe in the presence of a god. Hachiman was not a god, yet for these ancient humans, there was no difference.
One thought could build a nation, or destroy a tribe. To achieve this was the mark of a god.
And now, Hachiman, in any era, could be considered a god among mortals.
With each step he took, the Sera people sank lower, until they were completely pressed to the ground.
Only Rusa's family showed no fear—or rather, their brains seemed to have short-circuited.
Heaven be witness: Isiharu thought to himself, yesterday Hachiman was chatting with him about lewd jokes while walking him home!
Could he… no, it, be the god of lewd jokes!?
At this moment, Isiharu deeply realized how shallow his understanding of gods had been and felt utterly ashamed.
He had been overthinking things…
Hachiman reached the family and addressed them.
"Rusa, since you've offended the gods, kneeling won't help," he said. Then he raised his hand, and the power of the wind lifted the family off the ground.
Rusa wobbled several times, hastily regaining his balance. Hachiman's words had turned his face pale.
Hachiman's words frightened him. He suddenly realized: casually insulting a god in ordinary times might be fun, but if a god truly appeared one day, it would not bother to discern who had spoken ill of them.
Animals can suffer from face-blindness; gods perceive people similarly.
Hachiman could testify to this: these extraordinary beings primarily recognized targets through power. Below the supernal level, they are too lazy to distinguish unless necessary.
Before Hachiman could continue speaking, he suddenly heard someone shout from behind.
"Great Poseidon! That person! That's the one! He has always spoken disrespectfully about you!"
Hachiman turned. It was a tall, thin man, dressed relatively well, with a big beard, lifting his head and shouting.
Seeing Hachiman look at him, the bearded man's face flushed crimson with excitement. He drew a deep breath and yelled:
"But we have always been your loyal servants, struggling against him!"
Several people's faces changed dramatically at this.
"Shut up! You have no right to report Rusa to the Great Poseidon!" the High Priestess roared. "Who allowed you to speak in front of the god without cleansing yourself? Who allowed you to question the god's judgment?!"
After saying this, the High Priestess quickly crawled a few steps toward Hachiman, then touched her head to the ground, raised her hands toward the sky, and said:
"Great Poseidon, your manifestation has terrified us mortals. Please forgive us for appearing before you in an unclean state."
Hachiman: "..."
That bearded man seemed to be speaking ill of Rusa? And he was snitching?
Ignoring the High Priestess, Hachiman walked in front of the bearded man.
"Lift your head," he said. "You claim you've been resisting, yet you accepted his invitation to the banquet, didn't you?"
"Y-yes… Your servant has always struggled against those who are disrespectful to you…"
"But it was useless, wasn't it?" Hachiman interrupted. "At the banquet, you didn't refute his words?"
"No, great god, he is evil. I have been waiting for your arrival, knowing you would display your great power!" The bearded man's face had apparently reached its color limit, so red it looked about to burst.
Hachiman had no patience left. He wanted to share a little secret with the readers: he hated big beards the most!
So he said, "Since everything requires me, what use are you?"
Before he finished speaking, the bearded man vaporized right in front of him.
This scene deeply impressed the Sera people as "very Poseidon-like." The High Priestess, who had been about to speak, immediately shut up, and together with the others, they prostrated fully to the ground.
Isiharu and Pinaruti no longer froze—they prostrated themselves, and dragged Rusa along with them. Rusa this time obediently lay flat on the ground.
After teasing the humans, Hachiman realized that what he had said to Rusa earlier must have caused the Sera people to misunderstand, but he was too lazy to explain.
"You all leave. Go to Crete. Tell the people of Crete to head to the south coast. This way, you can avoid the coming disaster."
Hachiman estimated that the Sera volcano would erupt violently in a few days. That was enough time for the Sera people to take refuge in Crete, and also bring their relatives along.
This was Hachiman's way of repaying Rusa for his earlier kindness.
If you try to show off, men burn, women cry!
Hachiman thought this life principle had positive energy, so he would stick to it.
However, to the Sera people, it was a thunderbolt from a clear sky!
In this era, there were no insurance companies.
Although being told by a god to evacuate was strange, it didn't stop the Sera people from thinking their lives were over.
Generations of toil had built this beautiful city. Now, the god told them—gone! Everything is gone! If you don't leave, even humans will be gone!
No one knew who started it, but the Sera people began crying en masse. They desperately packed what they could carry—which was just what was in the camp, since valuables were still at home.
Yet, without coordination, those who had packed moved toward Rusa's family, staring at them expectantly. Any sane person would understand: the gods only condescended to inform them to leave because of their favor toward Rusa's family.
Rusa did not evade responsibility. Though he had a thousand things he wanted to say, he knew it was meaningless. He also probably wouldn't see Hachiman again.
One divine manifestation is a blessing; a second manifestation, and it's likely to kill you—he understood this principle.
Hachiman considered himself to have done his utmost and no longer concerned himself with the Sera people. He flew again toward the volcano.
The Horus hidden on the island might be better referred to as Yahweh. The one inside the volcano, on the other hand, should now be politely asked to exit.
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