Chapter 433: Love of a Goddess
"The result was worth it? This is what the ones who were behind this attack say. If you support one thing, and it goes wrong, but you still get the result, will you ever say you were wrong? We all have biases," the Goddess of Life and Death said softly as she sighed.
Janus nodded his head as if somewhat agreeing with her. He found her words to be true since he also felt the same way. This was always the justification that people gave for doing bad things.
He knew that people always say the result was worth it even if the steps they took were a hundred times worse than the original situation. This justification was what he found to be the unfortunate reality of the world.
The biases that the people had were one of the reasons he believed for things to go wrong. People always thought that what they agreed with was the right thing. That was true with gods as well. They only agreed with the ideas and arguments that agreed with their bias even if it was wrong.
"Since you have an interest in this, you will see the situation with the glasses of your bias. But I, as a person from a neutral position, can see the bigger picture since I had no part in it. And what I see clearly doesn’t make me think that it was worth it," the Goddess of Death continued.
"I wouldn’t argue against that," Janus said, sighing.
"Hah, I believe you and the others were this sensible last time. The great war wouldn’t have happened. We wouldn’t have lost so many of our companions in all this," the Green Haired woman said softly.
A deep sigh escaped his lips, making the whole room seem desolate and void of life. "Anyway, the past is the past because it can’t be changed. Even the God of Time can’t change it now. So let’s not waste our time discussing it now. That only makes me feel regretful about the past."
"Let’s talk about you. I believe you didn’t come here to listen to me talk about the past either. So, what brought you here?" She asked. "What can little me provide to the Great God of Beginning and Ending?"
" As I said, can’t I come here just to talk? Anyway, you are actually right about it. I did come here for a purpose. It is to ask you about something," Janus accepted.
"Ask me about what? I don’t think I have done something that would require the intervention of other gods. It has been so long since I even left. Also, if you wanted to ask a question of knowledge, you would have a god to the other gods since I’m not the best choice there either. What can you even ask me other than how bad we all messed up that day?" She asked.
"What I’m here to ask is something that only you can answer me," Janus answered.
The Goddess of Life and death seemed even more curious now. She waited for Janus to answer.
"It is about Asteria," Janus spoke just four words that stunned the goddess of life and death. Her serene expressions finally changed as she heard the name.
She seemed more stunned than she should have been. That’s what Janus thought.
"Why do you wish to ask about him? He died with your brother. Why should we talk about a dead person? As I said, the past can’t be changed. Let’s not talk about the regretful things of the past," the Goddess of Life and Death answered as her expressions recovered.
Janus looked around the room subtly. He could not feel any presence, but he still decided to take precautions before he started talking.
He snapped his fingers. The color of the entire hall changed as it became colorless.
"You are using your domain? Interesting. If I’m not wrong, you never use it. Why do I have the pleasure to see your domain? Are you thinking about scaring me? Or do you actually wish to fight me?" The goddess of Life and Death asked as she saw her room becoming pale.
She was sure that it was because Janus had cast his domain. The whole palace had become his domain now. She was certain he wished to scare her, but there was also a possibility that he wished to kill her.
She said, "Also, can I at least know the reason for you using it against me? Are the other gods planning to exterminate another god who doesn’t bend to their knees?"
"Goddess of Life and Death, don’t be concerned. I don’t wish to fight you. Why would I even think about fighting the goddess who is the ruler of life and death? I can certainly win, but as you said, the path to reach the outcome would certainly be worse than the outcome. I don’t wish to repeat that," Janus answered casually.
"Then why did you cast your Domain in my place?" The Goddess of Life and Death asked curiously.
"It’s all because I don’t wish for our conversation to leak outside. There is a possibility that other gods might have an interest in this place. This is my domain now. No one will be able to hear our conversation, no matter how strong or knowledgeable they are unless they openly showed themselves," Janus answered.
"Oh? You wish to keep it a secret from other gods? Interesting," the Goddess of Life and Death muttered as she smiled.
"What could it be? About Asteria’s death? Do you wish for me to bring him back to life?" She asked. "That would be the only reason you might wish to keep it a secret. Let me tell you. I have no power to bring people of that caliber back to life."
"Don’t worry. I don’t want him coming back to life. However, I am here regarding his life. I have sensed his presence. You know I can sense more of this universe than other gods. That might be the only reason I have sensed him, but this is true. I believe he is alive," Janus said.
The green-haired woman’s eyes squinted as she heard the words of Janus. She was stunned after hearing him.
"He is alive? How is that possible" she exclaimed in shock.
"That’s what I’m here to ask. Your acting is convincing, but you’re the only god who can bring him back to life after the death he suffered. Now, tell me how and why you did it?" Janus asked gravely.
"Firstly, I can’t do it. Secondly, even if I could do it, I wouldn’t have done it. Why would I bring him back to life? I have no relation to him," The Goddess of Life and Death answered casually.
"As I said, I can’t bring people of that caliber to life. You must have been under some misunderstanding," she continued.
" Do you think he came back to life himself?" Janus asked, seemingly suspicious.
"Give me one reason I would bring him back to life?" The Goddess of Life and Death asked straight away. "I would have been proud if I was capable of this feat. I would have brought other gods to life as well. I would have done so much if I had the ability."
"I don’t think you have the ability to bring gods at the caliber of my brother to life. But you certainly can bring Asteria. I won’t underestimate you that much," Janus answered.
"As I said, I have no reason to bring Asteria back to life. As for bringing back your brother to life, it is only possible for the Ancestral Gods that created all of us if they hadn’t perished after creating us," the green-haired woman answered.
Janus went silent for a brief second as he closed his eyes.
"If you have the ability, would you have brought my brother back to life?" Janus asked.
"I don’t wish for the great war to happen again. I wouldn’t. Him staying dead is better for all of us," the Goddess of Life and Death answered.
"Did you love him!" Janus askey bluntly.
The green-haired woman’s mouth opened slightly at the question she was asked so bluntly.
"How can you even think that?" She asked as she smiled wryly. "Your thoughts do run wild."
"He and you were close since you two were kids. Everyone thought that you liked him, not only me. It was only after he met her, you started creating distance from him. I thought you were jealous but still loved him," Janus answered.
" Some gods even thought you would protect him in the great War like a tsundere goddess, but you stayed out of the war-making them think they were wrong, but I feel as if it was not because you didn’t care about him. You certainly didn’t hate him, or you would have joined the war from our side. Maybe it is that you didn’t care for him at all, but I do feel that you did," he continued.
