Though she appeared as a young girl, she radiated an imnse, all-encompassing tolerance. This was the larval form assud by Tiamat, the Mother of Creation, for a certain reason.
As for that reason...
"Is that so? Even if I could break through your ntal defenses, I would still end up touching your Sea of the Heart afterward. No, rather than that, I would be coming into contact with the Goddess of Creation who remains constantly linked to your spirit?"
Aphrodite frowned, displeasure clear on her face.
This was the Sea of the Heart. Aphrodite, this man, and the goddess Tiamat had beco entangled through the ntal interference caused by the true form of a Machine God, resulting in this unusual encounter. Even if the ntal connection were severed imdiately, there was no way to escape quickly.
Ti within the Sea of Mind was stretched almost infinitely in relative terms. What might have been only an instant in the outside world would require a long span of ti here. Aphrodite had no power to manipulate the scale of ti, but for Tiamat, doing so was as effortless as a casual gesture.
"That's why I said your assessnt of 'small and powerless' isn't entirely wrong," Shiomi said calmly, his hands clasped behind his back as he stood beside Tiamat. "After losing the initiative, there was no way for to do what Artemis did. I couldn't plunge down to strike you and protect the people at my side."
As he spoke, Tiamat smiled warmly and lifted her hand. However, her petite manifested form couldn't quite reach Shiomi's head. Realizing what his mother intended, Shiomi slowly lowered himself to one knee and accepted her touch.
"There's no need to feel ashad," Tiamat said softly. "No matter how many ages you live through, no matter how powerful you beco, to , you will always be a child who needs looking after."
Her gaze then shifted to Aphrodite, and her smile faded away.
"A goddess who governs beauty and love, yet does not understand what love truly is. That shallow conduct shall be judged by ."
"Mm..."
In an instant, Aphrodite felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon her.
This was sothing she had never experienced before. Since arriving on this planet thousands of years ago, she had never attempted to interfere with the mind of an existence like the great god Zeus, nor had she ever co into contact with the native gods of this world.
Tenkei Shiomi had led her straight into a massive trap, luring her into forcibly ddling with his spirit. Unprepared, she had ended up facing the Goddess of Creation herself.
The pressure wasn't fear or any other negative emotion. It was pure powerlessness.
Her body lay dormant in the Sea of Imaginary Numbers, and she interfered with the Real World only through the spiritual plane. The sheer weight of that presence was sothing even Zeus might not be able to rival.
Aphrodite reached that conclusion in her mind.
In any case, she might never get the chance to compare them again. Once she returned from the Sea of Mind to reality, the outco between them would finally be decided.
"Pitiful, tragic chanical goddess. Love is not sothing that can be asured by value, nor is it a tool for domination."
Tiamat extended her hand toward Aphrodite, her palm supporting her from afar.
"You gave birth to humanity, yet in the end, your own children, the humans of the earth, cast you aside as sothing useless. After experiencing all of that, do you still choose to love humanity, O Primordial Mother Goddess?"
Aphrodite and Tiamat gazed at one another in silence.
"Whether humanity is outstanding or utterly worthless, I will love all humans without distinction. Just as humanity still loves . Even if the day cos when I must leave this planet, I will watch their departure with a smile."
Tiamat's smile was gentle, tinged with sorrow.
She had already made her decision. She would forever watch over humanity's future, and watch over this "special child" at her side who fought and strove tirelessly for the sake of that future. To her, lending him a bit of strength now and then was nothing more than natural indulgence.
"If that is the love you acknowledge, then I truly do not understand it."
With a cold scoff, Aphrodite vanished from the Sea of Mind.
"Aphrodite has withdrawn from here. It's ti to say goodbye again, Mother."
Shiomi, who had been silently awaiting the outco, finally spoke in a low voice.
"Of course, my child."
Tiamat turned toward him, looking at him with unmistakable pride.
"To think of using yourself as bait to draw a goddess's spirit in so deeply. That was quite impressive."
"I've caused you trouble again, Mother."
Shiomi shook his head lightly.
"There's no need for such formality. Since you are my child, no matter how much trouble you encounter, or how much help you need from your mother, it makes no difference."
Tiamat smiled warmly.
"Next ti, let's talk properly in the dream world again, just like we always do."
She was referring to how, once Shiomi fell asleep, their connected spirits would allow them to et often within dreams. Because of this bond, even while dwelling in the cold and desolate Sea of Imaginary Numbers, Tiamat would never again experience the loneliness of being abandoned by her child.
"Thank you for everything, Mother."
Shiomi looked at Tiamat and asked the question he hadn't been able to raise earlier.
"But… why do you appear as a young girl?"
"If I were to grow larger, human language would beco distant and impersonal. That wouldn't work if I wanted to speak with you properly."
Tiamat smiled softly.
"After all, this ti is very short."
"I see."
Understanding dawned on Shiomi. He prepared to stand and return to the real world.
"Have you decided?"
As she watched him leave, Tiamat asked quietly.
"Decided what?"
Shiomi looked confused.
"Your divine na," Tiamat said softly. "To beco a god, you need a na that belongs to a god. You are an exceptional existence, so the na must be decided by yourself."
"Can't I just keep using my human na?" Shiomi asked.
"A human na is rely a provisional na chosen for you by the one on the moon," Tiamat replied. "You may continue using it, but it will reduce your output as a god."
"So that's how it is."
Shiomi hadn't expected sothing like this to be an issue.
"When you were human, you used a human na. As a god, you should also have a na that belongs to a god," Tiamat added.
"Then, Mother, please grant a fitting na to this unfinished, immature god," Shiomi said after a mont of thought. "A na worthy of the child of the Goddess of Creation."
Tiamat clearly hadn't expected him to hand the decision over to her. Her smile grew even gentler. She lifted both hands, cupped Shiomi's cheeks, and leaned down to kiss his forehead.
"If my child asks it of , then I will think of a na for you."
After that, the goddess Tiamat leaned close and whispered softly into her child's ear, bestowing upon him the divine na that would belong to him alone.
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