Chapter 286: Gods And Mortals
Prometheus praised in an exceedingly passionate tone, “Great One, You regard humans as children, and humans revere You, full of loving-kindness, as Father!”
“Father ought to shelter and care for child, and child should also respect and provide for Father!”
“As long as they abide by Your Sacred Justice Order! As long as they uphold Your great heart of kindness!”
“In this sacred relationship, humans will surely thrive and develop under Your loving guidance and under the shelter of Your great Sacred Justice Order, ultimately bringing more prosperity to this universe!”
“Your Majesty! This is the final answer I arrived at after much painstaking thought. I wonder… what do You think?”
Prometheus’s passionate speech was listened to quietly by Zeus all along.
These flattering words, though sounding a bit sappy.
But… it had to be admitted, surprisingly pleasant to the ear.
Moreover, the core of this “father and son” relationship proposed by Prometheus did indeed align somewhat with His intention.
What did all that mortal spirits possessed count for to Him?
If He willed it, with a snap of His fingers, He could casually create countless material-rich worlds.
If mortal spirits thought they could please Him with some meaningless material things, that would truly be foolish beyond measure.
What He needed was not even that hollow and cheap pious faith.
What He truly needed was for all existence to develop healthily under the Sacred Justice Order He established, allowing the universe as a whole to become ever more prosperous and powerful.
This was truly what He, as Supreme God King, needed.
Gods are powerful yet few, while mortal spirits, though insignificant and humble, are extremely numerous.
To make the universe more prosperous, the foundation is sentient beings; only with more sentient beings can the universe develop better.
Humans are the first true wise mortal spirits, but they will not be the last.
Not only humans, but gods and all living beings should absolutely not be two parallel lines that never intersect.
Gods and all spirits should inherently be intertwined and influencing each other.
Through constant interweaving, they can become more resilient, stronger, and more beautiful.
In this process, true sentient beings are needed, and sentient beings must have relative autonomy and independence; if everything is left to gods, what meaning would they have?
Puppets without self cannot make the universe beautiful.
Precious wisdom will not bloom among slaves and pets.
Humans are not gods’ pets; gods are not humans’ nannies.
Gods should not excessively interfere in humans’ lives; humans should not delusionally rely on everything to gods.
No matter who wants to get something from the other, they need to pay a corresponding price.
Gods are strong, humans weak; gods do not need humans’ meager pittances.
But humans must use their respect and obedience to exchange for survival’s safety.
If humans want more, they must pay more.
In cautious interactions with gods, constantly learning, becoming wiser, stronger, more brilliant, thereby making this universe more prosperous.
And the gods will likewise grow stronger in interactions with more truly wise beings.
This is not equal, but fair.
Zeus knew very well that gods and mortals are absolutely different, and He is a god.
Only the gods, being gods themselves, are the true foundation for making the universe more prosperous.
Creating wise mortal spirits is essentially to make gods grow, producing more gods, so that He, ruling all as God King, will continually perfect.
He will not put the cart before the horse.
And Prometheus, at this moment, had made a decision on behalf of humans that satisfied His core need.
That is—power and responsibility in balance.
Although… Zeus glanced at Prometheus below, still utterly respectful, and chuckled inwardly.
This guy Prometheus, the God of Foresight, was probably not thinking exactly the same as Him at this moment.
His spiel of “father and son” was merely to use “morality” to bind Him, intending to make Him this “father” shelter humans without compensation.
But, no matter.
The relationship of “father” and “son” was quite fitting.
Note that father, though having his duties and responsibility, also has power and control.
Since He proposed this framework, how to interpret and implement it specifically, the final power still rests in the hands of Him, this God King.
What He thinks is unimportant; what He Himself believes is what matters.
As long as He believes so, it will surely come to pass.
I think, therefore it must be.
Zeus, with a faint smile, slowly spoke, His voice gentle yet carrying an unquestionable majesty: “Prometheus, my friend, what you say makes a lot of sense.”
“What do gods need from mortal spirits anyway?”
“All that mortal spirits possess is, to Me, but passing clouds and fleeting breezes.”
“You are right, I am the father of all living beings, and I will naturally treat all living beings with loving-kindness.”
“If they can abide by My Sacred Justice Order and live with a heart of kindness and loving-kindness, that is the greatest return to Me.”
Upon hearing this, Prometheus was overjoyed, the heavy stone in his heart finally landing!
He hurriedly bowed again and called out loudly: “Your Majesty is supremely kind and loving! Supremely good and beautiful! Prometheus admires You immensely!”
Zeus smiled, raised His hand to signal him not to stand on ceremony, and continued:
“Humans are the first sentient beings among mortal spirits. Though at their birth they overstepped, the newborn them were ignorant and innocent, so I am willing to be lenient.”
“Because I have great hopes for humans. I also hope they can live better, bring more beauty to this universe, and make the entire universe more prosperous.”
“Moreover, my dear goddesses by My side have also joined hands to descend to the mortal world to inspect humans.”
“After returning, they have more than once whispered in My ear about the simple and pure precious qualities of humans. They all like these lovely children very much.”
“Prometheus, you have excellently completed the task I entrusted to you back then, successfully creating humans. I am very satisfied with this.”
Hearing this, Prometheus was even more ecstatic in his heart, deeply feeling that taking the five goddesses to learn about humans back then was exceedingly wise!
See, pillow talk is effective!
But Zeus’s words continued:
“I am humans’ father, yes, and I love them.”
“But I will still treat all living beings in the universe fairly.”
“Because, as you just said, I am the father of all living beings.”
“And a truly loving father, His love should not be partial, should it?”
Prometheus’s heart skipped a beat, his ecstasy rapidly cooling.
He hurriedly responded: “Great Your Majesty! You, You are right!”
Zeus smiled and continued unhurriedly: “I have already granted humans the most precious things—the wisdom that allows free growth; and the warmth of fire that illuminates life; and I have forgiven their inherent original sin.”
“I even acquiesced that they can become masters of all ignorant lives in the mortal world. They can represent gods to comb and lead those humble lives in the mortal world. All this suffices to prove My love for them.”
“However,” Zeus’s tone sharpened, His voice taking on extremely majestic seriousness, “for all living beings to develop and grow healthily, for the universe’s ultimate prosperity and strength.”
“As ‘father,’ I should not give love only to a single race alone. I should not only be fair but also avoid indulgence.”
“Because I know well that children can never truly grow in indulgence. They will only head toward ultimate destruction in indulgence.”
“For the children to develop better, sufficient space for free growth must be given, even if they suffer some setbacks and suffering thereby.”
“Isn’t that so? Prometheus.”
The respectful smile on Prometheus’s face instantly froze.
The God King’s few words were like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, startling Him and filling Him with immense shame.
Could it be… Your Majesty already knows what I did in the mortal world?
Likewise, He could not be sure if the God King was merely expounding reason, or… hinting at something else?
He immediately bowed his head lower, his posture even more respectful, and said softly: “Your Majesty is supremely wise! Your Majesty is supremely insightful! What Your Majesty says is the Cosmic Principle!”
A meaningful smile tugged at Zeus’s lips, and He then gave the final verdict: “The birth of sentient beings is inherently to serve the gods.”
“Therefore, humans should not please only Me, one god; do not forget the great deities of Olympus.”
“Just as you said. From this day forth, the relationship between gods and mortal spirits shall be as father and son.”
“Father shelters and cares for child; child should also respect and provide for father.”
“No matter what is done, there should be giving to receive returns. That is fairness. And only fairness can endure.”
“The gods created humans, granting them precious life, even the exceedingly valuable wisdom that can grow.”
“Now even sheltering and caring for them. Though the gods do not demand returns from humans, humans should still show their genuine attitude.”
Zeus paused, His deep golden eyes quietly gazing at the Titan bowing below.
After a few breaths, He continued slowly: “Prometheus, humans should let the gods see their piety and respect. And this requires actual actions to demonstrate, not merely empty words.”
“The gods do not need humans’ meager material offerings. But humans must use the ‘action’ of pious provision itself to prove to the gods that they are worth the gods’ love and shelter.”
