What did it mean to be a god?
Was it really right to make such a choice?
Could you rest easy letting your people keep moving forward like this?
Those three questions laid bare Ei's deepest confusion and uncertainty.
"Whew..."
At those three questions, Zhongli let out a long sigh.
"I once had those same doubts. I, too, hesitated, wondering whether humanity could live without the rule of gods."
"But one day, one of my people asked me: I had protected this nation for a thousand years, but could I continue protecting it forever?"
"They wanted to prove to me that humans had value of their own. They wanted to prove their abilities, to show that they were worthy of being people cherished by a god."
"So I let go and allowed them to try."
"As for how they have fared, I believe you saw that for yourself today."
"Humans deserve the attention of gods precisely because there is something brilliant within them. They are capable of looking after themselves."
"But... should we really just let them keep moving forward?"
Ei asked.
"Humans are creatures who yearn for better lives, who yearn to keep moving forward. Even if we wished to hold them back, we could not."
"That's right, Ei!"
Venti agreed.
"Humans are capable of looking after themselves. Since they long to move forward and live better lives, we should let them."
"All we need to do is watch over them, then lend them a hand when they encounter insurmountable obstacles or mortal danger along the way."
"Watching over our people and letting them live happy, free, fulfilling lives-isn't that our duty as gods?"
"But... you both know what awaits them at the end of that path, don't you?"
Ei gritted her teeth slightly.
"Yes, we know all too