Episode 1195 Reorganization (1)
Hiante observes the world. The past, the present, and the future. She is time itself, and the oldest concept and being alongside the primordial dragon.
When destiny took root in the universe, the future was limited, but through Verden’s rebellion and growth, it became possible to see an undetermined future once again.
Concurrent tenses.Manipulation of unconfirmed events.
Hiante’s unique power was the ability to exist in all timelines and to imbue fragmentary futures with gravity, bringing them closer to the present.
“…….”
Hiante stared into his blue eyes, which had already passed the stage of doubt and were filled with certainty.
Time is an absolute concept, yet it is also infinitely powerless in a dual sense. Because it is always by your side, you cannot escape the gaze that seeks to confront you.
Verden seeks to dig into the past, confront the present, and open a new future… Although their fundamental goals were different, she sensed the same madness from Verden as she did from ‘you’.
Nova
In an ancient world where coincidences overlap and lead to fate,there existed a theory other than fatalism. Accidental destiny. Host named this concept “necessity,” and even at this very moment, he continues to conduct research to prove the “theory of necessity.”
Ah, new star… … .
There seemed to be no way to turn away, just as there was when ‘you’ asked about the distant future.This was because the other person embodied the past, present, and future all within a single being, leaving no timeframe for Hiante to remain silent.
Below is the past,all around is the present, andabove is the future.
Hiante had to answer the questions coming from all directions once again. No matter how hard she tried to run away, the speaker was right in front of her eyes.
“I can only add a tiny weight to a few of the countless unbalanced scales; under no circumstances can I lead the present toward an impossible future. The war with the Sixth Apostle was able to end closer to a slightly more ideal outcome for Verden because of the future you reached out and grasped. I am merely useless. Just as time simply… simply flows on…”
It is not as if I turned it from zero to one; I have merely added a small weight that might or might not be significant. All within the sum of all possibilities that are close to infinity. Evenif the scales tip because of the addition of such a speck, how much could they really tip?
The influence that Hiante could actually exert on this vast universe was infinitely weaker than a human stabbing another human to death with a knife in a back alley.
Verden said.
“We needed even the small strength you considered meaningless. Especially for me… because I am still too weak to embrace everyone.”“Verden is special. And unique.”“Who wouldn’t be?”
Verden looked at his hands. The gray gauntlets made a small metallic clang. Half-bent fingers. He had accomplished much with his two hands until now.
“After facing the First Demon King, I felt it vividly. That merely raising one’s status is not enough to reach the First Demon King or ‘you.’”“…….”“However, even so, it is not right to take sides with either of the two. I will not compromise, and there are aspects that we cannot tolerate. Although it is unlikely to happen, even if they were to compromise once again, make concessions, and show consideration to help me complete my ideals…… I would not be able to accept that offer.”
Verden carefully grabbed and pressed down on the shoulder that the first Demon King had placed.
It is hard to trust anyone.
The universe is endlessly hurtling toward destruction, and the alien world has already been annihilated, leaving this world that Verden stands upon as the sole remaining terrifying reality.
‘You’ are literally grinding your soul to drive the wheel of fate in an attempt to reject the apocalypse. Every soul was born solely to be used as material for destiny.From the moment I realized the truth about the soul, a heavy and terrible shiver has occasionally welled up from deep within me.
The First Demon King is plotting something grand while resisting ‘your’ oppression through the Ark, the power source of the Magic Tower, and the Adversary of the Apostles.Unlike in the past, he is doing so in a direction that does not follow the natural order of the apocalypse.
The key point is… … .
‘You’ chose the extreme solution of a cycle by fate to sustain the universe, however small, from eternal extinction.Oldarc, however, found an answer different from fate that even ‘you’ could not simply ignore.
The First Demon King did not reveal his ideals to me. He left room for doubt, implying that he was not yet ready and that I, in my current state, could not handle it… but that was a roundabout way of saying that he did not see me as a collaborator.
The First Demon King desires Verden’s growth. In other words, Verden, who has only just attained the stature of an Absolute Being, is not suitable for his plans.
I came to a deep realization.
The very act of weaving vague and ambiguous information like starlight is intended to ‘guide,’ and that this is a method usually suited only by tools… and that this method is similar to ‘you’…For example, the adversaries of the Apostles had their lives toyed with without realizing it.
He even abandoned Alpha, Beta, and Omega. He neglected them because they were no longer useful, and let them die in time because he didn’t want to destroy them himself.
It was a lingering regret. It was a test I took on my own.
Regardless of the trial, the very act of giving up the creation felt deeply off-putting. It was a choice Verden would never have made.
I don’t know what they ultimately think of me, but at least at this point, it is undeniable that they view me as a tool to be used.
Let’s pay attention to the given situation.
Let us not be swayed by the glimpse of the Administrator shown by the First Demon King at the end. Even if his feelings were sincere, he ultimately remained silent.
I will only trust what I have built.
Verden’s brow twitched.
My emotions boiled up.
He endured his childhood at the Bohemian Magic Tower with the sole determination to study magic, doing any menial task without hesitation, but years of human experimentation by the forced magic circle [Colsion] distorted his purity and essence.
A rebellious temperament formed by innate magical understanding and acquired experience. I am sick and tired of being swept away by massive currents.
If, by any chance, ‘you’ or one of the first Demon Kings were to win and create an unacceptable utopia, and if he were to live to witness it… the rebellious Verden would rather ‘destroy’ that world.
Only I am right!An unjust world has no value!If I cannot have it, I will destroy it!
This was a side of God lost in idealism, filled with madness and obsession.
However, Verden was not consumed by the stubbornness of a loser. He accepted even dangerous impulses as his own thoughts, but regarded them as only a tiny part of them.
“Hiante, can you see my failure? Do you think I will ultimately compromise, just like ‘you’ and the First Demon King before me?”“……Are you curious?”“You said you see every possibility of the future, but is that truly the entirety of the future? I do not think so.”“Why?”“Because that is the world I live in.”
How boring would it be if the vast world could be explained solely by possibilities?If it cannot be realized, I will realize it.
“That is my path.”“…….”
Verden was indeed insane. But it was a madness akin to innocence. Just like ‘you,’ who pondered hope for everyone even after hearing about the apocalypse…
Hiante whispered in the present, looking at the past and thinking of the future.
“Are you going to go all the way?”“I can’t stop now, and it’s been a long time since I decided not to.”
After listening to ‘your’ secrets one by one for a short while, Verden wore a smile that suggested he was physically and mentally exhausted upon encountering the First Demon King.However, his blue eyes flickered unwaveringly and straight.
I have to see it through to the end.
Hiante slowly closed and opened her eyes to look at Aisha’s face, then nodded.Then she spoke again.
“Separately, I have news to convey to Verden. Normally, the Observing Being is supposed to deliver this, but since the messenger isn’t that important here, I will take on that role instead. The taboo has been revised.”“Revised…?”“Verden’s Understood Ones are not penalized for sharing the information he has obtained.”
Hiante recited the newly added taboo in its entirety.Verden was startled.
“It is a taboo established by ‘you’ yourself.”“Why… what is the reason?”“Because that is not the messenger’s job. *Yawn*.”
Hiante yawned. Aisha’s body, in which she resided, felt tired.
Now, even truths hidden behind taboos can be shared to a limited extent.
Verden wore a blank expression.
Why?
A question echoed.
Along with ‘your’ good intentions, I sensed the ulterior motives hidden behind them. Was it a lack of experience? As time went on, the outline of the picture they were painting became increasingly indistinct. It felt as though even the parts that were barely visible were being obscured.
thud!
The door opened before Verden could even process the mental shock.
[Your Majesty Verden. Found!]
[I found Aisha as well. I will make a correction. Judging by the expression, the probability of it being Hianteil is 97.3%.]
The friendly brother golems approached, their single eye of the blue ring flashing for a moment.
“Alpha, Beta…….”
Verden glanced at Hiante out of the corner of his eye. She simply smiled faintly without saying a word and nodded briefly.
[Reception room. Start search. Your Majesty Verden. Continue talking to Hiante?]
The first Demon King has come to visit.
[… … ?]
Alpha and Beta paused. They met each other’s gazes, then looked back at Verden, their magical eyes shining as if confused.
[Verification failed. Verification failed. Explanation!]
[I request a detailed explanation.]
The guys stuck close to Verden.
and.
Verden spoke of his conversation with Akand and the journey he had just shared with the First Demon King.About fate.About the taboos of the soul.About the truth about demons.About the revision of taboos.About ‘your’ domain and the contents of various conversations.
Indeed, the taboo remained silent throughout.
However… … she remained silent regarding the original memories Alpha had forgotten, unconstrained by taboos.She did not say that she had discarded them or that they had already served their purpose… … not to Alpha, nor to Beta. There were plenty of topics to capture their attention.
With what mindset should I speak the cruel truth?It is obvious that I will get hurt.
… … .
Verden concealed his true feelings, Beta simply listened, and Alpha watched Verden intently, then repeatedly glanced at Hiante.
* * *
After hearing several shocking stories from Verden, Alpha came to find Aisha separately. Secretly, while the Great Hall was in a deep sleep.
[Sorry for waking you up. Strawberry cake. A gift.]
“Huh……? Wow!! I’ll enjoy this!!!!”
Om nom nom!
Aisha continuously dug into the genuinely mouthwatering cake with a fork. Her appetite was astonishing, considering she had just woken up from sleep.Aisha loved snacks so much that they gave her a tingling sensation in her head.
[Hiante. Question.]
“yes?”
[promise.]
Aisha’s gaze changed.Hiante was revealed.
“If it’s a promise…….”
[Later, when you can explain everything, answer Alpha’s question honestly. Memories?]
In Verden’s inner world, the secret pact made between Hiante and Alpha when Verden transferred his soul to a rift in the world to awaken his divinity.Even Verden was unaware of that deal.
[Your Majesty Verden. Undisclosed information. I demand.]
Alpha saw that there was something more unspoken between Verden and the First Demon King, as a small golem who understood Verden.
Hiante wiped the cream off the corners of her mouth.
“Later, when I can explain everything. I don’t think now is that time.”
[Cake. I’ll give you more.]
“……Why didn’t Verden tell Alpha and Beta everything?”
Hiante put down the fork.
Wouldn’t there be a reason for that?
[Alpha. Your Majesty Verden. The Understood.]
Alpha stared straight at her.
[The reason. Persuasion.]
It was a request to persuade Alpha that if he was not supposed to know, he should not know.
Hiante spoke briefly.
Because Verden cherishes you all.
[check.]
Alpha accepted it. Immediately, he trotted away with small steps, as if asking no further questions, as if that was the answer he had wanted in the first place.
It was only after quite some time had passed that Hiante tilted her head.
“Was there… a possibility?”
* * *
match!
Verden tapped his face. As the stimulation increased, the clutter in his head seemed to settle. How should I put it? It was chaotic in many ways.
I guess I need to get some rest.
I didn’t trust the first Demon King, but I did take his advice to heart.
Value your surroundings.We are living in the present.
For the time being, and for the first time in a while, I planned to focus on my daily life again.Of course, there were a few things to take care of before that.
Nerga.
[Yes, Father.]
The apostle forged by Verden’s curse bowed respectfully. Nerga maintained a height of just over 2 meters.
“……What are you doing?”
[Filial piety]
Squeeze.
Nerga massaged Verden’s shoulder, his chilling single eye gleaming. Who taught him that… but it felt like some of the fatigue was melting away.Verden made no effort to refuse the efforts of a fellow who was practically his own son.
There is a task for you to handle.
[Command. May it be.]
Let’s go outside.
To the glory of the dead.
Verden intended to reorganize the organization known as Eon before completely concluding the war.In other words, it was an expansion.
We will send the apostles to the continent.
