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"Seriously, where did he go this time?"
The sun had just risen in the eastern sky. Eri walked alone, straight towards her destination in the forest. This was by no means a pleasant morning stroll; she was searching for Spass, who had disappeared without a trace. Though she was searching, she wasn't just wandering aimlessly. She couldn't explain the logic, but thanks to the power she had received, Eri had somehow become able to sense Spass's presence, feeling a vague pull in a certain direction. She followed that sensation, making her way towards her destination.
After a while, a colossal tree, easily over a hundred years old, appeared before Eri. And there, nestled at its base, was Spass, sound asleep.
"This damn old man. I was wondering where he went, only to find him leisurely sleeping away...!"
A surge of irritation tempted her to whack him on the head, but she managed to suppress it. If she foolishly landed a punch, her own fist would shatter. In fact, she vividly remembered doing exactly that once before and writhing in agony. Resigned, Eri reached out to shake his shoulder to wake him... but then she noticed.
"...Is he crying?"
A single tear traced a path down Spass's cheek. Eri was momentarily flustered by this sight, so uncharacteristic of the usually aloof old man.
(Could it be... is he remembering?)
For a moment, Eri debated whether to wake him, but if he overslept today, it would be unbearable. She quickly changed her mind and gently shook Spass's shoulder.
"Spass-sama... Spass-sama, I said!"
"...Eri-kun?"
Spass, awakened by Eri's call, swayed as he stood, then nodded as if understanding. "Ah."
"...A dream... I had a nostalgic dream."
"Don't just say, 'I had a nostalgic dream'! Stop disappearing without warning every single time! Think about me, who has to look for you!?"
Spasswas murmuring to himself with a profound expression, but Eri, having sharp ears, stomped her foot and retorted.
"My apologies. I just intended to take a short walk, but... I lost my way back."
"I know that!? That's why I come looking for you every time! If you don't know the direction, use a spell or two!!"
"No, for a grown adult to use magic just for getting lost is a bit..."
"Don't get lost, you grown adult!?"
Eri's sharp retort pierced him. Spass, apologizing with a perplexed "Um, I'm sorry?", seemed utterly oblivious, and Eri sighed deeply. This God, while possessing power worthy of his divine name, was incredibly scatterbrained in his daily life, constantly displaying his absentmindedness, forcing Eri to suffer each time. Incidentally, Eri had wondered if she could sense Spass's presence, perhaps he could also sense hers. When she asked him, he said that it was impossible unless he used magic. According to him, one couldn't easily distinguish one's own scent or voice, could they? It was highly likely that some kind of link was established through Spass's magical power, but because it was Spass's own magic, it was apparently difficult for him to discern. Even if he wanted to leave it to someone else, all his other subordinates were monsters without proper self-awareness, so he couldn't entrust it to them.
(When he scouted me, he said he wanted at least one soldier he could talk to... I wonder if he just wanted someone to take care of his daily needs.)
She glared daggers at Spass, but the man himself seemed oblivious to her gaze, letting out a huge yawn.
"What time is it now?"
"Almost 8 o'clock. We have four hours until the appointed time."
When Eri told him the time, Spassreplied with nonchalance, "Is that so?" From his demeanor, there was not a shred of the dignity expected of a general about to launch a war against all humanity.
"Haaah..."
Why did I ever follow this guy? If it's like this, I'd rather have stuck with Suzu's idiotic ramblings...
(No, no, no, no!? What am I thinking? It's to get Kouki-kun! Suzu is just a convenient tool for that!)
She immediately shook off the thought that had briefly surfaced. I only have Kouki-kun now. I don't need anything else. I don't need it. Eri internally screamed, as if trying to convince herself, when a hand gently patted her head.
"...What?"
"No, it's just that you were making a difficult face again."
"Don't treat me like a child."
"To me, you are all children. How many years do you think separate us?"
Eri's brow furrowed as Spassgently stroked her head, but she didn't swat his hand away. Their appearances were completely different, and he wasn't as carefree. Yet, she couldn't help but remember. Memories of a past, happy time. She couldn't help but overlap him with her beloved father.
"...Don't say such arbitrary things. You won't help anyway, will you?"
"Indeed, I won't readily offer direct assistance, but I can listen, can't I?"
It was always like this. She knew Spass-sama's past. That's why she knew this God wouldn't easily lend a hand to humanity. Yet, it wasn't because he was uninterested; he would never simply abandon them. Even if he didn't offer direct help, he would subtly try to support them so they wouldn't break. There was no longer any doubt that this wasn't just a facade but came from his true feelings. That's why she decided to unleash what she had kept bottled up deep inside her chest.
"Why can you be kind to me? Even if it's a different world, I'm still the same 'human,' you know?"
"I'm the same human who took your daughter away, aren't I? You want to destroy us, don't you? You hate us, don't you? No matter what your daughter said, how can you bear it?"
Eri questioned him rapidly. She couldn't understand. Spasshadn't explicitly stated it, but it was likely that, more than anyone else, the girl named Rosheeda was an irreplaceable, precious existence to this God. She couldn't comprehend why he could still act for humanity after losing such a being. If she were in the same position, she would undoubtedly destroy everything in the world.
"Let's see..."
Questioned by Eri, Spassput a hand to his chin, pondered for a while, then slowly began to speak.
"Because I am the God of this world. Because I have the obligation to the beings I created. Well, there are many superficial reasons, but... perhaps the most important one is for Rosheeda's sake."
"Your daughter is already dead, isn't she? Whether you protect or destroy humanity, that fact won't change."
"...That may be true. However, now I am the only one in this world who can remember her existence. If I were to go back on her wishes, she would truly die. If she dies, that's the end of it. But those who remain can carry on her will. Of course, whether they choose to carry it on is up to them..."
And as for me, if it comes down to it, I'm perfectly willing to deliver humanity's final judgment. Eri repeated Spass's words in her head multiple times.
"Carry on her will..."
She had never thought of that. No one had helped her, and everything had been her enemy. It was then that Kouki-kun helped her. It was a fated encounter, the first ray of light for her, who had been squatting alone. She wanted to do anything for Kouki-kun. The heroine saved by the hero always supported the hero by his side... But it didn't turn out that way. There were many scoundrels in the world who interfered with her and Kouki-kun's happy life. That didn't change even when she was transported to another world. It was irritating how all of them so brazenly approached her shining Kouki-kun. So, she decided to abandon everything for Kouki-kun. She resolved to destroy everythingâher superficial friends, the people of this worldâjust to get Kouki-kun.
But was that truly what her father would have wanted?
Her father, who had protected her even at the cost of his own life, what would he say if he saw her now? What would he think, seeing the child he protected with his life betraying everything and baring her fangs at the world?
Would he be sad? Would he be angry? Or would he feel nothing at all...? Such thoughts swirled in her mind. Spass, who had been observing her, smiled gently at Eri.
"Worry as much as you need. If the answer you desperately arrive at, after many doubts and struggles, is sincere, then no matter what choice it is, I will respect it."
His way of not flatly rejecting her childish thoughts, but instead watching over her, sometimes from afar, sometimes close byâit unmistakably, helplessly, stirred the deepest memories within Eri.
"...I have one request."
Eri, who had been lost in thought, slowly raised her head and told Spassher will. Spass, upon hearing her request, widened his eyes for a moment but then nodded, granting her wish. His expression was subtly tinged with sadness.
The Eve of Battle
Four hours later.
The location had changed, now three kilometers east of the kingdom. There, nothing but barren land stretched as far as the horizon.
That was in the past tense. On the once barren land where nothing had existed, temporary forts of various sizes were hastily erected everywhere. Furthermore, though unseen, a network of underground passages, large enough for a person to comfortably fit, had been laid out, designed to safely transport wounded soldiers back to their lines during battle. Of course, barriers were also erected to prevent collapse during ground combat.
On this battlefield, diverse races had already taken their positions, holding their breath, awaiting the appointed time. The Tortas Allied Forces Command Post was installed at a high vantage point overlooking the battlefield, rendered transparent by a special artifact. Aldias was also present there.
It had been long. Eons had passed since this world was born. How much blood had been spilled on this land? How many tears had fallen? Aldias gazed at his own feet. There lay a stairway of the dead, piled with countless corpses. The moaning dead, some trying to push Aldias higher and higher, others trying to drag him down to the depths. He had stepped over all their corpses to get hereâboth his demon kin who had fallen, entrusting their hopes to him, and human enemies who had turned their blades against him. On the back of Aldias, who had become the world's leader, lay burdens of thoughts and grudges far greater than those of the ones kneeling at his feet.
But that was fine. He had resolved to bear it. No matter who told him, he would not cast it aside. This was the karma he had to carry. That's why, they should watch. Watch as the king they believed inâhopeâand the king they hatedâdespairâchanges the world, at that very moment.
Aldias, who had been silently standing with his arms crossed, suddenly looked up into the sky as if he had noticed something.
"...Here they come."
At that instant, the world was enveloped in light. A veil of light, so dazzling it felt like an illusion, poured down from the sky to the ground. And then, pure white monsters appeared. From small monsters like goblins, orcs, and skeletons to large ones like behemoths, cyclopses, and dragons. Diverse monsters thronged, but their common characteristic was that their entire bodies were dyed pure white, and without exception, a pair of beautiful wings grew from their backs. Furthermore, angels clad in dress armor descended from behind. Their appearance, bathed in the light from above, was truly a sight befitting a divine army.
A sudden tension gripped the soldiers. They had heard. They had understood. Yet, seeing the scene before them, they realized anew: the opponents they were fighting were undoubtedly supernatural beings.
Unconcerned by their trepidation, he finally appeared.
"Now, it's time for judgment."
The Creator God, Spass, appeared, his grey hair flowing. His face held the same smile as five days ago. Beside him stood his sole subordinate with self-awareness, Eri. She, too, wore a smile like Spass, but hers was a sneering, mocking expression directed at the ground.
Spasslooked down at the ground, and seeing the assembled races, his smile deepened with satisfaction.
"All races are properly gathered, aren't they? Impressive, impressive. Anything less would be troublesome."
This battle was a turning point that would decide the fate of the world. If they couldn't even unite their ground forces, there was no point. It was a passing grade, at least. Next to Spass, who was nodding with satisfaction, Eri, who had been gazing at the ground, broke into a crescent-shaped smile.
"Hehehe, I was worried if he'd come to the battlefield, but as expected, Kouki-kun showed up!"
Eri's gaze was fixed on Kouki, who was in a corner of the battlefield with his classmates. Kouki must have noticed Eri looking at him. Though flustered, he continued to stare straight at Eri without averting his gaze. Eri, unable to contain herself at the thought of Kouki looking only at her, was about to rush forward... but she was stopped by Spass's hand, raised as if to block her and Kouki.
"What? You said I could act on my own judgment, Spass-sama?"
"I understand that. But please be patient for a little longer. We need to properly commence the war."
"...Hmph, how boring. Then just get it over with already."
"Indeed."
Though complaining, Eri returned her forward-leaning posture to normal. Spass, having confirmed this, directed his gaze to the ground and raised one hand high towards the heavens. Then, the veil of light that had been pouring down from the sky changed shape like a living creature, converging, and above Spass's head, a thousand spears of light formed.
"First, let's call this a greeting."
Shouten-sou (Ascension Spear)
As if in conjunction with his descending hand, a thousand spears of light were launched towards the Tortas Allied Forces. The spears of light, falling literally at the speed of light, would be imperceptible to ordinary people, scattering their lives in an instant.
If they were ordinary people, that is.
Daten-sou (Fallen Heaven Spear)
The moment a small voice echoed across the battlefield, black spears, as if condensed from the world's darkness, emerged from the ground and were simultaneously fired high into the sky. The divine pillars of light, guiding people to heaven, were entangled by the ominous dark claws that surged from the earth. A thousand lights and shadows clashed in the sky, illuminating the battlefield with intense flashes.
Spass, observing the scene, showed no sign of agitation. He then turned his gaze forward. Hovering about 300 meters away was the figure of a single king, whom Spasscould confidently declare the strongest human in history.
"Is it alright? For the general to suddenly appear like this?"
It wasn't a distance where his voice would reach, but Spassspoke regardless.
"You speak well. That magic just now, it was to draw me out, wasn't it?"
In response, Aldias casually retorted.
"Not at all. Believe it or not, I'm the type to save my favorite food for last."
"What a coincidence. I'm the type to eat my least favorite food first."
"Hehe, that's good."
Spasssmiled faintly at Aldias's words.
The decisive battle between humanity and God. It began with the clash of the two opposing generals.