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==============
I vividly remember the expressions of despair on the faces of humans.
I cast aside the humans who had trusted and followed me, destroying the history they had built. The pleasure I felt then was ineffable, so sweet.
Ah, so that's it. This is why I had cultivated this world and bestowed wisdom upon humanity. Therefore, I decided. I would make this world my toy.
It was enjoyable. Destroying people, destroying the world.
It was enjoyable. Looking down on the sight of them seeking salvation from me, oblivious.
It was enjoyable. Seeing humans with expressions of despair.
It was enjoyable. Enjoyable. Enjoyableââ...
By then, I no longer remembered the 'Friend Reachers'.
â------------
"Haa, haa... haa."
The "Clau Solas" clutched in Aldias's ragged hands shattered into particles of light. He had long since exceeded his magical limit. It was a miracle it had lasted this long.
"...It's over, then."
Hmph, to be in such a state even after using my power.
"You're in the same boat, aren't you?"
Don't lump me in with you. If my body and soul were in their prime, I wouldn't have struggled this much.
"Always saying irritating things... Ehit?"
Just as Aldias was about to retort to Ehit's snide remark, he noticed it. Ehit's presence within him was gradually shrinking.
"Are you... disappearing?"
I told you, didn't I? I am but a magical afterglow, like embers. I have no body to store magic, nor a vessel for my soul. Since the magic I've used cannot be restored, this is the natural course of events.
Magic isn't infinite, but it isn't finite either. Even if it's completely used up, it replenishes over time. However, Ehit, who is a magic entity himself, cannot do that. He might be able to convert Aldias's magic into his own, but...
I'd rather die than live by scrounging off you.
He could interfere with Aldias, but he couldn't control him, let alone interfere with others. To live the rest of his life by consuming Aldias's magicâhe'd rather die than live like that.
"I have no intention of letting you stay forever, either."
Then hurry up andââ
"But..."
Aldias cut off Ehit, who was about to continue with "disappear." Irritated by this, Ehit heard...
"I was helped this time. Thank you."
Words of gratitude from Aldias.
Taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, Ehit involuntarily froze with a blank expression.
.........Haa!? What's wrong with you!? Have you lost your mind!? You're creepy!?
"And here I was, sincerely thanking you, and you...!"
Aldias's temple throbbed with a vein, irritated by being called creepy for simply expressing gratitude.
I acted for my own purposes! Not for your sake! Don't misunderstand me!?
"I know that without you telling me! Can't you just accept a simple thank you!?"
I don't need your thanks!? I'll roll it up and throw it into the abyss!!
"I was wrong to thank you! I would have been fine on my own, even without your power!!"
What did you say!? Who was it that was getting beaten to a pulp!? Can't you even say thank you!?
"You said you didn't want it, didn't you!?"
Tit for tat. Just a moment ago, they had worked together in perfect sync to corner and defeat SpaĂ, but now they were bickering again as if that teamwork had been an illusion.
"Guh!? I'm seriously injured, you know... Don't make me raise my voice."
That's because you keep provoking me!? I can't deal with you anymore! I'm leaving now!!
"Yeah, do whatever you want."
Aldias, who had no strength left to heal his wounds, groaned, clutching his side where intense pain shot through him from raising his voice.
Ehit, looking exasperated at Aldias, was about to completely vanish.
"...? Hey, what are you doing?"
...Well, you see...
However, when Aldias tilted his head and asked why Ehit's presence hadn't disappeared after a while, Ehit spoke hesitantly.
...I hate you. I despise you for messing up my world.
"..."
But, I just remembered something.
â------------
It was a memory from before Ehit began to find pleasure in destroying the world.
Memories of a 'Friend' with whom he had developed this world.
It began with the words of a single man.
I want to guide them.
Perhaps it was from the guilt of abandoning the people of his original world... or from a simmering sense of sin in his heart...
As if to fill the hollow in his heart, he reached out to the natives, bestowing wisdom upon them.
When they, whom he had helped, expressed their gratitude, he felt that his choice to abandon his homeland had meaning.
Saying that, the 'Friend' smiled.
I didn't understand. Reaching the pinnacle of magic and arriving at the abyss was my destiny.
I had no time to waste on primitive savages.
Yet, while I denied what the 'Friend' was doing, I didn't leave them alone.
Why was that...?
It was fun.
It was fun. Doing things with the 'Friend'.
It was fun. Accomplishing things with the 'Friend'.
It was fun. Being with the 'Friend'.
It was fun. Fun. Funââ...
Laughing over trivial things, boasting about each other's achievements. Such ordinary things were fun.
But that time also came to an end.
Though the 'Friend' had transcended the laws of death, one by one, they chose to end their own lives.
Why? Why would they choose to end themselves? Why would they leave me behind?
I didn't understand. I couldn't comprehend the meaning behind their choices.
However, after several centuries of being alone, I remembered the last words of the 'Friend'.
It's enough already.
At first, I didn't understand the meaning of these words. But then, one day, it dawned on me.
Perhaps they had realized that this world was complete.
Humans had developed to a point where we no longer needed to intervene. Therefore, their role was over.
â------------
So, wouldn't it be better to reset everything?
If I did that, they might return.
Surely, a day would come when we could all laugh together again, just like before.
And so, I destroyed everything.
Several millennia later, I had forgotten why I had decided to destroy the world.
â------------
I remembered. My origin. My desire.
This wish would likely never come true. They would never come back to life, and I don't think they would accept me as I am now. Still, I was able to remember.
It had been a long time since I fought alongside someone. So that's... what this feeling was like.
I don't like that my opponent was the man who killed me, but...
I was able to remember my 'Friend'. For that alone, I'll thank you.
With those final words, Ehit completely vanished from this world.
â------------
"...Your thanks are creepy."
Aldias's muttered words reached no one, dissolving into the sky.
Then, slowly, he turned his gaze to the ground and began to descend unsteadily.
â------------
"Why did you accept it?"
In his hazy consciousness, someone with an expressionless face asked SpaĂ.
The figure, visible only as a silhouette against the backlight, peered into the face of the lying SpaĂ.
That final blow. Couldn't you have resisted more?
"Perhaps."
Then, why?
"...I don't know. I became unsure. I didn't know what I should have done..."
Do you regret it?
"...That is."
It's okay. You already know the answer.
"Eh?"
The expressionless figure simply said that and walked away quickly.
"W-wait!? You, are you...!"
Spass hastily sat up, desperately reaching out, and the figure glanced back over their shoulder.
Though he couldn't see their face, he felt as if they were smiling.
It's time. Go. That child is waiting for me.
With those final words, his vision was enveloped in light.
â------------
"...Ugh... where is this?"
"Finally awake, are we?"
"...Aldias-kun?"
Spass, awakened by the pain in his body, lifted his head to look around, and directly in front of him, Aldias stood, arms crossed, looking down at him.
His entire body was battered and bloody, but his expression showed no sign of it.
"...I see, I lost."
After a pause, Spass fully understood the situation.
His body, slumped against the base of a large tree, felt heavy as lead, and from his toes, he was slowly dissolving into particles of light, vanishing into the air.
(This is... "death"... It's surprisingly simple.)
Spass watched the scene as if it were happening to someone else.
"Aldias-kun, this..."
From Spass's slowly raised arm, a faint orb of light appeared, floating gently towards Aldias.
"What is this?"
"It's my power. It's only a small amount, but you will surely reach a state beyond me someday."
Humanity is still weak. I had always believed that.
But what was the result? The god fell pathetically, and humanity... he undoubtedly stepped into the next realm.
I was defeated by the power of humanity's potential. The loser simply leaves gracefully. Now, he will guide humanity in my place.
Aldias-kun, unlike me, you will surely be a magnificentââ
"I don't need it."
ââSmash!
"...Eh?"
Aldias casually batted away the weak, bravely flying orb of light.
The orb, struck to the ground, bounced slightly before shattering into countless pieces and vanishing.
"...W-what are you doing!? That was the last of my power I could leave for you!?"
"When did I say I would inherit your power? I don't need your power."
"No! You must inherit it! While you may be able to reach godhood on your own, your human base cannot endure the passage of eons! You will eventually reach your limit!"
Humans die, at most, after a hundred years. While there are long-lived beings like Ehit, who sublimated his soul into a god, or Aletheia, who is a reversion, or the Dragonkin, who have unique origins or species, no one can truly live on forever.
Time cruelly changes people profoundly. Just as Ehit forgot his memories with the 'Friend', even if Aldias were to achieve it on his own, it would be impossible for him to maintain his current feelings. He would surely become distorted somewhere.
To prevent that, he had to inherit true divinity, not artificial divinity. Yet...
"You seem to be misunderstanding something. I have no intention of becoming a god."
"What!?"
This time, Spass was truly speechless.
Why...? That single word raced through his mind. Perhaps sensing his confusion from his expression, Aldias spoke.
"I can understand your concerns. Right now, with you as an enemy, this world was able to join hands. But in a few hundred, a few thousand years, it might not be the same. That's true. But why should I have to take care of such a future?"
Spass was about to retort, but Aldias's sharp gaze pierced him, and the words caught in his throat.
"I told you, didn't I? We are incomplete beings. That's why we join hands. Even if I'm gone, someone will surely appear to inherit my will. That's how human will is passed down."
"Inheriting will..."
He knew. He thought he understood. He thought someone had to guide them. That to reach perfection, an absolute individual who could serve as a guide was necessary...
"Then... will you inherit my will too?"
"I refuse."
"...Um, wasn't it something that would be passed down?"
Spass's eyes widened in surprise at the immediate rejection. "Isn't this different from what we discussed...?" he seemed to say.
"First of all, I don't know what you were thinking. Don't say 'humanity's salvation.' I can tell that's just a pretense."
"That's not..."
"...What, are you still unconscious of it? Haa, what a troublesome person. Joke's only in the name."
"...Huh?"
Spass's eyes widened in astonishment at Aldias's muttered words. Aldias, in turn, looked perplexed by his reaction.
"What?"
"Where did you...?"
"What?"
"You said, 'Joke's only in the name'..."
"What do you mean, 'where'? Spassmeans 'joke', doesn't it?"
Were you using it without knowing? Aldias asked, but Spass was already too flustered to hear him.
The fact that the word "SpäĂ" contains the meaning of "joke" isn't widely known. Still, it's information that one wouldn't be surprised to know. However, the moment Aldias uttered those words, a tremendous sense of dĂŠjĂ vu overwhelmed Spass.
A deeply nostalgic memory. The day he was first given a name as an "individual."
â------------
SpäĂ... SpäĂ, huh... Yeah, I think it's good.
Really? Good, I was worried you wouldn't like it. It also means 'joke', so I thought it would be perfect for a father whose existence is like a joke.
My existence is like a joke!?
â------------
"No way... such a thing...!"
Why didn't he realize? Why didn't he understand?
The child of the era who had defeated him, and his beloved daughter who had changed his very being.
The souls of the two who had greatly influenced Spass... completely overlapped.
It's okay. Don't make that face. I'll always watch over you, Dad... We'll surely meet again. So, don't cry?
â------------
Ah, I was such a fool. I finally understood. I finally realized.
Why I was so fixated on Aldias-kun. Why I felt such disappointment and sadness when he differed from my ideal...
(Roshida. You kept your promise, didn't you?)
Even though I hadn't realized it, had I unconsciously superimposed her onto him?
While I called humanity greedy, I was the most arrogant of all.
"Aldias-kun. Why are you so strong? Why can you believe in the future?"
I asked Aldias-kun that question, but I knew what he would answer. Surely, if it were him/her...
"A foolish question. To protect my family, my comrades. I ask for nothing more. Besides, we... humanity isn't that weak."
That's not true. People die easily.
Such words of denial came to mind endlessly. However, looking into his eyes, such words caught in my throat and wouldn't come out. Just like that time, his eyes held an undeniable power.
"Compared to you, each individual might be insignificant. Surely, humanity will fail many times again. But that's fine. That's good. What's important isn't choosing the right answer from the start. It's about starting over even if you make a mistake... Repeating trial and error to find the best solution..."
Above all, Aldias paused and looked up at the sky. A small smile appeared on his face...
"It's amazing to be able to do anything alone, but wouldn't that be lonely? It's much more fun with everyone."
It's certainly amazing to be able to do things alone, but isn't that lonely? I think it's much more fun to work together with everyone.
â------------
...Ah, you really haven't changed. No matter how many hundred million years pass, no matter how many times your life ends, your feelings remain the same.
And what about me? I couldn't accept your death, and using your feelings as a shield, I suppressed my own. I made it my mission to protect the humanity... and the world you loved, even suppressing my hatred.
Protect the world? Save humanity? No, that's not it. The feelings I had bottled up weren't such convenient words. They were much more selfish, much simpler.
"Yes. That's right. It was such a simple, easy thing."
"...You."
Aldias was speechless at the sight before him.
A tear rolled down Spass's cheek, who looked as if he had come to a realization.
Dad.
His beloved daughter's words resurfaced.
"I just... wanted to be called again, like before... and to be called 'father' hundreds of times more. It's fine if it's ordinary. It's fine if it's not special. I just wanted you to live... happily...!"
He wanted to see her grow more. Someday, he wanted her to be with someone she loved, form a family, and cherish happiness. He wanted her to be surrounded by family at the end, and to pass away mourned by them.
This wasn't the face of a "God" who created the world and humanity.
It was merely the face of a "father" grieving the death of his daughter.
"Ah, you're right. I couldn't accept the fact of Roshida's... my daughter's death. I couldn't bear that reality. So, I created a reason. That destroying/saving humanity was the offering I could make to her. I protected myself by telling myself that."
How selfish he was. To protect himself, he put the world in danger. By holding up the pretense of protecting the world, he justified his actions.
Not to waste her death? An offering to her? Fool. I, who insulted her more than anyone, have no right to say that. A god who would destroy the world over his daughter's death is no joke.
"...It's not necessarily a bad thing, is it?"
"...Eh?"
Aldias's voice reached Spass, who was looking down, deeply self-loathing. Spass raised his head, expecting to see disappointment on Aldias's face at his selfish actions, but was confused to see an expression of understanding instead.
"In short, you just didn't want to accept the fact that your daughter died, right?"
"Just that...? But I involved the world, so many people?"
"It's far more understandable than being arbitrarily forced to accept idealistic notions about the world or humanity. Besides..."
"Besides?"
"Parents are apparently capable of destroying the world for their children."
I'm not a parent, so I don't know, Aldias continued. Hearing his words, Spass exposed a blank, foolish expression before bursting into laughter as if he couldn't hold it in.
"Heh heh, heh... Indeed, that makes sense. Parents are beings who can risk their lives for their children."
"Haha... Ah, I still can't beat them."
After laughing together for a while, Spass, having regained his breath, gazed intently at Aldias.
Already, up to his chest had dissolved into particles. It was almost time.
"Aldias-kun."
"..."
"Many difficulties will await you all in the future."
"Yeah."
"Sometimes you might be unable to bear it, and you might break."
"Yeah."
"Even then, can you swear to keep resisting... to keep fighting?"
"Yes, I swear."
There was no falsehood in his words, and in his eyes, Spass felt a strong resolve that he would surely achieve it.
Ah, it's okay now. Humanityâheâis indeed incomplete. Still far from a perfect being. Nevertheless, humanityâtheyâwill surely overcome it. And in the future, surely...
Now, I can believe from the bottom of my heart. I can entrust it to you.
"Then I will believe. And I will pray. May 'happiness' await your future..."
Finally, with a beaming smile, Spass dissolved into particles of light and vanished.
â------------
After his vision turned black, Spass felt as if his body was falling. His limbs felt heavy, as if he were underwater, and opening his eyelids was all he could manage, but he felt no anxiety at all.
He had entrusted the rest to them. His task was complete. It was unfortunate that he couldn't see their destination with his own eyes, but it couldn't be helped.
(I selfishly took away the happiness of many people. This self-centered man is definitely going to hell, aren't I?)
When people die, their souls return to the stars, cycle through reincarnation, and are reborn into the world as new life.
If he followed the trajectory of reincarnation he had created, that would be the case, but what happens when a god dies?
(Normally, they would endlessly cycle through reincarnation without being reborn, or perhaps their very existence would disappear.)
He didn't know. He didn't know, but it was probably a fitting end for him. He was prepared to accept whatever outcome awaited him.
(Ah, but if I could have just one wish... I wanted to see your smile one last time...)
Imagining the smile directed at him, Spass unconsciously reached out his hand.
Even knowing it wouldn't come true, he couldn't help but reach. A weak hand raised upwards, as if grasping at the air.
That hand was grabbed.
"Gah!?"
"Got you."
"...Roshida!? Why are you...!?"
His eyes widened as his hand, which no one should have grabbed, was taken. What appeared before Spass's eyes was unmistakable... the figure of his daughter, Roshida, who had died in his arms that day.
"Honestly. I said I'd come to meet you, so don't just go off somewhere on your own."
"Roshida...! I... I...!"
"It's okay. I was watching. You did well, Dad."
"But, I...! Your feelings...!"
"You cared about me that much, didn't you? It's okay. Let's leave the rest to them now. You believed in them and entrusted it to them, didn't you?"
"...Yes. They'll surely..."
"Yeah! Come on, don't just mope around here, hurry up and stand!"
"...Pull me up."
"You're like a child."
Roshida gave him a half-lidded, exasperated look at the same exchange as before. However, he wasn't one to be discouraged by such things. Besides, it was true that his body couldn't move properly.
And besides, if it were her, surely...
"...Haa, fine, fine."
As expected, she sighed once and, smiling, pulled his arm.
ââAh, that's the smile I wanted to see.
â------------
Aldias silently watched the particles of light ascend high into the sky.
"...This is..."
As he stared at it, a single tear rolled down Aldias's cheek. He wiped the tear with his finger, gazing at it curiously.
"I..."
Thank you.
"Gah!?"
A woman's voice suddenly echoed in Aldias's bewildered mind. He hastily looked around for the source of the voice, but there was no sign of anyone.
"..."
Aldias simply looked up at the sky, and this time, he heard a different voice.
"Aldiasââ!!"
"Aldias-sama!!"
Reacting to the voices, Aldias turned in the direction they came from, seeing Aletialeading Freid and Cattleya of the demon folk. Behind them were Hajime and Miledi.
He caught sight of his family, stumbling but running desperately, and let out a wry smile, raising his hand to signal he was alright.
"...I'm tired."
He muttered softly, then collapsed onto the ground. Aletiahastily caught him.
Humanity vs. God
In later history, the greatest battle in history, waged for the future of humanity.
The heavenly battle, which would be recounted as the Mythic Great War, ended with Aldias, imbued with the will of humanity, achieving the third god-slaying, leaving a deep scar on the world.
============
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