Published at 9th of March 2024 8:03 am

Chapter 354: Interlude: Conversation with the God Part Three

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“Well, I’ve pretty much finished telling you what I need to. All that’s left is to return you to your original place, but… is there something you want to ask before that?”

“Hmm? Well…”

To Nuoh’s inquiry, I crossed my arms and pondered. Since I didn’t think I’d have many chances to directly confront a god, I wanted to ask everything I could at this opportunity.

“Oh… Ah! Right. Um, about the previous world, or rather, anything about the first cycle or the worlds before that, do you know anything about them?”

“Hmm? I do know… does that matter?”

“No, it’s just that earlier, the Demon King I met… Eld, was sealed to suppress the god’s fragment, right? But then, if that’s the case, why were the previous Demon Kings also sealed? If there’s ‘Hillpeople, Eltartan’ existing, you’ve met them, right?”

The difference between the third cycle and before was whether the “god’s fragment” existed. So, in the third cycle, Eld was sealed solely to suppress the power of the “god’s fragment.”

However, in the first cycle, I distinctly remember Ginta mentioning “the Demon King being sealed.” If there was no “god’s fragment,” why was Eld, who should have been prospering on the surface alongside Nuoh, sealed? I had no clue about the reason.

Well, this is just my simple curiosity. It’s not crucial to know, but if I missed this chance, I might never find out, so if I can ask, I’d like to know.

“Hmm? Indeed, the previous Demon King… Eld was also sealed. The reason was… a war.”

“What!? A war!?”

“Yes. People envy what they don’t have and are reluctant to accept what’s different from them. It was a war born from such jealousy and intolerance, a common occurrence everywhere. However, the power of the surface-dwelling humans, who were thriving without any intruders, could have easily opposed the underwater people, even if they were fewer in numbers. So, the conflict that began as minor skirmishes gradually escalated, and it was feared that irreparable damage would be inflicted upon the world… that’s when that man decided to become the root of it all and chose a path to end the conflict.”

“I see… So that’s why it’s said ‘the Demon King was sealed by Hillpeople, Eltartan.'”

He accumulated all the blame on himself, causing two conflicting forces to cooperate and seal him. Sacrificing himself to protect the world due to his deep love for it… It’s ironic, or rather, a sad story.

“Regarding that, aren’t you interfering?”

“I’m not. Well, aren’t survival competitions part of daily life?”

“…Ah, right, that’s true.”

Living in this world wasn’t limited to just humans. Insects, animals, demonic beasts—they all survive by preying upon each other, struggling to exist to the best of their abilities. To discuss this solely from a human perspective, from human values and ethics, was the epitome of arrogance.

Wait, I see. Perhaps that’s the “god’s perspective.” It’s not about looking down on or discriminating against them; they simply treat all lives equally. If gods see us as we see insects, then…

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s just a bit of self-loathing… Well, never mind me.”

I felt quite down about it, but sometimes, you just have to accept it for what it is. In truth, even though insects desperately try to communicate and coexist with us, we perceive their buzzing wings as nothing but a nuisance and mercilessly continue to kill them… If I start imagining that, I’ll truly be immobilized.

So, I’ll bear this as my sin. If it attacks, if it tries to take, no matter the opponent, I’ll stand and fight back. After all, I’m also a life living in this world.

“Is that enough for your question? Is there anything else you want to ask?”

While I was mulling over my own thoughts, Nuoh added another question.

Well, yeah. Really, at this point, anything else I want to ask is… Ah.

“Then, just one last thing, alright?”

“What is it?”

“I want to know your true size.”

I’ve felt a sense of unease since the moment a small fish appeared in front of me. There’s no mistaking that this fish is Nuoh, but it’s not certain if its size is as it appears.

Or rather, it’s probably different. I mean, back in the beginning, just hearing Nuoh talk caused huge vibrations. So, I could imagine that its actual body would be considerably large… but really.

“Oh, my size, is it? Even if you want to know, my form is right in front of your eyes, isn’t it?”

“Huh? This is just to make it easier for me to—”

“It’s not that. There is indeed.”

Saying so, the fish in front of my eyes suddenly vanished. Yet, the sense of Nuoh’s presence I felt remained unchanged.

“In this place, and if it’s you, you should be able to feel it. Now, I’ll return you to your original place, so discern while you have the chance.”

“Wa-wait!?”

My body felt like it was floating and being drawn upward. I instinctively flapped my arms and legs, but in this floating state, there was no way to resist that force.

“To feel in this situation…?”

Amidst what felt like an incredibly swift movement, I strained my eyes into the darkness spread before me. There, far in the distance, in what could be called the darkness of the horizon, I sensed a slightly denser darkness.

“Hahaha…”

If this were a normal surface, it would be higher than mountains, higher than clouds. Reaching through the sky into the heavens, at a height where I could almost touch the shining stars, I finally saw it.

The unremarkable figure of a fish emerging from the darkness. However, its size was abnormal, to the point where one of its scales could rival a continent.

“Oh… so that’s why it was a world of water…”

Eyes scanning around, I saw Nuoh’s eyes sideways and suddenly realized. The world we journeyed through seemed to have been on top of Nuoh’s eyes.

A film of water covering the eyes. That’s why it was both underwater and above water. I couldn’t peek behind it from here, but surely, on the opposite side, there existed another world, increased by my actions.

“Huh? So the ground is actually eye gunk? Ugh, didn’t want to know that…”

If a vast ocean was called a god’s tear, it might feel somewhat noble, but if a tall mountain were called a god’s booger, I’d instantly lose any respect. Yeah, it seems that knowing everything doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness. Well, let’s leave it at that…

“At this size, is it just a small fish to the ‘God’ I want to punch? Seriously, how absurd…”

I was again shown the distance of the goal, feeling rather disheartened. But the fact that the goal I’m aiming for was clear serves as the driving force that motivates me. Then, amidst my countless mood swings, Nuoh’s voice unexpectedly reached my ears again.

“…Right. I completely forgot, but let me grant you my blessing at the end. I can’t interfere with the fundamental restrictions, but I should be able to assist you on your path.”

“Now!? Th-thanks, Nuoh! Can you hear me?”

“I can hear. But that’s as far as it goes. Farewell, Ed. The benevolent Demon King who governs the end. I sincerely wish you prosperity on your journey.”

“Same to you! When I become a bit bigger and stronger, I’ll bring my dear partner and come play with you!”

“Hahaha! Then I’ll look forward to that—”

Before Nuoh’s words could reach the end, my surroundings were engulfed in light. And the next moment…

“Ed? What’s wrong?”

“…Huh?”

I woke up, holding the knob to the door of the 012th world, but it would no longer turn.

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