Game Opportunities Become Reality, Episode 197
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Game Opportunities Become Reality, Episode 197
46. We're on the Same Side, Right? (1)
"First, I should explain the background. Are you familiar with the document I wrote titled 'The Reason Rondel Cannot Advance into Space Despite Its Advanced Technology'?"
"Yes, I know it."
I had seen that material after the goddess descended directly to the earth, chose the Saintess and the Holy Son, and then disappeared.
Before she vanished, the goddess stared at me and said this:
[As the chaos of the world never ceases, you must be wary of the black star's fall.]
Of course, the goddess's words couldn't be taken as directed at me, but the feeling was so unsettling at the time that I sought advice from Opportunity Administrator Chester for an interpretation.
At the time, he recommended that material, saying it would be helpful to me.
That material contained the secret of Rondel.
It revealed that the night sky seen from the ground was an illusion created by the goddess, that the real universe couldn't be seen from Rondel, and that Rondel itself was an isolated planet.
Rondel wasn't the only thing isolated.
Both the Heavenly Tribe's planet and the demon race's planet were isolated so that physical travel between them was impossible.
That's why the Demon King goes through all sorts of desperate antics to descend.
'But the core of that book isn't the cage-like situation of Rondel.'
The key content could be said to be revealing that Earth and Rondel are practically identical not just in the structure of their solar system, but even down to their constellations, as if copied.
The constellations of the two worlds are mirrored left and right, just like looking into a reflection.
So at the time, I suspected that Rondel might be the mirror world of Earth.
Opportunity Administrator Chester had also recommended that book because he speculated that the 'black star' the goddess mentioned might be Earth.
"That book describes how Rondel and Earth have nearly identical universes."
"That's correct."
"The reason the two universes are alike is simple. It's because they were created from the same foundation."
"Are you saying there's some kind of world-creation program that the creators commonly use?"
"Interesting. But that's not it."
With that, he drew two pictures in the air.
The pictures depicted a pure white female silhouette and a pitch-black male silhouette.
"Rondel's creator Sepia split her power to create her other half. That being is this world's creator, Kaius."
So that's it...
Is that the kind of story it is?
Blake and I, having learned something we didn't know, let out low exclamations.
If that was the case, it made sense that the goddess Sepia would take an interest in this world where her creator had disappeared.
Because it was a world made by her child.
"So you're saying that when the son created his own world, he used his Mother's world as a motif?"
"Correct. However, the Mother and son had completely different inclinations. He didn't restrict the possibility of Earth's expansion into space, and he allowed his creations to act freely."
In other words, if Sepia was a strict Mother, then Kaius was a flexible son.
"Furthermore, the god Kaius didn't interfere excessively with the earth and just let things flow according to the laws of nature he even distributed part of his authority to the Heavenly Tribe and the demon race."
It's said that the god Kaius gave the Heavenly Tribe the underworld, which governs the reincarnation of dead souls, and gave the demon race hell, which punishes sinful souls.
That's a fairly fitting assignment of duties based on their characteristics, isn't it?
"The god Kaius was a deity who respected and cared for his creations quite a bit. However, because of the rule he set for himself 'do not interfere' a great tragedy occurred where he was forgotten by his creations..."
Perhaps the god Kaius thought even that was just the natural flow of the times.
His role as creator had ended, so he stepped back naturally.
If so, it could be interpreted as a message that future hardships and trials must be overcome through the power of the creations themselves.
But that's just speculation.
That's just what I took away from his story.
Still, one clear fact is that the god Kaius was in many ways the opposite of the goddess Sepia.
If Kaius had broken his own rule, he would never have disappeared.
That conviction was a telling point in understanding Kaius's nature.
"Unlike Rondel, the heavenly tribe and demon race of this world aren't purely hostile toward each other. Rather than feeling like opposing forces with contrasting natures like in Rondel, it felt like they were fellow civil servants who just had different duties. So the two factions joined forces to try and prevent Kaius's annihilation. But as you know, the result was failure. This world entered a new era without its creator."
The moment Earth the center of the world with its overwhelming population of 7.7 billion forgot his existence, his annihilation became inevitable.
But the problem came after that.
Suddenly, Sepia began to interfere with this world, and because of that, the world began to distort.
"The heavenly tribe and demon race began to respond jointly. We have no intention of becoming the goddess Sepia's puppets. So the heavenly tribe started utilizing everything that could aid them. That included me, who was waiting for reincarnation. That's also the background of how I became the Demon King."
Lord Exceed once again pressed his own wrist.
Like he was taking a pulse.
Knowing that was how he measured the time of his manifestation, I didn't interject or ask questions I just focused on his story.
"But making me the Demon King turned out to be a grave mistake. The one who sent me back to Earth was the goddess Sepia herself. I don't know what kind of trick she pulled, but immediately after I was reincarnated as the Demon King, the goddess's interference with this world grew even stronger."
I furrowed my brow.
Just from Lord Exceed's words alone, the goddess seemed utterly malicious.
Wasn't that saying that all the goddess's actions she thought were benevolent were actually calculated?
"Everyone knows this can't exactly be called my fault. But apart from that, I can't help but feel a sense of responsibility. So, as the one who knows Rondel best, I proposed a plan, and Earth's heavenly tribe and demon race accepted it."
So that's why they created demon worshipers in Rondel, including Selin?
"Our goal is to gain the power to interfere with Rondel directly ourselves. The Demon King's manifestation was just one of the means to that end."
Blake, who had been listening, tilted his head as if the approach didn't quite make sense to him, and Exceed explained it in simpler terms.
"Earth's heavenly tribe and demon race plan to join forces and invade Rondel. With the support of that world's demon race added on top."
The atmosphere of the conversation shifted in an instant.
Both Blake and I had to scowl deeply.
Because if Rondel's demon race, Earth's demon race, and Earth's heavenly tribe all attacked together, no matter how mighty our military strength was, there seemed to be no hope of holding them off.
"You are you out of your mind right now? Did you really ramble on that long because you thought we'd just accept and understand that?"
As Blake narrowed his brow with a bewildered expression, Lord Exceed waved his hand broadly.
"Don't misunderstand. As someone with many memories in Rondel myself, I have no intention of launching an indiscriminate attack. We merely intend to occupy Rondel."
"So you're saying you'll stage a show of force, demonstrating that you could destroy Rondel if things go wrong."
Blake pointed out the plan sharply.
There was no doubt.
Because I couldn't think of it any other way either.
So becoming the Demon King had made his way of thinking closer to that of the demon race?
Just one Demon King manifesting was already chaos if the heavenly tribe and demon race came pouring in, Rondel would have no choice but to descend into a dark age.
"It's to prevent that that we're attempting to talk with you."
"..."
"We concluded that aside from this method, there's no way to attempt dialogue with the goddess Sepia. I know the word 'invasion' sounds sensitive. But we're already being invaded in real time, so to speak."
Looking through the Myriad Mirror, there was no lie in his words.
He was desperate to earn our understanding.
"Just as everyone has their own circumstances, if there were a better plan than this, I'd execute it without hesitation. To reiterate, what we want isn't destruction it's fulfilling the conditions to bring the goddess down to the mortal world. Please don't forget that."
It seemed I should view this as building a kind of deterrence, forcing the goddess to have no choice but to listen to their demands.
"I'd like the two of you to help me. If you do, we can finish this without major damage."
It was a proposal I understood but found hard to accept.
Naturally, Blake and I became as silent as if our mouths were stuffed with honey.
And then.
"Oh no...."
The time must have been up Lord Exceed's body grew faint.
"Let's talk again later. I'm sorry, but I hope you understand that we're not in a position to be picky about our methods."
And just before vanishing, he tossed out those words.
They struck me as a grave threat.
That warning-like remark felt as if it were aimed at me.
So after Lord Exceed disappeared, I could only stare coldly at the spot where he had stood.
I couldn't make a judgment yet.
But I had a feeling he could very well become an enemy.
"Everyone has their own circumstances, right?"
Blake muttered to himself in exasperation.
It was only natural meeting an old friend after so long was a joy, but he'd left our heads in a jumble.
"Eep!"
Perhaps she sensed that, unlike the pleasant start, the atmosphere had twisted strangely by the end.
At mine and Blake's gaze, Selin shrank her shoulders.
"Try contacting the Demon King again."
"Yes!"
The possession had lifted, but I wasn't sure if communication would work like it did before.
At my question, Selin quickly offered a prayer and sadly, shook her head as if no answer came.
'So the possession really is too much of a strain.'
Blake and I clicked our tongues at the same time a rarity.
Then he gave a bitter smile and asked me.
"Are you planning to head straight back?"
"No, I thought I'd visit my parents first."
"Will that be alright?"
He voiced his concern.
A reaction asking whether it was safe to expose the family here.
I shrugged.
"I've already got too many weak points in their hands."
If Grand Duke Lucas's reincarnation latched onto my weakness, there were far too many effective targets besides my parents.
"This is getting troublesome."
"Indeed it is."
At this rate, I'd end up sandwiched between the goddess, the Heavenly Tribe, and the demon race.
I'd need to sort my thoughts carefully.
"Let's go."
-Pop!
And so I teleported toward my hometown home.
A moment later, we appeared in the room I used in the old apartment in Bupyeong, Jung-dong.
"Oh? You're here!?"
My parents greeted us without much surprise as we appeared through the bedroom door.
After several visits, they'd grown used to it.
Today, for once, Father was home too checking the calendar, it was Sunday.
"Want something to eat?"
"No, I'm fine."
I shared a brief hug with my parents and asked if anything had happened while I was away.
"We're doing well, thanks to that arti artifact you gave us, was it?"
As a precaution, I'd gifted them artifacts to protect them from threats.
Among them was a ring that boosted vitality thanks to it, they said their bodies felt light as a feather.
Not only artifacts, but I'd also liquidated a large amount of gold in this world and turned it into cash for them.
So there was no way they'd want for anything.
"Ah! Right!"
Then, as if something suddenly came to mind, Father hurried off somewhere.
And when he returned, a laptop was in his hands.
"A strange island appeared in the West Sea between China and North Korea."
"Oh, you mean the anomalous terrain?"
Anomalous terrain is one of the recent abnormal phenomena occurring on Earth.
It refers to terrain or landmarks that suddenly appear where none existed before.
Father nodded.
But what he said next was completely unexpected.
"The amazing thing is, this island isn't just pretty big people actually live on it, apparently."
"What?"
Then he played a video on a streaming platform, and watching it, I had to swallow a gasp.
The video showed a UFO-like weapon intercepting incoming missiles.
"What the hell...."
"Huh? That's the Heaven-Piercing Fortress."
Indeed.
As Blake said, the UFO in the video was none other than the Heaven-Piercing Fortress.
"Why is that on Earth?"