The first time Shiro attempted to enter Excessive Awakening, he had fallen into an indescribably mysterious state.
There—He witnessed the birth of the universe.
And the destruction of countless planets.
At the time, he had no idea what any of it meant.
He only found it strange that after supposedly losing his humanity, he had simply stood there motionless.
However—The consciousness born from this planet had regarded him as one of its own kind.
It had even seemed displeased that Shiro possessed a human body.
'Don't tell me...'
'After Excessive Awakening, I'm supposed to turn into a planet?!'
"?!"
As though confirming his speculation—The instant that possibility appeared in Shiro's mind, information about such a lifeform surfaced within his consciousness on its own.
Star Spirit—The primary spirit that exists upon planets of planetary scale or greater.
An existence capable of almost completely representing the will of an entire celestial body.
The strongest race, one that could awaken only by attaining selfhood through its own power—Or through divinity.
At the same time, the influx of information finally explained why Shiro had lost consciousness after entering Excessive Awakening.
Star Spirits were born as complete existences from the beginning.
Below them were Demi-Star Spirits, beings born from the combination of a planet and mythology.
Shiro represented no planet.
Nor did he possess any corresponding mythology.
So he could not even be called a Demi-Star Spirit.
At most—The ritual of Excessive Awakening had granted him the possibility of someday becoming a Star Spirit.
To actually transform himself into that strongest race, however—He would still have to fulfill numerous conditions.
"So four hundred years ago, was Satella trying to devour this planet's original will and replace it as the Star Spirit?"
Shiro rubbed his aching temple with his thumb.
Too much information had been forced into his mind at once, leaving him slightly dizzy.
"Star Spirit?"
Pandora seemed impressed by the term.
"What a wonderful name."
Then she gently shook her head.
"However, that child's goal was not something like that."
"She did it for friendship."
"The act of devouring the world was also caused by the Witch Factor."
"Friendship?"
"Yes."
Pandora's expression became almost intoxicated.
"Despite possessing virtually no compatibility with the Witch Factor of Envy, she still chose to absorb it without hesitation for the sake of friendship."
"Ah... such beautiful friendship."
"Watching people care for one another so deeply truly is wonderful."
"Then what exactly is a Witch Factor?"
Shiro frowned.
"And why did absorbing one make Satella want to devour the world?"
"That is a rather long story."
Pandora slowly restrained the blissful expression on her face.
"But since you may become my future ally, please allow me to explain it carefully."
Then—Through Pandora's narration, Shiro gradually learned the truth of this planet from thousands of years ago.
Several thousand years in the past—A partial consciousness had already been born within this world.
It was also the earliest embryonic form of a Star Spirit.
The [Cradle of the World]—Od Laguna.
As the source of mana within this world, it granted life to spirits and created an environment suitable for them to exist.
Several thousand years after creating the spirits—Roughly five or six centuries ago—Od Laguna separated portions of its own authority.
Those fragments became special objects known as Witch Factors.
If a person fulfilled the qualifications to become a Witch and obtained a Witch Factor—They would immediately become a Witch who possessed a small portion of the world's authority.
If the holder was male—They would instead be called a Warlock.
It was during that era that a girl named Satella happened to meet the other six Witches.
She also became acquainted with the Divine Dragon Volcanica, the First Sword Saint Reid, the Sage Flugel, and Flugel's disciple Shaula.
Whenever they had free time—The Witches would gather for tea parties.
They spoke about their ideals and gradually became extremely close friends.
Unfortunately—That peaceful period did not last.
During a certain incident, Satella needed to protect the life of an important friend.
Despite possessing virtually zero compatibility with the Witch Factor of Envy—She forcibly absorbed it.
And from that act—A completely new personality was born.
The Witch of Envy.
This personality was influenced by the Envy Factor—A fragment of authority separated from the [Cradle of the World], Od Laguna.
It instinctively sought to gather the authority Od Laguna had scattered throughout the world.
Its goal was to restore the world to its original, complete form.
And so—Satella lost control.
What happened next followed the legends preserved within Lugunica.
After the Witch of Envy devoured half the world—Her former companions, the Divine Dragon Volcanica, the First Sword Saint Reid, and the Sage Flugel joined forces to seal her away.
And the Envy Factor—A fragment of the world's authority—Was sealed together with Satella forever.
"I see."
Shiro slowly nodded.
"Then the reason that thing wants to kill me finally makes sense."
After hearing Pandora's explanation—Shiro more or less understood the planetary will's hostility toward him.
There had already been a precedent four hundred years ago.
Now—A man who could not even qualify as a Demi-Star Spirit had suddenly obtained a Witch Factor.
It was only natural for the planetary will to react violently.
However—Once Shiro understood that point, another question immediately appeared.
And to him—This question was even more important than why Satella had gone berserk.
He stared directly into Pandora's deep-blue eyes.
Her expression looked almost nostalgic.
Shiro's tone became unusually serious.
"So why do you know all of this?"
"And back then..."
"What role did you play?"
That was the real problem.
In Pandora's story—Satella had only known six Witches.
Only those six had attended the Witch tea parties with her.
Those six corresponded to the remaining Seven Deadly Sins aside from Envy.
So why—Did Pandora, the Witch of Vainglory, know Satella's history so thoroughly?
She even understood the relationships between all of them.
It was almost as though—She had been standing beside them all along, quietly watching everything happen.
"..."
Pandora suddenly smiled.
That smile—Was ethereal.
Dreamlike.
"The Envy Factor causes an incompatible host to develop an entirely new personality."
Pandora's voice remained soft.
"Then what about the other Witch Factors?"
"Or perhaps I should ask..."
"What happens when a dying little girl with absolutely no compatibility consumes one?"
"You're not saying you're..."
Before Shiro could fully process the shocking implication—
Pandora stepped forward on her bare, delicate legs until she stood directly before him.
Then—Under Shiro's gaze—She lightly lifted one corner of the white cloth wrapped around her body.
Bending slightly at the waist, she performed an elegant curtsy like a princess.
"Allow me to introduce myself once again."
"I am the one who occupies the position of the Witch of Vainglory within the Witch Cult."
"And at the same time—"
"I am an entirely new personality born from the Vainglory Factor."
"The Witch of Vainglory who governs a portion of the authority over fate—"
"Pandora."
…