"Don't tell me you're planning to devour this world like the Witch of Envy did back then and replace the planetary will."
After hearing Pandora's introduction, Shiro's expression became rather strange.
Because if that truly was Pandora's ultimate goal—Then the very existence of the Witch Cult became rather awkward.
To oppose the original planetary will, she would need to recover as much of the authority still scattered throughout the world as possible.
In other words—Eventually, when Pandora finally put her plan into motion, all those Sin Archbishops who had diligently worked for the Witch Cult would be stabbed in the back by their own side.
Pandora did not directly answer Shiro's question.
But the unchanging smile on her face said everything.
Seeing that, Shiro could not help feeling a trace of pity for the Witch Cultists.
Most of them had already gone insane and survived only by clinging to their faith in the Witch.
If they learned that, in the Witch's eyes, they did not even qualify as useful tools—That they were at best temporary safes meant to keep Witch Factors from falling into someone else's hands—Anyone with a slightly fragile mind might kill themselves on the spot.
"In this world, I am undoubtedly the one who loves those children the most."
Pandora seemed to see through the strange expression on Shiro's face and understood what he was thinking.
"When they received their Gospels, they had already made their choice."
"On one side was the same dull, monotonous life they had always known."
"On the other was joining the Witch Cult and searching for hope."
"They chose my side."
"So I returned that choice with an equal amount of love."
"And your love means deciding in advance exactly how they'll die?"
Shiro raised an eyebrow.
"Should I start preparing my coffin too?"
"If possible, I would also prefer to avoid unnecessary sacrifices."
Pandora smiled gently.
"But sometimes, such things cannot be helped."
"Fate does not consider the hearts of those it manipulates."
"Fate only loves those who understand that the waves of destiny will still rise against them and yet choose to resist."
"And it allows them to continue hoping for the outcome they desire."
"I'm starting to believe you really are a conscious personality formed from authority separated from the planet."
Shiro looked at her.
She regarded herself as the spokesperson of fate.
She treated her own will as the will of fate itself.
Whenever she wanted to accomplish something, she did not care about the feelings of those manipulated along the way.
She claimed to love everyone equally—Yet could watch those she "loved" die without blinking.
That was the person named Pandora in Shiro's eyes.
No.
Calling such a personality human was already difficult.
In that respect—She was already extremely close to what she sought to become.
The planetary will itself.
She cared only whether an event was beneficial.
Not why it happened.
Perhaps in Pandora's eyes, those who died because of her were no different from people unfortunate enough to encounter a natural disaster and perish.
That was probably why she had created the Witch Cult in the first place—Because it made achieving her ultimate goal more convenient.
As for those innocent people caught up in the Witch Cult's actions and killed?
Had anyone ever watched someone cramp while swimming, drown, and then turned around to curse the swimming pool?
It sounded absurd when put that way.
But Pandora's true personality really was that twisted.
"What happens to the Witch Cult doesn't have much to do with me."
Shiro shrugged.
"But since you came looking for me yourself, I assume you've already prepared something valuable enough to persuade me?"
Whatever Pandora's personality was like—That had nothing to do with Shiro.
Compared to Roswaal, who looked calculating at a glance and forced Shiro to carefully probe for information every time they spoke—Pandora's obsession with results actually made her easier to deal with.
At least when talking with Pandora—He did not have to constantly dance around his words.
Nor did he need to guess what she really wanted.
So Shiro continued—
"You're not going to tell me the reward is merely letting me freely enter and leave this world, right?"
"If that's all, then the next time that thing comes after me, I might as well sell you out directly."
"Maybe I could get the same result without doing nearly as much work."
"One should receive compensation equal to what one gives."
Pandora nodded.
"That principle applies almost everywhere."
"Then?"
Shiro looked directly at her.
"If I help you become what I would call a Demi-Star Spirit of this planet, what exactly are you prepared to give me in return?"
The reason Shiro said Demi-Star Spirit—Was because he understood that becoming the consciousness of a planet alone was not enough to transform someone into a true Star Spirit, the strongest race in existence.
Beyond becoming the will of a planetary-scale world and completing an extremely complicated ritual—There was another crucial requirement.
To become a Star Spirit—One had to defeat the planetary wills representing that same celestial body across countless other worlds.
For example—To become the Star Spirit of Earth, one would need to defeat every other possible candidate capable of becoming Earth's Star Spirit throughout all other worlds.
And how many planets named Earth existed across countless realities?
The beings capable of representing Earth were innumerable.
There might easily be more than three candidates in a single world alone.
A place like Orario, where mythological beings genuinely existed, was even more absurd.
Nuwa from the Eastern pantheon.
Gaia from Greek mythology.
Matrés from Celtic mythology.
Each possessed the potential to become a Star Spirit representing Earth.
Defeating them one by one—Even at a pace of one competitor every single day—Could still take centuries or even thousands of years.
Unless there existed some world capable of observing every universe simultaneously and converging all other universes together—Artificially becoming a true Star Spirit was nearly impossible.
"Love."
Pandora's answer was unexpectedly simple.
She cupped her pale cheeks with both hands, her expression intoxicated.
"Whether it is compassionate love, devoted love, yearning love, tender love, reverent love, cherished love, supreme love, selfish love, pure love, beloved love, romantic love, dearest love, or faithful love—"
"In short—"
"I can give you the most wonderful love in this world, entirely free of vainglory!"
"You really are part of the Witch Cult..."
Shiro sighed.
"But I'll have to refuse that one."
"I'm not interested in ending up like Petelgeuse."
"So that won't work after all."
Pandora smiled warmly.
"You still don't understand how wonderful love can be."
"But that's alright."
"This incomplete state of yours is beautiful too."
The way she looked at Shiro was like someone admiring an unpolished gemstone.
"Then allow me to phrase it differently."
"Once I become the Demi-Star Spirit you described..."
"Whether what you desire is knowledge or power—"
"I can give it to you."
"Until it actually happens, that's nothing more than an empty promise."
Shiro remained unmoved.
"How can you guarantee that after becoming a Demi-Star Spirit, you'll still be the same Pandora?"
"What if you end up like that thing earlier and decide you should kill me instead?"
"Sometimes, overly clever children really are troublesome."
Pandora sighed softly.
"But now that you understand your own nature, you intend to try walking this path someday too, don't you?"
"If you cooperate with me, you may treat me as an experimental subject sent ahead to explore that road."
Pandora's smile remained serene.
"Whether you trample upon my body—"
"Or toy with my soul—"
"I forgive everything you choose to do."
…