Morgan's absurd mistake was quickly passed over.
To be precise, it wasn't a mistake, but a confusion of order.
According to her, she had tried to make a joke, but it wasn't funny at all, which is just a shame.
Morgan showed me another picture.
"It's the same graduation picture."
"But the child in the picture is different. Her hair is brown, and her eyes are purple."
"You mean it's a different child? Is that right, Morgan?"
Morgan nodded.
But she affirmed that she was their child.
Same time, same scene, but why did only one child change?
The reason was immediately clear.
"It's because of the authority of the Beast of Contradiction."
"That is correct. The fate of an unstable traveler, who can only exist as one person in all possible worlds. We must solve the Singularity and, at the same time, do what is only possible in this Singularity."
What is that.
"Cael's daughter. It is to fix the existence of that girl in the world."
"Our daughter said that problem has already been solved. I don't want to doubt your words, Morgan-san, but isn't this rather creating a problem?"
Johanna seriously refuted. I also agree with her opinion.
The problem has already been solved, so why?
"Because the solution to that problem is incomplete, Cael. Does it seem easy to suppress the power of a beast with magic?"
"It's not."
If it were that easy, I wouldn't have had to suffer.
"Likewise. The Beast of Contradiction ultimately goes against reason. The great sacrifice for the small is a prime example of this."
The principle of utilitarianism be damned. The ultimate king of selfishness is the qualification of a beast.
"Therefore, the Beast of Contradiction must inevitably go against reason, and in cases where it cannot, it will try to satisfy that instinct in some way."
"...For example?"
"Murder."
"It's the most effective way to go against reason."
Johanna reacted violently.
"That's not possible. I've only known her for an hour, but our daughter is a good girl. She's a pure child who couldn't even get blood on her hands!"
"That's what we're trying to prevent, Johanna. Calm down."
"...Okay."
Do you think I'm not worried?
Morgan is saying that we should prevent that from now on.
"When they reached our timeline. At the same time, I received information from another me. I was also asked to fix the instability of the beast."
"Because it's impossible in that timeline? What on earth is the method?"
I can't back down anymore.
I know that this is a situation where I have to speak, and Morgan knows it too.
Morgan was unusually nervous. It was the first time I saw her breathing so heavily that I could hear her breath.
"The peculiarity of only one person existing in all possible worlds is negated by leaving a trace, and the nature of the beast is satisfied by going against reason. The way to satisfy both is..."
Morgan lowered her head to my lower body.
Johanna foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
Of course, the opinion is rejected. We decided to solve the Singularity.
I haven't lived a life so good as to consider myself a good person, but there's a limit.
Morgan and the future Morgan have lightly ignored that limit. I can't grant it.
"Absolutely not, Lupus. Got it? I trust you."
"That's the 54th time. It's not like you've been counting from the beginning, it's way over 100 times. Will you stop saying that now?"
"No."
Fuck. I haven't even done anything, and I suddenly feel like I've won the 'trash dad of the era' award.
And the one who brought it up, Morgan, is just staring off into the distance.
It's probably faster to brainwash me than to have a magical argument with Morgan. That's right.
It's a pain to be endured. Believing so, I continued the search.
Since the original purpose is to find 'me'.
And finding 'me' wasn't that difficult.
"...You're here."
In a black room full of a vicious aura, I am sitting.
An appearance that looks about 10 years older than me. A too-ordinary atmosphere for a final boss.
But for some reason, the daughter-party who found 'me' first couldn't rashly approach.
I was about to sneak up to Tamamo and ask for the reason, but her condition is strange.
"Heh... hehehe..."
"...Tamamo?"
No answer even when I call.
The same goes for Gilgamesh next to her.
"Pffft... this is nice... yes."
For some reason, they're all grinning. The corners of their mouths don't know how to go down.
The daughter approached the flustered me.
"Dad. Go and hit Dad once."
"...Huh?"
"Go quickly. Dad is weak anyway. He'll pass out with just one hit."
The daughter said in a volume that I couldn't tell if it was a mumble or meant for me to hear.
"How absurd. Mom and Dad are all the same. You're happy to see the sharp wives of the past after a long time? Jeez..."
I decided to stop listening.
The sharp gaze the daughter was shooting at me was heavy.
I trudged over and sat in front of me. 'I' was waiting for me.
"Yes. Nice to meet you. It's me, right? I'll just get to the point, since we don't need a long talk."
"Uh..."
"First of all, I'm not the mastermind. Originally, our daughter periodically travels to other worlds, you know? But I accidentally got transported instead while trying to pack a lunch for her. When I opened my eyes, it was this Singularity? There was another me, just like the you right now, but somehow, I absorbed him."
Just a moment ago, I was listening to how scary the authority of the beast is, but the 'me' from the future treated the beast of contradiction with an infinitely light tone.
I travel to another world every time I die, but my daughter periodically travels as if on a picnic.
The real mastermind was absorbed while on a picnic. Does this make sense...?
"To tell you a little about my past, in 'my' time, the future us didn't come, so I properly defeated the mastermind me, you know? Everyone got hurt a lot, but it's a relief that won't happen here, right? You can thank me."
"Thank you."
"That's good. I wish my daughter would talk to me so kindly too, but I guess I know my own heart best."
Yes. I don't know anymore.
"Then I should be getting back now. I guess I won't be see...ing you later. What a shame."
"No, wait a minute... is our daughter okay? I heard Morgan has to fix her existence?"
"Fix...?"
'My' gaze landed on the current Morgan.
"I don't know! You'll have to figure that out on your own! She'll probably be fine!"
He, who was stroking his chin a few times, said with a truly refreshing expression, even though he was 'me'.
I felt a sense of self-loathing at his apathetic appearance.
'I' is me... but it's not me, so why do I feel this self-loathing?
No wonder my daughter was so sharp, she'd have to be cynical with a father like this.
How depressing.
"...Then why was Morgan hurt?"
"She was running away when I approached and hit her head."
I think I'm going to lose my mind.
The body of the cheerfully chattering 'me' blurred. It's already time to go back.
"Oh dear. I wanted to give you some advice if I had the time, but it seems I don't have that much time. I wonder if it's because I met 'me'."
"Hey, then just tell me one last thing."
"What is it?"
His lower body has already turned into light and disappeared. This is really the last chance.
A chance to know about the future.
"Are we doing well?"
A complex question. 'I' smiled bitterly, then corrected his expression and said seriously.
"Of course. There will never be such a harmonious large family."
The tension was released. Yes. If the future is like that, I have to believe it.
There are crazy incidents and accidents, sadness and pain... but if the ending is good, all is well.
If the end is happy, what more could I ask for?
"But your back might hurt a little."
"...What did you say?"
'I', with only his face remaining, left after sprinkling ashes on this good mood.
The remaining dregs of the Holy Grail died as soon as I stomped on them. At the same time, the infinite castle began to shrink.
It's the end. A futile yet refreshing end is coming.
"Dad. Dad told Dad, right? That there was nothing special? That's all because I was busy controlling things from behind, but you didn't mention me, did you? You probably did. I know even if you don't say it."
"Th-that seems to be the case."
"The amusement park's composition and the fun attractions were all planned by me...!"
Words that were hard to ignore came out, so I couldn't help but ask.
"Then the shooting racing game, the mountain climb, and the treasure hunt in the maze were all made by you?"
"Yeah. Did you like it? I combined it with the latest games. Spec.ial.ly!"
It seems she was too busy in the cases of Johanna and Morgan.
They both forgave her with a generous heart. I won't mention the fact that they were secretly glancing at me while forgiving her.
"...I see. Thank you so much. You've worked hard. Thanks to you, I was able to clear up the misunderstanding."
"Well, I've done it often, so it wasn't difficult."
I was truly grateful. My daughter also erased her pouting expression and accepted my thanks normally.
The Singularity is also collapsing. The infinite castle has long since disappeared, and the amusement park is also collapsing.
The future Johanna, who was in charge of watching the house, seems to have disappeared along with 'me'.
Only one daughter is left.
I waved my hand.
"Take care in the future too."
But my daughter's face was full of complaints.