Cheolgeuk (4)
Richard said,
"The plan is this. As the final recorder, I'll transmit the Apocalypse data to the Mu-deung Dragon, Karatorsa. Karatorsa will share that information with the Twelve Apostles; the history Uorin provides and Adam computes will be enacted in reality."
"Yes. It'll be a very precise operation. Meanwhile you're free. Do whatever you must—save Amy. If you fail, we'll use Cheolgeuk's coordinates to replay it. Again and again."
Fermi said,
"You'll meet our past, but you yourself must travel backward through time."
Shirone could not remain in the present.
"Because the spacetime you enter is the one we're trying to protect. That way, as you and Cheolgeuk interact, you won't slip into another universe."
Nade said,
"Cheolgeuk is on the surface where we are. Shura will lead its defense. And from the center of that Cheolgeuk, each time you return Uorin will provide a new history—using Future-Sight and History Search."
Shirone's expression hardened.
"So there are limits."
Richard said,
"Cheolgeuk is a concept, but Uorin is a living being. Her endurance isn't infinite. The more times you repeat regressions, the more you'll be exposed to time-waves. As a Gaia you'll last far longer than a human, but the chances aren't endless."
"Uorin is—"
"Remember, Shirone. This is your fight, but its outcome will decide mankind's fate. If you save Amy, we all live. If you fail, we all vanish."
Adam said,
"She's the woman with the largest stake in this crisis. She has obligations, too. She's not fully convinced yet. She said she'll consider it positively, but she wants to speak with you first."
The one who split Ultima.
"I'll meet her."
In the end, there was no avoiding it.
Perhaps Uorin had, at least vaguely, foreseen this moment.
Fermi said,
"Then let's go back up. All preparations must be finished today. There's no time."
While Jinseong-eum cast an ether wave to lock the coordinates, Minerva came up to him.
"Shirone, remember the promise you made?"
"A promise…?"
"When we raced to North Aimon, I won. The loser grants a wish."
"Oh."
"My wish—I'll tell you now."
Shirone didn't know why she picked that moment, but he nodded.
"Don't save me."
"What?"
"You'll do your best to save Amy in the history the Twelve Apostles enforce. But you won't want anyone in this spacetime to be destroyed."
It was true.
"But you can use my history however you like. Salvation doesn't suit me." The great witch who had unleashed global catastrophe with Lawkilling and the Walking Dead—one of the Ivory Tower's Five Great Stars—perhaps felt she could never atone for her crimes. Or perhaps no life, no matter what, could wash away the trauma of her childhood.
"All right."
Shirone agreed.
"If the moment to choose comes, I will decide."
Minerva knew he wasn't the sort to abandon others… but still.
"Thank you."
That was enough for her.
Just before leaving the recorder's sealed chamber, Shirone turned and said,
"Richard, I'll beat God." Perhaps Richard could become a god someday—he smiled.
"Hey, don't I look awesome?"
"Ha ha."
A human had lived. Shirone truly believed it had been humans who lived in this world.
When Jinseong-eum warped the space, Seriel beyond the border asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"
Everyone crossed the threshold. Jinseong-eum, supported by others, sat down on a bed.
"You'll be fine after a little rest."
Shirone nodded.
"While Jinseong-eum rests, I'll go meet Uorin. Where is she now?"
Adam said, "I'll take you."
"I'll go alone. That's better."
Adam, having understood from Shirone's words, explained where Uorin lived.
Following his directions, Shirone reached the door to an isolated sector.
"Uorin."
No answer. He opened the door and found Uorin smiling, a bandage around her ear.
"You came, Shirone."
Leaning on Kido and limping, her face was startlingly bright.
"I've been waiting. There's something I want to tell you—"
Smack! Her cheek snapped back.
Kido's eyes widened; Uorin didn't move from the stunned posture of someone who'd just been struck.
Shirone didn't know why either. He'd tried to be cold, but the instant he saw her smiling face he lost his reason. It was why he'd wanted to avoid Uorin.
"Ha ha."
She laughed heartily.
"Well, I've done wrong. So is this the end? Then now—"
Tears ran down Shirone's cheek.
"Why—?"
Had he ruined everything?
As if she'd heard him, Uorin looked sad but forced a bright smile.
"Huhu, you hate me that much? What can I do? Now everything's in my hands."
She didn't want to end the event she'd prepared for this one moment in a mournful way.
"You need me, right? Of course I'll help. My condition is that you love me—"
"I will."
Uorin's mouth fell shut.
"I'll do anything. Whatever you ask—"
Shirone begged, "Save Amy. You don't have to be with me. I'll give you whatever you want—"
This time Uorin couldn't hold back; her brows curved painfully upward. She stifled the sob that wanted out.
"Say you love me."
"I love you."
A heart that could not be filled.
"Say you'll stay by my side forever! Say you love me—Uorin—not Amy!"
"I'll stay with you forever."
Uorin gritted her teeth.
I won, she thought. She didn't want to show her tears; she turned away and forced a smile.
Shirone is mine. He loves me.
"All right."
It could have been harsher, but she wouldn't ask for more.
"I'll do it. Go save Amy."
In that moment Kido realized: Uorin, Lilith, Mitochondria Eve—truly, they had loved Shirone.
That was love. From the dawn of humanity until now, one woman had waited for only this moment. True love.
Uorin said, "Now go. It's all settled. Save humanity. I don't even have the right to say this."
When Shirone stepped forward, she hurriedly turned away.
"Go."
As if it had never started… as if even thinking of an end mustn't occur.
"Go! Go!"
Comforting her might be cruel, so Shirone left the room in gloom.
He didn't think of it as Eve's atonement. He simply tucked the pure favor of a woman who loved him deep in his heart.
The door closed. Uorin broke down, sobbing all the tears she'd held back. Kido came to her.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Hold me," Uorin hiccuped. "I feel like I'm going crazy with loneliness. There's a hole torn in my chest. Kido, please."
Kido could do nothing.
When Shirone returned from meeting Uorin and came back to the plaza, Xing hurried over.
"There you are. This way."
They entered the resistance command room; leaders including Shirano were gathered. Lete, administrator of the otherworld, was staring at the world map, and beside her…
"Lord Taeseong."
The planetary administrator stood there.
"Shirone."
Unlike when she had pierced his heart with cold words before, she now looked frightened.
"At that time… I—" It wasn't courage she lacked; she truly didn't know what to say.
"Thank you."
Shirone understood.
"For siding with humanity. Whether by mistake or from the heart, it doesn't matter. We fight together now." If it hadn't been her decision, humanity mightn't have had even a last chance.
Shirone looked back at Xing. "Are you all right?" If she felt betrayed, her wound would be deep.
"My doubts aren't all cleared. You persuaded me, so I trust you—for now."
Lete said, "Enough small talk. To the main point: Yahweh, have you met the recorder of Omega?"
Shirone nodded.
"That makes explanation easier. We'll move the departure schedule up. The barriers are disappearing faster than expected."
It was Satan's will.
"Taeseong and I held as long as we could, but it wasn't enough. In six hours the demon race will invade. And then… it will be humanity's final war."
"When do I depart?"
"The sooner the better. Humanity is about to vote at the World Map Council. Yahweh must leave before that. Finish preparations within the next hour."
One hour.
A journey for him alone.
Kido stood dazed.
"You what are doing?" he finally snapped out of it—he couldn't stand there until Uorin, sitting on the floor, asked.
"Kido, this is self-destruction," she said.
"It isn't," he replied.
Everything was for Shirone.
"Each round trip through Cheolgeuk makes you endure those time-waves. Two is better than one."
The taste of memory.
If Kido drank Uorin's blood, the history's durability would double.
"Then just give me the blood."
Uorin shook her head.
"Kido, you'd die following me. I've already achieved everything. So… it's okay."
"It's not okay!"
Kido snapped. Even if he couldn't love, the Queen of Kashan had to remain noble.
"I'm a monster," she said, a faint surprise on her face, then a rueful smile. "I'm a monster too."
No. Kido squeezed his eyes shut. He knew the truth, but had never wanted to hear it.
Hiccuping, he moved close, braced Uorin's back, and lay her down on the floor.
Vanishing.
The goblin's only mercy.
"I love you, Uorin."
She might never consciously perceive it, but as if feeling something, Uorin closed her eyes.
"Haah—" A breathy moan.
Then Kido, in the gentlest brutality, bit the nape of Uorin's neck.
The taste of memory.
The universe.
The planet was charred black. There was no ocean left; black land ran like a net of lava.
"Guh."
Havitz inhaled. Warmth returned to the corpse-like body; the planet's lava flared.
"Haah."
When he exhaled, the light dimmed. In that deathly inhale and exhale, even the demons trembled.
"Guh." When molten metal exploded across the rapidly heated ground, the demons crouched.
"Ugh!"
If they touched Satan's fire they would be nothing but charcoal.
"Wizard." Havitz's face twisted. "Where are you?"
He had turned the entire planet into a death field, but her position could not be detected.
She was hiding somewhere he didn't know, or she had already burned to death. Either possibility made Havitz sick; he drew another breath and the planet began to sizzle.
"Wizaaard!"
And at that moment, the Terapos Great Council officially declared the victory of evil.