Chapter 563 - 554

The Situation Leading to the End Third

「Thank you for the meal. That was amazing. Energy is welling up inside me. So much so it’s like a laugh is getting dragged out uncontrollably from me. As expected from a drug――catch my drift?」

「Don’t call it a drug. It’s just energy dri――」

「As long as we have this we might not even need to bother with work operation time. I’m curious how this work――catch my drift!」

「……」

Dammit. She’s getting high……, Hajime thought. He felt a bit of regret now for sharing his drink.

Holou who was riding on his shoulder was putting one leg over its eyes. It wasn’t grooming itself. It was completely the gesture of 「I can’t bear to watch this……」.

At the same time, Just what in the world you made her drank? It was sending a very fixed gaze at Hajime with that question.

Hajime-san spilled a bit of the energy drink on his palm and offered it to the cat. Enti and co had been enjoying food and drink since their time as pseudo-slime though only for the taste and not as nourishment, so for some reason he wanted to give the cat some.

Holou ignored Manager Mercurys who kept making jokes nonstop and brought its nose closer even while showing a somewhat dubious look. *Sniff sniff* It sniffed the smell, Hm? It tilted its head and the tip of its tongue licked it.

Immediately, its round eyes opened wide. Its fur stood on end from its head until the tip of its tail *zowa-* like a ripple. Its back was also arching greatly. Which was to say it was a kitty’s “threatening pose”.

And then,

「Ou」

*Pow* What in the world did you make me drink! A kitty punch flew as though to say that. The claws didn’t come out so it looked like it wasn’t genuinely angry but, that was vicious in a different sense instead.

The superb texture of paw was transmitted to Hajime’s cheek. It made him impressed that even such aspect was recreated in this kitty cat’s body.

It wasn’t like Hajime was a particularly big cat lover but, this was unbearable. It felt like he would become cat lover. A wide grin was threatening to break out on his face.

「How can this be……」

Manager Mercurys was making a face like it was the end of the world. *Clang* The empty can fell and rolled on the floor.

「The things that I wished to experience, but never coming true even once until now, are one after another……this is god’s power……」

「Just what’re you thinking a god is huh.」

Liquid metal slithered out from Hajime’s sleeve and picked up the empty can.

Now then, Hajime pulled himself together now that they had taken a break. He tightened his expression.

「I want to ask you one thing.」

Manager Mercurys also straightened her expression. She knew what he wanted to ask and nodded.

「You want to ask, why I’m making jokes like this, aren’t you?」

Hajime’s hand moved toward Donner on his thigh.

「It’s a joke. Ah, wait. Please wait. You want to ask me why I’m knowledgeable about “void” right? I told you I get it so please put down that magic tool.」 ＲãΝօ𐌱Ɛṣ

She was expressionless and her voice was also monotone, and yet her hands were waving around in panic. Manager Mercurys was clearly someone who seemed divorced from humor, so Hajime was also a bit curious of that reason “why” but, he put it aside for now.

「Yeah. If there’s no clear boundary between “void” and outer space, and if it’s you guys who had expanded until the end of the universe, then it’s not strange that you’ve been discovering and investigating “void” even from before the Principles Breaking Down Phenomenon happened.」

But, no matter what way they used, the most that they should be able to learn should only be the trait of “void”. Which was to say, anything would vanish if they stepped into it.

「Depending on the situation……you guys might have been used up precious human resource and were at least able to witness them turning into “void god”. But, how did you guys learn that “void’s encroachment” is the world tree’s function, and even that “void gods” were beings from parallel world?」

And the things about getting ejected out of the origin flow or conversely entering into it……

There was no way to learn that unless they had experienced it themselves. Or rather, she explained those like it was a story of her experience.

「While you were talking, you kept using “apparently” or “seems” didn’t you? Don’t tell me, that you guys accessed the Akashic Record――the world tree itself?」

It was an act that was considered a taboo even for actual goddess. Even just accessing it a little was dangerous. If they made a mistake with the timing for cutting the connection, it would be the end of everything for them inside the ocean of information.

Not to mention aiming for information that detailed would be the hardest feat among hardest feats even for a goddess. No, it was just impossible.

When Aularodde searched for the true identity of the “dragon”, she received all kinds of support and somehow obtained only a fragment of the history in broad stroke. Even so her brain almost popped out of balloon just to do that.

Even for people of the very advanced calamity world, it was very easy to imagine how trying that would result considering the fact that they weren’t at the level of avatar.

「I’ve been talking with the goddesses from other worlds. We bounced ideas with each other. Besides, the reason the compass can’t detect “void god” too, rather than because they’re existences from parallel world, most likely it’s because the “void gods” are existences who received “void’s encroachment” more or less. Things are consistent if you think of it that way.」

What if altered body and soul contacted “void’s encroachment” and took in the conceptual trait of “nothingness” because of that? Because they were in reality existing, they still could be perceived if they were right before you, but trying to magically detect them might only gave back the result of “there was nothing”.

「But, without that kind of prior information, your story will just sound really absurd right?」

「Certainly.」

Manager Mercurys honestly nodded.

「Let’s continue the story. Of the calamity world’s history.」

Apparently what Hajime wanted to know was also included in there. Hajime nodded while stroking Holou’s neck to soothe it. Holou fawningly rubbed its head on his fingers. Manager Mercurys’s gaze moved around to look anywhere but there.

*Cough* She pulled herself together.

「What matters is that we’re protected. The shallow thinking of the god king and the central government were denied by the “pruning phenomenon”. Then, how should it be dealt with?」

「Hm? It wasn’t the development of universal scale group concept magic from there?」

「At that time, nobody realized that “void encroachment” was actually “pruning phenomenon”. They only saw it as “a phenomenon that surpassed the principles breaking phenomenon” caused by the “principles breaking phenomenon”. It’s just as you hypothesized, we didn’t have the way to learn that after all.」

「……In other words, what do you mean?」

「I’ll explain in order.」

First, naturally the country of god held a discussion about how to deal with the situation. It was also the fact that the group concept magic was the strongest prospect for countermeasure. But it didn’t mean that they immediately carried it out.

It was only natural. They only had one chance for that. It would be for the best if they casted concept magic multiple times to resolve the situation, but they mustn’t make a mistake at what kind of concept magic to be used.

The discussion kept being held while the time limit was approaching.

At the same time, the people who would be used as sacrifices for the group concept magic were also quarantined. The place was this former satellite. This place was like the moon at earth. Here it was easy for the homeworld to monitor, easy to make a response no matter what happened, but it was considerably harder to affect the homeworld from here. Because of that the satellite itself became a super large scale housing facility.

Of course, the special grade magic tool for the group concept magic――the current “barrier tower of fabrication wounded principles” also started to be constructed.

That meant, the people who were given death sentence were granted life extension until the preparation was finished.

I don’t want to die……

Or perhaps, I don’t want to let my important person who got chosen to die……

Naturally there were people who thought like that. That time extension was also enough time for them to struggle.

First, someone spoke. They spoke at the discussion. That someone was someone with status who could be present at the discussion. Surely, it was someone who had someone close to them be chosen as a sacrifice.

――How about we just leave behind this kind of broken world and rule another world instead?

It was an opinion that was said because they didn’t know that the “void encroachment” was “pruning phenomenon”.

It was hard to consider letting go the God Tree and the avatar’s power that were obtained using so much effort. Other world’s technology and power would also bring about a new technology revolution. That would also lead to bringing risk for the god king.

But, originally they killed the avatar was also for expanding their territory to other world. The necessity for that became lost due to population decrease caused by “principles breaking phenomenon” and “population control” from the god king from here on but……conversely speaking this was also just a reconsideration of a plan that had already been there since before.

There would be no sacrifice and they would be able to start from zero in a new land. The god king was hoping that they would somehow be able to somehow manage the “principles breaking phenomenon” from future research but, because it was suspect whether it was really possible they would be able to regain even the space that had been swallowed by the “void”, at the end the calamity world’s policy tilted.

It tilted toward expansion to other world instead of world salvation.

「Of course, there were people who raise the risk of that plan. The risk of “void” spreading to other world too. But the fact that “void encroachment” began after the “principles breaking phenomenon”, and that the “principles breaking phenomenon” could be stopped by “God Tree and its avatar” in the past――」

「There isn’t even a need to replace them huh. The other world’s avatar is going to respond to the “principles breaking phenomenon” to protect their own world anyway. And then, if “principles breaking phenomenon” can be solved the “void” also won’t spread……they thought like that huh.」

Even if “principles breaking phenomenon” spread to other world, it could be solved by leaving it wholly to the other world’s avatar. They could just rule the world after that. The other world’s avatar didn’t possess “absolute advantage” against them after all. That was the idea.

「What a shitty story.」

「Yes, truly. We can’t object at all even if we get called the calamity world.」

「……But, in reality that wasn’t what happened huh?」

「Yes. That’s exactly the answer for your question.」

There Manager Mercurys paused, looked up at empty air, and her gaze wandered. As though, she was desperately trying to recall a hazy dream.

「……One day, a man appeared.」

「A man?」

「Yes. That man had no distinctive feature at all. That lack of distinctiveness was like his distinctiveness. He was right behind you when you realized it. Like being like that is only natural.」

Manager Mercurys had been in an important position since that time. She was none other than the designer of the “barrier tower”, this special grade magic tool for the group concept magic. She was the foremost figure in the concept magic research.

Naturally, the security around her was strict. She herself never slacked in security using her own magic. Because she had anticipated some among the sacrifices might turning desperate and tried to harm her seeing that she was the person in charge of constructing the barrier tower.

And yet, all those were pointless.

「Who was he?」

「He was foreign. My instinct shirked away from him no matter what. And yet, I didn’t notice him until he raised his voice……can you understand of his foreignness from that?」

「……Oi, don’t tell me that guy was」

The color of Hajime’s face changed. A foreign existence. That trait had come up frequently in the talk until now, and in reality he too had dealt with such himself.

「Yes, a “void god”. He put on a human form and able to communicate.」

“Void god” was grotesque looking. And, they couldn’t communicate. Some conveyed their will, but it was one-sided. And, that will was also instinctual thing, not a result of thought.

After all that was what it meant to have your body and soul eroded by “void” and transformed. No matter how mighty and vast of an existence they were, just existing was the best that they could do.

And yet, that man was clad in an atmosphere that somewhat felt like he was treating people with contempt, but he could certainly hold a communication, Manager Mercurys said.

「……A being that completely endured the influence of “void”?」

「No, I also asked the same question but that’s not it. Apparently he didn’t have his memory when was human anymore. He also said he didn’t know who and where he came from.」

「So a being who only managed to protect his ability to think huh……was he luckily staying only for a short time in “void”?」

「Well now, I wonder about that. He didn’t tell me anything about that. He said to me that rather than such thing, there are things that I should know.」

First the man told her information about the phenomenon occurring inside “void” and travel between parallel worlds. He talked like he was speaking from experience because it was really his experience speaking.

And then,

「He said this.」

The world will end right away if you run away from here. I too still want to enjoy tranquility. So fulfill your responsibilities.

The truth of “void encroachment”, which was to say “pruning phenomenon”. The fact that even if they escaped to other world, the ruin would follow after them.

Apparently the man had crossed over several parallel worlds. Each time he witnessed the end.

And then, he told her that this was one of the turning points. That by the time the people of the calamity world abandoned their world, that branch world’s extermination would become set in stone.

「And last, “How will you people of this world struggle when the true end arrive……I’m looking forward to it” he left those words behind with extremely unpleasant roaring laughter and vanished. It happened in a blink of eye. Nobody could detect it.」

「……I’m amazed you believed it, the words from someone like that. No, rather than you, it’s the god king. Or else, was the god king held just that much trust for you Manager Mercurys?」

Changing their plan for escaping in the situation that would decide their future……it was a bit hard to believe. It was even more so because based on everything said until now, the god king and his people sounded like they had forgotten the concept of “responsibility” somewhere along the way.

「That man also appeared before the god king and others at the same time.」

「……I see.」

It went without saying, the security for the centra government’s higher-ups was even stricter than Manager Mercurys. In the first place, the god king was no different than an omnipotent being in the homeworld at least.

And yet, the god king also didn’t notice at all until the man was already standing behind him.

「By the way, that man’s form was everchanging. There were reports that he appeared in the form of relative or trusted person, or even a close deceased person. There were also reports of him taking the form of favorite animal. Therefore, we designated that man as “the thousand-faced void god”……in any case, he would take the shape of man at the end and vanished while laughing loudly at the shaken-up men and women he talked with.」

「What’s with that harassment?」

「Perhaps, it was really just a harassment I wonder? In the god king’s case, his lacking ability apparently got thoroughly made fool of in the form and way of speaking of the previous avatar.」

Ridiculing others is the greatest pleasure of life! Apparently it was an existence with that kind of value.

But, his strength was real. After all even the enraged god king was unable to capture him despite being located at the heart of the God Tree.

And then, the man made use of the God Tree to vanish into the origin flow as though to show off.

「That being just messed around. But, his strength was the real thing. And there’s the fact that “he’s a void god” that anyone easily felt deep inside their bones. With those as the basis we couldn’t just ignore the talk of “pruning phenomenon”.」

Originally there must be quite a lot of people who harbored a tinge of anxiety “Perhaps……” inside them. Even the god king might be one of them.

In a sense, what the “void god man” did could be taken as an advice that gave them a push on the back “Don’t avert your eyes from that misgiving”.

Hajime once again looked down and curled his body. He started thinking with one of his hand covering his mouth.

「He gave advice but not help……did he know that there’s nothing to be done at that point of time? From the history of parallel world? Certainly if the calamity world worked on dealing with it, the other worlds will stay peaceful for thousands or tens of thousands of years from the time difference but……」

Or rather, he’s succeeding in traveling between parallel worlds multiple times? If it’s after turning into void god then even if he enter the origin flow or “void” again he’ll be able to continue keeping his memory? No, but he has the ability to think right? And yet, the risk of going opposite of the origin flow……? Or is there a way for that?

*Mumble mumble, mumble mumble* Hajime swam in the sea of his thought while muttering. Manager Mercurys watched him quietly. She didn’t speak up because she didn’t have any clear and correct answer of the muttered questions.

After a short time, Hajime at least finished sorting out the point of uncertainties at minimum and lifted his face.

「……I want to make sure of one thing.」

「? What is it?」

There was something that crossed Hajime’s mind from hearing the story.

――I was able to hear a voice from an unknown source. The voice sounded like it was mocking, and also really amused. It said “All of you who are always fighting against the end are really pitiful and adorable. Sayonara. Let’s meet again at the next world”

That was G10’s report. The war against her former brethrens and aliens who attacked during the five years Hajime fell out of contact.

When the curtain of that war came to a close and the enemy’s space battleship exploded. Amidst that, G10 said that she heard a voice.

It wasn’t a normal voice. It was a telepathic voice with unknown source and she also had no recording of it. But, even if G10 didn’t record the voice itself, it should be possible for her to reproduce the voice mechanically.

Even he himself didn’t know why he didn’t to ask G10 to do that. He could only say that it was instinct. But, there was a strange conviction inside Hajime.

「First let me apologize. Actually I was leaking this talk of ours to my friends.」

「I could feel a thin connection to outside from this space, so I thought that’s the case.」

「You realized as expected huh. I made the hole as small as possible but……this is an isolated space and I’m in front of its designer. As expected that’s impossible huh.」

「You don’t need to apologize. It’s only natural to be on guard, rather I can feel your reliability from the way you leave nothing to chance.」

「I’m thankful to hear that. Among my friends, there’s one who heard a strange voice before. It’ll be just a reproduced voice but, I want to ask you to check that voice.」

「! You’re saying that it might be the “thousand-faced void god”?」

Hajime nodded and here he finally contacted Yue from his own end.

By doing that he naturally, no, finally noticed.

「……Aa?」

That he wasn’t connected.

「Yue? Answer me.」

It was strange. There was no sign of the soul magic and any sign the communicator showed that the connection was severed. It felt like there was still connection. But, only the words and thoughts were undelivered. It was like, the communication itself was connected but the voice was drowned out like there was noise canceller……

「Looks like there’s some kind of problem isn’t it? ……There’s no problem with the “rainbow bridge” itself. It should be connected to the world at the other side.」

Manager Mercurys quickly noticed and responded before Hajime could even ask.

Hajime narrowed his eyes.

The two worlds were connected. And yet he couldn’t hold a communication with the other side. And, there was no way that Yue hadn’t noticed this situation.

And yet, the communication was still blocked until Hajime realized it himself.

「It looks like something happened at the other side. Either it’s an advanced jamming that Yue can’t resolve immediately, or it’s something that leave her no leeway to resolve this, or perhaps both.」

What was the situation with the highest possibility of happening that he could think of?

「Nine out of ten, it’s void god. What’s more, the possibility is high that there are quite a lot of them.」

A situation that would fully occupy the current Yue and others could only be that.

「That’s awful. You’ll return immediately right? Let’s continue the rest of this talk for later.」

Manager Mercurys stood up. Holou also stopped absorbing magic power at that time as though to say that it was already enough.

But, Hajime didn’t immediately stand up. He folded his arms, formed deep creases between his eyebrows, and closed his eyes. And then,

「No need. Let’s continue our talk.」

He said that as soon as he opened his eyes.

「……The “void gods” lurking in each world are likely targeting the great tree of each world. We don’t know what they will do in the process of that. It’s difficult to conceive wasting a fighting potential like yours in exchange of information.」

It was a rational persuasion, but it could be felt somehow from looking at her eyes. Manager Mercurys was worried, for the safety of the people close to Hajime.

But, there was no shadow of concern in Hajime’s expression. Neither there was anxiety, nor impatience. Rather, a fearless grin formed.

「Thanks for worrying. But, it’s not needed.」

「……Certainly depending on each specimen there’s a large gap between each “void god” in strength or trait. Even if they were originally mighty due to the alteration there’re also some “specimens able to endure void but their combat strength itself has been decayed”. That’s my hypothesis based on the “void gods” that had attacked here until now. But, we can’t still underestimate them by all――」

「Calm down. I’m not underestimating them. I’m simply trusting.」

「Trusting?」

「Yeah. My family is strong. That’s why I made them stay behind.」

Hajime left them behind not just because the calamity world was dangerous. His actual intention for them was as guard while he was absent. Manager Mercurys fell into thought slightly after being told that.

「Are all of them, as strong as you?」

「Yeah, they’re strong. I can leave my back to them. If it’s Yue――my wife then she’ll handle everything well no matter what happen. That’s why, I’m not moving from here.」

There was immense trust filling those words. He wasn’t simply grinning and bearing the situation or even praying for that to be the case. It could be felt that those words really came from his heart.

「The calamity world is the cornerstone for everything. It’ll really be the end if this place fall.」

If “void gods” started making their move at that side, there was enough possibility that the attack on the calamity world would intensify too.

Or perhaps, it was even possible that it was the reverse, a being of calamity world using some kind of method to trigger the “void gods” in other worlds to attack. In other words, it was a diversion. Right now the “rainbow bridge” was connecting this place, so that possibility couldn’t be determined as impossible.

If every possibility was considered, what Hajime ought to do was one thing.

「I can’t leave the calamity world until everything is settled. The place I need to protect is here.」

Suddenly a wry smile formed in his face. It was conveyed from there. If it was Yue and others who should have been listening to the talk until now even only until the middle, then they should be thinking the same. Rather, if he got worried for them and left from the calamity world then perhaps he would get scolded 「Get back over there right now!」 instead.

「Everyone should do what they each ought to do. Everything will turn out fine with that……right?」

「……Please don’t make me too jealous.」

Pure trust without even any doubt or murkiness.

Manager Mercurys let out a long sigh seeing that. She was expressionless but, just as she said, jealousy could be felt somewhat from her.

Just in case Hajime brought out a bird shaped observation drone Ornis (filled with demon) and instructed it to search the inside of the “rainbow bridge”. At the same time he also sent “telepathy” to Kara to instruct her to try whether she could contact earth while spontaneously asking.

「Do you have family?」

「I had a daughter. She was my pride.」

Manager Mercurys’s gaze turned toward the faraway past. The outer corners of her eyes were visibly lowering. She had the face of a mother thinking of her daughter.

It must be mostly unconscious. Next Manager Mercurys looked like she was going to talk about her daughter, but, Hajime didn’t stop her.

He got called with many names like demon god and the like but it was fundamentally other people calling him like that. He never introduced himself like that, rather, he self-identified as “papa”.

Originally this wasn’t the time and place to have that kind of talk, even so it made him wanted to listen if it was a “story of daughter”. Besides, there was something that bothered him when he saw Mercurys’s features.

「The word innocent exist in order to describe that girl. She was kind, overflowing with talent……why was such lovely child got born from a boring human like me, even now I don’t understand how that happened. That’s the greatest mystery of my private history.」

「That iron face of yours has been there from the start?」

「Yes. My family has been researcher for generations, and my parents were also like this. I did nothing but devoting myself to study ever since I was young……when I realized, I too have become a researcher exactly like my parents.」

It was quite a famous family, that was why even when the country of god was established Mercurys got selected to be among “the chosen people”. And originally she had also been promoted to be a manager of a research team in a research institution directly under the god king even though it was only for one field.

In the calamity world she was undoubtedly one of the people in the nobility class.

「I also chose an exceptional person to be my husband in order to leave behind exceptional descendant.」

「So it wasn’t decided for you by others?」

「Yes, I searched by myself and chose on my own. That was the rational and the best thing to do……I believed that pursuing rationality is justice, nothing else.」

And then, her daughter was born. She raised her just like her parents raised her. She didn’t know anything else than that, and she believed that was the rational way to raise children.

「It’s really a mystery. Even though I did the same thing like my parents……the result was completely different. Child rearing isn’t something that’s comprised solely from data and rationality huh. Though thinking again that’s only natural. Because, that’s just how human is.」

「Well, children will grow on their own……such saying also exist. They aren’t growing receiving influences only from the parents. Even children has a path that they walked on outside of their parents’ knowledge.」

「Yes, that kind of trivial things in daily life, give influences that aren’t trivial at all, forming a life unique to that child……thinking back, even I had that kind of opportunity many times. But, I cut them away.」

「Was it because you loved research just that much?」

Manager Mercurys’s eyes blinked. But then the outer corners of her eyes lowered just a little.

「You, are oozing such vicious aura but, you’re saying the same thing like my daughter.」

Apparently he said the same thing. Like Mercurys’s daughter to her. In addition she also said 「Surely mom also loved seeing grandpa and grandma doing research!」.

Aa, perhaps it’s really like that. I thought that something like emotion is unnecessary but, perhaps I became like this was also because of emotion that even I myself didn’t realize I have.

「There are a lot of times when you got taught by children rather than you teaching children.」

「I guess. I think so.」

Her life that comprised solely of research changed. When she noticed, there was a part of her that was doing nothing except continuously watching her daughter playing. Even though she wasn’t really doing anything, it was a fulfilling time that she couldn’t explain with rationale.

「It made me wanted her to be proud of me as a mother. That was why, I desperately learned how to joke.」

「Just now, the story went off rail to the level of entering the rainbow bridge.」

「My daughter’s friend said to her. Minersris’s mom kinda look scary. She’s like a puppet isn’t she. I thought I was going to die from shock.」

「O-ou……」

「My daughter desperately tried to defend me. It was so shameful I wanted to die. I’m a shy me――catch my drift?」

「……」

Apparently that was why she desperately studied humor. But, her dead mimetic muscles stayed dead. Her atmosphere was also the same like usual. In everything there were things that people were good and bad with.

「And it resulted in this surreal corny joke user?」

「It’s strange isn’t it? Even though my daughter loved it. She was always smiling cheerfully at me.」

Perhaps she was just being considerate? Hajime-san had the delicacy to at least not say that out loud. It made him recalled Myuu’s smile that she sometimes showed when he was passionately talking about his hobby. His chest hurt.

「That girl told me. Continue it. That day, the day of our eternal farewell, when I forcefully pushed my daughter into the “rainbow bridge” connecting to other world, that girl, she told me while crying. Because I love mom’s joke.」

It seemed that her daughter wasn’t dead.

Hajime’s eyes quietly narrowed. He became convinced of one of his hypothesizes while getting the story back on track.

「Based on what I know, the people of calamity world ran and survived in two worlds. The hell world and Tortus……that’s what we called the worlds.」

Mercurys gasped and returned back from inside the nostalgic and warm memory. She slapped her own cheeks *pechi* because this wasn’t the time to talk about that kind of topic and focused back her mind.

「In the end, the people of the calamity world ran away. Even after they half believed that the “pruning phenomenon” really exist.」

「Yes, that’s right. And then, it was exactly that decision that became the trigger for the calamity world’s collapse.」

Perhaps even running away to other world was pointless.

Certainly, even the “void god” would prefer for the world to be peaceful. They undoubtedly didn’t want to bear the risk of recklessly crossing to parallel world.

It sounded authentic. But, this was a “void god”. In the end, they were a life form that was completely different from human from how their body to their soul had gotten messily altered.

Was what that guy said really true? As expected wouldn’t running away to other world right away the better choice? However, what if it was the truth? They already had no means that could stop the “pruning phenomenon”……

In the first place was that man really a “void god”?

Perhaps it was just a scheme of someone?

「At the end of all the suspicions, the decision that they arrived at was truly rational and shameless compromise.」

「……Only the chosen people will run away to live while the others stay behind to deal with the fallout huh. Naturally, the god king and influential higherups were in the group of comfortable and leisurely isekai life weren’t they?」

「In addition, it was even decided that the god king would use the avatar’s authority to prevent any more teleportation to other world after them. It was so that the people dealing with the situation here wouldn’t run away later on.」

I see. That’s logical. And, it was also a totally irresponsible and disgusting decision.

「It makes you feel offended right? A lot of people also thought so. How can only the influential people run away while abandoning their responsibility, they thought.」

That was way, an insurrection broke out as only natural. There wasn’t anything like sense of duty or plan or whatever. The insurrection was simply something impulsive driven by anger and desperation to bring those people down together with them to hell. It could also be called simply as a riot.

「Of course, I intended to stay behind. The central government surely also didn’t plan to select me in the first place. I wanted to stay behind and do research at the frontline for restoring the world.」

「But……your daughter?」

Manager Mercurys’s words stopped for a moment. A beat later, her gaze slightly looked down.

「……I was able to get her chosen based on my achievement until then and my daughter’s own brilliance. But……my daughter herself refused. She wouldn’t agree no matter how I tried to persuade her. She won’t leave me and my husband, she’ll offer her everything in order to restore the world. She kept saying those and wouldn’t listen……」

As the result, she easily got removed from the selection list. No matter how much Mercurys begged, that decision didn’t get overturned. That was the first and last chance for her daughter.

「That was why I, secretly assisted with the insurrection too. My husband also fought with his life on the line. In order to secure our daughter’s “slot”. You must feel contempt for me. We scorned the god king and others for running away, and yet the moment we thought it might save our daughter, we did that.」

「No……」

Their child’s life was on the line. Hajime himself thought that if it was him he would also do anything. He couldn’t criticize Mercurys and others at all.

「It was supposed to be a pointless struggle.」

「After all your opponent was the god king huh.」

「Yes. But, it didn’t turn out like that.」

That was apparently something that happened just a little before the time when the god king and others were going to finally travel to other world.

The country of god was enveloped in flame due to insurrections that broke out everywhere. Principles warped, magic power and environment were also going mad, however, only the palace of the god king standing tall at the base of the god tree felt not a single discord amidst all those.

The palace was under the protection of tremendous power. The giant magic circle to cross to other world that was set up underground of there couldn’t be approached by anyone.

However, when it was the appointed time, even though the chosen influential people were already gathering, only the god king and his close aides didn’t appear.

Feeling suspicious, some of them when to check and……

「Someone……we still don’t know who, when, or how. But, someone did it. There was someone who succeeded in murdering the god king.」

「……」

Something impossible occurred.

And then, the worst situation also occurred.

The God Tree started collapsing.

「I think, the god king most likely did it at his last moment. If I’m going to die anyway I’ll bring everyone with me. After all, that monster was that kind of being.」

「I see……」

Naturally, the God Tree’s barrier also vanished. The absolutely protection was gone.

From there, the flow of events from there went without saying.

People rushed in. Everyone thought that they might still made it in time to teleport to other world if they did it before the God Tree completely collapsed. In fact, they were right.

The chosen people naturally also fought back. Time wise they could only do the teleportation one time. The number of people who could enter inside the magic circle was also limited. They were desperate to protect their right to leave to the death.

「It was, just messy, anything and everything in that situation. I felt like I saw the true nature of humanity at that moment……but, I couldn’t possibly break down.」

「You got your priceless daughter with you after all.」

「Yes, it’s just as you said.」

Mercurys’s husband was an embodiment of rationality just like her. But he too had changed because of his daughter’s existence. He threw away his life to open a path for their daughter to survive.

「There was also a child among the “chosen people to go to other world” who was close to our daughter from the start. He also lent us a hand and we somehow managed to toss her inside the teleportation circle just barely in time.」

He……Hajime faintly muttered while recalling the history of hell world and Tortus.

「People who managed to get rid of the chosen influential people and slip in weren’t just your daughter. Were there a lot of them?」

「Yes, I think so. The situation at that time was horribly chaotic, so I couldn’t even estimate how many there were though.」

「Was it planned from the start to split to two worlds?」

「No, that might be an accident. The collapse of the God Tree might also cause disorder to the flow of the origin flow. Or perhaps it was the fault of the approaching “principles breaking phenomenon”……based on your tone, it seemed “they” didn’t change even in other world weren’t they?」

Manager Mercurys apparently had also guessed the intent of Hajime’s question. She must have already guessed from the start seeing that the hero and Hajime’s power came from “magic power”. Just what they were doing in other world after teleporting.

Manager Mercurys slightly casted her gaze down. Perhaps she was feeling guilt. Hajime shrugged.

The faction of transcendents at the hell world was split into two was surely composed of the influential people side, and the not chosen people at the foundation.

Based on what he heard about the history of the hell world, even the influential people faction had definitely changed somewhat after witnessing the disastrous scene in their home world. Though of course, in the end they repeated their mistake so he had no will to defend them at the least.

「And, with the God Tree and the avatar’s protection gone the planet too shouldn’t be unscathed right? After all the keystone holding the “principles breaking phenomenon” in check was lost.」

「Yes, exactly. The collapse of the planet started at the same time with the God Tree’s collapse. Actually even the other world travel succeeding was also a mystery in such situation. A part of the continent wholly vanished……the land and even the sky split, people died one after another……it was hell.」

Mercurys sent off her daughter in a timing that just barely made it. However, even her relief lasted for only a moment. She then ran around inside the hellish situation.

Because in order to protect the world, and also so that her daughter could spend her life in other world, there would be no meaning if the calamity world ended then and there.

「You see, from the start I had been acting in secrecy with the assumption of the worst case right after I heard the story from the “thousand faced void god”. Together with my collaborators.」

Naturally Manager Mercurys’s collaborators were her subordinates and colleagues. But other than them, among the people causing the insurrection, there were people who took action not because of self-interest but because they thought of other world’s sake, that they thought they couldn’t let those immoral influential people to go to other world.

Also, it seemed that her husband was originally in the army. There were collaborators from among his subordinates and comrades too.

「We altered the “barrier tower” into a shelter instead of merely a magic tool, prepared magic tool for survival including for interfering with time, establishing the theoretical formula of anti-concept and isolation from phenomenon internally and externally, in addition preparing the “travellers”……though as expected, we never anticipated the God Tree’s collapse.」

「So you guys took action with the assumption that “pruning phenomenon” is real huh. The central government was at the state of “the congress dances” so you gave up on them……」

「The congress dances……that’s an interesting expression.」

In any case, it was only because of Mercurys and her collaborators’ secret effort and preparation that the calamity world barely managed hold on when it was at the brink. In other words, the other worlds were also protected. Hajime didn’t say it but, he harbored just a small feeling of gratitude and admiration.

「At the same time, you also secured the “core” from the collapsed God Tree huh?」

「Yes. Of course we also secured the god king’s, no――the avatar’s body. In order to reconstruct the principles governing assist system when the situation allow.」

In addition, they evacuated the survivors from the collapsing home planet to the satellite as many as possible while in order to deal with the unexpected situation of the lost of the God Tree, they modified the keystone of the group concept magic from the “barrier tower” to the “God Tree’s core”. Furthermore they improved the “barrier tower” to be an amplification device.

「So you guys dealt with all those at the eleventh hour when the collapse was approaching huh. ……That’s crazy.」

「Doing that much is only natural……After all we sacrificed the lives of billions of people.」

There was no way they could fail, nor were they allowed to.

After all the one who activated the group concept magic was none other than Mercurys.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

She wasn’t a heartless person. Her daughter’s existence had made her even more human. It was unknown how her mental state was when she pulled the trigger to sacrifice that many people.

Normally it was unthinkable that she could stay sane.

Was she sustaining her mind with magic? Or perhaps, she was killing her heart in order to save the world?

Either way, there was no doubt that she was a person of high caliber. She was one of the nobility but, the survivors were following a researcher who wasn’t a former soldier or even politician as their leader was surely because of that.

「Now then, the history of the calamity world is like that in the broad stroke. Do you have any question? I also want to ask my own question about other worlds too if you don’t.」

In order to solve the situation, they had to have a discussion that took all the knowledge and technology of all the worlds in consideration. On top of that they would also need to consider which would be useful, build up hypothesizes, and verified it.

「Right. Of course, I still have things I want to ask. But, before that I guess it’ll be better if I also talk about my side to some degree. After all, there’re things there that will be the premise of my questions.」

「That’s good. Please tell――」

Manager Mercurys nodded with a docile look. It was then.

Holou had ended its magic power absorption. However, after that it had been relaxing on Hajime’s shoulder by limply lying down on his shoulder. But then it suddenly stood up.

Its fur stood on end and it was glaring at the far distance.

Almost at the same time, Hajime also stood up. He hadn’t sensed anything clear. But, perhaps it should be described as his instinct ringing the alarm. He was moving instinctively.

Manager Mercurys looked confused and stopped asking.

The next moment.

「「Tsu!?」」

A shockwave ran through.

It was physical……yes, it was spatial vibration. Not only that, there was even the sensation of their souls getting impacted directly.

If it was a noncombatant then perhaps they would faint just from the impact to the soul just now. Considering that the shockwave had reached them despite the isolated space they were in, the physical impact from it was also worrying.

As though to support that worry,

『Nagumo! Lend me a hand! Something is wrong! I can’t see it, and I also can’t feel its presence but……there’s something!! It’s coming!!』

An emergency call came from Kouki. At the same time,

『Manager! The tower got damaged from just now! It needs repair! Come over here!!』

A male’s voice that Hajime never heard before rang out over the whole isolated space.

「It looks like the void gods of the calamity world are also getting serious huh.」

「Tsu, looks like it. There’re multiple void gods with the same appearance……I’m thinking, those are “mass produced void gods created by void god”. In that case……」

「Yeah, the boss might have run out of patience.」

Hajime said that and his right hand grabbed Donner while his left hand took out the Crystal Key. Using the regular method he would surely be able to get out of this space with permission from Holou and Mercurys, but he intended to directly went to the battlefield.

Mercurys guessed that and she also nodded. She stood up.

「Holou, come here.」

She called out. But, Holou didn’t move from Hajime’s shoulder.

「Holou?」

Manager Mercurys looked puzzled. Hajime too. But, he immediately noticed. Holou’s eyes were fixed at Donner.

Was something attracting its attention? But, right now wasn’t the time to think about that……

Thinking that, he looked at Mercurys so she quickly took the cat away from him. But right after that.

Holou’s gaze turned at Hajime. And then, coloring that looked somewhat mysterious filled its eyes. Just when he thought that,

「Holou!?」

「What……?」

It quietly floated in the air and let out a dazzling light. Its silhouette was turning hazy. It became like a ball of light.

And then, it flowed like a shooting star and collided with Donner. No, it……was like it got absorbed, or perhaps the phenomenon ought to be called as a fusion.

Donner shined with pure white light enveloping it. Hajime lifted it before his eyes.

The light died down before long, however, anyone who looked would understand. That the gun was clearly oozing with something, a tremendous presence that perhaps ought to be called as god’s majesty.

「No way……god sword, transformation?」

Manager Mercurys muttered in a daze. This was incomparable with the sight that she saw when Holou got attached to Hajime. This was a real surprise where she couldn’t even make any joke at all.

Hajime narrowed his eyes and stared at Donner through his magic eye. The ability of “Information Reading” exposed Donner’s change.

「……Return when I call? Transformation ability to some degree? This is just like the holy sword ain’t it. No, not only that……」

「Storage inside the soul by turning into particles. Trait of being practically indestructible……I think?」

Hajime’s gaze turned toward Manager Mercurys. Manager Mercurys looked like she was still unable to suppress her astonishment and continued forming her words with trembling voice.

「The god sword talked in legend――the sword that’s said to be bestowed to the hero by the God Tree’s avatar. Those are its ability. You aren’t the hero. You also don’t have the aptitude. And, Holou can’t create god sword……or it should be the case. After all it isn’t the actual avatar. And yet, for it to transform your magic tool into god sword……」

「Hmmm? Well, the details can wait for later. If Holou want to lend its strength, I’ll accept it gratefully. And right now isn’t the time for this anyway.」

Looking closer, the parts where there was red line was changing to pure white. That part was slightly shining. And then, he could also feel the same aura like when the holy sword displayed its strength.

Perhaps he ought to call it “God Gun Donner” now.

He would ascertain its actual ability in real battle. Hajime unspokenly conveyed that and activated the Crystal Key for real this time.

「Don’t let Holou get harmed no matter what!」

「I know. ……Aa, that’s right. Just in case, I should give you a guard too.」

Hajime showed a thinking gesture for a bit. For an instant, he felt hesitation when he considered Mercurys’s feeling. But, if she was going to join force with him anyway then there would be face to face meeting in the future, and if he was going to disclose information of his side then this matter would come out whether he wanted it or not anyway.

In that case, with that thought he made the “treasure warehouse” shined.

「Netemp, I’ll leave Manager Mercurys’s safety and some information disclosure to you. Tell her about the events after Tortus summoning.」

「Yes, my lord. Leave the particulars to me.」

What came out was a silver haired beauty wrapped in a classical maid outfit. She gave a beautiful curtsy to her master, and then, she changed direction toward the protection target.

「Mercurys-sama. My name is Netemp. Please, feel free to call me Netemp-tan. Please take care of me.」

Netemp performed the same curtsy to her.

There was no reply.

Just as Hajime predicted, Manager Mercurys was shellshocked. Her expressionless face completely crumbled, her eyes were wide open, and her body was shaking uncontrollably.

It didn’t stop there. Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes in the blink of eye. Her trembling hands covered her mouth……

「A, ah, aah……my, my dearest――ultimate cutie ancient class angel-chan!!」

Some kind of amazing title flew out.

Hajime-san reflexively almost asked back 「Wha?」. But,

『Nagumoo!! BD fell!? It’s wreckeddd!! Quickkk!!』

The hero’s desperate yell was loudly ringing so,

「Netemp, I leave the rest to you.」

He quickly got back to the battlefield.

「Master, please wait a second. That person, her eyes are sca――」

「Mas, ter? Just now, you called him, master?」

Hajime looked back over his shoulder just for a moment.

Right at that moment, his eyes met with Manager Mercurys whose neck rolled to look at him with eyes that lacked any light.

Of course, he pretended to not see.

.

.

AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.

Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.

Thank you very much for going along with the very very long exposition chapters! There’s still the minor details and answer verification content but, I’m thinking to write those to match the situations.

……I’m really looking forward to unveil the setting I thought up but, even I myself am getting nervous whether I’ll be able to write properly when the information amount get too big……when I take another look and there’s mistaken part I might revise it but, best regards for that.

Also there’s one thing, I need to notify everyone beforehand.

Just as you can guess Manager Mercurys’s daughter is the person who became the model for the god’s apostle. For this point, actually the special perk novel in the Blu-ray of anime second season has alluded what kind of life she had.

And so, if the special perk novel is used as premise then it means Hajime “know the last moment of the daughter” but, as expected I think it’ll be too forced in various senses if I’m writing using the content of special perk novel that had only been read by a part of the readers here as the premise, so I’m thinking to write without that premise for the WN version. (It would be better if I’m able to think up a good way of writing it but, for the time being I don’t have any good idea (sweat). For my lack of ability! My deepest apologies!)

I think there’re also those who feels disappointed by that but, please be merciful!