NoveLight ™
The World and the Dimensions.
They’re not exactly the same, but explaining the difference in detail would take too long, so let’s skip that for now.
Edel, like other gods who oversee a world, is aware of other-dimensional beings.
“But even if we’re aware of them, we don’t actually interact with other dimensions. The risks are too high just to have idle conversations across dimensional walls.”
Had the risk been taken and contact made with another dimension, would things be different now?
Maybe an even greater disaster would have struck, worsening the situation, or maybe, by knowing about the dimensional beasts in advance, there could have been preparations, avoiding calamity altogether. Either way, things would have been different.
“I don’t know how those dimensional beasts came to be, but I do know what they want.”
They invade other dimensions to absorb their energy.
As energy is siphoned away, the dimension begins to decay and ultimately meets its end. Much like Silia’s current situation.
“I should have blocked them from the start. But by the time I noticed, it was already too late.”
It’s a hassle, but catching one rat that’s snuck into a storehouse is doable.
But what if there weren’t just one rat, but dozens, hundreds, or even more, swarming in so many that they’re uncountable? What if you can’t even block the holes they’re using to get in?
In such a case, rather than catching each rat one by one, it’d be easier to burn down the entire storehouse and rebuild it.
Or, perhaps, build a new storehouse and transfer all its contents there.
Dimensional beasts were much like that.
The world, unlike a storehouse, can’t be destroyed and rebuilt. And its contents can’t be relocated either.
After a long battle with the dimensional beasts, Edel chose to surrender.
For survival, they decided to subordinate their world to another.
Gods have pride.
And their pride in the worlds they create is no less significant.
The fact that Edel swallowed their pride and chose to submit their world to another reveals how much they loved the world they created.
…Or so they said.
I had been silently listening to Edel when I abruptly interrupted.
“I understand that these dimensional beasts are dangerous.”
I knew they were dangerous from the start, but I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the idea that they were enough to bring Edel down.
Despite claiming ruin, the pressure radiating from Edel was incomparably stronger than anything I’d felt from anyone before.
I couldn’t understand how she could have been defeated by beings I could take on myself.
“Of course. I fought back, hard. I wasn’t just passively being defeated, you know?”
“But you still lost in the end.”
“…You know, I could just leave now?”
“Sorry.”
“…Anyway! That’s part of the reason why, although there’s still only a small hole in the dimensional barrier, stronger ones will start crossing over as time passes. And when that happens, the speed at which this world decays will only increase.”
Tick-tock.
Edel mimicked the ticking of a clock with her mouth.
“If I had to describe it, it’s like a time bomb.”
“Didn’t you solve it by subordinating to Earth?”
“Unfortunately, no. That only bought time. Without solving the root issue, one day it’ll just go—BOOM!”
“…Why are you telling me this?”
Not only had she descended herself, but she was explaining all this to me.
Isn’t this too generous for just one human?
Edel, who had been fiddling with a statue, now walked toward me softly, step by step.
As she drew closer, the emotions in her eyes grew clearer.
“Didn’t I already tell you? You are my sword.”
“….”
“I will show as much kindness as necessary to destroy those that ruined my world.”
I saw a flicker of emotion behind her playful eyes, and I was speechless.
I hadn’t expected a god, distant from human emotions, to display something so distinctly human.
However, my chance to glimpse her feelings was fleeting.
Edel quickly hid her emotions, returning to her usual playful smile.
“So, so. Do you have any other questions? Ask away, I’m happy to answer for my little bird.”
“Pick one—am I your little bird or your sword?”
She obviously had her reasons for showing me this kindness.
I don’t know how she expects me to defeat what even a god couldn’t, but since she’s going this far, there’s no need to refuse.
I have plenty of questions, so this is perfect.
Sss—
“So, the Apostles… the players. What are you trying to achieve through them? Is it your doing that they don’t sense anything strange? Did you arrange for me to be the one who noticed? And—”
“Wait, wait, wait!”
Edel quickly waved her hand to interrupt my endless line of questions.
She broke into a nervous sweat as she spoke.
“…Could you ask one at a time? I can’t answer everything at once, you know.”
“Can’t a god handle this much?”
“Wow, you’re a real cheeky brat, aren’t you?”
…If only you weren’t, I’d smack you right now.
She muttered in a voice barely audible.
Then, her face quickly softened, and the atmosphere shifted with her serene smile.
“Is that really what you want to ask?”
“….”
Her counter-question took my breath away again.
“…No.”
Those things… I don’t really care.
What I really want to ask is—
“…Why did Garid have to die?”
With the power to grant abilities to so many players, saving one person shouldn’t have been a big deal.
In game terms, isn’t reviving one NPC a trivial matter?
Were the lives of Silia’s people merely disposable for the amusement of Earthlings?
“Take a deep breath.”
“I’m calm enough.”
“With that fierce look on your face? Not very convincing.”
My face?
When I touched it, I felt my usual soft skin beneath my fingertips.
It didn’t seem any different than usual.
“It’s true I have the power to resurrect.”
“Then—”
“But I have never used it to satisfy selfish desires. I wouldn’t break the cycle of birth and death that I created myself. Twisting established rules is both troublesome and exhausting.”
“…I read about it in the history books too.”
“In those cases, either they weren’t truly dead to begin with, or they paid a heavy price to twist the rules. If you read the history books, you can guess what price they paid.”
I snapped at her words.
“I know that much—”
“Not even close.”
Edel firmly denied me.
“Maybe in the future, but right now, you’re not strong enough to break the rules.”
“…Then what are the Apostles, the players? They can barely handle a single monster, let alone—!”
“Calm down.”
“Calm down…? Do I look like I can?”
“There, see? Not calm at all.”
She began, “Let me explain before I get myself killed by my own sword.”
“It’s embarrassing to say this, but it wasn’t entirely my power that did it. I achieved it by collaborating with Earth’s Administrator.”
Even though Silia is subordinate to Earth, Edel still retains authority over Silia.
And, only Earth’s Administrator can interfere with Earthlings.
So, they worked together.
“They breathe, speak, and move like humans, but the Apostles’ bodies aren’t their real bodies. When death itself doesn’t exist for them, how can resurrection?”
“….”
So, from the start, she never gave them the power to resurrect.
…What did I come here for, then?
When I first heard about the Apostles from the blacksmith, I was filled with a desire to confront Edel.
But over time, as I suspected that this world might be a game—
That they weren’t really dying and resurrecting, just that it looked that way.
Just like Edel said.
“…Ha.”
I let out a dry laugh.
…Why am I disappointed now, after thinking this all along?
Maybe I was hoping Edel would admit the unfairness and bring Garid back.
Or perhaps, I just needed someone to pour out this burning resentment on.
But after hearing Edel’s words—
“I can’t even resent you now….”
I couldn’t bear any resentment toward her.
Because I subconsciously recognized that she had done her best in her own way.
Today, Journey felt great.
“Mm…!”
After an incredibly satisfying sleep, the kind that could only be described as blissful, she woke up feeling refreshed.
“Oh, a double-yolk!”
While making fried eggs, she cracked one open and found a double yolk.
“What? Really? I won?!”
She also received news that she won a prize she had applied for on a whim.
As a few other small bits of good luck followed, Journey thought to herself,
“Today’s definitely going to be a perfect day…!”
A perfect day like today only comes a few times a year, after all.
However, there was one thing she hadn’t considered.
“…Ka-Kana?”
Just because a day starts well doesn’t mean it will end well.
After all, there are sayings like “good things come to an end” and “buy soup but never eat it.”
There are plenty of examples to prove it.
Journey, chatting with viewers in her room, had turned excitedly when she heard the door open, ready to greet Kana. But when she saw Kana’s expression, she froze mid-step in an awkward position.
“…You.”
Kana seemed like she wanted to say something, her lips moving slightly before she just threw herself onto the bed.
Flop!
Then, she pulled the blanket over her head.
Journey looked at the bulging blanket and murmured,
“…What’s going on here?”
“Sulking…? Sulking?”
Was Kana at that age?
Even if it were puberty, would someone who was perfectly fine just that morning start acting this way?
“That’s…”
“…Sigh, I’m such an idiot for talking to you guys.”
Journey let out a long sigh, turning her attention away from the chat.
Could it be that Kana was disappointed about something she wanted but didn’t get?
But she didn’t seem disappointed.
As she analyzed Kana’s behavior, Journey finally gave up.
One thing was certain—Kana this morning and Kana now seemed like entirely different people.
“I wanted to watch the Descent Festival with you….”
Though Journey was usually clingy and demanding around Kana, she couldn’t bring herself to be like that today.
Everyone has a line that should not be crossed.
Usually gentle people can turn fierce when that line is crossed.
Journey knew Kana had a high tolerance for annoyance.
Though there were a few places where it was lower, crossing it usually took a lot.
But today, it seemed like Kana’s line was right at the ground, maybe even below it.
Instinctively sensing it, Journey gulped.
The sense of danger was far beyond the Phoenix Fried Rice incident.
“…A day or two off won’t hurt! Yep!”
She thought about the past few days and decided it was okay to let this one slide.
She’s worked hard lately. One day of rest won’t hurt.
She wouldn’t still be like this tomorrow… right?
Trying to shake off her anxiety, Journey forced a smile.