Chapter 1
Part 1
——Airborne Citadel. War Strategizing Assembly.
“I see that all of the pieces (of puzzle) have assembled. Well then, let’s start the final investigation.”
Declaring the start to their meeting, Baron Croix tapped the ground with his Maple leaf staff.
Because the individuals seated around this round table were some of the famous and strong individuals from the vast world of Little Garden.
From the East’s 「Floor Master」, “Great Sage of Maelstroms (The one who devastates seas)”, Kouryuu.
From the South’s 「Floor Master」, Sala Doltrake.
From the North’s 「Floor Master」, the Commander Lapko III.
And there were those who rushed over to help like “Great Sage of Chaos (The one who leaves Heaven in disarray)” — Roc Demon King and the Queen’s knight—Faceless.
Currently, Jack, who had been part of the main force, is now in the emergency ward after the retreat from the frontlines. It really is a pity for Jack and Willa who were powerful players to be unable to attend this meeting, but that is something that could not be helped in any case.
Sakamaki Izayoi took another sip at the tonic prepared for him before raising his question.
“Although you call this an investigation, Azi Dahaka isn’t a Demon Lord who uses a 「Host Master」 authority. I feel that we will not be able to see a chance for victory even if we were to investigate into Azi Dahaka’s mythological roots.”
“Well, who knows?”
Waving his bowler hat, Croix shot his gaze towards Kouryuu.
Kouryuu, who received the gaze, then folded his arms across his chest with a troubled look.
“Hey, lad, actually we did have a bout with him after that but the result was us getting a thrashing. He’s protected by a Gift or spell that is unknown to us and we are out of tricks to play against him. After all, even Karyou-chan’s fire that possess the power to even harm gods and dragons alike seem to be ineffective.”
“Second brother, please do not call me Karyou-chan.”
Roc Demon King pouted as she made her protest.
Izayoi seemed to be deep in thought as he nodded his head and asked Faceless who sat beside him.
“…… I see. Then, what are your thoughts on this, Faceless-sama?”
“I would also agree with Croix and Kouryuu-dono. Since even her—— Karyou-chan’s flames were ineffective,”
“Wait a moment, Queen’s knight. Who gave you the right to call my name,”
“Oh so it’s like that. Then, what’s your opinion on this, Karyou-chan?”
“As I’ve said, don’t call me “Karyou-chan” Aah!!! Do you want me to blast you fools away into the skies?!!”
Roc Demon King was so furious that her veins were bulging at her temples.
*Klak Klack* came the sound of the staff that was being tapped on the ground to call back the attention of everyone as Croix gave a bitter smile before diving back into the discussions.
“I agree with what you said as well. I also feel that Karyou-chan….. KehoKeho, it’s my bad. I’m just joking, so please don’t burn me for real.”
Karyou-chan, whose right arm was wreathed in the Flames of the Golden Wing, successfully pulled back everyone to the main topic.
“……Hm. It is said that you battled that three-headed dragon 200 years ago right? Then you should know of some of its vulnerabilities and such, right, Shinigami?”
All eyes turned to look at Croix then.
200 years ago—— The people who sealed Azi Dahaka, who had wiped out the 「Aristocrats of Little Garden」 were no other than the previous 「No Name」. And being the one of the founders of that Community, it is impossible for Croix to be in the dark about the matters concerning the three headed dragon.
Pressing his bowler hat, Croix gave a shrug of his shoulders, “Hmph. It’s just as everyone thinks it is. I’ve already investigated the matter on the ineffectiveness of Roc Demon King’s Gift on him.”
“Then,”
“But, these are two different matters. Since we are to battle against Azi Dahaka, then we would have to discuss a question on a much more fundamental level——“What is Azi Dahaka, the Last Trial of Humanity (Last Embryo)?”. He’s not an enemy that we can beat with just an analysis on his displayed strength. A battle likened to a fluid matter that changes with the time. It is never too much to be well prepared for a battle.”
“Right. No matter what the case might be, we will need the time to regather our troops and to use our time efficiently.”
Hearing Kouryuu’s words, everyone nodded their heads, regardless of the different expressions they had on their faces.
After understanding their situation, Izayoi then propped his chin with a hand and directed a question to Croix.
“Then, let me take this chance to ask something. Oi, Shinigami.”
“What?”
“That fellow whom we have fought against before who’s called 「End Emptiness」, is he one of the Final Trials of Humanity as well?”
Simply asking with a simple intention of confirming something, Izayoi had uttered that question nonchalantly. However, those who had heard those words from Izayoi’s mouth were staring at him with their eyes widened in surprise.
Kouryuu then, had also widened those narrow slit eyes of his to the widest as he asked.
“Izayoi-kun…… you, have fought against it?!”
“Well, it’s not so much as a battle. It was more on the level of exchanging a greeting.”
“Then, that’s also something impressive in itself. 「End Emptiness」 is one of the few beings that is clearly known to hold a place in the single digits. To be able to live to tell the tale is very much an accomplishment in itself.”
Even Faceless, who was usually calm and reserved, was nodding her head furiously.
However, Izayoi was taken aback by her words.
“A single digit…..huh? It can be understood as one of the top existences in the world of Little Garden right, masked knight-sama?”
“Of course. Although it is out of simplicity that we categorised it within the ranks of the Demon Lords, 「End Emptiness」 is actually part of the rules that govern the world——and it can actually be seen as an existence that is “partially omnipotent”.”
That, was something which Izayoi had heard from Garol a while back.
It was said that the entity had entered the present time flow from the furthest ends of the concept of time, but that description had been too abstract and it only left a hazy memory within Izayoi. Actually, if it is said to origin from the very end of the concept of time, it would already be a trial that far exceeds the human capability to overcome on their own.
It is not known if Croix understood what was going through Izayoi’s mind at the moment as he gave a bitter laugh while replying.
“It is just as the Queen’s Knight describes it to be. 「End Emptiness」 is quite unique. The reason for it to be positioned amongst the 「Last Embryo」s would be possession of a time limit similar to the other Last Trials. And its disappearance for the last two hundred years could be taken as a result of Azi Dahaka’s sealing that froze time for it as well.”
“Then, if the time limit is up before we are able to clear the game……?”
“Needless to say, the entire world of Little Garden would be blown away by 「End Emptiness」.
Hearing those words, Sala and the other 「Floor Master」s’ faces had tightened up in seriousness.
“……Croix-sama. Are we to assume that the Heavenly Armies are not coming anymore?”
“I guess they are not coming anymore. After all, they do have a time limit for their mobilization….. and this would mean that they are already moving to carry out the measures in case of the worst case scenario and do not have the time to send any reinforcements to us.”
Upon the mention of the Heavenly armies, Roc Demon King and Kouryuu turned their sharp gazes towards Croix.
“That’s hard to say actually. The one in control of the Heavenly Armies are the twelve Adityas[1] …… which also mean it’s under Indra right? I don’t believe that the useless god known by the Heavenly realm to be “only doing unnecessary things” would be able to give this much thought at all.”
“ShiroYoruOu said that Indra’s like the “Big Brother who sets a bad example in the Heavenly Realm”. He’s also often described as a god who acts promptly even though matters at hand are not yet fully understood by himself…….”
“Mhm. About that, I wouldn’t deny as well. ……But bad rumours are bound to attract attention at all times. As a comrade in arms against 「The Locked Away World (Dystopia)」, I believe that he’s an irreplaceable friend and a brave warrior.”
It was undeniable that his expression softened in his recollection of memories, but those eyes did not carry any merriment.
It was plainly a warning to drop all slander against a comrade who once fought under the same flag as himself.
And with regards to the two, who were defeated by the twelve Adityas before, the urge to sprout their retorts had rose to their throats, but they too realised that it was not the time to discuss private grudges at the meeting and could only swallow them back for the moment.
Izayoi gave a sigh as he added his comment to the same topic.
“Mah, I heard that he did help to bestow Divinity to Kuro Usagi after all. So, it shouldn’t be possible for him to not know about the situation here. Or it might be that that act is the most he can do for us at the moment. Anyways, we can only depend on our own forces here to defeat that three headed lizard.”
“Yes, that seems to be the case. Although we did veer off topic for a little—— can we restart the final investigations?”
Croix asked the question again and no one seemed to have any differing opinion from resuming the discussion.
Although it was thus declared to be restarted, it was still not known to any of them on where to start the investigations.
And after a period of silence, Izayoi raised his hand while seemingly to be in a slight daze.
“Concerning this matter, Shinigami. May I ask the full details on the “time limit” that you talked about just now?”
“If I answer that question, wouldn’t it spoil the essence of the game? You are still young, so learn how to use that flexible brain of yours to think a little.”
Croix touched his bowler hat as he laughed. Not forgetting good fun even at these times, it could be said to be the flaw and his good point as a benevolent god. And it would seem that his baiting was with of some sort of hidden agenda.
However the person in question, Izayoi, did not return the smile. The usual him would have added that with two other lines of sarcasm as retorts. Yet, he was in an unusual state of seriousness as he continued to question.
“……Hmph. Taking a close analysis on the three 「Last Trials of Humanity」, it is possible to see the commonalities to the theories that are attributed to them. That is something that you are trying to alert me to right, Shinigami?”
Izayoi looked accusingly at Croix as he returned a conspiratorial grin then.
Beside him, Kouryuu, had an expression of surprise as he turned to ask Izayoi.
“What’s the matter, Izayoi-kun.”
“Well, it’s nothing. Just that up till today, I’ve met so many Demon Lords and Gods of various mythologies but when this fellow is back in the world of Little Garden that my suspicions finally clicked together. That this world of Little Garden is actually—— a world that exists in an interdependent relationship with the timeline of Human history.”
“Wait, that’s not really right actually. To put it more precisely, it should be that the gods are interdependent on the history of the human race. Mah, about ninety percent of the residents in Little Garden are bestowed with Gifts from the Gods, so it can be said in that way too.”
Most of the people present in the room were looking at each other and tilting their heads in query.
Among them, only the Queen’s knight, Faceless, understood the content of their conversation.
“I’ve heard my Queen saying that the Gods are involved in some long lasting paradox game…… and it is what they call the logical error.”
“What does that mean?”
“Please consider the conditions for which a divine spirit is able to exist in.
{Divine spirits happen due to the beliefs of the human race.}
{Humans evolve as they are bestowed the Gifts of the Gods.}
——Then, which of the two would be the start or the end point of the cycle?”
Upon hearing the words from the Queen’s knight, Sala’s expression became hard and the two from the seven sages had also covered their mouths as they came upon some sort of realisation.
“The origin (alpha) of the creator and the end (omega) of the created world…… that is the world of Little Garden?”
“That’s right. From the history of Little Garden, it is also known to be the biggest mysterious paradox. Was it the egg first or was it the chicken first——This is known to us as the 「Bootstrap Paradox」.”
“That’s not possible. Regarding that matter, didn’t the human realm obtain the conclusion to that already? The most supported theory of cosmology in the 2000s is said to be the world view of gods having created the world isn’t it?”
This conclusion would be affected greatly and vary slightly according to the strong religious sects of their time, but besides the proposed theory of the world being constructed in an instant as seen in the theory of creationism, other theories have yet to be proven true as well. And it was one of the truths that wasted much of the history of the human race in researching but have yet to be reached.
Regarding Roc Demon King’s retort, Croix was slightly troubled as he gave a shrug.
“Karyou-chan. If “obtaining the support of humans” is the “insurance of the creationism theory”—— wouldn’t that be equivalent to a “world that has its creation laws decided solely on the whims of the human race”, and that would then imply that the humans themselves are the truth of the cosmology?”
“——That’s,”
“And this is the truth behind the 「Last Trial of Humanity」 who was elevated to become the strongest god killer.——Of which speaking to this point, Izayoi-kun, you should have noticed something right?”
Thus, all their gazes were focused on Izayoi. Although some of them did notice that he was uncomfortable with his conclusion but noting that Croix, who hosted the meeting, probably singled him for a reason then determined their decision to listen quietly.
Izayoi folded his arms over his chest as he said the answer with a serious expression.
“……Humans and gods are mutual observers. And that is to say, in the occasion that one side were to be wiped out, this relationship would be torn. It would then mean that the truth behind the 「Last Trial of Humanity」 would be ——“
—— 「Factor α which will destroy the human race」.
This was the last trial given to humanity.
Hearing the demystification of the problem from Izayoi, Croix gave an evil grin and nodded his head.
“That’s right. In the Nordic lands, it is Ragnarok, in India, it is Kali Yuga. Ever since the ancient civilizations from long ago, the end point (Omega) X has always been the alarm that had continuously been rung for the gods to take note of. And that is also the name that the gods have given to it. The end of the world—— or, “eschatology”.”
That would be the real face behind those who were called the Last Trials of Humanity. The truth of the “time limit” was then the cause for Izayoi’s expression that took on an unprecedented look of seriousness.
(Then, as I thought, the Last Trial’s time limit is the remaining time left till the Outer world’s humanity is to be destroyed. If this is true……!)
It was a bad premonition and there seemed to be a certainty to the omen.
Although it was clearly easy enough to ask Croix to confirm his thoughts, Izayoi’s own essence was what rendered him unable to speak those words. The possibility of the impending destruction might not be in this world of Little Garden——- but the world that he had forsaken.
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