Chapter 411 - Possibilities and Possibilities and Possibilities
“—Next, about the ‘Red Circle’ that started interfering with the raid partway through.”
And so, the conversation shifted from ‘White’ to ‘Red.’ Although, from the look on Iris’s face…
“To be honest, I'm not really sure about this one. It's less of an analysis and more pure speculation based on ‘what ifs’.”
Which, I thought, was to be expected.
“I don't think anyone can explain that grotesque horror surprise.”
I urged her to share her thoughts without worrying, and Iris nodded before beginning. As usual, she started with a disclaimer: “Beginning with my conclusion.”
“I believe the raid for [Rieltaheria of the Red Circle] was designed from the start so that subjugation and funeral couldn't be achieved simultaneously. In other words, manifesting as a reinforcement factor for other Colored Monster raids, like it did this time, is the ‘Red’s’ final phase.”
“Hmm…?”
“Let's assume the condition for achieving a ‘Funeral’ is for us to make them accept or be satisfied. If the ‘White Throne’, which is tied to the conflict-loving Eastern Faction, Istia, simply sought ‘individual strength’… then what the ‘Red Circle’ sought was likely ‘connection’.”
To be honest, I wasn't sure I completely understood, but I could sort of follow the flow of her logic. If the characteristics of the corresponding factions were involved, then…
“The Southern Faction, Sotalm, has the blessing of wealth… they can most efficiently supply the currency needed for trade. I guess in terms of ‘player connections,’ they're a cornerstone.”
“Honestly, it’s mostly a stretch. But considering what systems were unlocked when the ‘Red Circle’ was subjugated, I don't think the general direction is wrong.”
The clan and marriage systems… right. The possibility that the underlying theme was ‘connection,’ as Iris suggested, was indeed high.
“So, why do you think the ‘Funeral’ for the connection-seeking ‘Red Circle’ was achieved?”
“It's probably because it fulfilled its purpose.”
Purpose… huh?
“Perhaps it was originally created that way. As a sort of living external armor that integrates with the other Pillars to strengthen their power.”
“L-Living external armor…?”
“While ‘White’ governed ‘Boundaries’ and used teleportation and spatial isolation, ‘Red’ governed ‘Infinity’ and used proliferation and mutation. If you consider its ability to transform freely as its authority, it's not strange to think of it as an existence premised on adapting to and merging with others… I… think.”
Perhaps because of my lack of reaction, Iris’s voice gradually lost its conviction. Not quite anxious, but she gave me a questioning look, and I quickly waved my hand.
“No, uh, I was just stunned. Don’t worry about it.”
“...I know I'm saying something outrageous.”
Outrageous? I didn't think so. It was certainly a wild theory, but it seemed to hold together, more or less.
“So, in short, the condition for the funeral is to defeat another Colored Monster that's been possessed by the remaining consciousness or soul after the main body is subjugated… right? If the ‘external armor’ was used for its intended purpose and was satisfied, then that does sound plausible.”
At the very least, it was far more convincing than any theory I could cook up in five minutes.
“—Ah. In that case, maybe that’s what that was about too?”
“That?”
“You know, the thing I showed you before.”
As I spoke, I summoned the [Parabellum Bullet], tapped it a few times, and brought up the flavor text—
[Parabellum Bullet]
Crafted Weapon: Dagger
A crimson dagger carved from the demonic horn of a Ruby Rabbit, guardian of a red spiral.
The demonic brilliance that governs the ‘Red’s’ immortality holds a peculiar authority—
A great wish, granted in the distant past. The red eye that touched its precious brethren leaves behind a blessing and returns home to die.
“………………………………”
And so I did………………………… Ah… hey, your turn.
“...It’s changed.”
“Yeah… Well, anyway. I was thinking that the original text—‘The pillar is still immortal...’—might have been referring to the other Pillars, not the ‘Red Circle’ itself.”
“Mm… that could be.”
Well, what can I say.
With the whole ‘Remnants of the Red Circle’ thing, the eerie effects during the fight, and its overall appearance, I’d mostly written it off as some kind of grotesque horror monster.
But if it prioritized others over itself… or something like that, I don't know if that's the right way to put it. Recalling that final scene burned into my memory—
Maybe it was just a good friend to its comrades.
“...By the way.”
“Yeah?”
“If you have any theories of your own, I’d like to hear them.”
“Uh…”
This was a little tough, wasn't it? Following up the [Sword Queen]’s well-thought-out analysis with my own idea, which was based one hundred percent on feeling and hardly deserved to be called a ‘theory’… well, whatever.
“I only have one idea. I was thinking that the ‘Red Circle’ merging with the ‘White Throne’ might have been a result of the ‘White’s’ ability, rather than the ‘Red’s’.”
That said, it wasn't a strong enough idea to refute Iris’s theory. And it didn’t really conflict with her ‘external armor’ hypothesis, just another ‘what if’.
“I told you my Anima comes from the ‘White Throne,’ right?”
I tapped the ring on my right hand. It had recently undergone another rapid evolution, reaching its third tier. The white band and red gem remained, but now a golden line circled it.
“This thing ate a ring derived from the ‘Red Circle’ when it evolved. So, I was thinking maybe the ‘White Throne’ itself has that kind of nature.”
“That kind of… nature?”
“Yeah. Like it gets stronger by eating the other ‘colors’?”
I’d previously misunderstood when I heard that the Colored Monsters grew stronger after the ‘Red Circle’ was defeated, but that information wasn't entirely accurate.
The truth was that it was only suspected that the Colored Monsters had grown stronger; it was just speculation about the Pillars as a whole. The only one confirmed to have been powered up was the ‘White Throne’.
Specifically, its Phase One tentacle cannons. Apparently, in attempts before the ‘Red Circle’s’ subjugation, there hadn't been nearly as many as the ridiculous number that had chased me around.
After being completely annihilated in the second phase that followed that insane power-up, the conquest force was so stunned that they began to take the monsters’ ability to learn and evolve even more seriously, putting a temporary freeze on all Colored Monster raids.
And so the information had stagnated in the form of, ‘The White Throne got stronger after the Red Circle was defeated. Therefore, it's highly likely the other Colored Monsters did as well.’
Then, during our raid, I saw the remnants of the ‘Red’ not just ‘powering up’ the boss but actively participating in the fight—and that’s when I had a thought.
“They're called ‘Colored Monsters’ or the ‘Five-Colored Pillars’ for a reason, so the ‘colors’ themselves must have some important meaning, right? If you think about it that way, ‘white’ is like a foundation that can be dyed any color… like a blank sheet of paper before you write on it?”
“…………”
“So, if we had defeated ‘Green,’ ‘Blue,’ or ‘Black’ first, things could have gotten several levels more dangerous than they were this time… maybe…”
Oh no, the princess was making a grimmer face than I’d ever seen before.
I mean, I get it. Yeah. If, by some one-in-a-million or one-in-a-billion chance, my half-baked theory was correct, it meant they could have created a truly unbeatable monster—a ‘Demon Lord’ they could have never defeated…
“………………In the end, only ‘God’ knows the truth, I suppose.”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“I'm glad we didn't decide to take on Green Connect on a whim.”
“...Y-Yeah, me too.”
I couldn’t help but agree with Iris’s heartfelt murmur as we both shuddered at the thought of a future that might have been—
—And then,
“……………………………………………………Are you… done talking?”
“Mm, for now.”
“Sorry.”
It seemed the one person left out of the loop was finally getting annoyed, so I figured it was time to move on to a topic that concerned all three of us.
You'll see soon enough—you won't be uninvolved for long, Nia-chan.