kscans

Chapter 176 - Epilogue, The Abyss

"...What is this?"

‘My O-saki and messengers...’

Cesare, who had been a god, did not know. The miracle that could be brought about using the blessings gathered by the god of that world. This was a revelation given only to the O-saki who had named a god.

No matter how difficult the challenge, it was a ritual that would surely be fulfilled. A wondrous rite that required a fervent prayer, the blessing of a god, and six sacrifices.

The sacrifices were said to be powerful beings, but they could be prepared. However, the cunning of the Higher Beings was to give the revelation for a ritual that could only be performed if a god was manifest, after the god could no longer manifest.

It was a miracle that could only occur if a god was on the earth. Moreover, it was a ritual that would not activate unless someone paid the price for the missing power. Furthermore, after naming a god, it could not be used even if one knew of it. Because a god who has received a name can no longer descend to the lower world.

A nasty mechanism by the Higher Beings.

But at that time, there was a fleeting moment when the given revelation could be used. It was when the boy god, sent by the Higher Beings to guide them, manifested in the perishing Haze-Leve.

Now, the miracle rite that could only be used when a god was manifest was possible.

Legion the oni explained this and rushed to gather prayers for the boy god. Without the prayers and wishes of the people, there was no power to use as a blessing. The boy god, having heard the story, also manifested in various places and performed miracles with desperate effort. Healing people, purifying the land, making trees sprout.

And still... not even half the prayers were gathered.

In Haze-Leve, which had fallen into suspicion and spiraling desire, and had become a land of carnage, only despair was rampant.

The situation was already beyond saving. That was likely why the Higher Beings had sent the boy god there. Because even if he returned, the future would not change.

Legion and the other messengers let out groaning howls. The boy god handed them a dark magic crystal.

《In this, I have sealed my all. I am their pawn, but I will never forgive them. I will surely revive and show them a thing or two... so, I’m counting on you.》

Ignoring the shaking earth from the constant bombardment, the boy god opened a gate to Arcadia.

《Flee! You all, hurry!》

There were the few humans who had believed in the boy god and acted with the O-saki and the others.

‘...I am sorry. Truly... I am so sorry.’

The people were drenched. They were a part of the group that had foreseen the great war, built a shelter on a small island, and were supposed to have survived.

《It is fine. You all did well. Thanks to you, some people will be able to survive underground.》

The roar of explosions grew more violent, and flames approached, licking the earth.

《Flee! And tell the world of Arcadia that the gods are not absolute!!》

After sending everyone through the gate, the boy god closed the door even as his entire body was burned and melted. In that final moment, the boy god smiled, his brows furrowed.

《Master!!》

The mercilessly closed gate vanished, and those who were there swore an oath.

...Rebellion against the gods.

《To do such a thing... do you think it is what I wished for?》

The seven-colored light that rose when the golden ring was completed. That was a demonstration of power. Three beams of light rose. This meant that the power of the remaining three was missing. The messengers of Haze-Leve, understanding this, had refused the Little One's invitation to become her messengers, intending to offer themselves up when the time came. If they became her messengers, any abnormality on their part would be transmitted to the Little One. Knowing that sharp-witted girl, if she noticed multiple instances of it, she might unconsciously interrupt the ritual. With only Legion, it would pass as a slight sense of unease.

This time, we will ensure our master has a happy future...

Cesare did not yet know the meaning behind their satisfied smiles behind the door.

《What is the meaning of this, Abdahil?》

《Not yet. It is not over yet.》

Abdahil smiled gently at the suspicious oni, his golden and silver demonic eyes glittering. Long ago, he had been a poor commoner picked up by Legion before he was a monster. He was saved by Legion when he was lying in an alley, starving. He became his attendant, and when he came of age, he became a messenger. It was a natural progression for Abdahil, who had been abandoned by his parents and was only waiting for death, to adore Legion and become devoted to his teachings. And so, to Abdahil who became his messenger, Legion had spoken of what was in his heart.

That one day Legion’s master would be revived in Arcadia. And that he would be toyed with by the gods again. To prevent that, he wanted to cultivate dark magic crystals in the land of Arcadia and become a source of strength.

《This time, I want to make my master happy... even if it costs me my life.》

Legion the oni, tormented by regret.

Watching him, Abdahil also made a vow.

For him, it was Legion who had saved his life. Legion, who had educated him and hammered into him all the skills for survival, was Abdahil’s master. He was a far more important person than the god who appeared only in the teachings.

...Therefore.

If something were to happen, he would save Legion with his entire being.

And so, now, Abdahil stood before Legion. If one were judged in the abyss, the barrier created by the Higher Beings, even the soul of an O-saki would be helpless.

《Please wait a short while. I am sure that child will do it.》

The underground forest lake was the forest closest to the Abyss.

A dimension split right next to Abdahil, who had become the Little One’s messenger, and the people who appeared there shouted loudly.

《Hey! Is the Little One alright?!》

A handsome man with magnificent horns growing from the left and right of his head. He was dressed in luxurious attire like a nobleman, with sharp, piercing eyes. Sharp fangs peeked from his lips, which were twisted into a snarl. With him, a crowd of people swarmed in, taking the Frontier Knights by surprise. The knights explained the current situation for the time being, and the group, upon hearing it, rushed into the crack leading to the Abyss. The handsome man who had appeared first also started to run, but Abdahil grabbed his arm.

《I saw your power to split dimensions. Perhaps you could open a path to the world of the dead as well?》

《What are you?》

One eye bulging, the handsome man glared at him. Abdahil gave a simple explanation, pleading earnestly that he had someone precious to him, that he might still be in time, that he wanted to do something. Hearing this, the man observed Abdahil for a moment, then his lips twisted into an amused grin.

《Very well. You may enter from that dimension. That is the demon world. Its logic is different from this one, a place where one can interfere with the death of a world.》

His eyes shining at those words, Abdahil, along with the guide the man had provided, had run up the path to the underworld from the demon world.

《Then, did you use the Golden King for that purpose?》

Legion could not hide his surprise at Abdahil’s explanation.

《My master is you and you alone. I judged that as your messenger, I would not be able to act in a time of crisis, and so I served the Golden King.》

That king was deeply compassionate. If Abdahil pleaded desperately, she would surely have lent her strength. He had made the pact with that calculating thought in mind.

《I am sure that king will succeed. So, please wait a short while.》

Legion nodded at Abdahil’s words. He would later learn that this judgment was a wise one.

《Master...?》

‘Legion? No way! Really?’

Two pairs of eyes trembled in shock.

After that, the Higher Beings were sealed, and the wind magic contraption that had been set in the abyss disappeared, so Legion and his messengers were able to descend safely into the Abyss. And a miraculous reunion.

At the feet of the two embracing each other, the empty husks of the monsters’ corpses dissipated. Watching the former corpses dissolve into the air, Katsumi broke into a wide smile and returned to the physical world with the Frontier Knights. The Higher Beings who had been trying to condemn Katsumi were gone. The candle of his life, which had been on the verge of extinguishing, would continue to burn brightly.

And so, peace came to the Abyss as well, and Tsathoggua, learning that the abyss had become a free pass, became unusually agitated.

‘That thing is gone?! Seriously!!’

...leaving behind a Doppler effect, Tsathoggua rushed past like a gale.

《I’ve never seen him flustered before.》

Tsathoggua, the seeker of knowledge, known as the one who does not wander.

He might be surprised, but what could have happened to the always calm and collected him? Moldre saw off the tumbling, running Tsathoggua without understanding what was going on.

At that time, Joker’s spiritual body, which was in the web of the Abyss, trembled its enormous body, which was five meters long, and crouched down with a heavy thud.

《My body... is, gaaah!》

Joker’s back split open, and with a dull, cracking sound, something crawled out. It was a spider. A spider about two sizes smaller than Joker writhed, its flesh tangling and squirming. Shaking off the splattering bodily fluids, the spider stared at its own hands in a daze.

《A body...? A human body?》

On top of the spider’s torso was the upper body of a human. The naked form of a woman with wide eyes was growing out of the spider. Long, jet-black hair and bright red eyes. Her left eye had a golden outline.

She had seen this form before. That was it. The famous spider monster from the world of Earth.

‘Arachne?’

The beautiful woman wrung out her soaking wet hair and swept it back. With her well-defined nose and thin lips, it was unmistakably a human form.

Moving her hands as if they were a novelty and tracing her fingers with her gaze, Joker’s eyes narrowed languidly.

《What in the world is happening...?》

Someone answered her puzzled murmur.

《...Nacua?》

A distant memory, now only a blur.

It came rushing back like an avalanche, flooding Joker’s mind. A nostalgic voice she could never forget.

《Tsathoggua...?》

What her turned eyes saw was a creature that looked like a pear with arms and legs. The creature, with unique fur like a hedgehog’s, looked around curiously.

《Whoa, what is this? This is amazing. What happened? That form.》

Joker leaped onto the creature, which was tilting its head in a daze, and let out a roar.

This was the space between the Abyss and the physical world. To have come this far meant that the contraption set in the abyss had been broken.

《Thank goodness! You’re finally free, Tsathoggua!!》

《I was pretty free in the Abyss too, you know. But not being able to see you was tough, I guess.》

Tsathoggua, the prisoner trapped deep in the Abyss. What saved him from the endless solitude and infinite void was the existence of his one and only friend, Atlak-Nacha. The many eons where they could only cross the darkness for brief conversations.

With the Little One giving a name to the Dark Spirit King, a world was beginning to form in the Abyss. And by sealing away the Higher Beings, the Abyss was liberated. Furthermore, because the Little One had obtained the Celestial Realm, its influence was causing a world to form in the Abyss as well.

《I can move freely within the Abyss now. I made you worry, didn’t I, Nacua?》

Patting the back of the sobbing Joker in his arms, Tsathoggua’s large eyes narrowed.

Tsathoggua, the seeker of knowledge.

It would be several hundred years before the Little One, seeking his vast knowledge, would become a regular in the Abyss.

Until then, the two would work together to protect the physical world from the Abyss.

And so, everything was settled, and the world became one.

‘So basically, the contraption in the abyss is gone, so dangerous guys from other worlds might fall in, fuse together, and there’s a possibility that a ridiculously powerful monster could be born.’

Tsathoggua nodded vigorously at Sapphard’s words.

‘Exactly. So, I want you guys to fend them off so they don’t disturb my research.’

‘What is this. We are not mere underlings.’

Murmured a sullen-faced Lord Cesare, leading Legion and the others.

‘I have no obligation to support your otaku activities, but I have to protect Bonnie’s world. I guess I’ll play the Grapes of Wrath.’

‘...If it is for Lucrezia, it cannot be helped.’

The Abyss, having gained powerful reinforcements, greeted a new era.

With the Little One as the lynchpin, the era of Arcadia changed greatly.

There is no sign that this delightful and thrilling adventure drama will end♪