"It is just too heartbreaking. Why does such a little girl have to be treated this way?" Krähe lamented. "I'm just too powerless to save her."
"There is only so much a mortal can do," Vittorio replied. "You are a mortal, not a god."
Every Mynoghran in this region knew about Lytrain—about the Scribe Saint's situation. They didn't obtain this information through unjust means—it was easily picked up by listening to the gossip and through her own actions. Saints normally aren't supposed to perform their Miracles in public, and there was a gag order in place when it came to them. The fact that information about her was readily available despite this rule was proof that the Scribe Saint was performing excessive Miracles, which served as evidence that the holy forces were desperate. Put simply, by allowing her to wield her powers left and right, they placed an immense physical burden upon Lytrain, risking her very existence.
"I don't care what happens to me if it saves her. Please just save her. Help her. Nerim will cease to exist in return for her Miracles," Krähe begged, thinking of nothing but Lytrain.
It would be easy to criticize her for succumbing to evil. But what other means did she have to save her young friend? What miracle could save Saint Lytrain? Miracles are not the domain of mortals. They are performed in the realm of the gods. For this reason, it was inevitable that Krähe Imlerith would seek a miracle from another god.
"Unlike a certain holier-than-thou god, ours is not a petty God. He will save both the pitiful Saint and you, her pitiful friend. Didn't I tell you? A HAPPY ENDING awaits!" Vittorio declared in a loud and sonorous voice that traveled far and wide.
He wasn't lying. He blindly believed in the perfection of his own god —Takuto—from the bottom of his heart. If he was willing to make that declaration, then Krähe and Lytrain were bound to be saved. Vittorio had that much power. His master had that much power.
The flames of hope ignited within Krähe once again. At the very end of the line, she finally decided to take the hand offered her.
…No matter the lies she told herself, no matter the excuses she made, there was only ever one truth. She wanted to save Nerim. Always. From the outset. Until the very end.
"Theeeen, without further ado, forsake your former god and speak words of worship for our God," Vittorio said. "Then everything will be completed." "I…"
Krähe's needle of fate snapped in the opposite direction.
"…forsake Arlos."
Something changed in that moment. It was hard to explain what had changed, but curiously enough, Krähe felt refreshed. Some kind of heavy weight had been lifted from her and in return, she was wrapped up in a warm blanket. Almost as if she were returned to the safety of her mother's womb. It was a strange and welcome sense of peace.
Krähe had forsaken her god and surrendered to evil for help. But after going through with it, she found it a little strange that she wasn't all that different from who she was before.
"Mm-mm-mm, very goooood!"
A jester of a man approached Krähe with such a wide grin, it seemed to fill his whole face.
.
----------------->
.
None other than Vittorio himself—having slipped out of his restraints at some point—came skipping over to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and began shmoozing away like some pickup artist.
"Krähe, ma chérie. You know where it's at! Most people would just say NO at this point! You've got grit, accepting the deal now! I'm impressed! Let's be the best of friends! Wanna go on a date with me later? How about to an aquarium?"
I see. He really is annoying, Krähe thought. When she was facing him as a part of Qualia's forces, she believed Yona'Yona's revulsion of Vittorio was all a part of some scheme, but now that she had converted to the Cult of Ira, she knew the truth. It was no act—Vittorio was an annoying arse, plain and simple. Krähe was instantly filled with sympathy for Lector Yona'Yona.
"Oi, Archlector Idiot," Yona'Yona growled. "Don't go touchin' a lady without permission, you perv!"
"GUAGH!"
Yona'Yona stepped in and helped out Krähe yet again while she was wrestling with her new feelings. She raced over like an angry bull, pulled her fist back, and slammed it into Vittorio. Then she spun around to face Krähe.
Krähe forgot all about the loser who fell to the ground like a used rag and carefully studied Yona'Yona's face.
"Well, how do I put it?" Yona'Yona began. "Seems like you've got a lot going on, but let's be friends like that idiot said. Um, the Saint, was it? Bring her here, okay? She's in a hell of a pinch, right?" She smiled and held out her hand.
"Y-Yes…"
Krähe accepted her handshake. Her contempt for Beastmen had all but vanished, replaced by a sense of gratitude for her warm reception. Krähe was certain she could get along with this girl. She could only draw that opinion from having interacted with Yona'Yona the longest, outside of Vittorio, but she had a feeling life on this side might not be so bad after all. There was even a chance it might be easier living than when she was bound by all of Arlos's holy restrictions…
If this is what life here is like, then Nerim will surely… She surely won't be treated poorly. I have a feeling she can just live as a normal girl.
Everything was headed toward the happiness Vittorio had promised.
However…
"Damn." Vittorio had recovered from his K.O. and tottered over to them with a bleak expression. He seemed to have something on his mind because he laced his fingers together and cursed lightly under his breath. It was a rare display from the Spin Doctor who hid everything behind a sneer. Even Yona'Yona, intent on ignoring him, was worried enough to ask him what was wrong.
"What's wrong?"
"I thought we had gotten to the winning run here, but it appears I'll need to rework my plan."
Everyone was puzzled by his cryptic words. What did he mean? Before anyone could ask, another person walked out of the shadows.
"Oh me, oh my… The foolishness of man often has them willingly walk straight into their own ruin. And when they make that fatal mistake, they tend to pigheadedly believe they made the right choice," Vittorio said sagely.
"N-Nerim…"
Out from the shadows stepped Krähe's dearest friend, the girl she cherished more than anything and wanted to save at any cost. The girl for whom she had abandoned everything and even forsook the Holy God Arlos to ensure her happiness—Scribe Saint Lytrain Nerim Quartz.
"Don't take another step forward, heartrending young Saint. This is my only warning stemming from the fragment of compassion I hold for you," Vittorio warned in a solemn tone.
The silent girl was standing right before them, yet she seemed to be miles away…
-x-X-x-
Chapter 15: Aurora
NERIM took a step forward. It was a step she wanted to take and mustered all her courage for. This was the first step she took because she wanted to, not because someone wished it or asked it of her.
"Inquisitor Imlerith. I have received many things from you." Her trembling voice betrayed her nervousness and displayed her burning resolve. "I knew that…you have always looked out for me. But I have been so preoccupied with my own issues, so busy trying to save whoever I was ordered to save, I forgot to even thank you." She spoke slowly.
Krähe quietly shook her head, trying to convey she was wrong. But she was too frightened of what Nerim's resolve was about to bring about, only tears spilled down her cheeks as the words caught in her throat.
"The truth is, I actually wanted to call you by name, but I even forgot that desire," Nerim said sadly. "I'm forever a child, so I'm always being protected like one. Always the one being helped. But you… You were suffering too."
When Nerim went to visit Krähe's room to say goodbye for good, she saw its wrecked state and realized for the first time just how much the person crying in front of her was thinking about her. Suffering for her. To the point she forsook her holy beliefs and fell into evil just to save Nerim.
Nerim hugged her journal so tightly to her chest, it hurt. As if the pain would help her reflect on all the memories contained within. As if that were the driving force pushing her to act. She hugged it to receive courage from all the people erased from her memories.
"But…I won't make the same mistake again," Nerim declared. "I can finally say it with confidence: my power, my memories, exist for this moment. I would rather save you than anyone else. Not because it's a good deed, but because it is what I want. So I am going to return everything I have received from you now. Don't worry. My heart is forever with you."
"D-Don't…" Krähe wrenched out. "That's wrong. You've got it all wrong, Nerim."
Krähe wept, realizing Nerim couldn't—wouldn't—be stopped.
Krähe had made a do-or-die decision, hoping for the best, but it yielded the worst possible result for everyone. It wasn't anyone in particular's fault. There was no evil scheming or malice behind what had happened. Sometimes tragedies occur when everyone is just a little too kind.
"So don't cry," Nerim said. "Don't lose to evil." "Wait, Nerim!" Krähe cried.
"I'll save you."
An invisible shockwave blew Krähe back when she ran toward Nerim screaming. A pulsing white, shining holy forcefield surrounded Nerim, repelling all obstacles and guiding her pious prayers to fulfillment.
"O Lord, I grant you every memory of the ones I hold most dear…"
Quietly, yet clearly, her declaration reached all present. Her prayers to Arlos wrought miracles. Nerim's sincere prayer, which she poured her very being into, was eventually heard by the Holy God Arlos.
"…So please, grant me the power to save Miss Krähe."
An aurora's arch of light, bright enough to illuminate the world, warmly enveloped the young girl.
◇◇◇
THE holy light illuminated the area so brightly that it banished the night. What was the state of the girl standing at the center of that light? It was too bright and powerful to approach. All Krähe could do was fall to her knees and mourn her loss.
"Aaaah, Nerim… Why? All your humble servant—all I—ever wanted was for you to be happy…" she whispered, her voice full of regret.
Where did she go wrong? What could she have done better? And who in Arlos's name would appear once that burst of brilliant light faded?
"What an unamusing farce. Hopeless child, going out of your way to become unhappy, to play the part of the tragic heroine for no damn good reason," Vittorio spat, bristling with contempt. A rare display of emotion for him. His irritation seemed less directed at any one person and more a case of pure revulsion over this turn of events. "Buuut…we're in for a ride to see what happens next."
The brief glimpse of his true persona was hidden behind the trickster's mask once more as he decided to watch over the outcome with an air of frivolity.
Nervous tension filled the air.
Yona'Yona and the Elfuur Sisters were already in battle positions. They were up against someone who'd declared she would save Krähe before calling on her holy god. It didn't take a genius to guess what was coming next.
The blinding light receded…leaving the girl, unchanged, in its wake.
However, there was one thing that had changed…
"Hmm? Huh? What am I doing here?"
…the damning reality that something irrevocable had been done.
"Booo! I don't get it! Where am I?"
An all-too-innocent voice rang out from the girl despite the serious situation. The innocence suited her age, but anyone who had heard Nerim speak before would've sensed something was terribly off. Watching her act completely confused about the situation made the others wonder how to proceed.
Nerim had obtained immeasurable power in return for offering up all her memories. At the cost of her everything. In other words, she'd even lost her purpose. Nerim had nothing now. The empty, innocent shell of a girl who didn't know anything could only stand there confused. Until…
"Oh? What's this?"
The girl opened the journal in her hands. She seemed to just be reading it page by page before she suddenly started flipping through the pages at an alarming speed. Before long, she snapped the large journal shut and held it under her arm.
"Oh, I see…" She slowly lifted her head. "I have to defeat the bad guys."
She set her sights on the Mynoghrans, her eyes wide and dead.
.
---------------------->
.
Holy power raged like a storm around her. This torrent of power, surpassing even the aurora from before, was the Miracle Arte Arlos granted her after she sacrificed all her memories. You could see how precious those memories were by looking at the raging light enveloping the entire city.
Arlos had indeed granted this pitiful girl power commensurate with her sacrifice. Her Miracle increased in brilliance and called upon even more Miracles.
"God! Gimme the power to beat up the bad guys!"
The already overpowered holy aura emanating from Nerim increased in size and scale. How? She'd already sacrificed all she had and received Arlos's miracle. Nerim should already have the power to save Krähe. Yet the phenomenon they just witnessed seemed to grant Nerim even more power on top of that.
"I see. So that's how it works?" Vittorio observed. "This is game breaking. Everyone, watch yourselves."
Sweat trickled down Vittorio's forehead. Only he realized how her ability worked. By sacrificing all of her memories, she could gain immeasurable power. But that was a double-edged sword. Or rather, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a one-way trip to self-destruction. Because losing all memories was the same as losing all purpose.
She retained her ability to speak, move, and understand things, making her seem like any other human at first glance. But on the inside, she was devoid of memories, and therefore, had no aspirations or desires based on those memories.
Memories are what make a person who they are. That was why Nerim had suffered so much until now. Losing all of one's memories will just turn them into a living doll that can speak.
And that was the intended ending all along. Arlos's punishment was meted out to those who selfishly gave up everything in pursuit of an unlawful, outrageous Miracle. Damned to a fate as an empty doll with overwhelming power.
But…the journal she carried everywhere changed everything. Memories were irrelevant when her daily habit of reading her journal had been so engraved in her mind and muscle memory it now gave her purpose and indicated a direction for the empty doll to take.
She had become the exception to the rule that not even Arlos had expected. It all resulted in Lytrain Nerim Quartz being reborn as a perfect Saint who could justly save everyone.
And left behind a hell of a ticking timebomb at the same time.
They had no way of knowing this, but the ability given to the Scribe Saint had a slightly irregular design in which it first delivered a Miracle and then erased the appropriate memory in return. As far as Arlos was concerned when he designed this ability, he never considered the possibility of someone praying for more miracles after they had already dedicated all their memories. He didn't consider the possibility of an empty doll seeking Miracles by reading her journal.
He didn't create any countermeasures for it either.
An error in Arlos's design… This was the conclusion Vittorio instantly came to based on the circumstances in which mysterious phenomena were often pushed through by this world's system and game mechanics.
What it all came down to was that Arlos's Miracles could be performed infinitely. As much as the Scribe Saint prayed for them.
"Is this for real…? This is a seriously bonkers screwup." Vittorio wanted to unleash a slew of swears over this so-called holy god's crappy ability design. Unfortunately, his thoughts were interrupted by a burst of light announcing the start of battle.
The overflowing light of justice drove away evil. The lone member of the forces of good attacked the people of Mynoghra with overwhelming power.
"Everybody, get out of here!" Caria, already in an attack stance and powered by the moonlight, ordered all noncombatants to evacuate. She brandished her weapon, sharply watching for any holes in her enemy's defense so she could strike.
The Elfuur Sisters' gaze piqued Nerim's curiosity as she turned to look at them without any malice or ill will on her innocent face. "Oh! Who are you girls? Um…um… I know! You're those Cult of Ira people! Bad people! I'm gonna get you!"
The ground exploded and before Caria knew it, Scribe Saint Nerim was right in front of her. Caria hastily raised her halberd and defended against the journal swinging down at her with Arlos's divine protection wrapped around it. She glanced at her sister and shouted, "Big Sista!"
They were twins. It was easy for them to convey what they wanted without words. Maria slashed at Nerim with her dual blades while she was focused on Caria.
"Whoa! Whew! That was scary!" Nerim exclaimed. "But that's not enough to get me!" Contrary to her frazzled words, Nerim deflected Maria's attack as if she knew it was coming and jumped back far enough to start paging through her journal again.
"My ability doesn't work…" Maria said. "Does that mean she's really forgotten everything there is to forget?"
"Tch! She should've just obediently come to our side!" Yona'Yona shouted.
Both Maria's Addle and Caria's Plague did not affect Nerim. Nerim's overwhelming holy aura blocked their skills. The twins' abilities weren't perfect. They were without equal but could still be resisted by those of a certain level or power threshold. At the very least, they understood the Saint before them was at a level that even Witches enhanced to their near strongest by the moonlit night couldn't overcome.
And the situation rapidly spiraled from there.
"God! Gimme power! Gimme more power! The power to defeat the baddies!"
"Aaaaah!"
Arlos's Miracle came down and blew the twins away. It illuminated the world, shining brightly like the middle of the day and driving the darkness away.
The stronger fighter was made clear.
The polar lights that threatened to illuminate the whole world obliterated the moon. With the twins weakened by the loss of the moonlight, the source of their enhanced strength, they would have a difficult time suppressing Nerim.
Yona'Yona, who'd remained to orchestrate the followers of Ira's retreat, couldn't stop the quiver in her voice when she commented on Nerim's overwhelming strength. "Th-That's an insane ability… Is this what happens when a Saint gets serious?"
"Non, non. Not even close," Vittorio said, leisurely launching into an explanation beside her. "The power of the Scribe Saint is normally limited and requires sacrifice to use. Even if she gains tremendous power for her memories, losing all of her memories means losing herself. Her very essence as a person. Normally, that is! If all was normal, she was destined to become nothing more than a doll with strong powers!"
It seemed so out of place for him to be giving this explanation during such dire circumstances, even if he couldn't fight. But at least his explanation helped Yona'Yona understand what was going on.
"It's that damn journal!" she realized. "She's decidin' what to do every time she reads it, right?!"
"Most likely. Reading the journal probably became a habit imprinted on her subconscious," Vittorio deduced. "That's why she hasn't forgotten everything even after losing her memories. And she knows what to do once she rereads it."
As if to prove his theory, Nerim began rereading her journal. She seemed so defenseless like that, as if she were just begging to be attacked as she pored over the pages, but it was obvious to everyone present that it was a trap Nerim had obliviously set for them. The eternal light encapsulating her protected her from all harm—as if protecting her in place of the memories of her loved ones.
"Still, you gotta admire the earthshattering power she obtained for sacrificing all her memories with her dear father! Alack, how fleeting! Alas, how beautiful! How tragic! I could watch this all day!" Vittorio cackled.
Vittorio took no further action once things had gone south. There was nothing for the Gleeful Spin Doctor to do when his forte was stirring up things with subterfuge and words. None of his skills could do anything here, either. The holy aura protecting Nerim would resist them all. So Vittorio stayed on the sidelines as a member of the peanut gallery, but…
"You there! Shut up! This journal says to never let the baddies talk too much!"
Nerim appeared right in front of Vittorio. She tried to slam her journal down into his cranium at a speed too fast for eyes to follow.
"Gooooooooooo! Emergency evasioooooooon!"
He dodged at the last second. But her attack didn't end there. Nerim stumbled a step when her swing missed, but she immediately pivoted and used the momentum to swing the journal toward the schemester's torso. He couldn't avoid that one. Vittorio thought his life was up. But then Caria and Maria cut in at the speed of a falcon and blocked Nerim's attack with their weapons.
"Merci! You seriously saved me, mon petit monstre!"
"Shut it!" Caria snapped. "If you've got time to squawk, do something! Why else do you still have that crafty head of yours?!"
"Do something now, Mr. Perv," Maria demanded. "We'll all go down
at this rate."
Even though the twins were insulting and making demands of him, he could see the situation flustered them. They could only deflect that last attack because they worked together. It was obvious things would go south fast if Nerim got even a little more serious about her attacks.
"Hrm-dee-hrm-hrmm. Good point…"
Vittorio glanced at Nerim. She was staring off into space then suddenly looked at her journal as if she just remembered to. Mynoghra was able to hold her off because she was this unstable. It was an unspoken request from the twins for him to devise a plan during this moment of weakness.
But was there even a way to reverse the situation? Or was this not even a situation that troubled Vittorio in the first place? Even as things became dire, the Gleeful Spin Doctor held his tongue and did nothing.
"Nerim! Nerim! Stop! Please stop this!"
"Umm, who are you, miss? Hold on a sec, okay…?"
There was yet another person who was flustered and panicked by the rapidly deteriorating situation—Inquisitor Krähe Imlerith. She had been stupefied by the drastic turn of events and the exchange of blows that seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. Though she fell into despair over her dear friend's transformation, she still called out to Nerim, hoping beyond hope to reach her.
Perhaps her words had some effect because Nerim studied her journal a little longer than she had thus far.
"Oooh! Miss Krähe! It says you took good care of me! The person who always looked after me! The person who was kind to me! My favorite person! It says to save you! It says I'll save you no matter the cost! Huh. This page is soaked with tears."
The journal undeniably contained a record of the unspoken feelings of a lost, kind girl. Did Nerim anticipate this outcome? Did she know she would lose herself? Her desperate wish for her future self gave the guileless girl a direction called hope. Or it should have…
"But I wonder why?" Nerim pondered. "You are dyed in evil. Umm, lemme see, I'm supposed to defeat the bad guys, but I'm also supposed to
save Miss Krähe? Huh. Then what should I do?" The worst-case scenario reared its head.
Nerim's recorded wish to save Krähe and her wish to defeat evil conflicted with each other. Two contradictory paths were presented to the directionless girl. Nerim pored over the pages, confused over how to handle the discrepancy.
"I guess…I'll start by defeating everybody but Miss Krähe?" she concluded.
"Nerim!" Krähe cried out to her. "Please listen to me! Your father will be saddened by what you are doing!"
"My father? I have a daddy?! How wonderful! Where is he? Um, um…" Nerim speed-read through the journal. "Huh. It doesn't say anything about a daddy."
Krähe made a fatal mistake. Nerim's journal didn't contain a single entry on her father. She didn't write about him because she held out hope that she would never, ever give up her memories of him. She had the horrible feeling that if she did write about him, she'd lose those memories. That fear made her hesitate to ever record it within the journal. And that was precisely why…Nerim would never know about her father now, no matter how they tried to convince her otherwise.
It was pointless to utter her father's name now, for "The Scribe Saint doesn't have a father." Ironically enough, those were the same words she heard every day from the heartless clergy who tried to eliminate Verdel's influence from Nerim's life when she became a Saint… "N-No, it can't be…" Krähe gasped.
"You tricked me. I knew you were evil. Die."
Nerim ruthlessly tried to smash Krähe's face as she froze in despair.
"You're as badest as him! I keep telling you people not to run your mouths!"
"GHH!"
Caria Elfuur saved her life. She predicted an attack would come and covered for Krähe at the last second. But she couldn't fully block it like she did the last attack on Vittorio. She did the best she could by kicking Krähe's torso, sending the Inquisitor flying backward. Krähe took considerable damage from the hit, but it was better than having her face pulverized.
"Huh. Why do you hurt your friends?" Nerim asked. "Isn't Inquisitor
Imlerith one of you bad guys?"
Caria answered her with silence. Maria was searching for an opening from behind her but wasn't going to take action until she could land a decisive blow. Far behind Caria, Krähe staggered to her feet, clutching her stomach and moaning.
"Hm? …Oh! I get it!" Nerim exclaimed. "Baddies just can't get along! Hehehe. Meanies!"
Nerim stepped forward. Caria clicked her tongue in frustration at her cowardice for taking an instinctive step back from her.
Nerim took another step closer, closing the distance.
"Huh? What was I doing? Weird. Who are you people?"
Nerim lost her memory again, forgetting all about the prior exchange. Did she seek out another Miracle? Or were abnormalities forming in the Miracle system? Whatever the case, the girl who lost her memories as often as she blinked evoked more sympathy than disgust from those who watched her.
"Oh, but before that, I gotta save people!" Nerim declared. "It says saving people is a good deed! What do I get for good deeds, I wonder?
Well, whatever. If the journal says so, it must be so!"
The twins slowly backed away from Nerim. Her timely bout of amnesia saved their lives. Nerim's attention had shifted elsewhere this time. If they were to believe her muttering, then "this" Nerim prioritized saving people.
The curse of Plague and Forget no longer existed in this land with the propagation of faith in Ira. Mynoghra had removed the curse it placed like an arsonist returning to the scene of the crime to put out his own fire. So Nerim claiming she needed to "save" people seemed odd.
"God! O God! Gimme power! Gimme more power! Gimme the power to save people!"
Another aurora enveloped the area. Its light was too bright for the forces of evil. This was true both in the literal sense and in its holy nature that tried to burn the darkness out of them.
The Elfuur Sisters stared at the blinding scene, grimacing. They never took their eyes off Nerim, keeping close watch over what was coming next. Yona'Yona crept up behind them and whispered, "Caria, Maria, we're losing followers of Ira by the second in this city."
They were losing believers in the Cult of Ira. As Lector of the cult, Yona'Yona had a general grasp of the movement and number of followers. Her unique skill informed Yona'Yona that the number of believers in this area was rapidly decreasing.
"Is that her god's Miracle?" Caria asked. "It's too powerful. Cary's Plague has no effect, either. Things don't look good. How do we proceed?"
Caria couldn't know for sure, but she assumed Arlos's Miracle removed the people's belief in Ira and replaced it with his holy teachings again. Caria had seen Vittorio's skills indoctrinate the masses in a similar way. She acknowledged such a thing could happen in any number of ways. That didn't make the situation any more acceptable for Mynoghra's camp.
"Hehehe. This is too much for us to handle. If you don't do something quick, there'll be losses, Mr. Perv. That would be a failure. His Majesty will be disappointed," Maria urged Vittorio to act again. It was her warning for him to do something soon or else. Bringing up their king—bringing up Takuto—was her declaration that they couldn't wait any longer.
It was well-known that Vittorio was a fanatical believer in Takuto Ira. The twins were fully aware that bringing up the king would stop him from acting with as much abandon as he usually did. They had saved this trump card as a countermeasure for when Vittorio went too far. And it seemed to work.
"Well, the time is right, I suppose. Not even moi thought things would get this messy. I'd love to take this chance to up and flee, buuuut…" Vittorio glanced at Nerim. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately—it was hard to say—she met his eyes, her expression blank.
"Huh? Who are you people?"
Her attention shifted to them. She'd lost her memories once again, forgetting all about her desire to save the people a moment ago. Without a purpose, she focused on taking out what was right in front of her.
She snapped the journal shut.
"Umm. Are you the bad guys? Then I gotta defeat you!"
"I'll take her on so you can escape," Vittorio declared, a nervous edge to his voice.
◇◇◇
AT the former headquarters of the Cult of Ira in Amrita, everyone had evacuated, leaving behind only two figures. One spawn of evil was about to meet his end beneath a giant pillar of light.
"Ueegh…"
Covered from head to toe in injuries, Vittorio no longer had any strength left. His limbs were crushed, his body battered and bruised. But his pitch-black eyes gleamed with a fiery blaze as they fixed upon Nerim, his unsettling sneer curling up to cover even more of his face in his pride.
"Phew… I'm tired. This person runs around like a wild rabbit. I was taken by surprise. But it's bye-bye time for you!"
Nerim lifted the journal—the embodiment of the precious records that made her, her—above her head.
Vittorio opened his eyes as wide as they'd go to burn the image into his mind and shouted his final words to the heavens. "O my master, Takuto Ira… I shall die as you ordered me to! Ooh, hear me, great and true God!
My GOD!"
"Goodbye, mister."
A dull thud echoed through the empty churchyard.
That was it. That was where it ended.
All that remained was silence. An eerie silence and nothingness.
After a short while, the young girl looked around her in surprise and began poring over the pages of her mysteriously blood-soaked journal.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 16: Encore
THE Cult of Ira—otherwise known as Mynoghra's forces—had safely escaped Saint Lytrain's attention thanks to Vittorio's sacrifice at the final hour.
"Looks like…no one's on our tail," Yona'Yona said. "That painfully intense light is still hanging over Amrita…"
They lacked the numbers they had started with. Yona'Yona and the Elfuur Sisters had escaped together, but they had overwhelmingly fewer followers in tow. It's not that they failed to escape in time. Judging by the fact Yona'Yona recognized most of the followers they still had with them, it seemed the people they brought to Amrita were unaffected. All the new believers they'd obtained in this city had reverted to their original alignment.
"Did she let us go? Or did she just not care…?" Yona'Yona muttered, staring absently in the direction of the city, her exhaustion weighing heavily on her features. Pillars of light rose from the city center, indicating the Saint was still shooting off Miracles left and right from that same spot.
"The latter, I'd say," Maria answered. "I'm positive saving people came first in the list of priorities recorded in that journal."
"She didn't seem to know her left from right anymore," Caria added. "Better for us."
Even the Elfuur Sisters seemed tired. The unobstructed moon hanging in the sky gave them power again, but the mental strain of fighting under extreme duress zapped their usual energy. That said, they should be safe now that they'd made it this far…as long as nothing came at them out of left field. All that was left for them to do was retreat to their own territory under the cover of night, and that was a forte of these girls who belonged to the darkness.
"So? What'll you do now?"
Now that things had settled enough for them to move on to the next stage of action, Yona'Yona decided to take care of one small problem. Her gaze and question were aimed at Inquisitor Krähe Imlerith. The Elfuur Sisters had scooped her up while she stood there in shock and escaped this far with her. Perhaps it'd be better to call her FORMER Inquisitor. After all, she had willingly forsaken the god she believed in.
"As Nerim's humble servant I… I don't know what I should do anymore. Who in the world do I look to? I just don't know…" she whispered.
"Mm…" Yona'Yona mulled it over a moment. "Well, it's important to stop and take a break when things get too tough to figure out! Not to brag, but we're experts at that. In any case, ya can't return to your homeland anymore, right? Then come with us." She cheerfully patted Krähe on the back.
Some of the hardest crossroads we come to in life don't always have an immediate answer. It'd be cruel to ask her to decide her stance and future goals right here and now. What she needed most was rest. A hot drink and a place to lay her head. Once she rested enough to relieve her mental and physical fatigue, she could finally turn her attention to the future.
Yona'Yona's own experience and the experiences of the people she'd shepherded until now helped her give Krähe the best possible advice for her situation. Yona'Yona's position as Lector wasn't just for show. She had the qualifications to serve as one.
Besides, Krähe had pledged allegiance to the great and mighty King Takuto Ira. Going as far as forsaking her own holy god to do so. Yona'Yona couldn't imagine her great God not sympathizing with Krähe's suffering. Evil gods, unlike holy gods, always save the suffering after all…
"It's hard to believe…" Yona'Yona muttered, her gaze softening as Krähe silently nodded and began walking with them.
The long-eared Dark Elf sisters overheard her quiet utterance and instantly understood what she was referring to. Their thoughts turned to the annoying man they had tried to put out of their minds.
"He died," Maria supplied.
"Extinguished faster than a candle," Caria added.
Vittorio staying behind until they could escape meant he protected them at the cost of his own life. There was a slim chance he was still alive since they hadn't confirmed his death with their own eyes, but it seemed unlikely considering the powerful Saint he was up against.
Vittorio was not a combat unit. Anyone who had spent any amount of time with him came to understand as much. They would be lying if they said they didn't think it possible for that supernatural genius of his to come up with an ingenious escape plan at the last second. But those hopes were dashed when Yona'Yona and the Elfuur Sisters sensed the last remaining dark aura in the city get completely extinguished.
"Damn you, Archlector Idiot. You don't get to go and croak on me like that after all you've done to screw around with me and our plans…" Yona'Yona cursed, loneliness creeping into her voice.
The Elfuur Sisters didn't respond. They realized there was a unique relationship between Yona'Yona and Vittorio that they could never fully understand. Empty platitudes often become a thorn in the side of those who are already grieving. The twins had tasted the bitter sadness of loss, so they understood more than most that silence is the greatest kindness sometimes.
"You ruined my plans to put you through the wringer, beat the crap outta you, and say thank you…"
A cold wind blew between them. The biting night breeze rapidly stole their heat. As the heat powering them forward chilled, loneliness filled their hearts, as if they had lost something important to them.
"Let's return to Seldoch first," Caria said.
"We'll consult His Majesty about what to do there," Maria said.
At the twins' command, their ragtag group began their slow march toward Seldoch. They were used to moving at night. As long as no one came after them, they wouldn't run into any trouble on the journey to Seldoch—a city they controlled to the south.
But the situation was far from good. They might even be forced to abandon Seldoch depending on what came next. It would be a shame to let go of one of the most prominent cities in the Southern Province after they went through all the effort to conquer it, but fleeing was the only way to handle the berserker Scribe Saint. The rest would depend on what King Takuto Ira decided.
After all, the master schemer they had come to rely on in their own weird way was no more…
Yona'Yona turned around and took one last look at Amrita as though to burn its scenery into her memories.
"…This sucks."
Her muttered words disappeared with the night breeze. No one said anything in response.
◇◇◇
"THE drama acted out by foolish mortals burns brighter and more beautifully than any other. The greater their desire for peace, the more endearing their lamentations when it just slips through their fingers like water," the schemester soliloquized.
The man who should've died was alive and giving a soliloquy.
"Aaah, what a tragedy. I truly showed that pitiful young lady mercy. Just like how my god gave me the hope to live. Pure, unadulterated happiness should have awaited her at the end of making the right choice!" The man threw his arms open wide.
"Alack! Alas! Why do mortals always make the wrong choice?! And why do I so revel in their unhappiness?! My greatest lament is that I don't have a bag of piping hot and buttery POPcorn on hand!"
BAM! He struck a pose and flashed a disingenuous smile. The lights flicked on, illuminating the area, making it clear where he was. Familiar wooden floors and walls boxed him in with various furniture of warped and curious design.
A familiar figure sat upon the throne, another figure standing right beside him.
"The prayers have been fulfilled and the time of celebration has come. I was originally planning to draw out the Mystic Saint, renowned as the strongest Saint of them all, but lo and behold, mon petit Scribe Saint stepped up to bat, saving moi the trouble!" he proclaimed.
"The appearance of a powerful foe that not even mon petit monstres with Hero powers could oppose! To think, o to think, everything played out exactly as moi wanted! With this, all of your plans have been stopped and sealed, my liege!" Vittorio announced, twirling around like a court jester having the time of his life. He sounded so gleeful as he alluded that everything had gone according to his plans. That his master had lost.
"Wouldn't you agree?" he declared his victory to the man sitting on the throne. "Great God Takuto Ira!"
<-x-X-x->
VITTORIO, who died while serving as the rearguard for the Cult of Ira, returned to the Accursed Lands earlier than the rest with one of his skills. Now he was declaring his victory over his master in the happiest of moods.
This was why Vittorio was considered one of the most troublesome Hero Units in Eternal Nations. Once he was summoned into the world, it was extremely difficult to remove him from the game. Even if he was defeated, he would revive back at base and resume his activities as if nothing had happened. This was the huge bonus he got for not having any combat abilities. It was no wonder many Eternal Nations' players were frustrated by the negative impact he had on the game world.
Incidentally, he was the sole Hero who would remain in the game even after Mynoghra—the summoning empire—was defeated. Considering he carried the risk of disrupting the balance of the game from the moment he appeared, it was easy to imagine how much players despised him.
"The Great God Takuto Ira.
It is a calamity that destroys the world. The harbinger of death and terror.
It is a raging inferno. A ruthless blizzard and explosive thunderstorm.
It is blood and blade. Screams and death throes.
It is the sun that illuminates the world and envelops it in darkness.
It has infinite wisdom and infinite authority.
It has eternal life and an eternal body, and it cannot be harmed by metal, hard objects, soft objects, ham, spam, the Six Elements, mistletoe, or anything else conceivable.
It is the beginning and the end. Complete and nothingness.
Praise the Great God."
Takuto didn't let the Gleeful Spin Doctor's triumphant victory speech throw him off. He had the Cult of Ira's scripture in hand and read out loud the passage on their God—in other words, the part that mentioned Takuto himself.
"I see what you did," Takuto said thoughtfully. "You added to the 'Passage on the King of Ruin' recorded in The Ancient Saints' Book of
Oracles to make me a more complete existence."
"Mwahahaha," Vittorio cackled proudly in return.
The content change was arrogant to say the least. There was nothing particularly strange about the parts detailing the kind of person Takuto Ira was. But there were large discrepancies in the details about his powers. Powers and abilities the real Takuto didn't possess lined the page one after the other, sprinkling elements throughout to further deify the being known as Takuto.
It's common for there to be a discrepancy between reality and what's written in a book. Exaggerations are more or less expected when it comes to things meant to amplify religious beliefs or promote the status of a specific person. However, anyone who knew Takuto personally understood how strange this passage about him was. And making up this content was exactly what Vittorio had set out to do.
"Redefining Takuto Ira, taking advantage of the fact that I am the Nameless Evil God. You went all in, didn't you?"
Vittorio swept into a deep bow, his eyes gleaming and lips curled into a wicked grin. Vittorio's ideal image of Takuto Ira was recorded in the Cult's scripture.
"Is this why idolatry was prohibited, so they wouldn't mistake the object of worship?" Takuto mused. "In order to ensure the new definition of godhood was correctly applied to me, you had to make sure the god worshipped by the Cult of Ira and I were one and the same. No wonder you were against the introduction of unnecessary concepts and interpretations. I can understand why you didn't suggest the Dark Elves, the people living in the Accursed Lands, and Mayor Antelise to join the Cult of Ira. Mad props to you for earning their contempt with your antics and annoying behavior to get them to decide anything you come up with isn't worth considering."
Vittorio's eyes widened ever so slightly at Takuto's expert breakdown of his schemes. He was a tad surprised Takuto had seen through that much. But there was no undoing what had been done after reaching this point. The victor's confidence made the jester extra talkative.
"The Nameless Evil God's powers are extremely dangerous," Vittorio said. "They are the very reason why you lost consciousness, my god. Simply put, the act of imitating all beings means altering oneself. It's nothing more than a foolish strategy that dilutes the very essence of you as Takuto Ira."
"The ability to be everyone and no one. You mean to imply it's a contradiction for such an ambiguous being to call itself the individual Takuto Ira, yes?" Takuto concluded.
"Precisely! But, be that as it maaaay, you can win big if you handle it with care! If you're an ambiguous being, then just take the ambiguity out of it! The lack of any kind of setting or backstory for the Nameless Evil God makes that possible!"
Namelessness means something is indefinable. Something indefinable can be named whatever someone wants. It can be defined how they want. And so, Vittorio came up with the irreverent plan to redefine Takuto while reviving him. Of course, the question remained if redefining the Nameless Evil God would bring about the birth of a new god. But that question had already been addressed. Vittorio's theory was proven correct when Takuto regained consciousness not long after establishing the Cult of Ira.
"So, going by what this trickster says, King Takuto's memory loss wasn't due to losing his power? But because his existence became too vague… Am I following this right?" Atou asked, breaking her silent observation.
"That's one way to think of it," Takuto said, vaguely answering Atou's question.
Atou couldn't keep up with their highbrow psychological warfare anymore. She helplessly watched things unfold. While she trusted her master's genius, a piece of her still fretted over what she should do if things took a turn for the worse.
"That's why Vittorio created the Cult of Ira and emblazoned my existence into its scripture," Takuto continued. "All in order to give a fixed definition to the being known as Takuto Ira, the king of Mynoghra and the god of the Cult of Ira, through the power of recognition by its many believers. Essentially, he was giving a name to the nameless god. The redefining of a god."
It was the redefinition of Takuto Ira using the abilities of the Nameless Evil God. Vittorio's plan had undeniably paid off in spades.
"And…" Takuto paused dramatically, "that god is the real Takuto Ira. Not me."
Takuto glanced at the passage deifying him. There was one fatally glaring sentence contained within it.
"'The Great God Takuto Ira counts Gleeful Spin Doctor Vittorio as his number one subordinate,'" Takuto read off. "…I can't believe you were serious about the whole adorably cute and clumsy bunny girl thing…"
"A Great God needs an equally great companion, obviously. Perfect in every way, adorable from head to toe, obedient and submissive, and with the biggest bazongas in the world! Why, with my skills, it would be a piece of cake for me to change my sex! Let me become your ideal bride right here and now, my god!"
"Please don't decide my preferences without my input and declare yourself my bride…" Takuto's face crinkled up in exasperation.
But he understood just how serious Vittorio was. His dark eyes blazed with the fanaticism to do it. The people of Mynoghra possessed the Fanatic trait, and they tended to turn their fanatical beliefs toward Takuto. But Vittorio's fanaticism for Takuto was on an entirely different level that blew everyone else away.
"That said, I can understand you trying to boost your own standing, but I find it unfathomable for you to try and change me to fit your ideals," Takuto said. "Your trust in me should make you reluctant to even consider it…"
Takuto understood Vittorio's fanaticism, and it's because he understood him that this particular action didn't make sense. If Vittorio had acknowledged Takuto as his true master, he'd never have done anything as arrogant as to try to alter or redefine him.
What made him act out of character? Takuto wanted to know the answer to that question.
The answer was something Takuto never expected.
"It's your fault," Vittorio accused.
"Mine?" Takuto asked.
"It's impossible for the Takuto Ira I adore to be like this," Vittorio gestured to Takuto. "The Takuto Ira I love and adore is even greater, more amazing, overflowing with intelligence, and filled to the brim with malice galore!"
Takuto furrowed his brow. He finally understood the root of his problem.
"Takuto Ira isn't an unenterprising weakling who'd be flirting away the days with this sludge for tits girlie! He's no namby-pamby who'd care about the feeble Dark Fae! He's not an indecisive thinker who'd fall a step behind his enemies and lose one of his Heroes!"
Atou bristled with anger at Vittorio's assertions and was about to lash out at him when Takuto lifted his hand to still her. He wanted to hear Vittorio's infuriated soliloquy out to the very end.
"Your Vittorio understands better than anyone else how wonderful you are! The infinite wisdom and power you possess! You're an even more amazing person than this! You're not someone who should be shooting the breeze here!"
Vittorio was dissatisfied. Dissatisfied his master lost to an enemy. Dissatisfied the master he chose had made a disappointment of himself. He'd never abandon his master. He didn't possess such debased thoughts. And that was exactly why he elevated his master as high as he wanted him to be.
"Therefore! I shall manifest the true Takuto Ira! I am the one who knows Takuto Ira the best! The one who loves Takuto Ira more than anyone in this world! And that's why…"
Vittorio was unquestionably Takuto Ira's subordinate. His loyalty and devotion would never waver.
"I shall arrange everything for you, my master! Status, power, subordinates, enemies, everything, all of it—I, your Vittorio, shall prepare for you!"
This was the celebration Vittorio had been alluding to all along. A pious ritual to make all the mistakes and disgraces a thing of the past and allow the true Takuto Ira to descend upon this world. A blessed first step to spread Mynoghra in its truest state across the land.
"Heed me, Great Player, Takuto Ira! Let us go back to those good old days and set out to conquer the world together! Please hear my plea! That is all your Vittorio could ever waaaaaant!" Vittorio declared loudly. He envisioned the glorious prosperity of Mynoghra and the glorious future with his master as if it were about to be made true.
"Yeah, I like that. Sounds real good. But I reject your proposal."
"…Wha?" Vittorio squawked in response to Takuto's refusal. He didn't understand what his master was saying. Well, he understood the words, but couldn't comprehend why in the worlds he'd say such a thing.
"But wow. Now that's the Vittorio I know and love. I'm really happy you told me how you feel," Takuto said.
"Why…?"
The most foolish thing a schemer can do is ask "Why." The act of seeking an answer to a situation that one cannot understand, rather than trying to deceive the other person, is the same as admitting one's defeat. Vittorio, of course, understood this. He understood and asked why anyways.
"Oh? Did you think I'd say yes? Well, I suppose it's true this scripture defines Vittorio as my most trusted subordinate. It says his advice is all I listen to. Greedy, aren't'cha?" Takuto added, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
Takuto was right. This was also why Vittorio was filled with such confidence he spouted his whole evil scheme right in front of him like a two-bit villain.
As far as he understood it, Takuto had regained consciousness through the power of recognition brought into existence by the followers of the Cult of Ira that Vittorio had founded. That could only mean that the cult's scripture had the intended effect on the Nameless Evil God, which should also lead to Takuto accepting anything Vittorio said as his number one subordinate.
And that wasn't all. Vittorio had laid the groundwork for several other strategies. He greatly increased the national power of Mynoghra by preparing a huge second domestic force under the banner of the Cult of Ira, and he also provided a means of control that was not bound by the state, called religion. And in hindsight, he'd prepared a powerful foe in the form of the Scribe Saint, crafting a scenario the current Takuto couldn't deal with in terms of military strength.
Rejecting the existence of the strongest and invincible Takuto Ira depicted in the cult's scripture didn't make sense from a logical standpoint either. It shouldn't have even been possible for Takuto Ira to refuse his most dependable and number one subordinate's plan. The scripture removed his ability to do so.
Something…is terribly wrong. Vittorio's eyes swam. An impossible notion plagued him—the notion his own ingenious schemes were crumbling from their very foundation.
"I had a feeling something was off from the start. I've always loved how you conduct yourself, but I sensed you were holding back. Just as you had misgivings about my abilities, I harbored the same misgivings about your actions," Takuto said, sounding like he saw right through Vittorio's schemes.
But how could he? From the moment he awoke, he was continually transforming into Vittorio's ideal Takuto Ira. How could a Takuto Ira, who counted the Gleeful Spin Doctor as his closest confidant, think like this?
Wasn't Sludge Atou absent from their last audience because he'd usurped her position? Hadn't Takuto sent her away to make it known to all within and without these walls that Vittorio was his new confidant?
"Well, I won't deny I had a lot of bum strategies and failed a few times because I underestimated the situation," Takuto continued. He spoke with such casual ease that it seemed as though he were making light of Vittorio's confusion. He spoke with the lightheartedness of someone catching up with an old friend on life. "I knew I disappointed you with that. So, I worked in my own countermeasures."
This doesn't make sense. It's not right. Something's going horribly wrong. Vittorio wracked his brain as he reflected on his actions until this point. But he couldn't find any mistakes or failures within. At what point did Takuto find out about his plans and employ countermeasures? Awash in feelings of amazement, shock, and a strange sense of elation, Vittorio awaited his master's next words.
"Last we met, you said everything needs a second plan. Remember?" Takuto asked.
"Y-Yes, of course. I'd never forget," Vittorio replied.
A second plan—an alternative method or backup option. Unexpected factors can occur in every operation. It's a habit of tacticians to devise various countermeasures for when this happens.
Vittorio had prepared Lector Yona'Yona for this purpose. From the start, Yona'Yona's purpose was to control the Cult of Ira if Vittorio was immobilized by one problem or another. In that sense, she was a Lector in the truest sense. But Takuto wasn't referring to Yona'Yona. He was talking about the need to prepare for the unexpected in advance.
"I see. Glad to hear it," he said. "Then this should be enough for you to figure it out."
Takuto's form blurred before his eyes. In his place appeared a deformed baby—Takuto's powerful subordinate with the Mimic skill.
"It's true that this problem occurred from me using too much of the Nameless Evil God's power as Takuto Ira. I must applaud you for your magnificent plan. But it's not like I didn't think about how to deal with this problem. I did take precautions," Takuto's words spilled from the baby's mouth.
A specific skill was needed to see through Mimic. Vittorio had a similar skill, but perception was outside of his realm of expertise. It'd be a lie to say it was an entirely unexpected move, but…Vittorio couldn't see the point of it.
"B-Botchling!!" Vittorio cried. "Were you acting with Imitation and Telepathy? But why?! It can't be…!"
Vittorio thought back to his last audience with Takuto. What did he say to him then? Was he speaking to the real Takuto Ira that time? What if he had sworn allegiance to the deformed baby monster mimicking Takuto and curried favor with it instead? But if he had…the rest of his schemes would fall apart.
All his strict teachings forbidding idolatry. It was absolute doctrine that one should not worship anyone other than Takuto Ira. If they did, then their recognition of him as god would disperse and give way to interpretation.
And I made that mistake! I worshipped the wrong being! Me, none other than the Archlector and founder of the Cult of Ira!
"Y-You deceived me?" Vittorio cried.
Takuto chuckled in response.
Vittorio didn't know where the real Takuto was, but he was undoubtedly observing the whole situation from somewhere. He'd heard Takuto hadn't taken back his Commander authority, but that was a baldfaced lie.
He played me. I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker!
"A battle of wits with you is always so exhilarating. How nostalgic. I remember how every time I guessed your schemes, I'd clap and cheer," Takuto said, sounding truly nostalgic.
Their positions had flipped. Now Vittorio's plans had been sealed and Takuto's victory was assured. There was almost no way for the Gleeful Spin Doctor to spin his way out of this one. He had no idea what his opponent's hand was. Vittorio wasn't so naïve as to think he could recover at this stage.
"But!" he shouted. "I still can't accept it! You should have been affected by my redefinition! If not, you'd still be unconscious! You couldn't have plotted against me! I! AM! YOUR ONE AND ONLY TRUSTED
CONFIDANT!"
"You were right in guessing that my loss of consciousness stemmed from my abilities as the Nameless Evil God," Takuto replied. "You're not wrong to think that is as much a part of me as being the King of Ruin and Mynoghra's Commander is. Your one mistake was not realizing that applies only to Takuto Ira, not Takuto Ira."
Vittorio gasped. He likely just figured out what was going on. But it was a humiliating blow. If Takuto was telling the truth, then Vittorio had been dancing all by his lonesome from the beginning when he thought he was tangoing…
"I assume you've already started to grasp the bigger picture by now.
Grasped that this world has a multilayered structure," Takuto said.
Vittorio slowly nodded.
Vittorio roughly understood there was a certain kind of wall those who existed in this world could never overcome. For example, beings that originally existed in the world, such as the Dark Elves, could generally be defined as being on a par with, or inferior to, beings like NPCs in games. On the contrary, reincarnated people such as Players were higher-ranking beings, and the Gods who summoned them to this world were even higherranking. Although there was no definitive division or difference in appearance between them, it was possible to distinguish them by their overwhelming difference in power.
"Takuto Ira is nothing more than a character in Eternal Nations. And is a part of Takuto Ira, a higher being," Takuto explained.
The Nameless Evil God was just one facet of Takuto Ira, the world's best Eternal Nations' player. Just as a chess piece can't attack the hand that moves it, it is extremely difficult for lower-level entities to directly influence higher-level entities. Even if the entity known as Takuto Ira disappears, the person known as Takuto Ira won't. Especially when it
comes to matters of existence and spirituality… Such is the law of this world.
"Ultimately, even if Takuto Ira lost his personality to the power of the Nameless Evil God from the start, it didn't affect me."
Since the day Takuto Ira reincarnated into this world, he had always acted as an Eternal Nations' Player, making him Mynoghra's Commander, the King of Ruin, and the Nameless Evil God. But his true nature was always that of Takuto Ira—the gamer boy who conquered many campaigns with his absolute favorite characters and died well before his time. That was who Takuto was as a person—his unwavering true nature.
"But you see…I think I might've been playing the Commander a little too long," Takuto said. "I should've been more self-aware."
Takuto's loss of self actually had to do with getting too into his roleplaying. He self-inserted so much into the game, he ended up confusing himself with the game character. Just as some people can have seizures when watching certain movies, Player Takuto was influenced by the concept of the character Takuto Ira and temporarily got pulled into the nature of the Nameless Evil God.
Fortunately, Takuto had anticipated something like that might happen and had a solution.
"The solution was having the girl I trust the most in the world, who came to learn all about me through thousands of campaigns, keep telling me about her memories with Takuto Ira, reminding me of who I am. Simple, right?"
He had Atou with him. By Atou regaling him with their memories while he was bedridden, he awakened to his true nature and broke free from the spell that was Takuto Ira. It was almost like he was the princess and she was the prince coming to awaken him from his fairy-tale slumber. This made it possible for him to recover as fast as he'd predicted.
He knew that Atou would act according to his predictions, because he would have done the same for her. Takuto's revival had nothing to do with Vittorio's schemes. It was just that the timing had perfectly coincided with what was actually due to Atou's devotion.
Takuto would save Atou from any predicament, just as she would save him from any predicament. It was far too embarrassing to say aloud, but immeasurable trust existed between them.
"Those who have intelligence that surpasses all others, manipulate and ridicule everything in their wake. But that also just goes to show they have never been deceived before."
The sound of light footsteps scuffing the wood floor filled the room. The door creaked open, and someone entered, but Vittorio was in such shock that he didn't have the energy to turn around.
"Those are the type who tend to get tripped up in the most unlikely of places. Their self-confidence that they'll never be the one fooled turns into the very arrogance that sees them killed."
Could this situation even be defined with arrogance? Vittorio's defeat was decided from the beginning. The groundwork was already laid before Vittorio was even summoned, and it was completed to perfection. It would be impossible for Vittorio to turn things around. Just as the past can't be changed, there was no room for him to interfere with an already completed revival.
"Why don't I just put it in terms you can understand?" A voice came from directly behind Vittorio.
Aaah, this is it. This is the voice. His voice.
It was the voice of the only person who could control Vittorio and make him dance in the palm of his hand. The voice of the person who had amassed all sorts of knowledge and used his ingenuity to control the Gleeful Spin Doctor who made a mockery of the world.
"From the very beginning, everything was set to be resolved as long as I had Atou."
A hand rested on Vittorio's shoulder. Tears poured down the jester's face.
.
---------------------->
.
He was happier than could be to see the master he'd been waiting for, to know the master he believed in was as great of an entity as he'd always imagined.
Aaah, hurry up. Hurry up and say it!
Let me taste the sweet humiliation of defeat!
"You were always my second plan, Vittorio. Looks like you never got your shot."
Takuto moved around in front of Vittorio and looked him in the eyes. His gentle words were more precious than gold.
They were the first words Vittorio had heard face-to-face with his true master.
The taste of defeat drove Vittorio into greater madness, greater fanaticism.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 17: Flux
THE King of Ruin defeated the Gleeful Spin Doctor. There wasn't even a contest between them from the start. Takuto had predicted what would happen and had taken the appropriate countermeasures long before Atou summoned Vittorio. It didn't matter whether Atou reminded Takuto of who he was or if she'd panicked and gone straight to Vittorio for help—however the dice fell, Takuto's victory was assured.
It was a plain and simple fact that Takuto Ira utilized Vittorio the best in Eternal Nations.
"K-King Takutooooooo!!"
Atou broke out of statue mode, dashed over to Takuto, and threw herself on him. Takuto was taken by surprise, but remained calm—a sign of his growth, perhaps?
"I-I'm impressed beyond impressed!"
Contrary to Takuto's inner turmoil, Atou was a ball of excitement. Takuto had brilliantly trounced Vittorio. In addition to the sweet exhilaration of seeing her spiteful rival get served, learning that Takuto always chose her first brought her to peak bliss.
"Goshwowboyoboy! You're the best, King Takuto! To think you would so spectacularly see through Vittorio's schemes like this! I'm moved!"
Meanwhile, Takuto was as stiff as a board as Atou wrapped her arms around him. He'd successfully put on a calm front, but that was the extent of what Takuto could handle. He had no insightful words, he merely let his precious, overly excited confidant have her way with him.
"But why didn't you tell me anything?" she asked. "I… I was seriously concerned I might lose you for good, King Takuto!"
"Uh, I actually did tell you. You just didn't catch on, Atou," Takuto replied.
"…KING TAKUTOOOOOO!!"
Did that do the trick…? Takuto sweated nervously as she tightened her arms around him. Takuto had indeed informed Atou about his plan in its early stages. He didn't want her to worry too much and thought her knowing would earn her cooperation without her going berserk over a dumb misunderstanding. But judging by her reaction, she didn't understand his explanation.
Atou was never designed to be a scheming Hero, nor did she have a reason to deal with background machinations, so he couldn't fault her there. But Takuto was a little bothered she didn't try harder to understand what he told her. The sentiment was lost on the person in question, however. Not only did her beloved master take her back from their enemies, but he'd also resolved all the trouble that followed like it was a cinch. She couldn't help but be on cloud nine. Although he could do with a little less over-excited squeezing…
"Mwa! HA! HA! Now it's been made clear. King Takuto's confidant is me, as it should be! A small-time prankster like you can't worm his way in between me and King Takuto, Vittorio!" Atou declared her triumph.
It was questionable what she even did, but she seemed to feel the need to boast about her victory over him. Emboldened by the childish desire of not wanting him to steal away the master she adored, Atou confronted Vittorio with the reality that there was no room for him to steal her thunder.
As for the Spinful Glee Doctor who'd suffered an overwhelming defeat…
"Eargghh!"
He let out an ear-piercing cry and started rolling around on the ground.
"Uhh…"
Takuto and Atou were both surprised by his sudden, strange behavior. Vittorio screamed even louder when he saw how they reacted to him, hugging each other and looking dumbfounded like an adorable married couple.
"What is this sudden bout of two-timing I'm being made to witness before my very eyes! My brain is gonna rupturrrrre!"
"It's not two-timing when we were never in a relationship to start with…" Takuto said dryly.
"Know your place! Know it!"
In Vittorio's mind, his beloved master had just been whisked away by some bratty girl who came out of nowhere to seduce him! Takuto and Atou refuted him with all their might, but he wouldn't be known as the Gleeful Spin Doctor if he just rolled over and accepted their words. Vittorio continued shouting in resentment at them, trying to drive home just how much two-timing can break a person's heart. Obviously, they let it go in one ear and out the other.
"U-Um, Atou," Takuto said bashfully. "Er…you're kinda close."
"Oh! I-I'm sorry! I couldn't help myself when I learned how much you think of me, King Takuto…" she responded shyly.
"Y-Yeah. Thanks again. Um…I made a quick comeback because you cared for me the whole time."
"O-Of course, I care for you deeply…" "U-Um…" Takuto fidgeted.
"Wah! No! Forget I said that! That didn't just happen, King Takuto!"
They seemed to finally realize they were hugging each other close because they had pulled apart, their faces cherry red. Vittorio had already been ousted from their little world.
Let's just ignore Vittorio, because he never stops talking, both Takuto and Atou had come to the same conclusion, and it was the right decision. Naturally the pathetic Hero who'd come in second best was fuming mad.
"Damn you! Stop acting out a bittersweet romantic comedy about two middle schoolers who just started dating!" Vittorio raved. "Is this how you repay me for all the blood, sweat, and tears I poured into this operation?!"
"W-We look like we're d-dating?! Oh my dark heavens! King Takuto and I do get along exceptionally well! Our happy ending was decided from the beginning! You should know your place as the Second Plan and devote yourself to Mynoghra somewhere I can't see you! Am I right, King
Takuto?!"
"Y-Yeah, Atou."
"Ehehe!"
Atou was a natural airhead. She overflowed with feelings for Takuto, and although she was just expressing her sincere affection for him, it really grated on Vittorio's nerves. Vittorio rarely showed his true anger, but something about this really pissed him off. In that sense, Atou and Vittorio were doomed to be eternal rivals who got along like cats and dogs. The saying they go together like water and oil fit them perfectly.
"Are you pretending to be the canon heroine?!" Vittorio thundered. "Our race to be picked as the best waifu isn't over yet!"
"Heck no. Why do you even think you can compete in the heroine race in the first place?" Atou challenged. "Not happening!"
"Shuuuuuuuuuuuuut up!! I'm never giving up, Great God Takuto Ira! Someday I'll kick that flowers-for-brains, lovesick girl from her high horse and secure my position as God's cute and clumsy bunny girl spouse!" "Oh god…you haven't given that up yet?" Takuto groaned.
If Vittorio had pulled off his plans, the most invincible Takuto Ira would have burst onto the scene to conquer the world with Vittorio, a cute and clumsy bunny girl, as his beloved subordinate and spouse about now. Takuto had no doubt Vittorio would use every means at his disposal to transform into the ultimate spouse, but with the core person being Vittorio, he felt nothing but guttural repulsion at the idea. He was positive that Atou would've been expelled from the Palace in that alternate world and doomed to beg on the streets. Takuto couldn't imagine a worse reality.
I am so glad I crushed his plans. Takuto shuddered.
"Moi won't give up! As long as you don't give up, your dreams will come true! Never give up! Ne jamais baisser les bras!" Vittorio shouted.
"GIVE UP!" Atou shouted back at him. "You have no chance! King
Takuto and I won the day! The race is up! Game, set, match!" The two Heroes noisily bickered about the most ridiculous thing.
In any case, the current set of problems was finally settled. Takuto had shown Vittorio his true status as ruler and had regained his powers. He had Atou at his side, and Mynoghra's empire management was getting back on track, although there were a lot of things that needed to be tweaked. Vittorio's antics resulted in the forces of good becoming even more powerful, but that was an inevitable accident. To Takuto, the higher the difficulty level, the more rewarding the win. He'd obtained an amusing religious body in the Cult of Ira as a result, and that would likely increase the things he had to do.
Takuto hadn't forgotten his objective. His goal of obtaining an Ascension Victory and regaining everything he had lost forced him to move forward without growing arrogant or complacent.
"Well…I'm glad Vittorio is here," Takuto said. "Continue to lend me that wicked wisdom of yours. And have fun…in moderation."
"Mmmm-hmmm! Of course! Naturally! Aye, aye, sir! Gleeful Spin Doctor Vittorio will devote everything moi has to you and only you! As I always have and alwaaaaays will!"
With that, the curtain safely closed on this particular problem.
Through his returned Commander authority, Takuto was aware of the battle that took place in Amrita and the status of the Cult of Ira followers who'd retreated to Seldoch. He needed to reorganize the troops, call back the Elfuur Sisters, and give Yona'Yona new orders, but they had expanded Mynoghra's territory, getting excellent results all things considered. Granted, the sudden increase in territories under Mynoghra's control would bury everyone under mountains of paperwork, but that was a fate they couldn't escape.
Now that I think about it, it's been a long time since I last had the chance to sit down and calmly plot out my next strategy. Takuto couldn't wait to think about the next strategy including Vittorio.
"Without further ado, I'll get started right away on the next stra—"
Vittorio wasn't the type to listen, so he needed to be put in his place when push came to shove.
"Before you do that, explain yourself to the others," Takuto warned the Gleeful Spin Doctor, who was right back to his nefarious scheming a second after announcing his loyalty.
"What others?" Vittorio asked.
"Yona'Yona and the Elfuur Sisters," Takuto replied.
"…Oh, crap."
Vittorio had completely forgotten about them. Or maybe he just didn't care. He had faked his death to escape from the Scribe Saint. To make matters worse, he let everyone think he really died and never informed them about his ability to revive or his safe return. Takuto didn't know how the girls felt about Vittorio, but judging from how he'd seen them behave, he assumed Vittorio was in for some serious punishment.
"You reap what you sow, Vittorio. Be prepared for a thorough beating. You can't die, so it doesn't matter what they do to you," Takuto flashed a wicked grin, ordering his Hero to accept punishment.
He's caused those around him so much misery, he should just take his punishment like a man. He deserves it.
Just as this conversation between master and servant was drawing to a close—
"Ah, ah. Hello? Anybody there? Can you hear me?"
The three of them gasped.
A loud voice echoed as if it was reverberating throughout the world. The trio immediately entered battle positions and scanned their surroundings for the source of the voice. Atou detected the presence and source of the sound first.
"King Takuto! Outside!"
They rushed outside. All three of them had severe expressions, but the unexpected was commonplace in this world. Victory was a pipe dream if they let something like this throw them off balance. They were surprised, but not shaken. However…
"Good day to all the lovelies residing in Idoragya. It's everybody's favorite naughty jack-off material, Hottie Succubus Vagia ♡!"
Seeing the giant, half-naked nympho projected in the sky toppled that premise.
"What's the deal with this harlot…?"
Takuto couldn't help agreeing with Atou's exasperated question. The woman's body was so big it seemed like she would pierce the heavens. Seeing as they could blurrily make out the scenery behind her, she was probably an illusion created by some spell or magitech. It reminded Takuto of a performance you might occasionally see by a villain in manga and games, but even he was thrown for a loop when the projection was of a hot, voluptuous woman who was bad for the heart.
.
----------------------->
.
"El-Nah's Witch?" he guessed. "She's gone from doing nothing to pulling a big stunt, huh?"
She wasn't looking directly at them, meaning this projection wasn't intended only for Mynoghra. It was likely being projected to everyone on the continent. What she said next practically confirmed it.
"I'm making a proposal to all the Players, organizations, and nations in this world, tehe♡! I'm sure you all have your own thoughts, but fighting without getting to know each other is pure nonsense! Why don't we call a truce and talk it out all friendly like? Witch Vagia here has prepared the stage for just that, ehe ♡!"
Takuto had already defeated the Player behind the tabletop RPG forces. The conflict between them had been abrupt and the results were mediocre at best. Although Mynoghra was after world conquest, the goals of the TRPG forces had been a mystery, and the same could be said for ElNah and the Witch who dominated them. Just because Mynoghra wasn't going to change its goals didn't mean it was a bad idea to learn what their opponents wanted.
Especially since this world had gods summoning them there. It was an intriguing proposal from the perspective of trying to understand their intentions, too.
"I'll be sending a messenger to each group later! Now then, in the name of the God of Excess's apostle, Witch Vagia, I look forward to seeing each of you in attendance, darlings~♡!"
She said everything she had to say and vanished. Sending messengers meant she had information on everyone.
El-Nah's Witch. Mynoghra had barely any information on the Succubi army and Witch Vagia. While they had their hands full with Qualia and Lenea, they had fallen a step behind on the information-gathering front.
"King Takuto, what's the meaning of this…?" Atou asked, confused. She was awash with the unspoken displeasure of having to deal with more trouble just when they thought things had finally calmed down.
Takuto wholeheartedly agreed with her feelings there. He felt like his plans to strengthen the border with Qualia and turtle up to increase national power had been dashed. But the world wouldn't wait once it took its turn.
"Hmm…" he hummed in response.
"Looks like things are finally moving," Vittorio said, equally exasperated. He loved everything flashy, but he must've had his qualms with Witch Vagia's over the top performance.
Takuto hoped he wouldn't develop a strange sense of rivalry with the Witch, but he was painfully aware nothing went as he hoped with Vittorio— and that the flux of fate wouldn't wait for them.
"Oh?"
A warning flashed through Takuto's mind, followed by an announcement.
<-x-X-x->
A System Message came in now of all times, and one that alluded to the very conflict embroiling this world. It even referenced the gods…
"Sounds like things are going to get even busier from here…"
Nearly drowning in the torrent of new information, Takuto smiled at the World's challenge to his reign.
-x-X-x-