Chapter 266: Simulated Universe: Swarm Disaster 『 Part Seven 』
「 "Sounds like a buffet?"
"You could interpret it that way," Herta continued her addendum. "It is said that between the birth of the universe and the emergence of the Star Gods, there was a massive void; within that void roamed wondrous entities known as Leviathans. However, after the Star Gods were born, the Leviathans vanished. Legend holds that Oroboros, the 『 Voracity 』, is the last remaining Leviathan in existence, though this claim is currently disputed. We don't know if it's true or false."
As Herta spoke, Stelle found the scenery around her shifting once more—perhaps implying that the 『 Voracity 』 had just opened its maw again, swallowing the world she was standing in. This time, the Simulated Universe transported her to an ocean… a crimson ocean, warm as blood.
From the distance came the sound of melodious singing.
Stelle instinctively remained on guard. Yet, as the sound bored into her eardrums, it felt like tiny hands gently tugging at her nerves. Something is waiting for her at the end of the crimson sea—this realization melted into her mind as sweetly as icing sugar.
Stelle struggled to use her reason to resist the song, but her legs wouldn't obey… The seawater lapped past her knees. In the distance, a fissure opened at the edge of the red sea, and the singing was emanating from that very crack.
I can't help it… I really can't help it… I want to be eaten by Him.
Suddenly, Stelle felt a light tap on her shoulder. The singing at the end of the crimson sea vanished instantly. The sensation in her brain disappeared as well, replaced by a wave of relief.
It had to be Herta. Stelle felt a flash of annoyance. "Next time this happens, could you be a little quicker?"
"Heh heh. Stelle, I know you're in a hurry, but don't be in such a hurry… I also need to observe a human's reaction after being attracted by 『 Voracity 』, you know." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World〜
The sun was setting, and the campfire crackled. Fern hugged her staff tightly, shrinking closer to the fire.
"Frieren-sama, I suddenly feel… that we are actually quite lucky."
"Oh? Why do you think that, Fern?"
A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of Frieren's mouth, her silver hair reflecting a faint orange glow in the firelight.
"Is it because of the Star Gods?"
"Yes. I feel that living in the same universe as these Star Gods, and still being able to talk to each other like this… is a very, very lucky thing."
Fern looked up at the twinkling starry sky.
"Just the confrontation between 『 Propagation 』 and 『 Voracity 』 annihilated two-thirds of the galaxies and civilizations in the universe. The fact that we have survived until now means we are part of that remaining one-third. And being in that one-third, who knows how many disasters triggered by the Star Gods we've dodged to keep our civilization going until today."
"Our civilization, our magic… in the face of the Star God's mighty power, it's all truly too insignificant. When I think that the world we live in could be destroyed by a Star God with a mere snap of their fingers, I feel very uneasy."
Fern sighed softly. The embers of the campfire danced in her eyes, yet they could not dispel the chill seeping from the depths of her marrow.
"Fern,"
Frieren added a branch to the fire, causing sparks to pop and crackle.
"To destroy us… Those Star Gods wouldn't even need to 'snap their fingers,' would they?"
"…At a time like this, you still have the heart to make jokes like that."
Fern puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
Frieren chuckled softly, slowly closing the grimoire on her lap.
"Fern, I understand your anxiety, because everything currently shown in the Simulated Universe is chaos and demise."
"But think about it. Just as opposite 『 Destruction 』 there is 『 Preservation 』, and opposite 『 Abundance 』 there is 『 Hunt 』. For our civilization to have survived to this day, we must surely be under the gentle protection of a certain Star God. It could be Preservation, or perhaps Harmony… who can say for sure?"
Stark nodded, seemingly understanding yet not quite, making sounds of agreement.
"Oh, oh. I get it. Frieren, you mean… even if a Star God wanted to bully us, there would definitely be another Star God to back us up. Is that what you mean?"
"Hmm… something like that, I suppose?"
—
「 Suddenly, Stelle felt a sharp sting in her brain. Her legs went weak, and she crumpled like a sheet of paper, collapsing onto the beach.
Countless memories pierced her consciousness like dense steel needles, as if whipping up a turbulent current threatening to sweep her away—a mother lifting her child overhead in the sunset of some planet; researchers laughing as they passed data pads in the corridor of a space station; lovers exchanging unfinished vows under the neon lights of a ring-world city.
These images were suddenly elongated and twisted, like light rays thrown into a black hole. She saw every face freeze before the maw of 『 Voracity 』, billions of "No's" converging into a deafening silence.
"URGH—!"
Stelle let out a pained sound.
"And 『 Remembrance 』 too… How strange. You haven't even seen Fuli, yet countless memories have flooded into your brain." Herta was somewhat surprised but quickly returned to her usual composure. The memories and pain in Stelle's brain lasted only a few seconds before she removed them as if they were some sort of program.
"What was that just now?" Stelle rubbed her temples, barely recovering from the pain.
"It was Fuli of the 『 Remembrance 』. Some say the Path of 『 Remembrance 』 appeared during this very catastrophe, in order to preserve the moments of the stars' demise. It sounds reasonable—but too reasonable, which makes it sound like something a Fictionologist made up. Regardless, I'm getting a little interested." 」
「 ..... 」
〜DC Extended Universe, Earth-1〜
"Madam Herta's point… that the birth of a Star God being too reasonable makes it seem fake."
Bruce Wayne frowned, a trace of confusion in his low voice.
"Does she mean that the birth of all Star Gods is unreasonable?"
Alfred stood to the side holding a tea tray, the silver platter reflecting the orange glow.
"Master Bruce, if I may be so bold, judging from what we know of 『 Erudition 』 and 『 Preservation 』, the birth of Star Gods does indeed possess a certain dramatic quality—this drama often defies common sense, appearing more accidental than human fiction."
"It is hard to imagine that the god seeking the solution to all things in the universe was previously just a computer; or that the Star God presiding over the concept of cosmic propagation was no different from the coleoptera in our garden before its ascension… Compared to that, the birth of the 『 Remembrance 』 Path is simply too conventional."
"Previously, the Daily Planet published a feature article discussing intelligence on the Star Gods. The writer believed that the appearance of a Star God is a gradual process—like taking a long journey on a specific Path. One becomes a Star God because they have walked far enough and long enough on that road."
"But looking at 『 Propagation 』 alone… it wasn't that troublesome at all. Becoming a Star God was a matter of an instant. One second, it was just an ordinary bug, and the next… It was the Imperator Insectorum presiding over the 『 Propagation 』 of the entire cosmos."
—
( Translator-kun: Swarm Disaster is one of those many disasters on the HSR verse, and I think the worst one, worse than the Mechanical Emperor's Wars. )