Chapter 279: The Machine Named God
As a professional author possessing keen powers of perception, the blue-haired boy looked at the white-haired man beside him. Truly, no matter how one looked at him, the man standing there without a single expression was like a statue; only the faint white light emanating from his body gave him an air of inviolable majesty.
Andersen observed the man for a long time before finally averting his gaze in boredom, speaking up:
"Don't just let me do the talking. As someone who has already transcended the boundaries of biological life and stands from the perspective of a God, how do you view Kiara Sessyoin? In a sense, she—who likewise transformed from a human into a divine demon—is actually an existence much closer to you, isn't she?"
To the writer's question, the white-haired man remained silent.
It was true; his emotions as a human were becoming increasingly thin. He felt no anger whatsoever toward Kiara Sessyoin's actions. Perhaps it was exactly as the Heroic Spirit author said: he had lost the feelings he possessed when he was human and had forgotten the heart that once longed to be an Ally of Justice.
What he was doing now was merely following a path determined from the very beginning. Other humans could not be entrusted with it, even powerful deities were unreliable, and the choices made by the Counter Force—generated by the collective consciousness of humanity—were always too cruel. To save humanity, the only person he could trust was himself.
Thus, this body had abandoned everything human to become a God of Creation.
Because Kiara Sessyoin was harmful to humanity, she was stopped. Because an Evil of Humanity was beneficial to the rules of the world he intended to save, he kept her by his side.
Previously, within the spatial domain expanded by the Demonic Bodhisattva, there were azure Buddhist pillars, verdant lotus leaves growing everywhere, and lotus flowers rising unstained from the mud. These sights—which only manifest when one with Buddhist enlightenment makes a vow—indicated that the woman possessed the aptitude of a divine Buddha.
As a Demonic Bodhisattva, she was still a Bodhisattva, and must have made the Four Great Vows upon attaining her rank:
Sentient beings are numberless; I vow to save them all. Afflictions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them all. Dharma gates are boundless; I vow to enter them all. The Buddha's way is unsurpassable; I vow to attain it.
Through the "Third Law of Pleasure: Sukhavati-as-Heaven," she intended to achieve the salvation of all humanity by bringing them joy and delight, ferrying all living beings across the sea of suffering. Sukhavati (rejoicing) means the body following the heart to obtain pleasure. As-Heaven (freedom) means total liberty. Combined, it is the wondrous law of following one's desires with absolute freedom.
Inherently, a woman like her should have been a saint rarely seen in thousands of years, capable of influencing tens of millions or even billions. However, because her past experiences were twisted, her internal perception of "sentient beings" had shrunk until only she remained; everyone else was merely an insect wearing a hull similar to her own.
Even facing insects, Kiara Sessyoin still bestowed her mercy upon them, allowing them to kneel at her feet and crawl to her bedside. To her, even a Demon God Pillar was just an insect with more tentacles that felt better to use. Humans, meanwhile, excelled in their diversity; because their desires differed, every interaction—regardless of gender—offered a different experience.
It was of the same nature as a human destroying an ant nest or blocking an ant's path for their own interest or pleasure—catching beetles, longhorn beetles, butterflies, and fireflies in boxes, or raising hamsters in cages.
Is this truly "Evil"?
If one were to step outside the perspective of a human and look from the viewpoint of the aliens who installed the Moon Cell, perhaps one would say that humanity was destined from the start to be unable to understand her thoughts and coexist with her—nothing more.
But that is merely an abstract thought. Regardless of right or wrong, good or evil, there is first the distinction of "survival." Since Kiara Sessyoin and humanity cannot coexist, they are destined to be mortal enemies. Every biological creature possesses the instinct for self-preservation and the right to strive for survival.
To the persecuted girls, Kiara Sessyoin was undoubtedly the ultimate Evil. Just as in the past, to the group of people who were abandoned, Emiya Shirou was unquestionably "Evil."
Is that why 'I' wanted to change? Is that why the current me exists? the white-haired man thought to himself. He had already forgotten the thoughts he had before becoming a God. However, as long as the sought-after result remained unchanged, it would not affect his responsibility.
The vow he made upon becoming a God was to let humans encountering disaster avoid misfortune without affecting the operation of the world—nothing more. The white-haired man was the Deity who carried out this responsibility. It was branded into his very bones, transformed into a Stigma; even if his mind became a total blank, theoretically, he would carry this out forever.
"I am not sure... Her own emotions are too intense. If left unchecked, she will cause a disaster. But if utilized correctly, a disaster is also a part of reality. I need her help; the rest I cannot understand," the man answered indifferently. These were all trivial matters to him.
"How can you not be sure? In terms of performance, you are a God superior to Kiara. You must have achieved this by harboring a powerful wish that is at least as strong as hers," Andersen pressed, driven by his desire to gather material for his writing.
"Creation and Transfer... saving humanity. That is my responsibility. Most other memories have been forgotten," the white-haired man said calmly.
"Creation? Like 'God'? That already touches the realm of multiple True Magics. Don't tell me you can even create worlds?" Andersen asked.
"I can only create things that could exist. The greater the mass, the more time is required. To create a world... it would take at least seven days."
"Hey now, you can actually do it? Just don't go starting any floods to drown everyone after you're done creating them," Andersen joked.
"My duty is to save endangered humans while maintaining the stable operation of all worlds. I will not need to do anything superfluous," the man replied.
"This is too abnormal. Then Transfer is just an application within the scope of Creation, right? Creating the ability to transfer. Theoretically, turning imagination into reality is Creation. But your ability has already exceeded the scope of Marble Phantasm. Anything that could exist, you can create. Then can't you even realize the Five True Magics?"
"Your phrasing is incorrect. If the Root is the 'Cause' of everything, then what Creation can do is merely achieve all possible 'Effects.' My Creation is pursued for the 'Effect' of human happiness. If humanity attains happiness, then I am merely something akin to air—an existence no one would notice."
"As for the term 'Magic,' it is a concept limited to biological beings. Miracles that are unachievable for humans are called Magic. But among different races, the judgment of Magic differs. And I am no longer a 'biological being.' I am called a 'Deity,' yet I am different from the Gods in myths. I am merely a concept. The things I create are creations that will not be perceived. Doing superfluous things might cause other negative impacts," the man explained.
"I see. Though you were once human, that person no longer exists... Is that why you always give off this cold, pathetic feeling? You're certainly not the God I wanted to see. Don't you have even a single wish right now?" Andersen asked.
"I believe I once had a wish, but I have forgotten it. It is not necessary for fulfilling my responsibility. It is enough for me to simply let everyone obtain happiness as much as possible," the white-haired man tried to remember, but only blurry afterimages remained. Fortunately, these were not things he needed.
"Is that so? Such a simple goal. Are all Gods this simple? That woman? You? Fine. Then let me observe quietly from the side—an objective bystander without emotion—and record your deeds until one day I can write them into a story." Andersen lowered his head slightly and gave a gentleman's bow.
"Then, let us go." The white-haired man opened a white portal of light.
Inside the white space where Kiara Sessyoin had been transferred, her body had been fully restored. Because of the unique nature of the Power of Creation, she was actually maintained at her peak as a Demonic Bodhisattva. Although she had lost her Moon Cell authorities, her basic abilities remained unaffected.
At this moment, the woman's massive form lay on the ground. She craned her neck and looked up at the two figures emerging from the portal in the air, a brilliant smile on her face as she teased: "My, my, you've finally come. Locking a lady in a secret room all by herself—just what kind of 'play' is this?"
The white-haired man spoke directly: "Kiara Sessyoin, I invited you here solely to establish a contract with you. If you are willing to help, I will reward you. If you want the Moon Cell, with my ability to create all things, I can recreate another one for you if given enough time."
"What is with this feeling of charity?! Unless it's a gift offered by someone begging me on their knees to accept it, I don't want it!" Kiara pushed herself up and sat with one leg drawn up, clicking her tongue.
"If it's something snatched from someone else's hands, if I can see that frustrated and unwilling expression on their face, perhaps I would be happier. Thinking about it that way, I'm looking forward to seeing the faces of those girls when I appear before them again. Hehehe..." Kiara curled her legs, a flush rising to her cheeks in anticipation.
"Shut up! You sow! Since you've lost, stop your unsightly struggling and just accept it." As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew they were hollow. Andersen covered his face helplessly, "Enough. Even if I say it, she won't listen. Truly... my choice to follow you was a mistake from the start."
"That won't do. If there are even more 'comfortable' things to be had, then that's a different story!" the woman said with a charming laugh.
But she was destined to be disappointed. Neither the transcendent, expressionless white-haired man nor the frowning, contemptuous blue-haired boy would ever give her the response she sought.
"In that case, let me leave this place." As Kiara spoke, she stood up, expanding her body to smash through the white space and escape.
However, as Kiara grew larger, the white space expanded accordingly, maintaining its proportions relative to her size.
"What a cruel man. You reject me and yet won't let me go. I've hated this face of yours from the start, so let's destroy it!" Murderous intent flared in Kiara's eyes. She spread her fingers, releasing a vivid pinkish-purple aura as she clawed toward the white-haired man in the air.
A pair of large black horns with pink-purple patterns sprouted from the woman's head—the organs of Mara, the Enemy of Buddha. Mara symbolizes all desires and evils that hinder Shakyamuni's cultivation and attainment of the Way. Legend says when Shakyamuni sat in meditation under the Bodhi tree, Mara sent floods, flames, and lightning to attack him, and manifested three goddesses of different forms but equal, peerless beauty to seduce him into union...
The rest of the story is known to all: after a vast amount of time and agonizing internal struggle, Shakyamuni attained enlightenment in a single moment, becoming the Buddha and the founder of one of the world's three major religions.
The woman was both Demon and Bodhisattva—a Goddess who lived solely for her own salvation and pleasure. Her essence was that of a natural saint whose heart was fundamentally "good" in her own view, and what she did was nothing more than pursuing the realization of her own joy.
Kiara formed a mudra with her hands, her left hand grasping her right index finger—the mudra of the Great Vairocana. Every glance, every smile, every movement of hers was accompanied by Buddhist light and demonic shadows under her Authority.
"Hehehe, can you do it? Looking closely, you look quite similar to a person who makes me unpleasant. Then I won't turn you into a slave; I'll just deliver you directly—All Desires of This World (Angra Mainyu)! Hehehe..."
Kiara held her hands one above the other, fingers extended but with her index fingers hooked to touch her thumbs—the Raigō-in mudra of the "Upper Grade: Lower Birth," signifying the welcoming of sentient beings to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
At this moment, Kiara Sessyoin activated her Noble Phantasm using this mudra, locking onto the white-haired man.
In an instant, the featureless white space transformed. The Demonic Bodhisattva became a gargantuan phantom surrounded by nine planets. The first was a pale, dusty yellow, looking like Mercury; the second was a warm yellow, covered in desert swirls like Venus; the third was Earth, surrounded by blue and white with traces of green, its colors radiating peace.
The fourth was red Mars; the fifth was the massive Jupiter with its wooden grain-like stripes; then Saturn, protected by rings of ice, rock, and dust; and in the distance... Uranus, Neptune...
Sun and moon shone together, surrounded by the five planets. The giant body of Kiara Sessyoin stood in the center, seemingly attempting to replace the sun as the center of all things in a single moment.
She treated all surrounding celestial bodies as toys for her love and lust; Earth, in particular, was caught directly between her thighs.
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