"...I choose humanity."
Anastasia's voice was gentle, yet it carried an unmistakably resolute tone.
She turned and let her gaze sweep out from the Kremlin terrace over the city that was just beginning to awaken.
"The Yaga's astonishing regenerative power was the price of evolving to survive in that despairing, frozen world."
"A hunger so fierce they would devour their own kind just to go on living… a savagery that cast away all dignity in order to survive… It is powerful, and at the same time, tragic."
She closed her eyes, as if recalling those long, blood-soaked years.
"If you truly grant us warm sunshine and fertile land, so that we no longer need to become beasts just to endure the cold… then we must rediscover the fragility we lost, and the possibilities that come with that fragility—
the possibilities that originally lay within human nature."
"Rather than becoming perfectly superior beings, I would rather my people be like Kadoc: weak and fragile, yet able to truly feel the warmth of the wind, and hold one another with no weight upon their hearts."
"A wise choice."
Stevenodded in approval and lightly swirled the wine in his glass.
"The path of evolution is full of temptations, but sometimes, the greatest courage lies in choosing to go back."
Like some third-rate stage magician performing a cheap trick, he reached into what looked like an empty pocket and produced a small, oddly shaped red vial.
It was something that, even in the Clock Tower of the future out in space, would unquestionably be classified as one of those things best left unspoken of—
"This is…"
Anastasia stared at the plain-looking bottle, somewhat bewildered.
"A little gadget that can turn lies into reality."
"Or, in a magus's terminology, it's a kind of reality rewriting at the level of causality."
Steve twisted off the cap, tilted his head back, and downed the faintly bitter liquid in one gulp.
Then he cleared his throat, turned his eyes toward the vast Russian landscape, and in an almost overly casual tone—like he was merely chatting about the weather—he began to speak.
"Ah, what a pity…
The Yaga living in this Lostbelt will, in the foreseeable future, never again return to human form."
"...Why?"
Anastasia was stunned.
Viy, the elf standing behind her, widened her eyes, completely unable to comprehend such an illogical statement.
Yet in the instant after those words were spoken—
A miracle occurred.
No earth-shaking blaze of magecraft.
No intricate alchemical apparatus.
Not even a sound.
A tall Yaga who had been shoveling snow in the square below the Kremlin suddenly stopped.
His shovel slipped from his hand and hit the ground with a sharp crack.
He stared at his own hands in confusion.
The hands that had been covered in thick black fur and tipped with sharp claws had clearly lost their bestial traits, becoming smooth and delicate, with long and supple fingers.
Next was his body.
The bulky muscles that had swelled up to retain heat shrank and re-knit themselves. His beastlike, hunched back slowly straightened, and his wolfish muzzle full of fangs, in the wavering distortion of light and shadow, turned into the weathered face of a middle-aged man.
"Th-this… this…"
His trembling fingers brushed across his own face.
The sound that leaked out was no longer a low growl, but a distinctly human voice—shaking with tears.
He was not the only one.
Across all of Moscow, and further still across the whole of Russia, millions of Yaga believers experienced, at that same moment, this painless devolution.
Their animal ears vanished, their tails disappeared, and along with them, the tormenting hunger that had gnawed at their insides also faded away.
In its place appeared human flesh: frail, easily chilled by the cold—yet filled with a lightness they had long forgotten.
"A miracle…"
Anastasia covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.
Looking down at the newborn humans who clutched at one another and wept, who shouted and leapt for joy, she felt—for the first time—the true weight of that thing called "hope".
"Princess, please don't be too moved… Becoming human is only the very first step."
Steve's voice broke through her thoughts.
Like Doraemon pulling out gadgets, he reached into his pocket and took out what looked, at first glance, like ordinary seeds—enough to fill both hands.
"Humans are extremely fragile creatures. Without a Yaga-like physique, you will soon face severe famine."
"These are my gift to you."
He held the seeds out to the princess.
"The ones in my left hand are Fast-Growing Wheat – 7-Day Variety."
"As the name suggests, once it's planted, all it needs is watering, and in seven days it'll be ready for harvest."
"Furthermore, its nutritional value is triple that of normal wheat, and its taste is nearly identical to freshly baked whole-wheat bread from a top-class bakery."
"The flowers on the right are Edelweiss."
"This is an exceptionally hardy grass that can grow even in remote places like Antarctica."
"Not only can it be used as livestock feed, it also fixes nitrogen like a legume, transforming barren land into fertile soil—a land flowing with milk and honey."
"Once you sow the seeds, this land that has only just thawed will remain rich and fertile for an entire year."
Anastasia carefully closed her fingers around the seeds, as if she were holding the fate of the entire nation in her hands.
"Of course, that's also to keep you from becoming dependent on it, and to prevent this world's ecosystem from completely collapsing…"
Steve raised an index finger and grinned.
"I've put an anti-counterfeiting lock on these seeds. Their special effects will only last for one year."
"After a year, they'll naturally degrade back into ordinary wheat and pasture grass."
"And this year will be your newbie protection period."
"Use this opportunity to build an agricultural system for mankind—learn how to grow crops and raise livestock on this land."
"If, after one year, you still can't stand on your own… there will be no second cheat code."
As he spoke, a large number of capsules tumbled out of his pocket—as if by magic.
The moment they landed, they burst open with a pop, billowing white smoke. In the blink of an eye, the palace's back garden was filled with herds of plump, vigorous breeding cattle, pigs, and sheep, along with thousands of chirping chicks.
"These are genetically optimized breeding animals, with strong disease resistance and short growth cycles. Consider them a starter bonus pack for beginners."
Once everything was done, Steve clapped his hands as if he'd accomplished something trivial.
"All right, I've given you everything you'll need. From here on, it's up to you, Princess Anastasia."
When he turned around, a pink Anywhere Door appeared once more.
"Please… wait a moment!"
Anastasia stepped forward, clutching the seeds tightly to her chest, and bowed deeply.
"On behalf of the people of Russia, I thank you for your kindness."
"We will never forget this favor."
"If you ever need anything from us…"
Need… something?
Steve paused mid-step, rotating his neck slightly as though in thought.
"In that case… let's live happily, together."
He smiled. In the morning light, that smile shone brilliantly.
"Make this country wealthier and more beautiful."
"When that boy Kadoc returns someday, don't let him see a ruined homeland. That will be the greatest reward you can give me."
With those words, he waved a hand and vanished into the ring of light beyond the doorway.
"...Yes."
Anastasia raised her head. Tear tracks already marred her cheeks.
Facing the slowly fading door, she raised her hand in a solemn salute.
"I promise you."
"I will definitely… create a paradise where he can return in peace."
…
New Chaldea – Steve's Room, Late Night
Passing through the Anywhere Door, the fresh scent of soil was instantly replaced by Chaldea's dry, air-conditioned atmosphere.
Steve stretched and tucked the Anywhere Door back into his four-dimensional pocket.
The digital clock on the wall already read 3:00 a.m.
For a god who had just saved a civilization and transformed the fate of an entire race, it was finally time for a well-earned retirement—for tonight, at least.
Phew… Doing good deeds anonymously—now that's a real man's romance.
Humming a tune he didn't actually recognize, he headed into the bathroom and let a hot shower wash away the dust and grime of travel.
After changing into a set of dry pajamas, he flopped down onto the large, soft bed.
There was a faint scent lingering on the blankets—a fragrance that did not belong to him. It smelled of high-grade shampoo, with a delicate note of violet.
"...Hmm? That girl, Sion, was here?"
Steve raised an eyebrow, then gave a wry smile.
During his absence, this room had clearly been… put to certain uses. There had been, it seemed, a few little incidents of interest.
But he was far too exhausted to care.
Even if causality-based tools didn't consume magical energy, they still took a toll on his mental reserves.
He turned over, buried his face in the pillow, and fell asleep almost immediately.
In his dreams, he seemed to see golden wheat fields rippling in the wind, spreading endlessly across the Russian plains.
It was truly… a beautiful dream.
…
…
PS: Support me and read advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode