Chapter 295
“……”
The phrase “131st iteration” spoken by Muriel Philise held significant implications.
“Muriel Philise. You seem to know a lot about Save Points, don’t you?”
That was a number that could only be calculated if she accurately knew that Reed was the 100th iteration of Tesillid and that the Save Point had been used 30 times.
My gaze, fixed on Muriel Philise, intensified.
She readily admitted it.
“The Omniscient ‘Strict Order and Goodness’ bestowed a revelation upon me.”
“It seems not just revelations, but artifacts too, were bestowed.”
The floppy disk was an unusual artifact in this world. It could only be obtained through the Possession Management Bureau.
It would be rather natural for ‘Strict Order and Goodness’ to be involved if a human in this world acquired such a thing.
Therefore, the clear fact that can now be known is…
‘Behind Tesillid being confined to the Pit of Solitude for 31 lives were Muriel Philise and ‘Strict Order and Goodness’.’
My fists clenched so hard that the knuckles on the back of my hands stood out. But at this moment, excitement would not help.
Feigning composure, I proposed a trade to Muriel Philise.
“Curious why Tesillid Argent is the 117th iteration? Then how about you answer my question first?”
“Do you mean to exchange questions?”
“Yes.”
“Very well.”
I deliberately asked my carefully chosen question in a light tone.
“You know, don’t you, that the world can be saved just by having a god?”
“Of course.”
“Then this conversation will be quick. What’s the point of endlessly killing Tesillid and repeating regressions? Why don’t you abandon your runaway god and believe in our Voice-Spirit?”
“How foolish. Heretic Holy Saint, you know nothing.”
“Then teach me, Mummy of a Ruined Religion.”
Muriel Philise opened her mouth, arrogantly lifting her chin.
“Everything is a plan arranged by the God. The great sole God of this land, ‘Strict Order and Goodness’, greatly weakened their divinity in the process of creating and harmonizing all things in heaven and earth. Their love, poured out unstintingly for mere creations, is as vast as the sea and….”
“Enough with the sermon, just the point.”
“…When divinity runs out, God perishes, and the world is destroyed. This is a law of evil that brings chaos to both creator and creation, and could not be accepted.”
It would be troublesome to be deceived by her mournful tone. In short, it means that ‘Strict Order and Goodness’ squandered their divinity and went bankrupt by doing more than they were capable of, doesn’t it? [‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ scoffs.]Suddenly, Muriel Philise adopted the serene face of a Holy Mother and reverently placed both hands over her chest.
“So, God promised to rest within my body, and when enough time had matured and divinity was recovered, to return to this land.”
What?
I asked for confirmation, wondering if I had heard correctly.
“Are you saying right now that ‘Strict Order and Goodness’ is inside you?”
“That is correct. Their divine nature resides within me, recovering its divinity.” [‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ watches Muriel Philise with an expressionless face.] The expression was draining from my face too.
Meanwhile, Muriel Philise seemed pleased with the topic of conversation.
Even a sage older than an ancient tree could not control the excitement of revealing a truth long kept to herself.
Perhaps thinking I wouldn’t understand, she didn’t spare any kind supplementary explanations.
“Chosen for this plan were the Holy Sword’s Master, Tesillid Argent, and I, Muriel Philise. When Tesillid Argent turns back time as the axis of regression, that time accumulates within me, and God recovers their divinity.”
“So you’re stealing the suffering Tesillid goes through with regression?”
“We simply have different roles. Of course, since it requires a long time, ‘Strict Order and Goodness’ even bestowed an excessive blessing to prevent Tesillid Argent’s soul from degrading.”
God’s blessing. No, the blessing of ‘Strict Order and Goodness’.
And even qualified with ‘excessive’.
Could there be any more unsettling words in the world?
“What blessing?”
“At that time, all remaining divinity was bestowed upon his soul to enhance his durability.”
Divine nature to Muriel Philise, divinity to Tesillid.
At first listen, it sounds truly like a blessing. But.
“Thanks to this, he will not perish, no matter how much water from the Well of Eternity he drinks.”
“……”
That brazen tongue was now mentioning the Well of Eternity as if it were a matter of course, following the Save Point.
“Tesillid Argent is a component of a clockwork mechanism, created to be most suitable for turning back the clock of regression.”
“……”
“Someday, ‘Strict Order and Goodness’ will recover their divinity and return. Until then, I must protect this land from heretics and assist Tesillid Argent’s regressions. That is my mission as a Sacred Horologer.” [‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ is silent.]While my God remained heavily silent, I, as their Proclaimer, asked.
“So, how long will it take for your God to recover their divinity?”
“It won’t take long.”
And then what she babbled was…
“Approximately 100,000 years.”
“……Crazy.”
A human could never endure that much time.
Muriel Philise continued speaking, as if it were nothing, seeing me unable to hide my bewildered and dumbfounded feelings.
“Is it not short for the time it takes to recover divinity and awaken a divine nature? It is a primitive time, not even a kalpa.”
“……”
Again, I felt the expression drain from my face.
“Of course, regardless of the soul’s durability, it’s too much for a human’s fragile mind to bear. So God arranged another blessing for Tesillid Argent.”
Muriel Philise’s right hand stirred through subspace and emerged.
A moment later, something tumbled from her hand onto the altar with a clatter.
<Aillet, that’s…!> [‘Scales that Judge Souls’ is aghast.]
[‘Creative Economy Manager’ gasps.]
[‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ watches with cold eyes.]“……”
A chilling sensation seemed to seep from my fingertips.
It felt as if ice water flowed through my veins instead of blood, chilling my heart to stone.
Thump. Thump-thump.
Objects piled up before my eyes. They were, in fact, nine floppy disks.
“Ah, indeed, one is missing.”
Muriel Philise murmured and began to explain in an exceptionally gentle voice.
“When one Save Point is fully used, roughly ten thousand years pass. But by then, his mind would be worn out and broken. That’s why the water from the Well of Eternity was prepared.”
“……”
At that moment, my mind involuntarily recalled the side effects of the Well of Eternity’s water – memory loss, loss of the Three Great Powers.
“Since his soul will not perish anyway, only his memories and powers can be erased with the Well’s water. Then what happens?”
Tesillid Argent, having lost his memories and powers.
It was then that I unconsciously took a deep breath.
“He returns to the 1st iteration.”
“……”
“He can start the next ten thousand years with a fresh mind.”
“……”
“He’s done it once, so he just needs to repeat it nine more times.”
“……”
“Oblivion is a blessing, isn’t it? Truly a merciful new beginning.”
A benevolent smile, beyond compare, hung on Muriel Philise’s lips.
At that moment, as the most repulsive face in the world formed before my eyes.
Swish, a tearing sound grazed my ear.
“……!”
Before I knew it, Muriel Philise’s face, no longer displaying that disgusting expression but rather wide-eyed in astonishment, was right before me.
When I came to my senses, I had approached her and grabbed her by the collar.
“You.”
My voice was so low, even to my own ears, it was chilling.
“You would do well to speak less.”
Her eyes, still wide with confusion, shaking as if she couldn’t comprehend her current predicament with her collar seized, were comical.
Of course, I felt no inclination to laugh.
“Now it’s my turn. You asked why he’s the 117th iteration, not the 131st, didn’t you?”
Yes, I had to keep my promise.
“I let him out.”
“……”
“From that damned Pit of Solitude where his life was forcibly prolonged, I took the Save Point. And I destroyed the dungeon, killing him. I saved him by killing him.”
“How dare you obstruct God’s great work… Cough!”
Since she seemed to have forgotten my advice to shut up, I tightened my grip on her collar, silencing her.
The interrogation was over. Now, it was time to do what I had delayed.
I deliberately spoke in front of Muriel Philise, intending for her to hear.
“Voice-Spirit, what should we do with her?”
“What…?” [‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ says, ‘Don’t you already know?’]
“Yes, I understand.”
“Who are you speaking with…?”
Regrettably, I had no mercy to spare for her ignorance at this moment.
“Muriel Philise.”
I declared, looking directly into her startled face.
“I, as the Proclaimer and Agent of ‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’…”
“……”
“Shall judge you.”
I chanted the activation phrase of righteous divine authority.
“Divine Descent.”
Privilege for Possessors