149 Hello? Is this the Demon God?

I didn’t see anything.

I saw nothing.

‘Hello? This is D.’

Ah ah.

Can’t hear you, can’t hear you.

‘Ah, what a thing. Why do I have a spider self-destruct button in my hand?’

Sorry, please forgive me!

Wait—what is that button!?

When did you make that!?

‘Just kidding. There’s no such thing. Even without it, I can turn spiders into ugly fireworks.’

Eh… eh…

Not at all reassuring.

‘Relax. I don’t waste people as amusing as you.’

Ah, is that so.

Honored.

Then, that’s settled.

‘Self-destruct.’

Sorry!

‘Just kidding. Just kidding.’

A joke sounds unconvincing when spoken without tone.

‘I get that a lot.’

So, what’s the real reason?

‘Just a celebration. You’ve reached immortality.’

Ah.

Hey, why’d you make this immortality skill like this?

『What do you think people ultimately aim for once they’re satisfied?』

Huh?

『Wealth, fame, strength, power—and immortality. No matter the world, those are the goals people pursue. And what do you think happens when they actually attain them?』

They’d strive for them at all costs.

Ah, that’s what you mean.

『Exactly. Even if they know they’ll never reach it, people still cling to the hope. At any cost. They push and push, and ultimately exhaust themselves without ever succeeding. That effort—the culmination of their struggle—is what the Administrator enjoys as a meal. Isn’t that remarkably efficient?』

Still as unpleasant as ever.

『I am a Demigod, after all.』

Then, what about me? I’ve already taken it for myself. What now?

『Zana Holowa was originally defined as an immortal monster. I did not anticipate that any individual would actually evolve.』

Hey.

You weren’t supposed to evolve, were you?

『There is no prohibition. However, Zoa Eire was extremely rare from the start, and even if it appeared, it was designed to die before evolving.』

Huh?

What’s that?

『Zoa Eire had corrosion attacks, but no Corrosion Resistance.』

Huh?

Really?

『Yes. Therefore, a normal Zoa Eire dies instantly upon using a corrosion attack. Fortunately, you possess resistance.』

That’s dangerous!?

Seriously?

I was nearly dead without knowing it.

『Thanks to your resistance, you only lost access to your scythe. Normally, that would have been instant death.』

What a defective specimen.

『To kill an opponent and die yourself—this pattern is said to symbolize ill fortune, hence the name given to such creatures.』

Ah.

Now that you mention it, that does seem rather ominous.

A complete nuisance, really.

『Edé Saine shares the same essence. It now possesses a more potent curse of annihilation. You will perish before evolving.』

Have any specimens evolved into Zana Horowa before?

『None have. Congratulations. You are now the only unique monster in existence. Applause.』

I’m glad, but hearing it from you makes it feel less so.

『I went to the trouble of blessing you.』

Well, you know, looking at all those things from before… I mean…

『You are a heretic god.』

Huh.

Taboo, immortality—really, your personality is terrible.

『A more refined phrasing would be appreciated. For instance, pure malice.』

You're already out the moment you say it yourself.

You're being excessively reckless.

『Isn't Taboo a well-designed system?』

Not really.

I'm only half an outsider, so it's unpleasant but manageable. But for someone born into this world, hitting Taboo's maximum capacity—wouldn't they go mad?

『Those who have maxed out Taboo in the past haven't ended well.』

That's likely.

『That's precisely what Taboo is.』

Still, that's excessive.

Well, it's their own doing, I suppose.

『So you now know the contents of Taboo, thanks to your parallel consciousness.』

That's right.

Even I think I'm going insane.

A version of me from just a short while ago would've turned away and sulked, refusing to care.

『That's probably due to your use of parallel consciousness.』

Likely.

『Just so you know, that's an off-system attack.』

Ah, is that so?

『I do not recall implementing any skill capable of what you are doing.』

Huh.

So, I'm using a fragment of divine domain?

『That is correct.』

Heh heh heh.

Seems the day I become a god may be near.

『I look forward to it.』

No, I wish you'd actually take that seriously instead of brushing it off so smoothly.

『I mean it. I truly look forward to the day you reach our domain.』

Seriously?

『Yes.』

What is your goal, then?

『I already said. Amusement.』

Ah, right.

That's right.

『Since I'm in a good mood today, I'll offer a little service—some guidance, if you like?』

Seriously!?

『Yes. Within the limits of my knowledge, I can teach you about that world.』

Oh wow, really?

Then, what should I ask about?