Ghost 14: Decision

He picks up the book.

After a brief hesitation, he sets it on the desk.

Then he closes his eyes, thinks, and before he knows it, reaches for the book again.

He repeats this process endlessly.

He gazes at the book in his hands.

Not a proper book. More like a notebook.

Yet its contents weigh heavier than any book could.

He attempts to turn the pages, remembers having reread it dozens of times, and stops.

The content is already memorized.

Not every word, not every phrase—but rereading it changes nothing.

It does not change, even if he wishes it would.

It contains the crisis of world collapse, and the method to avoid it.

He grips his head.

He knew, through the Taboo, the foundation and system of this world—but never imagined it had reached such a terminal state.

If this is true, then we have been reborn into a world beyond reckoning.

If it were just a story, perhaps.

But I cannot believe what is written here is true.

No—probably only the truth is recorded, though it would be more accurate to say there are minor lies and omissions.

I think this way because the narrative is too perfect.

According to this text, breaking the system will save the world.

But is that truly the case?

Has it ever been attempted before?

Would it really work?

If the world could be saved so easily, then what was the point of all past suffering?

Perhaps it is paranoia, but I simply cannot accept it.

Moreover, eliminating the system means eliminating skills and status.

We have lived relying on them for so long.

Their disappearance would cause profound disruption.

Tasks once made simple by status become impossible.

Prosperity once granted by skills collapses.

It would be a landscape of torment, a hellish vision.

Perhaps akin to stripping modern Japan of electricity.

No—considering the scope of impact, it may be worse.

The book contains no mention of such matters.

From this, one might suspect it conceals inconvenient truths while highlighting only pleasant ones.

That thought arises.

To be frank, I cannot comprehend the inner workings of the system.

In that sense, Shiro is undoubtedly ahead of me.

Thus, if anything is hidden, we cannot even guess what it might be.

Whether it is hidden at all is uncertain.

Once suspicion begins, it never ends.

Yet, I cannot dismiss the book's contents entirely as nonsense.

The content was too logically coherent to lack persuasiveness.

When compared to the Taboo's principles, no dissonance emerged.

Therefore, after much deliberation, my conclusion was that the book's contents were nearly true, with only partial concealments and falsehoods embedded.

I tapped the book on the desk with my index finger.

If this is nearly true, then why did Shiro give me this book?

Well, that much is obvious.

The core message is simply: consider your actions.

Given the book's contents, the world will soon enter a period of great upheaval.

Shiro is acting accordingly.

It is as if Shiro is telling me: think now about what I will do when that time comes.

Shiro might be unexpectedly kind-hearted.

He has gone to great lengths for me, despite no special bond in a past life.

Heretic Resistance, this book—both examples of the same tendency.

He must understand that I, the one reading this book, might become the enemy.

Drawing conclusions with half-hearted intent is not advisable.

The world will perish if this continues.

That is already certain.

But when will it happen?

That is not written.

Only "the world will perish if this continues" is stated.

With no specific time given, claiming the world will end a thousand years from now would not be a lie.

Destroy the system. Use its energy to halt world collapse.

This part, I believe is true.

If it were false, the details here would be too precise—methods and progress reports are included.

Honestly, it feels like studying technical terminology—unintelligible in its current form. But if it's a lie, then Shiro's imagination is extraordinary.

If all of this is merely imagination, a sense of madness begins to permeate.

It seems safer to assume this is written truth.

Yet, even so, energy remains insufficient.

Supplementation is required.

The issue lies in this section.

Supplementation—meaning the killing of people to recover energy.

Thus, the reason for instigating a large-scale war between demons and humans.

An unavoidable path, if the world is to be saved.

But is it truly so?

Returning to the earlier discussion about the world's collapse, it does not necessarily have to be.

If Shiro is concealing that there remains ample time before the world's collapse, then this massacre becomes unnecessary.

Then why is Shiro acting so urgently?

Is there a reason that demands this action?

Perhaps, this is where it begins.

Something important must be hidden here.

It is necessary to know what that something is.

And perhaps, nothing else is hidden elsewhere.

Standing up with the book in hand.

Outside the window, the sun has fully set.

Recent knowledge: Shiro never leaves during meal times or bedtime.

Though absent during the day, they always return to this mansion at those hours.

It is nearing sleep time.

Shiro should be in their room now.

Checking status with the鉴定 stone.

Nearly fully recovered—but that means not yet fully recovered.

Only two swords remain.

Both hastily forged when status had not yet returned.

Unease remains.

Not fully prepared. Shiro’s power remains unknown.

If my assessment is correct, even at full recovery, victory would be uncertain.

Yet if what Shiro seeks lies beyond my acceptance, a confrontation there and then would not be unexpected.

I pray it does not come to that.

With resolve, I began walking toward Shiro’s chamber.