S35 Two Options
"Whatever decision you make. You need not decide immediately. Just remember this: time does not wait. Events progress even while you hesitate."
Having received the Pope's full explanation, we gathered in the assigned room, faces close together.
This location, the central sanctuary of the Divine Word Church, has accommodations prepared for heroes.
Though I am not recognized as a hero in the public eye—indeed, I've never used this room before, having only just arrived—I am now gratefully utilizing it.
Cathia and Sue have each been given separate rooms, but they've gathered here now for consultation.
Yet no one speaks.
Only a heavy silence fills the space.
Appropriate, one might say. As expected.
Sophia had already informed Catia and Sue of the Taboo’s contents.
Anyone who learns of that content would feel a heavy burden.
Moreover, the news the Pope had shared about the future was sufficient to deepen that burden further.
The Pope had made the decision to fight.
No.
The battle had already begun.
It was a fight to kill God.
To kill God, so that humans might live.
The Pope had already completed the selection process, and taken action, in order to preserve this world.
If one accepts the Pope’s account, then there are only two options available to this world.
One is the system collapse being orchestrated by the young leaves.
This method allows the world to be reborn without killing the goddess who has sustained it thus far.
However, the cost would be that approximately half the population living in this world would perish due to the backlash from forcibly extracting skills from their souls.
Moreover, many would not simply die—souls would shatter.
A shattered soul meant no rebirth possible.
Absolute death.
The second option involved the Pope and a figure known as the Black Dragon—likely the one called Gurye in my dream—carrying out this plan.
It was less a new plan and more an extension of what had already been done.
Namely, dismantling the plan of the young leaves, resuming the system as before, and restoring the world to its normal state.
This method allowed the world to be reborn without forcing sacrifice upon the people, under the guise of righteousness.
However, in that case, the goddess currently sustaining the system has already reached her limit—there is no prospect of recovery.
And after the goddess perishes, the black dragon destined to inherit the system’s core will likewise.
According to the Pope, if the time remaining until the goddess expires is synchronized with the black dragon’s sacrifice immediately afterward, the star’s rebirth may still be possible.
The shortfall will be compensated by harvesting energy generated from the battle between the young leaf and the black dragon.
One might question whether such a thing is feasible, but the black dragon’s small-scale alternate world is said to possess that function.
And if that still falls short, another battle will be initiated after this one concludes, to gather additional energy.
In the form of a conflict between the Divine Word Sect and the Goddess Sect.
Even one that leads to the extinction of the Divine Word Sect—a group that has deceived people across the world for so long.
Thus, the Pope and the Black Dragon seek to save this world through their own destruction.
One faction sacrifices half the world's population to save the Goddess and the world.
The other sacrifices themselves and the Goddess to save the people and the world.
Neither path is reasonable.
Either way, the cost is too great.
Is there... some way? A method that requires no sacrifice at all?
I spoke without thinking.
Two humans teetering on the edge of a cliff. Only one can be saved.
Which one?
It is like asking which one to choose.
There is no choice—neither can be saved.
There is none, is there? If such a convenient solution existed, both the young leaf and the Pope would have chosen it already.
Katia speaks sense.
I know.
I understand intellectually, that no such convenient solution exists.
I know it intellectually, yet I cannot help but think.
"Your Highness could make anything possible, no matter how impossible it seems!"
Soo says this.
What frightens me is that it doesn't sound like a joke when Soo says it.
What kind of eyes are you looking at me with?
"Soo, know when it's appropriate to joke."
"Joke?"
Katia rubs her temple, reprimanding Soo, but Soo stares back, confused.
It wasn't a joke.
"Regardless. This is too serious to decide now. We have Hyrlins and the others waiting in the elven village. We'll hold off on a decision."
I still lack the resolve to choose.
Ideally, I'd return to the elven village, consult with Hyrlins and the others.
If time permits.
At that moment, the ground trembles.
"An earthquake!?"
A violent shaking wracks the body.
She did not fall, seated as she was, but the impact had toppled every piece of furniture in the room.
Earthquakes had never occurred in this world before.
Yet it became clear almost immediately that this was not an earthquake.
The tremor lasted only once.
It did not shake repeatedly, as an earthquake would, but rather like a massive explosion nearby.
No— not like.
This was an explosion that had occurred directly beside them.
The proof was the enhanced sense of smell detecting the scent of burning.
"Something has happened! I will check it out. You two stay here!"
"No, we are coming too. Separating here is more dangerous. We should remain together."
Kathia immediately countered my suggestion.
Indeed, without knowing what had occurred, staying together might reduce the risk.
Understood. Let's go!
We exited the room and sprinted toward the source of the odor.
Where to go was clear without thought.
The reason was the continuous, violent explosions occurring nearby.
What had happened?
What was happening?
Questions remained unanswered, but the timing suggested this was not unrelated to the battle between the Pope and the young woman’s group.
Upon reaching the site of the explosions, we found a half-naked man facing off against a girl in maid attire.
Behind them stood the Pope, a woman shielding him, and a gender-neutral figure whose sex was indistinguishable.
From the scene, the girl in maid attire appeared to be the aggressor, while the half-naked man was defending against her.
"Hero. Step back. Avoid getting caught in this."
The man warned us.
The Maid girl lunged forward the instant he opened his mouth.
But a gout of flame erupted from the large man, blocking her path.
Even at a distance, the intense heat radiated.
I thought the Maid girl would not survive direct impact, yet she had already moved away from the large man—unseen.
Her movement was impossible to track.
"Rank. Compatibility. Both superior to mine. Even if you miraculously breach me, two other Ancient Dragons remain here. Checkmate."
The large man pointed out to the Maid girl.
His words carried a hint of pity.
"……"
The Maid girl activated magic in silence.
Shadow-type magic.
Yet the speed of activation was extraordinary.
Before I could blink, multiple spells launched toward the large man.
"Bothersome."
The androgynous figure, who had just been at the Pope’s side, swats the attack away with a hand.
A motion as casual as brushing away an insect. Yet that single action erased countless spells.
The Maid’s magic was not weak.
On the contrary, the power of that magic was immense.
The spells that veered off their intended path, untouched by the androgynous figure, shattered the building violently.
“Problem. Collapsing.”
Just one strike.
Just one strike had brought the building to the brink of collapse.
Combined with the earlier explosion that shook the structure, the mere aftermath of the battle had pushed the building past its structural limit.
“Nia! Take Dustin and go!”
“Hah. Honestly. Though I am as hard as stone, I am no good as a Guard.”
Complaining as she carries the Pope to safety.
“Heroes, retreat first.”
“We will eliminate this.”
A figure of indeterminate gender and a large man look this way and speak.
Are these individuals allies?
They are protecting the Pope. That suggests alignment with the Pope faction.
Then the maid girl who appears hostile—she must be aligned with the young leaf faction.
"Ael, was it? Two against one. Though it deviates from one’s creed, eliminating you here prevents future obstruction. Do not take it ill."
The large man steps forward toward the maid girl.
But before he can move further, the maid girl turns and flees.
"Allowing escape? Impossible!"
The large man pursues. The figure of indeterminate gender follows.
What should I do? What should we do?
"Shun! It’s collapsing! We must get out of here, no matter what!"
"Ah, yes."
Katarina pulls my sleeve. I snap back to awareness.
There is nothing we can do by staying here.
We must escape first—otherwise, we will be buried alive.
"Run!"
We fled from the collapsing building.
"Thank the heavens you're unharmed."
The Pope greeted us as we emerged, having already reached the outside.
Despite having been attacked himself, his expression remained unchanged—calm, serene.
That expression made me feel the depth of the Pope's unknowable nature.
I, who had merely stared in shock at the battle moments ago...
"The battle has already begun. A little faster than anticipated."
The Pope murmured, gazing at the ruined structure.
I thought I had time to think.
Apparently not.
The world is already moving—right now.
And I now understand, painfully.
I am weak.
All I could do was watch their fight.
To intervene... that is beyond my strength.
A battle so intense it caused buildings to collapse from mere shockwaves.
My strength is insufficient to match even the maid girl or the naked man.
I feel it acutely.
I am weak.
I lack the power needed to change the world.
What, what alternative remains?
Even those so powerful are forced into a choice—sacrificing one side or the other.
To believe that I, so far weaker, could do anything—this is utter arrogance.
Two choices.
Only two choices.
Only one can be selected.
This reality was thrust upon me.
Maid girl: Second unofficial meeting②, first appearance. Puppet Talatokt, Ael
Naked man: First appearance
Genderless figure: First appearance
Woman guarding the Pope: First appearance in web version