Ultimate Dilemma ①

Update Resumed

Three lines to summarize everything so far!

Explain to the Reincarnated!

D-san's playful announcement activated!

Black-White War Erupts!

Sawaguchi Maka's Perspective

"Wha—?!"

A man clad in black armor-like plate suddenly appeared and snapped Yotsuba's neck.

Not satisfied with that, he vanished with Yotsuba still intact.

For a brief instant, as the man disappeared, another scene flickered behind him.

Likely spatial magic teleportation, as rumored.

Spatial magic is rare. I’ve never seen it myself, so this is only speculation.

But that doesn’t matter now.

I must focus on Yotsuba’s safety.

"Wha—? Wha—?"

Beside me, the teacher is staring with wide, unblinking eyes.

I probably look just as stunned from an outside view.

The events just now were too sudden.

Why Sophia?

Who was that man?

Where did Sophia and that man go?

Is Sophia safe?

Too many thoughts. Cannot organize them.

Already disoriented from the divine utterance that had just sounded moments before.

Regardless, must take action.

…But what?

"…Teacher, that book."

Eyes scanning, the first thing to catch sight of was the book Sophia had just handed to the teacher.

Divine utterance echoed, then immediately after, that man attacked Sophia.

The timing suggests no coincidence.

And the book was handed to Sophia in response to the teacher’s question about the divine utterance.

Certainly, that book holds some clue to breaking this situation.

A hopeful observation—but in the face of sudden circumstances, no further response came to mind.

"Please lend it to me."

"Ah, yes."

The teacher seemed slower to recover than I, still dazed.

Thus, without hesitation, handed over the book as I requested.

I opened it immediately and scanned its contents.

I cannot read quickly, but by maximizing the skill of cognitive acceleration, I can achieve similar results.

I am generally the type to read books thoroughly—but now was not the time for such luxury.

If I read this book, I could alter the situation.

"...No way."

Yet contrary to my hope, the book contained nothing to break the current deadlock.

Instead, it presented an even more absurd problem.

However, one matter was clarified: the reason why Yūha had been attacked by that man.

"Master. For now, downstairs. Gather everyone. Then..."

This is not a problem I can carry alone.

I must collect the other reincarnated individuals and solicit their opinions.

It’s not a matter that can be resolved simply by gathering opinions... but...

It’s a choice between the world’s extinction or its salvation.

Both options demand enormous sacrifice.

There are only two paths to salvation.

One requires sacrificing half of humanity.

The other requires sacrificing a god.

Such a weighty truth—how could I bear it alone?

Leaving me with such a burden, aren’t you, Yūha?

Yūha bears no responsibility for the world’s impending collapse, yet still, one might wish to voice a complaint.

It appears Yūha has chosen the path of sacrificing half of humanity.

If that is the case, the man who attacked us must be someone opposed to that path.

I believe he is one who chose to sacrifice a god.

He heard the divine utterance earlier and acted upon it.

Two factions have already split in secret, each operating beneath the surface to save the world.

Speaking of which, I scan the room with my gaze, searching for the figure who should be present besides myself and my teacher.

A young girl resembling Fermina, a subordinate of Yōha.

Yet Fermina is nowhere to be seen, despite having been in this very spot moments ago.

She may have left to inform someone from the same faction about Yōha’s attack.

If so, the conflict between the two factions has already begun.

...What can we do?

In the battle between the elves and Yōha’s group, we were entirely outside the scope of influence.

I pride myself on being reasonably competent as an adventurer.

Even so, in that battle, I accomplished nothing.

I simply accepted the diversion—Imperial forces attacking the elven village—without question.

And yet, in a battle that would decide the fate of the world, what could we possibly do?

...No answer comes.

In truth, there is no obligation to participate in that conflict.

I would prefer to flee, tail between my legs, from such a grand-scale war.

But even if I flee, the outcome of the battle will directly determine the world’s fate.

The future will shift dramatically depending on who wins.

Can one truly remain detached?

I do not know.

Either way, I doubt a single person like me could find an answer.

I must share this with everyone and seek counsel.

I take the teacher’s hand and leave the room.

Clutching the book left behind by Shouha tightly in hand.