Choice Time ①

Sophia's perspective

"Aa. The worst kind of awakening."

Sunlight, unbearable in its intensity, pours through the window.

Normally I wouldn't mind, but under current conditions, the sun feels… hostile.

The effect of the Primordial title should negate sunlight's influence. Still, I am a vampire after all. Sunlight is not something I like.

I never cared before. This must be a psychological effect.

"Miss Sophia, are you awake?"

Melazophis’s voice comes from beyond the door.

Apparently Melazophis woke before me.

I didn’t oversleep. Melazophis simply woke earlier.

...The numerous signs of people already awake outside must be my imagination.

"Already awake. I'll get ready and join you shortly—please go ahead."

"Understood. Everyone is already assembled. Please hurry."

...Five minutes, no—three minutes, I'll be ready!

"Did I keep you waiting?"

"Indeed. A senior officer's commute."

Upon entering the large room where everyone had gathered with brisk efficiency, I was immediately met with a snide remark from Kyōya.

I glared at Kyōya, opened my mouth to protest—then closed it.

Kyōya was unusually tense.

"What's wrong?"

"Yesterday, after everyone collapsed, an enemy assault occurred."

"Wha—?!"

No way!

I was completely out of it, wasn't I!?

"We managed to repel them, but couldn't eliminate the threat—some escaped."

"Hm."

I almost said it was shameful to let them escape—but I swallowed the words.

I know Kyōya's strength.

That Kyōya failed to capture them means the opponent was quite strong.

More to the point, Kyōya being this tense suggests the situation was fairly dangerous.

And since I was down and useless, blaming Kyōya here would be misplaced.

Or rather, I suppose I was protected in a way…

“…I’ll say this much. Thank you.”

Kyōya blinked rapidly.

“What’s with that reaction?”

“No. It’s just… Sophia thanking me. Might be a sign of something bad happening soon.”

“Do you really think I’m that kind of person?”

“Haha.”

He gave me a half-hearted glare and laughed it off.

Well, whatever.

I’ll overlook it, given the effort he made while I was incapacitated.

Now then—reassessing the surroundings—this feels more like a wake than a gathering.

Everyone here, nearly all the reincarnated, remains silent. No one speaks.

An unnatural silence.

Well, I can understand the feeling.

" Sophia seems relatively unharmed."

"Yes. Heretic Resistance is working to some extent."

To suppress the negative effects of the Envy skill, I raised the Heretic Resistance skill level with Kyoya, and obtained Heretic Immunity.

Likely due to that, the effect here is weaker than for the others.

This is Taboo.

"Still, I never expected the Taboo to be distributed to all of humanity. The gods certainly have bold plans."

The reason I collapsed yesterday—because the Taboo was forcibly implanted.

It bypassed resistance effects like Unconsciousness Immunity and Pain Immunity, causing severe headaches and loss of consciousness.

When I regained awareness, I was already in bed.

"Ah, right. Who carried me to the bed?"

" Hmm."

The girl in maid attire, darting side to side while carrying a tray, was the one Kyōya pointed at.

Wasn't she one of Ariel’s attendants? Ael or something like that?

"Girls carry the food. I handle the boys."

"Right. Gotta thank them later."

Still, what exactly is that girl carrying?

Curious, I looked closer— it was breakfast.

Arranging breakfast dishes before the transmigrated ones, who sat silent and hunched.

"Did she make this breakfast?"

"No. Ariel did."

"What?"

Ariel?

But Ariel was supposed to be unwell right now?

"Ah, ah. Time for a delicious breakfast~"

There she was—Ariel herself, carrying a tray.

"Life’s been rough lately, I know. But you can’t survive without human food. Let’s just eat, shall we?"

The transmigrated ones lifted their heads at Ariel’s words.

Ariel moved to our side and took a seat at the same table.

Ael immediately placed breakfast for me and Kyoya.

"Thank you."

Hmm.

I accidentally said it together with Kyoya.

Ael bowed silently and left without another word.

"Ael will remain on watch while we eat."

"Right. There's no guarantee we won't be attacked again."

"That's correct."

Understood.

"Good. Everyone ready? Then, let's eat."

Ariel’s pre-meal greeting.

The transmigrated ones murmured "Thank you for the meal" at scattered intervals. A few began slowly eating.

A few still remained motionless. They’ll move soon enough.

I paid no attention to them and began eating.

"Ah, delicious."

"Made only from what was available. Hard to say it’s particularly good. The outside’s like that, after all."

The outside’s been burned to ash.

So the ingredients used for this breakfast barely escaped the battlefield.

Or perhaps they were taken from the army’s rations?

Either way, it’s hard to call them good.

Yet they’re quite tasty—likely due to Ariel’s skill in preparation.

Still, food supplies are limited. We’ll need to leave soon.

“What are our next steps?”

Ariel frowns, deep in thought.

“To be honest, I can’t predict what happens next. That’s why I’m hesitating on deciding a course of action.”

Well, it’s not like anyone expected this outcome.

Following the original plan isn’t possible anymore.

“I’ve already had Melazofis and Fermina prepare accordingly.”

Ah.

That’s why she wasn’t here.

Still…

"This Taboo… can't it be resolved somehow? It's unbearable."

The Taboo menu floats in mind. From it, the thought 'Atonement' constantly resonates.

The thought of this continuing indefinitely makes me feel drained.

"No. I've been dealing with it for a long time."

"Hah…"

I knew it already. Still, I couldn't help sighing.

"Still, if the system disappears, the Taboo will vanish too. Skills vanish with the system."

"That's it!"

We're already planning to destroy the system. This irritation will finally end!

The reason to destroy the system has just increased.

"...This is too convenient for us."

"Huh?"

Ariel frowns, deep in thought.

True. If one examines the content of the Taboo, it's understandable—Ariel is attempting to save the goddess.

If word spreads that breaking the system eliminates the burden of the Taboo, more will surely join our cause.

Even I, who possess Outerpath Inhibition and have my influence suppressed, find it unbearable.

Those without Outerpath Inhibition must suffer far worse.

Once freed from that torment, they would abandon all restraint.

Considering that, the fact that the Taboo was imposed on all humanity is a clear advantage for us.

Yet why does Ariel seem troubled, despite the benefit?

"Is there something troubling you?"

Before I could ask, Kyoya spoke directly to Ariel.

"As far as I know, the divine higher administrator does not favor one side over the other. And yet, so far, we have the advantage."

"…Something unfavorable for us will happen later, you mean?"

“I don’t know. But when the Taboo was distributed, it was called World Sequence 1. That means there’s a 2 and beyond.”

That’s right. Yes.

There will be something else after this.

‘World Quest Sequence 2’

Ah?

The talk of the devil, I suppose.

Well then, what will emerge next?