239: Creator

"Step back!"

At the moment I became aware of its existence.

I drew my titanium stick and stepped between the self-proclaimed odd old man and His Majesty the Emperor.

Though I wasn't certain of the opponent's strength and might not even serve as a proper barrier, I decided that I should still do what I could.

"Hah, it seems you've misunderstood due to your usual bad habit. I won't be helping you, so you'll just have to manage on your own."

"It's not a bad habit—it's my nature. If there's a moment filled with that kind of fleeting, uncertain glance, I can't help but jump in. That's just who I am."

Yet the voice of His Imperial Majesty, coming from behind me as I remained on guard, carried a mixture of exasperation and warmth.

Looking back, the Crown Prince and the artificial intelligence were not at all flustered.

Then... does that mean this self-proclaimed odd old man is personally acquainted with His Imperial Majesty?

"Ah, it's been quite some time since our last proper meeting—since the Niliani Potz system, wasn't it? Satu Sektex."

"Wha—?!"

No, that's not it.

It's not just a matter of being acquainted.

No, the hierarchy is completely different.

Though it shouldn't feel any different from the usual 'Vanilla OS' I'm used to, this intensity is utterly unlike anything else... This sensation... it's...

"Then, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Chirarizumu = Konporekusu. In this world, my official position is head of the Adult Certification Issuance Authority. But, to speak more accurately and reveal the true nature... I am the Creator, or rather, God. That would be the most fitting title."

An cosmic monster.

Something incomparably greater than a tiny cosmic monster like me... no, even a planet-sized cosmic monster would be effortlessly dismissed by it—so vastly superior that it's not just a matter of scale, but of exponential magnitude—such an incomprehensible being.

But the Creator?

Does that mean the one who made this world?

That such a being could exist... I can hardly fathom it.

"Well, saying 'Creator' might be misleading—I'm not the type who fashions things from nothing. Instead, I observe the changes that arise at the threshold between chaos and emptiness, and by defining boundaries in that state, I establish a world that remains unaffected by outside interference, except for chance. By identifying arbitrary chalirisms, I set the initial seed values... Ah, you look utterly confused. I'll stop there."

"????"

Ah, yeah.

Better not think too deeply about it.

This probably exceeds the range of what I can comprehend.

"That's right. If we're talking about what can be observed within this world, I've basically been hands-off since around ten thousand years ago—before the Vanilla Universe Empire even came into existence—only stepping in occasionally at key moments to assist humanity. For example, things like the prototype of mod technology."

"!?"

"Good reaction. The reason I gave them the prototype of mod technology was..."

"Cough. Your words touch upon the truths of the universe, but they stray too often and are far too lengthy. They aren't the kind of thing one should discuss while standing here."

"...You're right about that. Then, let's sit down properly and talk."

Before I realized it, a tent, a tea gathering table and chairs, tea, and sweets had been set up behind us.

Considering how the Emperor seemed to slightly react in surprise, the one who had prepared this must be that eccentric old man I've been calling... well, Chirarizumu = Konpuraekusu, apparently.

Once inside the tent, we're surrounded by a dense yet unoppressive presence—'Vanilla OS' in full force.

Honestly, it's so utterly unlike anything else that I'm at a loss for how to react.

"Where should I begin... I've been called a long-winded old man by the current Emperor, after all..."

"Let's start with the nature of our relationship. Satu, what I'm about to say must never be known to anyone other than those present here. Not even Vee."

"Y-yes..."

"Well, the Vanilla Genroot Viscount family is aware of my existence, of course. They've served me for years, after all."

"Understood. Keep it to yourself."

"Yes..."

The Emperor glares sharply at Chilarius = Conplerek, but the latter appears utterly unfazed.

This alone clearly illustrates the balance of power between the two.

Still, it's hard to deny that the opponent is simply too formidable.

If the claim is true that he provided the foundational technology behind modding, then humanity today has no means to resist whatsoever.

Our relationship with the Vanilla Emperor lineage is simple—advisor and steward. I appear only before the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Though in recent years, the mechanical intelligence known as the Great Mother has also joined them, the fundamental arrangement has remained unchanged since the beginning.

"That place should be called a god and its priests. Fortunately, they’re allowed to do as they please, but we stop anything that could lead to fatal consequences due to the emperor’s actions. They also handle situations beyond the capacity of current humanity to resist. In return... what exactly are we being made to provide? That part has never been discussed."

"There's no point discussing compensation. I'll just say it's not faith, nor is it something that would become a debt. But since things are proceeding smoothly, you can rest easy."

"We can't feel at ease at all. Even if you speak the truth, it won't make us feel secure."

I've heard that the doctrine of divine right of kings once existed in ancient times.

The idea that kings receive their authority directly from God, giving them absolute power over their people.

I'd heard this was an ancient concept that had long since vanished... but apparently, it's actually persisted continuously since antiquity.

Still, the gods mentioned in such theories and Chirarizumu = Konpuraekusu... well, they're probably in a class of their own.

For some reason, kelp tea is in a teacup, yet it's so delicious that one could claim they've never tasted anything like it—even in this peculiar situation—and the fact that such a thing can be served so casually truly highlights the difference in caliber.

For now, the Emperor and Crown Prince of the Vanilla Cosmos Empire have come to understand that they must spend their entire lives dealing with such an absurd entity.

This is going to be tough...

"Master, and Father. We're drifting off-topic again."

"Ah? Oh, sorry about that."

"It's fine if we stray off track. As the absolute observer of this world, I'm right here—time's passage can be manipulated however I like. Go ahead and talk as much as you want."

"Wha...?"

After all, creators are naturally expected to twist time at will.

Trying to keep the conversation from drifting off like this... that might be truly difficult.

"Chaos contains emptiness and change precisely because it is chaos."

Nothingness contains chaos and change precisely because it is nothingness.

Neither chaos nor nothingness could exist without change, which is why they predate the origin.

During the transformation from chaos to nothingness, or vice versa, one can glimpse the emergence of all things (a fleeting glimpse).

By adjusting what is seen at this moment, it becomes possible to establish any world, and thus create a world.

In this way, as long as the scale of power is sufficient, creating a world is easily achievable—just depends on how you use your abilities," (the Creator speaking with an expression that seems to imply smugness)

"?????" (the protagonist, with the cosmos as the background)