290: The Fate of the Cosmic Egg ※

This story is told from a third-person perspective.

Please note.

The incident in which humans manipulated by Magatsuki ran rampant across various locations in the Imperial Star Vanilla Sid, while simultaneously attempting to erase the entire Vanilla Sid star system by exploiting a phenomenon rupture using the cosmic egg orchestrated by Funaka, was ultimately resolved thanks to the efforts of Satā and the others. Although the situation may only be temporary, it has now come to an end.

This incident would come to be known as the "Imperial Star Vanilla Sid Simultaneous Multiple Assault Incident," and various people would be set in motion toward its complete resolution.

Now, on the very night the name was decided.

Three silhouettes stood in a peculiar space that seemed unrecognizable as any known place.

"Hey, it's me. The Creator, Chirarizumu = Konpuraekusu."

The first was the master of this space—a young man with cyan hair and purple eyes, the creator of this world, Chirarizumu = Konpuraekusu.

"I was just lying in a hospital bed..."

The second was Dr. Mizeon.

Though she should have been unconscious in a hospital, undergoing various tests after being injured during the simultaneous attacks of the Imperial Star Vanilla Side, her consciousness had somehow been summoned here without her realizing it.

Dr. Mizeon's mind and senses indicate that this place is both a dream and reality, and that consciousness and thought are clear and distinct.

"I was just taking a brief nap, as the situation has calmed down..."

The third figure is the Emperor of the Vanilla Galaxy Empire, Goyamaoukin.

As he had intended, he had given orders across various locations regarding the 'Simultaneous Multi-Point Attack on Imperial Star Vanilla Sid' and related matters, and had taken a brief nap to prepare for the future.

Yet, like Dr. Mizeon, he found himself summoned here without realizing it.

Still, having been summoned here multiple times before, Emperor Goyamaoukin wore an expression that was calm, yet clearly pleading for mercy.

"I'm truly sorry to have followed you even into your dreams, but this matter concerns the future of the empire. Specifically, I'd like you two—Gor and Mizeon—to decide where within the empire the Cosmic Egg should be placed."

"..."

Their expressions, just as they were hearing Chirarizumu's words, instantly turned deeply troubled.

They both understood perfectly why now, why here, why just the two of them, and what would happen next.

Because Dr. Mizeon had half-known of the Cosmic Egg's existence through his own report.

And because Go-Yamaoukin had read Dr. Mizeon's report.

"The Cosmic Egg... There are broadly three ways cosmic monsters come into being: one, existing beings that transform due to some factor; two, entities that emerge as a result of various factors converging; and three, those that accumulate information within the unique field of the Cosmic Egg and transform into cosmic monsters..."

"You're absolutely right, Your Majesty. In other words, by channeling the proper information into the Cosmic Egg brought forth by the Creator, we could either bring forth a successor worthy of the Creator—or create a being capable of destroying the Cosmic Empire. That's why we must carefully choose the right place to position the Cosmic Egg."

"Hmm... This might turn out to be one of the heaviest decisions in the entire long history of the Vanilla Cosmic Empire."

"That's right. And I'm sorry, but all I can offer is advice. Taking on any greater responsibility would be too heavy for a mere mod researcher to bear."

"Rest easy. I have no intention of making others carry this burden. This is the Emperor's duty, after all."

Goryama Ookin asked Dr. Mizeon numerous questions, and Dr. Mizeon answered them without hesitation.

Goryama Ookin also asked questions of Chirarizumu, and for several of them, Chirarizumu responded honestly.

"...Indeed, we should align the physical manifestation of the Great Mother of Machine Intelligence with the Empire. That would likely benefit the Empire the most."

"That's right. I think that's the best course as well."

"Hmm, hmm. Should I inform the Great Mother about this?"

"I'd prefer you don't. If she becomes too aware, that information might accumulate within the Cosmic Egg. I can't predict how that knowledge will ultimately influence things."

"Then, let's place the Cosmic Egg in a realm where neither humans here nor anyone else will notice it—yet still be aware of it. In terms of time... let's say around five hundred years should see it hatch."

Thus, the cosmic egg was placed in stasis, unknown even to the one who carried it (the Great Mother).

The human being who could tell whether this decision would succeed... unfortunately, is not present here, and in reality, only a handful of people alive today could possibly know.

"Now, this means ruling the Vanilla Universe Empire will become increasingly difficult from here on out..."

"Yeah, that's right. As long as the Cosmic Eggs gather information from their surroundings, the more they fail in governance and the more chaos spreads, the more malignant information they'll absorb. A Cosmic Monster born from such an Egg... it's almost certain to perceive humanity—especially the weak—as nothing but prey. To prevent that, we'd need to feed them even more positive information... Well, that's going to be quite a challenge, isn't it?"

"But well, it's certainly difficult, yet the task itself is simply to govern with benevolence—clear and straightforward. I'll manage to make it work, including nurturing the successor. That is my duty."

"Keep up the good work. I'll support you as much as I can."

Once the location for the cosmic egg was determined, space began to collapse, naturally leading to the dissolution of this place.

And in the end, only Chirarizm remained.

"Still, that guy Fuunaka made a fatal mistake. Well, I did make sure he couldn't judge things accurately, after all."

Chirarizm murmured.

"Whether or not he could escape this world was a razor's edge... but now that it's come to this, it's up to the one who made the choice."

The physical location of the Great Mother of Mechanical Intelligence... deep beneath the imperial planet Vanilla Sid's lower layers, in a place akin to the underground realm—there, unseen by anyone, a cosmic egg is transported and installed.

"Now that this unchangeable point has been established once more, some things become visible while others fade from view. The next location where a particularly striking Chiralisium will emerge... that would be there."

And with that, Chiralisium vanished from the spot.