Chapter 804: The Perpetrator

I stared blankly with my mouth open.

The malice that had invaded our world.

The countless people who had died because of that malice.

Because of that, I had harbored resentment and anger toward that malice.

Even while considering survival in this world my highest priority, that resentment had steadily accumulated.

But.

‘......The remains of worlds that had already died.’

That resentment of mine.

The target toward which my anger was directed...... had already died and disappeared long ago.

No.

The corpses that had been dead from the very beginning were the target.

“I.......”

Was I not the only one shocked by that fact?

“......Was I created for such a reason.”

“.......”

The one who had been listening to the conversation near me.

I saw the Prince’s body stagger slightly.

Even though it knew that it was a life-form created for destruction.

It had not known the reason its creator had made such a choice.

Now that it had learned that fact...... the shock seemed considerable.

=They are the remnants of destroyed worlds.=

At that moment.

Avaritia’s soul calmly continued speaking.

=However, the worlds destroyed by our...... Alliance leave behind not even remnants. Their lives, their divinity, their lands...... everything must be used as fuel for the Demon Realm.=

“.......”

=The worlds destroyed by us do not turn into that malice. The worlds not destroyed by us turn into the malice at the edge of the universe. And the result created by that malice.=

The worlds those bastards had not destroyed.

The result of that malice gathering.......

=Was the destruction you experienced.=

Only then.

I was able to understand exactly what he had meant.

=A world that will be destroyed anyway. It is better for it to be hunted by us.=

The Demon Realm certainly destroyed other worlds.

But a world destroyed in that manner caused no problems afterward.

=For our sake as well. And.......=

Rather, the cause that destroyed our world lay elsewhere.

Worlds that had not been destroyed by the Demon Realm, but had perished for their own reasons.

The remains of those worlds gathered and became that malice.

=For the sake of all life in the other universes as well.=

If a world was going to be destroyed anyway.

Being destroyed by his hands was also better for the other worlds in the universe.

‘......He said he could not lie. Annoyingly enough, he really has been saying nothing but the truth.’

Just as he said.

From my position as a resident of this world, it would not have been strange for me to support his actions instead.

If those bastards had worked harder to absorb the worlds destined for destruction, that malice would not have grown so large...... and that malice would never have descended upon our world.

“......No.”

But.

I denied the thought that had appeared in my head and shook my head.

“Even if everything is exactly as you say, your claim that it would be better to be destroyed by you is wrong.”

=What are you saying.......=

“You did not invade those worlds because you were certain they would soon be destroyed, did you?”

The barriers of worlds were thick.

Even the other divinities could not properly look inside our world, which had no divinity, until a hole had been pierced through it.

“Whether it was a world that looked as though it would be destroyed immediately, or a world that showed no sign of destruction. You must have invaded them without distinction.”

When invading other worlds.

There was no way those bastards had calculated the circumstances of those worlds or their remaining lifespans.

Among them, there must have been countless worlds that would have survived for far longer.

“A considerable number of those worlds could still have been alive even now, at the point when we were invaded. Am I wrong?”

=.......=

“Then there is no need for us to be grateful to you. You did not invade worlds destined for destruction in order to reduce that malice. You merely invaded worlds indiscriminately for your own sake.”

At that.

Avaritia’s soul answered with a hollow laugh.

=Whether a world will be destroyed immediately or not is unimportant. As I said. In the end, every world is destined to be destroyed someday.=

“Hmm.”

=In the end, only the timing is different. They are worlds that will someday turn into that malice. Being destroyed by our hands would at least.......=

“No, that is a little different.”

But.

I interrupted him and spoke.

“At least if they were not worlds that would be destroyed immediately.”

I closed my eyes for a moment.

After organizing my thoughts, I opened my mouth.

“Those worlds might someday...... have found a way to overcome the destruction that would come in the future.”

=You may be more foolish than I thought. Did I not tell you? Destruction can never be avoided.......=

“That is a conclusion you made on your own, is it not?”

Those who had struggled to survive destruction.

But they saw something that their Alliance had experienced.......

The absolutely unavoidable ‘law of destruction itself’ and gave up.

It must certainly have been something extraordinary.

Even divinities like those despaired and concluded that destruction could not be avoided.

It made me wonder just how dangerous it was.

But.

“I have not seen it yet, have I?”

=.......=

Even though I had looked into Avaritia’s memories through foresight.

I had still not laid eyes on that concept.

Perhaps it was something that could not be seen through another person’s vision.

And if I had not properly seen it yet.

“Me...... and the other worlds that are still alive. Those worlds might reach a different conclusion from you.”

What conclusion they would reach after seeing it.

That was the right of those who had not yet seen it.

The worlds that had been destroyed by their hands.

Had those worlds not been destroyed so meaninglessly.

Perhaps someone within them might have emerged who could discover a way to overcome that law of destruction.

“What you did was bring an end to worlds that might have been able to overcome that destruction. You merely eliminated with your own hands the possibility that destruction might be overcome.”

Therefore.

I had no choice but to deny his words.

That it was better to be destroyed by his hands than to be destroyed for reasons of their own.......

Those were words that must never be accepted.

=......We all failed. Among ‘us’ were countless divinities far greater than I. All of them reached the same conclusion....... Are you saying your conclusion might be different?=

“Well...... honestly, I know that if everyone reached the same conclusion to that extent, it would make sense to simply go along with them.”

They had seen that law of destruction and fallen into despair.

But I had not yet experienced it myself.

“Even so, I should at least check.”

Was it said that.

The ignorant were the bravest of all.

“No matter what destruction comes. Even if that thing called the law of destruction itself appears directly.”

Fortunately.

Unlike those bastards, I still did not properly know anything about it...... and I had no fear of it.

“Until I experience it myself, I will not give up.”

=.......=

“If I confront it myself...... perhaps I might find a way to overcome it.”

At those words of mine.

Avaritia’s soul seemed to flinch for a moment.

=You are speaking sophistry.=

He said that.

=It is absurd sophistry. Even you, the one saying it, must have noticed to some degree that your own words are strange.=

“......Ahem.”

=But, even so.=

I had racked my brain and opened my mouth in an attempt to refute him.

But honestly, my mind was still in a daze.

I was already busy trying to overcome the destruction immediately before me.

And even if I survived that, I would someday have no choice but to be destroyed by some incomprehensible concept those bastards spoke of.

What I had said was nothing more than nonsense I had blurted out because I did not want to meekly acknowledge that.

But.

=Even so.=

The eyes of that soul narrowed.

=There is...... certainly no falsehood in that will.=

The soul was gradually growing smaller.

He spoke in a peculiar voice.

=Yes...... courage that can only be possessed through ignorance. Some may call it foolishness.......=

He too.

Had once been an existence that created the concept of ‘being together’ in order to overcome destruction.

Because of that.

=It appears...... a little radiant.=

What he had lost.

He had no choice but to acknowledge, at least, my will to face that destruction head-on and overcome it.

=Yes....... If that is what you think, if you wish to find some way to overcome that destruction...... then do as you please.=

Amid the gradually weakening light.

Avaritia, with only his soul remaining, spoke in a slightly lighter voice.

=The Alliance’s invitation was rejected long ago anyway. I have no intention of clinging pathetically to you now.=

At those words.

I looked at him and spoke.

“......What will happen to you now?”

=A divinity that has defied its Divine Name can no longer exist. I will gradually lose my light...... and before long, I will disappear without leaving even a trace.=

“.......”

The extinction of a divinity.

That itself was something I had already foreseen.

However, there was one part that bothered me a little.

“Then what about your world?”

The worlds I had seen.

Many of those worlds had been placed upon the path of destruction when the divinity that ruled them left its place.

Perhaps it would be different for those who, like us, had lost their ruler and strengthened themselves.

But a world protected by its ruler rapidly became powerless the moment it lost that ruler.

=Since it has lost me, its ruler.=

......And.

Could even Avaritia’s world.

The world of a great divinity considered one of the foremost in the previous universe, be no exception?

=It will probably...... be destroyed before long.=

“......!”

He.

Said that far too calmly.

***

“What.”

At the words he uttered far too calmly.

I could not help but frown.

Avaritia.

This bastard was clearly an enemy who had invaded my world.

The Legion members and I had fought him with everything we had in order to survive.

But the result of that.

‘It will be destroyed?’

The destruction of another world.

That was...... not what I had wanted.

=Do not worry too much. My world will not become the malice at the edge of the universe that invaded your world.=

“What do you mean?”

=My world is connected to the Demon Realm. If I disappear...... my world will become fuel for the Demon Realm without anything being left behind.=

Even after hearing his following words.

There was no chance of my frown easing.

“The Demon Realm...... Was the Divine Realm Alliance not an alliance formed so that you could survive together? And yet, just because you disappear, it will swallow that world whole?”

=The Divine Realm Alliance is not an alliance between those worlds, but between the rulers of those worlds. The one who formed the alliance has disappeared. If there is an excellent world nearby that can become fuel, the Alliance will invade that world without hesitation.=

“......Even though you know your world will be devoured by the Demon Realm if you cease to exist, the Alliance remains in place?”

=A world that has lost its protector will generally be destroyed before long, even if no one touches it first. Rather than being destroyed in that manner and having its remains transform into that hideous malice.......=

“It is better to become fuel for the Demon Realm? Damn it. You certainly are very fair even to yourselves.”

I spoke while suppressing the headache surging over me.

“Are you really fine with that?”

This bastard.

Avaritia had never originally intended to become evil.

Everything that had led him to become the Archdemon of the Demon Realm had begun solely from the pure desire to protect his own world.......

The desire to keep the promise shared between himself and his world.

I could not understand how someone like him could speak so easily about the destruction of his own world.

And.

=How could I possibly be fine with it.=

Naturally.

He did not regard that fact with indifference either.

=I am angry, and I feel wronged.=

“.......”

=Above all...... the promise I made with my children. I am sorry that I could not keep that promise...... and I find myself utterly miserable for being unable to keep it. But.=

The reason he had nevertheless been pretending to speak calmly.......

Was simpler than I had expected.

=I have already invaded countless other worlds and destroyed them without number.=

“.......”

=This time, that invasion failed. If so...... I too must pay the appropriate price.=

He had destroyed countless worlds.

There was no way he had felt nothing about those actions.

He had expected that someday his actions would return to him as karma.

‘......And he must also have been prepared for it.’

If he, the invader, failed.

His own world would also have no choice but to be destroyed, just like the worlds he had invaded.......

He had prepared himself for that.

“That is a little.”

Well, I understood that resolve.

I also understood that this bastard had not destroyed other worlds without thinking anything of it.

But.

Even so, to quietly accept the destruction of his own world.

That was...... how should I put it.

“I do not like it.”