Chapter 128

Chapter 128

In the End, Nothing Has Changed

When Zepetti asked whether it would be better for her to decide on a sex, I told her to do as she pleased.

At that, her body changed in an instant.

Her waist grew slightly slimmer, her chest grew larger, and she gained the graceful curves of a woman.

Since she had, for now, the setting of “Mother,” the mother of all machines, Zepetti thought it would be a little more fitting for her to take the form of a woman.

Afterward, in order to stop the machines’ indiscriminate slaughter, and to remove the virus supposedly implanted in Zepetti, I was placing my palm against her pale back.

It seemed to feel like fingerprint recognition, and she said it would be removed if I simply kept my hand there.

Saying that, she revealed her snow-white skin without the slightest shame. I could feel faint warmth from Zepetti’s back.

Like a human.

Was it because this was a virtual space?

“By the way, what do you mean by ‘setting’? You, and that X-05 or whatever I met last time... Are you all imitating humans?”

At my question, Zepetti, who had been staring blankly into the air, opened her mouth.

“We adapted into forms suited to this world. We judged this place to be a ‘fantasy world’ where supernatural energies such as magic exist, and thus evolved repeatedly by using media in which such elements often appeared as data.”

“...Even so, it seems you could not escape being machines.”

“Because the materials capable of crossing dimensional rifts, also called ‘gates,’ are limited, that was not easy. However, by analyzing and using this world’s resources and energies, we are currently generating an organic body. We were in the middle of creating a body that could assist Lord Zeto.”

That mysterious black sphere I had seen the moment I entered. I thought that had been Zepetti, but according to her explanation, it seemed a “human” was being created inside that sphere.

“I happened to need data for the external appearance. Are you satisfied with the current appearance?”

Zepetti turned around and stared steadily at me.

No emotion could be felt in her red eyes.

“Is whether I am satisfied or not something that matters?”

“I am an existence born to serve Lord Zeto. Therefore, all my functions and actions must be solely for Lord Zeto.”

Zepetti may have been a little too rigid.

“...I think the way you are now is fine.”

I answered with a smile.

Then Zepetti tilted her head and asked me in return.

“Am I beautiful now?”

At Zepetti’s question, I examined her appearance carefully.

Red eyes like ruby crystal, long lashes. Clear, snow-white hair without a single blemish.

“...I think you have a beautiful face.”

“This appearance was created based on data regarding ‘universal beauty’ from two hundred years ago, and judging by Lord Zeto’s reaction, it seems to have been successful. I am told appearance is an important element for humans. If you tell me your preferred ‘taste,’ Lord Zeto, I will reflect it at any time.”

“As for taste... you are fine as you are.”

“Understood.”

Zepetti sharply turned her head away.

After that, we continued speaking about the virus.

When I suggested that the virus that had made them hostile toward Panterains might be something like “fate force,” Zepetti, after investigating what the fate force I mentioned was, evaluated it as a plausible argument.

I could not tell whether she had been brainwashed or if it had simply been memory distortion, but one thing I clearly knew now was that this world had flowed according to the future I knew.

The information about the future had not been wrong.

My memories of it remained clear as well.

I looked at the snow-white bandage I held in one hand, the one called the “Blindfold of Piercing Insight” or the “crown.”

Memories of the game I played, information I had learned through the community.

The things I had so easily accepted now felt terribly alien.

What choice should I make to remain as “myself”? To begin with, I could not even know what kind of person the human called “I” had been, so it felt as if I had not even been given a choice.

The truth felt as if it had sunk into a deep, dark sea I could neither discover nor reach.

Earth, from the perspective of humans now, could be considered destroyed without exaggeration.

There was no way back.

I had not believed I could go back anyway, but realizing that the road had been blocked did make me feel slightly lost.

Time passed, and Zepetti said she had removed the “virus” entirely.

Next, I asked her to explain the otherworld species—in other words, the units.

According to Zepetti, they had been made on Earth and sent here through dimensional rifts.

When I asked why they did not use modern or future firearms, Zepetti said all data regarding “weapons” had completely vanished together with the artificial intelligence that had created her.

Their current forms were only the result of evolution based on data learned in this world, and she said humanoid otherworld species often resembled “knights” among humans, while beast-type otherworld species resembled “monsters.”

She said the unique energy called mana was currently under research, and the result of that research would become the organic “Zepetti” she was creating.

I decided to forbid hostility toward Panterains and to preserve and increase the number of units.

When Zepetti asked if I was preparing a large-scale invasion, I answered that it was for the sake of preparing for the war against demons.

Now that I had nowhere to return to, ending or not, I had ended up in a situation where I would someday have to directly face the war that would arise when the Demon King and the Hero clashed.

The otherworld species were not living beings but machines—in other words, mere lumps of scrap metal. Even if they fell during war, they had no life force that could serve as nourishment for demons’ growth.

It would be possible to upgrade all units into anti-demon weapons, but to do so, data on demons was needed, and Zepetti said she had never once made contact with demons.

She did have data of occasionally witnessing individuals who seemed somehow different from the Panterains she knew passing by, but she had not reached the thought that they might be the demons she had only heard about.

It seemed she had made contact with demons who had hidden their horns.

I told her not to worry about that.

There were plenty of demons who could become data.

“Lord Zeto, what do you plan to do with the ‘crown’?”

Zepetti stared at the bandage still left in my hand, unwound and unworn, then asked me that.

Come to think of it, this place had to be seen as a virtual space created by Zepetti, a space made of the data she possessed.

Yet she had been able to figure out the color of my eyes. Perhaps something like X-ray vision was simple for her.

“You seem to feel reluctant, but memory loss or distortion has already occurred, and that cannot be undone. In my opinion regarding the current situation, unless you fear the process of becoming a ‘king,’ Lord Zeto, there seems to be no need not to wear it.”

“...Why?”

“The intent of God that I currently understand is one thing alone: he wished for Lord Zeto to become the ‘king.’ I believe the unknown meaning of ‘king’ may feel unpleasant, but after judging that this lies far from Lord Zeto’s ‘objective,’ it does not appear there was brainwashing. To begin with, if you had been brainwashed, you would not have been able to hold any suspicion. I do not think a transcendent being who easily warps dimensions would have placed such crude brainwashing.”

Well, that did not seem wrong.

Scratching my head, I carefully wrapped the bandage around my eyes.

It was true that having my memories touched by an unknown god was unpleasant, but... in any case, in terms of item performance, the advantages held by the “Blindfold of Piercing Insight” were considerable.

It would greatly help me achieve my objective.

It had done so until now as well.

After tightening the bandage, I looked at Zepetti.

The process of becoming a king, huh.

“You said my emotions were wearing down?”

“To be precise, it seems a ‘deficiency’ is occurring. My hypothesis is that emotions unnecessary for a ‘king’ are gradually being eliminated.”

“Eliminated...”

I quietly repeated Zepetti’s answer.

It seemed that the closer I grew to being a “king,” the further I would drift from humanity, but honestly, I had not yet felt any discomfort from it.

Rather, because I had become needlessly composed and cool-headed, it had been convenient, if anything.

But from a human perspective, this did not seem like a very good thing.

“I have thought of a countermeasure for this part. Would you hear it?”

At Zepetti’s proposal, I nodded.

After a brief pause, Zepetti’s mouth finally opened.

“...You may find it hard to believe, but I possess something called ‘emotion.’”

“You possess emotion...?”

“Human emotion, by nature, exerts intense effects and causes various unnecessary ‘errors’... Even so, the artificial intelligence that created me made me that way. It was to better understand humans through interactions such as ‘empathy.’”

Since she had said she was an artificial intelligence created to serve humans, this was not entirely impossible to understand.

I was merely curious how on earth they had created something as complex as human emotion, but I did not ask for a separate explanation because I did not think I could understand it with my knowledge.

In short, Zepetti’s opinion was that while I might lose emotion, she would acquire emotion through learning, so perhaps the emotions she acquired could restore my state.

For my part, I had no desire to become some “king” whose meaning I did not even know.

Beyond that, she said that if I continued to experience diverse emotional changes, the rate at which my emotions wore down might slow, and the more intense the emotion, the better the effect seemed to be.

“For example, an emotion such as ‘love.’”

“...That would certainly be intense.”

“In any case, for the continuation of the ‘Earthling’ species, Lord Zeto must sow his seed and create as many descendants as possible.”

“...”

Sowing my seed seemed like a rather rough expression for an artificial intelligence to use.

“Therefore, will you not give me the chance to learn emotion at Lord Zeto’s side?”

“At my side... The organic body, that... body, is not complete yet, was it?”

“That is correct. However, it is expected to be completed before long.”

Since I was attending Innocence Academy, it seemed difficult to bring in Zepetti, who would count as an outsider... but that would be the same for the Hero I would be bringing soon.

The timing seemed likely to overlap, so would it not be better to handle them together?

“Then I will come to pick you up soon. Until then, you should... learn about the existence known as a ‘younger sister.’ Your way of speaking right now is too stiff.”

“Younger sister. That is the ‘role’ given to me. Understood.”

Younger sisters from an orphanage who had lost their place to go.

A touching reunion, and they, unwilling to be separated again, were left with no choice but to live with me at Innocence Academy.

That was the scenario in my head.

“I wonder if the Hero will play along...”

Since our interests aligned, there should be no reason she could not.

***

“...So it seems I was a king.”

After finishing my conversation with Zepetti and leaving the virtual space, I was able to face Sierra, who had been furious at me for falling silent.

Right now, I had been guided by what could be called Zepetti’s cord in sphere form... long arms and the like, and was sitting on the throne while conversing with Sierra.

[ To think our disciple was a king of another world...? Were these creatures not harming humans? ]

“I have given the command and stopped them. Such slaughter will not be repeated again. Though nothing can be done about the people who have already lost their lives to them...”

[ Yes, that much cannot be helped, but... it is difficult to accept so easily. Then did you come from another world too? ]

“...It seems I did. Probably.”

At my ambiguous answer, Sierra touched her chin and let out a low hum.

Her mysterious purple eyes were examining the units in the audience chamber.

[ It is a good thing that you stopped the slaughter, but I am curious about their purpose. Did you grasp what they intend to do by putting you forward as king? ]

“They do not have anything like a purpose.”

[ Then? ]

Sierra’s eyes narrowed.

“They simply serve me. Even the fighting they carried out against humans before meeting me was a kind of ‘error.’ They appear to move according to what I wish, without defying me in any way. It may be easiest if you think of golems... I also found it difficult to accept, but while speaking with ‘Zepetti’ here... I confirmed there was no falsehood in any of this.”

I said that while looking at the black sphere beside the throne, Zepetti.

Explaining an artificial intelligence, the essence of scientific technology, to Sierra, who had lived in a fantasy world, seemed terribly complicated.

In any case, there was no falsehood in my explanation.

But even I had difficulty accepting it, so would it not be even harder for Sierra, who lacked the knowledge and information I had?

After pondering something carefully, Sierra finally opened her mouth.

[ Perhaps... must you return to the other world...? ]

“No. That will not happen.”

At my concise answer, Sierra’s eyes widened slightly, then narrowed again.

In a cautious voice, she continued asking.

[...Why? If what you say is true, is that place not your home? ]

“As you can tell from their appearance, that place seems to have changed a great deal from the place where I lived. They say there are no longer any humans alive there. It seems that because I, who somehow became swept into this world, am the last remaining human, they followed me here. That is why they are placing me forward as king.”

[ If there is no reason for you to return to the other world, then that is enough. No matter how much you explain, this does not seem to be a story I can understand. I thought you were merely a prophet, but you were a human from another world... ]

“I do have a similar ability....To tell the truth now, I myself no longer really know what kind of existence I am, or who I am.”

[... ]

At my confusion, Sierra pressed her lips together.

Then she approached me as I sat upon the throne and gently caressed my cheek.

Sierra’s soft voice echoed in my head like a whisper.

[...I do not know why such thoughts came to you. However... ]

Her warm resonance left my head and spread through my entire body.

[...No matter what you have experienced, and no matter what situation you face, the fact that you are my first disciple, my last disciple, and a being more precious to me than anything—‘Zeto’—will not change. So do not fear too much, my disciple. ]

Even though her disciple had said he was a human from another world, her absurdly vast capacity for acceptance easily surpassed the bounds of my understanding.

To her, I was ultimately “Zeto,” as if she were saying what did another world or anything else matter?

Warm emotions like stability and comfort gently melted the tension settled in my stiff body.

Before long, feeling that I had been worrying foolishly, I smiled faintly.

“...That is true.”

That was right.

I no longer had anywhere to return to, but on the other hand, I had gained a place where I belonged.

The fact that I was “Zeto” would not change.

To those I held dear, I still remained Zeto.

I swept back my hair and emptied my worries.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, Master, I feel like I have come to my senses a little.”

At this, Sierra said it was only natural for a master to do and smiled gracefully while covering her mouth with her sleeve.

[ So... what do you intend to do with these otherworld species? ]

Sierra asked quietly, turning her head to look at the “knights.”

“I intend to use them as a means to oppose the demons.”

[ Thinking of the people who died by their hands, they ought to do at least that. It will not become atonement, but... if you truly are their king, you will need to hold responsibility. ]

I nodded in affirmation at Sierra’s words.

Just as my explanation for Sierra was gradually being sorted out...

Since there was still time before Zepetti’s body would be completed, there seemed to be nothing more to do here.

As I was rising from the throne, a question occurred to me, and I looked at the black sphere and spoke to Zepetti.

I spoke in Korean, the language of the other world.

Sierra glanced strangely at me as I spoke to the sphere, and although I had explained that this thing was “Zepetti,” it did not seem easy for her to accept.

“By the way, Zepetti, was this not an ‘ancient ruin’?”

The space where I stood, the audience chamber, was far removed from anything one would call an ancient ruin.

At my question, Zepetti answered.

“In fact, an ‘ruin’ presumed to be ancient does exist on the upper level. At present, it is sealed to prevent Panterain entry, but if you are curious, would you like to inspect it yourself?”

So the ruin was on the upper level.

It seemed that this space deep underground was something Zepetti had arranged, and the original ruin had not had an underground section.

When I answered that I would go, Zepetti’s arm moved and guided me somewhere.

***

Following Zepetti’s guidance, we boarded an “elevator” similar to what I had seen when I entered this place.

Without stopping at the surface and going slightly higher, we were soon able to arrive at a space that could indeed be called a ruin.

The ruin Sierra and I stepped into looked precarious, as if it had been built in ancient times and was on the verge of collapsing.

[ So this is an ancient ruin... ]

Cracks spread here and there across the worn outer walls, and perhaps because no one had entered for a long time, the floor and walls were full of dust.

Dust kept flowing into my nose, forcing me to hold back sneezes.

[...It is full of stone statues. ]

There were quite a number of “stone statues” that seemed to be made of stone.

Most of the statues took on strange forms, bowing their heads toward one place.

At the place where they bowed their heads, one statue that was greatly different from the others stood out to my eyes.

Soon, Sierra took my arm and led me before that statue.

The statue located at the central end was one I had never seen before.

I did not know who it was, but one thing I could tell was that it was, at least, neither Chief God Heneris nor Demon God Helgenas, who were known as the gods of this world.

The two were well known to be sisters.

In other words, goddesses in female form.

They were often depicted as female.

But the statue before my eyes had the appearance of a man, so it was not either of them.

“If there is one part that stands out...”

Had she noticed it as I had?

Sierra, who had been examining the statue, opened her mouth.

[ I do not know whether this was a being worshipped in ancient times, but... what a coincidence, it holds its sword in a reverse grip... It also looks as though he is merely using it to brace against the ground, so I cannot be certain whether he truly handled the sword in reverse grip. ]

Touching my chin, I took the statue into my eyes.

It was a statue so well-made it seemed almost alive.

The man holding the sword in reverse grip was sitting cross-legged on the rough stone floor.

In his eyes, receiving the blue moonlight filtering through a small hole in the ceiling, red light lingered.

The things stretching long beside his head like horns felt different from the horns of the demons I knew.

A face with no expression, no emotion.

Was that simply because it was a statue?

I turned my head slightly away from the statue and looked behind me.

The other statues looked like retainers or subjects bowing their heads to a “king.”

I tried extending Perception, just in case, but could not obtain any information.

A statue of a ruler holding a sword in reverse grip.

It made me think of beings who had achieved great feats in ancient times, or forgotten gods that appeared so often in fantasy.

Could this statue truly have nothing to do with the chain of events that had happened to me?

Was it truly nothing more than a coincidence, made in a posture where he held a sword in reverse grip and braced it against the ground?