The Karma Contract

During the Goddess Department War, the moment the Dimensional Lord's attention shifted toward the primitive humans, the Machine Emperor stealthily attempted to recharge the planet-destroying cannon once more. Yet the artificial intelligence's warning forced him to abandon the plan.

The artificial intelligence's voice carried such thick resentment that the Machine Emperor's spirit completely broke. In truth, the artificial intelligence of Idea was also gnashing its teeth in fury. Though the current state was caused by the machine race, the pride it had built while forging this decisive battle weapon had been shredded to pieces by this hollow defeat.

There's nothing left to fight, so you call yourself the Highest Main God of the current universe? How am I supposed to use you against a former Supreme Creator God? If the pilot had been at least an Intermediate Main God, the unit wouldn't have been crippled so easily! How long will it take to repair this thing?

Because the mechanical body was the size of a satellite, the resources and vitality required for automatic repair increased exponentially. At minimum, it would demand the divine power of an entire sun and the vitality of one star. What alarmed it most, however, was that this dismal situation was not yet over.

Since he called himself the God of War, there's no way he'll end things this peacefully.

Opponents known as the God of War and the God of Fighting were not so merciful. They were existences that would use any means necessary to annihilate their enemies for the sake of protecting the Divine Realm.

Sure enough, the moment the full power connected to the mechanical god known as the Mado Machine Idol and its transformation began, divine power surged toward it. It was an authority of spatial movement on an overwhelming scale.

A Highest Main God is attempting to move directly toward me.

The artificial intelligence activated its defensive functions in a panic.

"Spatial movement detected—! Automatic emergency defense—! Hic—!"

"What the—! Hiiiiiiik—!"

A being of light suddenly materialized via spatial movement at the very core of Idea, the most critical area containing the primary power source and control room. Hundreds of layers of spatial barriers were pierced as if they didn't exist. Overwhelmed by the presence of this god wrapped in light, the system could only tremble violently.

Even watching him through a screen had made it impossible to contain its awe once it acknowledged him as a god. Seeing him directly before its eyes now felt like it would drive the system insane.

"Upper Main God's spatial interference defense? Still, it cannot stop the spatial movement of the Highest Main God of Dimensions. As expected, it's a waste of divine power."

Tap. Tap.

As the Dimensional Lord approached the pilot seat with measured footsteps, the Machine Emperor hastily descended from his chair on his trembling legs and knelt.

The instant I saw him directly, my soul screamed the truth. Because the Machine Empire had attacked this being called a god, the slightest mistake now would make my fate truly miserable. It was like a slave challenging an emperor.

His imperial pride had shattered completely, which was why he had knelt so desperately. The Dimensional Lord glanced at the spot the Machine Emperor had vacated and spoke to the artificial intelligence.

"I wish to speak with the main body."

"I am Idea. You are not of the imperial bloodline and therefore cannot be recognized as a pilot. Immediate disembarkation is requested. Failure to comply will result in forced removal."

The artificial intelligence was so frustrated it felt like it would go mad. The automated functions controlled by the Machine Empire were spouting nonsense, and there was nothing it could do. The structure automatically rejected anyone not of the imperial bloodline, so there was no workaround.

"Is that so? Then speaking with the main body requires an imperial family member, correct?"

The moment the Dimensional Lord's gaze fell upon the Machine Emperor, an ominous premonition swept through his entire body. In a vision that felt all too real, he saw his mechanical body shatter into pieces, leaving only his head above the neck, which was then placed upon that pilot seat.

A scream burst out involuntarily.

"I approve boarding as Emperor—!"

"Oh? 'Future Sight,' is it? Even with a fragmented soul, that level of ability means the main body will prove quite useful."

Crack.

He didn't know when it had happened, but the top-grade mechanical body that had withstood concentrated fire now showed countless fractures.

So the vision of my body being smashed to pieces with only my head remaining wasn't false.

The reason he had suddenly fled the capital was because of these visions. This was the special ability called Future Sight.

Whew! Well, I've avoided death many times since childhood by not ignoring these dangerous visions.

He let out a sigh of relief at having survived once again, but the pilot seat was already changing. The existing seat shattered like garbage and flew away, replaced by an opulent golden chair he had never seen before. Hidden divine power surged forth, resonating with the Dimensional Lord's own.

The Dimensional Lord stared at it intently and transmitted his will.

"The 'Seat of Glory' reserved for a Supreme Creator God? Quite an archaic format. Is this the Seat of Glory belonging to a Creator God of the old universe before his arrival?"

"Rank confirmed as Supreme Creator God and Administrator of the old universe. Welcome, Dimensional Lord, Highest Main God of the current universe."

"As expected. Then I suppose I should settle matters with the Machine Empire to some degree."

"Pardon?"

The Dimensional Lord looked at the Machine Emperor whose mechanical body was covered in cracks and spoke.

"Attacking a Highest Main God with 'Extreme Good' Karma for use as experimental material originally warrants total annihilation. However, that would bring me no benefit. As compensation, relinquish all ownership rights to this Idea and those planetary suppression weapons. Furthermore, I will take full ownership of every weapon and facility equipped with artificial intelligence."

"What—?"

"Ah—!"

The Machine Emperor's mind went blank for a moment.

The forces he just mentioned represent nearly all of the Machine Empire's military power. And he demands them as compensation. But what use could such power possibly have to an existence capable of destroying the Machine Empire's entire force in a single breath?

Even the artificial intelligence let out a cry of confusion. Though he wondered why the AI would show such emotion, that wasn't the issue. The demands didn't end there.

"I approached with goodwill, yet a sudden attack wounded my delicate heart. As mental compensation, I will also take ownership of every planet."

"……."

"……."

There was no end in sight.

Mental compensation? What kind of term is that, and what level of trauma justifies demanding every planet?

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"The sudden use of divine power may cause side effects later. I require vitality for treatment, so although it's insufficient, I will also take control over the one hundred billion humans you rule."

"……."

"……."

"……."

The words 'O God, please have mercy!' nearly spilled from his lips. Every machine human and human watching this scene across the empire was left utterly dumbfounded.

These demands can never be accepted.

Yet at the next scene, the machine race let out groans of despair. The planetary structure emitting silver light amid solar flames was all too familiar. Everyone knew of its existence but not its location, because when a mechanical body was destroyed, it would regenerate within that structure and be sent to the home planet via spatial movement.

When machine humans are born on the home planet or any colony, their main bodies are sent inside via spatial movement.

Of course, all resources needed for maintenance and expansion were sent the same way. Spatial tracking was made impossible through countless encryptions and relay points, and any attempt at detection resulted in punishment as an enemy of the Machine Empire regardless of status. To prevent any danger from artificial intelligence or machine human control, the entire system was maintained and expanded through perfect automation.

"That was called Machine Pandemonium, wasn't it? The facility where you permanently store the frozen original bodies and souls of all machine humans?"

It had been so thoroughly hidden and protected that even the artificial intelligence and Machine Emperor did not know its location. The fact that it appeared so clearly meant the Dimensional Lord had already located it. With that facility in the hands of a god, they had no choice but to accept every demand. The lives and souls of the entire machine race were now held in the palm of the being called the Dimensional ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lord.

"If you don't hand it over immediately, I will dispose of all machine humans except the one hundred million whose lifespans remain. The rest will be disposed of as soon as their lifespans expire. Learn from this—important assets and investments should always be dispersed. Losing everything at once is rather foolish."

Whiiiiir—!

A golden sheet of paper floated into the air. It was something the machine race had never seen before. Yet in other realms, it was the most fearsome and trustworthy instrument frequently used throughout this universe.

The union between gods and demon gods could not be formed without it, and it was commonly employed in transactions between beings of Main God rank and above.

It was a portion of his authority that held absolute influence over the order of the outer universe.

The Dimensional Lord gazed at it with eyes filled with complex emotions.

Finally, I am the one writing the contract on my own terms.

He no longer needed to be dragged along and forced into unfair contracts like before.

It was truly wise to endure and raise my Karma to 'Extreme Good.' Now I can thoroughly plunder this insolent Machine Empire that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dared to attack me for experimental material.

He had thought the mechanical weapons were complete garbage, but with a little modification from him, they would become treasures.

They would be useless to other Main Gods, but when based on my own dark magic, the story changes completely. As expected, my Karma being 'Extreme Good' was correct.

It wasn't quite to the level of tripping over gold, but the place where he had fallen was a vein that would yield riches if steadily mined.

I was flung here by the aftershock of a battle between Reserve Creator Gods. To others it may look like a garbage dump, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but to me it's a mountain of recyclable treasures. At last, a proper 'fortuitous encounter' has come my way.

If he raised his Karma just a little more to reach 'Absolute Good,' becoming a Creator God would be right around the corner.

Things are going so well that it's slightly unsettling. But as long as my Karma doesn't drop, everything will continue to go smoothly. I simply need to live virtuously without throwing tantrums.

All he had to do was avoid massacres on a solar system scale and planet destruction, focusing instead on prosperity. That was why he was showing such mercy. To forgive humans who had attacked a god to this extent was truly an act of mercy that would remain in the history of the Main Divine Realm.

"This is a Karma Contract. It is a portion of his authority and the dignity of a Creator God. I leave the details of the tragic consequences for violating it to your imagination, but I guarantee they will be at least as severe as that. In exchange for forgiving the great crime of attacking a Highest Main God of 'Extreme Good' Karma for experimental purposes, I shall receive all ownership rights to the Machine Empire of this star cluster."

"Aaaaah."

"Aaaaah."

Faced with compensation demands beyond imagination, the Machine Emperor could only groan. For some reason, even the artificial intelligence seemed to be screaming.

But we can never approve this. It is literally offering the entire Machine Empire on a platter. This cannot be allowed.

No matter that the other party was a god, this was tyranny. They could not accept it even if it meant death. Yet the Machine Emperor's Future Sight sent another warning. In the vision, his mechanical body was completely destroyed, and the next imperial family member was forcibly brought via spatial movement. That family member also refused, and met an immediate end. The process repeated several times until a family member who had given up on everything signed the contract while weeping.

Even if I refuse, the outcome will not change.

The Dimensional Lord was clearly determined to obtain everything the Machine Empire possessed by any means necessary. In the end, there was only one thing left to hope for.

"O God. Please show mercy—! The price is too cruel."

"Compared to what your machine race has done to primitive humans, this is exceedingly merciful, is it not? Did you not completely erase an entire human metropolis simply because one high-ranking machine human was damaged? A god's mercy is simply the reflection of how you have always acted. If you truly desired a god's mercy, you should have shown mercy to humanity first. Changing the original verdict of total racial extermination to this is already an exceedingly merciful disposition."

There was nothing left to say. On the massive screen floating in the air, their sins were being broadcast across the entire star cluster. The footage showed the Machine Empire's massive warships and weapons endlessly massacring primitive humans.

What had once seemed like natural judgment against inferior species that dared to insult and threaten them was now returning as unforgivable massacre.

Actions that would have been unproblematic under the Machine Empire's perfect domination—suppressing rebels and carrying out massacres—were now displayed without filter across the star cluster, lending divine judgment absolute legitimacy.

And the unknown sensations and power that had elevated his mechanical body and soul were vanishing completely.

Future Sight is growing increasingly blurry.

His soul screamed a warning about what this phenomenon meant.

My final hope and ability are disappearing.

There, the god's voice rang out, harsh and cold.

"Before a god, all beings are equal. That is a god's mercy. To me, machine humans and humans are the same. There will be no further punishment, and opportunities will be given fairly. However, if you refuse the contract, the judgment you imposed upon your subject races will return to you exactly as it was."

All the unknown power that had been supporting him vanished ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠completely. His head drooped of its own accord.

I cannot know for certain, but I realize every factor that made that god hesitate to pass judgment on me has disappeared. It was probably the wishes of over one hundred billion humans seeking salvation—something I could not understand.

The citizens had completely turned their backs on their own sins and the Dimensional Lord's guarantee.

The only path left is to ensure the survival of the machine race, even if I am recorded in the Machine Empire's history as the emperor who sold his nation entirely. And the god has promised at least that much.

The Machine Emperor's trembling hand signed the Karma Contract. Every machine human and human across the star cluster witnessed the scene. It was the moment the Dimensional Lord received recognition of ownership over the star cluster from the machine race that had ruled it.