At the End of the Dream (1)
At the End of the Dream (1)
For Luxuria to summon another Demon God to her temple, Melanie first needed to get close to where that Demon God was located.
However, with the city occupied and the Extermination Force annihilated, it was a difficult situation for Melanie to approach where Acedia was.
So Luxuria decided to use Salome, Acedia's Chosen One.
Taking advantage of the opening when her body and mind were torn to shreds from the cruel sexual torture, Hilda maintained the divine connection with her.
Through this, Luxuria summoned Acedia to her location.
Acedia responded and revealed himself at the temple.
"No! Salome! You were here! I thought you were dead!"
"H-heuk......."
Salome, lying on her back with her belly exposed like a bitch in heat, was in no condition to respond.
Acedia examined her briefly before making eye contact with Luxuria seated on the throne.
"Kehehe! My sisters! How long has it been!"
Though Acedia took the form of a young girl, he spoke with a remarkably boisterous tone.
While he seemed pleased to see Luxuria and Avaritia, he frowned with displeasure upon seeing the humans, including Melanie.
"Why are there humans here?! All humans must be killed!"
"Eeek......!"
Pia was terrified seeing the goddess openly display murderous intent.
Melanie and Lili also watched her warily with tense expressions.
"Calm down, Acedia. They are my followers. That short-haired white-haired wench is my Chosen One."
"Ah! So that's how it is! I suppose there are wise ones among humans too. Kehehehe!"
Acedia instantly withdrew his murderous intent and burst into laughter as if pleased.
Melanie and her companions also relaxed their tension and watched him.
"Acedia. I have memories I wish to convey to you."
"Memories?"
"It would be most accurate to read them directly from that human, but she doesn't seem to be in a condition to have her mind rummaged through, so I shall convey what I saw."
Avaritia closed her book and approached Acedia, pressing her forehead against his.
Acedia closed his eyes and received the memories she transmitted.
The original state of this world that Melanie knew, the fate that had been altered at some point, and the beings who had become distorted.
"......That I myself am one of those <Distortions>?"
"Indeed. ......And now that I face you like this, I can be certain. Your current form is not your original one."
At Avaritia's words, Luxuria also nodded with a dark expression.
The nauseating dizziness felt when facing a Distortion.
Though not to the extent of the entire world being turned upside down like with Lancelot, it was definitely felt from Acedia as well.
Acedia shrugged his shoulders as if feeling wronged.
"Sisters! I understand what a Distortion is, but no matter how I think about it, there's no way I could be a Distortion! What about me is supposed to be abnormal?!"
"According to my Chosen One, you originally weren't that kind of personality."
"Personality can change quickly when you live long enough for life to feel meaningless, can't it!"
"They say the original you didn't mercilessly slaughter humans like you do now. They say you waited quietly until humans first raised their swords against your neck."
"That makes even less sense!!!!"
As Acedia shouted with a resounding voice, the entire temple shook.
"Yes! The old me just stayed still! I knew my ability was dangerous to inferior creatures so I didn't even approach them! Anyone who came near me fell into sleep! I chose to remain alone for everyone's sake! I thought I would go mad from eternal loneliness, but I endured it for everyone!"
"Acedia."
"But humans came looking to kill me, who was just staying still, backed by celestial gods! So why should I stay still?! Is it strange that I didn't endure that?!"
If what Acedia said was true, there really was no reason for her not to be furious.
If all those words were correct, that is.
"......Don't you think it's strange even as you say it?"
When Melanie interrupted, Acedia glared at her.
"How dare a human wench say..."
"You were never alone. You have demonkin who follow you. There's Salome, and there are Nightmares."
"......"
"Of course, I can understand you might have wanted to be with more species. But to call it loneliness enough to go mad when so many demonkin follow you..."
"Huh......?"
"And even though she's not a Nightmare, Salome isn't harmed by your ability. This clearly means you can control your ability yourself, doesn't it?"
From Sephemo onward, the content didn't make sense.
Acedia is mentioned as having to always be <alone> because he didn't want to harm others.
But demonkin who openly follow Acedia appear in army-sized numbers, so how does the statement about being <alone> and lonely hold up?
Acedia is mentioned as not having an evil nature but being treated as a calamity due to an ability that harms others regardless of his will.
But Salome's existence clearly proves he can control his ability to not cause harm.
In fact, Salome even became stronger by receiving Acedia's power.
But it was incomprehensible how she could receive Acedia's power that causes sleep upon mere touch.
A tragic narrative of being driven out as an evil god due to an unwanted power.
Ambiguity that cannot be defined as good or evil.
Though they probably wanted to present that as appealing, there were too many contradictions.
"The original you was a being who observed reality with detachment. You didn't even find it strange that humans saw you as a calamity. So while you resisted to protect your life, you didn't resent them, nor did you attempt to attack humanity first."
The pre-Sephemo Renewal Acedia was a character who received positive reviews for his calm demeanor that well expressed the personality of a transcendent being.
But the post-Renewal Acedia transformed into a character filled with murderous intent who spouts childish lines like 'Kyaaaa! I'll kill all humans!' like a third-rate villain.
After listening to Melanie's words, Acedia fell into thought for a moment before cautiously opening his mouth.
"B-but the demonkin are ugly."
"......What did you just say?"
Melanie asked back, seemingly bewildered by the completely unexpected statement.
"Th-think about it! If you were stranded alone on a desert island, would you not feel lonely just because there are animals all around?!"
"Y-you... are you treating the followers who worship you like beasts......?"
"No, they look like beasts! I want pretty and handsome followers around me too! Not those dirty, smelly weird creatures!"
At Acedia's outrageous remarks, even Luxuria and Avaritia frowned.
No matter how much Demon Gods look down on other creatures, they don't disregard their own followers to that extent.
"......A Distortion indeed."
"So it is a Distortion."
At the two Demon Gods' attitudes that seemed unable to sympathize with him, Acedia faltered and stepped back.
"S-so, what are you going to do about me being a Distortion? Are you going to kill me or something!"
"It doesn't necessarily have to be that. If you can regain your original form..."
"This is my form! This is me! Changing my current form is no different from killing me! I will never accept it!"
"......Acedia. Hear me out to the end."
"You were always like this! Because I'm the weakest, you don't even try to listen to my opinion! Come at me if you want! I won't just stand there and take it!"
After pouring out a stream of resentful dialogue, Acedia's form disappeared from the temple.
Luxuria held her throbbing head and turned to look at Melanie.
"......I've made up my mind. Acedia is a Distortion that must be eliminated."
"......Are you sure about this?"
"Acedia has clearly lost himself. I don't want to see my sister living in such a lowly state."
The Lust Demon rose from her throne with determined eyes.
"Since there's no one watching, it shouldn't matter if we intervene directly. It won't be as dangerous as with Lancelot. Acedia's ability doesn't work on us. He might be the most dangerous Demon God to you, but among Demon Gods, he's the weakest existence."
"It might not be necessary to kill him."
"Hmm?"
Avaritia seemed to ponder something thoughtfully before speaking again after a moment.
"That is Acedia, but it's not Acedia."
"What do you mean?"
"I read some memories when I made contact with Acedia. That thing is closer to something like a doppelganger created by Acedia."
"What? I didn't sense anything like that."
"It seems he transferred all of his power to that apparition. To the naked eye, it only feels like the real body. Just as we did, Acedia must have definitely sensed the Distortion. He might have felt that he himself had changed, like you did. I think he might have taken some measures to protect himself from the Distortion."
The Demon God of Avarice opened her book again and fixed her gaze on it.
"Give me a little time. I need to think about what Acedia has done, and whether we can save her."