Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Terraforming
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"So, you're saying we're relocating all of humanity?"
Iru Ri spoke in a voice full of disbelief.
This was the Alliance's conference room.
All major and minor matters concerning humanity's doom were decided here.
Most active S-Rank Grimoire Users belonged to the Alliance, and the raid parties were mostly made up of executives.
"Is that guy really a god?"
"It's just a human plan at best! I can't accept it!"
The topic of the meeting was to abandon Earth.
Easier said than done.
From a slightly different perspective, wasn't it about humanity abandoning the universe and living inside a grimoire?
Of course, the backlash was fierce.
"No, that's not the only way to look at it! What's the point if we all die? This is about saving everyone, isn't it?"
Alex was persuading everyone. He argued it was the way to save the most lives.
The meeting split into two camps—pro and con—but the opposition held a slight edge.
Those tired of the Tower and anyone who knew Moon Byul even a little supported the plan, but those who didn't know who he was found it hard to agree easily.
"We've done fine so far. Why entrust humanity's fate to that one person?"
"You think humanity will keep doing fine from now on?"
Most politicians opposed it. They called it insane to trap humanity in a book.
"He made Earth inside a grimoire? You expect us to believe that?"
"I'll vouch for that part."
Alex passed around a few photos.
"What is this? Your selfie?"
True to the words, the photos showed Alex making a V-sign selfie and some landscape shots.
"You take bad photos."
"Shut up. Ahem, this is inside that book."
Sighs and gasps filled the conference room.
The photos captured ordinary natural scenery.
Rivers flowed, valleys cut through the land. There were mountains and seas, no giant trees, but forests clearly existed.
"It's a 1:1 ratio. A planet exactly the size of Earth, and I've confirmed personally that humans can live there."
Alex continued his explanation.
"No ecosystem yet, but we can build one upon relocation. Civilization can be rebuilt quickly."
Only now did people realize it wasn't an utterly absurd plan.
Another Earth existed inside the book.
"Even if he prepared all this in just half a year, how many flaws must there be?"
Someone objected. It was woefully insufficient time for an individual to prepare.
Failure meant humanity's extinction, so people thought more cautiously and rationally than ever.
Heads nodded in agreement.
"It's not just about land. Rotation, revolution, sun and moon—all conditions interlock to make Earth a blue planet. You saying he prepared all that?"
"Ninety years."
"Pardon?"
"Not half a year. Ninety years."
Alex spoke calmly.
"Not everything, of course. But livable. I stayed there a week, and time flows differently. He prepared all this alone for humanity over ninety years."
Ninety years was an eternity to humans.
"E-even so, I can't accept one person holding the world's fate!"
"How's it different from here?"
Alex pointed to the Tower outside.
"It's the same anyway. Better the one who talks and sides with us. Stay if you want."
This world was the same. From the moment the Tower appeared.
Alex's argument was valid.
"Those doomed here, stay. I'm done. Sick of this Tower."
Alex was key to Tower raids. Humanity needed him for that alone.
Alex had prepared logical, rational rebuttals to everything. Everyone here would accept it rationally.
It was just too outrageous from a human perspective.
"Just think of it as living on Mars together. No big deal. We'll see."
"B-but!"
"I think everyone's made up their minds by now."
This meeting wasn't for sharing opinions. It was to reduce backlash.
A U.S. politician who had opposed throughout asked.
"Then where is this Moon Byul?"
"He said he wasn't coming."
"That's how it went."
A hidden space in the Tower where Lena was.
Before leaving, Lena had given Moon Byul a summon stone, saying to come if he had questions.
And Moon Byul visited because he had something to say to her.
"This work?"
The small cubic box she gave him.
A system copy.
"It can't do everything the system can, got it?"
"I know. Showing a brief image is enough."
I made a deal with Lena.
In exchange for the system's functions, I'd grant her wish.
"Can you do it?"
"I'll know once I try."
An impromptu plan. Hard to promise anything.
Just betting on a slim chance.
After final goodbyes, I returned to Earth.
Alex was waiting where I told him.
"All good?"
"Yes."
Alex had done his job well.
Relocation was set for four days later, unknown to civilians.
The Alliance gathered essentials to rebuild civilization.
Some high-tech gear would move wholesale.
I wanted to shift the entire crust, but crafting god-like magic for that was impossible.
"Rough convincing people."
"You worked hard."
"Hold on."
Alex grabbed my shoulder.
His expression suggested words, so I waited patiently.
Until he spoke.
"Still not sure. Is this right?"
"I don't know either."
I didn't have the answer. Just evasion.
"That's why I left it to you. To the one with the regression candy."
The regression candy as backup if things went awry.
He'd proven worthy by regressing. He hadn't given up yet.
"Prepare your stuff, Alex."
"A regressor needs stuff? Body's enough."
Humanity's relocation was set for seven days later.
Not told to civilians. To prevent panic.
Fortunately, no Conqueror appeared meanwhile.
I prepared a magic circle in the mid-Atlantic.
Range: entire Earth.
Target: living beings.
"Perfect."
What had I prepared in Etoile over ninety years?
I recreated the solar system there.
Made Etoile the moon.
Initially wanted to take all of Etoile when leaving.
"Ended up the opposite."
Never dreamed I'd drag all humanity to my hell.
I couldn't dream, though.
Prepared a transfer spell for all humanity at once.
Similar spells existed, but all for me personally, needing adjustment.
Target now the entire Earth.
Resulted in a filthy complex massive magic circle. Surprisingly time-consuming—one spell took two years.
Next, the solar system.
The sun was trouble.
A grimoire star was pathetic compared to reality.
Gathered star force shards, made it as big as possible.
Couldn't match the sun's size, so brought it closer to the planet.
Infused star force mana to burn long-term inside the sun-to-be.
"Menora."
Used the spell for first warmth to ignite the sun.
Had to make Earth 1:1 size. Oceans and continents took forever to shape.
Deep seas? Sorry, flattened to plains. Humans won't explore anyway.
Salted the seawater, copied saplings for trees.
Just making it look like Earth from space took sixty years.
The rest was details.
Sorry, terrain roughly carved. As natural as possible. Geography changed a lot.
Minor issues aplenty, but humanity would handle. With magic, somehow.
My grimoire became humanity's new universe.
Ninety years long, but unlike painful past.
Could leave anytime. Like extended sandbox game, Lightcraft or whatever.
Long life slowed perceived time. Reason old folks say time flies?
"Hoo."
Mindset ready.
Time passed. Moment arrived. Magic circle auto-activated.
On cue, I manipulated Lena's cube.
[Doom in 30 seconds.]
"Huh?"
"What's that?"
[Doom in 30 seconds.]
Message alarms rang across the city.
Alex looked around downtown.
Message windows popped up for Climbers and civilians alike.
Alliance members knew. This was just a ruse.
"Kyaaak!"
"Huuuh."
"Hwaaa."
People shocked by the message.
"Puhahaha!"
Alex couldn't help laughing at the content. Probably others in the know felt the same.
This message had nothing to do with Moon Byul's magic.
Just a meaningless popup he hacked into the system.
Necessary process, though.
Alliance couldn't tell doomed civilians, "Abandon Earth! Live in a grimoire!"
Reasons clear from their meeting. Civilians would think similarly.
Instead, make them think this.
Picture a barren, empty Earth?
Wake up on another Earth with positive reactions, not negative.
Tell fear-stricken people daily that doom is finally over.
Wouldn't they cheer "We survived!"?
"Okay, adopted!"
"Great~!"
For the record, my idea.
One by one, people turned to streams of light, flying somewhere.
Shocked folks ran about.
Terror of a nearby person suddenly becoming light and vanishing!
"Sorry! Fear's brief!"
Still, among regressors, I'm pretty gentlemanly. Others act emotionless?
Only I stood blankly downtown.
Ziing.
My hand turned to light. Finally my turn.
"Fun ride. Bye."
My last words on intact Earth.