Chapter 218: Ark of The End (3)
Chapter 218: Ark of The End (3)
Al’shel’s flashy presentation continued for quite some time after that.
Perhaps the concept of a proven system for explaining one's intentions and methods to others was foreign to the octopuses, as a brief commotion broke out. However, being a highly intelligent Star Race, they soon understood its utility, and their voices grew quiet.
Countless graphs and lines of text flowed by.
Of course, there was a standard Q&A session as well. The ghost octopuses, initially bewildered by Al’shel’s sudden transformation, seemed to grasp the meaning behind his actions and began asking questions intermittently, to which Al’shel provided answers.
Aside from the rational graphs and data, there was something quite peculiar for a presentation.
“…As such, reflecting on my experience managing an organization in the world where I currently reside, I have come to realize the importance of emotional control….”
It was the exact opposite of quantitative content consisting only of numerical data, processes, and results.
It was a prediction based on personal experience and intuition, completely devoid of supporting data or formulas. Seeing this, I thought it would be a detriment rather than a benefit, but…
‘…To think that Al’shel is capable of considering others?’
‘Experience, you say. Strangely enough, that’s more persuasive than all those numbers.’
On the contrary, it seemed to resonate well with the octopuses’ sensibilities, as murmurs of praise escaped them.
Judging by their reactions, the fact that Al’shel could suppress his instincts and show consideration for others was quite a shock to them.
“…Just what kind of life has he been living?”
If even his own dysfunctional kin called him an "Ancestral Regression," he must have been a real piece of work.
Zess had mentioned that his personality was at least average, but that only meant he didn't commit acts like betrayal, exterminating hatcheries, or indiscriminate slaughter.
He might not have crossed the line, but it seemed his infamous temper hadn't gone anywhere.
As I let my imagination run wild.
‘Al’shel was quite young, after all.’
The now-familiar sound of the wind seeped in beside me.
“Sophia. Aren’t you going to watch?”
‘I’ve already acknowledged Shel. I watched out of curiosity, but since the beginning was solid, I’m sure the rest will be too.’
Hmm, the beginning, huh?
Hasn't he been at this for about four hours now?
I only watched for about five minutes before getting bored and stepping back to kill time by observing their reactions.
Even if time flows slowly in here and has little impact on the outside world, isn't this a bit too long?
As that thought crossed my mind, fatigue washed over me.
“Yaaaawn.”
As I let out a yawn and felt a stray tear prick my eye.
‘Hmm. Are you bored?’
“Very.”
‘I suppose our sensibilities differ as much as our appearances. To me, looking at those beautiful formulas and theories naturally sparks interest.’
Ah, so you were a STEM major too?
Two of the ones I’ve met are science-minded, and I’m not sure about Al’shirin, so this race must be full of STEM Type S.
To burn time, I was throwing away idle thoughts while running my brain at full capacity.
‘If you are bored, would you care to keep me company?’
So that was her intention from the start.
I could have easily brushed her off, but I was bored as well.
“What do you want to talk about?”
‘There is only one common topic between us. It would be about Al’shel, wouldn't it?’
I’ve talked about that to death with Zess, so I’d prefer something else….
“I know Al’shirin. How about that?”
‘Oh? Did she come to Demiurgos with you?’
At my words, Al’sophia’s transparent octopus face lit up with joy.
“No, she stayed behind in the world we lived in.”
I calmly told her the truth.
‘I see. That is a bit disappointing, but it is enough to know that Sirin is alive.’
“Yeah, she’s healthy as can be, so don’t worry.”
However, unlike Al’shel, it seemed she had been touched by those beings who must not be mentioned or even thought of, but there was no need to bring that up.
And then, silence fell. It was as if she didn't know what to say next.
…I messed up.
I shouldn't have ended the conversation like that.
I should have brought up Al’shirin’s peculiar personality or stories related to the Al Family.
“…Thus, by simply adjusting the distribution of profits fluidly, one can incite competition between organizations in this manner….”
‘Ooh.’
‘Hmm. Interesting.’
The voice of one Octopus Head droning on like a boring teacher.
And the voices of the ghost octopuses responding like religious followers began to encroach upon the silence between me and Al’sophia.
‘I know it may be rude to ask this, but….’
Al’sophia finally broke the silence and spoke.
She seemed to be choosing her words carefully.
‘Are you, by any chance, a friend of Shel’s?’
“…It’s a business relationship.”
I feel like I said this just the other day.
‘Is that so? Al’shel seemed to trust you quite a bit.’
Trust.
At those words, I looked at the octopus who had been talking for hours without a single break. After quickly organizing my thoughts, I turned back to her and spoke.
“Rather than trust, it feels more like he’s cherishing a pawn to achieve his revenge….”
After all, Al’shel himself had told me as much when we came to the Otherworld.
The attitude Al’shel showed toward me felt that way as well.
‘Mmm… Do you truly think so?’
“To the point where I can’t think of it as anything else.”
At my words, Al’sophia looked up toward some distant place with a poignant expression and spoke.
‘Shel. You haven't changed. You could afford to show a bit more of yourself.’
“I think he’s just emotionless. Or in a state of extreme excitement.”
‘Everyone says that, including our kin sitting over there.’
She said that and looked toward Al’shel as she continued.
‘Shel grew up under very difficult circumstances. By the time he was born, we were already on the brink of extinction. As the number of our kin dwindled, there was no one for the young Shel to talk to comfortably.’
It was as if she wanted someone to understand him.
‘Normally, it would be the duty of the family to nurture him—especially me, as the eldest Hatchery Keeper.’
A sorrowful sound flowed from her, as if she were reminiscing about the distant past.
‘But we couldn't. Our Al Family stood at the front lines as our will dictated, fighting to mend the rifts between other hatcheries.’
‘We did not regret it. Many of our family died, and we failed to leave behind the Star’s Desire, but that was the nature and The Root of our hatchery. However, it was only in our final moments that we realized.’
Despair seeped into her voice.
‘The final battlefield. Pure white pillars of light soared, Avatars who had secured the pillars walked forth, and veteran warriors who had slain tens of thousands of enemies were neutralized by a single touch. Even the flagship, the Star-Swallower, was incapacitated. On the final star where all our kin gathered… Shel was the only one among them who had not yet finished his growth.’
A pure white Pillar of Light. I had seen one before.
I was interested in that term and the "final battlefield," but I didn't let it show.
This was likely a monologue intended for me to hear.
‘It seems Sirin, who was closest in age, looked after Shel, but she too took to the battlefield as a Star Maiden. Shel must have been alone for a very long time.’
‘Even for our race, which has little empathy for others, solitude is like a lone star in a hollow night. A star does not shine on its own; without others, it has no light. Even those who look down on others or betray the hatchery soothe themselves in battle by realizing they are not alone.’
How ironic.
That those who lost everything because of that dependency would cling to it so fiercely.
‘Shel, who had no such companion, didn't change much even after the downfall. Few of our kin remained. Those who did poured all their strength into creating Demiurgos. Even in the new multi-species world that was created, Shel had no one to interact with. We were far too alien compared to other races.’
As if she had much to say, Al’sophia’s words continued.
It was as if she were vomiting out everything she had accumulated over the long years.
‘It would have been better if he were weak. It would have been better if he had found someone to bond with after his growth was complete. But Shel was far too strong, like a star shining alone in the sky. Strong enough to suppress other dim stars with his own light, just like the ancient ancestors who were called stars.’
Al’sophia, who had tilted her head toward the sky, paused for a moment.
As if she were looking through the ceiling at an invisible night sky.
‘That was Shel. Aside from Zess, whom he acknowledged as a strong individual, and Sirin, who looked after him in my stead since childhood… he was a child who didn't even recognize others as beings. A child who could never endure the Trial of Knowledge in this room. A good but twisted child.’
They say even a hedgehog thinks its own child is beautiful.
I’ll give her the rest, but I can’t agree with him being "good."
‘Such a child has now proven the existence of another, trusted another, and taken an interest in another. How could I not be happy?’
As if that were the end of her story, Al’sophia took a breath and turned her head toward me.
‘A business relationship, you said? You may think of it that way. At the very least, Shel has almost never had an equal by his side. They were either beings far above him, like those who destroyed us, or beings far below him. Therefore….’
She took another breath.
‘Thank you.’
Simultaneously with that single sentence.
Thunderous applause erupted from between the ghost octopuses and Al’shel.
As if everything had concluded.
…It’s over already?
Didn't Sophia say it was just the beginning earlier?
‘I accelerated time for that side only. So that you wouldn't have to wait any longer.’
Al’sophia looked at Al’shel for a moment and spoke.
‘It seems to have ended well. I was a bit worried, but I’m glad.’
Then, she moved her body, which had been floating quietly in the air, and began to drift among the ghost octopuses.
“Now! Is there anyone who opposes my succession?”
‘I’m worried, but with a plan like this, I agree!’
‘In any case, there is nothing we can do, is there? It is not impulse or destruction, so it is sufficient.’
‘It’s a gamble anyway; in that case, one of our own is better.’
‘It won't go exactly as planned, as he said, but there is no better way.’
There were all sorts of reactions—some were negative, others observed calmly—but no one expressed clear opposition.
Looking around at them, Al’sophia turned back to me with a smile.
‘I’ll say it again. Truly, thank you.’
After she uttered those words with her pale, transparent face.
Just as I, sensing something strange, was about to say anything.
‘In the name of Al’sophia, Creator of Demiurgos, I ask. Do all Administrators present in this place agree to the succession of the administrative position by Al’shel of the Star Race?’
A booming voice prevented me from speaking.
‘I agree.’
‘Agree.’
‘I approve.’
‘No objections.’
Countless voices followed in succession.
As if no one could interfere with this final vote.
‘Unanimous. Therefore, as Administrator, I declare.’
Whoosh.
A wind began to blow.
A wind strong enough to fill the interior of this stone tomb.
‘That all authority over Demiurgos shall be transferred to Al’shel.’
The wind became a storm, sweeping everything away. The stone tomb, unable to withstand it, shattered into pieces and scattered across the Bronze Plains.
The storm was difficult even for the ghosts to endure; the transparent Star Race members were torn apart like paper.
Since it was a gale that even I found hard to withstand, I drove my hammer into the ground and observed them.
In the midst of the storm where everything was breaking or flying away.
The only safe place was the center of the storm where Al’shel and Al’sophia stood.
And inside, the two shared their final conversation.
‘Al’shel. Thus, I ask you. Will you become the Administrator of Demiurgos?’
A brief silence followed.
A long silence that even quelled the sound of the violent storm.
The two octopuses looked into each other's eyes.
“As Shel of the Al Family… I swear to uphold the legacy of my ancestors.”
The moment those words were uttered.
Everything was sucked into Al’shel’s black mouth.
The corpses of the Star Race members being torn and scattered.
The wildly raging storm.
The transparent Star Race members watching it all.
The bronze-colored plains.
Everything except for me and Al’shel was drawn into Al’shel’s mouth located beneath his tentacles.
And the left side of Al’sophia’s remaining face spoke.
‘You’ve grown well, Shel. And… I’m sorry.’
Slurp.
With those final words, everything vanished.
Thud.
A single door appeared in the black void.
A lingering silence.
In that silence, I stared blankly at Al’shel.
The black-skinned Al’shel kept his eyes closed and his head bowed.
About three minutes passed.
“…Did you get the Administrator Authority?”
“…Yes.”
“…The plan?”
“…It is perfect.”
“Then, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
And then, we stepped through the door.