Chapter 257: Teach Me! Your Majesty! (1)
Chapter 257: Teach Me! Your Majesty! (1)
“Fine. Before I lose interest, let’s finish what we can.”
“Finish what? Resurrecting Un-ho?”
“Don’t act all friendly with me all of a sudden. Before I decide to eat you.”
…If she was trying to act dignified, I think it was a bit too late for that.
It wasn’t that my fear had vanished, but after seeing her in such a state, the vibe just felt… off.
I understood—to a shuddering degree—the nightmare-like power The End possessed and the catastrophes one could suffer by being associated with them.
But it was as if the entity before my eyes didn't quite connect with that concept.
Perhaps this, too, was The Queen’s ploy. To induce a strange sense of familiarity and then pull something.
…I’ve been tormented so much in such a short time that I’m starting to get paranoid.
“Then, can you resurrect Un-ho now? Your Majesty.”
“Hey, if I get pissed off, I can just take a few hits and then grind the Earth to dust, okay? Watch your tone.”
Yes, ma'am.
Seeing her crack jokes like that, it was clear that even I felt my hostility had softened a bit.
That didn't mean the rage I’d inscribed in the ledger of grudges within my heart had disappeared.
However, if Un-ho could be saved, I could hide that anger behind a mask like a proper member of society.
Blood that cannot be turned back. If that could be reversed, there was no need to flaunt my fury.
Having returned to the original world and sitting on a chair that barely existed, The Queen, who had lost all motivation, slowly raised a fist and spoke.
“I’ll give you information. However, I’m setting restrictions. I wasn't going to set any, but since you’re getting this information for free.”
“Free?”
Not as compensation for damages?
“Shut it. First. Among this information, anything that might cause trouble if leaked to the outside… if you try to pass it on to others, it will be automatically censored.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Didn't Un-ho automatically find himself unable to say certain things? I’m putting that on you. Well, if you get stronger, it might break, but you’ll have to figure that out on your own.”
Ah, I understood.
So that was The Queen’s power.
No wonder Un-ho’s restrictions had vanished in the Demiurgos.
“Second. I will only provide answers to your questions. Even if essential information is missing, that’s your fault for not asking.”
“That’s also unrea—”
I didn't understand and tried to question her again, but…
“You don't get it? The information I’m giving you was originally something close to absolute truth. I’ve just changed the format to Q&A.”
The Queen beat me to the punch.
As if mocking my pea-sized brain.
…My brain is not pea-sized.
“You understand, right? I’m moving on even if you don't. Third. I won't provide information or advice regarding the future. For example, when the Nautilus will wake up, or what you should do to get stronger. None of that. Only objective information related to the past or present.”
This one was easy to understand.
Literally, she would only provide encyclopedic information about what I asked.
“Hmm, looks like you understood this time. Then, one last thing.”
She lowered the fingers she had been raising one by one and smiled with her invisible face.
“I’m going to lie. Now, let’s begin.”
…What does that mean?
“Do you mean everything you say will be a lie? Then the information is meaningless…”
“No, to be precise, I might lie. However, the vast majority will be accurate. At most, one or two answers, or maybe two or three words will be fake. Of course, it depends on how much you ask, but let’s call it 98% reliability. Now. Let’s start again.”
…Isn't it already a failure the moment there’s a percentage on the lies?
To be honest, it was an absurd tyranny. I opened my mouth.
“What’s the point of doing that?”
“Because this is also a Story. As a Ma (麽), I prefer twisted stories. Now. Next question.”
Wait.
“Does that count as a question?”
“I said we’re starting. Next.”
Uh… if there was a limit on the number of questions, I would’ve been in big trouble.
More importantly, I became curious about something.
There was no time limit, so I could ask, right?
“You’ve been saying ‘as a Ma’ since earlier. Is there some kind of shackle that forces The End to be obsessed with their own actions?”
It was the same with Captain Af; it felt like such a weakness existed.
“No, there’s no such concept. It’s just a rule one sets for oneself. If you live for an incredibly long time, you’re bound to develop a few norms like that. To put it another way, it means we can toss them away like old shoes whenever we want.”
Creeak. I felt like her face twisted strangely.
As if it were a silent threat, implying she could do so this very moment.
…It was a strange sensation.
An absolute being that you could actually talk to.
Is this what it would feel like if a bomb capable of destroying Earth developed emotions?
“What is The End?”
“Too abstract. Again.”
“…What kind of race is The End?”
“The End is not a race.”
This restriction is harder than I thought.
If the question isn't precise, the answer won't be precise either.
Setting aside the fact that she could lie.
If I wasn't careful, I wouldn't even get proper information.
“Is The End a term for a certain stage of power?”
Like O-Rank or Otherworld Erosion.
“It is, and it isn't.”
Dammit.
“How does one become The End?”
“The method differs for every entity.”
…This is difficult.
Wait a minute.
Then, what happens if I ask like this?
“Were you The End from the moment you were born?”
“No, when I was born, I was a simple Sentient Being just like you. It’s a story from a very long time ago, though. By the way, that was a pretty good question.”
The Queen wore a half-twisted smile, as if saying, Did you finally figure it out?
Again, I couldn't see her face, so it was just a feeling.
Bingo.
“At what moment did you become The End?”
“When I reached the end of a Story I created myself and established my own rules.”
What is that?
What kind of philosophical answer is that?
“What was the Story you created yourself?”
“I tore off a hundred billion faces.”
…Wait, what?
“Hahaha. Do you want to keep asking?”
I got a strange feeling.
A feeling that I shouldn't ask any more questions related to that.
I instinctively felt that the moment I asked about it, something would explode.
“…Moving on to the next.”
At least I knew the method of reaching it. Even if it was vague.
“Hmm. Well, fine. Good choice. Regardless of the question, I ‘must’ give an answer.”
Strangely, there was emphasis on the word ‘must.’
As if the moment I asked about that face story, everything would be ruined.
…The End really is a landmine.
Just as Zess said.
Beings that bring ruin just by thinking and speaking about them.
To put it another way, I might be lucky to have asked a question and survived.
However, there was still something I had to find out. Even if I had to risk my life.
“Why is The End obsessed with Stories?”
Even if I stepped on a landmine and perished.
“Have you ever eaten food?”
To that question, The Queen asked back in a dry voice.
“…Isn't that obvious?”
“Then, which would be more delicious: a steak you simply threw on a frying pan and sprinkled with salt, or a meat dish where a top-tier chef meticulously prepared low-quality meat with countless touches?”
She answered a question with a question.
As if it were a necessary step.
“…It would depend on the quality of the meat.”
“What if you didn't know the quality of the meat?”
“…Generally the latter.”
“You understand, right? Well, it’s not like we actually eat them, though.”
Should I be relieved that they don't eat us?
Or should I focus on the fact that we are simply toys?
“Are Stories essential for your survival?”
“The End needs nothing.”
I get it.
You sociopaths.
Beings that make everything suffer just for a simple luxury.
That was The End.
“…How do you kill The End?”
“Can you erase an idea? For instance, negating the existence of yourself and the world.”
“…I understand.”
Crazy bastards.
“Then, the En—”
“I’m sorry, but could you stop with those questions?”
Suddenly, she cut me off.
“…Why?”
“They’re just about to take notice of this place. I can block them, but their gaze could follow you back to Earth. Can you handle that?”
“…Tsk. Fine, I’ll stop asking about that. If there’s anything related, tell me in advance.”
“Sure.”
Phew.
Then let’s move on to the next.
Let’s see….
“What are UN Entities?”
“Among the children of my kingdom, those who strongly inherited the blood and flesh of the Ancestor.”
Ancestor.
Par definitely said Un-ho was an Ancestral Regression.
“What exactly is their Ancestor?”
“Huh? It’s just the blood and flesh of an Avatar or the true body of The End, decorated to look cute.”
…Ah?
“They were being annoying when I was making this world, so I pickled them and buried them myself. I didn't expect them to crawl back up, struggling to live.”
“Then… Un-ho is…”
“His blood is on the thicker side. Thanks to that, he uses the Song of Origin well. As the Ancestral blood gets thinner, the communication sensitivity to me gets really bad. Of course, there are other reasons, but that’s generally it.”
No, that was the reason?
It’s because you, the one receiving the prayer, couldn't hear properly?
No, what the hell… no, never mind.
I shouldn't have asked that.
I should’ve just let it remain as something mysterious.
Phew… okay. Let’s move on.
“Why do you dispatch Mascots to other worlds? Is there something to be gained?”
“Hmm. Well, it makes the direction of the Story more interesting, and there are things about the lifestyle of The End that you wouldn't understand, but the biggest reason is that it’s the best way to control the blood of the UN Entities. Except for a few, UN Entities tend to indulge in combat or show cruelty. If they meet good or righteous people in other worlds and build bonds, they often overcome the blood. Ah, that’s why I mainly pick righteous people. I don't want to see my kids get ruined by making a wicked Magical Girl.”
What the fuck is this now?
“…Is it a criminal rehabilitation program?”
“Roughly similar, right? Except they aren't people who have already committed crimes, but those with a high possibility of doing so. You can tell just by looking at Un-ho or Lin, right? The good kids are good.”
No wonder there were so many Mascots with nasty personalities despite their looks.
Ha.
Fine, let’s leave it at that.
It’s true that the Magical Girl system has been somewhat helpful.
“What would have happened if there were no Mascots…”
It was just something I muttered because the truth was so shocking.
“Then an incident would have already occurred and conquest would be complete. It might have taken about ten years.”
Her Majesty answered something that wasn't even a question.
“…Thanks for the answer.”
“No problem.”
Phew.
There was no way The Queen didn't understand my sarcasm.
She must have been being sarcastic back.
Then let’s move on.
I already knew what a Magical Girl was from Zess.
A spiritual lifeform whose soul had sublimated to become magic itself, or something.
It was something like that.
But setting that aside.
“Why… can’t I return to my original form?”
Right, there was this too.
The most important thing, yet the one I often forgot.
“The power of a Magical Girl is stronger than a normal human. Not just in a simple magical or physical sense, but even in terms of mental strength or essential power.”
To that question, The Queen began to pour out a long explanation.
“And you manifested a Magical Girl in a completely different form, not yourself. Usually, one manifests a Magical Girl in a form similar to oneself to protect or fuse with their essence… Whether that’s talent or some kind of interference, I don't know. Regardless, because of that, your essence couldn't endure it.”
She drew a tiny white grain of rice and a giant red sun in the air.
“And as you went through countless events, your essence gradually changed under the influence of the Magical Girl.”
As the grain of rice was dyed red, a figure appeared in the air.
It was me from the time I could still return to my original form, looking almost entirely female.
“You yourself repeatedly committed acts that destroyed your own essence.”
the end of the Happiness Drop incident.
I remembered the event where I perceived myself as a Magical Girl and reconstructed my body.
“Consequently, at some point, your essence could no longer withstand the power known as a Magical Girl.”
The small grain of rice turned into powder and was absorbed by the sun.
“And so, only the Magical Girl remained. Normally, you should have perished in this process, but you survived. Somehow.”
I wanted to ask what that ‘somehow’ was.
But The Queen would surely say it was too broad and wouldn't answer.
Even so, I didn't know what had influenced me in that process, so I wasn't in a position to ask a precise question.
Therefore, I gave up and threw out the question I had already concluded in my mind.
“Then, is it impossible for me to return to my original form?”
“I have the information on your past body, so I could recreate the physical form and move your consciousness into it. However, that body wouldn't be able to withstand your power as a Magical Girl. Every time you transformed or felt a surge of emotion, it would explode, scattering your guts everywhere. Are you okay with that? Oh, and of course, I’d have to make a new one every time.”
I’ll just live like this.
I should’ve just not asked.
…I feel like I’m thinking that a lot today.