Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Traces of Vanished Kin
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* * *
A place that was nowhere.
Instead of the Observer, whose freedom of movement had become restricted after gaining a physical body as a living being, 'it' was surveying the new continent—the realm where the beings who illuminated the world beyond their gaze had resided.
Wriggle, wriggle.
In the lightless sub-space, darkness roiled without respite.
—Does the one that exists no longer exist?
No signs of its kin remaining alive were visible any longer.
At least from what it could perceive—this space had long since been left empty.
Even so, it knew.
That its kin—the entities who observed worlds and begged God for power to sustain their lives—had undoubtedly existed in this space.
Even if they had vanished, lacking physical forms, their traces alone allowed it to fully resonate with their thoughts.
It cautiously read the thoughts of those original inhabitants.
The emotion conveyed—perplexity.
Traces of perplexity welled up through it, blooming with their essence.
—These ones... appear to have desperately tried to accommodate God's inscrutable actions.
To it, it felt as follows.
The beings who had observed this world had done everything in their power to retain the God who had come to them.
It understood their actions. We are beings who survive on God's power.
To safeguard our worlds—and to perpetuate our own existence—God's power was indispensable.
—They are tormented.
Even after aligning everything to 'God's' desires, God had departed.
The God of this world appeared to differ from Lord Igugwoden in many respects.
Pressuring the kin observing this world with complaints like 'Why won't this work?' or 'How can you ask for sponsorship when even this fails?'—that much was evident.
To avert the world collapsing unchosen by any god, and to prevent their own disappearance, the kin had meticulously followed God's will.
But at some point—God left.
Ultimately, they had failed to establish a 'sustainable sponsorship' system.
Once God's power ceased, the world that had once been selected lost its vibrancy—
And the beings unable to survive without it were swiftly abandoned.
Even after fulfilling every demand of God, their anguished final traces—questioning why it had come to this—lingered thickly in the sub-space.
—In the end, they vanished.
Beings who dissipate without God's power, utterly dependent on God—
It reflected anew on the nature of their existence.
No rules governed the form of observation granted to lure God and protect their worlds.
It was simply placed in their grasp from the outset.
Whatever the form, it was merely handed over—devoid of their own volition.
In truth, beings like them should not even perceive the manner in which observation operates.
Yet—because the entity accompanying it had been reborn as a human, it could grasp it somewhat.
The mechanism of their observation, and...
"......Please give me some money. That was my name."
...even the appellation by which they appeared to 'God.'
In a sense, their very awareness of it constituted an irregularity.
It pondered.
Considering the absolute rule that 'God's word'—whatever it may be—must be fulfilled in some manner...
They might advance in a direction no other kin had ever reached.
And it was struck anew by the realization of having such a thought.
This... felt akin to thinking itself. More precisely, like rendering value judgments on events that had transpired.
Perhaps because the being it coexisted with and observed had acquired a body.
It felt as though it had forgotten its place and was indulging in excessive thought.
—It would be best to return.
* * *
Screeeeeeeee!
—Is my message registering?
"......Yeah. It's you. Looks like you made it back safely. Welcome back."
It surveyed its surroundings.
What it could perceive—pure white light. A pillar of light. Vivid proof of love left behind by God, absent before.
Even now, God's power seeped into them bit by bit from beyond that pillar.
If.
As long as no issue arose with that pillar, they would not wither away like the inhabitants of the failed world.
And then—the Observer, once its fellow kin but now unequivocally a dimension superior, having obtained a human body mirroring the beings they overlooked.
Kneeling, it gazed down at the world with a vacant expression.
"How was it? Figure out what happened?"
—As we anticipated, a sub-space existed there as well. However, no kin remain. Only traces linger.
"Were you able to tell how much time had passed or anything like that?"
—It's an aspect beyond description in words.
"I see? Kind of a shame. Now even if I wanted to cross over there like you, I couldn't......"
She was indeed a dimension higher, but possessing a body imposed limitations.
One might describe it as trading authority for freedom.
—Regardless, with no Observers left in the newly linked world, it is not incorrect to regard it as effectively our domain.
—In short, Lord Igugwoden's words proved true once more.
"I see. So it really is... our world."
—All for Lord Igugwoden.
In the first place, its ability to access the sub-space overseeing that world stemmed from God's declaration—'The New Continent is Igugwoden's domain.'
God's words carried power, merging the forsaken world into theirs. Having detected the shift first, it had consulted the Observer before venturing to investigate.
Even framing it as 'venturing' was a habit contracted from cohabiting with the embodied Observer.
—With Lord Igugwoden having firmly proclaimed it his domain, you surely know what must be done without instruction. Absent God's power, we too would meet the same fate as our vanished kin.
The Observer, upon hearing this, silently caressed her pristine white knee.
Then, hesitatingly, she hinted at wanting to speak—
"......Hey. There's something I want to ask."
—What is it?
"So......"
The Observer's face flushed crimson.
Her ears turned scarlet as well, imparting an impression utterly unlike her usual demeanor.
Humans in poor condition sometimes perished in torment with such flushed faces.
Just as it wondered if some affliction had beset the Observer's 'body'—
"......Cute, that is."
—?
"What being 'cute'...... means to you?"
Upon hearing the Observer, it lapsed into momentary bewilderment.
A query seemingly mismatched to the grave circumstances.
Yet, having received a question, responding was the ironclad principle among kin interdependent for survival.
—'Cute' denotes a term apt for things visually pleasing, endearing, or harmoniously proportioned.
"No, not that......! Hey! I know that already! Who are you calling an idiot?"
To the Observer, who stood abruptly and fumed in uncharacteristic ire, it replied evenly.
—I do not treat kin as idiots. Nor am I so presumptuous as to belittle those with whom cooperation is essential for survival.
"......"
The Observer stared into the murky gloom—
Then promptly plopped down in place.
"If only you'd gotten a body too. Then you and I could actually talk."
—Why do you not comprehend that it is God's will—I lack one, while you possess it?
"See? Talk like that. You could've just chatted with me normally, without all the stiffness."
—?
"......Just."
The Observer fidgeted with her fingers.
Her face still flushed...... she eventually raised a hand to twirl her hair vigorously.
"Since 'cute' means that. If someone calls something 'cute,' it signifies it's visually appealing, well-proportioned...... so, um......"
"Lov...... ely, or the like...... right?"
—Considering the phrasing, there seems no cause to refute your interpretation.
"Then, if someone calls another 'cute'—"
—It would mean that subject satisfies the criterion of cuteness.
"Yeah......?"
......Ehehehe.
!!!
It...... could not help but be profoundly startled.
A facial expression visible only to humans...... one of utter bliss, manifesting on its bodiless kin.
It evoked the visage of the woman Erin upon receiving a gospel brimming with God's love—the Observer's expression gleamed as radiantly as the pillar of light.
"I see. So you called me cute...... Yeah. ......Nice."
"If I'm cute...... even fulfilling the desired 'obsession' should please you, right...... Yeah. After all, the one
most deeply connected
is
me
......"
Observing her muttering happily, it reflected.
Moments ago.
Despite having told the Observer, 'Why do you not know it is God's will that I lack a body while you have one?'—
In this instant, it wondered what had transformed her into a being capable of such an expression.
* * *
The Wood Magic Tower's finest invention—the 'Miracle Fertilizer' brimming with Plain Facts—had safely taken effect.
As Erin instructed, Pibiola led her kin to the site planted with trees bursting with blue blossoms and fruits.
"×××……!!"
"××,××××……."
The expressions of Pibiola's long-eared kin visibly brimmed with astonishment.
First came shock, then doubt...... followed by surging emotion at the sight of blue petals drifting on the breeze.
Pibiola scrutinized each face in turn, then spoke in a profoundly earnest tone.
"Everyone. I won't say we must serve a new god from today. However, the Evsilion tree before you is one form of miracle their 'God' has shared with us freely—and that being desires us to rebuild our village and resume our former lives."
"......"
A protracted silence.
At that juncture, none could muster a retort to Pibiola.
"Let's try again. Let's reclaim the lands trampled by Dtamuk Thinking Army. Now, with their new 'God'...... we can. As I said before, I've arranged a means to shield you from Dtamuk Thinking Army...... please, lend your strength."
Having concluded, Pibiola clenched her fists and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
Erin, deliberately adding no words, prayed silently from afar on their behalf.
'Lord Igugwoden...... I am truly grateful for bestowing your Plain Facts upon all who suffer and grieve, irrespective of race.'
'I'll do my utmost. If it is God's will that this continent and these people come under Lord Igugwoden...... I'll make it happen somehow.'
'Thus, please—even if they cannot yet believe in Lord Igugwoden, withhold your wrath and grant Plain Facts......'
Even as she prayed, Erin could not help but reaffirm it.
—A Dish of Facts infused with love, even for unbelievers.
—Even possessing nothing, never forsake the romance of sharing a Dish of Facts with others.
Contrasting Lord Igugwoden's teachings against the deeds of the false entity Dtamuk Thinking Army, who had descended as 'God'—the truth shone all the clearer.
The boundless generosity of the God they served.
The profound cherishing of humanity by their God.
And concurrently—deep within her heart.
Beyond the vast Divine Power Pouch, nearest the heart's insistent thudding—the sentiment was unease.
If.
Like Dtamuk Thinking Army—
Should Lord Igugwoden vanish abruptly one day...... what then?
Erin promptly shook her head.
'I mustn't fret over unoccurred events and burden Lord Igugwoden.'
Even should Lord Igugwoden depart, a reason would exist.
Others might not discern it, but as Saintess, she was certain she could.
For the one
most deeply connected
to Lord Igugwoden was
herself
.
Distinct from God's love for Her Majesty...... the executor of God's will from the closest vantage was none but herself.
'Lord Igugwoden...... Please watch over us.'
Erin offered her prayer.
——Clutching steadfastly the conviction that only God beheld her from above.