Chapter 85

Chapter Intermission The Era of the End of Humans and Gods Gods’ Games We Play High up, higher than the birds, a gleaming silver city drifted among the wisps of cloud in the blue sky. This was the Myth City of Heckt-Scheherezade, where the magic of the ancient magical civilization remained richer than anywhere else. It was silent in the library there. One particular room, where hundreds of books of records of ancient times rested, had gone nearly a year without seeing any visitors—because no one cared. What had happened in times so long ago was of interest only to a handful of scholars. So the girl was alone again today. “……” The girl with lavender hair sat quietly, studying a book with her jade eyes. She turned a page with only a soft rustle. Then she heard footsteps approaching, gradually growing louder. “Heleneia.” “It was my decision alone. I attempted to trap the boy, Fay, in the superior spiritual realm, knowing full well that you would resent me for it.” Clack. There was a sound of shoes on the floor, but Heleneia didn’t even turn around; she merely continued, “But I failed. I was rebuffed by his Arise. Whichever god gave it to him, they must have truly loved him. I don’t know who named his Arise, but it’s striking: They call it May Your God, meaning ‘He who has been granted the divine love of the gods.’” “I’m aware of that. I want to know what we do next,” the voice responded gruffly. “If he comes to headquarters, you mean?” The girl closed her book. “We don’t do anything. Even if he has realized—or will realize—what I truly am, our goal and our actions will not change. They must not change.” “……” She was met with silence. “In fact, Chaos, I’m more worried about you.” Heleneia, her hand still on the book, turned to confront the tall, slim young man before her. “You’re our team’s coach. We could never have devised this plan without your help. I thank you.” “Sure thing.” “You are also, however, the only human on our team. Perfectly, completely human—unlike myself, in which the human and the divine mingle.” “Uh-huh.” “I’ve also heard that you were the leader of Fay’s old team. It crossed my mind that when you see him again, it’s possible that, in a rush of sentiment, you might decide to become his ally.” “……” Silence again. “Well?” “You’re not wrong to wonder, Heleneia. But you’ve got it backward.” The young man took an old book from the shelf: a volume of research on the ancient magical civilization. Gazing down at its cover, he said, “I want to put a stop to the gods’ games for humanity’s sake. What helps humanity will help me—and Fay. So I’m never going to waver from the vow I swore to you that day.” “I’m pleased to hear that.” The slightest smile crossed the girl’s lips. It was the first expression of emotion from the young woman, who had remained almost totally impassive throughout the entire video conference with the branch offices. “The plan with the Labyrinth of Lucemia required time. They may have broken out of it, but we must not give up. I will have to ask for everyone to lend me their strength awhile longer.” Standing behind the young woman and young man, under a flickering overhead light, were three apostles. The door to the great library was closed—how had they gotten in there, and when? They were Mind Over Matter, the world’s strongest team. A demure-looking red-haired girl. An intelligent-looking young man with a monocle. A brown-haired boy with a big smile on his face. And their leader, Heleneia. Gods, all four of them. More precisely, perhaps, one of them half human and half god; the other three spiritual projections of deities. All of them powerful beyond compare. “D-do myew think our big sis Anubis won’t help us anymeowr?” the red-haired girl asked hesitantly—the Great Beast, Nibelung. The god who had bestowed upon humans the cornerstone of Superhuman Arises looked distraught. “This one helped design the Sleeping Lion and Sphinx bosses in that dungeon! It’s meowy disappointing…” “Oh-ho! There’s no need to look so down, Nibbly. Gods ought to be unmoved. But also whimsical. That’s what makes them interesting.” The brown-haired boy laughed in a clear soprano voice. Despite his youthful voice, and the certifiable sweetness of his boyish features, his tone bespoke wisdom beyond his apparent years. “I dare say that even my own cooperation here is a passing fancy. Isn’t it, Hecky?” “Elder,” Heleneia answered with a sigh. “I’m not Heckt-Maria here on the surface. I’m Heleneia O. Missing. I wish to remain a human a little longer.” “Do pardon me.” “And one other thing.” Heleneia gave a childish—though pained—smile, and in an uncharacteristically teasing tone, she said, “I regard you, elder, as a valued companion and comrade. I do wish you would do what I ask, not for whim or fancy—but from the heart.” “Mm… W-well, yes, of course…” “Hee hee! Meow, it’s Ararasoragi, the great King of the Spirits, who’s lost for words. Oh, Heleneia! Gramps talks tough, but put your heart on your sleeve and down he goes, meow!” The red-haired girl’s shoulders heaved with laughter. “The gods are all-knowing and all-powerful. That’s why they never choose all at once but show favor to individuals. But you were different, Heleneia. You were a god, yet you begged me for my help. It was so ungodlike, how could I not be charmed? That’s why I agreed to work with mew!” “It’s because I’m half human. I’m very good at…ungodlike things.” Heleneia sighed again. Half human: Even the all-knowing, all-powerful gods couldn’t guess all the emotions contained within that word. “I’m looking forward to working with mew, too, ‘Nafutayua,’” Nibelung said. “……” The young man with the monocle only nodded. This god hardly ever spoke—but not because he couldn’t. This, too, was a game. How much could he communicate without words? He simply enjoyed finding out. These gods, like all the rest, loved games. And the plan they had decided on? “I’m sorry, my dear father.” There, in the overwhelming silence of the great library, bathed in the modest light of the lamp, the young woman Heleneia looked up as if praying. “Your daughter isn’t going to clear the gods’ games. She’s going to destroy them.” This girl stood in the liminal space between humans and gods, and she had a plan to tear them asunder once and for all.