That was why she was insistent that she was great. Sith’s face grew smug again, and she snorted. I didn’t sense any malice there. Precisely for that reason, the gap between us only grew wider.
“And so, splendidly, the World Restoration Array succeeded! A few million people died along the way, but...it was a necessary sacrifice.”
“You—!” Until now, world peace had been the premise, so I could tolerate certain things. But her flippant disregard for human life was slowly becoming unbearable.
“You... You were angry a thousand years ago too. Don’t be so angry. You did kill me a thousand years ago, so shouldn’t that settle things?”
I could tell from her expression that she genuinely believed it was settled. It was the only reaction I could muster, realizing that this was simply how Apostle Sith was. I suppressed my anger and adopted a posture of listening to gather information.
“After that, I was killed, and my World Restoration Array plan was inherited by my allies, Kanami the Founder and Saint Tiara. Thanks to them, the World Restoration Array Plan changed its name to the Dungeon Plan and survived until this era—though, to be clear, its goal wasn’t world peace or creating a replacement; it seems it was for reviving Aikawa Hitaki.”
In other words, the Dungeon was originally a space for selecting humans to serve as replacements. It had become what it was now because I’d continued tinkering with it for my own personal amusement.
“I see... I’m starting to understand your purpose too. So, how do you plan to prepare this replacement thing from now on? What do you want me to do?” I asked.
“My purpose, now as in the past, is to prepare a replacement for my master. And the means to do so are already in place. The Level Up ritual that transforms troublesome magicbane into power, the magic petrification ritual that crystallizes human souls entirely, the vessel Diablo to contain it all, and the Dungeon as the stage to execute all these things! Yes, everything is ready! So what I ask of my friend is truly just a little thing. A small favor.”
Here, it seemed Sith’s earlier mention of a plan that saved Dia and also fulfilled her own demands came into play. However, even from what’d been said so far, it was clear that my way of thinking differed too greatly from hers. Without expecting much, I listen to the request.
“What I want is help with leveling up Diablo Sith. But if we level up normally, she’ll end up like Hitaki. So we’ll need a lot of magic gems from Essence Thieves in order to remove the level cap. And I want plenty of magic gems packed full of magicbane. So first, I need you to raise your level. Using the magic gem of the Thief of Earth’s Essence over there should get you safely to just shy of Level 60. I’ve already confirmed this limit through Hitaki, so it’s a sure thing. Just look at her stats.”
I did as I was told and used Analyze on Hitaki. At the same time, I also took a look at Sith’s Status, since I knew we’d be fighting soon.
[STATUS]
NAME: Aikawa Hitaki
HP: 587/587
MP: 2812/2812
CLASS: Diver
LEVEL 59
STR 16.78
VIT 17.11
DEX 40.21
AGI 29.86
INT 60.76
MAG 132.55
APT 0.79
[STATUS]
NAME: Diablo Sith
HP: 741/741
MP: 3412/3412
CLASS: Apostle
LEVEL 59
STR 15.11
VIT 13.55
DEX 9.45
AGI 10.67
INT 39.91
MAG 177.22
APT 5.00
I let out a hiss. I’d expected it, but the absurdity of the numerical values in their stats was too much. Last time I’d seen them, Hitaki had been at Level 1 and Dia had been Level 20. But now, both of them were more than twice my level. My year’s delay was starkly laid bare in numbers, yet I immediately reminded myself that stats were just that—numbers. They were merely metrics created by my past self. I’d learned the hard way time and again that nothing was absolute.
“You’ve seen it, right? So, once both Aikawa siblings reach their limits, they’ll die and become magic gems. Naturally, that includes the Demon Queen over there and Ide too. You’ll unify the world with Ide, then cleanly turn into magic gems. That way, I’ll have five magic gems: Dimension, Water, Earth, Wind, and Wood. Five magic gems of the Essence Thieves, packed with massive amounts of magicbane!” Sith spoke casually of our deaths and declared that she would take the magic stone of Lorwen at my waist too. “Then Diablo will swallow all five, converting all the magicbane into power! That will definitely make her body strong enough to withstand the Deepest Level—reaching the Level 99 cap. The strongest body, combined with an Apostle’s spirit! Truly perfect! Meaning, I myself can offer a vessel to replace the master who created me! That will stop the world’s magicbane from leaking out, reduce the number of semifer who’ve broken free from human bonds, and eradicate ferocious monsters from the world! See? It’s a wonderful plan, isn’t it?!”
Sith genuinely seemed to think this outrageous proposal was a great idea. She leaned forward from the table, more excited than ever before.
“And you seriously think I’d agree to this?” I asked.
“Is it not good? Dia is still alive, after all. As the ultimate being.”
“Of course it’s no good! It’s no good from the start, because both Hitaki and I would be dead!”
“Huh? But... But, Hitaki and all of you could be remembered as saints who saved the world. You’d surely be passed down as saviors, praised for all eternity. Isn’t that the ultimate existence for a human? The highest honor. Above all, you could die proud and content, knowing you served the world! This time, your death wouldn’t be meaningless! Your journey would be complete through a meaningful life and death! There’d be nothing left to complain about, only satisfaction and fulfillment! See? It’s a perfect story where everyone ends up happy, right?!”
“You...” I was stunned, speechless. No wonder my thousand-year-old self had snapped. Talking with Sith felt like being forced to endlessly solve an incomplete puzzle with no end in sight, and my frustration just kept building. It was unsettling how we shared the same language yet couldn’t share the same conversation. The moment I realized this was a discussion with no endpoint, I found myself unable to respond.
Seeing me remain silent, Sith started looking a little uneasy. “I-It’s really no good? Are you sure? But this could contribute to world peace! As a human being, isn’t that the most meaningful life possible?”
From her expression, it was clear she genuinely believed everyone should gladly sacrifice themselves for world peace. I also understood that she had respected my opinion in her own way when coming up with this plan. The only thing I could grasp was that even if she died, Apostle Sith would remain unchanged.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t cooperate with you. The one I’m taking to the Deepest Level is Hitaki. I decided that long ago.” I cut off the discussion, stating only the nonnegotiable part. There was no other choice.
“My friend! You can’t take Hitaki to the Deepest Level. The child has too many innate uncertainties and mysteries. It’s safer for me to go, since I know the world’s mechanisms best. And I’ve already proven my mental fortitude. I’m the most suitable candidate!”
“You might be the right person. But don’t use Dia’s body without permission. You might want to be a replacement, but Dia surely doesn’t. Dia’s dream is still to be a great swordsman!”
“But Dia agreed with me... After I explained everything thoroughly, she said it was okay to give up her dream and become a replacement.”
Indeed, a year ago, there’d been hints that Dia had consented. I recalled the last time I’d spoken with her. It had been when Ide’s condition recovery spell allowed me, Lastiara, and Dia to regain memory fragments from a thousand years ago. Back then, Dia had said we’d done terrible things to Kanami and the others and that we must at least atone for our sins.
In other words, Sith felt as though what she’d done to us siblings a thousand years ago was her own sin. But that was absolutely wrong. There was no way Sith and Dia here could be the same being. Since it seemed Sith was just conveniently using the kindhearted Dia, there was only one thing for me to do.
“Even so, I won’t let you take Dia to the Deepest Level. If it’s about the world ending, then it could be done alongside treating Hitaki, but the solution will be decided by discussing it with your master, not with you, the substitute. So you should give up for now.”
“You discussing things with my master? That absolutely won’t do. Only those with a vessel capable of becoming a replacement may touch my master now. Only beings strong in heart and body, who can perfectly control the world’s poison. That’s not you, my friend.”
The discussion finally reached a deadlock, each side merely stating their demands. I’d known this would happen from the start. Having extracted all the necessary information, what followed now wouldn’t be a discussion, but savage a battle.
“Is it really not good, my friend?” Sith still clung stubbornly to the negotiations, seeking my confirmation.
“Yes. It’s impossible.” I answered her with a fighting spirit, rising from my seat.
“It really is impossible, then. But friend, you cannot defeat me. Even if you defeated Ide, you absolutely cannot defeat the two of us here. It’s a law of the world. It’s decided. Still want to fight?” Her voice was full of warning.
But if I could be stopped by words like that, I wouldn’t have come this far in the first place. Without hesitating, I stood up and placed my hand on the sword at my waist. Seeing the end of the discussion, Sith showed emotion for the first time that day.