Chapter 294 - Chapter 293: Those Who Once Aimed for God
Mika loosened his body and organized the story told so far.
Honestly, it was dangerous to swallow the words spoken by this man, Aquu, without question.
Nevertheless, while it was somewhat irreverent, he felt a certain amusement at the unexpected stories popping out one after another.
Mika himself had the question, "What is this?" regarding the [God's Miracle].
It cannot be incorporated unless one possesses a [Skill] that interferes with the world's logic.
Unfortunately, there was no way for Mika to verify that hypothesis.
(............But, perhaps.......)
Mika had a few ideas regarding interference with the world's logic.
It was [Divine Wrath].
[Divine Wrath] was originally manifested by offering prayers to several gods.
But through research, that number increased.
And then, the first Segerbaum, who altered [Explosive Flame].
Wasn't this person the one who possessed the [Skill] to incorporate [God's Miracle] into the world's logic?
(It seems there is a hint around here.)
If the man before his eyes was the last of the "Cursed Children," then perhaps [Dispelling] was no longer necessary.
But if there were "Cursed Children" on other continents as well, keeping them resurrected would certainly not be meaningless.
Mika thought this far, and once again drove these thoughts out of his head.
"First of all, what exactly are 'Cursed Children'? And why did you try to spread the Church of Light?"
Mika cut straight to the core.
When Mika asked that, Aquu looked down at him with eyes glowing red and brilliantly.
"'Cursed Children' are a pure combination of 'Power' and 'Will'. You could say they are a mixture of high-purity power."
While saying that, Aquu created light in his hand.
"It is a collection of pure power that thinks. This light is created by 'Word', but it also exists as a physical object. No, it is power itself."
Pure power?
Mika hesitated and asked Aquu.
"............Is mana energy?"
Not matter that is easily converted into energy, but energy itself?
"I do not know what 'energy' is, but if it is a word representing power itself, then yes. And it is not just 'Power'. 'Will' is also like that."
Mana, will, and emotions were all energy?
So, "Cursed Children" were something that should be called "High-Energy Thought Forms"?
"'Word' combines 'Power' and 'Will' to cause phenomena. In that sense, we ourselves can be said to be 'Words'."
Existence itself was a "Word"?
This was becoming a story I couldn't quite understand.
"To put it simply, your power to dispel is the power to release the combination of 'Power' and 'Will'."
Saying that, Aquu created a stone and threw it at Mika.
Mika caught the stone.
Because he suddenly moved his body, his whole body hurt a little.
I can't move much yet.
"You seem to be thinking only about curses, but whether it tries to change into an object or not, it is still a combination of 'Power' and 'Will'. You should be able to turn that stone back into 'Power' and 'Will'."
"Like this?"
"Of course. Curses are composed differently. If it solidifies as a stone, you won't be able to interfere anymore. But whether it changes into an object or not, it remains a combination of 'Power' and 'Will'. If so, it should be possible."
He tried to interfere as told, but he couldn't understand it at all.
It just felt like a plain stone.
"Well, perhaps the change in form makes it harder to sense. In other words, you are good at sensing the combination of 'Power' and 'Will' in the form called 'curse'. If you train, you will be able to sense more broadly."
Even outside of curses, it was born from the same energy.
Was it like visible light or audible sound?
It seemed that the range of recognition was fixed, but things outside that range could be recognized through training.
"And regarding the reason I tried to spread the Church of Light......."
Saying that, Aquu looked up.
"'Will' is given direction."
"Hmm?"
What was this talk?
Directionality?
"In simple terms, if you release 'Will' toward someone, that 'Will' goes toward that person."
"It's like having directionality......?"
"You use words I don't understand. Well, I also arbitrarily named phenomena, so I can't talk about others. For example, if you get angry at me, that angry 'Will' comes toward me."
"Hmm......."
"It disperses and weakens with distance, but it doesn't disappear. Even the dispersed part, not all of it, will eventually come to me. I don't know how much detour it takes."
Once it reached that point, it was less like directionality and more like tracking.
It seemed that it was not simply a vector given in one direction that gradually decayed.
"Whatever 'Will' is aimed at, it can be absorbed. Still, don't you think it reduces waste if it is aimed at yourself?"
"............So, what about it?"
Mika urged him to continue, but Aquu just stared at Mika.
He continued to direct those brilliantly glowing red eyes at Mika.
Mika's heart stirred restlessly.
"I said I was aiming for God, didn't I?"
At Aquu's words, Mika's heart jumped.
A bad premonition disturbed Mika's chest.
"What are you saying......."
Mika widened his eyes and looked at Aquu.
Only the bad premonition kept swelling in his chest.
(Aiming for God......? Can't reach that point with just 'Will'? How did Aquu know that?)
'Will' with directionality.
The reason for spreading the Church of Light.
The Six Pillars of Gods.
The six kings of the prehistoric civilization that served as the model.
Who were those six kings......?
"No way......!"
Mika, struck by a bad premonition, involuntarily stood up.
He grimaced at the pain in his whole body from the recoil.
"It is somewhat roundabout, but this was the most efficient method to collect 'Will'. At least, as far as I know."
Thump...... Thump...... Thump...... The sound of his heart grew louder.
"The me talking to you now is merely a fragment, about one ten-thousandth of my original self. The body cannot hold everything. Connected via 'Invisibiliter', I am waiting outside this space even now."
Aquu grinned.
That smile was clearly different from the one until just now.
It was a chilling grin, like a monster or a demon beast that had found its prey.
"This space was created by me. Unless I am dispelled, this space will be maintained. Try hard to dispel me. If you do, you can return to the original space."
"I'll dispel you even without being told!"
"That spirit is good, but your resolve is still lacking."
The glow in Aquu's eyes increased.
In those eyes, like the glow of blood, a cold sweat ran down Mika's back.
"If you use 'Power' concentrated enough to dispel me, your body won't hold it. In other words, you will become one of us."
"............You bastard......!"
Mika gritted his teeth and glared at Aquu.
"I said you should know, right? This is a small reward for you who will release me. There is a bar called 'The Hanged Man' in Shaksara of the Trade Alliance. Show your 'Dispeller' guild card to the master there and tell them you heard it from 'Aquu'. My collected materials are deposited there. Try hard and dispel yourself using the knowledge you gain. When you want to die."
Saying that, Aquu chuckled, making a sound in his throat.
"Probably, with your way of dispelling, you won't be able to dispel yourself. No, there must be a way. If you don't give up."
"None of your business, you damn scum!"
Mika was about to be dyed in anger, but he desperately calmed himself.
Don't get angry.......
If I don't get angry, let me hit him once!
"While we are talking like this, my 'Will' is increasing? After all, Hildinlander appeared in large cities across the continent. That disgusting face. Everyone is praying with all their hearts. ————To me."
The people who saw that dark face floating in the sky were surely praying desperately.
To the gods of the Church of Light.
Regardless of the subordinate gods, if they prayed to the Six Gods, all those prayers would go to Aquu. That was the logic.
"Three thousand five hundred years' worth of 'Will'. Well, strictly speaking, some from the prehistoric civilization period remains too. Now, no matter how much I use it, it only increases. Hildinlander, who was desperately gathering 'Will', was pitiful."
Aquu made a sorrowful expression, but it was painfully clear that it was full of mockery.
"You put your spirit in the way Caleilhaben taught you. Let me squeeze out your motivation."
Saying that, Aquu stretched his arm to the side.
However, that arm disappeared just above the elbow.
And then, he pulled it out vigorously.
Aquu threw the thing he pulled out, so that it went far over Mika's head.
"Kyaaaaaahhhhh!?"
"Kistil!?"
That voice.
At that figure, Mika's heart was squeezed.
Mika rushed out instinctively and got ahead of the predicted landing point of Kistil.
It was a relief that he manifested [Physical Enhancement].
Thud!
Mika carefully caught Kistil.
Kistil didn't know what happened and her expression was stiff.
"Kistil! Are you okay!?"
"Eh, ah...... M, Mika-kun......."
Kistil looked half in a daze.
"Kyaaaaaahhhhh!?"
But the relief was short-lived, and a scream rang out again.
In another direction, Nerisfeene was thrown this time.
"You idiot, aaaaaaaah!!!"
Mika sat Kistil down there and rushed to Nerisfeene.
"......I have been observing you for a while, but your karma is truly entangled in a rare way. I have never seen anyone so completely tied up."
While saying that, Aquu stuck his arm somewhere else again.
Mika got ahead of the predicted landing point of Nerisfeene and fired [Laser Cannon] at Aquu.
But Aquu easily dodged the [Laser Cannon].
"There's no way I'd take that hit? Here!"
At the same time as Mika caught Nerisfeene, she was pulled out again.
"Kyaaaaaah!?"
"......Ah, Mika-kun."
This time, it was Cleiria and Rimliche.
Rimliche, who was clinging to Cleiria, quickly found Mika and lazily muttered.
Mika put Nerisfeene on the floor and ran with strength in his legs.
Pain ran through his whole body, but there was no time to complain.
Jumping and catching the two in mid-air, Mika somehow adjusted his posture and landed.
"......Something strange has attached itself."
Aquu muttered while looking at Rimliche.
As expected, Mika's three fiancées plus one had gathered.
Mika gathered everyone and shielded them with his back.
"Mika-kun......."
"Mika-sama."
"Mika, what is this......."
"Mika-kun."
Too many, too many.
Protecting four people at once is too much of an impossible game.
"Better explain the situation. They will need to be prepared, won't they?"
"Tch!"
Mika grimaced at Aquu's relaxed face.
These four were hostages without a doubt.
He intended to force Mika to go beyond his limits by threatening to harm these children.
Mika listened to the conversation while shielding the four behind him, not taking his eyes off Aquu.
"I was cleaning at home when I was suddenly pulled......."
"When Kistil disappeared right before my eyes......."
"It was time for acquisition, but I saw something unknown floating above the Royal Castle. We were ordered to wait in the classroom......."
"A hand suddenly appeared behind Cleiria, and I grabbed it instinctively......."
It seemed that was the story.
As expected, everyone had been brought here without understanding what was happening.
"......Sorry. I completely dragged you in. It's my fault."
"What do you mean, Mika."
He didn't know how he investigated Kistil and the others, but they were probably chosen because they had a deep connection with Mika.
Mika told the man with red eyes before him that he would only convey dangerous things.
As expected, he couldn't explain everything from scratch in this place.
"I'll do something about it............. I'm really sorry."
But when Mika said that, Kistil and Nerisfeene grabbed Mika's robe.
He noticed their hands were trembling.
They were probably remembering the time with Hibujiza.
Honestly, even I am not confident whether I will be safe after dispelling this guy.
Still, I have to do it.
Aquu must absolutely not be left in this world.
(......Even if we fall together.)
Kistil, Nerisfeene, Cleiria...... and Rimliche?
There is value enough to risk my life to protect these children.
These children must absolutely be returned safely.
"Mika-kun. ......Should we defeat that guy?"
"Hey, Rimliche!?"
Somehow, Rimliche was glaring at Aquu with half-closed eyes.
"Hey, wait!? What are you getting ready for!?"
"That guy is Mika-kun's enemy, isn't he?"
You're not that kind of character!
However, somehow Cleiria started glaring at Aquu too.
"That is Mika's enemy, isn't it?"
Muttering that, she created a fist-sized pebble in her hand.
"What are you...... Cleiria!?"
How can she make [Stone Bullet]!?
Seeing that, Kistil and Nerisfeene nodded at each other.
And so, the two created [Fireball].
(Why is everyone so aggressive!? Is it the influence of mana pollution!?)
This is bad, this is bad, this is bad......!
They were not opponents to be defeated by grouping together, and anyway, there was no meaning in damaging the body.
Mika gave up on persuasion and resorted to force.
He jumped up and dropped a fist on everyone's head.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
"Painful~!?"
All four lost their concentration, the [Fireball] disappeared, and the [Stone Bullet] fell to the floor.
"Cut it out!"
When Mika shouted, everyone held their heads and looked at Mika with tearful eyes.
"......Because."
"Mika-kun......."
"Always alone......."
"......You push yourself."
"Ugh......!?"
Silenced by the four glaring at him, he was left speechless.
Kistil and Nerisfeene had actually seen Mika breaking down during the time with Hibujiza.
They could do nothing for Mika breaking down right before their eyes.
That regret from back then continued to torment the two even now.
Cleiria and Rimliche were always kept out of the loop.
They could only wait at the academy.
And so, they always looked at the empty seat next to Mika with sad feelings.
Mika could say nothing to the thoughts of the four.
"......Sorry."
That was all he could do, apologize.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
At that moment, the sound of clapping echoed.
Looking in the direction of the sound, Aquu was the one clapping.
"Your panicked state was quite an interesting show, but is it time yet? The longer time passes, the more things you have to do?"
With every passing moment, Aquu's 'Will' increased.
The slower it was, the more 'Will' that needed to be released increased.
"......Since I invited you, shall I put some spirit into it?"
At Aquu's words, Mika's vision turned red in an instant.
"M, Mika!?"
"Mika-kun!?"
Cleiria and Rimliche were surprised by the killing intent spurting from Mika.
Kistil and Nerisfeene desperately clung to Mika.
"No, Mika-kun!"
"Mika-sama, hold him down!"
Although he had boiled over in an instant, Mika desperately suppressed his anger.
"......If you touch even a hair of these children! Even if you destroy this world, I will absolutely not dispel you!"
"That is troublesome. Well, it seems you have enough spirit. Very well."
Mika released Kistil and Nerisfeene's hands and deliberately smiled.
He also looked at Cleiria and Rimliche, closing his eyes once.
And so, he opened his eyes and looked firmly at each person's face.
Rimliche was looking at Mika with unflinching eyes.
This child truly trusts me from the bottom of her heart.
Rimliche's pure and straight trust was so strong it made me want to say "Doubt a little more."
Cleiria was looking at Mika with purple eyes like beautiful gems.
I became involved with this child since I saved her during the kidnapping incident.
At that time, I never thought we would become engaged in the future.
Even though Mika jumped around like a cannonball, she accepted him without saying anything.
Nerisfeene was looking at Mika with eyes that felt noble.
She was a child I ended up saving for the request to rescue the Saintess, but I was truly glad I could save her.
She treated me as if she was serving me too much, but that was much better than before.
Maybe I should have treated her more in line with Nerisfeene's hopes.
Kistil was looking at Mika with eyes that felt like love, encompassing everything.
She was a hardworking girl, but she had a difficult family environment and suffered sad experiences.
I had always relied on Kistil's kindness.
Could I have returned something worthy of what this child gave me?
Mika turned his face away instinctively and turned his back.
He was afraid his expression would break.
It was natural that they were there.
They would show up casually when they felt like it, and were accepted as a matter of course.
(......It was never a matter of course!)
There were terrible things, but I thought happy times would continue.
I thought they would always be there, forever.
I assumed so.
I knew it was a special thing.
I knew it was something very special.
(But............ Really. In the true sense, I didn't understand.......)
I didn't believe that a day would come when I would lose that.......
"......I'm going!"
Mika raised his face and walked out, forcing a bright voice.
And so, he walked slowly step by step and stood before Aquu.
"Is it okay now? At least for a greeting......—"
"Shut up."
Interrupting Aquu's words, Mika muttered.
"I don't want to hear your voice. I don't want to hear your words. I don't want to see your figure."
Saying that, Mika closed his eyes and muttered, "Absorb Wing - Triple."
Six wings appeared on Mika's back.
"I'll dispel you as you wish. So, just be quiet."
Mika gathered all his mana into his left hand and extended it.
Aquu silently shrugged and smiled bitterly.
And so, he grabbed Mika's outstretched left hand.