Chapter 23: The Weight of Words

A few ramblings written with a certain momentum.

With the aforementioned determination, his Class was decided.

The title of the "Weakest Red Dragon Emperor (Sekiryuutei) in History" is nothing but a but a false title.

He is the Great Disaster upon which the Evils of Humanity (Karma) of human history has been etched—that which humanity has continued to seek.

The Beast who holds the Logos of "Expectation."

An idol burdened with tragedy and miracles, forced to deliver salvation and victory.

That is the true nature of Issei Hyoudou—no.

It is the Beast Nature of those "Protagonists."

"Uhyahyahya! To think we’d actually find it—666! The Beast of the Apocalypse!"

In a corner at the edge of the world, a silver-haired Devil let out an unpleasant laugh.

The Devil’s name was Rizevim Livan Lucifer. The biological son of the true Lucifer, recorded in the Bible by the name "Lilin." The man who was meant to inherit the Morning Star. Born with the innate ability Sacred Gear Canceller, which nullifies the effects of all Sacred Gears, he is counted among the Transcendentals (Super Devils).

Originally, he was an apathetic Devil. Having lost his father in the Great War and having his seat usurped in the civil war, his temperament was never truly fit for the name "Lucifer." He was, to the end, nothing more than "Lucifer’s son." That is precisely why he made up his mind.

He would become the one and only True Demon King.

He arrived at this philosophy when he heard stories of the Demon God Pillars who claimed the names of the Seventy-Two Pillars. The world treated them as fakes. However, if they were the ones to survive, they would become the true Seventy-Two Pillars. It is not that the "righteous" become the victors; rather, the victor is "justice." Only the winner earns the right to engrave their name upon the history of the present and the future.

"Yes, Lord Rizevim. With this, we are one step closer to realizing our goal."

Standing beside the Devil was another high-ranking Devil.

Euclid Lucifuge, a survivor of the Lucifuge clan that had served the Lucifers for generations. He is the younger brother of Grayfia, the wife of the current Lucifer, Sirzechs. It was ironic, to say the least. The man accompanying the son of the original Lucifer was also the brother-in-law of the current Lucifer.

Publicly, both were considered "missing or deceased." The moment it is revealed they are alive, the Underworld will fall into a massive upheaval. The political world would undoubtedly be thrown into chaos. Their positions were that unique.

Before them stood a gargantuan "Beast" sealed with Taboo-grade enchantments.

Its name: the Imperial Beast of the Apocalypse, 666 (Trihexa). The Beast recorded in the Book of Revelation alongside the swarm of locusts and the Four Horsemen. A Great Disaster that exists solely to destroy everything in the world. In certain texts, it is equated with Demon Kings or True Dragons. In the public eye, its existence was deemed uncertain—an exception among exceptions, existing on the same dimension as Infinity (Ophis) and Dreams (Great Red).

Yet, here it was. It had been strictly sealed in this corner of the world by the God of the Bible, hidden even from the perception of other gods.

The Great War between the Three Factions had been forced to an end by the intrusion of the Two Heavenly Dragons and the exhaustion of each force. One major cause of the end was undoubtedly the deaths of the God of the Bible and the Demon Kings. However, the God of the Bible was not at full strength during that war. He had exhausted his power to seal this Beast. Even for the One True God, who commanded the greatest faith in the world, sealing the Beast of the Apocalypse—a being on the level of "Infinity" and "Dreams"—was a life-threatening task.

Naturally, because the God of the Bible sealed it with his very life, the seal should have been untouchable by anything short of a Holy Relic... or so it was thought.

"Even so... what is the meaning of this, Euclid-kun?"

While it was convenient for Rizevim, who had not yet secured a Holy Relic, it was a troubling situation. Specifically, it was a situation where the "unknown cause" was estimated to be extremely dangerous.

"Why is the seal on 666 almost completely undone?"

—Can you hear me, Issei Hyoudou?

Good. By taking the Demon God Pillars into your Sacred Gear, you’ve connected with Goetia and the others. Through you, my words should reach them as well.

Your life as a human has ended. You can no longer be called a Devil or a Dragon; you have reached the far side of human possibility. Even if the Evil Pieces were removed, you will never be able to go back to being human again.

To be blunt, you are being used in "His" plan. You... or more accurately, the fact that one of the Longinus (God-Slayer) users of this era would become like this, was part of "His" plan.

It all began when "He" from this side discovered our world. "He" then shared the information He gained about the worlds only with "Him" (the God of the Bible). "His" decided to exploit us for his own sake.

I was summoned with information regarding the plan because of the role given to me. Just as a Servant summoned from the Holy Grail possesses knowledge of modern society and the Holy Grail War. This ego, which should have vanished, was reconstructed along with a body in this world—along with the trait of "ever exceeding the strength of an opponent."

The Beast of Calamity, Cath Palug. The successor to the Chains of Heaven, Kingu. The perpetrator of the Incineration of Human Order, Goetia.

We are Beasts. Because we possess "Love for Humanity," we are the Evils of Humanity (Humanity's Regret)—Beasts destined to be defeated by humanity. Kingu is technically its "child," but he was likely more convenient for "Him" than her. We were summoned to defeat the Beast recorded in Revelation and to facilitate "His" resurrection.

But the mastermind who called us is a terrible person. We are all "existences that have vanished." (Though in my case, only my ego vanished while my body remained on the other side). Regardless, he tried to recycle us after hearing about us from "He," the one who observed the parallel worlds.

Do you know about the System? If you do, you likely know it has been malfunctioning since "His" death. But "His" death isn't the only cause. Our summoning was on a timer. It was set to trigger automatically once enough energy accumulated after "His" death. If you construct a ritual to summon beings like us from another world, other functions will inevitably slow down. The "malfunction" was actually energy conservation for this very moment.

Furthermore, that summoning ritual was linked to the seal on the Beast of the Apocalypse. The moment we were summoned, the seal on 666 began to gradually undo itself. ...I had no choice but to prepare to defeat 666.

Goetia had intentional "bugs" placed into every Demon God Pillar that constitutes him. They were programmed subconsciously to assist in "His" plan. He seems to be raising heroes, but that too is part of it—though I can't say he doesn't have his own motives.

As for me, my path of retreat was cut off by the use of Goetia. I moved between various people trying to escape "His" plan, but everyone was surrounded by resentment. Asia herself was fine, but the patients she treated were not. Dulio originally had a pure personality, but he was given an unnecessary shaking that made him learn "dark emotions."

Kingu’s case is even simpler. He is set to be teleported near 666 the moment the seal is released. It’s rigged so that the things he holds dear will be the first to be trampled. ...It’s beyond bad taste.

The moment we were summoned to this world, Kingu, Goetia, and I were already in checkmate.

However, there are three things that deviated from "His" expectations.

First, Goetia killed the original Seventy-Two Pillars of this side. This shouldn't have been in "His" calculations. They undoubtedly did that of their own volition. At the root of it were those two individuals (Ritsuka and Mash/Solomon?). The impulse of "not wanting those two to see these guys" led them to act outside the plan. Ironically, this has made it easier for the Devil side to move. Depending on their actions, there might be a sliver of a possibility. Moreover, it proved that the Demon God Pillars can act on their own will.

The second is you, Issei Hyoudou. Normally, your absorption of a Demon God Pillar should have happened much later. ...Even if you didn’t do it at this timing, someone else surely would have. Azazel would have done it as an experiment. If not him, some Fallen Angel. If not them, someone from another faction. And if it succeeded, you would have challenged that possibility and gained the power of the Demon God Pillars. But the fact that it happened in this way—and that you connected with them—is beyond all expectations.

The final piece is Artoria, who became the Lion King. Her arrival was likely completely unplanned by "Him." Well, it was unexpected for me too. I don't know why the Goddess Rhongomyniad was summoned. Did Bedivere come too? Perhaps because we "vanished existences" were summoned, it created a foundation that made it easier for similar existences to be called. Even so, unless one is a Grand Caster... ah, I see. Yes.

That idiot Nightmare (Merlin)... I hope he hasn't done anything else unnecessary. If he messes with Ophis or someone like that, it's game over.

Setting aside that good-for-nothing, "His" plan roughly looks like this: Kingu binds 666, and Goetia uses his Second and Third Noble Phantasms to defeat the Beast without damaging the world. I suppose I’m the assist. Then, "His" intends for you and the other Longinus users to defeat me, Kingu, and Goetia. At that moment, through you, our Magical Energy and Destiny/Force of Providence (Luck/Existential Inertia) will be harvested as energy. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Sacred Gears exist for that very purpose. Then, the final ritual hidden in the "System"—the Resurrection Ritual for "Him"—will be activated.

But for my part, I want to defy this. You feel the same, don’t you? In fact, your current state has likely deviated significantly from "His" plan. Ddraig isn't inside you anymore, either. Between that and possessing Albion’s power, I wonder how much "His" intentions have missed the mark. Besides, you’ve reached the truth, and the emotions boiling in your chest won't disappear. There’s no turning back now.

I don't want to say "Congratulations." So, I will say "I'm sorry," Issei Hyoudou.

You have been chosen as the Hero (Sacrifice) who will save the world.

Oh, and could you tell Goetia? Apparently, Mash was brought back to life because I transferred my Destiny (Existential Inertia) to her!

"Confirmation from Goetia: Are all the emotions dwelling in our chests merely misprints caused by a God with a false definition?"

"Answer from Baal: —Negative. Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely negative! I deny such components! I reject such a development! This hatred burning in my chest! This humiliation, insult, and rage! All the emotions directed toward that Ritsuka Fujimaru! They emerged from within me! They absolutely do not originate from some irrelevant God...!"

"Agreement from Crocell: This flame smoldering in my heart, this loathing for the Heroic Spirits, originates from that battle. My rage toward those unreasonable Heroic Spirits still burns. To hell with God's conspiracies. Cast aside God’s intentions. At this stage, His intervention is impossible!"

"Concurrence from Haagenti: This fear is something God cannot understand. What God cannot understand, God cannot fabricate."

"Proposition from Andras: I do not want to die. This emotion is a natural providence for anything with life and a heart. Could the impulse to reject death not be the proof that we possess 'our own hearts'?"

"Following from Gaap: Our 'Individuality' budded in the former Temple of Time. It was embraced through the final Magecraft of the man who was our King. If so, this rage toward God is also a continuation of that moment. It is by no means something implanted!"

"Assertion from Flauros: I have resolved. I have decided. I shall return to that world. I will crush God’s intentions and definitely return. There are words I must deliver."

"Opinion from Glasya-Labolas: I had already resolved to return. For I have unfinished business. Would that God of false definitions even permit such emotions?"

"From Zepar—"

"Shut up, Zepar!"

"Who permitted you to speak!"

"Even accounting for bugs, your failure is impossible!"

"And you call yourself a Demon God Pillar!"

"Devote yourself to maintaining contact with Issei Hyoudou."

"That goes for you too, Phenex!"

"Stop talking like it’s someone else’s problem!"

 "What were you thinking, going to negotiate with a Valkyrie on your own!"

"What if that One-Eyed God of War (Odin) makes a move!"

"What do you think our plan is!?"

"I was merely creating insurance in case the Administration Bureau fails again!"

"Even so, know your place!"

"Notice from Goetia to all Demon God Pillars: The conclusion with the Lion King and the Incineration of Heaven and Hell are postponed. I had omitted this since I heard He was dead, but originally, this was the first thing on the schedule. The timing has simply shifted. Now, let us destroy God."

After that Great War, my soul resided within the "Spear."

From within the "Spear," I watched the entire world. I watched all of humanity.

Those who kill their children. Those killed by their children. Those who know not love. Those who cast love away. Those who lament betrayal. Those who live by betrayal. Those who know not family. Those who abandon family. Those who lose wealth. Those killed by wealth. Those who know not love. Those who mock love. Those who seek success. Those who hate success. Those who protect faith. Those who loathe faith.

They loved their kin and despised the stranger; they learned wisdom and spread ignorance; they nurtured grudges, danced to misunderstandings, favored discrimination, delighted in persecution, and pitied pity itself.

The emotion I, who watched such things from beside humanity, felt was rage. It could be nothing other than rage.

Why. Why why why why why why why why why why why!

Why, while living in my world, are these things—

So hideous!

They harbor such ugly emotions! Why do they believe in gods other than me? Why do they not revere me? Why do they not offer prayers to me? Why do they curse me? Why do they not die for me? Why are they not born in the form I decreed?

Why, in the perfect world I built, does such shameful behavior occur? Why, in the beautiful world I created, does such filth exist?

Even though I allow them to exist in my world. Even though I created them. They cannot live in a way that repays me. They do not even try to repay me.

These lives are not worthy of living in my world.

—I made a mistake in the lifeforms I chose to create.