Chapter 68: Wishing Upon a Star――A Star's Wish―――〈Part One〉

“Even if it means turning the entire world against me――”

That kind of phrase appears frequently in works of fiction.

Perhaps it even ranks highly in lists such as “The Most Heart-Fluttering Lines” or “Things You Want to Say at Least Once in Your Life.” It's that sort of line.

At least, the male “Human” persona within me is drawn to how cool it sounds, while the female “Spirit” persona would be utterly smitten if someone said it to her.

However, the phrase actually means “even if it means turning every person in the world against me.” The words hidden in the middle are simply omitted because they're so obvious that there's no need to say them. It's one of the annoying quirks of Japanese: like those troublesome people who expect you to read their minds and fly into a rage, saying, “You should've known without me having to tell you!”

――Oops. I've gone off on a tangent. I was escaping into my thoughts because the sight before me was so utterly insane and detached from reality.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is this: under normal circumstances, there's absolutely no need to consider turning the “world itself” against you, quite literally... Let alone doing so with two worlds at once. That's simply incomprehensible.

"...I suppose I must steel myself as well."

Beyond my gaze,

as though mocking Kizuna and his companions, who had been battered and broken in their battle against Machine City,

something wickedly rose to its feet: an utterly beyond-the-pale chimera, combining the “World Tree Dragon” and the “Mechanical Giant.”

A serpent so enormous that its full shape was impossible to comprehend, with trees for bones and steel for flesh.

It was the monster King Circus had created, powered by the elven sacred treasure stolen from the Great Forest.

A bonus battle that deserved to be called nothing less than an “unnecessary appendage”――

"Human, I ask you once more.――Are you truly certain?"

"That's my question, O Star. Are you really going to do it? Honestly, I have no idea what might happen. In the worst-case scenario, your very personality could cease to exist."

"For a mere human to worry about the heart of the Mother Star. Such insolence is beyond measure. Know your place."

"Whenever you use such a harsh tone to intimidate someone, O Star, there's always an awkward kindness hiding underneath it."

"It seems you wish to die, Spirit."

"But you never actually kill me, do you~? So you're embarrassed because I've hit the mark, aren't you~? ...Ow!? It hurts! It really hurts! I'm going to die! I'm really going to die! I'm sorry! I'll prostrate myself and beg for forgiveness, so please spare me! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! ................................................................................................................................"

"............Now that the noisy one has been silenced, let us return to the matter at hand."

"Y-yes..."

"As I have told you before, the path you have chosen is an endless, thorn-covered road of hardship. Unless you make use of everything at your disposal, you will never reach the miracle you seek. Am I wrong?"

"............No, you're not."

"What is that feeble response? If it truly weighs on your mind... Very well. At the very least, you may continue to wish."

"Wish?"

"Hmph. After all, I hear that humans are creatures who offer their wishes to stars far, far away, whose names they do not even know."

『Well, well, well! I cannot thank you enough! Thanks to the thorough preparations you so kindly made for this once-in-a-lifetime performance of King Circus, I can now put on such a magnificent show!』

"Preparations...?"

『Indeed, indeed! How wonderfully you have worn Machine City down to this state!』

Mr. Circus's voice rang out from somewhere.

He spoke as though singing, sounding endlessly delighted and overjoyed.

According to him, Machine City was surrounded by a barrier that blocked all external factors, making it normally impossible to seize control of the city from outside. But now that the barrier had been breached and the city had lost its ability to function both as a city and as a weapon, things were different.

He had been waiting for this moment all along――that was what he told us.

Hearing his voice, I realized something. There was not even a trace of any warm motivation in him. Nothing like surviving, fulfilling a duty, or protecting someone he loved.

Come to think of it, perhaps this was the first time.

The first time I had encountered such pure――genuine, unadulterated “evil.”

『As a small token of my gratitude, I'm offering you an extraordinary bargain! Your lives will be more than enough payment! Please enjoy your despair to your heart's content from the finest seats in the house!』

Everyone was battered and exhausted. We were all in terrible shape.

And now we had to fight something that combined Machine City――which had been so powerful to begin with――with the very people who had defeated it?

It was an unmistakable vision of despair. A bottomless darkness lay before us.

And yet――

"EVEN SO."

『――Pardon?』

"Even so, that is no reason for us to kneel."

I didn't know what Mr. Circus was really after.

Had everything been a lie, even the time he fought alongside us when we first met? Had there not been even a single shred of truth in any of it? I didn't know.

And because I didn't know, I wanted to talk to him. To hear what he had to say.

Because to save this world, I'm sure――we would need his strength, too.

And for that very reason, we had to defeat him now. We needed to knock “Circus” off the stage head-on, then speak with the man who remained after the performance was over.

"Mr. Circus... No, King Circus. I won't lose to anyone anymore."

He had named his performance “Malice.” He had demanded that we give him despair.

If that's what he wanted, then I'm afraid he's a little too late.

Machine City and the Great Forest were both powerful, and above all, stubbornly unwilling to yield. There had been a moment when I truly despaired and nearly gave up. But thanks to that experience, I realized that I wasn't alone.

Just as even the elves, who had clung so stubbornly to stagnation, had lent us their strength...

Just as we had managed to defeat even Machine City, which had been so overwhelmingly powerful...

I was certain that, with everyone's strength, we could carve out a path forward.

That's why...

I'm all right now.

I looked around, and everyone else was getting back to their feet, too.

That's why...

We'll be all right now.

『Hmm, hmm? Admirable spirit! The very image of a savior! But, but, your exhaustion is plain to see! My circus is quite an intense affair, you know? Will your bodies and stamina really hold out on mere determination alone?』

Well... He did have a point.

Honestly, it was a miracle we could even stand. Our bodies had reached their limits long ago, and it felt as though sheer willpower was all that kept us upright. Everyone else was probably in the same condition.

Even so, we would no longer despair.

"...I'm glad. I can't possibly call you unharmed, but at least you're all still alive."

Just as the final battle in this place was about to begin――

A gentle voice, warm enough to embrace us, reached our ears. It couldn't have been that long since we had been apart, but somehow, it felt as though I hadn't heard it in ages.

It was Tierra's voice.

At the same time, I noticed a pale, light-green glow enveloping our bodies, gently healing our wounds.

I had so many things I wanted to ask. Was her body really all right now? Shouldn't she still be resting? But first, I decided, I should thank her for healing us. I opened my mouth to do just that, but...

"You really have been reckless... What an incredible feat. Something to be proud of. But you mustn't go any further. Doctor's orders, Kizuna-kun."

"...Huh? Wait...?"

A sudden flick to my forehead. Then, an overwhelming wave of weakness.

The moment Tierra lightly flicked my forehead, all the strength drained from my body. My fingers and even my tongue barely responded. I moved the only part of me that still worked――my eyes――to look around, and it seemed everyone els