At that moment—
[Ding!]
[1035th Dimension, ‘Townia’s’ enforced Suppression Stance has been lifted!]
A welcome message appeared.
As expected, the debuff had been linked to Karacle as its host.
“See? I told you it wasn’t necessary.”
Seris closed her eyes tightly.
I let out a quiet chuckle and glanced around at the sky stretching endlessly above us.
With Karacle dead, the tide of battle had flipped in an instant.
A quick survey of the battlefield revealed the 1st Party members rampaging across the warzone.
Everywhere I looked, Mobius’ airships were bursting into flames.
[Loki! Loki!]
Flash!
A flicker of stardust appeared beside me.
Iselle flew toward me, her face flushed with excitement.
[When I used the dagger you gave me, the curse on the waiting room completely disappeared!]
“So, what’s the situation?”
[We’ve turned the tide! We’ve taken out most of them. Also... there was some support from Niflheimr...]
Iselle’s expression stiffened when she spotted Seris.
[...Uh, she looks mad.]
“Don’t worry about it. More importantly, I have another favor to ask. This one might be a bit tricky.”
[Sure, what is it?]
I leaned in and whispered the details into her ear.
“Can you handle it?”
[For something like that, I can just use the supercomputer in my room. And with that dagger, I should be able to crack even classified data...]
“I’m counting on you.”
[Got it! Be right back!]
With a pop, Iselle vanished.
“See, Seris? Now—”
Shiiing.
I glanced to the side.
The blade of Levatein was pressed against my neck.
“Huh, didn’t expect this reaction.”
“Master... What did you sacrifice for that power?”
Seris bit her lip hard.
I let out a short laugh.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You absorbed the transcendent beings of Townia, didn’t you?”
So she figured it out.
She must have analyzed the data while investigating Townia’s waiting room.
Honestly, it wasn’t surprising.
“That’s not a power an ordinary hero can handle.”
“That’s an unnecessary concern. I won’t break like the other 7-stars did.”
“Perhaps your body won’t break, Master. But...”
“Enough with the lectures. I’ve already made my decision. No matter what you say, I won’t change my mind.”
I pushed Lavatein’s blade aside.
Seris staggered slightly as she was forced back.
“Tell the others too. I’m heading to Server 1.”
“.......”
I narrowed my eyes.
Beyond the sky, I could see them.
Dozens of gazes fixed upon me.
A normal hero wouldn’t even be able to sense their presence.
But I could see them clearly.
‘They’re watching me.’
Even at an unfathomable distance, just as they were watching me, I was watching them.
“You can hear me, can’t you?”
I murmured softly.
My quiet voice would surely echo through their roundtable discussions.
“Wait for me. I’ll be there soon.”
I narrowed my gaze further.
The wide battlefield in my vision shrank away.
Now, my eyes reflected only the scene within this field.
The message had been delivered.
“Master.”
“What?”
“Will you... give us a little time?”
“Time?”
“We’ll finish up this battle soon and come find you with the rest of the party. Wouldn’t it be better to talk then?”
“It won’t change anything.”
“...You’re so stubborn.”
“Hm?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Seris turned her head away abruptly.
I let out a small chuckle.
“Do whatever you want.”
“Then, we’ll see you soon.”
Fwoosh.
Seris vanished in an instant.
‘She’s not lashing out.’
Her reaction was calmer than I expected.
I thought she might start swinging her sword without warning.
But instead...
‘What did you lose?’
That was what she asked me.
According to the prince, I was an Infinite Chalice created by a series of coincidences.
A vessel that could store any amount of data without limit.
Unlike El Cid and the other 7-stars, I was fundamentally different.
Even if I absorbed all the gods of Mobius, even if I devoured tens of thousands of fragments, I would never collapse.
‘It’s enough.’
I can kill anyone.
One day, even that eyeball bastard.
However, every time I use this power—
“...My humanity.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Amidst the explosions and falling wreckage of airships, I recalled the past.
‘The fire mage.’
Before she died, she called me an idiot.
Her corpse had been swallowed by the depths of the ocean.
I could still remember that moment vividly, but...
‘I don’t remember her.’
Her name, her face.
I had forgotten them.
‘Well, I guess it doesn’t matter.’
I had been prepared for this from the start.
Life is about choices and focus.
If you choose one thing, you have to abandon another.
There’s no such thing as a solution that satisfies every condition.
Just like how I gave up a stable job to focus on this game.
This was just another similar choice.
‘I just need to «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» remember one thing.’
I—
Go forward.
Become a single piercing blade that cuts through this insane world.
‘If this is the price to break it all...’
Then, I would gladly pay it,
With a smile.