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'Wait a second… then what about me?'
Ryoji suddenly connected the dots, and a profound chill ran down his spine.
He wasn't a Heroic Spirit, a Magus, or a True Ancestor. He was just… an ordinary civilian. By the logic of this Singularity, he was little more than an NPC.
So what did that mean? Was he an NPC who had awakened self-awareness and was now competing on equal footing with the "players"? Would Goetia even tolerate someone like him interfering in this world's grand "game"?
Judging by the fact that Goetia hadn't killed him back in the infirmary... maybe it was fine? Still, Ryoji's thoughts spiraled, and he ended up scaring himself silly.
"Anyway, that's about all I had to say. If you've understood everything, you can leave now." Scáthach waved her hand dismissively, a clear dismissal.
"Got it." Ryoji nodded and turned toward the door.
"Wait a moment. I have another question." Aoko suddenly spoke up, her expression tight. "Earlier, you said this world is a Singularity. I think I understand what that means now. But I want to know… what will happen after it's all over?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm talking about this world, of course. Since it's a Singularity, what becomes of it in the end? And what happens to all the worlds that have been fused into it?"
The room's atmosphere turned heavy and cold.
Ryoji froze. Then realization dawned, and his expression darkened, too. Right. That was the biggest question of all.
After the "Selection" was over... what would become of this Singularity? What would happen to everyone living here?
"Of course, it will disappear. Nothing will remain."
Scáthach gave the answer Ryoji least wanted to hear.
"Just as Aozaki said, this place is a Singularity. Once it loses its purpose for existing, it will be repaired, erased. Everything will vanish, leaving not even a trace."
Ryoji felt his heart sink like a stone.
All Singularities are eventually corrected. This one existed only because the Counter Force had allowed it, a temporary stage for the selection of Earth's Ultimate One. Once that selection ended, successfully or in failure, this Singularity would lose all meaning and naturally be erased.
Which meant...
Ryoji's family, his mother Minamoto no Yorimitsu and his little sister Okita Souji, would vanish. They would return to the Throne of Heroes and forget everything that had happened. His "mother" and "sister" would be as if they had never existed at all.
The worlds that had fused into this one would likewise return to their own timelines. In that restored flow of time, Aoko and Alice would forget him completely. Their encounters, their memories, their bonds, all would be wiped away, as if they were never real.
"Can something like that even be allowed?" Aoko's expression darkened, her tone low and cold.
"There's no such thing as 'allowed' or 'not allowed.' This is simply the will of the world." Scáthach closed her eyes. She knew this truth was difficult for anyone to accept. "No matter how powerful an individual is, opposing the world itself is nearly impossible… But, it's not completely without a way."
"There's a way?" Aoko's eyes snapped open instantly.
"Yes. Only one." Scáthach nodded slowly, then smiled with a teasing glint. "Become a being that stands equal to the world. In other words, win the final Selection, and become Earth's Ultimate One."
That was the key. If one became Earth's UO, they would stand on equal footing with the Counter Force, capable of speaking to it as an equal. At that level, protecting this Singularity would no longer be an impossibility.
"..." Aoko fell silent. Could that even be possible?
The Selection included Magicians, Heroic Spirits, even things like the Evils of Humanity (Beasts). They were sovereign monsters of their own domains. And she hadn't even truly mastered the Fifth Magic yet. How could she possibly win? The future suddenly seemed crushingly hopeless.
"Then let's join."
Before Aoko could sink further into despair, a firm voice came from beside her.
"You're sure about that?" Scáthach raised a brow, intrigued. "If you'd rather run, forfeiting isn't impossible, you know."
"I refuse!" Ryoji's answer was immediate and unwavering. "The thing I hate most, is having something precious to me taken away. And the thing I hate second most, is giving up before I've even tried."
There was not a shred of doubt in his eyes. His conviction burned clear and steady. He was someone who lived, and fought, by his own will.
"It seems we don't have any other choice, huh." Looking at Ryoji like this, Aoko's heart wavered slightly. She brushed back her long chestnut hair, let out a helpless sigh, but the corners of her lips curved into a small, cheerful smile.
That's right. She, too, had come to treasure the experiences of these past few days. They held the very first time in her life as a girl that her heart had truly been moved. Wouldn't that alone make it worth taking a gamble?
"Hmm hmm! Not bad, not bad!" Scáthach let out a hearty hum, clearly delighted. "You two are quite interesting, it's making me itch for a fight already… Oh, by the way, are you not interested in receiving some of my special training?"
The legendary Queen of the Land of Shadows, mentor of countless heroes, was having one of her "teacher impulses" again. It had been years since she'd last taken up arms; she could barely resist the urge to test herself in combat.
"What, we can really do that? Isn't that kind of cheating?" Ryoji's eyes immediately lit up, his fists tightening in anticipation.
"Of course not," Scáthach replied with a delighted laugh. "There's still quite some time left before the final Selection begins. How much stronger you become during that time depends entirely on you."
"Alright, I'm in!" Ryoji accepted without hesitation. He always believed the best way to grow was to fight experts.
"Wait, me too?" Aoko pointed at herself in disbelief.
"Of course," Scáthach nodded naturally. "The future you fights with both martial arts and Magecraft. But right now, your hand-to-hand combat skills are… quite average. You've got a lot of room for improvement. And besides, " she smiled knowingly, "I can help you master the Fifth Magic."
"...Alright, I'll do it!" At that point, Aoko had no reason left to refuse.
Seeing both of them agree so readily, Scáthach was clearly pleased.
"Oh, right, one more thing before you go." Just as they were about to leave, she suddenly gave them a stark warning.
"What is it?"
"Last night, in the residential district, there was a massacre, wasn't there?" Scáthach folded her arms across her abdomen. "In that incident, a family of four was found dead, drained completely of blood. The scene was horrifying beyond words… I think you understand what that means, don't you?"
Ryoji and Aoko both froze.
That's right... The True Ancestors and the Dead Apostles were on their way.
(End of Chapter)
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