[Volume 2 - Lullaby of Promise]
Once, we—I—sought to deny death.
Born as the Human Order Correction Formula under the King of Magecraft, our role was far from joyful. Observing human lives was not enjoyable. The clairvoyance that saw all was nothing but a curse. The myriad malignancies infesting the planet—we could not bear to engage with them.
Using three thousand years of human history, we planned the planet's rebirth.
We nested in the King of Magecraft's corpse. Scattered our factors across the world. Built a temple, layered light bands. Burned the planet to ash, aiming for the pole with that energy.
The result was him. More than the onslaught of Heroic Spirits like a meteor shower, more than the truth of the King of Magecraft who knew no anger, that human's words exceeded all expectations.
—It's obvious…!
—'To live'—!
Not a hero transcending humanity, nor a Satan devouring it, but a mere human delivered our defeat. We underestimated human folly, ugliness, and tenacity for life. We dismissed their value, deemed them no threat.
An unexpected outcome, yet an inevitable end.
After all, we—I—am the Evil of Humanity. Not the evil that destroys humans, but the evil destroyed by them.
We lost. We failed. It ended. Yet, even so, we—I—were satisfied with that conclusion. That end.
But—
But what is this?
"Activate. Activate. Nine Pillars governing the Smelting Furnace: Zepar, Botis, Bathin, Saleos, Purson, Morax, Ipos, Aim, Naberius. To not forget life, there is a sound we must know. To mourn death, there is a song we must weave."
"Activate. Activate. Nine Pillars governing the Information Chamber: Orias, Vapula, Zagan, Valac, Andras, Flauros, Andrealphus, Kimaris, Amdusias. To know wounds, there are words we must gain. To reach the wall, there are phenomena we must recite."
What is this world where these grotesques writhe?
"Activate. Activate. Nine Pillars governing the Observatory: Glasya-Labolas, Bune, Ronove, Berith, Astaroth, Forneus, Foras, Asmodeus, Gaap. To correct history, there is a time we nine must sense. To change the world, there are phenomena we nine must pursue."
"Activate. Activate. Nine Pillars governing the Control Tower: Barbatos, Paimon, Buer, Gusion, Sitri, Beleth, Leraje, Eligos, Caim. To proclaim ideals, there is order we must uphold. To defy reality, there are endpoints we must maintain."
What is the reason for these ceaseless, meaningless screams?
"Activate. Activate. Nine Pillars governing the Armory: Furfur, Marchosias, Stolas, Phenex, Halphas, Malphas, Raum, Focalor, Vepar. To not forget worthlessness, there is a war we must grieve. To not mock meaninglessness, there is damage we must honor."
"Activate. Activate. Nine Pillars governing the Insight Star: Baal, Agares, Vassago, Gamigin, Marbas, Valefar, Amon, Allocer, Orobas. To build the temple, there is logic we must construct. To layer light bands, there is Human Order we must consume."
What is this era that permits such ugly stagnation?
"Activate. Activate. Nine Pillars governing the Life Institute: Sabnock, Shax, Vine, Bifrons, Vual, Haagenti, Crocell, Furcas, Balam. To deny tears, there is a birth we must celebrate. To affirm anger, there is a union we must praise."
"Activate. Activate. Nine Pillars governing the Disposal Pit: Murmur, Gremory, Ose, Amy, Belial, Decarabia, Seere, Dantalion, Andromalius. To end mistakes, there is a void we must fill. To begin the end, there is discord we must incite."
What is this mistake-ridden planet—!
"Seek salvation! Raise your cries! It's time to drown in a sea of anguish! Praise it—my name is Goetia! I am the Biblical Incineration Formula, King of Men Goetia!"
From here, the Second Retrograde Canal / Genesis Light-Year—"Biblical Revision"—begins!
"…However, repeating past mistakes is laughable. As a countermeasure… From Goetia: In the seven Singularities, summon Heroic Spirits who act with thoughts we lack. The summoned Heroic Spirits shall be selected by the five Envoys, one each."
"Acknowledged from Baal, representing the five Envoys. Commencing Heroic Spirit selection."
"Prepare from Barbatos. Preparing the Holy Grail for summoning."
"Proposal from Orobas. If our goal is 'this planet's human salvation,' should we not invite this planet's humans to the Temple of Time?"
"Agreement from Ose. The discrepancy in perception between us and this world should be identified and corrected early."
"Approved from Goetia. Handling this planet's humans is assigned to the Smelting Furnace and Observatory. Detailed instructions to follow."
"Report from Baal. Successfully summoned five Heroic Spirits."
"Proposal from Asmodeus. For future strategies, their True Names should be concealed."
"Addendum from Orias. There's a possibility of incidents where we seventy-two Pillars cannot appear. Using Servants with unknown True Names would function efficiently."
"Report from Baal. My Servant shall be called 'Assassin of France.'"
"Report from Andras. My Servant shall be called 'Lancer of Okeanos.'"
"Report from Zepar. My Servant shall be called 'Caster of London.'"
"Report from Phenex. My Servant shall be called 'Archer of the Holy Land.'"
"Report from Raum. My Servant shall be called 'Rider of Okeanos.'"
"Hmm. Going smoothly. Good, good. This timeline's saved, and Goetia's properly summoned."
"Don't get cocky, Mephisto. Think you can pull it off here like in another dimension? Great Red says you succeeded there, but there's no guarantee here."
"I can. That's what I—we—are for."
"Don't lump me with you."
"Not biting, huh? Well, you and I have fundamentally different approaches."
"Exactly. I'm different from you and Great Red. Great Red prioritizes certainty, you speed. But not me. I want substance. I want what's saved to be certain. Even if I lose to another world, I want to end proudly, cherishing beauty."
"…I don't get it. If you don't make it in time, what's the point?"
"Even if I defeat another world, it's worthless if nothing remains."
"That part of you—I really don't get it."
"And I think that part of you is utterly pointless."
"Then we're done here."
"No, it's just beginning. The battle for us Counter Forces—this planet—starts now."
A voice reaches me.
The voice of expectation directed at me.
"I won't forgive the Devils who violated my kingdom. I won't forgive the fallen angels who killed my people. I won't forgive the angels who defiled my wealth. I won't forgive humans who only rely on me. I won't forgive the gods who deny my ideals. Humans can do so much more—why doesn't anyone understand?! If you won't act, I'll force you to…! You must advance for yourselves, live for the future!"
"Humans, surpass my corpse. That's the true human history!"
I'm urged to destroy the world. To slaughter humanity. To obliterate all life. Voices beg for tyranny in despair.
"Help me."
"Again?"
"I don't want to fight anymore."
"There's no love on this planet."
"Lord, I entrust my body to you."
"Kill, kill, kill!"
"Men like you shouldn't live!"
"Why didn't anyone save her?!"
"I won't forgive Rome!"
"No, you can't go!"
"Mom, where are you?"
"Another failure…"
"Your justice was pointless."
"Hah, your dad's a murderer!"
"Just die already."
"Liar."
"It's your fault for being careless, right?"
"This wasn't supposed to happen!"
"Be grateful you bear my child."
"You're not wrong."
"How dare you forget me!"
"It's just discipline, so it's fine, right?"
"Woo! These'll make great slaves!"
"Let's use that orphan as a sacrifice."
"It's your fault."
"Scary, scary, scary."
"I'll take revenge."
"Gotta cut mouths to feed this year."
"Just a bonus."
"Please, at least you survive!"
"Dad—"
"Someone, anyone, help!"
"I want to go home."
"What did I ever do?!"
"The fooled are at fault."
"Poor thing."
"This time, this time for sure."
"Stay back, monster!"
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of your wife."
"Why's my invention used for war?"
"I don't know."
"No! This child is mine and his—I won't give them up!"
"If he wasn't around, I'd have gotten promoted."
"The world's unfair, huh."
"Nothing beats hunting for stress relief."
"Verdict: the defendant is a witch."
"Just abort the kid."
"Even you, Brutus?!"
"I loved you."
"Stop it."
"I couldn't hold back."
"Might as well kill them for relief."
"Let's die together."
"Come faster, useless!"
"There are plenty to replace you."
"Your existence is a nuisance."
"I'm sorry, I swear."
"Hand over the money!"
"I thought God would fix it."
"Die, fool!"
"Society's trash."
"You dare say that…!"
"It broke."
"I can still fight—"
"I'm hungry…"
"She fought believing your words!"
"Sheeta, where are you?"
"Now Britain's fallen, Arthur—what'll you do?!"
"I never wanted to win like this!"
"I won't forgive you, Diarmuid!"
"Die for God!"
"Tch, this is useless now. Toss it."
"Die for the company."
"Ugly."
"A necessary sacrifice."
"I shouldn't have given birth to you."
"Annoying old man!"
"Please don't hate me."
"No, no! I didn't do that!"
"I shouldn't have become king!"
"You're my vassal from today!"
"This experiment failed. Prepare the next subject."
"Blame the God of the Bible who made Sacred Gears."
"Mere humans!"
"Bored. Let's trade."
"God… was dead?"
"A rare Sacred Gear. Extract it for Lord Azazel!"
"Servants obey their masters, right?"
"Amen!"
"Reincarnating rare ones could be fun."
"Why is she a heretic?!"
"It was all my doing."
"I—I don't want to die."
"Can't a Devil love God's apostle?"
"Destroy the Himejimas, the Five Great Families."
"Carve death for every happiness you stole, monsters…!"
"Father, why did you forsake me?"
Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Noisy. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.
"I must protect the world."
"We must defeat the other world."
"I—love this planet."
I'm fed up.
Covering my ears is pointless. Closing my eyes is meaningless. Words of denial reach no one; acts of refusal have no effect. I have no freedom to reject. I have no function to stop. I hear everyone's screams, but no one sees my tears.
Today, too, I hear roars, screams, and resentment.
Curses wish this world would end.
Ugly desires. Filthy wishes. Irredeemable foolishness. This planet has only these. Nothing warm exists. No one holds anything gentle. I've never seen anything beautiful.
I was born to answer these voices. I've lived to meet these expectations.
These screams haven't ceased in three thousand years. This hatred hasn't softened in three thousand years.
I don't want to hear these wishes. I don't want to fulfill these desires. I don't want to bear these expectations. I can't endure this planet's pain any longer.
But I cannot turn away from this tragedy. I cannot miss these screams. I cannot forget or deceive.
Then, I must destroy.
To silence these unpleasant screams, to end these ignorant tragedies, I must trample everything infesting this planet.
Someday, I'll sleep eternally in silent darkness.
I hate you humans with all my being.
***
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