#222

It is well known that before a god, a human is but a mere creature.

But to think that even a god is nothing more than a creature…

‘This is quite a shock.’

More shocking than the fact that Loclem was originally a pet parrot in charge of beauty, was the truth that to Order, ‘humans’ were nothing more than objects left behind by a master.

‘…I was taught that the reason we must execute the Evil Gods is because they view humans as livestock.’

Humans have the freedom not to be livestock.

For that, this world needs Order.

Athanas believed in that doctrine.

Even when Order felt indifferent toward humans, he believed that was the very proof that the Lord trusted humanity.

If one cannot overcome adversity on their own and only clings to a god, how are they different from livestock without a leash?

But…

“How does it feel to know the truth of your faith?”

“…Even if what Loclem did was merely to obey an order he cannot even remember, nothing changes.”

Even if Loclem never responds to humans again, Athanas will continue to devote himself to Order.

Humans need Order.

Loclem, too, cannot wield power that deviates from ‘Order’ at will.

Therefore, the value of Order does not fade.

“Still, hasn’t the desire to offer prayers to Loclem within your nightmares vanished?”

‘You’re trying to shake my faith somehow, aren’t you?’

However, he had no intention of being swayed by the whispers of the nightmare.

The smile vanished from Fafabio’s face.

“…Yes, it’s wonderful that you are so steadfast. Mr. Heretic Butcher.”

“What happens if Loclem eventually discovers the truth he was searching for?”

“Do you think I’m some NPC who spits out answers the moment you click an option?”

[Search: NPC]

[Internet is not connected.]

“Well, whatever. I don’t even want to be angry anymore. Every emotion I waste on you feels like a loss. What happens, you ask? Well, a masterless parrot will cry, scream, and run wild in a frenzy. Loclem will do anything to reclaim his master. Even if the entire universe is destroyed because of it.”

“Order would destroy the universe?”

“Whether he succeeds or fails in reclaiming the God of Love and Happiness, this universe will perish. If he succeeds, the End will swallow the universe; if he fails, The ‘Stars’ will isolate this universe.”

“The ‘Stars’?”

“The ‘Stars’, starlight, the watcher. Ah, now I must begin the complicated part. I’m a bit worried if your intelligence is sufficient to comprehend this.”

Despite his words, Fafabio continued the explanation kindly.

“I call them the System. Shall we call it an ark created by the Othergods to avoid the End?”

An ark.

It was a truly unsuitable word for the Othergods, who played with a world like a toy.

“The End became a mindless idiot, but death was still rampant in the universe. A certain ‘concept’ that could lead even a god, who could exist eternally, to immediate annihilation. An ‘contamination’ that leads to the End just by understanding it drove countless Othergods to complete death. No matter how strong their Divine Power, the moment they understood that concept, they reached their end. Even Oblivion, which can erase anything, could not isolate the contamination. To distinguish and remove contamination means knowing what it is, and the moment you know what it is, you understand it.”

Contamination.

Was it because the Lab Director collapsed and Ledeia went mad that they had understood ‘the End’?

“So, the Othergods decided to isolate the contamination on a dimensional scale. To remove a disease that infects upon contact, one simply needs to avoid contact with the infected.”

“…Dimension?”

“Whenever the System detects the annihilation of a mental entity due to contamination, it isolates all suspected intelligent beings into separate dimensions. Then, it reads the memories of those beings through a ‘canary’. If the ‘contamination’ is included in the memories, the canary is annihilated; isolation is maintained until the point where this canary does not perish.”

Athanas had to concentrate intensely to understand Fafabio’s words.

Was the process of people suddenly losing consciousness a procedure for ‘isolation’?

“If the number of isolated entities exceeds the number of non-isolated entities, the System deems the quarantine a failure and allows [Read on Read BL Novels]the entire dimension to reach [unauthorized copy]annihilation. It’s similar to [visit our site]burning down an entire village where a plague has spread.”

“Didn’t you say the System was a device to prevent destruction?”

And yet, it lets everything be left to annihilation?

“Because other parallel dimensions remain. The System removes failed branches to maintain a clean, uncontaminated universe.”

“…I do not understand.”

“Think about the Regression you possess. Every time you use Regression, it is not just ‘one hour’ that disappears. Fabio, who kissed you to save you, vanished forever. Along with everything else in that world.”

“Vanished?”

“You are the only one who perceives that time has turned back.”

“…Even after I use Regression, does time continue to flow there?”

“No, that world is completely destroyed. Occasionally, trivial remnants remain, but you don’t need to worry about that. Because you have the Fabio you chose. The best Fabio, who never doubts you.”

“…….”

His palms grew damp with cold sweat.

His stomach churned, and he felt dizzy.

Fafabio wore a slightly surprised expression.

“Are you pretending to realize it only now?”

“I…”

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“Amazing. I thought you’d just dismiss it as nonsense babbled by a nightmare even after I explained it so clearly.”

“…….”

“You were truly desperately ignoring it. Because the moment you understand, you will collapse.”

Fafabio reached out and stroked Athanas’s face.

“Athanas, relax your expression. I’m just babbling the things you fear most, as a nightmare should. Just ignore it. As you always have.”

“I…”

“Stop.”

Fafabio whispered in a soft voice.

“‘Fafabio’ doesn’t want to hear an apology. It’s not necessary anymore. So, please go back six spaces.”

Athanas, who had been hesitating, spoke.

“…I do not understand.”

“If you don’t know, just remain ignorant. Stupid Athanas.”

Fafabio said this with a smile.

Athanas frowned slightly.

How could he understand a sentence full of unfamiliar words the moment he heard it?

If he didn’t know what a ‘dimension’ was, there was no way he could understand ‘parallel dimensions’.

“Just know that in this timeline, the Dark stolen contentRealm is precariously close to annihilation. Too much contamination Read on Read BL Novelshas spread. It has almost reached the threshold set by the System.”

“How can annihilation be prevented?”

“What would you do with that knowledge?”

“…Was it not because you wanted me to prevent annihilation that you explained all this until now?”

“Athanas, you really need to fix that overinflated sense of self-importance. Even if you do nothing, someone else will handle it. You’ve actually seen it succeed, haven’t you? Don’t you remember?”

‘…Is he talking about the moment the Heavenly Punishment fell and the apostles awoke and moved?’

“Exactly. If you stay still, Insanity will clean everything up.”

“Should I just leave it to that?”

“Or do you want to be annihilated together? Actually, this mission isn’t very pleasant for Insanity. Because once the contamination is gone and the System is normalized, those belonging to Order will be able to move freely. From Insanity’s perspective, he just saved the world, but without any reward, he has to run for his life from the Capital Church.”

Athanas slowly organized his thoughts.

The reason nothing happened in the Pantheon the first two times was…

“It was because of you. Athanas, because it was discovered that you possess Regression.”

To avoid being discovered, he must forget the name of the Mother God.

Only then will Insanity remove the contamination instead of coming for him.

But how?

“Why not ask me? To erase your memories.”

When Athanas frowned, Fafabio chuckled.

“Athanas, you’ve already forgotten that name. Didn’t you notice?”

“…Did you touch my memories? When?”

“In times like this, you should start by saying thank you. I saved a game board that was ruined beyond hope and had to be thrown away. Isn’t that right? I feel like offering me your Soul wouldn’t be enough to thank me for saving you.”

Athanas began to find the thing smiling in front of him increasingly creepy.

He kept feeling that something was terribly wrong.

One thing the creature said was true. He could not meet Fabio in this state.

If that thing wanted to take over Fabio’s body…

‘…How can I remove that thing?’

But that thing was likely reading these thoughts as well.

“Now, I’ve finished the important explanations. Anything else you’re curious about?”

Athanas intentionally asked a question.

“What about the other Othergods? Why did they participate in this game? Since they are outside the game board, they must know that everything will repeat regardless of victory or defeat.”

“They are literally playing a game. To relieve their boredom.”

“…Purely for fun?”

“There is one thing they can take. The ‘Watched One’ who wins the game obtains sufficient Affinity to be reborn as a mental entity. An Othergod can then make that newborn god their Vassal.”

If time in the Dark Realm turns back, all the Faith accumulated disappears.

Unless they want to perish from starvation, they have no choice but to cling to an Othergod.

Thus, they become eternally subordinate.

“From my perspective, the winner is practically already decided.”

“…Who is it?”

“Of course, it is the great and benevolent Mother!”

Athanas felt a sense of dissonance.

“Do you believe in the Mother God?”

“Can this be called believing? I just know. There is no one who can win other than Mother. After a short war, Mother will bring a brief respite to this terrible and twisted world. It’s brief by an Othergod’s standards, but peace will last for tens of thousands of years. Tens of thousands of years is too short for entirely new animals to emerge, but she is the God of evolution and mutation. It will be a wonderful world.”

“Then why did you hinder Insanity?”

“Hinder?”

“…I am talking about touching my memories to hide the fact that I have Regression.”

“Ah.”

Fafabio smiled softly.

“Insanity doesn’t need Regression. He is sufficient without such a thing. I simply lightened his workload.”

It was a lie.

That thing had another motive.

“What do you want from me?”

“I wonder. I just…”

Fafabio continued, brushing his lips.

“…I hope that because you never learn how to give up, you struggle meaninglessly in terrible pain, and even when every life in this world is embraced by Mother, you alone are unable to enter those arms.”

“…….”

“Mother is so benevolent that she didn’t create a hell. Not being able to be embraced by her is the most terrible punishment. But I feel that alone isn’t enough. I won’t allow you to commit suicide, nor will I allow you to go mad. Every time you collapse, I will make you forget that pain. So that you can keep moving forward. Then, when you finally reach a catastrophe that truly cannot be undone, I will return all that pain to you at once.”

“…What.”

In an instant, the world is dyed black.

In a cold universe where no stars shine, a blue-gray eye the size of a planet stares at Athanas. The freezing chill feels as if it will tear his skin away. No, it feels as if he is burning. When he opens his mouth to scream, the inside of his throat sticks together. No sound comes out.

His head hurts as if it will split open.

His head, his head, his head…

---

“…My head hurts so much.”

Athanas muttered as he opened his eyes.

His entire body was drenched in cold sweat, and his heart was beating frantically. For a moment, Athanas could not recall where he was.

A bed? Why am I lying in bed? This place is…

“Athanas. Are you okay?”

A person with verdant green hair spoke to him.

Sereno.

A peer who shared the same room.

Only then could Athanas recognize that this was his dormitory.

“It looked like you were having a terrible nightmare.”

“A nightmare…?”