At the moment Armadi infused her authority into the cross, the hidden lines revealed themselves.
This was the item the Pope had intended to gift Armadi at the end of his plan.
It was something he had prepared over his lifetime.
This necklace, which was meant to restore her authority after being thrown into the land to end the Age of Myth, was created from the blood of countless people, and it was something that powerless Armadi could only look at helplessly.
Now, it was impossible to soothe the grievances of the sacrificed souls.
As her saint once said, this must be one of the sins that Armadi would carry forever.
Knowing this, she hoped that at least the miracle happening now would give meaning to their sacrifices.
That their names be left in this world, even if just a little.
With a heartfelt prayer, as Armadi raised her hand, the light created by Lucy grew bright, and the gods slowly revealed themselves from above.
These were the ones who fought alongside Lord Jushin during the Age of Myth and were now here to defeat the Evil God.
“Look at that rabble gathered together.”
Even facing them, Agra remained unfazed. His tone oozed confidence that he could handle such power all by himself.
“How fascinating. Even after seeing their incompetence in the past, you still think to rely on them?”
“And yet you, who lost alone in the past, still think you can win now?”
“Of course. The end is approaching. The beginning and end of the world is an unchangeable rule. This world has already lost its drive. What meaning does a world destined to vanish hold?”
Agra drew certainty from his own authority. No matter how much the cursed being in front of him struggled, it could not change the predetermined ending.
“One thing you know, but many you do not.”
“Me? What don’t I know?”
“It is true that with a beginning there is an end, but there’s also a beginning because there is an end.”
The current world was the one Armadi had initiated, and it was centered around her.
Thus, the reason this world was racing toward its end was that the god Armadi’s authority was reaching its limit.
The solution was simple.
A new god would need to proclaim the start of a new world.
“Just as you have been waiting for this moment, I too have been waiting for it.”
Seeing Armadi’s smile, Agra tried to unleash his authority, but there were simply too many obstacles in the way to stop her immediately.
Humans. Fairies. Beast deities. Gods. All those beings stood before him to prevent the end of the world.
In the chaos created by conflicting wills, Armadi turned her head and cautiously approached Lucy.
“My apostle.”
“…What is it, Shoddy God?”
“You know, don’t you? How to proclaim a new beginning in this world.”
If it had been anyone else, they would have tilted their heads at the god’s words, but not Lucy.
Having knowledge from a world outside of this one, and having thought about and pondered the next step for this world countless times, she would surely know how to declare the start of a new world.
Recognizing Armadi’s expectations, Lucy snorted and reached out her hand.
*
The moment she heard Armadi’s words, Lucy understood what he was hoping to say.
The only reason this shoddy being mentioned her name was that.
If Agra had gained great strength as the end of the game neared, they simply needed to inject new life into the game, right?
Hahaha! I never thought I’d see the word I so desperately wanted on this side of the monitor!
Truly.
Truly.
It’s absurd.
And that makes it enjoyable.
“Can I do it my way?”
“If you can promise it will be a hopeful scene.”
“Do you think I’m some kind of pervert? I can tell the difference!”
“Given that, the dungeon you created was exceptionally terrifying.”
“Pfft. What are you saying? What you made was horrific too!”
“That was a place that no one else had considered aside from you, though.”
“…Really?”
Had it initially been set to the standard of rotten water, that was the result?
Hearing this surprising truth, Lucy scoffed and reached out her hand just as Armadi smiled back and took her hand.
The softness of her hand retained the gentleness of when she was born, easing the tension just by holding it.
“You’ve gotten accustomed to handling the authority, haven’t you?”
“Isn’t that a stretch? Of course, I know.”
The authority of a god sounds grand and feels intimidating, but in reality, it’s more akin to throwing a tantrum to get them to comply with what one wants.
It’s like saying, “Since I want this, you, who like me, must do this for me.
Having experienced it painfully while fighting the Pope, Lucy smiled and nodded, but suddenly stopped in worry.
“Uh, I hope I don’t have to use some weird alien language like before?”
“Are you looking for that?”
“Seriously?”
“Of course not.”
With a light laugh, as she shared her strength, Lucy recalled the memories of Agra surrounded by countless others.
And she shook her head.
The world that I wished for back then and the world I wish for now are different.
The DLC I want for Soul Academy is.
In the future of Soul Academy.
In a world where I, my family, my friends, and countless precious people will live, there’s no need for hardships.
“How?”
From afar, a voice filled with bewilderment reached her ears.
“How can one possess the power of beginnings?”
Even amidst the countless attacks directed at her, Agra’s eyes were entirely focused on Lucy.
“Even being a being chosen by the god, it can’t be possible.”
Seeing him unable to accept what he was witnessing, Lucy couldn’t help but smile.
“Don’t tell me, Armadi. You!”
“What?♡ What?♡ Why do you look like you’ve been betrayed?♡”
Lucy raised her voice, cutting through Agra’s shout.
Till now, Agra had never once looked her way, but this time was different.
His eyes, dyed with confusion, simply could not turn away from her.
“Oh!♡ So it was unrequited love?♡ How innocent♡ I guess even the Evil God at the end has to maintain his sympathy~♡”
As Agra furrowed his brows and screamed, he reached out toward Lucy, but she merely scoffed without responding to him at all.
After all, she knew there were those who would stand in her defense.
The rulers of the forest. Fairies. Knights of the kingdom. The hero’s party. Allen’s people. Karl. Benedict. Arthur. Frey. Phoebe. Joy. And Armadi, who was standing next to her, she believed they would protect her.
“Pwa-ha-ha!♡ Shoddy~♡”
Hearing the fury in his voice, Lucy turned away, glancing at Armadi’s complicated expression, but said nothing.
After all, there would be ample time to have a proper conversation with her later.
“Should I do it now?”
“Have you already finished your thoughts?”
“It’s just a new world, so I just need to demand the future I want, right? Since the ability picked a shoddy pervert like you. You’ll naturally listen to me.”
“What future have you envisioned?”
“As you can see, I’m a kind and merciful person. I’ll give all the shoddies in the world a chance to crawl under my feet.”
This world might be a game, but it isn’t just a game.
Thus, there’s no need for a protagonist to endure hardships and grow, nor for the various crises the protagonist must face, nor for the threats lurking in the world.
“I don’t quite understand. Can you explain it more simply?”
Oops. I inadvertently let out useless words again.
It’s been a long time since I’ve lived like this, so I just can’t change.
With a laugh and a shrug of my shoulders, I composed myself and placed my hand on my chest.
“At the end of it all, I hope everyone is happy.”
In the moment I whispered my earnest wish into the light within me, the light that bloomed from my chest soared up toward the heavens.
At that moment, the sun I had created shattered, scattering its light across the world. I don’t really know, but is something changing?
“This can’t be!”
Turning my head to follow the shout, I saw Agra losing his authority.
“How can this happen! Cursed Armadi!”
Behind him were the remnants of the monster army being reduced to ashes and the humans, looking at the disappearing monsters with bewildered eyes.
“Ha! So this is your pathetic struggle! Go ahead, keep flailing! But you can never block the end that is bound to come!”
As Agra began to lose his strength, Armadi approached him, calmly wiping away the spit he spat and slightly bending down to meet his gaze.
“Stay locked underground and bark for hundreds of years. Though your voice will never reach me.”
“Armadi!”
That was the end.
Gradually losing his strength, Agra suddenly vanished from this world, just as abruptly as he had appeared.
The miracle called Armadi brought peace to this land.
– Ding!
Turning my head towards the familiar notification sound, a blue screen appeared.
[Quest Clear!]
[You have successfully saved a world in crisis.]
[This world has acquired a new future entirely thanks to you.]
“Thank you so much. My apostle.”
As Armadi’s voice echoed, the blue screen crumbled and scattered into the void.
“You’ve endured many hardships summoned by this inept being. Now your duty has concluded.”
Approaching the bowing Armadi, I grabbed her by the collar and pulled her closer.
I could hear the gasps from those around, but no one intervened between us.
It felt as though the space we stood in was separate from the rest.
“If you thought to end things with just a thank you, I might genuinely get angry.”
“Do you have any requests?”
“Of course I do. Because of you, the shoddy, the demon, and the incompetent perverted guy, I’ve suffered so much.”
“If you have a request, just say it. I will offer whatever I can give you.”
“Really?”
Many things came to mind.
Just thinking about how I’d torment Armadi once I met her again already counted to dozens.
But that was a matter for later.
What I needed to ask and request had already been decided long ago.
“Go ahead. Who am I?”
“In every sense, you are Lucy Allen. My Apostle.”
“Then, shouldn’t the title change? Mama.”
“…That’s true. I made a mistake. Lucy, please forgive me.”
“I’ll forgive you if you hug me. I’m kind like that.”
“Thank you for your generosity. Then, if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
Wrapped in Armadi’s embrace, I buried my face in her shoulder.
“Ugh!”
I didn’t want anyone to see my face right now.
