#370
The Scenery You Were Watching
“You are not an adversary. You are a usurper. You stole the fate that should have belonged to Kurosawa Yuji, the fate destined for my adversary, and you mocked your enemies based on the information of fiction. You robbed the love of the girls that should have gone to Kurosawa Yuji. You, disgusting usurper, pursue only your selfish desires without any resolve, faith, or righteousness to hinder the salvation!”
Messiah condemned me.
The smile that always adorned Messiah’s face had vanished.
He looked at me with a cold, stiff face and voice, shouting.
“Those girls present here, no, all adversaries opposing my salvation! Are you planning to continue following this repugnant deceiver, this usurper who regards the real world as fiction and living humans as characters? No! That cannot be! I, Messiah! On behalf of all of humanity in this world, will execute you!”
Messiah raised Levantein.
Even in a frozen world, the tip of Levantein, blazing with the flames of doom, pointed at me.
My vision shook.
[······Turner······.]
The Black Prince was saying something, but his voice was barely audible.
He was right.
I was a reincarnator, and whether I intended to or not, I had deceived the world and everyone I had come to know here to some extent.
As he said, I had used people and the world for my survival, my return, my goals.
I was, after all, the quintessential protagonist of a web novel with a self-serving agenda.
So I didn’t want to reveal it.
From a certain moment, I began to perceive this world not as fiction but as a real world.
From a certain moment, I recognized them—not as characters—but as real people.
That’s why I wanted to keep it hidden.
If everyone discovered my ugly side, they could turn away from me.
It was more likely that they would reject me than accept me like Haru would.
Even I would have done the same.
So even though I might get caught someday, at least until I could hide it, or rather until I defeated Messiah, I had to keep it hidden.
But I had never imagined that my secret would be exposed in such a dire situation against such a terrible opponent.
[······Part······.]
The starlight of the celestial body behind rose and dimmed.
As the starlight of belief weakened, the imagery of Messiah’s mental projection began to erode worldwide beyond the ruins.
The magical power that was igniting inside me and the Black Stone also lost their strength as they re-entered Messiah’s space.
I saw Messiah’s fatal strike flying towards me.
I couldn’t collapse like this.
But… if everyone found out about this…
Then…
Boom!
An explosion of light occurred.
I lost consciousness just like that.
*
Boom!
In the ruins floating in the sky, Broken World, a black flash erupted.
Along with it, Messiah’s mental projection engulfed all of Tokyo Bay, spreading throughout the entirety of Tokyo.
“Ugh!”
“M-my magic…”
“······Kugh······.”
The magical weapons of the heroes on the defense side, busy battling, came to a halt, and magic and abilities were nullified, causing them to fall countless times to the ground.
As he was nullified, he plummeted countless times to the ground.
All hostile abilities were nullified, this belief created by Messiah, his mental projection took control of the entire battlefield.
From F rank to EX rank.
Regardless of rank, every ally’s magical powers were sealed, and the colorful skills that were flying around disappeared in an instant as if they were erased with an eraser.
Clean as if nothing existed.
Along with that, the sky changed.
The dark clouds raining magical lightning due to the magical power emitted from the gate disappeared in an instant.
In their place was a sky split into day and night.
At exactly the midpoint, one side was dominated by day and the other by night, where the sun and moon rose simultaneously.
Messiah’s mental projection.
The promised utopia (Brave New World) was quickly eroding not just all of Tokyo, but all of Japan, and even the entire Earth.
“Gah… What the hell…?”
In Yuji’s line of sight, he saw Shinozaki Ichiro falling to the ground.
In the ruthless space of ability nullification, the only ally who could move besides Messiah and the League’s forces was Kurosawa Yuji, who could offset the nullification with his colorless magical power.
“President of the Association…!”
Just as Yuji reached out to the falling president.
“Are you distracted in the middle of battle? Son of the Sword Master!”
Whoosh!
Dokta Shinahel suddenly appeared before him and swung his staff.
The purple-powered staff of Dokta Shinahel cut through the air and flew towards Yuji.
Clang!
Yuji hurriedly drew his katana to block Dokta Shinahel’s attack.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sizzling sounds of metal clashing!
The staff and Yuji’s katana crossed each other as dozens of exchanges happened in an instant.
On the surface, it seemed like an even contest.
But Yuji knew.
Even in a fused state with Kusunagi, he was gradually being pushed back in the fight against Dokta Shinahel.
At this rate, he would lose.
‘The consumption of magic is too fast…!’
Thump, thump.
Even now, Yuji’s Magic Core was continuously drawing power, amplifying it with his gift, but it still wasn’t enough.
Yuji’s brow furrowed.
Though he had colorless magic, offsetting Messiah’s nullification ability while simultaneously fighting an EX rank opponent was too much.
“Is it time for you to hit your limit?”
Dokta Shinahel said with a relaxed smile.
[Master…!]
Kusunagi’s heartbreaking voice echoed in his head.
“Why don’t you give up now? You must have heard what he said? Kim Deok-Sung, the one you thought was your friend, is actually a deceiver from another world, viewing this world as fiction, characters as people, with the cheat of future knowledge that robbed you of your rightful place, the love of the girls that should have been yours! Why are you still fighting for him…?”
“…Shut your mouth.”
Yuji bit his lip.
He spoke in a cold voice.
The truth that Messiah broadcasted across the battlefield through his magically amplified voice had long been heard.
Kim Deok-Sung was indeed a possessor.
He was someone from a parallel world.
In the parallel world, there existed a novel that recorded the past, present, and future of this world, and Kim Deok-Sung had used that information to change the future.
The power he had, the love directed towards him by girls, all were originally meant for himself.
He had used himself, them, and the world.
Hearing that truth finally shed light on some of Kim Deok-Sung’s previously inexplicable actions.
But.
“Kim is a possessor. Such a fact doesn’t matter anymore.”
Yuji gritted his teeth.
His hands trembled.
“Why? He deceived you…”
“Because Kim is my friend!”
Yuji cut off Dokta Shinahel’s words again.
He placed his hand over his chest.
Yuji’s eyes trembled.
He was a possessor, and though he was startled by that secret, that was all.
“Kim knew the future better than anyone! He knew the tragic ending you would create for this world! So to stop you, to save this world, he always took the lead and faced the truth!”
“I knew the tragic end the world you would create would face! That’s why I have always stepped forward without turning away from the truth, to stop you and save this world!”
Tears streamed down Kurosawa Yuji’s face.
His hands trembled violently.
“Kim never used this world or anyone. Kim was always sincere to everyone, to this world. Kim…”
Kurosawa Yuji’s sword tip shook.
Flames sparked in his eyes.
“…never turned away from anyone or this world. He never ran away. He vowed to take responsibility for everything. Kim has always guided me until the very last moment. So, whatever Kim’s identity is now, it doesn’t matter. Because Kim, no, Kim Deok-Sung—”
Yuuji remembered.
All the things Kim Deok-Sung had done until now.
He always fought at the frontline of danger, rejected injustice, and saved everyone.
He declared he would take responsibility without turning away from their feelings.
Until the last day before the decisive battle, he trained every day to awaken his mind’s manifestation.
Can something like just knowing the future be so simple?
‘If it were me, I couldn’t have done that.’
Yuuji shook his head.
If it were him, he wouldn’t have been able to do it.
No, even if it were someone else, they wouldn’t be able to do that either.
Even knowing the future, they wouldn’t have been as bold as Kim Deok-Sung.
Even if he received their love, he wouldn’t have been able to declare he would take responsibility for everyone.
In the end, he might have ambiguously maintained shaky relationships, managing to hurt everyone by rejecting all their confessions at the last moment.
Kim Deok-Sung.
Only with his kindness and sense of responsibility could such actions have been taken.
Yuuji knew.
That Kim Deok-Sung, while grumbling, was actually a kind person.
That the way he treated this world, the girls, and people was sincere.
That he never once saw this world or its people as fiction or mere characters.
That he truly loved this world.
Yuuji knew.
“The most wonderful man in the world, my true hero, my best friend!”
For Yuuji, Kim Deok-Sung was the only hero and mentor comparable to his father, the swordsman, and a true friend.
“And that’s why I cannot forgive you. You, who insulted my friend, the most wonderful man in the world, the true hero, as a deceiver! I will NEVER forgive you!”
Tears streamed from Kurosawa Yuji’s eyes.
Colorless magic surged explosively from his body.
Yuuji’s black hair floated amidst the colorless magic.
“Have you realized something? But it’s futile.”
Dokta Shinahel laughed.
The snake on the staff he held, Caduceus, opened its eyes and gaped at Yuuji.
“Even if you are the owner of the colorless magic, under the landscape created by that person, you will simply become a powerless human. Your struggles are meaningless. Alone, you can never break us, the will of the New World, or that person’s resolve for salvation! I will prove that from now on.”
Dokta Shinahel continued to laugh.
Boom!
As he struck Caduceus into the air, a thunderous sound roared, shaking the heavens.
Rumble!
In an instant, the world around them transformed with lightning and thunder.
[Purgatorium]
Dokta Shinahel’s incantation etched itself into the world.
His mind’s manifestation overlapped Yuuji and the surrounding landscape.
It was a world consumed by flaming fire.
In contrast to the world of raging flames, a clear sky filled with white clouds reminiscent of paradise hovered above him.
Dokta Shinahel.
Behind him, three pairs of splendid, holy wings sparkled and fluttered, and above his head, a bright white angelic ring hovered.
Dokta Shinahel declared from the center of hell.
“He is the compassionate one who bestows the mercy of salvation upon the unbelievers who do not follow your beliefs, and he is the true savior! As his first servant, I have been entrusted with the responsibility to purify the sins of the unbelievers with the flames of purgatory, leading them to the New World!”
“To those as well, the compassionate one who bestows the mercy of the Messiah! As His first servant, I have been entrusted with the responsibility of purifying the sins of the unbelievers in the flames of purgatory and guiding them to the New World!”
Dokta Shinahel laughed from behind his bird mask.
His gaze fell upon the unbeliever, Kurosawa Yuji.
He swung the caduceus.
“Unbeliever, your sins are great and deep, and until the day the New World arrives, I shall personally purify you in the flames of purgatory!”
Fwoosh!
The flames of purgatory, summoned by Dokta Shinahel’s command, engulfed Kurosawa Yuji’s body.
“Ahhhhhh!”
The pain of his soul burning, the unquenchable flames made Kurosawa Yuji scream.
It hurt.
It hurt so much.
It hurt to the point of tears.
Kurosawa Yuji couldn’t endure the pain of his entire body and soul being burned.
Thud.
His knees fell onto the burning ground.
“Master! Master! Ugh, aaaaah!”
Kusunagi, having materialized to save him, was also engulfed in the flames of purgatory.
“Hehe. Your resistance ends here. The last unbeliever, the holder of the colorless, and the son of the sword master. Kurosawa Yuji, with this, the path to the New World has been completed by His salvation!”
At that moment, Kurosawa Yuji recalled the conversation he had shared with Kim Deok-Sung while preparing for their final showdown.
[When I die, you fight that Messiah guy in my place.]
[What are you talking about, Kim? There’s Bonaparte and other girls too. But why······.]
At that time, Kurosawa Yuji couldn’t understand.
He was strong, but there were plenty of other students around who were just as strong.
So why had he singled him out?
Kim Deok-Sung had laughed at his question.
He spoke in an awkward tone.
[It sucks, but you’re the only one I can rely on to fight Messiah instead of me. No one else could ever win against that jerk. So no matter what, don’t fall!]
[You’re my last resort, you know.]
Those words floated in Kurosawa Yuji’s mind.
Kim Deok-Sung believed in him.
The most handsome man in the world, the hero among heroes, had entrusted his back to him.
[Alright then, trust me. Kim. I’ll handle the aftermath.]
He had gladly accepted Kim Deok-Sung’s proposal.
Kim Deok-Sung must have believed in him too.
“I can’t fall······.”
Kurosawa Yuji gritted his teeth.
What did it matter if his entire body and soul were burning in pain?
No matter how much it hurt him, it was nothing compared to the pain Kim Deok-Sung had suffered after facing Messiah and being exposed to the truth.
So he couldn’t fall here.
He couldn’t just give in.
“If I fall here, I won’t be able to face Kim again!”
Kurosawa Yuji stood up.
His will, his belief expanded to a new level, radiating infinitely.
Boom–!
The colorless mana resonating with his belief explosively spread from the center of Kurosawa Yuji’s body.
Fwoosh.
The flames of purgatory couldn’t burn the mana surrounding Kurosawa Yuji and retreated.
With this, he realized.
“Kim······. So this is······. What you were seeing.”
Kim Deok-Sung.
He finally understood he had reached the same level, the same status that he had long admired.
As the recognition and mana expanded infinitely, a single mantra rose in Kurosawa Yuji’s heart.
It was the culmination of his belief.
The small universe and the world of his mind had received a name.
And the ideal he had reached in the original story, the original history.
Kurosawa Yuji uttered that name out loud.
[The Savior Who Bears the World]
【Save the World】
And the world turned upside down.
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