Volume 9 Chapter 46 The True Meaning Of New World (Try Order)
It was a harsh conclusion.
Certainly, there was no will of their own. They were worshiped as gods out of necessity.
"I understand the history of God-Demon War."
There's no use getting sentimental about it.
It's a story that's already ended. No matter what I think, the past won't change.
What matters now is the present and the future.
"Did you stay on Earth to create this 'Kakehashi (Bridge to the Universe)'?"
Iris──Julius chose to remain on Earth.
Knowing Julius, he probably understood at that time that they would break up, and the God-Demon War would begin.
He could have possibly stopped that future if he had gone together, but he stayed.
"You're right. When I was reborn as Iris, I couldn't act openly. Changing the past has too much risk."
"Is that like a time paradox?"
Think about it like this: if Lyla and Glenn hadn't argued, neither humans nor demons would have existed. And if that were the case, Julius wouldn't have existed either.
So, it makes sense that Julius couldn't meddle too much either.
"My job was to watch over their journey. And think about the future after I die."
The "him" that came out now is probably not the Julius standing in front of me, but the Julius who was killed as the Demon Lord.
Certainly, the future after that is still uncertain.
If Julius can move, that's the only place.
To wait patiently for 6,000 years, amid the fear of suddenly vanishing... It's a tale beyond belief. What kind of mental strength would it take to endure that?
"I understand the situation now."
The real issue starts here.
After witnessing a tragic fate and waiting 6,000 years, he formed an organization called 'Try Order.' But why?
"What do you plan to do with the 'Bridge to the Universe'?"
Julius, what is it that you desire after going to such lengths?
What exactly are your eyes seeing?
Julius looked at me, his eyes clear and shining.
"The curse of the battle cast upon demons and humans is too deep-rooted. Unless I solve the problem of Aether, the God-Demon War will likely continue."
When I looked down, the floor had vanished.
We were floating in the sky, and below us was not an ancient cityscape but a modern metropolis.
This was a view of Earth.
"And the same goes for Earth. Civilization has rapidly advanced due to the development of science and technology, but it all depends on resources. Eventually, Earth will follow the same fate of conflict as Asteris."
A fire broke out in the city below.
Buildings collapsed, and smoke and fire colored the streets dark red and black.
This is not an impossible story. While Japan is a peaceful country, there are still countries with ongoing civil wars and countries where wars have started when you look outside.
Julius' words were not easily denied.
Julius' face, watching the crumbling civilization, was lit up in red.
"Both worlds need a change. A huge transformation big enough to twist fate. 'Bridge to the Universe' connects the worlds and achieves a fusion of magic and science. Create new technology for a future where no one needs to fight."
"..."
"------"
"Yeah, that's right. I'm not joking."
Julius doesn't lie.
There's no need for him to.
If he says so, it's probably because he thinks it's really the right thing to do.
I know what he's trying to say. If neither Asteris nor the Earth can escape the fate of war, then we should just eliminate the cause of the war.
The story is about solving the problem of energy resources by combining science and magic.
It can't be that easy.
"You know as well as I do that wars aren't just about resource issues. Do you seriously believe that if suddenly the world connects, and there are other races, everyone will just hold hands and get along?"
"Chaos might happen. Many people could die. But it's temporary. They'll soon realize the value of each other's technologies and move forward."
"Why are you so optimistic? I mean, just because science and magic merge, it doesn't guarantee that the resource problem will be solved, right?"
"Yeah, that's true. But it's better than just going through this cycle of fighting over and over, heading towards a future that feels like it's already decided, you know?"
...Damn.
It feels like talking about this is pointless.
Just like that fight back then.
Julius wasn't like other demons. He didn't see humans as enemies. If anything, he wished to stop the God-Demon War.
So he talked about the need for coexistence even if the demons won.
But it just didn't work out.
Same story this time.
I want to end the God-Demon War too.
Our intentions should be aligned, but we can't seem to agree on how to get there.
"...You said connecting the world was easy, but is it really? The atmosphere, Aether, vegetation, even gravity might not be the same everywhere, you know? Disaster could strike the moment we try to link spaces."
"The people who crossed over to Asteris and you have made it this far. Sure, there might be some casualties, but we're not talking about wiping each other out here. And we've already accounted for the impact when connecting the spaces. The moment we link this Bridge to the Universe in the middle of the Pacific, a colossal shockwave will be unleashed. Earthquakes, tsunamis, sinking ground, volcanic eruptions—countless disasters will hit countries worldwide. But fear not, because I've got it all under control."
"And when you say you've got it under control..."
We're talking natural disasters here.
Not just something hitting one country, but a mega-disaster striking the entire globe simultaneously.
No matter how massive Try Order may be as an organization, it's impossible.
"I'm dead serious, Yuusuke. Humans, humanoids, demons—everyone needs to step up to a new level. And this 'Bridge to the Universe' couldn't have been realized by my power alone. We need a magician deeply inheriting Lyla's blood for this magic, based on Saint Lyla's 'Ark.'"
As I tried to figure out who it was, their face came to mind immediately.
"The 'key' is the final piece of this Bridge to the Universe. That's why this God-Demon War began."
"――"
I don't get it.
Maybe he, who's much wiser than me and has lived for so long, have made the right call from a broader perspective. But that perspective is different from mine.
Not everyone's thinking about the future or destiny.
Some people are just trying to survive in this moment.
I won't nod along to his ideas.
"You knew that and still decided to talk, right?"
Standing up from my chair, I materialized a sword in my hand.
I won't succumb to the pressure I felt back then.
If Julius's ideals come to fruition, many will die. Even if more people are saved in the future because of it, I can't accept that.
And Lisha and Mevia, what if the 'key' is used as its magic part?
Quit messing around.
"There's gotta be more than just this to break the curse of the God-Demon War. Sacrificing someone isn't the way to go."
While feeling disappointed about our messed-up relationship, I also felt a bit relieved.
Because now, I wouldn't hesitate to swing that sword at his head.
"I deny your ideals"
Even when I got into battle mode, Julius didn't flinch. He just kept that cool smirk on his face like always.
"Yeah, I figured you'd do that. So, this is the judgment call. The one with more power gets to decide whose idea is right in the end."
"For now, I'm gonna knock some sense into that head of yours that's been brewing for 6,000 years."
"More than you think, the curse of Asteris is strong and deep."
When Julius said that, the room shook.
An earthquake? No, that couldn't be happening. This place isn't even supposed to be on the surface to begin with.
It doesn't feel like Julius's magic, but there's no doubt this space is trembling.
"Yuusuke, if you're serious about wanting to do something about the God-Demon War, then the one you should fight isn't me. The curses of the defeated have been chasing you this far."
"What?"
I wondered what Julius was talking about, and the answer immediately appeared.
"?!"
The floor... it cracked.
No, something from below forcefully tore open this space.
In the darkness ahead, black eyes appeared.
Eyes darker than darkness itself.
No way, could this be――?!
"In Asteris where the God-Demon War had left its mark, a strange and dangerous phenomenon was born. It was like a disease, an irregularity that clung to the magic from the long battles fought."
The rift grew wider and wider.
The space, twisted by brute force, screamed in agony.
Julius became distant, and the rift threatened to swallow me whole.
"You must know it well. This is no ordinary demon; it's not even a living creature. It's the hatred and grudge of the defeated demons, the cries of the few trampled by the many."
Finally, the rift covered all of space, and I was consumed by darkness.
"Yuusuke, I am waiting for you. Overcome this and fight against my ideal."
And then, everything was covered in black, and I disappeared from sight.
When I felt the ground beneath my feet, the surroundings transformed into a strangely familiar sight.
It was the wild expanse beyond the forests near Centraris Kingdom.
And there, right in front of me, stood a figure unlike any other.
Walking on two legs, its silhouette resembled that of a human. Its entire body was covered in a black exoskeleton, with a single broken horn protruding from its forehead.
Through the gaps in its shell, I could see a pulsating crimson light, like blood coursing through veins.
This creature was no ordinary demon; it was a renegade among demons.
Its power surpassed even that of a Lord, rivaling that of a demon king.
Yet unlike other demons that acted with purpose, this one appeared suddenly, without strategy, simply wreaking havoc and massacring the human race.
If Julius's words were to be believed, its true identity lay in the accumulated resentment of demons during the God-Demon War.
"'Disaster (Galeo)'...!"
The enemy known as 'Disaster (Galeo)', which had once attacked Kanami's Empire of Fador, destroying numerous towns and taking the life of my mentor, has appeared once again.
The abyss of its eyes screams that this hatred, this loathing, will never fade away.
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