Volume 12 Chapter 38 Fate
───This is right after the Jormungand battle ended.
While waiting for Mudi to come back, Clay and I were taking a break.
We were really tired. We just had battle with Jormungand. Clay had also made Typhon grow to his maximum size.
Feeling exhausted, I spoke up.
"Seriously... I did pretty well, didn't I? I fought against mythological monsters. I let Fenrir get away, though."
"Wade-kun, you lost?"
"Well... that was my fault. I lost in a really bad way."
If I had just enjoyed the fight, I think the result would have been better. It's embarrassing and I feel bad that my wives had to clean up my mess.
As I was sulking, Mudi came back without me noticing and teased me with a half-smile.
"Huh? What's up, you loser? You lost, how lame!"
"Shut up."
"You always say, 'It's not fun unless it's a strong enemy,' and then you go and lose. What's up with that?"
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you trying to fight back, Mudi? I'll take you on!"
"──Okay, okay. I get it, you two are best buddies."
""Who's best buddies?!""
Clay tried to mediate, but I ended up speaking at the same time as Mudi, and I was left feeling frustrated.
"That leaves only Rollo-chan, huh?"
Clay confirmed, and I nodded.
"Yeah. Right now, Ice and the others are hiding Kyrie and helping her escape. I want to take Rollo down before she becomes Loki, but I wonder how that'll go."
I rubbed my communication ring. But there was no response. Well, that's fine. I can track them later with Ajna chakra.
"Yeah, for now, I guess we're managing well."
"Right? Honestly, it's been way harder since we got to Hel because of Rollo and the others."
"Well, they are the 'world destroyers' of Ragnarok, after all. It's no surprise we're struggling."
Seeing Clay's wry smile, I couldn't help but think, "Seriously, saying 'let's kill and turn into demons to become family' is just ridiculous..."
Then, Mudi spoke up.
"Wade, about that, I have a few things to discuss."
"...What is it?"
When Mudi talks without joking around, it usually means something serious is coming. I had learned that, so I urged him to continue with a worried expression.
Mudi sat down on some rubble on the rooftop where we were resting and began to speak.
"This is about what Clay and I were investigating. I told you we looked into the Demon King's castle and the Demon King army base when we found you, right?"
"Yeah, I heard about that."
"Right. I want to tell you this while we still can, Wade-kun. We might have to fight Rollo-chan... Loki soon. If that happens, I don't know if we'll have time to talk."
"What the heck, even Clay looks serious now."
Seeing both of them with such serious faces made me anxious about what they were going to say.
Mudi continued.
"Loki's magic eye. That's what we've been investigating."
Magic eye. I fell silent and listened closely to what he had to say.
"...During our exchange at the Demon King Hel's castle, Loki's split body told you, right, Wade?"
'Then, let's all become family together~♡ and break this cruel fate. Okay~♡'
Rollo said that to me. "Let's become family. I'll kill you, and turn you into demons."
But that wasn't what Mudi was getting at.
"I thought it was strange that the word 'fate' came up now. So I looked into it. Turns out, the god Loki has a special eye so he doesn't get tricked by his own illusions."
"A special eye..."
"That's Loki's magic eye. It's not in the original myths, but it's one of Loki's real powers. It can see through all truths. That's what the magic eye is said to do."
I twisted my mouth and asked back.
"So, it's like the Ajna chakra?"
"Yeah. Wade, you got crushed by Loki's split body once because of your Ajna chakra. It was found by Loki's magic eye, and you got countered."
I understood. That means Rollo's magic eye might be even stronger than the Ajna chakra.
"...So? Is this a warning to be careful?"
"No, Wade-kun. Mudi-san started this investigation because the word 'fate' came from Rollo-chan. This is just the introduction."
With Clay's addition, I turned to Mudi.
Mudi said.
"Wade. The reason Loki's split body started talking about 'fate' is probably because it saw your fate."
"Huh?"
Fate. It's a word I hear sometimes. What happened with Muramasa and Fenrir was because my fate was denied. The reason I could beat the split body was because of the difference in fate.
The more you have, the closer you get to glory. That's my rough understanding of fate.
"...What about my so-called fate?"
When I twisted my mouth and asked, Mudi replied.
"'The Fate of the Creator.' That's the name of what resides within you, Wade."
"...The Creator? Yeah, I've heard of it, but..."
Unlike gods, it has a distant image. Something even further away, a blurry entity.
"Ah. You probably aren't familiar with it. The Creator of this world. Unlike gods, it doesn't respond to requests. Instead, its gaze is said to manifest as fate for its subjects."
The Creator. Fate. The words were becoming grander, and I frowned.
"Among them, the special one is 'The Fate of the Creator.' It promises to be the ruler of the world, but will inevitably lead to destruction."
"...Being the ruler of the world aside, that's quite an accusation about destruction."
As I glared at Mudi, confused, Clay shook his head.
"Wade-kun. This is a fact. Those who possess 'The Fate of the Creator' have, throughout history, faced unmatched glory followed by destruction."
At Clay's follow-up, my face stiffened. Clay looked at me and said, "And..."
"Every person in history who has carried 'The Fate of the Creator' has been a summoned hero."
"..."
Something connected within me. My position. The positions of those who carried 'The Fate of the Creator' in the past. And the commonality of our fate.
I recalled the ancient dragon, the first meeting with Echidna. She called me a reincarnator and said this:
'You outsiders have been blessed by the Creator.'
I was certain. The Creator had reincarnated me into this world.
And now, the topic at hand, 'The Fate of the Creator'...
"Wade-kun. You were born as a human in this world. So, I don't understand why the 'Fate of the Creator' is common between you and the summoned hero."
"But, as far as I checked with my Ajna chakra, this is the truth. I also confirmed it again and realized, so that's what it is."
I asked Mudi about his words.
"Is it about what you said before, 'Enjoy bullying the weak'?"
"That's right. After you have everything, can you enjoy it with all that you've gained? It's strange for me to say this since I haven't gained everything, but everyone until now has failed at that."
So, the 'Fate of the Creator' became known as a fate of destruction that comes with glory.
And that cursed 'Fate of the Creator' was known by Loki's magic eye and Rollo.
"...So, Rollo's aim is?"
"If Wade meets destruction and becomes a demon in a chaotic state, then Rollo probably thinks it's better to kill you now and welcome you here as a demon."
"And for the demons who have transcended life and death, that's a kind of salvation, Wade-kun. If you die, you won't be trapped by fate anymore. Even gods can fall that low, and that's proof."
Rather than being trapped by fate and facing a terrible end, it's better to be killed easily before that and live happily in hell.
Rollo thought that way. So, she took a hardline approach. She declared she would kill us and threatened to start Ragnarok to prevent escape.
"...So, the reason she won't kill everyone until she kill me is?"
"Since you are the strongest, if you can be killed, then everyone else can be killed too. Rollo-chan probably said she should either kill everyone or not kill anyone at all."
If someone else dies without being able to kill me, that would be unfortunate.
Someone becomes a demon and gets trapped in hell, while the living return to the surface, and in the end, the dead are bound to hell. That is unfortunate.
So Rollo avoided that. ...How should I put it, it's just.
"Rollo is thoroughly thinking about my happiness and acting for it."
I bite my lower lip. The feeling that I made Rollo go this far wins out.
The act of 'eating while dancing' is gruesome. There are many preparations for it. Moreover, Rollo is originally a weak being, close to the lowest level as a demon.
That small Rollo has done this much for me.
I stand up.
"Let's look for Rollo. I don't know how things will go. I still don't understand what lies beyond becoming too strong."
But, I continue.
"It's not enough to just fight Rollo normally and decide the win or lose like that. I want to talk to Rollo. I have to talk to Rollo."
When I say this, Clay stands up.
"Yeah, Wade-kun should definitely have a proper talk."
"Tch. Ugh, everyone's so naive. ...Well, we're already in this together. Do what you want about talking or not. I'll lend my strength as a fighting force."
The two of them offer their cooperation. I nod in response and say, "Thanks. Alright, let's go," and jumped off the building's rooftop.
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