Chapter 294 Ostrich
──When I realized it, I was looking up at the starry sky.
The night sky was clear without a single cloud. Countless stars floated across the sky, but it felt somehow different from the familiar night sky.
As I wondered about this, I sat up from lying on my back, and I found myself in a place where a thin film of water stretched out, with a perfectly smooth lake surface that went on forever without a single ripple.
The lake reflected the starry sky, making me feel like I was trapped in a starry world with no top or bottom.
Is this... a labyrinth?
Is it night now?
Fiona, where is the [Evil God]? The fake goddesses that were everywhere have also disappeared.
Why am I in a place like this? What on earth happened?
"Where is this...?"
I muttered in confusion.
I didn't expect an answer.
But, there was a response.
"This is the boundary between your deep unconscious realm and the Deep Unconscious Collective Domain."
"──Who are you!?"
The voice came directly from in front of me.
I quickly shifted my gaze from the starry sky, and in the spot where no one had been just a moment ago, there was a small figure.
It wasn't a teleportation or anything like that.
Without any sign or context, it suddenly appeared.
That alone was enough to make me cautious, but I was also greatly confused by its appearance.
"A kid... no... could it be... me?"
There stood a boy with black hair and black eyes. He looked about ten years old. But, his face was one I recognized. Yet, he wasn't someone I knew.
It was my own appearance from when I was about ten years old.
Still, I could tell that "that" was not "me."
Everything about this situation was incomprehensible. As I was bewildered, the boy spoke to me with a blank expression.
In a tone that is never mine.
"Aaron Gale, you're going to die soon."
"......!!"
I remember.
Suddenly, Jobs was lost, and my body was cut in half by the fake goddess.
"......Who are you?"
It's a natural question. What is this place, and who are you?
The kid in front of me doesn't hide his caution and answers.
"I'm (we're) you, and I'm (we're) all of humanity, and also, I'm (we're) none of them."
"......?"
I don't understand what he's saying. Is this philosophy?
"I'm (we're) the very essence of the Human Deep Unconscious Collective Domain, the collective consciousness of humanity."
"......?"
I still don't get it. Is this a religious thing?
"...In simpler terms, if you want to use your human words, we are what you call a god."
"......!!"
No doubt about it. It was a religious topic...!!
Wait a minute? Could it be a god other than the [Evil God] or the Chronosphere!?
"──Are you an enemy?!"
"Don't be on guard, Aaron Gale. I'm (we're) not a fake god called Archetype Intelligence. I'm (we're) not your enemy either."
Not an enemy...?
"And this is the boundary between your deep unconscious realm and the Deep Unconscious Collective Domain."
This guy...!! He's trying to confuse me with words I don't understand. Is he really not an enemy...!?
"...To put it simply, this is the mental world."
"...I see."
Not an enemy...?
"Listen, Aaron Gale."
The kid in front of me, somehow expressionless yet giving off a tired vibe, continues.
"At this rate, humanity is doomed. That crazy copy of the Archetype Intelligence 'Miriallia' thinks she can make humanity last forever by 'reproducing' it, but that's impossible. The Terraformer series, which is the foundation of 'reproduction,' is an artificial creation, and its lifespan is limited to just about a thousand years."
"......"
"And with the fake humanity that is 'reproduced,' she can't replicate the Terraformer series due to reasons like lack of growth, lack of genius, lack of population, and lack of machinery supported by core technology. Even if she was given the knowledge and technology stored in the [God Realm]."
"......"
"However, the extinction of humanity (me) itself doesn't matter to us. I (we) have decided not to interfere, no matter what happens to humanity (me). If we interfere with any kind of intention, fairness will be lost. If a transcendent being interferes in the game (world) with intention, the rules will break down, and it will be difficult to continue the game (world)."
"......"
"But, a pseudo-transcendent being, the [Evil God], has started to interfere with humanity with intention. Even if it's a failure, it can be said to be a part of my (our) distorted self. Therefore, its interference can also be seen as my (our) interference. Thus, to maintain fairness, we have decided to balance the game (world) with an interference level similar to that of the [Evil God]."
"......"
"Hmm... Ah, I see."
As I remained silent, the kid who looked like me tilted his head in confusion──then nodded as if he understood it himself.
"Aaron Gale. I tried to explain the details to you, but my (our) selection was wrong. This is like trying to teach a trick to an ostrich."
"......"
I don't understand what this kid is trying to say.
But it feels like he just said something really insulting.
What's with the ostrich comment?
"I'll explain it simply so you can understand."
"Then you should have done that from the start, idiot."
I thought that, but I kept my mouth shut and read the room.
"...To talk to me like that... Is it because you're ignorant?"
No, it seems like he was saying something else.
...Well, whatever. He doesn't seem that angry. He looks more tired for some reason.
The kid shook his head slightly and looked back at me.
"So, Aaron Gale (ostrich)."
I feel like he just messed up how he said my name.
"I (we) will lend you our power. Because of your unexpected growth, my (our) interference is still greater than that thing. Because of that, I (we) still have a little room to interfere in this world."
"...So?"
"In other words, even if you're about to die, with my (our) help, you can still defeat the [Evil God]... that's what it means."
So, even from a situation where I've lost all job and skills and am completely dead, I can still win against the [Evil God]?
"...How?"
"I (we) can't use my (our) power directly, but I (we) can control your remains. You can't convert magical energy into aura without skills, but that's easy for us. Then, I (we) will act as you, bringing out your abilities to the limit and defeating the [Evil God]."
"...What will happen to me?"
"Your fate of death won't change. If I (we) heal you, my (our) interference will become too much."
"...What will happen to Fiona?"
"She will die with the [Evil God]."
"Isn't there any way to save her?"
"Just like I (we) can't change your fate of death, if I try to save her, my (our) interference will become too much. Therefore, it's impossible."
"...I see."
I couldn't defeat the [Evil God]... no, because I didn't defeat her, I have to accept the help of this mysterious kid in front of me, or humanity is finished.
But even if I accept the help, Fiona won't be saved.
"......"
Yeah, I understand.
I have no choice. If this kid's story is true, I have to give my body to this kid and let him defeat the [Evil God] along with Fiona. If I ask anyone for advice, a hundred out of a hundred would say to do it.
So.
"──No thanks, you idiot!!!"
With the sword I had somehow gotten in my hand, I slashed at the kid standing in front of me.
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