"Who... are you?"

At Alon’s question, the Former Observer—

no, that blue-eyed thing spoke.

[Don’t be so on guard. I’m the one this friend was trying to make you meet in the first place.] 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"...That was you?"

[Yeah.]

"Then why did you hide who you were?"

At Alon’s pointed remark, it smiled in a way that was hard to read.

[There are a lot of reasons, but it’d take too long to explain, so I’ll keep it simple. Half of it was a prank, and half of it was a test.]

A test, huh.

[Ah, don’t worry. You passed. I have no reason to harm you. That would’ve been true even if you hadn’t passed, but still.]

"You're getting ahead of yourself."

As if it understood Alon meant, Stop talking like you're the only one who knows what you're saying, she let out a light laugh and turned her body slightly.

[Sorry. It’s been a long time since I talked with you—no, since I talked with anyone, so I got a little excited. Honestly, if it were up to me, I’d like to chatter like this a bit more, but.]

Let’s stop here, it added, and looked toward the altar.

The black smoke that had been pouring out so clearly until just a moment ago had noticeably thinned.

"...There’s a limit?"

[If you want to talk with an existence on my level, it can’t be helped.]

It shrugged, then spoke as if telling him not to worry.

[Still, it’s not like I don’t have enough time to tell you what I have to tell you before I go. Well—though it might be a bit tight if you want to ask questions.]

So, what’ll you do? she asked with a smile.

Alon let out a sigh.

No matter how he looked at it, questions seemed impossible.

"I’ll listen."

[Good.]

After some time passed.

[-That’s everything I can tell you.]

It finished its explanation.

[Then I’ll see you next time.]

"...There’s going to be a next time?"

[Of course there is. If you truly move to save—no, if you move to protect the people you consider precious.]

With that, the blue light that had been in the Former Observer’s eyes began to fade.

Very slowly.

[Ah, should I give you one gift?]

All of a sudden, it suggested.

"A gift?"

Its two blue eyes fixed on Alon.

[If you want to dig into the secret of your emotions, go meet ‘the one who peers in.’ That guy will tell you the secret.]

At the sudden words, Alon started to ask again in surprise—

and the blue glow in her eyes vanished completely.

And then.

[......? Wha...?]

"......."

Alon found himself facing the Former Observer, who had already returned.

Puzzlement lingered on her face.

In the end, Alon let out a small sigh.

Just in case, he asked the Former Observer, but she didn’t seem to remember anything at all to begin with.

"Thanks for the help."

[Don’t mention it. I don’t remember it, but I’m glad it seems like it helped.]

"...By the way, that person who possessed you—aren’t you going to tell me who that blue-eyed one really was?"

He asked because it seemed like the Former Observer knew that blue-eyed one’s identity, but—

[If that person didn’t reveal it directly, then there must be a reason for that, too.]

"Is that so."

There was nothing more coming back.

Alon nodded for now.

His curiosity hadn’t disappeared, but it didn’t seem like she’d answer even if he asked again.

More than anything, he’d already gained a lot.

"Then I’ll be going."

He left a light farewell.

[But... can you make it up?]

"When the story ends, I’m told it’ll come down."

The Former Observer went, “Mm,” as if sinking into thought, then guided Alon toward one part of the altar.

[Could you come here for a moment?]

"What is this...?"

[It’s an artifact.]

There was a conch shell made from a blue jewel.

[If you use this, you’ll be able to go straight up without help. After you use it, please hand it to that friend.]

Alon nodded.

And with a final greeting, he left the room.

Standing in the dark abyss, Alon poured mana into the conch shell in his hand.

-Woong!

In an instant, a round sphere formed around him.

Before he could even marvel, the sphere moved through the abyss as if it had been designated to, heading up toward the surface of the sea.

A moment later, light began to seep in from above.

And then.

Chwaaaak—!

When Alon finally burst out of the sea.

He saw Radan and Penia, both wearing dumbfounded expressions.

"...S-So, basically—if you have time, come back here later... that’s what it means."

"...Why would I?"

...Along with the sight of the Observer flirting her heart out with Radan.

"......."

What is this...? the thought brushed through Alon’s head.

####

After coming back from witnessing the Observer’s flirting

"Boss, then I’ll take my leave here, too."

"Yeah."

"Yes, I’ll see you again soon!"

Alon, who had been seeing Radan off as he left with an energetic salute, tilted his head slightly.

Because the thought crossed his mind: ‘Will I really be seeing you again soon?’

But Alon just shrugged it off, then climbed onto the returning ship.

"Wow, but I didn’t expect you to suddenly try to pick up Radan back there."

"That’s true......."

"Is Radan the kind of face that works on women?"

"It’s a much more positive face than yours. He’s got a rotten personality, but he is handsome, so. To women who are into that, he might be lethal?"

"I’m pretty lethal myself, you know?"

"......You’re lethal in a different way."

"What?"

As if they’d been waiting for it, Penia and Evan started trading blows back and forth.

[Kyuu—]

[Hmph, it’s just because none of them have any taste.]

Blackie and Basiliora, each perched on Penia’s and Evan’s shoulders, added a comment apiece.

In the middle of that, Alon briefly recalled what had just happened.

The moment he’d listened to the blue-eyed one.

"Hoo."

There were roughly three things he’d heard.

First: the identity and purpose of the Divine blood.

Second: the divinity that had vanished from Alon.

And last: the story of ‘Heavenly Law Creation.’

As if she already knew what he wanted, her voice replayed in Alon’s head as she laid it all out without hesitation.

[There isn’t much time left, so I’ll keep it brief. The identity of the ‘Divine blood’ you’re dealing with are beings from this world. More precisely, they’re the ones from a ruined world who had the potential to become gods.]

'Gods of this world?'

[Yeah. You’ve been inside strange text, right?]

'......No way.'

[That’s right. Strange text are their fragments. Everything you saw inside strange text can be said to be the form of those ruined other worlds.]

Alon let out a small sigh.

Truthfully, he’d also felt something off about Psychedelia’s strange text, but he hadn’t thought about it deeply.

Because Psychedelia was a game.

And in the game, the role of strange text was just that: a dungeon to grow playable characters.

Of course, because the worlds inside strange text were so diverse, there were players in the past who dug into that kind of foreshadowing.

But no one would’ve thought there was a backstory like this.

Even Alon—though he’d vaguely sensed there was something to strange text—hadn’t recognized that such a truth was hidden there.

'......Gestation as a god, huh.'

Alon kept recalling the conversation.

[As you know, the Divine blood’s purpose is one thing. To become a god.]

'Aren’t there already many gods in this world?'

[If you mean the outer gods of the forgotten age, they aren’t gods. They’re just ‘humans’ who happened to exploit the natural order of this world.]

[As proof, they’re neither omniscient nor omnipotent. Well—Divine blood are the same, but still.]

'......Then what’s the difference between Divine blood and the old outer gods?'

[Heavenly Law Creation.]

'Heavenly Law... Creation?'

[Exactly what it sounds like. Divine blood each have their own laws. Not like mages, calling the laws of this world—literally, they operate as the law itself, as the law. Like the Divine blood that handed you its power.]

'Heavenly Law Creation.......'

Without realizing it, goosebumps rose on Alon’s skin.

If what she said was true, then the Divine blood that had fallen down... all of them had power on that level.

But the reason gloom didn’t settle over Alon’s face even after hearing that was—

of course, because of what they talked about after that.

[Still, you don’t need to worry too much. Not all the Divine blood that fell have power on that guy’s level. Even among the fallen gods, there are /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ ranks.]

'......Ranks?'

[Yeah, ranks....... There isn’t time to explain them one by one, so I’ll keep it simple. If we judge by roughly comparing levels of martial power, you could probably win against about the first tier.]

'That’s not a good situation.'

[If you look at it simply, no. But if you look closely, it’s not.]

'Why?'

In his memory, the Former Observer continued with a swirling smile.

[There’s a reason.]

[First, even if Divine blood have fallen to the surface, it takes time before they can truly manifest. In reality, the Divine blood still haven’t shown themselves yet, right?]

'Right.'

[They’ll move only after a bit more time passes. The stronger they are, the longer it takes to prepare to manifest. So you have time.]

'So you’re telling me to get stronger during that time?'

[Yes. You have a very good opportunity and possibility.]

'......I’m just a human, though.'

[If you truly think that, that’s unfortunate.]

'What?'

At Alon’s question, she—

[You gained that guy’s ability. Even though you still have to raise your proficiency a lot, you’ve ended up able to handle a ‘Heavenly Law Creation’ you didn’t create. Meaning, if you do it right, unlike other Divine blood, you’ll be able to handle two laws—]

—answered like that.

[-Because you, too, are Divine blood.]

'......What?'

He couldn’t understand.

Naturally.

He knew about Divine blood.

And through the Bearer, he’d already heard the truth about this world.

'They aren’t gods. They’re just mutants that appeared in this world. From the start, no life born in this world can become a god.'

'Life in this world wasn’t created for the purpose of becoming a god.'

The Bearer’s words surfaced in his head.

It felt like he could hear that voice clearly, calmly stating the truth without any lies.

'......Humans born in this world can’t become gods, can they?'

So at Alon’s continued question, the Former Observer—

[That’s right. Those born in this world have no qualification to become gods. Some special existences might, but at least, you aren’t one of them.]

'Then—'

[But—]

So calmly.

[-You weren’t born in this world, were you?]

It caused another wave to crash through him.