Emiya's residence.
A tense silence hung in the living room as the demons waited for my response. Griselda and Gabriel were doing the same, though for different reasons. Rea-chan would accept whatever decision I made, Morgan looked interested, and Tia didn't care as long as I was with her.
Honestly, their business shouldn't concern me. It's like the situation with the past world, where I basically didn't care about it. Here, however, my priorities are myself, my Servants, and Issei, on whom our existence depends. Not even the deaths of millions of creatures could motivate me to action.
- "Okay, I understand the situation, but not one detail."
- "What is your gain, isn't it?" Sona asked.
- "Uh-huh. As much as I don't like you, Sona, my interests are above yours," I began, shrugging my shoulders and interrupting her attempt to speak, "And before you start, your clan has nothing to offer me. I already have the power over the demons, in fact, and it's just a matter of doing the bare minimum. I don't need the money for the same reason. Yourself, or even both of you? I have no wealth in women."
Serafall pouted and gave me a resentful look, and Sona thought deeply. And so did the first one. I could hear the gears in their heads as they searched for an acceptable offer. And I have to say, I don't think they're going to find one.
Sona's prize for the Ranking Game doesn't stretch to their cause. Dealing with someone or organizing something? Quite, but not that. The demons simply don't have what I want. At least not within their capabilities. As for something on a grand scale... well, Alaia's the one to mention.
Now that I think about it, my situation is becoming more and more incomprehensible. Considering Zelretch's words about constants and variables, the plot might not be saved if the inhabitants of this world change it. However, Aika clearly said that only checkpoints should be passed.
With my presence there have been enough changes that make the story unoriginal. I would even say more than enough. Take Tia, for example. She doesn't shine in the original, and I doubt Ophis and Great Red had exactly the non-relationship with her that they have here. Rea-chan is still part of the plot, though there's no such thing in the original.
The changes I've already personally made are especially questionable. The same Rizevim, for example. When I changed it... no, not like that. When I re-created it, nothing much happened. In fact, I now own his soul because of the effects of 3rd magic, as Death explained. And since I'm a variable that shouldn't exist in this world, what about him? Well, nah. However, Aika basically told me nothing about it.
Besides, recalling her words, their wording was extremely vague. Destruction of the world? Understandable, but in what way exactly? Will it be simply erased from existence, or will there be some cataclysm? And if the latter was true, would I be able to deal with it, given the power I had?
Alaya is gone now, and I don't know where she is. There's no way to track her, no matter how hard you try. She's basically the world itself, which means that no matter what you do, she's out of reach until she wants otherwise.
The funny thing is, I can't tell for sure if Alaya lied to me. And since she did, should I even follow the plot? And is she Alaya on principle? Yes, Archer indirectly confirmed it, but only indirectly based on his feelings. Just questions and no answers.
- "Are you all right, husband?" Morgan asked in her usual tone with a wry smile on her face, interrupting my musings, but I could see the undercurrent of concern, "It should be those two in that state, but not you."
- "Let's just say that something is bothering me, and it has nothing to do with them." I shook my head and looked at the demons, "So, what have you decided?"
- "We... can you give us some time, Ro-tan? I'm sure we'll find something. Please..." Serafall said with pleading eyes.
Hm. She realizes that now she can only leave with nothing, and she can't apply any pressure. And so Serafall fears an outright refusal, which would basically bury them. What do I care, though? Let them do what they want.
- "As you wish," I shrugged, and Serafall and Sona sighed in relief, "Take as much time as you want, if you have something worthwhile to offer. Though I doubt you'll have anything worthwhile to offer."
That was the end of our conversation, and the demons left the house in a flash of a teleportation circle. There was silence in the living room, which did not last long, because there were still representatives of the Church.
- "Okay, that's it," I said, and turned my gaze to Gabriel, resting her head on Tia's lap, "Now you. What was Michael's message?"
- "My brother would like you to visit Heaven and take a look at the systems. Since father's death it has been... a little malfunctioning and if possible, we would like you to fix it." Gabriel replied, a little worried.
I raised an eyebrow.
If my memory serves me correctly, the Biblical God created two systems: one concerning the Sacred Gears, and the second in charge of 'Sanctity'.
The function of the first was as simple as possible. It was responsible for obtaining Sacred Gears as weapons against threats. And the error that occurred after his death allowed to get these weapons from the threats themselves.
The second system was a bit more complicated. 'Sanctity' is the power that is responsible for harming 'evil' beings. Light spears, for example, that are painful and deadly to demons, undead, and the like. It depends on people's faith in God and affects prayers, blessings, and exorcisms.
The two systems are interconnected, as only someone who is 'part' of the Biblical Faction can receive the Sacred Gears. Say, people who believe in Greek gods are not out of this number, and therefore cannot receive it. The second system gives its 'approval' to the soul, after which the first system links it to a random Sacred Gears.
Retrieving it is possible, as shown in the anime, but not without consequences. Well, unless you count me. However, that's another issue that I have absolutely no interest in. That's actually why Gabriel is worried.
- "The question is the same. What's in it for me?"
- "You will be able to occupy the Heavenly Throne and command both Heaven and the Church. I sense a very faint divinity within you, very similar to that of your father. The Throne will accept you and give you all sorts of authority."
At her words, Griselda was startled and stared at me stunned. Morgan didn't look surprised, but still found the description of divinity interesting, and my eyes widened instantly.
Wasn't she supposed to be divorced? This is another world where there is not a single person who believes in me. Not only that, because I definitely remember erasing the memories of those villagers. If it was Tia, it would make sense, but not me. The technology of that world is simply not capable of preserving any evidence.
How the hell is my divinity still in place?! And what's more, why is it not only not waning, but just the opposite, hmm?!?!
-0-
An unknown place.
In the middle of the forest, illuminated by the mesmerizing moonlight, under the clear night sky was a decent sized village. It was home to over three hundred people who were now gathered in front of the temple of their deity.
Each of them offered prayers to a little-known god, wearing white flowers that shone in the moonlight, happy and joyful. Standing out from the crowd, however, were seven dressed in white robes with emerald green inserts.
These seven were the priests of the god that were not bound by blood, race, or age, possessed power. Power that could heal the body and the soul itself. No matter the disease or curse, she healed all, as if she could penetrate the being's essence. And it was she who allowed them to gather so many people willing to follow their god.
At one point, one of them stepped forward and removed his hood, revealing a woman whose eyes were filled with memories and gratitude.
- "Today we celebrate the arrival of our god in this world! He may have already left this place, but not our hearts!" she thundered, "We do not know his name, but we know his goodness. When others demanded worship, he did what was right without expecting anything in return. Selflessness, sincerity and kindness. This is what he showed to strangers he didn't know. This is the way we inherit from our God. The true-faithful way that gives us happiness and makes this world a better place. Let us now honor him, for he alone is worthy of it!"
Then all the villagers folded their hands in front of them and closed their eyes. Their faith was slowly gaining strength, for everyone had found their happiness here, where these seven men had initiated them into the truth and given them the home they had lost on the Day of the Beast.
Suddenly the wind rose. The earth itself shone with golden light, and white flowers soared into the sky, swirling and intertwining with each other to form a graceful dance.
The inhabitants, sensing this, opened their eyes and began to watch the beautiful picture before them with mesmerized eyes, smiling happily and holding hands.
One old woman touched her forehead nostalgically, looking up at the sky and remembering the face of the one who had given her the power to defeat the Apostles themselves. In her free hand she held a staff, the end of which was two different sized bronze-colored rings connected to each other, and in one of them another.
She smiled softly and looked at her children and grandchildren standing beside her.
- "Thank you..."
-0-
A/N: How's the chapter? Give us your opinion. You may well be able to influence future chapters.
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