Fragment: Ending Rebellion (1)

Blood flowed down from all over his body. Red flowers bloomed at his feet. It was a sight he had already seen many times… regardless of whether it belonged to others or himself.

When had he noticed this sensation? When had he fallen into despair and cursed the fact that this world was a fake, and that everything was meaningless?

(…It was long. Truly long. But that too will finally end.)

In the repeating world, there were people who would always die, and people who would never die no matter what happened. Even when he tried to kill them because they were eyesores, he always failed. No matter how much power he gained, no matter how much knowledge he had, there were people who would not die. As if in proportion to his own strength, they also grew stronger. …It was utterly hateful.

Knowing in advance what would happen and what roles people had was an advantage that could not be replaced by anything else. However, there were also events that could not be overturned. …Becoming a Watchman always happened. —That was why he killed his heart, sealed away his emotions, and became their pawn. Even if his own actions became the trigger that took his parents’ lives.

“I have given you the factor of a spirit. Use it to kill the Sword Saint.”

(Is it frightening to kill your own parents, even though you can destroy the world? That is why you fail. I am the one who will become the Wisher.)

“…You have sad eyes. Why not look around you more? This world contains more than misfortune.”

(I suppose it does, from your perspective. But there was never any place for us Lagias.)

“Yes. That white-haired woman is the Guide. You will take her to the lake behind Lagias Manor, which you know very well. If you do, the path leading to the Gate to the Otherworld will appear.”

(Brat. Do you seriously think I know nothing? I am playing the fool while understanding everything. All so I can tear out your throats.)

He had fought those people with faces of justice to the death countless times.

“How can you kill people so easily? The people of Samaris did nothing wrong.”

(Idiot. People who live grinning without knowing anything have no value. So I gave them value. As sacrifices.)

“Why do you scatter hatred across the world? Nothing is born from conflict.”

(Conflict? This world itself was born at the end of conflict. A discarded concubine’s child dares to make me laugh.)

“…You’re my father’s enemy. I will never forgive you!”

(Keep talking. What are you saying after killing Father and Mother? Without even knowing there are people you killed and sacrificed… Do not speak of justice so lightly. It makes me sick.)

He had thought to use them as Keys to open the Gate, and he had carried it out, but every attempt had failed. Perhaps it was the world’s coercive force, but he had been stopped by invisible chains.

“Stop already. You cannot defeat us.”

(Trash who can do nothing but flock together. You deluded fools who mistake the world’s blessing for your own strength.)

“You should have looked more at the people around you. If you open your heart, people will surely answer you.”

(How pathetic, you damned old man. …You do not know this, but your magic was extremely useful. After seeing it so many times, learning it was not difficult.)

Returning after death. He would repeat this hellish world countless times, but conversely, it also meant he had infinite time. He could not carry over the power he obtained, but his memories and knowledge carried over without issue.

“…You are evil. That is why I have to kill you now.”

(Mistraze. No matter what happens, I will kill you with my own hands. If only you, if only you Guides had not existed, then we Watchmen—Lagias—would…)

The battle against the Sword Saint’s grandson and the others that always occurred on the path leading to the Gate to the Otherworld. No matter what method he used, it had been decided that Zeke Lagias would always be defeated. —Yes, not die, but be defeated.

(I temporarily froze my own heart with magic. …Idiots. They fell for it completely.)

After confirming that they had completely moved away, he released the magic and began moving. He healed his body with healing magic and recovered his mana with potions he had threatened the Apothecaries Association into making.

(Just as I thought. —With this, I can outwit this world.)

Elzen Freak, the former Sword Saint candidate. This man alone could not be killed. Before even considering the rules of the world, as long as he had the protection of the spirit, Pariaach, Zeke could not touch him. —That was why he used Elzen’s son.

Elzen was immortal, but not invincible. Van Freak, who possessed a spirit’s protection that could be called equal, should be able to kill Elzen. It had been a kind of gamble, but—he won that gamble.

“—Summon Frozen Realm.”

He released forbidden ancient magic at the irritating trash when they were weakened. Everyone except the caster was frozen and erased, down to the very concept.

He had outmaneuvered the world and sent Van and the others, who should not have died, to the afterlife together with him. He had severed the world’s causality.

(Brat. Teaching me this was your mistake. This is what happens when you fail to properly understand the meaning of forbidden.)

“Kuh, kukuku…”

Laughter spilled out.

(Finally. I finally did it. Mistraze, I finally killed you. I avenged Lagias. This feels amazing.)

“Hahahahahahaha…”

The Keys created by the power of the spirits floated in the air. Three substitute keys created by Spearize. The Third Princess, a distant royal noble, and a marquis house. …Pitiful trash who were turned into Keys every time. Thank you for dying for Lagias.

(So this is… the end of the world.)

Apparently, even if they were not the original Keys, they could fulfill the role without issue. —As proof, the Gate to the Otherworld opened.

“You are the god… Oración. —Guh!?”

The recoil from the ancient magic made him vomit blood and collapse on the spot.

He tried to burn the sight he had dreamed of countless times into his eyes, but his vision blurred. It seemed his limit was near… but he could not die yet. He must not die.

“…Listen, Oración. I am the Wisher. Grant my wish!”

(Father, Mother, I apologize for being late. At last. With this, Lagias will…)

“Free us Lagias from the role of Watchman! Give this ridiculous role to some other trash! Do it now. This is my wish!”

He poured out all his feelings. The wish he had yearned for countless times in the repeated world.

He had killed countless people. He had let his father and mother die. He had thrown away his own emotions and pride. —Everything had been for this moment. He had lived only for this. He had abandoned everything.

“…………”

The god of prayer, Oración, murmured something. The words of a spirit felt as though they did not enter through the ears, but instead dropped directly into the mind.

—Oración stated mechanically that the wish could not be granted.

“…Huh? What are you talking about…?”

Lagias was the Watchman. In other words, it was one part of the world’s framework, one of its systems. Interfering with that was equivalent to remaking the world. —Oración conveyed that many souls, in other words sacrifices, were necessary. …What was that? He had never heard of this. He had never heard it in any world.

“Don’t screw with me! How many people do you think I’ve killed? I killed the trash of Samaris, my father and mother, and even the inheritors approved by you spirits! —!? Gah!?”

Cracks ran throughout his body, and blood burst out like fountains. The price of forcibly using ancient magic had come due here.

—His vision worsened. His consciousness drifted away. His body would not move.

(What did I come this far for…? Father, Mother, I am sorry. …I remained a powerless Lagias.)

Lagias, hated by the world. From the moment he was born, those around him loathed him. He had been nothing but a puppet of the world, not even permitted to live freely. To change that irrational reality, he had grown stronger. He had abandoned everything… or so it should have been.

(Ah, so this is the end. …If my wish could have been granted, I wanted someone who could walk beside me. …Haha, I suppose that was utterly impossible for hated Lagias, for Lagias, the enemy of the world.)

“…I’m tired now. I don’t want to fight anymore. I don’t want to do anything. I don’t care who it is, just—take my place.”

—That wish has been firmly received.