Eternal Contract

,How can I trust that this isn’t a trap?

「I can only ask you to believe me.」

,What…?

「Right now, I am in a state where I cannot make an oath on my name.」

I don’t know what an oath on one’s name is, but that being didn’t seem to be lying. Although there was only endless chaos where a face should be, emotions were conveyed through the atmosphere.

「My goal is not to maintain an eternal battle. It is to meet God-isiyeo.」

,…God?

「Yes, but God-isiyeo fears meeting me and abandoned this world.」

That’s bullshit. What reason would an omnipotent God-isiyeo have to fear that being?

,Bullshit.

「Look around you. The world is destroyed, and you and I are the only ones left. Isn’t it natural for God-isiyeo to abandon this world?」

…That’s true. The world is destroyed. To the point where not even hope remains. But if I defeat that being, restoring the destroyed world won’t be a dream.

,Don’t be ridiculous. God’s power is still intact. You can’t possibly not know that the Holy Sword in my hand is proof of that.

「That’s just an uncollected byproduct. A byproduct that was given up so that you could hold me back.」

,Cut the crap!

「Then I ask you. Where is God-isiyeo in this destroyed world?」

,….

「The world is destroyed, and you are the only hope. But why doesn’t God-isiyeo, the only hope, appear before you?」

The being moved towards the portal it had created between us.

「Even if we stop fighting for a while, there will be no change in this world. God-isiyeo will not appear before you either. So, why don’t we have a conversation for a while?」

Having said that, the being disappeared into the portal. The enormous presence itself disappeared from the world. Perhaps the throne was in a different space from this world.

It was certain that the enemy had disappeared. Expecting some kind of change, I waited. But the world remained destroyed, and there was no change for me.

,…Did you really abandon this world?

No answer returned to my muttered words. After staring at the portal for a long time, I eventually moved my steps towards the portal.

As soon as I entered the portal, a passage-like place suddenly appeared. A vast universe and countless stars were visible. At the center of it, I saw the being sitting on a huge throne, waiting for me. As I exited the passage, a voice echoed in my head.

「Welcome. To my throne.」

,What is this throne for?

「Only for me.」

At that arrogant remark, I approached the throne and faced the being. Unlike before, the being was wearing a mask with an unidentifiable shape.

「Since you came here at my request, I will reward you.」

When the being waved its hand, a huge sphere of condensed magic rose from the floor. Something swirled inside it, and it suddenly transformed into a window, showing something.

Beyond the window was me. The past me, spending happy days with everyone I had lost.

,Are you telling me to indulge in happy memories?

I couldn’t have my beliefs shattered with just this much. There were many ways to live life comfortably. The reason I didn’t choose them was because I realized that I was born for everyone.

If you are chosen, you must take responsibility. Even if it wasn’t what I wanted, I had the power to protect everyone. Even though I ultimately failed.

「This is not your memory. It is the appearance of another world created by God-isiyeo.」

,What…?

「I told you that God-isiyeo abandoned the world we were in.」

I blankly stared beyond the window. A strange emotion gripped my heart at the sight of another me, smiling happily without knowing anything.

,…You said you’d give me a chance. What does that mean?

「A chance for you to give up.」

At those words, I turned my gaze from the window and glared at the masked being.

「Instead of giving up this life, I will help the you in another world prepare for the fight against me.」

My heart beats wildly on its own. If those words are true, it means I can save everyone differently from now. But I have experienced countless times that sweet words always contain poison.

,That’s a trap aimed at the fact that I never give up.

As I infused power into the Holy Sword and aimed it at the being, I somehow felt that the faceless face behind the mask was smiling.

「No, I’m not aiming for you to give up. It’s not me, but God-isiyeo will deny the you in the other world.」

,…There’s no way God-isiyeo would deny me.

「No, He will. The you in the other world is already a loser. There are no gamblers who pick up discarded cards and put them back on the board.」

When the being raised its hand, a huge stone tablet with nothing written on it appeared, piercing through the floor.

「I promise you an eternal deal.」

,A deal…?

「While the you in the other world is preparing to defeat me, I will not exert any influence or intervene.」

,….

「And if you fail to defeat me and save the world in that world, I will give the you in another world the same help as this deal. That is the eternal deal I promise.」

What the being is saying is being carved into the stone tablet as it is. As if to record it. It’s a sweet offer. That’s why I’m suspicious. The reason for offering a deal that is disadvantageous to oneself.

,Why are you doing this? If you don’t intervene, I will definitely find a way to defeat you.

「It’s more interesting to watch an ant squirm than to repeat a boring fight forever.」

I could feel the sincerity of that being. Even to the point of treating me as just a special ant.

「I also want to see you kneel before me, broken by endless trials and despair.」

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Not because of the arrogance of that being, but because of the arrogance of God-isiyeo, who doesn’t show himself even in this situation.

God-isiyeo has no intention of saving the world. In the end, I was the only one who could save the world.

,Tell me exactly what kind of help you’re talking about.

「According to the causality of the world, I will transmit your memories to the you in the other world through dreams.」

,I told you. Exactly.

「It means that every time you gain causality over time, the seal on the memories you have transmitted to the you in the other world will gradually be released.」

,You said you’d let me prepare to face you, but it has to be over time? Are you planning to waste my time?

To my sharp question, the masked being answered with a resigned voice.

「I am not God-isiyeo. That is all I can do. That’s why I put a restriction on not interfering in the world while you are preparing to defeat me, isn’t it?」

I was silent for a long time. I gripped the handle of the Holy Sword so hard that it was about to break, gritted my teeth, and waited until the very end. But until the moment of choice, there was no whisper I had been waiting for.

,…I accept the deal.

***

I reached the end of the passage created by the masked being. As I exited the passage, my feet sank into the snow. The sensation of my skin comes alive with the cold I haven’t felt in a long time.

Unconsciously, I raised my head and looked at the sky, and snow was falling from the sky. As I looked at the falling snow, the things I had forgotten all this time came back.

The biting winter wind, the sounds of people, the breath I exhaled, everything that was alive and breathing.

I wanted to feel everything I had missed for a long time, but I instinctively realized that I didn’t have much time left, as that being had warned.

With familiar steps, I found the house buried in my memory and knocked on the door. Footsteps approached, and the door opened. Another me, who had opened the door with a slightly gloomy face, looked at me with bewildered eyes.

The gazes looking at each other become entangled in the air. Strange emotions boil over. Forcibly suppressing them, I said in a low voice.

,I have something to tell you.

Having said that, I turned around. If the being in front of me is really me, it will be interested in another me who suddenly came and follow me. Because it was a time when I was confident that I could escape any trap.

As expected, I heard footsteps following me. I avoided the gazes of the villagers and headed into the snowfield. When I turned around, I met the gaze of another me who was following me.

,Could you be… me?

I smiled at the gaze of another me, who was looking at me with an unbelievable expression, because I understood. Because the current me, who is supposed to be my future self, was a hideous and ugly figure that I had never imagined.

I took a deep breath. I somehow wanted to do that. Filling my lungs with the cold air, I reached out my hand to another me.

If I make contact with the me in another world, I can transmit my memories and will. If that happens, I will soon disappear from the world’s denial.

There was no time to explain the situation. But I would be able to leave a word or two to another me.

Giving a reassuring smile to another me who was wary, I finally grabbed the hand I had reached out. Using the magic I had learned from the masked being as a price for the contract, I transmitted all my memories and will into his head.

At the same time, I felt an excruciating pain as if my whole body was burning. I’m sorry for suddenly passing on the responsibility, but this is a struggle to save the world… If it’s me, I’m sure he’ll understand. So, there was no need for a long explanation.

To another me, who unconsciously tried to grab me as I turned into ashes and scattered, I smiled as much as I could. And I said with all my heart.

,You can do it.

.

.

.

「Finally, the first shackle has been completed.」