Ch.107107. A Well-Orchestrated Puppet Show

# “I’ve been thinking lately.”

“…What is it?”

In the gloomy atmosphere that had settled over them.

One constellation spoke in a subdued voice.

“Actually, I’m starting to wonder if the Source of the World is really that wrong…”

“Such blasphemy!”

“W-what are you saying right now?”

“Think about it. How did we end up here?”

“That’s…”

They had come too far.

At first, there was only confidence.

The confidence that no matter what adversity they faced, the constellations standing firmly together could overcome anything.

The Absolute One?

What was so great about that?

On their side, they had more than two entities who were former Absolute Ones.

But that confidence, as time passed…

“…Why does everyone in Dianon love the Absolute One?”

“T-that. Isn’t that a foreign god? How can a foreign god be beside the Absolute One…?”

“Divine Manifestation? Forcing constellations to emphasize divine vessels and using them like puppets…?”

Despite gathering five constellations, the Absolute One’s unpredictable behavior made the future as unclear as if covered in fog.

“W-what are you saying at this point!”

It was dangerous.

Truly dangerous.

They were already in the same boat.

Of course, one entity had harbored different intentions for a long time—

The most important thing for the Past Remnants to avoid was internal division.

“Have you forgotten! Our current reaction is exactly what the Absolute One wants!”

“But our hideout has already been discovered. Soon even our True Names…”

“Don’t worry. Even the Absolute One can’t dig up information from an entirely different world and era.”

As the Past Remnants tried to reassure themselves, a mysterious paper fluttered down before them.

“Hey kids, it’s your big brother

There’s still so much I wanted to tell you, how could you kick me out so suddenly?

Oh, right. I must tell you this.

<Summoner of Hunger>

<Master of a Thousand Masks>

<Moon That Swallowed Dreams>

<Fixed Scales>

<That Which Was Before the Cry>

<Observing Void>

<Lord of Ash>

These are your names, right?

See you again soon.”

“…..”

The atmosphere sank endlessly.

Even their True Names, which could be considered their last fortress and could impact their very existence, had been exposed.

“What do we do now?”

“…What do you mean?”

“This was your idea, wasn’t it! Surely you must have some plan?!”

“Y-you crazy bastard!”

They were eager to join forces before, but now they’re trying to shift responsibility.

The Past Remnants began to lose their last thread of reason.

“Enough.”

But one constellation who had been watching stepped in to mediate.

“….?”

The constellation with the True Name “Moon That Swallowed Dreams.”

And the voice of the constellation who had begun to arouse suspicion among the others.

With everyone’s attention focused on them, Moon That Swallowed Dreams spoke in a solemn voice.

“There’s no turning back now. We must make a choice.”

“Don’t tell me you’re suggesting we submit to the Absolute One, such an absurd proposal…”

“I’d rather die than use a divine vessel.”

Moon That Swallowed Dreams swallowed a sigh that was about to escape and cut off their resistance.

“Submit? What submission? Even if we submitted now, would the Absolute One spare us?”

‘Idiots. I’ve already secured my safety.’

It’s you who are heading toward the abyss—

Moon That Swallowed Dreams secretly concealed their sense of superiority and suggested:

“That’s why we need to make our last stand.”

“…What are you saying?”

“Open the gate to the void and summon monsters. We need to buy time to make them panic somehow.”

“What difference will that make? They have the world’s highest-level religious order and army.”

“And additional forces will pour in from countries that support the Absolute One.”

It might be like poking a hornet’s nest.

With their True Names revealed, the Past Remnants had to be more cautious than ever.

“But we can’t just sit here and wither away, can we?”

“…”

But Moon That Swallowed Dreams wasn’t wrong.

Moving was at least a struggle for survival, but staying still meant certain death.

“Let’s do it.”

“It’s better than doing nothing.”

Eventually, one by one, as the constellations slowly sided with Moon That Swallowed Dreams, the group of Past Remnants began to search through the Otherworld.

At first, they had no expectations for such actions.

Even at best, they could only muster enough power to match a single religious order.

To directly strike at the Absolute One, they needed the power of someone with constellation-level strength like themselves.

“Sigh…”

It felt like searching for somewhat useful trash in a garbage heap.

The Past Remnants diligently searched the Otherworld spaces for their diminished selves.

They encountered various broken worlds and faced the sight of horrifying monsters swarming everywhere.

‘What am I even doing…’

While muttering this and diligently excavating monsters from the Otherworld, one constellation suddenly stopped at a certain place.

“….?”

The center of the world.

It was similarly abandoned and insignificant, but…

There was a being that all the Otherworld monsters bowed their heads to and feared.

Does that make any sense?

Those Otherworld monsters driven by madness, showing submission?

Doubt soon evolved into curiosity, and the constellation immediately shifted their gaze to find this entity.

The end of the world—

There was something so massive it seemed capable of devouring everything.

‘How is this possible?’

The constellation, like a ginseng digger who had discovered wild ginseng in the mountains, hurriedly called the other Past Remnants.

“…What is that?”

“I don’t know. But with ‘those,’ we might have a chance.”

There were seven monsters in total.

Whether it was heaven’s will or not, the number was miraculously convenient for each of them to use.

“T-this.”

This might really give them a chance.

Without realizing that it was a device arranged by “a certain constellation”—

The Past Remnants, busy putting out the immediate fire, excitedly rushed to recruit the seven great monsters.

#

While I was making rounds at the religious order and getting involved in international affairs,

Far away, a gate to the Otherworld opened.

The event I had been waiting for finally began.

“We will ruthlessly violate your world before your very eyes!”

“We’ll make you regret rejecting our proposal for the rest of your life!”

The earth trembled.

The sky was dyed with dark energy, and it began to stage the end of the world as if the final days had truly arrived.

In the distance, monsters that had crossed over from the Otherworld could be seen howling ferociously.

Glancing to the side, I saw the Visitor staring at them with gleaming eyes.

“Puppies!”

Puppies?

Only the Visitor could say such a thing while looking at Otherworld monsters.

“…Ugh.”

Just looking at Black Sun beside me, showing reactions unbefitting a constellation.

“The Source of the World looks at the scene with satisfied eyes!”

‘This guy.’

Is he really the master of the world?

Or maybe he shouldn’t be feeling joy in this situation.

Perhaps he’s looking at the same thing I am.

As we expected, the Past Remnants are excited after bringing out the seven great monsters from the Otherworld.

Thinking about how they’ll deal with them now, they’re showing purely evil reactions worthy of constellations.

“Absolute One! Absolute One!”

“…Yes?”

Finally looking at the Visitor who called me first, with stars filling both eyes.

“Can I play?!”

She proposes to me with great confidence.

“Hmm…”

It’s not that I don’t trust the Visitor’s abilities, but what if something unexpected happens?

‘No.’

But the Visitor is the specialist in this field.

Who else could do it if not her?

“Play to your heart’s content.”

“Yes!”

I’ve already told her countless times what I want.

To ensure the residents of Dianon aren’t harmed as much as possible.

And to cleverly make it appear as if their plan is “progressing.”

For the Visitor, who can control Otherworld monsters like her own limbs, this shouldn’t be difficult to execute.

“Hahahahaha!!!”

It seemed the Visitor wasn’t the only one excited about getting a good toy after a long time.

‘Idiots.’

Seeing them playing excitedly without knowing what’s coming for them, I also felt my mood improve.

“Graaaah!”

The seven great monsters, carrying out the will of the Past Remnants, begin to rampage simultaneously.

Each one contains magical power comparable to a dungeon core, and they pose a danger no different from nuclear weapons.

If they were to explode in one place, even the Source of the World would find it impossible to restore.

Knowing this, they seemed to have declared all-out war without hesitation.

“Everyone to your positions.”

I directly commanded the religious order’s forces.

Kalisa, Belladis, and Lisia.

I positioned the most powerful believers at the very front of the religious order.

And I ordered the Sword Saintess and the next Hero to assist them.

A war of such scale that it wouldn’t be strange to call it the final battle.

Yes, a holy war.

This was undoubtedly a holy war to protect the world, one that all constellations would look up to.

Though in reality, it was no different from a well-orchestrated puppet show.

“Well~ Let’s go.”

Anticipating their entrapment within the monsters, I decided to commence the final holy war.