Ch.280Encounter (3)

The information conveyed in a synesthetic form through a medium showed me one flow of destiny.

After exchanging information and conversing like this, the Demon Lord and I began to argue while openly displaying our disgust.

But even as we expressed our displeasure, nothing changed in that situation. After receiving information about what was happening outside this otherworld from the Demon Lord, my heart completely crumbled.

Hannah was ultimately captured as a hostage by a mid-level demon with demonic maggots implanted in her head, while Corin was killed and beheaded after a battle alongside the chimera.

It was their complete counterattack, targeting the openings created by the twelve blade shields I had been unconsciously wielding.

In this situation, I naturally spewed out explicit anger and rage toward “Gluttony,” but in the end, nothing changed.

Faced with the unprecedented situation of Hannah being taken hostage, I finally surrendered to the Demon Lord and, in exchange for offering my soul to her, freed Hannah—

Immediately after, following the Demon Lord’s first command, I ended up killing Hannah with my own hands.

‘…What is this?’

To be honest, I think this is no different from someone scribbling down their delusions, but regardless of my thoughts, the narrative flow shown by that demon contained too much power to simply dismiss.

In short, through my “intuition,” I sensed a massive flow in the sequence of these future events, which is to say, the great flow of this world’s destiny was proceeding in the same direction as what I had just witnessed.

In other words, the destiny shown to me could be considered a future that was already determined, strange as that might sound.

In reality, destiny in this world is never so absolute as to be considered predetermined.

Those with souls possess spiritual power that can influence the destiny of all things in some form, and because of this, the future possibilities of destiny branch out infinitely.

Considering this point, the fixation of someone’s destiny only occurs under extremely complex conditions.

One is observation. Those commonly seen as prophets use magical abilities to read the possibilities of destiny, but those who go a step further possess the power to observe destiny itself and fix such futures.

In other words, rather than foreseeing the destiny that will come in the future, it’s the act of observing one of the countless possibilities in one’s future and confirming that future.

Of course, since the flow of destiny is not something easily controlled even by immortal gods, let alone mortal minds, this kind of destiny observation is a transcendental ability that only a very few beings can barely handle.

Therefore, the method used by the Demon Lord of Gluttony, who actually doesn’t have much connection with destiny…

‘…All of this was because of one flow?’

She must have somehow observed the future she wanted and the flow leading to it. Then, by achieving each prerequisite condition needed for that flow to occur, she brought about the current situation.

And only at this moment of realization did I understand the reason behind the strangely bizarre actions that “Gluttony” had been displaying all along.

From the beginning, she didn’t care about anything except achieving the prerequisites to bring about this “flow.”

The reason she deployed her forces in stages was not just because she truly loved me as her child as she claimed, but because from “Gluttony’s” perspective, she needed to nurture me as much as possible before I was placed in this destiny.

The peak potential of an immortal being born from a mortal is determined by that being’s status during life, so in a situation where the flow of destiny was already determined, she tried to feed me as much as possible to help me grow.

Additionally, if I would willingly fall into corruption at an earlier stage, that would be even better, so she pulled some tricks and in some cases actually guided me toward the path of corruption.

Also, the reason her attempts to corrupt me were oddly half-hearted was probably because such attempts were secondary from the beginning.

From “Gluttony’s” perspective, I would eventually collapse under the flow of destiny at the final moment, unable to withstand it. So she probably planned all this to prevent me from escaping to the afterlife through death during that process.

If I, having glimpsed the truth, were to carelessly depart for the afterlife, her plans would be disrupted, so she subtly attacked me to prevent this.

Her attempt to create an easily recognizable enemy seems to have succeeded, judging by this situation.

What makes this even worse is that the affection “Gluttony” feels for me is genuinely sincere.

She sincerely, without a shred of falsehood, sees me as her son and loves me no differently than any other parent would.

It’s just that the ability to both harbor such loving emotions and happily torture me is probably the innate malicious nature of demons as a species.

Anyway, the emotions I feel in this bizarre situation are… naturally composed of helplessness, depression, frustration, and other such dejected feelings.

The fact that everything I’ve done until now was merely part of some flow of destiny guided and led by “Gluttony” was enough to place a mental burden on me beyond what I had anticipated.

Having gained enough insight as a high-rank to unmistakably understand the power of destiny’s flow, I realized that I was trapped in a flow of destiny from which I could not escape.

Flow, connection, and circulation. Absolute concepts that form a world impossible to escape. A repetition of absolute causality created by a transcendental self just for this one time, which won’t change no matter how much I resist.

As the absolute flow of destiny continued, inevitably leading to my corruption regardless of how things unfolded, that abominable Demon Lord gave me a disgusting smile with a sneer in her eyes.

【Well now, you’re already destined for this. You know that well, don’t you?】

“Shut up!! Who would follow… des…ti…ny… Ah.”

No matter how much destiny changes due to the influence of every intelligent being’s soul, this tremendous flow of destiny designed by that monster cannot be changed by an individual soul.

Just as throwing a pebble into a river with strong currents from yesterday’s downpour won’t stop its flow. The helplessness I’m feeling now is certainly a major problem in that realm, but…

“…Sigh.”

That doesn’t mean I should give up everything and just live in compliance with destiny.

Especially the anger and resentment rising from within me—I can’t bear it, and I’d rather die here than comply with her words.

Of course, I must acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged.

Once a flow of destiny is confirmed, it is so absolute that even I cannot stop it.

No matter what methods I use, within the space of destiny, everything will flow according to the absolute law of destiny’s flow, regardless of self.

Therefore, I thought that to escape this absolute flow, I needed to completely shatter its framework…

The ultimate answer to these actions is to destroy the very foundation of the events laid out.

I draw my “Sword.” I raise the impressive weapon, so transparent that the other side is visible through it.

My target is the flow of destiny she kindly showed me earlier. If it’s something I’ve observed, surely I can cut it down with a swing of my sword, whatever it may be.

【Wait, what are you trying to do?】

…I’ll cut it.

【What? Cut what?】

Destiny, the flow you’ve trapped me in.

I vaguely respond to the noisy voice from the outfield, ignoring it. I raise my sword and directly face the “target” that I could unmistakably recognize thanks to what she showed me earlier.

Not seeing with my eyes but perceiving with my senses, I hold the flow of destiny straight. And, and I try to swing the “Sword.”

【…Wait, do you think that’s possible?】

Of course it’s possible. I’ve seen it with my eyes, recognized it, and I still have a sword to swing in my hand. That should be enough.

【…What?】

I see it, recognize it, feel it. I see, see, see, look at what’s leading me to ruin, and after facing it—

【—Slash!】

The sword in my hand undoubtedly cut through “something.”