Chapter 95: Disaster (2)

Albus turned the time back slightly from the [miracle].

“So that’s how it was…”

After hearing the whole story from the future [Guide], Albus rested his chin on his fingers.

‘Did they try to make me, who had gone astray and lost control, into a proper god through the narrative, thinking I couldn’t comprehend the situation?’

He understood what the Guide had attempted in the last cycle, in which he had returned with the Saintess.

The reason the system attacked him in the initial cycle was because a mere mortal was creating a world, disrupting the existing laws, which meant they had aimed to elevate him to the rightful place of a deity.

“Does that mean it didn’t work?”

“…Yes. In the final confrontation, the master, who gathered the wishes of all the people of the continent, was supposed to defeat me, who was pretending to be the evil god. The goal was to allow the master to ascend to godhood and escape the influence of the system. However, at the last moment, for some reason, the master chose to trigger a return instead of attacking the evil god with that power.”

“…I don’t quite understand.”

Let’s think from the perspective of my previous self.

The evil god, who feigned a rampage, was likely the avatar and boss monster of the GM I created in the previous cycle.

The [Guide] had deceived my previous self without direct contact, leading them to believe that the monsters they had created were rampaging on their own.

No matter how intense that rampage was, according to what the [Guide] said, my previous self had met all the requirements to become a deity.

Thus, the Guide must have been confident that my previous self would defeat the evil god and rise as the new god of the continent…

‘And yet, I chose to trigger a return instead of defeating the evil god.’

Moreover, it was a return that only the Saintess, who was not included in it, could make.

‘Something must have happened to my previous self.’

Something that the Guide could not even grasp.

While it was important to find that out, I couldn’t afford to delay time like this.

Now that I had realized the existence of the [System], disasters would come crashing down like in the memories of previous cycles.

I had to find a way to protect the world.

Albus rose from the throne where he had been sitting.

While he was discussing with the Guide of the previous cycle, the princess was still being scolded by the Guide’s avatar down at the bottom of the stairs.

Since the top of the stairs was shrouded in a veil, she had no idea what was happening above.

‘Was the princess also being manipulated by the [Guide]?’

Recently, she had shown an unusually emotional and irrational rampage.

Hearing the Guide’s story, it became clear how she had ended up like that.

“Please…”

The princess pleaded, grabbing the legs of the Guide’s avatar.

In that moment, she became pitiable.

She had merely been used as a pawn by the [Guide].

There was no way to blame her.

Neither could she be blamed for the [Guide]’s actions.

She was just doing her best in her own way to prevent destruction.

Boom!

Albus’s body became hazy, and he revealed himself before the weeping princess.

“…Huh?”

A beautiful boy surrounded by brilliant light.

The princess instinctively knew.

“I forgive you.”

She realized that the being before her was the GM she had longed to see.

“I absolve you of all your sins.”

“Forgiveness…”

Albus muttered as he turned the princess back towards the outside.

Overwhelmed by the GM’s forgiveness, the princess wept in joy, regretting her past mistakes.

Even though she had received the grace of the GM and could have become a queen through that mercy, she had sought to monopolize the GM, not knowing her place.

Her mind felt clouded like fog, but now that she faced the GM, clarity washed over her, and she understood how many sins she had committed.

And how immense the GM’s grace was in forgiving all of them.

As she continued her story, resembling a testimony, the princess announced her intention to step down from the throne.

Having betrayed the trust of her lord, she believed she had no right to be in that position.

Then she spoke of descending to a lower status to serve eternally in gratitude for the lord’s grace.

Although she did not personally commit any wrongdoing, her actions were not small, making it difficult to punish or refrain from punishment. 

Thus, when she voluntarily offered her words, Albus asked if that was truly her intention and granted her permission.

The departing princess left a vacancy in the position of the apostle.

And the Guide had been preparing a rural girl named Jenis as the next apostle.

It was a rather troublesome situation, but he had no nerves to spare in such a place.

“Guide, what is the current situation of the disaster?”

• A swarm of bugs has erupted in reality, covering the entire continent.

  Fortunately, they do not directly harm sentient beings, but they are devouring crops, livestock, and other equipment, causing an unprecedented disaster across the continent, master!

  …Am I not speaking? Don’t interrupt me! …Ah, what does it matter? We’re the same Guide, aren’t we?

  Wouldn’t it be better for us to report together from the master’s perspective?

Within one body, two Guides coexisted, and their voices echoed together.

Just moments ago, the Guide had been filled with despair after being exposed for all its wrongs and feeling disheartened.

However, perhaps due to Albus’s acceptance and comforting of its struggles, the future [Guide] had changed to a surprisingly lively demeanor.

“Guide, let’s save the jokes for after we resolve the disaster. What about the damage to the continent?”

• I’m sorry, master.

  Just a moment…

  Um.

  It’s not good.

  About 30% of the continent’s green areas have already been consumed by the bugs.

  At this rate, before the bugs are exterminated, the grain-producing regions of the continent will completely vanish.

  Following that, a food crisis will lead to a great famine across the continent.

Ding!

Albus confirmed the specs of the disastrous bugs through the screen displayed by the Guide.

“Food crisis, huh?”

The bugs were not particularly strong and did not directly harm humans.

Yet their overwhelming numbers, rapid reproduction, and insatiable appetite were swiftly devastating the continent.

“Even if the countries of the continent are trying to stop it, is it not enough?”

The Empire and the Republic had declared a national emergency and poured all their efforts into protecting the grain-producing regions, but it was still insufficient.

The elves were fighting to protect their sacred World Tree along with the greenery, but even the World Tree was being eaten away bit by bit.

Other nations, including the beastkin, dwarves, the Holy Kingdom, and the Divine Kingdom, were all struggling to fend off the disaster, but none were able to withstand it properly.

Outside of the Demon Realm, which had not yet been affected by the disaster, the situation was dire.

What would happen if most of the continent’s greenery disappeared and food was eradicated?

While it was hard to predict exactly, wars would likely erupt over the dwindling supplies.

Following that, the continent might face destruction due to great chaos before the next disaster arrived.

“……Guide.”

• Yes, master.

It was a terrifying disaster, one from which revival would be impossible without a miracle from the gods.

“You mentioned there’s a way to exert power by turning reality into Rudera.”

Then wouldn’t it be enough for the gods to perform a miracle?

…

• Yes, indeed.

  The capsule.

  But, master, as I mentioned earlier, using it with a human body could lead to side effects…

The capsule was created by the [Guide] to harness Rudera’s powers in reality, using the accumulated technology from countless returns.

The Guide was warning about the side effects that accompanied the process of turning reality into Rudera.

“Just give me one.”

• Master, have you been listening to what I’ve said until now?

The Guide asked with an incredulous tone.

• The application of the capsule will put a strain on your body!

  And right now, the disaster is spreading across the entire continent.

  To create Rudera’s influence over the entire continent, the strain on your body would be insane!
  With your fragile body, you might end up incapacitated!

“The moment I turn into Rudera, I’ll be able to use the powers. So, just grant me [Invincibility] in that state.”

• No!

  The moment you deploy the area, the strain will hit you!

  Your mind would break down immediately; there’s no way that’s possible!

“It’s fine. I have it all planned out.”

Albus opened the command window and adjusted a few settings.

A moment later.

Reality.

Albus stood on the rooftop of the academy dormitory, holding the capsule in his hand.

He had been told that deploying Rudera’s territory would impose a backlash on his body equivalent to the volume of the space within that territory.

In the past, the Flame King had a high level of power in his newly formed body and could deploy a territory of the academy’s size, but he wouldn’t be able to withstand that backlash now.

“…Dua, if Daddy doesn’t use it, it’ll be a waste…”

Albus gently patted Dua’s head, who was snugly attached to him.

“It’s okay, Dua. Daddy is the GM. I’ll be safe. And if any problems arise, you can help me. …Right? You’ll help me?”

“Uh-huh.”

Dua nodded her head.

Just in case things didn’t go as planned, he had called Dua along.

There wouldn’t be any issues.

Swoosh.

Taking a deep breath, Albus slowly raised the capsule in his hand.

Kuuuuuuuuuuung!

The moment Albus infused magical power into his hand, a hemispherical barrier unfolded.

Whooom!

The barrier continued to expand, reaching beyond the invisible horizon.

“Haha.”

Seeing this, Albus grinned.

If deploying the barrier created a backlash, then if his body were rendered indestructible with invincibility attributes at that very moment, he could easily withstand the backlash.

If reality turned into Rudera, all powers would function normally.

However, at the same time Rudera was being realized, he would have to endure the backlash.

It would be impossible to wield his powers while withstanding the backlash and granting himself the invincibility attribute within such a short period.

‘But what if the subject granting that attribute isn’t human?’

Thus, Albus had set up a macro.

The moment the powers became usable, he would grant his own body the invincibility attribute.

And when everything went according to plan, Albus managed to turn the entire continent into Rudera without any harm to his body.

“Now, it’s time for a miracle.”

Albus slowly raised his hand.

A golden light extended from him, enveloping the continent.