episode_0337

(He) closes his eyes.

With gentle concentration, his consciousness slowly rises above his physical body. It was difficult at first, but this practice has become so habitual, it’s now easier than sex.

However, what I must do today is rather complicated.

It surpasses my prime, my best record, the moment when everything was within my grasp.

Sunlight subtly seeps in through the window. Somewhere, a moon hidden in the clear white sky.

Actually, the saying that the moon rises at night is wrong. It might not rise at night, and it can rise during the day. However, it’s simply not visible because the sunlight is too bright. The same goes for stars.

Therefore, the sun and moon coexisting in the same sky is not such a rare phenomenon. Even if it’s not a perfect harmony like a solar eclipse, it’s highly likely to be visible at a glance.

The given yang and yin energies are equal. However… I must bring about that harmony through my will.

(He) sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, calming his breath. This is what’s called *ungijosik*—circulating the ether throughout his body using the flow of air.

Very slowly, (he) paints the universe in his mind’s eye. He empties his mind and fills the space with starlight.

With one breath, (he) exhales distractions and with another, (he) inhales the world. The sensation of breathing gradually fades. Of course, that doesn’t mean (his) breath stops.

(His) existence is gradually sublimating into the gap between dimensions.

Like the scenery (he) saw in the sanctuary of the spirits, between the material world where only phenomena appear, and the world of origins where essence is hidden.

Like the sight (he) saw in the Lumina’s temple—into a warm, imagined world that stretches infinitely, unbound by any principles or rules.

(He) too has the right to paint the world. Just as Gaia and Lumine, having fallen from their positions as administrators and become transcendent beings of this star, (he), having obtained the authority of an administrator himself, has the right to set foot in the universe.

(He) wields his brush in his pure white mind.

A wide prairie. (He’ll) build a log house on a hill in the midst of nature, filled with greenery. Since (he) wants many children, it should be quite large. A veranda and a yard are essential. A rooftop room and a basement also have their own romantic appeal.

A river flows, clouds meander across the sky, a leisurely life where no one rushes (him). (He’ll) have a cheerful, lively atmosphere, comfortably reclined in a rocking chair, watching over it all.

(His) ideal world is before him. In the distance, children play. Eve strolls through the flower garden, Tier offers prayers under a giant tree, Lulu and Aspi nap, Nyx is chased by the children, and Yuri peels apples next to him.

Leaning back in the rocking chair, (he) lifts his head. The sky, high and vast. Beyond the endless expanse of the universe, black eyes gleam.

A pain like his head might shatter comes. But (he) doesn’t avert his gaze. He must confront them. If he avoids them, this pain will fall upon everyone.

(He) clenches his fists and endures. The eyes look at him, then close and depart.

The surrounding space crumbles, and he stands in the universe.

Stars and constellations, and countless particles flow like waves. A bit of darkness next to the light, and a lot more light beside that.

Light pours out from the darkness like a river.

This entire flow is predetermined by some being. A divine being, the Administrator, filling the space between light and darkness—an existence that is the flow of the universe itself.

But it’s a little different from the last experience. The outline of this light, wielded by his will, is much more comfortable. The sensation in his limbs is sharper.

Because he’s not an invited guest but one who rightfully belongs here.

Now, he is a small universe, and that flickering Administrator flows around him.

His position has changed. He no longer moves according to their commands. He follows only his own will.

“How arrogant.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“But… that arrogance must have allowed you to reach this far with the power of a human. Is this also something ‘He’ ordained…”

The Administrator is one giant computer. It moves according to a set program. It outputs according to the input values, and administers vaccines when viruses appear.

There are no emotions or will. Everything is mechanical. Therefore, this situation can only be perceived as the work of the deceased Administrator’s associates.

So, he subtly twists the input values to get the output he wants.

“No, he’s already dead. I ordained all this.”

“…Indeed.”

“A true administrator is not bound by the axis of time.”

“You can rewrite the universe.”

(He) speaks grandiose words. He isn’t interested in such things. How the Administrator perceives him, what it ordains, none of that matters.

The important part is the shared opinion.

“My star is in danger.”

“Stars are constantly destroyed and born anew. Even if many Administrators interfere, nothing changes.”

“Yes, I know. That’s your way. But… this is something you cannot ignore.”

His finger points beyond the universe. He looks beyond, and the Administrator’s gaze follows.

Darkness hidden in the light. Far beyond this star, emptiness writhes. An infinite shadow that swallows light and turns everything into nothingness.

Conqueror, devourer, destroyer. The beings that have grown vastly in size open their maws toward his universe.

They are truly far away. What he sees is perhaps their appearance from hundreds of years ago. A distant invasion, an apocalypse of unknown arrival, an uncertain future—that is the reality.

Considering he hasn’t aged since adulthood, it’s hard to predict his lifespan, but the invasion of these demons might be after he, his wives, and their children are all dead.

His true intention is not to deal with it. What happens after his death is none of his concern.

And… his true intention is also to not spend his remaining life with such things in his sight.

From the Administrator’s viewpoint, as a computer, the demons are viruses—beings to be eliminated, malware programs that eat away at the universe.

If he had emotions, it would be different, but the moment the Administrators observe such things, there is no way they would remain idle.

“Open the path. That will be enough.”

“No, there is no such thing.”

“The disposal of tumors is the Administrator’s task…”

“…So it is.”

They flicker for a moment, then silently lay a path before him—an endless path made of constellations.

“You are me.”

“I am us…”

“We are you.”

Ignoring the chilling sense of communal consciousness, he closes his eyes again.

Because he cannot leave without saying anything.

… … …

The State Council meeting ended in quite a mess. It wasn’t even a meeting, really. In essence, he unilaterally requested an audience, and numerous courtiers were present.

‘…Was that a State Council?’

Public opinion and his own thoughts partially overlapped. Absorbing the Ubiet Empire was opposed by most, himself included. Even Naifrantz, who’s focusing all his energy on post-war rehabilitation, wouldn’t want to shoulder such a massive landmass.

Instead, a peace treaty was concluded for the supercontinent. The Lumina Pope was also positive about it, so a meeting with the acting regent of the Ubiet imperial family could serve as the first step toward future growth.

The problem was his bombshell announcement, once again.

“I will relinquish my royal authority, including my succession to the throne.”

A majority opposed it.

“There is a final enemy we must defeat.”

Confusion among the attendees.

“Because it is a tremendous threat that even if I, and all of humanity, pour our all into this effort we might not triumph.”

Silence from all.

He used all the paltry vocabulary he had to portray the shadow beyond the universe as vividly as possible. A question-and-answer session followed, and within this exchange, the existence of the demons gradually took shape.

Naturally, it wasn’t accepted. To topple the royal household for the sake of becoming king, only to suddenly declare his refusal—anyone would object.

But, there’s nothing he can do.

They will come eventually. As a mere human, he can not know when. It could be tomorrow, or perhaps never.

This is his delusion, his stubbornness, his unyielding will and true intention.

From beyond his bowed head, the King’s voice was heard.

“…Lift your head.”

“…….”

“Narita.”

This time, it was his father’s voice. He slowly raised his head.

“Is it something you can do?”

“I must.”

“…So, are you telling me to cast my child into the jaws of death? Is that what you say before me?”

“I merely made my proposition to His Majesty.”

His father grunted. He rested his chin on the throne, sighed, stared out the window for a long time, and finally gave up.

“How… can I win against you? Take care of it yourself.”

“…Thank you.”

“I will leave this seat empty. Your name, your position, nothing will be taken away from you again. Just keep this in mind. Return.”

Instead of answering, he nodded. He left the audience hall, leaving behind his father’s sigh.

The road home, to the Philbrogue mansion.

The evening sunset was redder than usual. The sun melting into the horizon beyond the endless lake resembled something.

The head of the Ubiet noble he had killed a few days ago.

The red blood spreads. Across the water’s surface, into the sky, and toward him. His steps are heavy. The hand emerging from the blood grabs him.

But it cannot hold him. It is only heavy; he continues walking.

It’s just… agonizing.

-Thunk-

He opens the door and enters the mansion. Yuri is preparing a meal in the kitchen, wearing an apron.

“Oh, welcome home-”

“…….”

-Thud-

He tackles Yuri. He wraps his arms around her shoulders and waist, throws her to the floor, and looks at her face, gasping violently.

“It seems… you’ve really accumulated a lot.”

“…Yes.”

“Dinner will be ready soon, so later tonight- mmmph-”

(He) blocks Yuri’s lips with his tongue. Sweet breath and saliva gradually flow.

“Hmph… Unni…?”

“…….”

“…I’m sorry. I was shortsighted.”

Yuri, with a slightly sad expression, hugs him.