◆ ？？？ ◆
As I woke up in a daze, I found that no one was in the room. Neither Genia nor Corin was there. I remembered that I had just woken up from a nap. There was still some time until dinner, and staying in the room all day was becoming boring. The small, square room had no windows, making it feel a bit cramped.
I’m so bored; I should play outside for a change. It feels like I’m trapped here, and I had the nagging feeling that I was forgetting something very important.
“Outside…”
When I opened the door and stepped outside, it was pitch black. Startled, I stumbled back into the room. It was strange; it shouldn’t be dark yet. Even when I peeked out again, it was still dark.
“Genia, where are you?”
As I walked around in the dark, I felt more strongly that I was forgetting something truly important. I wanted to be outside, yes. I needed to walk outside rather than stay in this room. But no matter how much I walked, there was nothing around me. Eventually, I wondered why I had come outside in the first place. What was I doing out here in this darkness, with nothing around? As I sat down, someone approached from the shadows. They were both wearing white clothes. I recognized them. One of them grabbed my arm and forced me to stand.
“That hurts!”
“You haven’t forgotten your words yet, have you?”
I was slapped on the cheek, and the pain made me cry. I remembered; this man was the one who had hit Platiu at the laboratory. The terrifying experiments weren’t over yet. He had come to take Platiu back. No, I didn’t want to go back. His strength was too much for me to escape, and I was so scared that tears kept flowing.
“Platiu!”
Just as I was about to scream, someone else arrived. It was Genia, who ran over and punched the scary man. The man was knocked back, and Platiu was pulled into Genia’s embrace.
“I told you not to go outside. There are many frightening things out here.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
“We’re going back now; dinner will be ready soon.”
As my hand was tightly held, I thought to myself that I would never go outside again.
My head felt fuzzy again. When I woke up, no one was there. Did I eat and then go back to sleep? The fluffy bedding was so comfortable that I wanted to stay asleep forever. I wondered where Genia had gone. Was it really okay to stay here like this? But the outside was scary, so I had no choice but to remain here.
“Platiu, what shall we play today?”
I thought no one was there, but she was by the bed, holding my favorite otter plushie and a deck of cards. It was the only plushie my parents had bought for me. Playing cards was fun; Genia was weak and lost quickly, which made it enjoyable. Platiu praised me for being smart, but some kids thought it was boring to lose. They would sulk, and it took time to learn the rules. Wait, who was that?
“Hmm…”
“Is something wrong?”
“I had an important… friend.”
“Are you talking about a dream?”
“No…”
“It must have been a dream. There are no such things here.”
“Then, outside…”
I tried to walk to the door but stopped again. The outside was scary. Even when I tried to open the door, my hands wouldn’t move. I trembled and wanted to jump back into bed.
“You realized how terrifying the outside is the other day, didn’t you? Besides, there’s no need to go outside; everything you need is right here.”
“But…”
“Platiu… there are indeed many people outside. But at the same time, it’s a very painful place. Your parents represent that; they have no jobs and can’t even get food. Their daily finances are so tight that they resort to violence against their own daughter. What kind of wonderful world is that?”
Genia looked very serious as he crouched down and held my shoulders. But then he smiled.
“People often say that happiness comes after suffering, but that’s a lie. They have to convince themselves of that just to keep going. They’re merely turning a blind eye to the harsh reality.”
“Is that so?”
“People love to boast about their struggles; it’s one of humanity’s foolish traits. They think of it as strength and take pride in overcoming it. It’s a ridiculous story… they just grit their teeth and endure, claiming they did their best.”
While laughing, Genia placed his hand on Platiu’s head. Even after Platiu sat on the bed, Genia kept smiling. He was trying to reassure me; that was how scary the outside was.
“I don’t want to go outside…”
“That’s right; the world is too harsh for a child like you to live in. Moreover, adults won’t help you; they’ll only take advantage of you. They would even put their children in harm’s way for their own benefit. It’s terrible… such a terrible story…”
“I’m scared; I can’t sleep…”
“Haha, I’m here with you. So let’s sleep peacefully. By the time you wake up, it will be dinner time.”
As my body sank into the soft bedding, I suddenly felt sleepy. It was okay to stay here; if it felt this good, I didn’t want to go out. I didn’t want to go outside, anywhere.
Eating, playing, sleeping. Every day was fun. But it was starting to feel a bit boring; even just walking a little made me feel tired. I had only walked to the edge of the small room.
“Genia, I want to go for a walk outside.”
“You can’t. The outside is a scary place.”
“But… my friend…”
Suddenly, a friend came to mind. Someone older than Platiu, full of energy. But they were weak at games and would get frustrated easily, which was amusing. Who was it? I couldn’t remember at all.
“There’s no such thing anywhere.”
“But, but…”
“N-No! You can’t!”
Genia tried to stop me, but I opened the door and stepped outside. It was dark outside, and it was still scary.
“Platiu, let’s close the door.”
Genia forcibly shut the door. The moment it closed, the warmth of the room felt comforting. Outside was dark, cold, and unsettling. I really didn’t want to be outside. Genia was right; there was nothing good out there.
“If those men come from outside, it will be scary.”
“No matter what happens, I’ll protect you. There, there…”
Wrapped tightly in his embrace, I let myself lean into him. The fear I felt just moments ago vanished, and I found myself wanting to stay like this forever. It was okay to stay like this; I would always be here. My father and mother had abandoned Platiu, and the men had hit me. There was nothing fun at all.
“Forget all the bad things. There is no fear or pain here.”
I didn’t want to remember anything anymore. Outside was cold, scary, and painful. I wanted to stay here forever.
“I’ll take care of everything.”
――…U
That’s right; Platiu didn’t need to do anything. Just sleep, sleep forever. If I slept, I wouldn’t be scared. I wouldn’t feel anything.
“Good girl, if you want to sleep, then sleep. Do as you please, unbound by anything, whenever you want.”
――…Tiu
Who, so noisy.
“Now, come to this fluffy bed.”
――Platiu!
So noisy, so noisy. I’m going to sleep, so don’t disturb me.
“Platiu!”
The sound of the door breaking woke me up. The wooden door shattered and scattered across the room. Both Platiu and Genia were startled as someone stood at the entrance.
“Finally, we meet, Platiu.”
“Though my heart is dark, this place is bright.”
“Was it Genia who was binding Platiu? I can’t quite accept that.”
A girl with short light blue hair and another with long golden hair. The moment I saw these two, my head felt like it was going to explode with pain.
“Ugh… Ah, Ryu, A… Klinka… Aah!”
“Platiu! Stay strong!”
“Ryu, Ryu, Ryu…!”
“That’s right, it’s me!”
As the girl with light blue hair rushed over and embraced me, I remembered everything. Ryu, the sister Platiu had been searching for.
“Ryu, I’m scared; the outside is scary! I don’t want to anymore, no, no!”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Ryu is…?”
That’s right, just like Genia, she hugged me. For some reason, that one sentence brought me immense comfort. Why was that? That’s right. Ryu is incredibly strong. Stronger than Platiu’s Machine Maiden or the machines that Aunt Corin worked so hard to create.
I had been commanded by the Phoenix for so long that I couldn’t think for myself, feeling almost like I was asleep. It was Ryu who saved me. While training, I had lost all interest in everything. I didn’t even realize my heart had disappeared.
“I never want to go back to a place like that!”
“Why does someone always have to interrupt?”
It wasn’t Genia’s voice. With her arms crossed, she tapped her fingers rhythmically, wearing a sickening smile. Who is this?
◆ Inside Platiu’s Heart ◆
“This child has been tormented by filthy adults from a young age. And yet, to try and take her away… how cruel… don’t you think?”
Something resembling Genia twisted its body. Since Platiu had yet to awaken, I struggled to make my way here, only to find this. As I attempted to break the seal like Meria-san had shown me, I suddenly realized I was in this space. At first, I was bewildered, but soon understood that this was Platiu’s heart. It was endlessly dark and cold, devoid of any light. If this truly was Platiu’s heart, it was far too pitiful. That thought ignited my determination. No matter how long this darkness stretched, we were resolute in finding Platiu.
“Lua-chan, I’ll take care of Platiu-chan.”
“Yeah, even though it feels like we’re inside her heart, I think the Platiu here is still Platiu. If this child dies, then probably… well…”
“Don’t you think? Why must you interfere?”
Genia’s legs became unnaturally thin, and her body and arms followed suit. She looked like nothing but skin and bones. Despite her frail appearance, her eyes held a sharpness. With black horns sprouting from her devilish head, she bore the unbalanced visage of Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness, who was supposed to have been defeated by Lord Daigami.
“Lesser Than… you’re still alive.”
“To me, a physical body is inconsequential. Of course, it hurts, and I would have preferred not to die. But… my true essence lies here. I am darkness; as long as there is darkness, I can appear anywhere. Even within the heart of a small child.”
In other words, this creature wouldn’t die easily. It meant that even Lord Daigami couldn’t destroy her, and the true nature of the great demon that tormented the Wizard Kingdom resided here. Though she had a devilish face, the center of her visage was that of a woman. It was different from that time; yes, this was it.
“I thought I recognized you. You’re the ones who stood beside that filthy Divine Being. To appear in a place like this… how unfortunate? You would have been better off not coming here at all…”
“Why?”
“Because, because! You are going to be killed by me?! You came to help, but standing there is the former ruler of countless demons?! Even that filthy creature who calls himself a god couldn’t kill me… to be killed by someone like me… ugh, ugh!”
Suddenly, she burst into tears. I couldn’t afford to indulge her; I wanted to end this quickly. I was surprised she was alive, but perhaps that was a good thing.
“As expected of the Queen of Absolute Darkness, you can infiltrate even the heart of a small child like Platiu. That’s impressive.”
“Yeah, if we leave something like this unchecked, it could lead to serious trouble.”
“I would have taken any human heart. But you see, they say I’m too cautious, right? I thought that with a child like this, I could gather power without anyone noticing. This child is perfect. If I had kept her locked away, it would have been delicious… you are cruel.”
The walls of the small room that had confined Platiu began to warp grotesquely. The bed and dresser twisted like snakes before vanishing. The room completely disappeared, leaving only utter darkness.
“I don’t know what kind of sense of justice you have, but you’re trying to return a wounded girl to a harsh reality. Humans have this terrible habit of clinging to reality. They think facing reality, even in the face of suffering, is the right attitude. It’s utterly ridiculous. What meaning is there in living while enduring pain?”
“I don’t think there is any meaning.”
“Huh? Then even more so.”
“There may be more suffering to overcome. It’s certainly terrible, but… if you don’t overcome it, you won’t reach the happiness that may lie ahead. That’s how I obtained my present; if you don’t do something, you won’t gain anything. Even now.”
I grasped both Kurinka’s hand and Platiu’s hand simultaneously. What I had gained, at least, was here. I showed my resolve. Since the day I saw the One-Winged Demon until today, I had kept moving forward. Of course, many people had supported me along the way. If I had stopped, I would have lost that support. Kurinka and Platiu were here now. Ikana Village had returned to normal as well.
I had to overcome the darkness of the Abyss Cave. But here, there was only darkness. It created a comfortable space but refused to let anything walk out from it. As a great demon, this creature was indeed cruel. No, perhaps that wasn’t quite right.
“What a troublesome thing. I don’t know how much time you’ve wasted on that effort, but if you have that much time, wouldn’t it be better to live peacefully and abundantly? After all, your lifespans are incredibly short, right? So why waste time on such things? Don’t you think?” she said with a laugh.
It wasn’t cruelty. She simply didn’t understand anything; she was just pitiful. A wretched creature, knowing nothing.
“I wonder if Vandalsia is building a kingdom outside by now? For a former human, he’s quite impressive, but it’s only a fleeting glory. Eventually, I’ll take it all for myself. You must be pleased to have broken my seal, but I need to make you realize that the most terrifying demon has emerged.”
So, she still didn’t know that Vandalsia had been defeated. She didn’t know that I was the one who had done it or what was happening outside. It became clear; she had never tried to see anything until now. It was no wonder she knew nothing.
“Because you’ve been bullying a small girl in a place like this, you fail to notice the important things.”
“Oh? What? Are you planning to say something absurd like you will defeat me?”
“Do you think I would run away?”
“Assuming that’s the case, let me tell you! I am darkness! I am darkness that doesn’t need a physical body! Right now, the me speaking to you has no physical form! As long as there is darkness, I can exist anywhere! Even that filthy creature could only destroy the body! Immortal, yes! I am immortal! No matter who you are, you cannot destroy me!” she shouted.
Lesser Than’s body began to merge with the darkness. If this entire darkness was Lesser Than, it made sense she would feel invincible. Indeed, it would be impossible to destroy her.
【Darkness has appeared! HP 0】
“If I get bored here, I might just invade the darkness of your hearts next! Yes, I am Lesser Than! And darkness—”
【Lua’s attack! Destroyed the darkness! HP -】
“That’s why you know nothing.”
After destroying the darkness, I wondered what would happen next. That was all that occupied my mind. Lesser Than, who met her end without even a scream, was torn apart even in her dark form, her very existence vanishing. Like tearing through a curtain or ripping cheese apart with both hands. Light seeped through the rift in the darkness. It was a light so intense I instinctively closed my eyes.
“Is this… Platiu’s heart…?”
I couldn’t tell what lay beyond. I didn’t even understand how I had arrived here in the first place, and I could only imagine how intrigued Lord Hast would be if I told him. While I pondered these thoughts, we vanished from that place in an instant.
◆ Near the Border of Noibranz, Village Inn ◆
As the scenery shifted, I found myself holding Platiu’s hand, who I had laid down on the bed. Next to me was Kurinka, sitting in a chair, holding my hand. In a moment that felt almost instantaneous, we were pulled back here.
“Kurinka…”
“It’s okay. More importantly…”
“Mm… mm…”
Kurinka gestured with her gaze, and there was Platiu, slowly opening her heavy eyelids. Once fully opened, her eyes still looked sleepy. Wait, had she always looked like this? Perhaps she had looked the same when we met on the Avangarde’s airship. But I felt something was definitely different from that time.
“Platiu, are you awake?”
“Mm.”
“It’s Lua. Do you understand?”
“Mm.”
“What about Kurinka?”
“Mm.”
She didn’t nod; she only replied with those short words. I wondered if she was still not fully conscious, but that wasn’t it. This was Platiu; she was a girl who didn’t talk much and was extremely shy.
“Lua.”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“I’m hungry.”
Though she had cried so fiercely inside, now she was completely subdued. I worried if she was truly okay, but suddenly she sat up and hugged me.
“Sniff sniff sniff sniff.”
“W-whoa! Why are you smelling me again?!”
As I woke up early, I couldn’t help but think what a puzzling child she was. Yet, as I touched her, I realized that Platiu had truly returned to me. She felt warm, and I gently wrapped my arms around her back to confirm it. She had come back from that closed Machine Maiden. Though the Machine Maiden had been raging with heat, it was, in a way, cold. A machine that fought without any will of its own was indeed cold. But Platiu was warm, not just in body but in spirit as well. She moved with her own will, standing proudly as a child.
“Rua, Kurinka. Thank you.”
The girl, freed from her cold body, smiled for the first time. A girl with a warm heart laughed for the first time. I felt a surge of happiness and collapsed onto the bed.
“Welcome back, Platiu. You’re warm.”
“Rua, that’s a bit strange.”
“Is it strange to say that right away?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Platiu-chan, if you don’t let go, there won’t be any food.”
This mysterious action of burying my face into her and inhaling her scent felt so nostalgic. I had done the same on the ship heading to the Wizard Kingdom. But the decisive difference from that time was Kurinka’s gaze. And this voice—she always spoke in a low tone when she found something unamusing.
“Come on, Kurinka. She just woke up, after all.”
“Well, I suppose that’s true… I wonder if it’s because we got married. I seem to have become more sensitive…”
“Uh, um. This inn is pretty shabby, but it seems like there won’t be any food…”
According to the villagers, the place only had the bare minimum since merchants and their guards would stop by to rest. Given the devastation in the Royal Capital, I didn’t want to imagine what food might be available. It was truly a small village, and the houses looked so fragile that they might blow away with the wind.
“…Ah.”
Suddenly, Platiu froze. She pulled away from me, gripping the stained sheets with both hands as if recalling something.
“Ah, ah…”
“What’s wrong?!”
“Run.”
“Run? What do you mean?”
“Run! This place is dangerous!”
There was no time to think. The answer came immediately as a strong wind assaulted us. It was more than just a strong wind; it was a blast. It started with a blinding light outside the window, followed by a deafening explosion.
“Platiu!”
In that fleeting moment, I could only pull Platiu and Kurinka close to me.
By then, the ramshackle inn had been torn from the ground, vanishing completely.
Even the ground beneath it.
It had disappeared somewhere.
Inside the Palace of the Kingdom of Kashiram
“Your Majesty! What just happened…”
“Assess the situation in the castle town! Mobilize everyone!”
Something was happening far away on the land. North of the Nation of Kashiram, that location was the epicenter. We needed to grasp the damage caused by the earthquake and the shockwave as quickly as possible.
In Dragon’s Valley, the Valley of the Dragon God
“Dragon God…”
“Humans have created something truly remarkable.”
“What shall we do?”
“Let it be. If it was directed at me, then I shall accept this challenge after a long time.”
In the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Avangarde
“Everyone, please remain calm. There is nothing to worry about.”
That voice echoed from the airship floating above the Royal Capital. It belonged to the head of the technology development bureau from the Kingdom of Metallica. His voice quelled the panic that had likely erupted from the earthquake that shook the entire capital. The residents were calmed, evacuation routes secured, and guidance provided. It was a bit complex to feel joy at the absence of work that lay ahead.
“Captain Ritta, what shall we do?”
“Let’s listen.”
We weren’t the only ones; everyone was looking up, fixated on the airship. That person named Genia might have more influence than even the king. The benefits that the Kingdom of Metallica had provided to this nation were that significant. Yes, this nation had already…
“I would like to inform everyone about the full scope of the Babel Project. Please follow the instructions carefully.”
Perhaps it had already been taken over.
Shin Report
Good grief, spending a night in such a shabby inn…
I understand that returning to Avangarde is precious time,
but this bed that looks like it might break at any moment,
sigh, how boring.
Hmm? Did I wake up?
Oh, good, good.