CH 212

Neze expressed with satisfaction.

Although I had not yet told her my mother’s name, it was as if she knew beforehand that I was coming here.

—So, this is my mother’s home?

—Kuon-sama was born and raised here. Then she went to the lower world.

—And what is the lower world?

—The land where you were born.

—Let’s talk about these details in the room.

Neze said as she motioned for me to follow her.

As we followed Neze, we were looking around with great curiosity. I had never seen such a strange archaeological site. I wonder if they can be called ruins.

Anyway, everything I see is new and intriguing.

Frau climbed onto Neze’s shoulder as if she were an object.

This girl doesn’t know how to behave.

—If they were a very advanced race, why are you wearing rags?

—Because this machine is a body that serves the superior race.

—Do you mean a slave?

—…………

Neze is silent on Frau’s point. She must be stating that fact implicitly.

So, the Ancient Race replaced humans with golems… Well, if you put it in perspective, physically they look a lot like one. And on an intellectual level, they get to be smarter too.

—Master, there are other golems here.

Kaede exclaimed, so I raised my lowered gaze.

A golem with a familiar shape was walking in the opposite direction from us.

It had a stout, burly, strong-looking design. But it was not unlike the one I saw in the fairy village.

As soon as he saw us, he stopped at the side of the aisle and bowed slightly.

He didn’t move until we walked in front of him.

—What is that?

Mass-produced subordinate golems. There are still a hundred of them in operation.

Are there that many! I’d love to see them all lined up! It must be a spectacular sight!

Neze stopped in front of what looked like a door and waved her right hand slightly sideways.

The door opened by itself. And the room we were shown was really strange.

There was no furniture of any kind, only what looked like a large disc-shaped table in the middle of the room. 

Nearby was a stone slab about waist-high.

—What is this place? Don’t tell me it’s a trap?!

—No. I thought this would be a better place to give you the details, so I brought you here.

When Neze touched the table, countless lines of light ran across the stage. The lines came together to form a surface and, in the blink of an eye, she became a woman.

—Mama…

The woman looked very familiar to me… It was like seeing my mother, but much younger.

I could see her, but it seemed that she could not see me. Since her gaze was looking into nothingness. 

I was about to go up to the table to approach her. But—…

—This is a recorded message. It’s not the real Kuon-sama.

—I see…

Nostalgia and sadness gripped my heart. But, at the same time, I also felt happy.

I can see my mother’s face again.

—Master…

—I’m fine.

I nodded at the sound of Kaede’s voice. Whatever happens, I must not lose my temper.

A lot has happened before I came here. I’ve fallen time and time again, but I’ve managed to get up and move on. I am stronger now than I was that day I was kicked out of the party.

My mother’s gaze was fixed on us.

—[Hello, my dear child. If you are watching this, then I have fulfilled the task assigned to me. Surely you have learned the truth by now. I am very sorry for the cruel fate you bear with you.]

Huh? Cruel fate? And what do you mean by ‘the truth’? I don’t know anything.

—[Normally we should have cleaned up the mess ourselves. But there was no other way, it is the only way for us to be liberated.]

—Mom, what are you talking about…? What do you mean, liberation?

—While the two great powers departed for the Sea of Stars, we remained here with only a glimmer of hope. Because I could not separate and call myself God like them. Because I wanted to live and die as a human being.

Mom nodded to someone I couldn’t see and disappeared from the stage.

—That’s… All?

—This is a message Kuon-sama recorded before she left this place.

—You have to give me a better explanation! What was that?!

—The message Kuon-sama left you.

—That’s not good enough, you silly machine! Don’t you realize that the Lord still doesn’t get it! Be more explicit than that!

Hey, Frau, calling Neze a fool was unnecessary. 

But I started to calm down after that.

Kaede also looks at me with concern.

—Master, you really don’t know what that message means?

—No.

Hearing my answer, Neze looked a little surprised.

—I see. So Kuon-sama died.

After telling him everything that happened, Neze seemed to understand the reason why you had come to this place.

Although it was a fact, her knowledge about me coming here someday was a fact, because this information was told to her by my mother before I left.

—What was the master’s mother trying to get him to come here?

—For that, you must know the story.

Neze touches the table again. 

A translucent window opened on the stage and a realistic image began to flow.

Is this also a recording?

It was a different street from here.

People come and go freely on the table.

The colorful, bright posters were a pleasure to look at.

—The Dragon People, or ‘the ancient race’ as they are often called, quickly became the rulers of the land with their superior knowledge and technology. Their flourishing cities were called paradises, where people enjoyed comfort and luxury without any discomfort.

The image suddenly changes to a city engulfed in flames. Fireballs rained from the sky and the city was dyed white as if there had been a huge explosion.

—But despite such knowledge and comfort. Wars were not long in coming. Little by little they became more and more committed to defeating death. They believed that immortality would lead them to a world of peace.

An old man with a white beard is reflected in the window.

A large crowd cheered him.

—After a long time, the Dragon people found the ‘God’s Book’. It was then that technology developed further.

—Excuse me, what is God’s Book?

Kaede asked a shower question.

—That is a good question. Specifically, it is now possible to access the “Unique Information Storage” that exists in the “Super Special Dimension”. It is, so to speak, the realm of the gods beyond human comprehension. An area similar to a library where information about all kinds of materials in this world is stored.

—Could you explain it better?

—Hmm… Let’s say it’s a Book in which you can make all kinds of changes and they will come true. Whatever you write in the book, it will be replicated in the world.

I see. So, the ancient race found a very powerful book. 

But what does that have to do with it?

—And once they found that book. They wrote that their people would become immortal.

—What?!

—What?!

—What?!

Kaede, Frau and I exclaimed in unison. 

No no no, is it really okay to write in God’s Book without permission? Why didn’t God stop them? And is it really to know all this? I just want to know why my mother wanted me to come here.

And Neze continued to tell the story.

—The result was a resounding success. They became immortal, just as they had hoped. With the promise of eternal life, they indulged in all kinds of pleasures and enjoyed a moment of peace.

Kaede clung to my arm as she feared where the story was going, and Frau was also hiding behind me, listening to the story.

—…But they were slow to realize the consequences of immortality.