There will be no more wars, no more unnatural deaths. Only a world that existed in the fantasy that he could only use to numb himself in times of difficulty.
"...Riku, you're also amazing," Schwi's sudden words interrupted Riku's thoughts. The Ex-Machina girl with crimson hair turned her head and said seriously, "Schwi is also amazing, and Couronne, Nonna, Credo, Lenny... Everyone is amazing!"
"...Ah, yes, we're all amazing," After a moment of stunned silence, Riku's smile became even more brilliant. He repeated her words.
What would the future be like?
Human vision could not see such a distant sight, but at least at this moment, Riku was anticipating it. And it was not the future that he had not dared to think about in the past, a future that he could only deceive everyone with a made-up delusion.
A glorious and hopeful future.
"You guys have to work hard... everyone."
Holding Schwi, he turned around and looked at the noisy people. At this moment, even those who usually wore a cold mask let down all their guard, celebrating this hard-won victory.
The future was still very long, and the road that humanity had to walk was also very long, until the infinite generations of the future.
The future of humanity was in everyone's hands.
No matter what, Riku felt in his heart that... it would definitely not be worse than the past.
So, let's work hard!
"Are you really going to do this?"
"You don't think I'm still joking with you, do you?"
"No, it's just a little hard to believe that someone would give up this power so easily... This is the power of the One True God, you know?"
"It's weirder coming from your mouth, isn't it? As the God of Play, the strength of power shouldn't be what you care about."
"Ahaha~, my bad, my bad~, but can you really not stay? Although you didn't say much, I heard a lot from Riku's heart..."
"..."
The quick conversation suddenly fell silent, and after a long time, a deep sigh was heard.
"Although I also want to stay, if this world is to have a future, then I can't bear to stay here," Su'er said with a complicated expression, looking at the translucent, illusory figure in front of him. "Even after becoming the One True God, something invisible that had always been attached to my soul let go. Even when I used the power of the One True God to look for it, I could only see a strange, indescribable existence. It did disappear, but the traces it left seemed to have forever changed the nature of my soul."
"Even if it's not my own will, as an extension of my nature, the Suniaster also continued this power. The planet, which can be considered my body, was also assimilated, not to mention the life that exists on it."
"Even if everyone doesn't look too different now, what about after all the races have developed for generations?" Su'er couldn't help but smile bitterly as he spoke. "I don't want to see a day when all the newly born children of all races have similar personalities, similar appearances, and similar lives... Just thinking about that scene is a nightmare."
"Ah~, when you put it that way, it is true~ A world where everything is exactly the same and doesn't change is not something even I can enjoy~" The translucent figure on the opposite side of Su'er who was talking to him simply sat cross-legged and seemed to nod in agreement.
"So~, one last question?" The translucent figure continued, "Why did you choose me?"
"Because you're the closest," Su'er answered without hesitation. "Born from Riku, and the concept you represent is just a game. You're the most suitable subject to entrust it to, aren't you?"
"Whoa!!! You actually said that without any shame! Entrust, huh?!" The illusory figure started to rant and rave like a child.
The concept of the game was born from Riku. Even Su'er himself did not expect that Riku, who would grab the chessboard and play chess with Schwi whenever he had a moment to spare, would actually give birth to an Old Deus. He was truly shocked when he went to see Riku after becoming the One True God.
Of course, because there was no God's Core and the number of people who believed in him was too few, this poor God of Play had a very difficult time even appearing. The fact that he could have such a smooth conversation now was also thanks to Su'er.
"Alright, alright, calm down. I won't treat you badly," Su'er said calmly, comforting the God of Play.
"Tch~" The God of Play sullenly crossed his arms and continued, "So, what should I do during the time I'm ent~rust~ed with it?"
"You're asking me?" Su'er said calmly, as if it was none of his business. "I won't be the One True God then. You can do whatever you want."
"Oh~~! So that means I can play however I want~!" The God of Play went from being bored to excited in an instant. If he didn't have a physical body yet, this God of Play would have probably pounced on Su'er.
"Whatever you want~ Anyway, just take care of humanity for me while I'm gone," Su'er said unhurriedly.
"Oh~ oh~ oh~, that's not okay~" The translucent figure shook his finger in the air and said with a tsk. "The most important thing in a game is fairness~ A game that violates fairness is no fun~"
"What nonsense are you talking about? The most important thing in a game is to have fun, and as long as it's not discovered, it's fair. As the God of Play, you wouldn't not even understand this small matter, would you?" Su'er rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Anyway, that's it. Get ready. I'm going to transfer the Suniaster."
"Eh?! So fast?!"
Ignoring the God of Play' shriek, Su'er simply spread out his palm, and a star-shaped regular dodecahedron cup appeared from the void and then flew towards the illusory figure.
When the dazzling light dispersed, the illusory figure finally condensed into a physical body—a small figure with a red hat with a clover symbol, different green and blue pupils, and a little boy who looked about a dozen years old. Two long ribbons extended from the hem of his red jacket to the sides of his shoulders.
"I'm Tet, the God of Play Tet~" The young boy with bright green hair said with a giggle, "Please take care of me, Nyaa~"
"Ah, then I'll leave the rest to you," Seeing that everything went smoothly, Su'er also let out a sigh of relief. "As we agreed, just send us away."
As he spoke, Think, who had been staying by his side, also walked over, held onto Su'er's arm, and intertwined their fingers.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye?" Tet restrained the giggling on his face and asked seriously, "They will miss you guys."
"There's no need," Su'er said firmly, shaking his head. "All the words that needed to be said have already been said. With you here, we will definitely meet again one day. Besides, we will come back."
He turned to look at the ground covered in green. Su'er, who was no longer the One True God, could not see the entire world in one glance. He once again muttered softly.
"...We will definitely come back..."
Volume One, Epilogue
It was a strange story that existed in the history books, a mystery that had not been solved even thousands of years later.
After the mythological war that had lasted for countless years, the birth of the One True God ended all conflicts and shaped the world into its current state. However, just after the birth of the first One True God, and even before all races had adapted to the existence of such a being who surpassed the Old Deus, a new One True God appeared.
He wore a large felt hat with a clover symbol from a deck of cards that he had invented. He had a red jacket of the same color as the hat, a green vest, and blue shorts. Two long ribbons extended from the hem of his red jacket and floated around. All those who were lucky enough to have seen him had the same judgment—from his appearance, he was just a little boy whose gender was indistinguishable.
However, that power that surpassed the Old Deus was not fake.
The God of Play.
A concept that had never been heard of before, and an inexplicable One True God who had appeared out of nowhere.
How did he take the Suniaster from the Old Deus who had ended the war? What despicable means did he use?
No matter what kind of speculations all the races had, it was something that Tet, the God of Play who had become the One True God, did not need to care about.
Not long after he became the One True God, while the lives on the entire planet were looking up at the palace made of petals and wind in the sky as if they had sensed something, he announced the changes he had made to the entire world as the new One True God.
He did not change the surface of the earth at will, nor did he start another war at will. He just laughed and established humanity as the sixteenth intelligent race, and then he announced ten pledges, sending his words into the ears of all races.
[Pledge one] All murder, war, and robbery are forbidden in this world.
[Pledge two] All conflict in this world will be resolved through games.
[Pledge three] In games, each player will bet something that they agree is of equal value.
[Pledge four] As long as it doesn't violate pledge three, anything may be bet, and any game may be played.
[Pledge five] The challenged party has the right to decide the rules of the game.
[Pledge six] Any bets made in accordance with the pledges must be upheld.
[Pledge seven] Conflicts between groups will be conducted by designated representatives with absolute authority.
[Pledge eight] Being caught cheating during a game is grounds for an instant loss.
[Pledge nine] In the name of god, the previous rules may never be changed.
And the last
[Pledge ten]—" Let's all have fun and play together!
What can I say?
Everyone who heard these ten pledges showed an expression of 'As expected of the God of Play.'
He drew a huge chessboard on the world, and huge and crystal-clear chess pieces stood on the ground. They had not been moved for thousands of years, waiting for someone to arrive.
Under the leadership of Tet, the new era began.
Volume One, Afterword
This book is not finished!!!
Even if you want to save up for the second volume, please leave an [automatic subscription]. Good people live a peaceful life, boohoohoo. I still have to pay my mortgage, and if I can't afford to eat, I can only start a new book. Thank you.
Now that the most important thing is said, let's talk about the plot of this volume.
Overall, I'm satisfied. Although there are still quite a few problems compared to the last book, I personally feel that the overall rhythm and plot of the story were written quite smoothly. I basically have no regrets. Of course, the update speed... ugh, I will work hard in the future, Sumimasen!
This book also has the purpose of practice. As a sweet, everyday youth writer, the overall atmosphere of the first volume is indeed a little heavy. But the overall tone of the first volume was decided when I started the book, so I finally persevered and finished writing it completely.
For the next volume, I'm going to change the style. It will definitely be a lot more relaxed than the first volume, and I'll also try my best to attempt everything I can, with more characters, more scenes, and so on... I, Hua Hua, also need to become stronger.
As for everyone's concern for Little Jib that I saw in the comments and replies, to be honest, the outline for the second volume is still very vague. I can only say that Little Jib will definitely appear again later, but I don't know exactly when... Hehe!
I solemnly declare that I am definitely not abusing Little Jib. As I mentioned in the text, the Flügel are the God of War's Flügel. They cannot betray the master they serve. And in terms of Jibril's final actions, not completely killing Su'er and Think can be considered a betrayal in a way. Of course, she can also explain to the God of War that she didn't think Su'er and the others would succeed at that time.
The reason why the plot between Jibril and Su'er turned out this way can only be said to be the normal development of their nature, mission, and personality. If I wrote that she turned around and stood on Su'er's side, it would have been a complete collapse of her character... At least that's what I think.
Finally, for the female protagonist issue that some readers are concerned about, I have always believed that the number of female protagonists is only determined by the plot. As long as they have a presence and are not just a pretty face, as long as the natural development of the plot allows for a second or even more female protagonists, then I am not against multiple female protagonists—but of course, there won't be a long list of them. That would be a bit too much.
So, the future of Little Jib and the characters who will appear in the next few volumes will be left to the development of the plot. If multiple female protagonists are allowed, I will definitely not do any stock-picking. As those who have read my last book know, I, Hua Hua, always make a clean break.
That's all for now. Thank you very much to all the readers who have supported me all this way. It's because you have fed me that I can have the conditions to create like this. Thank you all very much. I will polish the best plot I can think of to repay everyone. I'm bowing to you all!
花妖梦 (Huā yāo mèng)
2022.4.10