Morin froze for a moment.
Then he understood.
If Earth suddenly acquiring advanced knowledge required a powerful existence to suppress everything and prevent collapse, then applying the same logic to Lucy's current state-
Weren't the cells in her body equivalent to humanity suddenly being stuffed with a mountain of advanced knowledge?
There was no way those cells could halt that evolution on their own.
Naturally, only Morin could deal with it.
"If I help you, it'll only be temporary," Morin said. "In the end, you still have to rely on yourself."
"Please," Lucy begged.
"...Fine," Morin replied after a pause. "But this process will take a while."
He reached out.
An extremely complex magic circle appeared in midair, assembling itself piece by piece before enveloping Lucy completely.
The circle served multiple purposes. It forcibly reintroduced emotions into Lucy, stabilized her body so it wouldn't collapse, and included several defensive mechanisms Morin added along the way. He was meticulous like that.
To ensure proper results, he chose to slow the process down. It would take roughly a full day to complete.
During that time, Lucy would have no awareness of the outside world.
"You look disappointed," Professor Norman said suddenly.
"Yes," Morin admitted with a nod. "If outside forces intervene, she'll never reach the heights I originally imagined. If she had done this on her own, her future could have been limitless."
"But that would be extremely difficult," Professor Norman said.
"Difficulty is normal," Morin replied. "Things gained without hardship aren't cherished."
"Fair point."
Silence filled the room.
After a moment, perhaps searching for something-anything-to say to a being like Morin, Professor Norman spoke again, cautiously.
"You said... you've seen me in other worlds before? Or people who look exactly like me?"
"Yes," Morin nodded. "Interdimensional counterparts, more or less. Same appearance. Some younger, some older."
He paused.
"Actually, I was just thinking about going back to see them."
"Oh," Professor Norman said. "Like visiting old friends? Exchanging experiences between different worlds?"
"The last two, yes," Morin said.
Professor Norman hesitated.
"And... the first one?" he asked carefully. "The... assassin leader?"
Morin smiled.
"I have a grudge against him. I'm going back to kill him."
"Haha..." Professor Norman laughed awkwardly.
There was absolutely no way to follow that up.
"Well," Morin said, standing. "That's enough for this world. There doesn't seem to be much left for me here."
He had originally thought about doing something along the lines of Training the Savior or I Raised the Creator.
But it didn't work out.
Not exactly a failure.
More like a high probability of failure.
Fighting the biological instincts of countless cells using willpower alone was nearly impossible-especially after the loss of emotion and desire. Even now, with emotions restored, it was at best a slow death instead of the rapid collapse from before.
"Are you leaving already?" Professor Norman asked.
"Yes," Morin nodded. "This world's getting a bit boring."
Seeing Norman's expression, Morin smiled.
"Do you want to see other worlds?"
"I wouldn't dare dream of it," Professor Norman shook his head. "I only hope you'll leave something behind. Something... to prove you were here."
Morin laughed.
"Me?" He thought for a moment, then pointed at Lucy, who looked as though she might fade away at any moment. "Let it be her."
He continued calmly.
"If she fails to control it later, you can have her discard all that knowledge. Even if she disperses into the universe, she'll become a creator-like existence capable of preventing humanity from abusing that knowledge and destroying itself."
"That way, Earth can progress rapidly."
"And... if she succeeds?" Professor Norman asked.
"Even better," Morin said. "This world will gain a true Creator. One with emotions, desires, and infinite possibilities. Maybe even someone who can elevate this universe itself."
He shrugged.
"That may not mean much for Earth alone, but on a galactic scale, it's a good thing."
"Above the universe..." Professor Norman murmured, eyes shining.
"Above universes are larger universes," Morin said, winking. "Above worlds are more worlds. Single, multi, complex universes. The world is full of wonders."
"Indeed..." Professor Norman sighed.
The next instant, he froze.
Morin was gone.
No sign.
No trace.
No indication of how he left.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Professor, your dinner."
"Oh... coming," Professor Norman said, walking to the door.
"Professor, should I set it here?"
"Professor?"
The waiter called twice before Norman snapped out of it.
"Oh-yes. Thank you. Just put it there."
He pulled out some change and handed it over.
"Thank you, Professor," the waiter said cheerfully. "Enjoy your meal."
"..."
"Professor?" the waiter asked again.
"Oh... yes?"
"You don't look well. Should I call a doctor?"
"No," Norman said softly. "Just... tired."
"You must be exhausted after such a big lecture. You should rest once you finish eating. Call the front desk if you need anything."
"Thanks... I probably am just tired."
After the waiter left, Professor Norman looked at the sofa.
On the left was where Morin had sat.
On the right was where Lucy had been.
Both were gone.
Only the unfinished chessboard remained between them, silently proving that none of it had been a dream.
"Heh..." Professor Norman shook his head.
Morin had already arrived in another world.
[Assassin Movie World]
He wasn't in a hurry to open a new world.
There were still many loose ends in previous ones.
More importantly, he felt the need to think.
About what, exactly, he didn't know.
Just a feeling.
Originally, he had planned to revisit each world in order, starting from the earliest.
Then he encountered Professor Norman-Morgan Freeman-in the Lucy world.
Which naturally led him to think of Sloan.
And the Assassin Movie World.
This world was special.
It was where Morin had been at his weakest.
Where he had fled-chased off by an alien existence that descended like a deus ex machina.
Strictly speaking, he hadn't been chased away.
They had wanted to capture him.
He ran because he sensed danger.
And that escape had lasted...
Morin counted silently.
Including Lucy's world.
Fourteen worlds.
Fourteen.
Too long.
Morin felt he had been far too merciful, letting those Isu live for that long.
Unacceptable.
So he chose this world as the first to revisit and finish properly.
To clear his mind.
To achieve that goal, the Isu couldn't be allowed to live.
They needed to experience true despair.
No rest.
No peace.
With that decided, Morin returned to the Assassin Movie World-
One second after he had left.
Lightning struck the ground, blasting a charred crater into existence.
The Isu man froze.
How did that man dodge the strike?
When he looked up, Morin was gone.
He activated Eagle Vision.
Nothing.
Then a voice whispered into his ear.
"Looking for something?"
"I'm looking for a man-"
Halfway through, the Isu realized something was wrong.
He leapt back instantly, creating distance, and hurled another bolt of lightning from the spear in his hand.
His reaction speed was flawless.
This strike would incinerate the target.
The lightning hit.
Arcs of electricity danced across the body.
And yet-
The figure stood there unharmed, smiling calmly.
"No... no... how is this possible?" the Isu man panicked.
If the attack had been blocked, maybe he could accept it.
But this-
The same man who had vanished instantly moments ago?
Such speed.
Such defense.
What kind of existence was this?
"Nothing is impossible," Morin said with a smile, speaking words the Isu couldn't comprehend. "As you can see, I'm back. And I'm stronger."
His eyes gleamed.
"Now it's your turn to run."
At the Loom of Fate.
Fox and Wesley had just finished translating the cloth it produced automatically:
[The visitor from beyond has left, but when he returns, he will bring long-awaited balance. True balance.]
Before they could process it, the Loom moved again.
Uneasy, they translated once more:
[He has returned, from the endless river of time and the sea of stars. With soul-devouring intellect, the essence of the universe, an unrivaled body, and the magic that creates all things. He is still him-yet not him. The ultimate balance approaches.]
"This thing..." Wesley hesitated, glancing at Fox. "Did Sloan break it? Or does it just spit out fake prophecies sometimes?"
"This is the Loom of Fate!" Fox snapped. "It represents destiny. How could it be wrong!"
"But the prophecy changed completely-"
"I don't care," Fox said sharply. "It's right."
As the Loom continued weaving, Morin felt something.
He looked in a certain direction.
His gaze pierced through countless layers of reality, cutting through illusion to land directly on the Loom.
"So that's it," he murmured. "A divine artifact. Connected directly to time and the fundamental laws of this world. No wonder it produces prophecies."
It didn't matter.
The Loom wasn't going anywhere.
Morin turned back.
The Isu had already fled a considerable distance.
But distance meant nothing.
Could he run beyond Earth?
The Solar System?
The galaxy?
The universe?
"Run," Morin muttered. "Keep running. Lead me to the rest of you."
He vanished.
Strictly speaking, it shouldn't be called "meanwhile."
Between different universes, time lost its meaning.
Still-
By the time Morin arrived in the Assassin Movie World, a month had passed in the Lucy world.
The hotel room was unchanged.
The chessboard still sat untouched.
Professor Norman had long since left, now lecturing at New York University.
But he had purchased the hotel room outright.
His only condition-
No one was allowed inside.
Ever.
The owner protested.
Then saw the money.
At some point, in the dark and silent room, a light appeared.
It was Lucy.