A Grand Dream (3)
Habitz's applause sent a chill through certain people, and that made one thing clear.
"We have to kill him."
The ability to read the waves of people's hearts was, in a way, more aggravating than Vanishing.
The opening of the crusade ended, and it was time for the representatives of each nation to speak.
"Tonight is what matters." Assassinations, lobbying, bribery, secret deals—everything would take place unofficially tonight.
"There's an angel in Zaive. That power is exactly what can sustain the world." The speech about how every nation could prosper was delivered in a bland, careful tone.
"Damn. I can't press him—I'm too nervous."
If they provoked Habitz with a high-risk plot, they'd only make fools of themselves.
"Give Garto to Zaive. Of course, if you give Rom, that would make for a solid alliance."
Gis smiled as he said it.
"Ah, Temika will be politely declined, of course."
No one laughed.
Mindful of the divine frequency, the national representatives used every tactic they could to hide their true thoughts.
The twelve nations each made a proper case for why their country should lead the world.
There was then a twenty-minute recess before the free-speech portion—the main event of the crusade.
Gustav IV, Smodo said, "You're all reading Habitz too much. What does it matter what he intends? If he's that kind of person, push him through. What is there to fear?" Balkan said.
"Humans find goodness beautiful. But some states strategically avoid standing out," Zetaro replied.
"It's just reconnaissance. If some collusion happens tonight, punches will be thrown tomorrow."
"So what? The balance of power."
"Hmm."
Balkan read the crowd.
Power is relative; trap two predators together and the strong and the weak will still separate. In the psychological warfare of a dozen nations and hundreds of minds, a peculiar current flowed.
"By win rate, roughly: Zaive 86 percent, Kashan 92 percent, Tormia 78 percent, Jincheon 66 percent…"
Zetaro nodded. "Looks like Habitz is strong as expected. It's odd to see Tormia in the top three, though."
"Is it because of Yahweh? Even if he's the greatest mage, he isn't a particularly tricky opponent. Habitz doesn't seem to worry much either," Balkan said.
"From the standpoint of evil, he's easy—like a mark at a gambling table. The problem is the mark's fortune is infinite, so you can't con him easily…"
His gaze slid to the side.
"The important thing is that Tormia isn't actually third. The spot where the crowd's current converges most is—"
Kitra appeared, a venomous snake coiled around his neck.
Kitra, who had been staring ahead, kissed the snake as it flicked out its tongue.
"Smack. Smack."
He slowly turned his head, met Balkan's eyes, and smiled a chilling smile.
Smodo murmured, "What's the win rate?"
"I don't know. It's abnormal. I've never seen a flow like this. If you had to put numbers on it, maybe—"
Balkan squinted with one eye. "One hundred and twenty-eight percent?"
Zetaro blinked. "That's over a hundred percent. Is that even possible?"
"That's why it's strange. Even if you rig a card game, you don't get win rates like this. There's only one scenario that lets you exceed a hundred percent," Smodo said.
"The system's being manipulated."
"Right. Win rates are calculated under the same rules. But if you hold a weak hand and the system is rigged so the weak hand wins, how would you express that numerically? You'd have to exceed one hundred percent."
Zetaro muttered, "Hmm. One hundred percent represents the whole; exceeding the whole is conceptually impossible. But if a new concept that transcends the whole opened up—"
Something flashed through his mind.
"The outside world. Paras must have accessed that secret by some route."
Shirone was thinking the same thing.
"I can't read Kitra's intention. I need to finish exploring the pyramid as soon as possible."
At present, all contact with those in the pyramid—Kanis, Arin, Zulu, and the others—had been cut off.
"We'll resume the meeting. From now on, the chair will minimize intervention during free speeches."
The representatives' expressions shifted, and Gis of Zaive rose to open fire.
"Let's end the war. Cooperating with Archangel Satiel of Zaive to secure peace as quickly as possible would be a great boon to humanity."
Jin Gang of the Jincheon Empire said, "Stopping the war won't solve everything. Jincheon's people are suffering from radiation mutations. I don't think angels can fix that."
Satiel snorted. "Hah. What are you supposed to do about human frailty? Flesh changing because of mere radiation."
A cold sweat broke out on Gis's forehead, but controlling Satiel was no easy task.
Rampa said, "I hear the archangel has no intention of coexisting with humanity. If Zaive becomes the leading nation, won't that bring another catastrophe?"
"No. That's—"
Satiel cut Gis off. "Don't worry. I have no intention of tormenting humans in a petty, lingering way. Once I get what I want, I will lead my army and depart."
Unryong of the Moon Kingdom asked, "What do you want?"
"Personal matters. Of course, if you interfere with my work, calamity will befall you."
With that, Satiel glanced at Shirone.
"Ikael. Where is she?"
They had scanned the entire planet and still could not find Ikael.
"She's avoiding me."
Ikael's concealment was so strong that even Anke Ra couldn't find her.
But Ikael hid not for her own sake; she was protecting the Wena Wizard.
They couldn't openly hand over humanity's hope to kill Habitz.
Shirone checked his other position. "She'll come to Zaive in two days."
The problem was that Rampa knew. Training a wizard was part of the Ivory Tower project.
"Rampa wouldn't help Satan, surely. But the situation has become delicate."
A rift had opened within Shing. "Something unexpected. Depending on the Ivory Tower's results, there's a risk information could leak."
That was why he had to go to the Ivory Tower.
"Demon realm??????"
Habitz's voice rang out. "Shall I wipe it out?"
All eyes in the conference hall turned to him, and Worlin frowned.
"He's doing whatever he wants again."
Despite her unease, the representatives felt a sliver of hope.
"Is that possible?"
"It is. I'm the lord of Hell. I'll talk to Lethe. If Hell is purified, that's that."
Poni said, "Purifying Hell means destroying your world. Are you mocking us?"
"No, I'm serious. From what I felt today, Hell won't vanish as long as you people live. But there's one condition. Hand me ten percent of humanity."
"Ten percent?"
"Better than everyone dying, right? I am, after all, Satan; I need materials to rebuild Hell, don't I? Decide and the demon realm will disappear entirely."
It would mean liberation from catastrophe. However, the ten percent handed over to Satan would suffer torments enough to rebuild Hell.
"You call that a proposal!" Gis sprang to his feet. "There are limits to belittling human dignity. Do you know how many people ten percent is? Humanity will never make such a decision!"
"Hmm."
The divine frequency whispered.
- Shut up. I will be king of the world.
"If you refuse, then it's off the table. It's only a proposal. How about this then? If ten percent is too much, hand me just one person."
"Huh? One person?"
Habitz pointed at Shirone. "Yahweh."
Even knowing the murderous intent rising in Worlin's heart, he did not stop.
"Who are you to say such a thing?" Satiel said. "You filthy, unclean beast—Nephilim are not something scum like you should meddle with."
He referred to Nephilim indirectly, but Shirone knew he meant him.
"Why?" Shirone wondered.
Satiel had driven the biological child born between Ikael and the griffin toward death. To human eyes it felt like an aunt casting her nephew into ruin.
"Do you feel any guilt?"
Even though Satiel knew Shirone was staring, he deliberately avoided his gaze.
"Do not be mistaken. I am only doing what must be done for Heaven. Killing you will be my pride." Yet why did he feel uneasy?
"Perhaps."
Shirone's presence showed both the angel he hated most and the human he loved most at the same time.
"Yes. It's not guilt. I am Archangel Satiel. Even if I kill, I will be the one to slay."
Satiel declared, "Satan, while you may deceive humans, you cannot fool angels. If you think you can keep a Nephilim under you, crush me with force."
"Krk."
The divine frequency activated.
'This is quite something.'
Who would have thought the rigid mind of a great archangel would one day feel the pulse of a human.
"There is a way to destroy the demon realm," Jin Gang said.
"The Jincheon Space Agency studied the demon realm and reached a level of technology that produced tangible results. Soon the demon realm will be erased not by angels but by Jincheon."
"What method?"
"Gwangcheon Star."
It was the spacetime interceptor Jin Seongeum had used.
Anchal said, "The Gwangcheon Star distorts space. Jin Seongeum proved the otherworld is no different. And we have the data the princess left behind."
When Anchal raised a finger, a huge sphere displayed a projection of the Gwangcheon Star.
"We developed and refined it until we created a weapon capable of striking Hell directly: the Parma Gwangcheon Star. By making the princess self-destruct, we'll raze the demon realm to ashes."
Habitz blinked. "Hmm."
Satan couldn't counter that, which validated the Parma Gwangcheon Star's potential.
"Listen, Habitz."
Veins stood out at the corners of Jin Gang's eyes. "You will pay dearly for touching Jincheon. I will become an evil beyond you and punish you."
A tremendous resonance.
A father who had sent his beloved daughter to Hell spoke to Habitz with all that pain laid bare.
Shirone understood that sentiment.
"He must have endured, waiting only for this moment."
He could feel the weight of countless words swallowed into the gut just to get out that one line.
"A short recess… the meeting is adjourned."
At the chair's declaration, the representatives and officials streamed out of the hall.
"Today's meeting ends here."
Everyone sensed it.