"When the premise changes, the essence also changes".
As that God had said, even if a single one of the premises changes, the
essence that should have already been established will also change its
shape.
A single piece of information may explain all of a person's inexplicable
actions. A single truth may become the key to discovering one's cleverly
hidden purpose.
Why did she show up there? The reason for that————- was a
"promise" she made a long time ago.
In the royal capital of Symphonia, there is a small miscellaneous goods
store located off the main street. At the counter, Alice, the store owner,
was quietly cleaning her knives.
A clone wearing a cat stuffed costume is normally in charge of the store,
while the main body is acting as Kaito's bodyguard, but today, Alice had
unusually left guarding Kaito to several of her clones and subordinates,
and stayed here with her main body.
A few moments later, pure white feathers descended into the store lit
by Lighting Magic Tools, and with a dazzling glow, the God from another
world descended.
[…Now this is quite the disrespect, if I may say so myself. For you to call
upon me, what is the meaning of this?]
[Well~~ You arrived right on time. I've been waiting for you, Eden-san.]
After saying that to Eden-san, who just looked up at her with a blank
expression on her face, Alice lightly waved her hand. Thereupon, the
door of the store was locked and the sign in front of the door was
flipped over.
Without reacting to her actions, Eden spoke to her with a nonchalant
tone.
[What do you want? I don't have time to spend on anyone but my
children…]
[No~~ Well, that's the thing. I need your help for a little while.]
[......]
[You see, after that incident with Shallow Vernal-sama happened, I
realized that I was a bit inadequate. If I had been a step more powerful,
there would have been other moves I could have taken.]
When Eden heard the words Alice said with a smile, she looked at her
suspiciously. It's as if to say that she didn't understand the meaning of
telling her such a thing…
Perhaps, her reaction was something she had expected, but Alice's grin
deepened as she cut to the chase.
[So, well, to put it simply, I'm thinking doing some training… and you
know, my body and magic power can only grow while I'm in
Ἑκατόγχειρες's Ultimate Battle Form. In a broad sense, my Ultimate
Battle Form itself can be activated when in a battle that would lead to
Kaito-san's protection… but if I don't have a superior opponent, I won't
be able to grow properly. That's why, I wanted a training partner.]
[......]
[It would have been best if I could have asked Kuro-san, but it seemed
like she was also making her own trials and errors, so I didn't want to
interfere… but I don't think Shallow Vernal-sama would listen to this
request. That's when it hit me! I should just ask Eden-san… and so,
please be my training partner]
[How ridiculous. This is an extremely worthless conversation. There is
no reason for me to listen to such a request. It is but a waste of time.]
Eden dismissed Alice's request to be her training partner, and turned
away to leave but… she immediately stopped after hearing the voice
that called out after her.
[…Ouuuuuuch, it feels like those words were opening up the old
wounds I received when I fought Eden-san back then.]
[...…]
One could definitely detect the deliberate exaggeration in Alice's words,
but Eden looked back at Alice with a troubled expression on her face.
Thereupon, a bright smile appeared on Alice's face as she continued.
[No, of course, I know that you did that for my sake… but well, it's not
like I'm thinking about how there should have been other ways to do
that.]
[…N- No, that is…]
[Yes, I know. If you're looking to urgently settle the situation, that was
the best time to do such a thing. That's why, I was just grateful, and
there's nothing to be angry about.]
[......]
Eden clearly looked relieved at her words… but of course, if it ended
there, Alice wouldn't have bothered talking about it.
[…Well, I'm still pissed off about the fact that your true identity "for
more than six months before I found out" and "more than two whole
years" before you actually told me.]
[Fuguhhh!?]
At her inconceivable words, Eden was greatly taken aback. Then, her
pale face began sweating profusely.
[Seriously, how heartless can you be!? Ahh, I wonder where our
friendship that we talked about while looking up at the starry sky
went~~]
[Guhh. T- T- T- That is…]
[Even though you could have told me earlier, how terrible of you!]
[Ahh, no, ummm, I have a lot of reasons for that…]
If Kaito or Kuromueina were to see Eden's current state, they would be
astonished. She, who would normally be as overbearing as a God should
be, has her gaze sweeping around, looking really flustered.
But for Alice, this is the reaction she was aiming for… Yes, Alice doesn't
consider Eden as a troublesome opponent anymore.
With overly exaggerated movements, Alice then brought her hands over
her eyes and acted like she was about to start crying.
[Ahhh, I thought we were best friends! How sorrowful! It hurts!!!]
[…ready.]
[Oya?]
[Alright already! I'll cooperate with you! That's what you wanted me to
do, right!!!?]
Seeing Eden desperately tell her such a thing with her original tone, a
mean grin appeared on Alice's lips. Then, the sad acting she had done
earlier completely disappeared and she put on a big smile.
[Well~~ I'm so grateful that you're willingly helping me out with this.
You really are the bestest bestie I've ever had! Well then, let's get right
to it. Please prepare a "space that won't break even if we get really
violent". Ahh, also, I don't intend to leave Kaito-san without me
guarding him for a long time, so after we're done, "please return me
back about a second after we depart here". Ahh, I also get hungry when
I move my body about, so please give me some "good food" too.]
[......]
[Oops, I almost forgot. In fact, after my strength increased in that battle
in the God Realm, no matter how much magic power I use to protect it,
the knives are unable to withstand my base strength. Since there is no
more durable material in this world… Please prepare me "some
materials that are easy to process and durable". Ahh, I'll do the smithing
myself, so you don't have to worry.]
[…This is it. As soon as you find out who I am, this brazenness… hasn't
changed at all. This is one of the reasons why it was so difficult for me
to tell you this, Alici… Alice.]
As Alice made one request after another with a smile, Eden stared at
her and threw a tsukkomi. However, there was no sharpness in her
voice. It was gentle, as if she was saying "It can't be helped".
[…Haahhh… Alright. I'm sure you're going to ask all sorts of questions
anyway… I'll go prepare it, and "Paradise" will escort you there later. I'll
allow her to disclose up to Information Level IV, so if there's anything
you want to ask, you can ask her.]
After telling her this with a sigh, a change appeared in Eden. The color
of her eyes, which had been richly colored, changed to gray, and she
gave a beautiful bow to Alice.
And right after that, something like a white door appears next to Alice.
"Well then, Alice-sama, please come this way. I will now lead you to
Mother Brain Makina ."
Hearing her voice that sounded like a machine, Alice brought her hand
to her chin and asked with a serious expression on her face.
[…Fumu, I see. This means you aren't "Makina" huh?]
"Affirmative. I'm Comprehensive Management Observation Program ,
created by Makina-sama. Codename: Paradise Eden. The one who is
conversing with Alice-sama right now is the individual in charge of the
planet Earth, who has been granted temporary access for the purpose
of guiding Alice-sama.]
[Well, I have lots of question, but I guess we'd better get moving before
that.]
"Understood. Well then, I will now guide you."
[…I don't really care about that, okay? Seeing you bow really low with
that face of yours makes me feel very uncomfortable.]
The black landscape was covered with layers of glowing green lines,
forming a road, and even though the scenery is dyed in black, it isn't
dark at all, and one could even see their own body clearly… Walking
through such a space, Alice leisurely spoke as she followed Paradise.
[…Now then, we could have been there in an instant, but the fact that
we're going out of our way to travel through this space… means "we'll
arrive when I've asked what I want to know", right?]
"Yes. It is as you said, please feel free to ask anything."
[Fumu, I guess I should ask this first. Eden-san… No, I guess I should
call you Makina here huh… Makina said earlier that she would allow
disclosure up to Information Level IV. To what extent does that mean
you can answer me?]
"The maximum Information Level is V . At Level IV, I think I can
answer most questions. This is the first time Makina-sama has given
permission to disclose information at this level."
[I see…]
Alice, who recognized from Paradise's words that she would be able to
answer most of the questions except for the important secrets, thought
for a few seconds before she asked a question.
[Well then, here's my first question. You said earlier that you were the
"individual in charge of the planet Earth", right? Does that mean that
there are other beings like you who have the same role?]
"Yes. There are 470 billion and one Comprehensive Management
Observation Program, Codename: Paradise Eden. I'm Individual
Number 76812. There basically are no differences in appearance or
ability between us, only the place we're in charge differs. In terms of
combat ability, we consider ourselves "quasi-omnipotent", and if
compared to your acquaintances, I'm equal to or slightly inferior to
Kuromueina-sama."
[…470 billion Eden-sans, what kind of horror movie is that… No, well, I
know Eden-san was like that because of Makina's outrageous
personality. Incidentally, what's with that odd 1 over there?]
"Yes. This body that I am currently using to guide Alice-sama is that 1.
This body is slightly different from the other Paradises because it is a
body that was specially adjusted and remade for Miyama Kaito, he who
is called Makina-sama's beloved child. However, there is no difference
in ability with the other Paradises, aside from being that this body's
internal structure is more human-like."
[…That's one heck of a story. In short, for Makina, Eden-san is…]
"Yes. The Paradises are "endlessly replaceable foot soldiers" for Makinasama's cause."
Even Paradise, who undoubtedly has the power of a world creator and
has almost omnipotent abilities, is nothing more than a handy pawn
that can be replicated as many times as needed for Makina, the true
body.
Becoming aware that Makina is an even more amazing God than she
expected, Alice continued to ask questions.
[Then, next question. Having called yourself a Comprehensive
Management Observation Program… does that mean there are other
programs that hold different roles?]
"Yes. Recognizing it that way isn't a mistake. As for the programs that
were directly created by Makina-sama, there are two others besides
Paradise. Let me introduce them in order, please look at your right.]
Following Paradise's words, Alice turned to her right, and the space at a
considerable distance from where they were walking distorted and a
giant iron star appeared.
[…That is that thing I saw back in the Sanctuary… Unnn? But unlike that
time, it doesn't have a core.]
"Yes. Back when Alice-sama encountered it before in Trinia, it was when
Mother Brain Makina was inside."
[…In other words, it's that, isn't it? The reason Eden-san said that was
"her true body" at that time was that Makina was inside it, and that
mechanized star itself really isn't her true body or anything like that.]
"Yes. That's right. That star is the Hostility Annihilation Program ,
Codename: Abyss Tartarus. Of the three types of programs, it has been
given the greatest power by Makina-sama, possessing "omnipotent"
power. In most worlds, world creators can be annihilated by a single
Tartarus."
[That's another outrageous one, isn't it? So, how many of them are
there?]
"Yes. There are 98 trillion of them."
[The inflation is too d*mn high…]
Just from what she's heard so far, Makina's army consists of 470 billion
quasi-omnipotent soldiers and 98 trillion omnipotent soldiers. It was
an extremely large force, making even Alice mutter in astonishment.
[…And so, what about the final program?]
"Yes. It doesn't have a definite form, so I'm unable to show it to you, but
it's Defense Program , Codename: Shield Aegis. They are quasi-
omnipotent programs that specialize in defense, and there are an
infinite number of them.]
[I don't know how I've said this, but this is quite outrageous. Is that
everyone?]
"Yes. That is all the programs created by Makina-sama. However,
Paradise is the only one with personality among the three programs,
and is allowed to manufacture auxiliary programs at our discretion. I
have also produced two auxiliary programs, α and β. They now call
themselves Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi respectively, so if you ever
come to Earth, you can always rely on them to do your work."
Hearing the words Paradise nonchalantly said, Alice sorted out the vast
amount of information she had obtained while thinking at high speed.
After a few moments of silence, Paradise announced in the same
mechanical voice.
"Do you have any other questions?"
[…Since a while ago, there have been times when you referred to
Makina as "Makina-sama", but on other times, you call her "Mother
Brain Makina"… What's the meaning of those actions?]
"My apologies. This information falls under Information Level V, so I'm
not authorized to answer you. Please check with Makina-sama directly."
[I see… Alright.]
"Do you have any other questions?"
[If asked if I have questions, then I do have some, but well, I'll just ask
Makina about the rest.]
When Alice said that, Paradise stopped and turned towards her, before
she bowed her head.
"Understood. Well then, we have arrived."
With her words, a door with huge gears appeared in front of them. The
gears then loudly rattled when they rotated, and the huge door slowly
opened.
"This will be the end of my guidance."
[I see, thank you for everything.]
"No. Well then, if you'll excuse me. If you ever visit Earth, please feel
free to contact me."
Leaving these words, Paradise disappeared. After seeing her off, Alice
lightly scratched her head and muttered to herself.
[…Her bowing her head with that face really doesn't feel right.]