Chapter 162.1
“Someone you know?” Misha asked while staring at the message engraved on the wall.
“…Hmm. I guess it was someone I know. But I can’t tell who it was exactly just from this.” (Anos)
At that moment, Misha stared right into my eyes.
Maybe she was trying to sound my mind or something, but her gaze looked somewhat reproachful.
“…’Fall for you’…?” (Misha)
“That’s what it says, yeah.” (Anos)
“‘All over again’?” Misha said in a monotone voice.
Indeed, the message said ‘I will fall for you all over again’.
“A crush from two thousand years ago.” (Misha)
“During the Mythical Age, things like that were rare.” (Anos)
Misha cocked her head a bit.
“Was there no one who loved you, Anos?” (Misha)
“Well, I wouldn’t know. There was no place for stuff like romance in this era, after all. I’m honored to know that someone has a crush on me, but perhaps she couldn’t bring herself to say it in person.” (Anos)
“Because you’re the Demon King of Tyranny?” (Misha)
I nodded in response.
“And because there was no peace. No one had the leisure to even speak their own minds. I guess she wrote down her innermost feelings here, where no one else could find it.” (Anos)
I slowly approached the wall and gently touched the letters.
I felt a strange sensation.
“What’s wrong?” (Misha)
“These letters are enchanted.” (Anos)
Whoever wrote them must’ve been a great spellcaster for me not to see it at first glance.
I use my Magic Eyes to peer into the abyss hidden in this message.
“Hmm. I see. Looks like we’ll have to wait until nightfall.” (Anos)
“Should we look for the Conflagration King first?” (Misha)
“No, there isn’t much time left before it gets dark. Let’s take a rest for a moment.” (Anos)
I sat down with my back against the wall.
Misha came over and sat down next to me.
“How are Shin and Reno?” (Misha)
“Shin is still being pushed around, as usual. But it seems that Reno is also having a hard time with him. They’re quite a good match, aren’t they?” (Anos)
By sharing my sight with Lay, Sasha and the others, I watched the exchanges between Shin and Reno in Aharthern, which made me chuckle.
“…Can Shin learn how to love?” (Misha)
“If he truly wants to, then it’s possible.” (Anos)
Misha blinked in response.
“His source is a demon sword.” Misha muttered indifferently.
“That won’t be a problem?” (Misha)
“Do you think just because he’s a demon sword, he can’t love anyone?” (Anos)
Misha’s eyes widened in surprise at my statement.
“A world where you can never obtain what you truly desire from the bottom of your heart is better off gone.” I said to Misha, who looked anxious.
“That’s what the Goddess of Creation Militia said.” (Anos)
“…Did she create a kind world?” (Misha)
“Indeed. This world she created is warm and full of love and hope. It used to be very kind.” (Anos)
“What changed it?” (Misha)
“As is the case with Nosgalia, there are many gods in this world, not just Militia. Even if the king of demons tried to establish a nation, said nation wouldn’t be governed by the will of the king alone. The world also revolves around the will of many gods.” (Anos)
Misha earnestly listened to my story while nodding.
“But at the root of it all, the foundation of this world is Militia’s benevolent order. If you wish from the bottom of your heart, this world she created will definitely respond to you. No matter how desolate it may become, or how widespread the strife may be.” (Anos)
Misha’s gentle gaze scanned my face.
“Do you believe in her?” (Misha)
“Militia regretted it, though.” (Anos)
When I said that, Misha tilted her head in confusion.
“She lamented how all sorts of gods had brought so much insanity and tragedy to this world. She once bowed her head to me and apologized for ‘creating such a sad world’.” (Anos)
Misha smiled a bit.
“There are many kinds of gods.” (Misha)
“That’s right. Until I met Militia, I thought none of the gods cared about demons, humans, or spirits. That no matter how hard people prayed, the gods would never work miracles. And that they only ever did when those miracles worked to their own advantage, and were convenient for maintaining their orders. With no regard for the fate of those who live in this world.” (Anos)
There was a time when to me, all the gods were the avatars of insanity itself.
But it turned out that some of them weren’t.
“Did Militia perform miracles for the demons?” (Misha)
“Her power is world creation. But there’s only so much she can do for a world she’s already created. Recreating this world would be equivalent to destroying the one we already have now.” (Anos)