Chapter 24
Maymon hurled himself forward, swinging his weapon.
A chain dagger wrapped in flames clashed head-on with the swarm of monstrous birds. The moment the birds struck the burning blade, they vanished instantly.
Such overwhelming speed and power.
Irix couldn’t help but admire it.
Incredible… that guy really is something.
Well… that was exactly why Father brought him along.
Those with supernatural abilities were people who possessed affinity with spirits—entities considered beneath gods in the hierarchy of existence.
Among them, Maymon was especially compatible with fire spirits, and extraordinarily talented. He would definitely fight well.
Still, no matter how strong Maymon was, the sheer scale of the enemy meant it would take time to deal with them all.
And right now…
It needed to take time.
Feeling reassured, Irix pointed at Telekus instead.
“Why are you just standing there?!”
“Yes… why me?”
“Yes, you! Use divine authority to help people! Peregion, you too! If you want to be a proper god, then help humans!”
He pointed into the darkness. He didn’t even know whether that really was Peregion, but it worked.
Peregion moved.
A divine hand, connected to Telekus’s arm, stretched out toward the birds.
“Uh…”
But it was far too fast.
“You idiot, if you do that—!”
KWAANG!
The hand meant to crush the corrupted beasts instead slammed into the train car, smashing walls and windows apart.
With a thunderous roar, the train shook violently, and beneath Irix’s feet, a dizzying canyon opened into view.
The train tilted sharply as it slid off the tracks.
Irix dug in his heels and grabbed the door handle with all his strength, barely managing to hold on.
Damn it… now I understand why you were forgotten, Peregion. You’re completely reckless. No wonder everyone tried so desperately to erase you.
“Irix-nim!”
It was Telekus.
Irix turned on him sharply.
“It’s not over yet! People are in danger, so keep helping!”
Telekus flinched.
“T-that is… but first, you… you must come with me! Please, let me guide you to the Order!”
Irix immediately understood why he was acting like this.
He was scared of the monster swarm and trying to run away.
“H-hurry!”
The beasts continued hurling themselves at the train. The repeated impacts shoved it closer and closer to the edge.
They were trying to send the train plunging into the abyss.
“There is desire within you. The desire to become great! I will give you that opportunity.”
Irix cursed Father’s spy inwardly.
What nonsense did he feed this guy? Where is he even getting this from? Whoever it was, I’ll deal with him later.
“Fine. Peregion, was it? The god who blessed you.”
Telekus brightened instantly.
“Yes, exactly.”
“Is that god’s name written in the Book of Solei?”
“You know the Book of Solei?”
“Yeah. I know. Because it appeared to me too!”
The Book of Solei was a book that appeared.
A record of the powers of forgotten gods, it sought out not only those destined to become apostles, but also those who possessed the qualities of a vessel.
It was the book every believer dreamed of.
But to Irix, it was no different from some creepy door-to-door salesman forcing itself into his life.
Would you like to summon this god? No? Then how about this one? Don’t like that? Here’s another!
“Then you already know about Lord Peregion as well.”
As if I would, you idiot.
Peregion’s page had never appeared before him.
Because there had always been other gods lined up ahead.
Go into the Order.
Father’s words resurfaced.
Right. I had to do it.
But pretending to be fooled by someone like this was humiliating.
“Irix!”
Suddenly, someone grabbed his arm.
Irix turned—
And a fierce gust of wind swept forward, scattering his hair across his eyes.
He quickly brushed it away and looked ahead.
“Senior…?”
It was his senior.
The moment he saw that pale face, relief and joy surged through him. He almost hugged him without thinking.
“You… what are you doing right now?”
“Hm?”
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Well… I was about to go to the Order.
The wind howled, whipping his senior’s hair wildly.
Wide eyes. A firm mouth.
Yes, I had to go.
To find the reason I was born…
But was anyone really born with a reason?
People are simply born, and then they become what they are.
And because of that…
They need to find out how far they can go.
Irix admitted it.
He wanted to understand the immense potential of Aether.
No one around him could teach him what that power truly meant.
Only the Order—
Its ancient books, and the elders who studied them—
Could give him answers.
And…
There was one more reason.
The most important one.
Irix looked at his senior.
“Irix?”
“About that…”
He thought he should say goodbye.
That he was going to the Order, and that he shouldn’t think about him anymore.
They’d seen strange and grotesque things together.
They’d even traveled with someone like a viper.
But still…
This was where it ended.
Brief. Fleeting.
And honestly…
I already know you’re not the Legion.
“I’m glad you’re safe.”
At those unexpected words, his senior’s eyes trembled.
“Irix…?”
Irix patted my shoulder, then lowered his arm.
I narrowed my eyes.
I could guess what he was thinking.
He was trying to say goodbye.
I lifted my hand and held his chin.
Irix’s eyes widened.
“Why?”
I stared straight into them.
Gray-green.
Yes.
This was the real Irix.
I thought again.
Red-eyed Irix was no good.
His expression, his gaze—everything looked twisted.
He shouldn’t become that.
Gray-green-eyed Irix was much better.
“Don’t go.”
“…Huh?”
“You were going to follow that guy.”
“…”
If you go…
You’ll become a truly awful person inside that Order.
And I hate that.
“It was a lie.”
“What?”
“The part about being told to come find you. That was a lie.”
I guess I’ll have to keep lying.
What does it matter?
This entire world is a lie anyway.
A story fabricated by Room 301.
“I’m not the Legion. I’ve never even met your father.”
“I know. That you’re not the Legion.”
“…What?”
I blinked.
“Since when?”
“Since I saw your cabin.”
My eyes widened.
“You said Father would never give you such an expensive room. So it’s simple. You’re not the Legion.”
“….”
Your father is pretty stingy.
No—actually…
Elpini’s cabin was absurdly luxurious.
Meaning it was extremely expensive.
Even a duke wouldn’t casually buy something like that for a mere sponsor.
If he really had, Irix would’ve assumed Elpini was the daughter of Father’s new lover.
Even though his parents were still married.
“And seeing the things in your room confirmed it.”
So that was why he said that to Depor.
He’d already been sure.
“Then why did you come looking for me?”
“Well…”
I looked at Irix.
Room 301 called him a villain.
A villain who needed to die.
In the original story, Irix was a destroyer.
A true antagonist.
Because he was created by Room 301, a child dying alone.
With no future for himself…
He created someone who would destroy all futures.
But I had always wanted Room 301 to have a future.
I hoped he’d live even a slightly better life someday.
When I heard he’d been discharged…
I thought that day had finally come.
But it was over.
Irix, Room 301’s fragment, was destined to remain a villain forever.
And yet…
I was given a chance.
A chance to fix Irix.
A chance to save the world he would ruin.
Right now, I’m hoping—
That this world’s end won’t be destruction.
That this world, Room 301’s legacy, will survive.
That his fragment won’t become miserable…
And won’t bring misery to others.
“I was always worried about you.”
“…”
“Watching you.”
I was saying to Irix the words I wanted to say to Room 301.
Room 301…
I’ve been watching you since before you ever noticed me.
Not for any grand reason.
Just because.
“I hoped you’d get even a little better. Even though I couldn’t do anything… even though I had no right to.”
I watched you like a wild young beast that didn’t know how to be cared for.
I never wanted anything in return.
Not gratitude.
Not reward.
Even if your life was as fleeting as a puddle after rain…
I still hoped you’d be better, even a little.
I had no right.
No obligation.
I’m not an especially good person.
Nor someone capable of great deeds.
But people don’t feel compassion because they’re great.
Compassion is simply something humans have because they are human.
It’s what allows humans to exist as humans.
So I felt compassion.
Even if everyone called it useless.
Even if it meant being deceived or used.
I still held onto it.
And I still do.
That feeling that makes you say—
I can’t stop caring.
