It was a strange feeling.
The purple light continued to emit, centering on me as I sank into the deep sea.
The amplification of magic power and the production of the “Purple Thread” didn’t stop.
From a place beyond Seldra’s “Dragon’s Roar,” the “Purple Thread” pierced the sea surface and crawled out. Once out of the water, it moved towards the sky, bunching together, thickening, and then swaying like drooping ears of rice after piercing the clouds.
The tips of those ears scattered to the corners of the “World” and fell.
It was very similar to my sister’s “Winter Otherworld” from long ago.
The expanded “Dimension” felt like looking down at the stars from above the clouds.
Islands were scattered across the vast ocean, with warships like black dots floating around them. Focusing my magic, I looked towards the land, and saw buildings and people in modern attire. Even as I saw the “Status” of each individual and their future—I keenly felt that being able to see everything was not just a metaphor.
Everything, without exception.
The dimensional attribute magic overflowed and seeped into the “Original World.”
—On the stage where preparations were complete, the “Dragon Eradication” between Seldra and me finally began.
But that was no longer a battle.
It was not an exaggeration or arrogance; if I unleashed my true power now, it would be the end of everything.
The “dimension of battle” between Seldra and me was different.
I had wanted to say that line once, but finding myself in that situation was surprisingly hollow, amusing, painful, and nauseating to the point of wanting to vomit.
There was a peculiar sense of betrayal and guilt.
As if I had betrayed something very precious.
As if a cherished memory had been burned away.
A feeling that I had chosen the wrong path.
That’s why I took my time familiarizing myself with the magic stone. Even when Diplakla said, “Become the ‘World’s Master’ right now and save the world,” I dodged her.
“I’ve always… been making unnecessary hesitations before a blank slate that was too free… I was afraid to truly live. But thanks to Seldra, I’ve gained resolve. Seldra, thank you. As a token of my gratitude, please enjoy yourself. Please experience the freshness of everything coming to an end.”
After thanking her, I moved my eyeballs, which were sinking in the sea, and looked at the brightly lit deep sea.
Looking down with magic and up with my eyes, I could see Seldra clearly.
She was swimming at high speed, batting away the “Purple Thread” approaching with her tail and wings, and avoiding the “Purple Mirror” that tried to reflect her form. From a distance, she looked beautiful and elegant, flying freely in the sky.
However, she seemed desperate, constantly emitting magical vibrations while using “Incantation.”
At one point, she let out an unusually loud and strange cry.
“—Support! The usual thing, right now!!”
It wasn’t a sign of weakness or a curse.
It was a call directed somewhere.
But that cry for help wouldn’t reach.
Just as my “Voice” had been drowned out by vibrations, it was now Seldra’s turn to be drowned out.
I lowered my gaze to the book in my right hand.
Then, I read the world’s easiest “Dragon Eradication” and nullified that plea.
“—Seldra Queen Filion, who was supposed to have cornered Aikawa Uzunami, finds herself cornered.
Seldra, the ‘Strongest’ Dragon Person, had confidence.
She was confident she could stand up to the gods of other worlds if she truly underwent ‘Dragonization.’
Her battle record even showed a victory against Noi El Lieberl, the ‘World’s Master.’ An undefeated history was etched into his soul.
However, tonight, that pride and self-assurance of Seldra would be erased.
Before the Hero, Seldra found herself cornered and began to sense defeat.
She swam as if to escape, emitting vibrations tuned to a frequency of unease, and sent a rescue request towards the sea surface—”
Hearing my narration, Seldra turned her sharp dragon eyes towards me as she swam.
She must have realized that her “Dragon’s Roar” was being drowned out by my leisurely narration, which was unfitting for battle.
“—In case of emergency, a code phrase was decided.
If Seldra said, ‘The usual thing,’ a simultaneous attack would be launched by the ‘Original World’s’ weapons against the invaders from ‘Another World.’
That was how it was supposed to be.
But, alas…
However, it wouldn’t reach.
The vibrations of that black dragon would no longer escape from the deep sea to the surface.
Never again. Because it was too… unenjoyable—”
In time with my narration, I also began a series of remote magic spells using “Dimension” and “Purple Thread” as catalysts.
First, I used “Vibration” to shut out all vibrations that could reach the sea surface.
Even “Dragon’s Roar” would be “frozen” using the magic stone.
Next, I melted the ice on the islands where “Replace Connection” was installed, and then made the “Purple Thread” contact the special soldiers. I connected “Distance Mute” and scraped away the memories of contact with Seldra using “Light Elijah.” The crew members on the ships floating on the sea were also subjected to remote magic, one after another.
I worked steadily and rationally, even if it wasn’t visually appealing.
“I’ve always thought one thing.
The stories of other worlds should be smooth, like harvesting rice.
Smooth.
It’s good that it’s smooth.
Continuously smooth, going well, with nothing bad happening.
Battles where powers are evenly matched are just dangerous.
Above all, climbing up and down mountains and valleys is just tiring.
It was just painful. It was just difficult. It was just harsh.
Even a story where only uneventful everyday life piles up gently, smoothly, and slowly, would be more than enough for modest ‘happiness’ besides…”
I can’t bear it anymore.
This is my limit.
No matter how hard I try, it’s painful, so painful, and it continues to be a life of suffering and misfortune.
I’m just so tired of those days.
I’m tired of everything.
That’s why, for the rest of the story, I just want a happy fairy tale.
If I don’t need to keep her at a distance anymore.
I’ll grasp this magic feather pen, filled with my wishes—”
“Purple Thread” doesn’t just sense battleships.
It also spotted oddly shaped aircraft flying.
The warheads… they’re carrying something unbelievable. I knew vibration magic and radiation had good synergy, but that’s a no-go. I’ll put it in my Inventory with remote “Default – Weapon Destruction.”
Rustiara would probably enjoy the ferocity of this weapon, a fusion of science and magic.
She’s the type who likes to narrowly escape dangerous weapons.
But, let’s stop it now. It’s too late for this sort of thing…
All of it, including the fleet on the sea and the bases on land, is out.
“—Before Seldra’s vibrations, the people on the sea had already sensed the abnormality.
The soldiers protecting the country had sharpened their nerves to the fullest, preparing for an unknown threat.
They were ready to resort to any means necessary.
But, alas.
Unfortunately, their appearance will not be recorded.
I will not allow their intervention in this story.
Because it’s irrelevant.
The story of Kanami and Rustiara was set in another world.
A story of swords and magic had been spun continuously.
Furthermore, this is a story of a hero’s “Dragon Extermination.”
The smell of gunpowder and smoke mixing with that… is odd.
It’s odd, so I won’t allow it.
I won’t allow it, so I’ll keep it away.
Even outside of the story.
—Magic “Dimension – Multiple Expansion.”
– “Light Elias,” “Pure Heart – Pure Heart,” “Earth Wave,” “Wood Quake – Creation,” “Line,” “Strathfield,” “Zittert Wind,” “King’s Fall,” “Dimension Winter,” “Heart Mind – Heart Adjustment” —”
“Wh-what…!”
Seldra, startled by the barrage of continuous magic declarations, opened his mouth wide.
He stopped swimming at high speed, hovered, froze, and looked at me.
He must have had some kind of plan.
“—I’ll keep swimming, enduring the “Purple Thread” and “Distance Mute.”
If it turns into a prolonged battle, I, with the “Curse” of “Adaptation,” will have the advantage.
No matter how high the dimensional magic user’s learning ability is, I’ll just keep adapting to it all—”
I can read his thoughts.
When his opponent’s repertoire is exhausted, I’ll win with a slightly superior power.
This might have been Seldra’s infallible strategy for the past thousand years, but it won’t work this time.
It’s not that difficult.
I’ll just ignore the strong dragon and cast magic on his story itself.
Like writing on a blank page, just like this—
“—Everything Seldra prepared in his Original World for the past week is now null and void—”
…To be honest, I’m still not used to “Writing.”
My sentences are clumsy, and colloquialisms creep in.
Emotions and unnaturalness mix, making it difficult to convey the content well.
It really makes me hate this.
In the end, “Acting was no good,” and I don’t have any talent for screenwriting.
That’s why I’m talking directly to Seldra like this, and explaining this “Dragon Extermination.”
“Seldra. If I were to fight against the Original World you rule, this is what I would do. I don’t like armies or guns very much. …What I’ve always liked are worlds of swords and magic. Towards the “dream” world on the other side of the screen, I ran, and ran, and ran, and kept running until I reached Another World. Yet, now, why would I deal with real-world weapons…? For one thing, this isn’t even the story of the Original World that I know anymore. There’s no “United Nations,” and there’s a “Special Forces” I’ve never heard of…? And they’re issued “Anti-Magic Rifles” instead of “Anti-Materiel Rifles”…? Rustiara might enjoy it, but I can’t.”
It’s a weak, pathetic, and selfish argument.
But, that wish will be granted.
“Let’s stop mixing weapons and magic. It would involve people unrelated to us, both in the Original World and in Another World. I want to avoid it as much as possible—”
My words, “as much as possible,” now reach not just the ends of the world, but far beyond the dimensional walls. My purple magic power permeates, and all magic skills are automatically triggered and resolved by “Parallel Thinking.”
I gained the power to do so in that “Final Battle.”
If I hadn’t allocated my skills and magic power to Rustiara’s “Voice,” I could have reached “Star Principle Thief” anytime.
So, the story that follows will be like this.
“—Now, the dragon’s vibrations have reached the sea.
Alas… but, alas.
The information heard through the radio was a man’s voice I’d never heard before.
Just in case, the ship’s officers have a report in their hands.
The name ‘Seldra’ is written on the cover.
But what does it mean? According to the report, it seems to be a Dragon Person from “Another World” who appeared a few days ago. And a few months ago, there was a girl who could intentionally cause an ice age—
Now is not the time to read a child’s prank.
A massive earthquake is occurring in the Pacific.
It will likely be recorded in history as a global earthquake.
In this emergency, magic…? Save the fantastical delusions for later.
The seismic observation is causing instrument failure. We are in the midst of an emergency.
See, if you look at your hand again, there’s no “Seldra” written there.”
No, for that matter, even the reports are gone before you know it.
The fact that such a person even visited is already—”
Seldra’s eyes widened as the words were read to him, and he looked up.
He had just shouted at the ship’s equipment at the appropriate frequency.
The vibration should have definitely been transmitted, but there was no support as prearranged.
Nothing happened.
The “Purple Thread” that hadn’t been torn apart by its own vibration simply wavered towards the sea.
Understanding that this was the cause, Seldra turned pale.
“Impermanence does not stop.
From the “Original World,” Seldra’s traces are disappearing.
Indeed, from people’s minds, the memories of “Another World” are becoming uncertain.
Memories that are rapidly weathering away.
In such times, for how long will they continue to believe in something like “Another World”?
Even if they somehow remember, for how long will they be able to proclaim it loudly?
For how long will they hold onto the existence of magic and “Another World” that they will never see again?
Fantasy that borders on delusion will, from this day forward, forever cause no practical harm to the people living in the “Original World.” That alone should be enough to make that “Foreigner,” Seldra Queenfilion, give up and think it was all a daydream.
The magic needed can be counted on two hands.
It’s simple. Even the number of characters required isn’t that large—”
That’s what an ending is.
By the time Seldra realized my true objective, it was already too late.
The script was finished, the stage was set, and the actors were performing as written.
“And so, the story’s stage returns to the deep sea.
Now, finally, it’s the “Last Page.”
The “Hero” has captured the “Evil Dragon”—”
The world proceeds exactly according to those words.
Seldra, who had listened to my reading, was captured before he knew it.
It wasn’t just that the “Purple Thread,” which he couldn’t brush away, was wrapped around him.
Space was fixed by the “Invincible Ice Room.”
Time was being slowed down by the “Midwinter of Overcrowded Dimensions.”
Every kind of barrier-type magic was layered on top of each other.
Facing Seldra, I turned the pages of the book and spoke:
“However, in the hands of the “Hero” who overcame repeated fierce battles, there was not a renowned holy sword, but an ancient tome.
The “Protagonist” has experienced many times stories that only serve to erase the “Villain.”
Because all the battles were already over, the “Hero” did not choose a sword to defeat the dragon.
In his hands was the magic entrusted to him by the one he loved.
With that magic that could bring happiness to everyone, he would undo the “Curse” of that sorrowful evil dragon—”
Seldra, unable to move, listened to my reading.
Still not giving up, he seemed to believe that within that story lay a clue to conquering the “Thief of the Principles of Dimensions.”
Precisely because it was a battle against a “Thief of Principles,” I sought a breakthrough through conversation.
“Is this… has “Dimension” fully permeated the entire world…? That’s why things happen exactly as the book says…? Is all the information from “Future Sight” contained within it?”
“That’s different. The magic of “Future Sight” only lets you see countless branching possibilities. Even at best, it only has the power to pull in a slightly better future.”
“Then…! From those countless futures, you choose the one you like and manipulate space accordingly! You can control this dimension, can’t you!? That’s the power of your “Dimension – Decisive Calculation (Prelude)” magic!”
“My failed magic isn’t that great. Since it’s unfinished, whether or not I can bring about the ideal future always depends on my effort. …It’s not that different from living a normal life.”
“No!! Right now, you’re lying with your “acting” and “writing”! That expression on your face… You look like you think you can make anything happen just by trying, don’t you!”
Seldra, the “Thief of Nothingness,” said the same thing as Nosfy, the former “Thief of the Principles of Light.” Come to think of it, I think Aid said something similar too.
When it comes to fighting me, people seem to fall into that kind of sensation.
As for me, I don’t feel any omnipotence like “being able to do anything.”
Even if I see many futures, none of them are just “fun stories.”
I wish that from them, even a slightly better future could be chosen, and I “write” with the hope that it somehow comes true…
“Certainly, maybe Seldra and the others are right… I guess I have magic that simply lets me do everything I want…”
So far, my pen has never faltered.
The “present” other than what’s written in this book has never arrived.
Pushed from behind, I finally admit it.
When I think it can be done as written, it always happens that way.
Now, the “Thief of the Principles of Dimensions”‘s “depending on effort,” “as much as possible,” and “within reach” is boundless.
—That is my true feeling.
That’s precisely why it stands out that I can’t reach “Rustiara.”
I’m constantly overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness.
Even though my reach is infinite, the strength to stand up doesn’t well up.
“Ah, I see… I want to do everything… I really want to do it…”
“…!!”
The moment I let out my deepest true feelings, Seldra’s expression changed.
He struggled, trying to tear apart the “Purple Thread,” the “Invincible Ice Room,” and the “Midwinter of Overcrowded Dimensions.”
“—It’s alright, Seldra. I certainly felt your sincerity. Therefore, I will use magic with all my might. Magic created by combining everyone’s powers is by no means against the rules. It’s not a shortcut. It’s not a bad thing either. “Reading Shift” is a magic that saves “Thieves of Principles.” It’s a magic that will end all painful and difficult “Ordeals”—!”
The magical dispersal for preparation has already been completed.
Here in the deep sea, surrounded by this “Purple Mirror,” not only can I perfectly conduct a screening of “Past Sight” and “Future Sight,” but I can achieve a dimension beyond anything before. With that confidence, I utter the magic name.
“—Magic: [Reading Shift]”
It warps.
The deep sea where I and Seldra are, space, dimension. It is transforming into something else.
I turn the pages of a book. From a page stating, “AD 3032, the bottom of the deep sea in the Original World,” to a page reading, “Year 22 of the Old Calendar, between the mountain ranges of Another World.”
—The scene of the story has changed.
Before we knew it, we could breathe air.
Oxygen fills our lungs, and a refreshing sensation pierces our throats.
We are freed from the deadly water pressure of the deep sea.
Our feet are on solid ground, and the feeling of floating disappears.
The water that had been piled before our eyes vanishes, and our vision expands.
—We were standing on a high hill.
Pale blue mountain ranges, crowned with black clouds, stood towering around us.
The air was cold, and the oxygen was thin.
From the rocky valleys and the flowers and grass at our feet, we could surmise we were at a considerable altitude.
The dark clouds in the sky were very close, as if we could touch them if we reached out.
And, hidden within those giant dark clouds, shadows that appeared to be birds—no, many dragons were flying.
Their size was clearly different from birds.
Their bodies were covered not in feathers but in tough scales.
Above all, their flight speed and magic power concentration were different.
A flock of dragons, flying through the spiritual mountains full of nature, tearing through the dark clouds.
The time was a thousand years ago.
Before we, the Foreigners, Hidaki and I, arrived.
The “First Page” of Seldra’s story.
A thousand years later, Seldra and I stood facing each other.
“………!?”
Enveloped in Magic [Reading Shift], Seldra’s eyes widened.
It was only natural for him to be dumbfounded.
This was Seldra’s “First Page,” but at the same time, it was also his “Last Page.”
“—This is the place where Seldra’s life began. A hidden village in the northern frontier a thousand years ago. The ‘Village of the Wisdom Dragons,’ inhabited by Dragon People, a special kind of Demon, was a small village nestled at the foot of tall spiritual mountains, where the strong wind of Demonic Poison raged—”
I continued reading while being bathed in the strong Demonic Poison on the hilltops.
Naturally, Seldra shook his head.
“Fi- ‘Village of the Wisdom Dragons’…? No, we were in Another World just a moment ago…! My homeland is long gone, existing only in the distant past—”
I looked down from the hilltop into the valley.
Here and there, black stone rooftops could be seen.
They were a bit too large for human dwellings, built with an emphasis on sturdiness.
While Seldra was talking, I kept reading.
“—The Dragon People are a chosen race. They and others recognize this because of the overwhelming strength they possess from birth. Furthermore, in this ‘Village of the Wisdom Dragons,’ they are even more selective about ‘differences in innate abilities.’ They test the strength of newly enlightened children and assign them roles and names befitting their innate power. They even choose their own clan’s King through this ceremony. However, it is not an uncommon custom to place those who are strong from birth as leaders. However, the ceremony in this ‘Village of the Wisdom Dragons’ had a distinct difference from others. Although they were in an era without Magic or Curse Techniques, they succeeded in ‘transactions.’ An ‘Ancient Ritual’ that had continued for a thousand years before that had cursed the Dragon People, without exception, from birth—”
It was instant to the village at the bottom of the valley.
The scene changed again, and we moved to the center of the village.
In a square where no villagers were walking, Seldra and I were still facing each other.
Next, my gaze turned to the largest house in the village. Amidst the imposing black stone houses, there was an even larger, jet-black, and solemn residence. Following my gaze, Seldra also looked and groaned.
“Ah, aah…, th-this is…!”
“—Until they undergo the ceremony, children are raised by the entire clan. The children’s names are unified as ‘Young Dragon of the Village,’ as one member of the clan. This was also a common custom in such hidden villages. And through this common custom, two were chosen this year, even among the chosen race of Dragon People. It was a blue-haired Dragon Girl. She gained the name ‘Dragon King,’ a female. It was the first time in the long history of the ‘Village of the Wisdom Dragons’ to have a ‘Queen.’ Furthermore, there was another. A black-haired Dragon Boy. That child was born stronger, wiser, sturdier, more greedy, and more malicious than anyone else. At the age of three, he murdered his caretakers and attempted to devour other children, citing hunger. Moreover, he laughed without the slightest remorse, earning him the title ‘Evil Dragon.’ A Dragon Person who was even darker, more shadowed, and more ominous than the era of dark clouds. The villagers celebrated the birth of this ominously named child with great fanfare. In other villages, such a life would be disposed of or isolated. However, the adults of the ‘Village of the Wisdom Dragons’ began to raise him with great care—”
A deafening roar echoed from within the solemn mansion. It was a vibration that pierced even the stone walls, caused by the “Dragon’s Roar.” However, it wouldn’t be like this simply because a ceremony had ended. The black-haired boy’s existence was a vow for the clan, even more so than the usual “Dragon King.”
Seldra, who knew that better than anyone, trembled as I continued to read.
“My family… the ‘Filions,’ who have served the kings of this lineage for generations…”
“—There was a legend in the northern continent.
Longer ago than a thousand years, in the distant past.
In an era like a fairy tale, magic flew, various races fought, and they vied for dominance of the world.
That fairy tale always ended with the ‘dragon people’ being defeated and the ‘winged people’ being victorious. A story passed down in various places as a common fairy tale.
However, only ‘The Village of the Wise Dragons’ had a slightly different ending. It was richer and more accurate.
Through oral tradition, the name of the individual who became the ‘Ruler of the World’ was preserved.
A taboo name, barely to be uttered, ‘Noi El Lieberl.’
She was the nemesis of the ‘dragon people,’ the world’s enemy who cast an ominous cloud over this world—”
When I reached that point, I looked at Seldra next to me.
Seldra wasn’t looking at me, but at the center of the plaza.
Time had greatly advanced in the village, and a black-haired dragon person was grappling with adults.
Though young, he had a physique comparable to adults. His growth rate was abnormal, far surpassing other children. Furthermore, not only his body but also his strength and technique were immense, overwhelming multiple opponents while letting out crude laughter.
“—The ‘dragon people’ had been searching for a long time.
For someone who would one day possess the strength to reach and destroy that ‘Ruler of the World.’
Someone with not just strength, but the heart to mercilessly kill enemies, including the world itself.
Someone with an ‘innate difference’ that would allow them not to feel loneliness but pleasure, even if they had to devour all the races in this world and become ‘the last one.’
They had been waiting for a long time.
And finally, after more than a thousand years, this year, this village produced such a person.
The adults who studied the oral traditions most diligently rejoiced.
Among them, those who valued the blood and history of their lineage let out a great ‘Dragon’s Roar’—”
That boy was a more ‘evil dragon’ than any ‘evil dragon.’
He found pleasure in subduing others, enjoyed drinking blood, and above all, loved killing.
The surrounding people celebrated the ‘evil dragon’ who easily overpowered the adults.
They praised him, admired him, and rejoiced.
So, the boy, though a child, was happy and smiled.
He proudly thought of his own wickedness, believing himself to be a chosen dragon person.
“—The boy was given the name Fafnir Filion and was raised by the adults as an ‘evil dragon’ who would devour the world.
—Immediately, a ritual was performed to build all sorts of resistances.
Starving him, freezing him, and burning him with fire were too easy.
He was fed poison, his bones were broken, his flesh was torn, his organs were pierced, and he swam through scorching heat.
—A ritual was performed to make him know all sorts of wickedness.
As he experienced the world’s evils, he was made to partake in them.
Starting with cannibalism, everything forbidden to humans was covered.
—A ritual was performed for him to know all sorts of evil wisdom.
He was taught that the ‘Ruler of the World’ was the ‘evil god’ who had cast an ominous cloud over the sky.
However, he was also told that our ‘evil dragon’ was qualified to kill that ‘evil god’ and become the true god.
—Rituals that warped the soul were performed one after another.
Even if the world were to be destroyed, laugh.
No matter who was sacrificed, take pleasure.
Go and devour even to the ‘Deepest Part,’ the gathering place of souls, even if you have to go alone.
The adults preserved the ancient tradition.
They continued to teach him, even if it meant being hated, resented, and targeted with killing intent by the boy.
They wanted him to fulfill his mission with hatred and resentment towards the world and intent to kill.
Thus, the soul of the evil dragon was polished, staking the pride of the dragon people that had lasted for thousands of years. In the end, the boy grew to have the largest physique of all and became stronger than any living creature.
Every day, he flew higher than anyone else in the sky.
He was reveling in his life in the ominous clouds filled with ‘Demonic Poison.’
—The boy thought he was born in ‘Heaven.’
Looking down at the earth from the sky, he observed the lives of the beings smaller than himself.
It was so amusing that he couldn’t stop his deep, rumbling laughter.
—Seeing that, everyone in the village thought the ‘evil dragon’ was complete.
But that was not entirely accurate.
In their eagerness to preserve the tradition, no one noticed.
The boy was so inherently warped by his ‘innate differences’ that he no longer needed rituals. They repeatedly gave him education that was obvious to an already complete ‘evil dragon,’ and the ‘Curse’ granted by the rituals began to change—”
Seldra placed his feet on the village plaza and continued to follow the black shadow swimming in the ominous clouds with his eyes.
He was completely caught in Magic [Reading Shift] and unable to move.
Despite struggling with such determination, his fighting spirit had been crushed.
If Seldra were a ‘strong person,’ he could have easily brushed it off with “So what?”. However, he was a ‘Thief of Nothingness.’ He was weak to nostalgia and sentimentality, and once he touched it, he would instinctively pursue it.
‘Thieves of Principles’ always walked, searching, waiting, for the original landscape deep within their souls. Therefore, it was over.
I confirmed this.
“Is that Seldra…?”
“Ah… He’s laughing, thinking he became the ‘Strongest’ in this damn small experimental site. It’s me from when everything in life was still enjoyable…”
Seldra looked up at the sky, narrowing his eyes that had never been dazzled in his childhood.
