“That was the end to my story.”
Laplace said and took a breath.
Relaxing his tense shoulders, clenching his jaw.
However, his face remained pale and grim.
Anger, resentment, impatience did not disappear.
Those terrible memories must have been painful to recall.
"So ... what happened after that?"
Rostelina asked nervously.
"Hmm? Afterwards?"
“What happened after the Master arrived in the Human World? What of the survivors?”
“That’s quite a few questions, Rostelina!”
Laplace laughed helplessly and answered.
“Dragon Race has mostly died out. Of course, some managed to escape the Dragon World. But because the collapse came more swiftly than other worlds, comparably few managed to escape.”
Rostelina was a little relieved, but quickly noticed something.
“But then… where are all the Dragon Races?”
“They’re all killed…”
“W-why?”
“You don’t get it? Even though Hitogami was the mastermind behind it all, it was our hands that destroyed the worlds.”
Hatred, fear, anger of the Dragon Race permanently scarred the other races.
What if the Dragon Race came for the Human World next?
Indeed, fear of the Dragon Generals spread to this world as well.
“Well, there were few survivors.”
“Did Laplace help any of them?”
“No… I did not.”
“Why?”
“Because I had something I must do.”
Laplace was given an important task.
A request from Dragon God-sama on the verge of death.
A mission more important than the survival of the Dragon Race.
"After Dragon God-sama’s battle, I searched for Hitogami, but I couldn't find him.
Perhaps Dragon God-sama, having no chance at victory, somehow struck him a grave blow or sealed him."
“Do you not think it’s possible they destroyed each other?”
“There was a time when I thought of that as a possibility.
But after a while, Hitogami started to interfere with me indirectly.
It's proof that he's alive. "
As the last surviving Dragon General, Laplace diligently fulfilled his mission in the Human World.
Search for the missing Hitogami’s whereabouts, his true identity, weaknesses, and how to kill him, to hand over to Dragon’s God’s son Orsted, when he eventually arrives in the future.
"What is the true identity of Hitogami? For what purpose he did those terrible things..."
"Hmm, unfortunately, I haven't figured out that yet. I can guess at his goals, but he remained an enigma... but I have a hypothesis."
"That is?"
Laplace answered Rostelina.
"When I came to the Human World, it was a great shock.
What once was an endless flat plain has become filled with forests, mountains and trees.
Inhabitants of all the worlds live here.
It’s as if all the Six Worlds were weaved together… the world you’re now familiar with…
Moreover Hitogami said, ‘I’m the one and only god,’ as he struck the fatal blow to Dragon God-sama.”
Thus Laplace came to a conclusion.
“I think he wants to become the one-and-only god, for the one-and-only world.
So he caused the destruction of each world, absorbed them, and killed their gods.
The remaining question is, how did Hitogami gain the power of the gods in the first place…”
Laplace then put his hand on his chin, thought for a moment, peering at Rostelina.
"I told you before.
In the beginning, there was one god ... the Creator.
He died, but no one knew what happened after he died...
Dragon God-sama said so, and Lunaria-sama as well.
So where did you think the Creator died?”
“No idea.”
“I suspect he died in the world of nothingness.”
“World of nothingness?”
"It's an empty space that you pass through when you move between the worlds.
The Creator died within that center… so one day, he found it and took the corpse for himself.
Perhaps he used the divine power from that corpse to replace or capture Human God, the weakest among them.... "
"Ahh..."
"Of course, this was mere speculation.
It remains unclear to me what his true purpose was. "
For Laplace, the details of Hitogami’s origin are irrelevant.
Whether he was Human God, or if he had good reasons for murdering Dragon God-sama.
He researched and theorized, but his purpose remained the same.
Kill the one that murdered Dragon God-sama and trampled on the pride of the Five Dragon Generals, Hitogami.
"... So where is Hitogami now?"
"Hmm? Of course, in the world of nothingness."
"How can you be so sure?"
“Because I had searched everywhere in the Human World…
Perhaps Hitogami was sealed in the world of nothingness.
Or placed within a barrier with the last of Dragon God-sama’s power.
Or perhaps Hitogami put himself there in fear of Dragon God-sama….
Regardless, something great must have happened.”
“Does this mean you can’t go find Hitogami as long as the barrier remains?”
"I've already found a way to unlock it, but it requires enormous magical power and a significant amount of preparation. Even if I do, HItogami may be released. If I lose then, it’ll ruin everything.”
Laplace said bitterly.
Perhaps he wants to break the seal and fight Hitogami.
Perhaps he wants to avenge Dragon God-sama’s death and the Five Dragon Generals’ regret.
But he never did.
He proceeded, slowly and steadily.
One by one completing the elements that guarantee Hitogami’s demise.
“Laplace-sama had it hard, hasn’t it?”
"It's painful to remember the old days.
But for the sake of guaranteeing a future without Hitogami, it’s not so.
One day, Orsted-sama will arrive and fight against Hitogami, with everything I have prepared for him. The martial arts, magics, the techniques, weapons, and knowledge I created. No, not just Orsted. With the remaining Dragon Race, with Perugius-sama, fighting together against Hitogami. My heart pounds just imagining that moment."
With a smile, Laplace said.
He has been ready.
It was tough at first.
To start with nothing, except the mission to defeat Hitogami.
But thousands of years have made progress possible.
He worked on many things.
He passed Dragon Race’s magic and techniques to the fast-growing Human Race and studied the secret techniques of Dragon God-sama and the Five Dragon Generals..
When the Human Race developed and improved upon his teachings, he learned from them and shared his newfound knowledge.
He prepared countermeasures for the side-effects of the magic circles used on Orsted.
That was not all.
In the event Hitogami’s death had adverse effects, he prepared for that as well.
For the descendants of the Five Dragon Generals, he hidden in various corners of the world treasures made from fragments of Dragon God-sama’s divine jewel, and records of his research results in ruins all over the world.
Doing everything he can.
Not just now, but for the long term.
Preparing for every hypothetical.
It was no longer so painful.
Because the darkness has passed and the future is bright.
"..."
But Rostelina could feel it.
A sense of distance.
Laplace’s war.
There’s no place for her there between Hitogami and the Dragon Race.
It made Rostelina very sad.
"Laplace-sama!"
"What is it?"
"Is... there anything I can do?"
Laplace was taken aback by Rosterina's words.
But soon with a soft smile, he stroked her head.
"You’re always helping me, with cleaning and washing. Not only that, your presence soothes my heart, that has been lonely since I came to the human world. It’s fine as long as you’re here.”
It was just a whim when Laplace picked her up.
Of course, there was also a possibility that something useful may come of it.
An enormous magical power lay dormant in her body that’s hard to come by.
However, he didn’t plan on using her.
Laplace is a person too.
After living together for so long, feelings have developed.
She’s the only one who could heal Laplace now.
"I don't like that! I also want to help Laplace!
I don't think we can fight together, but isn’t there anything?
Something that will benefit that child in the future ... "
Laplace never asked Rostelina for anything.
He hasn’t thus far.
Just to wait for him to return.
Surely she could do more than simply sooth his heart?
Waiting can be hard as well.
"Hmm……"
Laplace knew first hand, how hard waiting can be.
He had been waiting for a long time for Orsted, son of Dragon God-sama.
As preparation dwindled, when there’s nothing else left to do but wait, he might have found himself a little restless as well.
“Hmm, I understand. If you insist, I’ll have your help.”
Thus Laplace said.
"Is there anything I can do !?"
"Oh, but it may be painful for you."
"What is it!? I will do anything!"
“I’ll need to remove those magic circles I placed on you and restore the curse in your body.”
"Ughh..."
Rostelina’s face turned a little pale, hearing that her curse would return.
Plunge back to the darkness she once bore.
There was an instinctual fear against that.
“Then I’ll use the demon’s arcane technique to gradually reshape your body, so that you can become a store of enormous magic powers that can be passed onto others.”
“Others..?”
“Yes. Orsted-sama was vested with a number of abilities to defeat Hitogami, so his magic power would deplete as a result. If the magic consumption is higher than we anticipated, it may exceed Orsted-sama’s ability to recover.”
“Ah! So my magic power would be useful there!”
“That’s right. It’ll take a long time for the arcane technique to change your body to an ideal state. Maybe a century or two. You won't be able to live like you used to.”
“If everything can be done in my sleep, I think I’ll be okay.”
“The changes to your body would affect your mind in a variety or ways. With the passage of time, it’ll even obscure your memories.”
“You mean, my personality… even my memory of Master might be lost?”
“Yes. Of course, as long as I make periodic adjustments, your memories can be maintained.”
“Then… I’ll entrust myself to Master.”
“So you will bear it?”
“Yes.”
Rostelina’s response left Laplace a little grim.
Realizing their current lifestyle was over.
Her voice would disappear from their household.
Rostelina, whose presence was a reminder of that warm household back in Dragon World, would disappear.
A sense of melancholy.
However, Rostelina chose for Laplace’s sake, for Dragon God-sama’s sake, Laplace could not refuse.
Because Laplace was a Dragon General.
He could not refuse someone who wished to work for Dragon God-sama.
"Well ... then come. Let's get ready."
Laplace said, forcing a smile on his face.
■
An underground cave in the depths of Dragon’s Roar Mountain.
A place Laplace uses as one of the laboratories.
In it were many giant magic circles constructed of stone.
The entire cave was a giant magic tool.
In its depth, there was a girl.
Her body dipped in waters with a faint shine, her eyes closed, asleep.
“--- Then the saint overthrew the Demon King and returned to his beloved.”
Laplace was sitting in front of her and speaking quietly.
A story from long ago.
A heroic tale of the Human World.
"Well, that’s it for today."
When the story was over, Laplace slowly stood up.
"I'm heading to battle again.
You can't tell what Hitogami is thinking, but nothing good could come of it.
I must go now.”
Laplace said, placing a hand over Rosterina, then slowly covering her sleeping pedestal with a transparent lid.
Laplace patted the lid as it became completely submerged with shining water.
"let's continue the story once i’m done. No worries, because no story is as miserable as those of Dragon World’s."
Laplace said so and turned his heels.
"I’m going, take care..."
His footsteps fade with each step.
When Laplace left, the lights in the room began to fade.
Eventually the footsteps disappeared, and the room was engulfed in darkness.
Rostelina was unconscious.
But Laplace’s story surely reached her, deep within her consciousness.
She would wait.
Waiting for the day when the arcane adjustments ends and she can help Laplace.
In the darkness, waiting.
Always, waiting...
“That was the end to my story.”
Laplace said and took a breath.
Relaxing his tense shoulders, clenching his jaw.
However, his face remained pale and grim.
Anger, resentment, impatience did not disappear.
Those terrible memories must have been painful to recall.
"So ... what happened after that?"
Rostelina asked nervously.
"Hmm? Afterwards?"
“What happened after the Master arrived in the Human World? What of the survivors?”
“That’s quite a few questions, Rostelina!”
Laplace laughed helplessly and answered.
“Dragon Race has mostly died out. Of course, some managed to escape the Dragon World. But because the collapse came more swiftly than other worlds, comparably few managed to escape.”
Rostelina was a little relieved, but quickly noticed something.
“But then… where are all the Dragon Races?”
“They’re all killed…”
“W-why?”
“You don’t get it? Even though Hitogami was the mastermind behind it all, it was our hands that destroyed the worlds.”
Hatred, fear, anger of the Dragon Race permanently scarred the other races.
What if the Dragon Race came for the Human World next?
Indeed, fear of the Dragon Generals spread to this world as well.
“Well, there were few survivors.”
“Did Laplace help any of them?”
“No… I did not.”
“Why?”
“Because I had something I must do.”
Laplace was given an important task.
A request from Dragon God-sama on the verge of death.
A mission more important than the survival of the Dragon Race.
"After Dragon God-sama’s battle, I searched for Hitogami, but I couldn't find him.
Perhaps Dragon God-sama, having no chance at victory, somehow struck him a grave blow or sealed him."
“Do you not think it’s possible they destroyed each other?”
“There was a time when I thought of that as a possibility.
But after a while, Hitogami started to interfere with me indirectly.
It's proof that he's alive. "
As the last surviving Dragon General, Laplace diligently fulfilled his mission in the Human World.
Search for the missing Hitogami’s whereabouts, his true identity, weaknesses, and how to kill him, to hand over to Dragon’s God’s son Orsted, when he eventually arrives in the future.
"What is the true identity of Hitogami? For what purpose he did those terrible things..."
"Hmm, unfortunately, I haven't figured out that yet. I can guess at his goals, but he remained an enigma... but I have a hypothesis."
"That is?"
Laplace answered Rostelina.
"When I came to the Human World, it was a great shock.
What once was an endless flat plain has become filled with forests, mountains and trees.
Inhabitants of all the worlds live here.
It’s as if all the Six Worlds were weaved together… the world you’re now familiar with…
Moreover Hitogami said, ‘I’m the one and only god,’ as he struck the fatal blow to Dragon God-sama.”
Thus Laplace came to a conclusion.
“I think he wants to become the one-and-only god, for the one-and-only world.
So he caused the destruction of each world, absorbed them, and killed their gods.
The remaining question is, how did Hitogami gain the power of the gods in the first place…”
Laplace then put his hand on his chin, thought for a moment, peering at Rostelina.
"I told you before.
In the beginning, there was one god ... the Creator.
He died, but no one knew what happened after he died...
Dragon God-sama said so, and Lunaria-sama as well.
So where did you think the Creator died?”
“No idea.”
“I suspect he died in the world of nothingness.”
“World of nothingness?”
"It's an empty space that you pass through when you move between the worlds.
The Creator died within that center… so one day, he found it and took the corpse for himself.
Perhaps he used the divine power from that corpse to replace or capture Human God, the weakest among them.... "
"Ahh..."
"Of course, this was mere speculation.
It remains unclear to me what his true purpose was. "
For Laplace, the details of Hitogami’s origin are irrelevant.
Whether he was Human God, or if he had good reasons for murdering Dragon God-sama.
He researched and theorized, but his purpose remained the same.
Kill the one that murdered Dragon God-sama and trampled on the pride of the Five Dragon Generals, Hitogami.
"... So where is Hitogami now?"
"Hmm? Of course, in the world of nothingness."
"How can you be so sure?"
“Because I had searched everywhere in the Human World…
Perhaps Hitogami was sealed in the world of nothingness.
Or placed within a barrier with the last of Dragon God-sama’s power.
Or perhaps Hitogami put himself there in fear of Dragon God-sama….
Regardless, something great must have happened.”
“Does this mean you can’t go find Hitogami as long as the barrier remains?”
"I've already found a way to unlock it, but it requires enormous magical power and a significant amount of preparation. Even if I do, HItogami may be released. If I lose then, it’ll ruin everything.”
Laplace said bitterly.
Perhaps he wants to break the seal and fight Hitogami.
Perhaps he wants to avenge Dragon God-sama’s death and the Five Dragon Generals’ regret.
But he never did.
He proceeded, slowly and steadily.
One by one completing the elements that guarantee Hitogami’s demise.
“Laplace-sama had it hard, hasn’t it?”
"It's painful to remember the old days.
But for the sake of guaranteeing a future without Hitogami, it’s not so.
One day, Orsted-sama will arrive and fight against Hitogami, with everything I have prepared for him. The martial arts, magics, the techniques, weapons, and knowledge I created. No, not just Orsted. With the remaining Dragon Race, with Perugius-sama, fighting together against Hitogami. My heart pounds just imagining that moment."
With a smile, Laplace said.
He has been ready.
It was tough at first.
To start with nothing, except the mission to defeat Hitogami.
But thousands of years have made progress possible.
He worked on many things.
He passed Dragon Race’s magic and techniques to the fast-growing Human Race and studied the secret techniques of Dragon God-sama and the Five Dragon Generals..
When the Human Race developed and improved upon his teachings, he learned from them and shared his newfound knowledge.
He prepared countermeasures for the side-effects of the magic circles used on Orsted.
That was not all.
In the event Hitogami’s death had adverse effects, he prepared for that as well.
For the descendants of the Five Dragon Generals, he hidden in various corners of the world treasures made from fragments of Dragon God-sama’s divine jewel, and records of his research results in ruins all over the world.
Doing everything he can.
Not just now, but for the long term.
Preparing for every hypothetical.
It was no longer so painful.
Because the darkness has passed and the future is bright.
"..."
But Rostelina could feel it.
A sense of distance.
Laplace’s war.
There’s no place for her there between Hitogami and the Dragon Race.
It made Rostelina very sad.
"Laplace-sama!"
"What is it?"
"Is... there anything I can do?"
Laplace was taken aback by Rosterina's words.
But soon with a soft smile, he stroked her head.
"You’re always helping me, with cleaning and washing. Not only that, your presence soothes my heart, that has been lonely since I came to the human world. It’s fine as long as you’re here.”
It was just a whim when Laplace picked her up.
Of course, there was also a possibility that something useful may come of it.
An enormous magical power lay dormant in her body that’s hard to come by.
However, he didn’t plan on using her.
Laplace is a person too.
After living together for so long, feelings have developed.
She’s the only one who could heal Laplace now.
"I don't like that! I also want to help Laplace!
I don't think we can fight together, but isn’t there anything?
Something that will benefit that child in the future ... "
Laplace never asked Rostelina for anything.
He hasn’t thus far.
Just to wait for him to return.
Surely she could do more than simply sooth his heart?
Waiting can be hard as well.
"Hmm……"
Laplace knew first hand, how hard waiting can be.
He had been waiting for a long time for Orsted, son of Dragon God-sama.
As preparation dwindled, when there’s nothing else left to do but wait, he might have found himself a little restless as well.
“Hmm, I understand. If you insist, I’ll have your help.”
Thus Laplace said.
"Is there anything I can do !?"
"Oh, but it may be painful for you."
"What is it!? I will do anything!"
“I’ll need to remove those magic circles I placed on you and restore the curse in your body.”
"Ughh..."
Rostelina’s face turned a little pale, hearing that her curse would return.
Plunge back to the darkness she once bore.
There was an instinctual fear against that.
“Then I’ll use the demon’s arcane technique to gradually reshape your body, so that you can become a store of enormous magic powers that can be passed onto others.”
“Others..?”
“Yes. Orsted-sama was vested with a number of abilities to defeat Hitogami, so his magic power would deplete as a result. If the magic consumption is higher than we anticipated, it may exceed Orsted-sama’s ability to recover.”
“Ah! So my magic power would be useful there!”
“That’s right. It’ll take a long time for the arcane technique to change your body to an ideal state. Maybe a century or two. You won't be able to live like you used to.”
“If everything can be done in my sleep, I think I’ll be okay.”
“The changes to your body would affect your mind in a variety or ways. With the passage of time, it’ll even obscure your memories.”
“You mean, my personality… even my memory of Master might be lost?”
“Yes. Of course, as long as I make periodic adjustments, your memories can be maintained.”
“Then… I’ll entrust myself to Master.”
“So you will bear it?”
“Yes.”
Rostelina’s response left Laplace a little grim.
Realizing their current lifestyle was over.
Her voice would disappear from their household.
Rostelina, whose presence was a reminder of that warm household back in Dragon World, would disappear.
A sense of melancholy.
However, Rostelina chose for Laplace’s sake, for Dragon God-sama’s sake, Laplace could not refuse.
Because Laplace was a Dragon General.
He could not refuse someone who wished to work for Dragon God-sama.
"Well ... then come. Let's get ready."
Laplace said, forcing a smile on his face.
■
An underground cave in the depths of Dragon’s Roar Mountain.
A place Laplace uses as one of the laboratories.
In it were many giant magic circles constructed of stone.
The entire cave was a giant magic tool.
In its depth, there was a girl.
Her body dipped in waters with a faint shine, her eyes closed, asleep.
“--- Then the saint overthrew the Demon King and returned to his beloved.”
Laplace was sitting in front of her and speaking quietly.
A story from long ago.
A heroic tale of the Human World.
"Well, that’s it for today."
When the story was over, Laplace slowly stood up.
"I'm heading to battle again.
You can't tell what Hitogami is thinking, but nothing good could come of it.
I must go now.”
Laplace said, placing a hand over Rosterina, then slowly covering her sleeping pedestal with a transparent lid.
Laplace patted the lid as it became completely submerged with shining water.
"let's continue the story once i’m done. No worries, because no story is as miserable as those of Dragon World’s."
Laplace said so and turned his heels.
"I’m going, take care..."
His footsteps fade with each step.
When Laplace left, the lights in the room began to fade.
Eventually the footsteps disappeared, and the room was engulfed in darkness.
Rostelina was unconscious.
But Laplace’s story surely reached her, deep within her consciousness.
She would wait.
Waiting for the day when the arcane adjustments ends and she can help Laplace.
In the darkness, waiting.
Always, waiting...
