Chapter 648 – Choices and Possibilities
000
Apoptosis is a word used in the primordial world to mean ‘cell suicide’.
When cells are infected or damaged, or when their lifespan is over, cell suicide occurs, which regulates the number of cells by themselves.
That is, the process of self-purging yourself, out of necessity and for rational reasons.
That is a phenomenon called apoptosis.
And three types of weapons that received that name and began to develop.
According to its etymology, they were ‘weapons for mankind to eliminate itself, produced by the hands of mankind’, with the power to exterminate mankind itself.
Behemoth of the land, Leviathan of the sea, and Ziz of the sky.
The weapons, with motifs of powerful beasts in mythology, began to be produced with the goal of launching actions to build humanity on land, sea, and sky, respectively, when the time came.
Why did mankind create such a thing? Do you really want to destroy yourself?
No, no.
Just as nuclear weapons once did, humans have lived with ‘fear’ that they might one day destroy themselves.
However, that fear has not always been able to prevent human madness and anger.
Even with the risk of becoming a source of disaster, people quarrel, hate, and even start a war.
Ego not understanding each other. The delusion and arrogance that only they could escape the destructive flames took away reason from them and paralyzed their fear.
So that’s what some humans thought.
If the current strength is not enough, more than that, humanity needs to restrain itself.
An incarnation of destruction with overwhelming power that no one can stop once the switch is pressed.
They just need to create a weapon capable of destroying not only mankind, but this planet itself, and place it at their necks.
A weapon with enough power to turn that place into a ‘place of nothing’ at any time if someone, or anywhere, something called war breaks out.
In other words, ‘apoptosis weapon’ is a deterrent created by mankind to prevent their own runaway.
It is the final weapon that can cause the end of mankind, and was created to act as a brake.
For a high and lofty ideal, technology that could overwhelm all existing weapons was needed.
Therefore, numerous scholars gathered to develop weapons, and they soon became an organization that did not belong to any country and operated only for world peace.
Established a unified peacekeeping agency and began research with its own authority.
However, the longer the study went on, the more various problems arose in the world.
For example, desertification due to exhaustion of mana.
Or the appearance of humans with abnormal, time bomb-like magical abilities.
Naturally, in order to solve such problems, the authority of the sustaining body became stronger and finally took on the role of the World Congress, which was previously held by the United Nations.
At that timing, they renamed their agency the Peace Rescue Control Organization—an organization called the Control Organization for short.
And with a stronger voice than any other country, in the name of preventing the apocalypse, it commandeered numerous resources and spurred the development of Apoposis.
In the process, there were numerous incidents.
Hundreds of people were injured or killed when a laboratory was destroyed by terrorists of the opposing faction who opposed the development of the weapon itself.
A scholar who participated in the development of the weapon was found to be able to operate the weapon without going through any security procedures, the scholar was executed, and his hometown was treated as an enemy of the world.
Again, much blood and iron was shed to create the armed forces for peace.
However.
Unfortunately, maybe not for granted.
I might have had to say that all those sacrifices were meaningless.
After all, even after the weapon that could perfectly control and suppress everything was completed, humans did not stop fighting.
The 4th Energy War, the Battle for the Magical Oasis, and the Holy Sword Battle.
Every time the turmoil of a new war raged, there was a saying that now is the time to activate the apoptosis weapon.
The controlling body says they can control the situation and fails to use deterrence as a deterrent.
After all, they may have been constantly increasing the end of the dying species with the hope that ‘humanity may not be the end yet’.
However, at the end of the world where they held such vain hopes, they finally activated all three Apoptosis Weapons.
And even that, as he foretold and intended, he did not intend to destroy mankind with his own hands.
As a means to counter the external factors that seek to destroy mankind.
The apostle of the end that fell from the sky.
A living calamity, an adversary of humans sent by the Lord of the Throne, who acknowledged that humans in the primordial world were a threat to the lives of the planets.
As a weapon to defeat the golden comet.
After finishing all the stories, Lilim closes and opens her eyes for a moment and looks at Artis, who was listening to her story.
Artis thinks of something, then answers her story with a somewhat despondent look on her face.
“But mankind in the primordial world has perished. Then, the apoptosis weapon – so, the three weapons, including the Leviathan, couldn’t defeat the golden comet?”
“The Golden Comet ignored them and focused on its own business. Rather, the apoptosis weapon was not a weapon created to ‘save’ mankind. While attacking the comet, he didn’t care about the damage around him at all. Even if left alone, it helped to annihilate mankind.”
Horrible story, thought Artis.
“When humans in the primordial world disappeared, the apoptosis weapon would have judged itself to have fulfilled its role and fell into a dormant state. And they stopped moving in their respective positions, and haven’t moved since then. Its existence would not have been known.”
However, in preparation for the decisive battle with Adam, the Demonic Sword Emperor devised a means to stock up on that power at random.
As part of finding the means, he showed a strong obsession with the artifacts of the primordial world, and then found records related to Leviathan in the emerald tablet he accidentally found and sent soldiers to the vicinity of the Sarong Mountains.
If – had the Empire’s soldiers succeeded in finding and activating the Leviathan without Lesia’s interference –
No one could have easily predicted what would have happened.
“Didn’t the Demonic Sword Emperor think that after waking up Leviathan, he would be able to control it himself?”
“Yes. That’s right. The records said that only beings with a ‘special factor’ could control Leviathan.”
To be honest, even Lilim wasn’t sure if that meant a reincarnation factor.
So, when he heard that Lesia had annihilated the Imperial Army’s Leviathan search party, he might have felt relieved somewhere without even realizing it.
“So you’d better give up too. Leviathan…Maybe, he might try to once again achieve the meaning of his existence by destroying mankind once again.”
“…”
In response to Lilim’s warning, Artis was unable to say anything.
Looking at her face, which looked a bit sad somewhere, Lilim looked away from her and muttered self-deprecatingly.
“What. I do not have the right to say such things.”
001
When Artis comes into the living room and collapses onto the sofa, she swiftly and gracefully puts a cup of tea on the table in front of her.
What can be seen inside is white milk embroidered on top of the reddish liquid.
Originally, she is Artis who likes to mix and drink alcohol, but if it’s her second favorite, she doesn’t mind adding honey to it.
Then, naturally, as if you knew it, right next to the teacup was a bowl filled with luxurious honey, and even a dedicated teaspoon.
It was not her servant, but Kshat, her friend’s servant, who gave her what she wanted now.
“Ah… Thank you.”
As Artis said, she expressed her appreciation as she looked at Kshat, who bowed politely in front of her.
“No. I hope you made her face look exhausted. At the end of a long story, you can’t just laugh all the time. Please wait a moment. I will prepare refreshments that go well with tea.”
Saying so, Kshat headed for the kitchen of the inn.
This was once an inn used by Cleon and his party, but now Attis, Fleur, and Kshat were staying.
The reason, of course, was that I couldn’t leave it at Gonzalez and Emma’s house when everyone was away.
Quon himself asked Fleur, and since Fleur couldn’t see her child alone, Kshat joined in.
In addition, if the two of them stayed here, he would have nothing to do with himself, so he was waiting for the others to come back from the inn while listening to Lilim.
FYI, Fleur is now lying face down exhausted from dealing with two small children in her yard in order to complete her entrusted task of looking after her young children.
The physical strength of children should not be underestimated.
Even watching such a heartwarming scene, Artis couldn’t easily smile.
No, it would be better to say that I can’t erase the worry on my face.
The story related to Leviathan he heard from Lilim, and after finding it, worried about what he should do.
The reason he started looking for Leviathan was to prove that the results of his father’s research were not false.
And even for those who believed in his story, he couldn’t stop looking for Leviathan.
Besides, as much as Cleon, he thought he wanted to give a blow to the Exiled Church and the regressors.
Considering what he must do and what he can do with this knowledge to stop their schemes and schemes, it is only natural to help Cleon in his search for an artifact that can be used as a means against Adam. Was
From that point of view- Leviathan was perfectly suited to their purpose… I thought so.
When she hears that Leviathan might turn this world into a mess, she feels that all her efforts so far have been in vain.
“…Shit…”
Unknowingly, curse words came out of his mouth, and he wanted to put a cigarette in his mouth.
He thought about going outside and smoking a cigarette, but he doesn’t even have the motivation to get up from his seat.
“If it’s okay, I’ll listen to the story too.”
At that time, a small piece of cake was placed in front of the table while hearing such a voice.
Of course, it was Kshat who prepared it, and she was looking at Artis with a small smile and a caring smile.
“Are you okay? You might complain more than usual.”
When Artis says that with her half-joke, Kshat answers her with her smile still intact.
“As a butler, it is my job to answer any questions with sincerity if I can alleviate the worries of the lady’s friend.”
Is that really the butler’s job? And Artis thought for a moment.
Perhaps thinking that nothing would happen if she hugged her by herself, she raised her limp body, leaned back on her sofa, and talked about the series of conversations she had shared with Lilim.
Something about Leviathan, and something about the Apoptosis Weapon. And now, she is struggling with herself.
No matter what choice I made, I felt a little relieved when I finished the story while hiding the fear that I might hurt someone with a slightly insincere attitude.
“Indeed. That is a difficult problem to decide.”
Kshat nodded her head and replied as if he understood Artis’ feelings.
At some point, Artis’ teacup was empty, and the cake in front of her was also gone, but Artis couldn’t remember whether he ate it while talking, or whether Gonzalez sneaked up and took the cake from his plate because he was so focused on the story. Didn’t come out
“So… What do you think should be done? Will you wake Leviathan, or will you bury him without waking him?”
Attis thanked Kshat for her empathy, but she asked her that question, even though she knew full well that she couldn’t make her own decision.
Then, as expected of her, she will also put on a troubled expression.
“Sorry. I don’t think I would dare to comment on either side.”
“What is it? Sorry sorry. It has become grumpy.”
Realizing that he too had a very bad personality, he was about to fall asleep on the sofa once again, when Kshat opened his mouth again.
“But…”
Then, she quietly looked at Artis and spoke.
“But. I’m a bit suspicious. Are there really only those two options? I say.”
“…”
“At least for now, it might seem that way. Awaken an uncontrollable weapon with the power to destroy the world, or not. Fate sometimes forces us to make cruel alternatives, testing us.”
For example, in a situation where he might be manipulated by someone and end up killing his master.
Will you let yourself kill your master, or will you die to protect your master?
“But. I think it’s just a trick of fate. Being overshadowed by the huge options in front of your eyes, the possibility is eliminated.”
To not accept such despair, to explore all the possibilities one has in order to resist fate.
He and the young lady were able to get out of the abyss of despair thanks to Cleon.
Instead of a close option with a sad ending, even if it’s a little far away, somewhere, the best ending that anyone can be happy may be open.
“Isn’t the important thing to doubt that there really are only ‘two kinds of answers’? Certainly, Attis-sama might be able to find it more easily than an ignorant human like me. The ending that I really wanted to see awaits at the end of the road I did not give up on.”
After Kshat finished speaking, Artis stared blankly at her for a while, then jumped up from her seat.
“I’ll smoke one and come.”
“Is it again? Today I already have three…”
Kshat had been told by Calia to moderately restrain her from smoking her tobacco.
However, Artis was already holding a cigarette in his mouth, his lips twitching.
“Sorry. I have something to think about.”
When she said that, her expression brightened a little, as if she had found a clue to a possibility somewhere.
After seeing her face like that, Kshat shook her head as if she thought that even if she blinked her eyes two or three times, she couldn’t stop her.
Of course, without seeing such Kshat’s reaction, Artis has already strode out of the building, then lights a match and burns the cigarette.
‘Lilim said. There was a document saying that a human with a special factor was needed to control Leviathan. The Demonic Sword Emperor seems to have thought it was him, but that is not certain information. However, if we can find a human with that factor—the things Lilim is concerned about won’t happen.’
If so, the power of Leviathan might not be used only for complete destruction.
As Kshat said, there were not only two endings.
Artis takes out a small orb with a button from her pocket.
Then, when the button is pressed, the sphere clicks, the lid opens, and the propeller pops out and spins, lifting Artis’ hand a little.
It looked like a mechanical device somewhere, and it was a type of drone that was one of the artifacts found in the Weapons Research Institute.
“Recording mode.”
[Recording begins.]
For a while, after she said something of her own to the drone, it whizzed up into the sky and started moving somewhere.
As it is, she will go to her assistants who are inspecting her laboratory, and she will tell the voice she recorded.
“Okay…Don’t underestimate the archaeologist.”
While saying that, Artis stretched out greatly.
Then, at the end of her gaze, she could see Cleon returning with Lila.
