Chapter 55

This is the first time something like this has happened.

The place I was in was the deepest part of the dimension.

In other words, it was the part that could be called the “power source.”

So, I let my guard down.

I never thought they would tear that part out and banish me.

This isn’t just about giving up flesh to take the bone.

It’s like saying, “Let’s just die together.”

Of course, if I wait around for about 10,000 years, I might recover, but…

Anyway, it’s a blunder.

I never even thought such a method could be used.

I checked my current condition.

Physically and mentally, there’s nothing wrong.

Not bad.

Just a bit stuffy, that’s all.

“Belva, what’s the time ratio between here and there?”

[Time ratio? Just a moment.]

Belva, who disappeared for a while, came back after more than an hour had passed.

[How long has it been?]

“A little over an hour.”

[……]

Ah. This doesn’t feel good.

With a hint of unease, I asked Belva again.

“How about you? How long has it been for you?”

Belva’s voice was trembling.

[About three seconds……]

Let’s just assume it’s a ratio of 1:1000.

The difference is extreme.

Even if I spend a year here, less than half a day would pass there.

Naturally, it would take an eternity to figure out a method and try it.

I might as well do it myself.

“There’s no Dimension Power here at all.”

This must be the “closed world” Belva warned me about.

A world without any external interference.

A world slowly dying.

[…Are you okay?]

Of course, I’m okay.

Half a year has already passed, but my mind is still intact.

It must be the power of divinity.

The power to constantly communicate with myself and firmly establish my ego.

During that time, I explored the entire world.

I don’t know how many laps I made.

And I became certain.

There’s nothing. Absolutely nothing.

It’s literally a “dead” world, a dimension that has lost its meaning.

No enemies to fight. No lives to save.

Nothing but me and the void I created, endlessly repeating thoughts.

[Now, there’s not much Divine Power left.]

“Yeah. Just tell me when it’s really necessary. I’ll take it easy.”

[…Sorry.]

That tickles.

I chuckled and waved my hand.

“Just do what you need to do. I’ve got plenty to do too.”

And the connection was cut.

Silence covered the sky.

First, what I need is complete control over divinity.

Not being included within divinity.

I need to swallow divinity whole.

To do that, I first need to extract as much Divine Power as possible to understand its limits.

It’s something I couldn’t do before because it was too dangerous.

Now that I’m alone, it’s the perfect time.

*Thud*

With the sound of an ink-filled drum toppling over, a black slime flowed out from within me, covering my body.

All the emotions I usually suppress burst out and took over my will.

“*Sigh*”

It’s funny.

Even so, there’s nothing here.

It’s all for nothing.

The Divine Power that flowed out rampaged like a madman for a whole day before finally calming down.

*Swish, swish*

I draw pictures in the sand with my fingers.

A dinosaur. A house. A palm tree and white wings.

I’ve liked art since I was a kid.

I gave up because I had no talent, but sometimes I think about it.

What if I hadn’t given up and kept going?

Maybe I could have succeeded.

[I don’t think… that would have happened.]

What’s wrong with my drawing!

At least it’s recognizable.

[Umm…]

This time, I focused my mind and tried to draw in the air with just my imagination.

No need to draw lines.

In my imagination, lines, surfaces, and spaces appear simultaneously.

While drawing the dinosaur’s teeth, I suddenly realized it was just an illusion, and my concentration wavered.

*Crash* The clumsy imaginary drawing scattered like a sandcastle collapsing.

[Are you still doing okay?]

Of course, I’m doing fine.

[Yeona?]

“Ah. Um. I’m fine. I am.”

The imaginary Belva didn’t need to open her mouth to talk.

That’s the real one.

“How many days have passed? You know, it’s hard to feel time here.”

At my words, Belva trembled as if holding back tears and answered in a suppressed voice.

[…About a week.]

A week, huh.

Then how much time has passed here?

Since there’s a thousand-fold difference between there and here… well, it’s a meaningless calculation.

I gave up and just laughed.

“Why are you like this? You know me. I’m fine. As long as I’m alive, nothing else matters.”

Belva was still crying.

Somehow, I felt sad too.

Suddenly, my feet felt cold.

A chill was coming.

…Ice? Why is there ice all of a sudden?

An ice field spread out before my eyes.

A cold wind brushed past my cheeks.

It feels strangely familiar.

[We’re here again.]

“Yeah. I didn’t think I’d come back here. Surprising.”

The same scene as before.

Dimensional Stones are scattered everywhere, and a snowstorm is raging.

The chill pierces even the divine, seeping into me.

Of course, it’s natural. Even divinity can’t stop thoughts.

“Could I really recall everything this vividly?”

Belva responded to my muttering.

[Probably because so much time has passed. Enough to pull even a single scene from the past into reality.]

Amazing. The potential of humans, huh? They say people only use 10% of their brains their whole lives—was that true?

[Wasn’t that debunked?]

“Right.”

Lately, my mind, pushed to its limits, has been trying all sorts of methods to find a breakthrough. To overcome my depression, it seems I’ve recreated a fiction almost indistinguishable from reality this time. Using this entire world as a green screen.

“Still, it’s small.”

It’s a bit disappointing compared to the actual ice field.

[It can’t be helped. The Great Cataclysm hasn’t happened there yet, so the world hasn’t split within the dimension. There’s no distinction between upper and lower worlds.]

“I don’t believe you.”

[Because I’m not the real Belva, just an imagination?]

“Right.”

That Belva is an illusion. Just like this ice field, it’s a combination of things I’ve heard and seen before. It’s like dreaming. It’s fine for alleviating loneliness, but believing and accepting the information it provides isn’t good.

[But does it have meaning?]

As soon as she said that, Belva with white wings, from my memories, stood beside me.

…This is insane. No, I’m insane. How crazy am I? I can’t even grasp it.

“Why do you look like that? You haven’t upgraded.”

“Because I’m more familiar with this form. I’ve been with this one much longer.”

“…You’re smart. Are you real?”

I chuckled and moved forward. The sound of footsteps following behind was vivid in my ears.

“…Is that Miho?”

“It’s Miho.”

In the snow, a small fox lay motionless. Wow, even this is coming out?

“Hey, Miho. What’s this?”

I picked Miho up and held her in my arms. Then, Miho looked at me with clear eyes and started acting cute.

Hmm.

Petting the small, fluffy Miho…

Ah, I feel happy. My heart is melting.

Let’s see, what did I do next?

“You threw her away.”

…Ah. Right. That’s what happened back then.

“I’m sorry about that time.”

This time, I didn’t throw her away. Holding her tightly, I revisited various zones with Miho. I caught dinosaurs, met spirits, killed Plentera…

Meanwhile, Miho grew back into her previous form with red hair. Now, I couldn’t hold her anymore.

“Why?”

“You’re too big.”

“Then don’t hold them either.”

At her words, I looked at the trio of young demons clinging to my legs. They were battered from being pecked by pterodactyls.

“…Long time no see.”

They were trembling pitifully. Every time Miho’s gaze fell on them, the trio shivered violently. Then, they melted away and disappeared. Either my mental strength was lacking, or even in this illusion, they didn’t want to be with Miho.

Leaving the vanished trio behind, I walked forward again. Slowly retracing the memories that had flowed by.

*

[Ah. Are you okay?]

I turned my head to look at Belva. She tilted her head, pointing at herself with her finger.

“Not me?”

Ah. Right. The real Belva.

I snapped back to reality and cleared my throat.

“Ahem, ahem. …Why?”

[Just, there’s something to tell you… Are you hurt anywhere?]

“I’m always healthy. More importantly, you said you have something to tell me?”

[Yes. It’s about Miho.]

At that, I turned to look at Miho. She was picking and eating fruit beside me, startled when I looked at her.

Something feels off…

“Did she cause some trouble?”

[Yes.]

Hmm. I have a bad feeling. If Miho found out I disappeared…

I whispered quietly, a vague unease creeping in. What kind of mess happened?

[Well…]

Belva hesitated for a moment, then sighed and spilled it.

[She allied with Shiva and started a war. Demanding you be returned immediately. Saying this world should just disappear… 13% of the Dimensional Stones have been destroyed so far. Zeus and Odin are holding them off, but who knows how long they can last…]

I quietly looked at Miho. The fictional Miho, chewing on a fruit without a word, smiled faintly.

“…Of course she would.”