Amphitheater (4)

“I didn’t know the day would come so quickly.”

Kleio slowly turned his head. The boy stared at Arthur with a dry expression as if he had lived a century, one that held no surprise or fear. If anything, it seemed he felt a vague sense of liberation and relief.

“Just tell me everything, Lei. As a favor. May you keep me in good faith as I have no choice but to ask.”

Arthur’s voice began to fade as he spoke. Even though he had lived several lifetimes, the prince was still young, so Jungjin thought he was unfairly wielding the calm of those who had lived a relatively long time. Of course, he had no intention of returning the tilted scale back in its place. He had a duty and a mission, but it wasn’t his job to convey unnecessary truths to the protagonist. Disclosing all the details of his identity wouldn’t be desirable either. It was beyond him to create original stories, but picking up some typical excuses was in his wheelhouse.

“Arthur. Just as you and your brothers predict the future their own way, so do I. Also, as this world is vulnerable to you, to a certain extent, it is to me as well. As you may have guessed, I feel the world shake just like you…”

Arthur nodded. He was convinced in front of the dean’s office a year ago, but it was something that was never brought up until now.

“My prediction was in the past, and it tells me of things that seem to happen again. As you guessed, it was posted in the form of a document, so there was more information than the visions you saw. However, as with all prophecies, it doesn’t describe how it will come true… The details are always missing. Of course, this power is not a curse, but the Goddess’s unique skill.”

Jungjin told no lie. Clio was also a goddess.

“So how is that skill… Can you tear the world apart like a stage backdrop?”

“This skill was given to me by the Goddess to exercise their will on earth. With the power of it, I can change what happened. As long as the Goddess approves it, like today.”

Arthur exhaled a short breath.

“Predicting what will happen is already enormous, but how the hell can you change what happened?”

“By turning back time. You saw it too.”

“That… Can you say that’s a human ability?”

“It’s not; it is a stigma after all.”

“Then, when we first met, why did you do it to me?”

“I didn’t want to get involved with you.”

“What?”

“I just wanted to live a comfortable life, different from the glory of the throne. I failed to turn back time when we didn’t know each other.”

Arthur had never imagined such a possibility. There were a lot of things he wanted to say, but he could only let out a silly sound.

“That’s how you did this to my hand, right in front of the dean.”

“It was an accident. In the first place, ordinary people don’t even recognize the turn of time, but you were the only exception as the Goddess favors you. That’s what caused your first unique skill, and that’s why I know the limits of mine.”

“So, you’re saying that you can’t turn my time back?”

“Yes.”

Despite the cold answer, Arthur’s expression loosened.

“That’s it. It’s the beginning. Anyway, you saved my life, worked hard for my friends and me, and you’ve changed strikingly.”

“Arthur, my job wasn’t great. If I hadn’t caused an accident in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened here.”

Kleio decided to turn it to the critical questions he had.

“Now, it’s your turn. So, Arthur, what more do you know about the world?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I already know that time gets tangled when my skill applies to you. The entanglement can be physical, but it can also be mental. There are no injuries, so this time it’s the latter.”

Kleio added his fake conviction to the baited question as he triggered appropriate judgment.

[「Appropriate judgment」

You can judge whether an issue is true or false, and whether an element is appropriate.

*Caution: When using this function, 95% of the ether in the body is temporarily consumed.]

[―Would you like to use appropriate judgment?]

The dizziness that assailed him today was more intense than usual. Faced with the emotionless Kleio, Arthur let out a deep sigh.

“You know, Lei, not today. It has already happened. When you and I faced Grendel… Oh, that must’ve been the power of your skill too? At that time, you were shining like a star.”

The golden ether of appropriate judgment wrapped around Arthur like a halo. It looked like a blessing, but it was only evidence of Kleio’s doubts.

“That’s what the voices say. You’re the one who brought revelation, and you know the will of the Goddess. I thought they were just hallucinations.”

[―According to appropriate judgment, the answer turned out to be true.]

Kleio swallowed. This made it clear that any attempts to directly intervene in the protagonist’s actions, whether by Editor’s Authority or Diegesis, confused the manuscript. Also, now that Arthur recognized Kleio’s use of his skill, it was impossible to hide it. It was ironic that as his ability to intervene to correct the manuscript rose, the protagonist became more tangled up in it. Keeping the balance between those two things would be like walking a tightrope over a cliff.

“…Arthur, most of the illusions you hear and see have been real.”

“But it’s too much to believe. Goddess’s agent, why the hell would you be with me, huh?”

It was a simple question, under which held Arthur’s suspicion. This kid had nothing to gain from him, so why did Kleio Asel promise him so much?

“The Goddess wanted it. As a human, I don’t know the reasons.”

As always, Jungjin used only the truth in an untrue context. However, there were still many things that Jungjin hadn’t said, facts that should never be revealed. They had to remain concealed for this to become a story. The protagonist must believe that all the events were due to his own pure will. Kleio examined the reaction of the third prince blatantly, expecting disappointment to appear on his face. His expectations were wrong as a calm smile appeared on his face.

“Because the Goddess left our world, no one with divine power has been born. What, it was right next to me.”

“No, it’s not wrong. The Goddess isn’t with us, and what I have isn’t divine power, but etheric sensitivity. Let’s make one thing clear: the will of the Goddess isn’t yours, and the revelation that has come down to me isn’t one for you to follow. You have to live the way you want—the way you think is right.”

Arthur nodded casually.

“Well, dear, I have no choice but to live my own way because I can’t see the Goddess’s prophecy. But I’m curious about this. My mother was a disciple of the Goddess. Did you know that in advance?”

“I didn’t. Well, it would be a good story to spread secretly if you were crowned one day. Being the king of prophecy, the younger generation will love those who haven’t lost their faith.”

Kleio replied with a heavy tone in jest, but Arthur’s attitude was still grim.

“I know now. If that was the Goddess’s will… it must have been absolute enough for you. Of course, you didn’t need the [Covenant]. That’s why you were weird after meeting Archbishop Istoria, right? You were forced to follow the revelation.”

Kleio’s obligations to Arthur weren’t fair, and he had quickly understood that fact.

“…Arthur.”

“But I hope you don’t regret that you had to choose me.”

After all his suspicions and delusions burned away, Arthur’s remaining determination was indefinite. The boy held his sword and gathered his ether, causing a dazzling light to wrap around him.

“Speak with faith. Lei, I have always believed in you and will continue to do so. That’s my choice; that’s the belief I know.”

“Do you know what you’re talking about? I’m not making such an absurd promise to others-.”

“Oh, it’s done. Goddess, I didn’t know, but you’re my friend.”

Jungjin was speechless at the solid innocence contained in his answer. The world around them began to collapse as the water reached their knees. The gravity of space vanished as up and down vanished. A rainbow was draped over an inverted beam of light as they floated. It felt out to Jungjin, as the water was a metaphor for baptism, and the rainbow was a promise that there would be no more extinctions.

This child’s voluntary promise was incomparably stronger than Kleio’s compelled one. Arthur laughed in the scattering light. It is was a refreshed and clear smile, with his teeth exposed, like this crucible of chaos was some fun playground he had jumped into with his companion. If they walked together, even the moments of hardship wouldn’t be painful. The water pouring around them boosted the reality of that moment.

This was the present. In this way, how could he regard their friendship in the past-tense?

‘That’s impossible.’

Finally, Kleio Asel accepted the immediate reality in the midst of his resignation. He could no longer remain a third party watching the story from the outside.

[―User’s narrative involvement increases rapidly.

Cumulative rate: 40.3%]

[―The author acknowledges the development as a blackout.]

[―Unique Skill Editor’s Authority usage is reloaded. (3/3)]

[―-The Prince of the Albion Kingdom- Chapter 2 is completed. Then, Chapter 3 begins.]