Encore 64 — The Battle of Wonderland (IV)

{Kazuya's POV:}

I killed her.

Perhaps, yes, but not even I know that fact. I'm sure I did. My conscious says that I did but there isn't any clear memory in my mind.

I stared at Kanata-san with a blank expression.

"You have to stop using people as fuel for the Everheart."

"Shut up! Shut up! All you people say the same thing! But survival is survival! I want Wonderland as a whole to survive!"

"Survival of Wonderland as a whole? I thought you were the type of person who wouldn't abandon her people. Not a single one."

Resolving this problem via speech is much more productive than fighting her. I can't win against her. If only Mei was here, her persuasion skills are far better than mine.

"You don't know the disaster the gods can unleash. Not just anyone knows. Only a select few people but they're living in hiding. Some have probably already been culled by the gods..."

She gritted her teeth.

For some reason, I instantly thought of Arthur. He said that they knew about the 'truth of the Imperi.' The entire village was wiped off of the map, or so I believe. She's most likely talking about people like them...

"If the gods release such a calamity upon the world once more. The surface will be done."

"But..."

Another voice spoke. From behind me, Lucia approached, attempting to catch her breath. She followed me here but I didn't stop her. Seems like she has something she wants to say to Kanata-san personally.

"It hasn't... It has not yet been destroyed yet! If we know in advance, then we can stop it! The Council, the ISS and even the JMF can do something about it!"

Alice gritted her teeth in frustration. She punched the Everheart behind her.

"Lucia! Do you not understand?! I'm saying that the gods are more powerful than any of us could ever be! No ordinary human could match up to a god... Never..."

Lucia's eyes twitched as if she was going to cry, however, she held her tears in.

"I'm embarrassed..."

"Huh?"

"I never imagined that you were the kind of person who gave up without a try. Without even trying, you thought that killing your people for Wonderland to survive was okay."

Kanata-san stayed silent. She was stunned.

I don't know what Lucia is to Kanata-san but they seem to deem each other important.

"Like, I said, you don't—"

‹It's you who doesn't understand.›

Sable Aquarius appeared in front of me and February materialised.

‹The gods are crazy but they're not dumb enough to attack the surface.›

"What do you mean? That's a lie! They did it! They've done it!"

‹The events you speak of happened before the time of the Grand Collapse. Those people who are hiding have simply carried the secret of their ancestors with them. They all believed they were guilty.›

I then remembered what Arthur said.

'Our people are not innocent.'

That line still deeply disturbed me.

"Why then?! Why do you think they won't destroy the surface?!"

Kanata-san seemed desperate. Even if she could beat us, she decided to talk to us instead.

‹I can't say his real name but there is a man. One man that even the gods fear.›

A man... A human that the gods fear.

‹He is not an ally of humanity nor is he an ally of the gods. He is a murderer. A cold-hearted man with a charming face. His real name is something I cannot say. However... Everyone called him War.›

A man that the gods feared even before the appearance of Imperi and mana in this world. War.

Hm? Why do I feel like I know... that person?

"You're saying as long as this War person exists, the gods won't destroy the world?"

February nodded.

Kanata-san had trouble accepting it. She was contemplating whether to accept the fact or not.

It was clear what she was thinking. Even if she seemed merciless and ignorant on the surface but she regretted what she did, even if it was the slightest inch of regret. That much was obvious.

The Zodiac sighed.

‹In the Bible, there are four disasters that would always plague the Earth. Famine, War, Conquest and Death. They were called the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse. Those four personalities were personified in humans. They're called the Four Disasters of Apocalypse, true to their nature.›

"What're you trying to explain?"

Kanata-san seemed slightly suspicious.

‹The man, War, is one of the Four Disasters alongside Kazuya here, who personifies Death.›

Huh?

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Wait, me?"

‹Yes. I'm sure you've noticed it yourself.›

Uh, no, not really... Ah, if I remember correctly I did call myself Death when I fought against Eris. That was only a joke though.

‹In history, Death has always been a pale male with white hair and monotone eyes. He defies the laws of the world and is the strongest of the Four Disasters.›

"Come on, I'm not even that strong."

‹Yet, as Death, you are destined to become stronger.›

"So, you're saying, that these Four Disasters can defeat the gods."

February nodded.

"So, you're saying that all I've done was for naught..."

Finally, Kanata-san was convinced. After everything, she had finally given in.

The woman fell onto her knees.

"Those children I used as fuel... I..."

"You can't fix what you've done, Kanata-san but you can change it."

I told her.

In the end, I barely did anything. It was Lucia and February who influenced Kanata-san. Seeing as Lucia was February's host, they must've been close to her.

"Oh..."

I had totally forgotten about Myraliana. I went over and picked her up, carrying her on my back.

[Hello, Kazuya, you there?]

Kaito spoke through the earpiece. I had forgotten that I was wearing it.

"Yeah. The problem here is resolved. How are things going on your end?"

As I spoke, I saw February flinch. She turned toward me.

‹Resolved? Things are far from it.›

"Huh?"

[Elizabeth, Mei and I have subdued the apostles. We're coming to your side.]

"Yeah..."

‹We may have stopped her from using humans as the Everheart but what will replace that fuel?›

"Well..."

I didn't think of that. Technically, what is needed is equivalent to human life in energy. But I can't think of anything...

"So, you mean..."

‹Exactly. If the Everheart cannot find another source, it will deactivate. The people of Wonderland won't survive if another one is not found.›

So, we haven't saved Wonderland, but rather doomed it?