214 Awakening the Job
A few days ago, Sirin shared the 'knowledge' she had gotten from Prometheus.
That's right, for information Kouro had learned that the Will of Honkai was Prometheus due to being told by Ashborn, he was really surprised at the time when he learned the information, because to think a human-created AI could be similar like a [Trojan Horse Program] to the other side of the [Imaginary Tree]... He still couldn't imagine it.
There was a lot of secret information from the previous Era that Ashborn told him.
One of them was that there were 18 series of Prometheus that had been created starting from series 0 until the last series, series 17.
The last series was Prometheus who became the Will of Honkai and was tasked with sequencing the appearance of a Herrscher in accordance with the previous Era so that the current Era would be prepared to fight back.
But even so, Kouro wondered why Prometheus would suddenly without cause give the core fragment of the Herrscher of the End to Sirin?
Ashborn did not answer this question, he simply remained silent even after Kouro asked several times.
If the AI did not give the Herrscher core fragment and only gave new 'knowledge' and authority like the original plot, then there should be fewer people who died than now.
But... It was true that with the rebirth of Herrscher of the End, he gained new and stronger powers.
Not only that with Herrscher of the End 'dead' doesn't that mean Honkai's threat to this world is significantly reduced?
Then... Is it really worth it?
Kouro tried to avoid this question that his mind was always asking, because rationally it was worth it, but when he thought of the innocent people who lost their loved ones, or the innocent children who knew nothing who had lost their parents...
Every time the guilt came up it made his heart ache, especially when he thought of that little girl named Sandy whom he had counseled against her narrow mindset, but... He felt disgusted with himself because he was the one who indirectly killed Sandy's father.
But... On the other hand, the blessing of the incident made him gain new strength that made him even more capable of protecting the people he loved.
"... "
Alright let's get back to the topic, Sirin told Kouro the previous Era's 'knowledge' that she had gotten.
Then as the 'knowledge' played the Shadow Monarch's battle against the Herrscher of the End, Sirin discovered a surprising thing from behind the Shadow Monarch: the silhouette of an 'upside-down tree'.
There was no further explanation as every time Sirin tried to think of an 'upside-down tree' her expression immediately paled and her body broke out in cold sweat.
Sirin was unable to ask Prometheus the giver of the information because ever since the Herrscher of the End was defeated, the Will of Honkai no longer paid attention to her.
As for Kouro himself, he did not know or have any way to contact the super AI unless Prometheus itself contacted him like when he got the [Death and Life] authority.
Perhaps... World Serpent had a way so he went to Mobius who was the only scientist of the Previous Era still alive.
__
"Last question. .... Do you know anything about the 'Inverted Tree'?" Kouro asked with a serious expression.
Mobius' movements halted for a moment before raising her head and looking at him with a very serious expression with her reptilian eyes shining brightly.
"Where did you hear that?"
Kouro then told her about Sirin who had gotten the previous Era's 'Knowledge' from Prometheus.
"... I see, even you know about Prometheus. "
Mobius then took a deep breath before saying, "Well, I'll be honest with you, we don't know anything about that 'upside-down tree' you mentioned, except that we do know that it exists."
"We wouldn't have even known about the existence of the 'upside-down tree' if it weren't for Prometheus telling us that a strange existence that was not bound to the fundamental structure of the universe's origin, briefly appeared between illusion and reality for a moment."
The fundamental structures Mobius mentioned were the [Imaginary Tree] and the [Sea of Quanta] which were the origin of the birth of the universe.
"When did Prometheus tell you about that?" Kouro asked.
"I don't really remember, probably around 40 thousand years ago. " Mobius replied.
Kouro was silent at this time, he really didn't expect Mobius to not have the slightest information about that 'inverted tree'.
"Hmm... I already guessed that the 'inverted tree' was connected to KOURO... But what is the purpose of the tree? Is it related to the Cocoon of Finality?" muttered Mobius quietly with a very serious expression.
Kouro, who heard her muttering, raised his eyebrows before asking, "Cocoon of Finality?"
"Ara~ for now you don't need to know." Mobius said while covering her mouth using her fingers as if she had committed a careless act.
"... Alright. "
Kouro remembered that there were several times Ashborn had mentioned this and the topic revolved around the Herrscher of the End that he had defeated.
Unfortunately Ashborn didn't really explain it clearly other than to say that the Herrscher of the End he fought before wasn't in perfect form.
The Herrscher of the End who had the power to blow up the universe was said to still not be in her perfect form?
Kouro almost didn't believe it but the person who said this was Ashborn, so it made him deeply pensive.
Kouro felt that his understanding of Honkai and the universe had been foggy ever since he stepped into this world.
He vaguely felt that this power he had was not strong enough to protect the people he cared about.
While thinking about this, Kouro then remembered the Herrscher of Shadows who briefly targeted him and obsessed over him back then...
What precious thing did he have that could attract the attention of the Herrscher of Shadows who was a [Higher Being]?
Kouro seemed to have a thoughtful expression before unconsciously glancing at his system interface, he stared at the system for a long time before unconsciously squinting.
'The Herrscher of Shadows can't possibly be targeting the system I have, right?'
Kouro did not know that the assumption he was making was correct.
Hmm... Thinking about it, could the Herrscher of Shadows and the Shadow Monarch be different people?
After all, according to Kouro's previous conclusion, the system he had was used to awaken KOURO's consciousness.
Kouro really had no idea about this in his knowledge's blind spot.
In the end he had no other choice but to pin his hopes on the 'Black Key'.
Kouro sighed helplessly against his completely complicated fate without realizing that Mobius was currently staring at him with an unknown gaze.
"Is there anything else you want to ask?" asked Mobius.
Kouro shook his head, although there were many questions inside his head, he knew that the answers to those questions would have to be sought by himself.
As he said goodbye to Mobius and was about to turn around, Mobius suddenly threw an object at him which Kouro unconsciously caught.
"What is this?" he muttered in confusion.
"A parting gift. From your movements yesterday, I know that you will soon return to your own world." Mobius said casually.
Kouro smiled a little embarrassed at his words, it seemed like he was really predictable.
He then looked at the object in his hand before his eyebrows raised, the parting gift turned out to be the core of Herrscher of Human: Ego, belonging to Elysia.
"Is it okay to give me such a valuable gift?" asked Kouro looking at the pink flower-shaped crystal Herrscher core in his hand.
"Yes. It's more useful to you than to us." replied Mobius casually.
Kouro finally nodded his head and put the Herrscher core away.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to the others?"
Kouro shook his head in response to Mobius' question, "I don't want to make them sad for my departure."
'What's more... I don't want Sirin to follow me...' he thought a little pensively, he would be a complete fool not to realize Sirin's true feelings.
Unfortunately, he could not reciprocate Sirin's feelings, apart from the fact that her age was still illegal, Kouro was not sure if Sirin could come with him to his original world.
"... Then... Goodbye, Kouro." Mobius said with her back to Kouro.
Kouro looked at her for a moment before nodding his head and walking out of the laboratory with a determined expression.
Mobius stared at the reflection of the glass showing Kouro's back with a calm expression.
__
On the other hand, in a house, inside a bedroom.
There was little Kouro who was sleeping peacefully before his eyebrows twitched slightly and he woke up.
He rubbed his eyes with a half-awake expression before his eyes widened in astonishment at the man in front of him who was sitting on his study chair facing him.
Although the lights of his room were currently turned off, he was completely sure of the man in front of him.
Little Kouro turned his head stiffly to the open window of his room revealing the starry sky and moonlight entering his room.
"Woken up? Sorry for disturbing your precious sleep." Kouro said while playing a rubik's cube with one hand.
The dumbfounded little Kouro could only shake his head quickly.
Kouro played with the rubik's cube before finishing it and placing it on the study table. After all, the rubik belonged to little Kouro.
"Come closer. I have something to tell you."
Little Kouro gulped before jumping down from his bed and approaching Kouro slowly for fear of waking his parents.
Silver eyes and violet eyes looked at each other.
"How are you feeling? Are you feeling better now?" asked Kouro casually.
Hanagami nodded his head before venturing to ask, "That's... Mr. Kouro, what did you want to say to me?"
"Nothing important, I just wanted to say goodbye to my fans."
"You're leaving?!" asked Hanagami with widened eyes.
Kouro quickly pressed his index finger to his lips.
"Shhhh... Calm down."
Hanagami then immediately covered his mouth using his hand, letting the atmosphere be quiet for a moment. After being sure his parents were not awake, he then asked with a depressed expression.
"Why do you want to leave, Mr. Kouro?"
"... My duty to save this world is finished, whether I want to or not I have to leave to save another world." Kouro replied with a gentle smile.
Hanagami's expression instantly lit up and his silver eyes seemed to shine brightly.
"Mr. Kouro! Can I be a great hero like you?" He asked with a hopeful expression.
Hearing his question made Kouro almost laugh, he then approached him before patting Hanagami's head with the black fedora hat he often wore.
Kouro then crouched down and looked straight into Hanagami's silver eyes and said in a loud and clear voice, "Of course! You can be a great hero. I assure you, you will definitely become the strongest hero with a knight's heart."
Kouro's words echoed inside Hanagami's mind leaving him stunned with a blank expression.
Kouro removed his gauntlet [Tyrant Kong's Iron Gauntlet] then gave it to Hanagami.
"This is my parting gift to you. I hope your determination to become a hero will not change."
Hanagami stared at Kouro's gift with a happy expression, he took the seemingly large gauntlet and tried to put it on before it suddenly shrank and adjusted its size to his hand.
"Woah..."
"That glove is a magic glove that can increase your punch's power with a cooldown of 5 hours, remember, don't ever try to use that glove for criminal acts."
Hanagami stared at the glove for a long time before looking forward only to realize that Kouro had disappeared.
He turned his head to his window where curtains were fluttering slightly before turning his head back to stare at his study table to find something different.
On his study table, apart from the stationery, books, rubik's cube, and everything else, there was a striking object: a plain black mask lying in the center of the table.
__
Time quickly passed, in the bright daylight, Kouro was currently standing alone before Ashborn's grave.
"... Goodbye, grandfather. "
After saying that, he glanced at his system interface which showed he had less than twenty minutes left.
Kouro did not take the initiative to inform his friends of his departure except for Hanagami and his Grandfather in this world.
He then created a park bench near a Sakura tree to shelter himself from the sunlight, Kouro closed his eyes listening to the breeze.
"There you are!? Kouro!"
The sudden sound of someone shouting made him open his eyes only to realize that it was Sirin along with Welt, Bella, Shadow, Siegfried and the others.
Kouro stared at them in confusion before turning his head to look at Mobius.
Mobius shrugged her shoulders with a helpless expression.
"Why didn't you tell us you were leaving soon!" asked Sirin before running up to him with a worried expression.
Seeing this, Kouro sighed helplessly and glanced at his system interface, he only had less than five minutes now.
"I don't want to make you guys sad-"
"Baka!" shouted Sirin with her eyes closed.
"Sirin I-"
"Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka! You fool!" Sirin shouted with tears flowing, she punched Kouro in the chest while shouting the same thing.
Kouro just stayed silent, taking all of Sirin's anger without saying anything before suddenly hugging her.
"Sorry. "
That was all Kouro could say.
The embraced Sirin seemed to freeze but her tears still flowed before crying harder in Kouro's arms.
She cried loudly like a child and hugged Kouro's body tightly as if afraid that he would suddenly disappear.
Time slowly passed until finally-
[Time remaining : 0 Days]
[The remaining time has expired start retransmission]
Kouro's body was seen slowly fading and shining.
"No! No! No! Please, don't go!" Sirin shouted.
"I love you, Kouro! Please don't go!! Please!"
Kouro who heard Sirin's confession opened his mouth to say something only for his body to fade completely and disappear into a twinkling light.
__
Kouro opened his eyes with a blank expression staring at the familiar room where he fought against the statue of Kevin.
He then recalled Sirin's confession and could only sigh helplessly.
After being silent for a long time, Kouro turned to look at this familiar room that had not changed at all.
"... It doesn't feel like a month ago since I defeated Kevin's statue... "
*Ding*
[Job Change Quest has ended, congratulations on awakening the job of {Herrscher of Shadow}]
Seeing the system notification before his eyes, Kouro let out a sigh of relief after thinking of the struggle he had put in for the sake of awakening this job.
He already felt a strange power slowly emerging from his chest. This seemed to be the power of the Herrscher of Shadows.
Just as he was about to open his status screen, a system notification suddenly appeared.
*Ding!
[Starts the calculation of the points earned after completing the {Main Quest: Change the Future}... ]
[You saved certain people from the fate of death... Bonus points are added]
[You have reduced the loss of life to a minimum... Bonus points added]
[You have defeated Second Herrscher several times... Bonus points added]
[You have defeated Herrscher of the End... Bonus points added]
[You have changed the course of the future... Bonus points added]
[Total points have exceeded the predetermined achievement limit]
Kouro's expression suddenly changed as a boundless shadow suddenly appeared and enveloped him like a cocoon.
Herrscher Elysia's core suddenly came out from the 'Inventory' and shone brightly before entering into Kouro's body which was enveloped in shadow.
As Herrscher Elysia's core entered, the shadow that enveloped Kouro vaguely turned into flower petals before filling the room.
__
In a dim hallway, Aponia and Mobius were walking down the hallway before coming to a room.
Inside the room, there were humanoid robots arranged in neat rows, if Kouro was here he would definitely recognize one of the humanoid robots.
There was an adult version of Ai-Chan in one of the robots lined up.
Mobius and Aponia walked past the robots before coming to another room filled with super-level quantum computers.
Mobius stared at the computer screen before saying.
"Prometheus, tell us the estimated arrival of the Herrscher of Shadows."
*Beep*
An AI form similar to Bronya's then appeared and pointed at the computer screen displaying the most accurate estimation figure.
Staring at the screen, Mobius and Aponia's expressions turned extremely serious and gloomy.
"Two years... Two years before the Herrscher of Shadows reaches Kouro's world..."
