Sometimes ignorance really was bliss.
Sharmia, however, had always interpreted that famous saying a little differently.
Ignorance was a drug that bewitched people’s minds.
"Your Highness. May I come in?”
"...Ah, yes.”
With a casual flick of her wrist, Sharmia spun the dagger in her hand before hastily sliding it beneath her desk at the unexpected visitor.
Holding a blade in front of the retainers who knew her secret wasn’t exactly a good look. It could be mistaken for an attempt to run away.
Wearing a solemn expression, Carose stepped inside before her eyes widened slightly as she took in the office. It looked almost identical to the one in the royal palace.
"...It’s exactly the same. I thought the dwarves’ claims about building cities overnight had to be exaggerated……If anything, I underestimated them.”
"It is a little cramped, though.”
At Carose’s remark, Sharmia rose from the desk still buried beneath mountains of paperwork and walked out onto the balcony.
A brilliant blue sky stretched overhead, so convincing that no one would ever guess they were deep underground.
Beneath it sprawled a city packed wall-to-wall with buildings and people.
Even from this height, she could tell their situation wasn’t good.
"As you instructed, we’ve opened up space inside the palace as well, but it isn’t enough.”
"You mean space?”
"Space and everything else. Food, medical supplies, medicine…Other than drinking water, we’re running short on just about everything. And our biggest problem is, erm…”
Carose swallowed, carefully choosing the gentlest words she could.
"To borrow the dwarves’ own explanation, they said they never expected everyone to arrive so suddenly. The city wasn’t finished. They warned us that it won’t hold out for very long.”
"It’s not like we can leave now.”
"They also said the ground itself may begin to sink. And if these buildings keep bearing this much weight, they’ll collapse sooner rather than later. There simply aren’t enough hands to keep up with maintenance.”
"...So that means—”
"It doesn’t look like this city can support people for the long term.”
Those words came from the very people who had built an entirely new world beneath the earth.
This underground city was nothing more than a temporary refuge.
"Everyone must be quite dissatisfied.”
"...That’s actually why I came. Many organizations and rulers have voiced their dissatisfaction with this sudden ‘summons.’ A few of them are even demanding…to be let back outside.”
"We can’t allow that. Did you explain what’s happening up there?”
"I did, but they don’t seem willing to believe it.”
"I suppose that’s understandable…”
Unless you’d witnessed the battle between the Outer Gods with your own eyes, it would be impossible to believe.
And showing them wasn’t exactly an option. Letting out a quiet sigh, she turned back to her loyal retainer.
"It won’t be easy, but I’d like you to avoid using force if at all possible. If fighting breaks out in a place like this, it’ll spiral out of control.”
"Yes. Ah, one more thing…Your Highness, were you given any sort of timeline…?”
"A timeline?”
"Yes. If we at least knew how long things above are expected to take, it would make persuading everyone much easier.”
"Hmm…”
Sharmia pursed her lips for a moment before answering.
"…For now, tell them one week.”
"Understood. And if that deadline passes?”
"Then I’ll extend it myself.”
"..."
At her matter-of-fact reply, Carose hesitated for a brief moment before lowering her head.
"...My apologies, Your Highness.”
"What are you apologizing for, Carose? If those two are fighting up there, then it’s my job to make sure everyone stays safe down here.”
"I’m apologizing for disobeying your orders. I’ll tell them two weeks instead, and I'll make sure they accept it.”
"2 weeks? Do you think they’ll really be willing to wait that long?”
"If protecting Your Highness's duty is your responsibility, then this is a matter of mine. Please grant me your permission.”
"...Alright. Just don’t push yourself too hard."
"Yes."
After Carose left the office with a gloomy expression, Sharmia rested her chin on the balcony railing and let out a long sigh.
"Haah…”
It had been three days since Jern moved everyone into the underground city.
Yet not a single word had reached them. At the same time, she couldn’t conclude he had lost either. If Great Void had truly won, he would’ve already made his move.
Time simply continued to pass without any change. And for the first time in a long while, Sharmia felt utterly powerless.
"There’s nothing I can do. Nothing at all.”
-Spin, spin.
She picked up the dagger once more, twirling it between her fingers before lightly resting its edge against her neck.
'Should I go back and ask?'
But even if she did, the answer would probably just be that he didn’t know.
Wait, keep order, and pray for news of victory.
For someone who could return whenever she wished, it was an unusually helpless feeling.
'I wish I could help.'
The thought crossed her mind, and a faint smile escaped her lips.
Because she already knew it was impossible.
"I’d only get in the way."
121.
That was the number of times humanity had perished.
A number she had hidden from Carose, from her parents, and even from Jern.
The capital had burned. 90% of humanity had been slaughtered. Every wizard had fallen. If all of that could be called the end of the world, then the total times were 121.
And the worst part was that almost none of those catastrophes had been caused directly by Great Void.
They had been avalanches, countless consequences born from Great Void’s actions, growing beyond anyone’s control.
The world was destroyed, torn apart, and reduced to ashes by humanity’s own hands.
Sharmia had witnessed it all to the very end so that if the same future came again, she could stop it. So she would never have to watch that same nightmare unfold again.
Through all of it, she had learned, over and over, just how powerless humanity was before the Outer Gods.
Helping was impossible.
A handful of causal flicks from an Outer God and the very humanity that had been wiped out 121 times stood no chance of resisting.
In the end, Jern had been right. Humans could only get in the way. They could never truly help.
The best thing she could do was remain here, protect humanity, and pray for Jern’s victory.
Though she had no idea how to pray in a way that would actually help.
"I hope he’s doing alright…”
"Shar…mia.”
"...?!"
Just as she let out another weary sigh, trying to shake away those thoughts…
A voice she should never have heard spoke from behind her. Startled, she lurched forward, nearly falling over the balcony before a cold hand, devoid of even the slightest warmth, caught her.
"My apologies. I appeared rather suddenly. I probably should’ve tapped you on the shoulder first.”
"J-Jern…?”
Sharmia caught her breath as she looked up at the Outer God who now stood taller than she did.
He was far from unscathed. His body was covered in scratches, his clothes torn to ribbons, looking as though he’d been dragged through a hurricane.
"That aside—no, are you alright, Jern? You’re in terrible shape!”
"Yes. I’m fine. Really.”
"...Ah!"
As she looked at him, goosebumps suddenly spread across her entire body.
Jern was smiling with absolute confidence, like someone who had just accomplished something incredible.
There was only one reason why someone who had been fighting Great Void above the world until moments ago would wear an expression like that.
Only a single one.
"...You did it!”
"Hm?"
Unable to contain her emotions, Sharmia threw her arms around him.
"You won, didn’t you?! That’s why you’re back! Haah, do you have any idea how worried I’ve been these past three days? I was even wondering if I should die, go back, and ask what happened!”
"Ah, no. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that’s not it.”
Jern gently pushed her back and shook his head.
"I didn’t defeat Great Void. No, in fact, the fight isn’t even over.”
"...What?"
"I thought he ruled the sky, but he doesn’t. It’s something else. Every plan I made was overturned. Had Great Void not been wary of me, I’d have been torn apart long ago. I only managed to buy some time because of that. It was pure luck.”
"Y-you lost?”
"Hm…I wouldn’t exactly say I lost…”
Jern rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment before avoiding her gaze.
"…No. I guess I did lose.”
"..."
Sharmia stared at him, mouth hanging open, desperately trying to keep her thoughts from spiraling out of control.
"S-so……Great Void was far stronger than we expected. That’s what you’re saying.”
"Exactly. You’re quick to grasp things.”
"Don’t compliment me just to soften the blow! S-so then, what happens to us?”
"Your Highness, we still have time, or more precisely, that’s why I came.”
Jern’s expression turned serious as he looked directly at her.
"Would you please help me?”
"...Yes. Of course I will.”
Seeing that unmistakable confidence still burning in his eyes, Sharmia steadied herself and nodded.
"But even if you ask for my help, I don’t really know what I can do. We’re powerless. On a battlefield where the Outer Gods are fighting, humans can’t even be considered pieces on the board.”
"I thought the same. Until I met Your Highness’ father.”
"What? My father, no, His Majesty?”
"Yes. He’s right here…”
Jern looked to the empty space beside him and clicked his tongue.
Then he flicked a finger, forming a puddle.
"Come out. You can tell her yourself.”
"...Father?”
Sharmia covered her mouth with both hands as an elderly man was dragged out of the puddle as though he were nothing more than a piece of luggage.
Those eyes, that face. Without question, it was the Emperor—her father.
"W-wait. Father should be in the infirmary. Why are you—”
"...Please, do not call me your father.”
The Emperor spoke in a voice she could no longer remember the last time she’d heard. Without meeting Sharmia’s eyes, he lowered his gaze as if trying to hide.
"I am not your father. I am the monster that hid within your blood.”
"What are you saying?”
"Your father never truly existed. I chose to exist and was born. I created you, the tool most convenient to use, and placed a curse upon you. A curse that would force you to protect humanity.”
"...”
The Emperor weakly lifted a finger toward the dagger still in Sharmia’s hand.
Sharmia could only stare at him, unable to find any words, so Jerm spoke in her place.
"This Emperor was actually the one responsible for sending Your Highness back over and over again. He was a tool created from the very beginning to protect humanity.”
"...I see."
"I understand how you must feel, but I hope you won’t hate him too much. As I told you, he was closer to a tool than a human. He merely carried out what he believed was the most efficient solution…”
"That’s not quite it.”
After quietly gathering her thoughts, Sharmia reached out and took the hand of the Emperor, whose head was slightly hanging low.
He flinched and instinctively tried to pull away, but she only held on tighter.
"If this had happened when I was 10, I probably would’ve thrown every insult I knew at you.”
"..."
"If I were 11, I might’ve tried to kill you by any means necessary.”
"..."
"And if I were 12, I would have thought death would’ve been too merciful. I might’ve kept you alive forever just so I could torture you.”
Smiling gently at the Emperor, who continued to shrink into himself, Sharmia continued,
"But now I don’t feel anything, because thanks to you, I was able to save the people who became precious to me. I’ll just think of it as a rather cruel birthday present.”
"Sharmia..."
"It’s alright if you call me your daughter. Well, strictly speaking, it’s not like you created me the way Jern makes those deep-sea creatures.”
She blinked, then suddenly turned pale.
"...You didn’t, right?”
"N-no, I didn’t. I used a human body.”
"Phew. Then that’s fine.”
"—I’m sorry.”
The Emperor could no longer keep his trembling body under control. Still clutching Sharmia’s hand, he slowly sank to his knees.
"I, I did something that should never have been done. Even if you forgive me, that does not make it something that deserves forgiveness…”
"That’s enough. If we’re going to settle accounts, we can do it after everything’s over. Right now, you need me, right?”
After gently comforting the Emperor, Sharmia turned to Jern with a serious expression.
"More precisely, my ability can help us find a way to defeat Great Void. That's what you mean, right?”
"...Your Highness really does grasp things quickly.”
Jern gave a heavy nod.
"There’s something I’d like to ask of you. I know it’s unfair of me to ask because I’m certain you’ll never want to do it, and you have every right to refuse.”
"I’ll think about it, so tell me.”
After hesitating for just a moment…
Jern finally spoke.
"...I’d like you…to take a bit of a detour.”
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