The Impersonating Daimaou Wants to be Hated (WN): Chapter 65

 

Chapter 65: Prologue: The Approaching End

"Arama-sama, what are you looking at?"

 I turned around at the cool voice and saw a beautiful woman with golden hair and eyes - my first apostle, Amaterasu. The golden jewels hanging from her forehead swayed slightly, and on her back, dressed in golden armor, were six white wings. I always find her as dazzling as the sun.

 I smiled at her and turned my gaze back to the front. Beyond the transparent wall, the world that the children had named the universe spread out, and in it floated a number of planets. The distance is irrelevant. No matter where I am in the world, everything happens within me and Chaos.

"I was watching the Blue Planet."

"What's wrong with that poisonous planet?"

 Poisonous. How long has it been since that planet was called that? The beautiful blue planet that Chaos made for me when I wept thinking of the first planet that is no longer there. Indeed, that star was suitable for the creation of beings close to us. Even so, I still feel that I didn't want to turn that planet into a hellish place full of strife.

"...It looks like Goddess Meia has been down there for a while, so she should take a little caution."

"What's Goddess Nellia up to again? That girl is excellent, but I'm troubled by her resemblance to Chaos-sama. I wish she would be more aware of her status as the first rank."

"Fufu."

"What's wrong?"

"No, I'm sorry. Don't worry about it."

 The supreme planet, Eden, is located between the moon, where the gods are based, and the Blue Planet. When it comes to the ruler of Eden, where the gods and their servants reside, Amaterasu is more outspoken than usual, and I found myself smiling.

“Goddess Nellia seems to be doing a good job of ruling Eden these days. The reason why she dispatched goddess Meia this time is probably because she is concerned about the fact that Chaos is weaker than before. She really loves Chaos."

 They had a lot of problems in the past, but I think they have a much better relationship now, even if they are not a happily married couple....... However, the good that Chaos brings about is a very complicated mixture of love and hate.

“I wonder why Chaos-sama has been weakened so much. Even though the seal was performed by Chaos-sama's godchild, she is still an infant who has not existed for 10,000 years. I don't think it is physically possible to weaken Chaos-sama that much."

“………………”

 Amaterasu's question, uttered as if she had just remembered it, causes me to stop breathing, which I do not need to do.

 Eh? She just asked that? What should I do? Should I tell the truth? When I impulsively went to see my best friend, wanting to see her first godchild's face, I found out that she was planning to seal Chaos somehow, and I was so eager to show her my godly side that I gave her the most powerful tool in my Chaos' punishment set... I'm sure Amaterasu will be surprised when she found outーー

"Arama-sama. I, Amaterasu, admire you and have not the slightest doubt about what you are doing. Since Arama-sama is the god of order but like Chaos-sama...... you could also be..."

 I suppose you would say something like that. No, the world can only exist under a just order. Amaterasu has a point, so what's the harm in listening to the apostle's petty words?

"Arama-sama? What's wrong?"

 Amaterasu, who was kneeling down, looked up at me as I fell silent. So, I...

"Amaterasu. I am involved in the weakening of Chaos, so there is nothing for you to worry about."

 I said with a godly smile.

"I see. But for what reason?"

"By the way! Did you have some business with me?"

 Uu. How could someone like me cut off a lovely child's conversation so forcefully? I'm sorry, Amaterasu. Forgive me for liking to nitpick but not liking to be nitpicked.

 Amaterasu, oblivious to my inner thoughts (no, she didn't notice it, right?), quietly bowed her head.

"I beg your pardon. Today we are ready to wake the apocalyptic beasts, and we have come to ask your permission for us to descend upon the Blue Planet."

"...We? Are you planning to go with all the apostles?"

 The Apocalyptic beasts are sleeping deep within the dark continent and are guarded by dragons, so even taking into account the adjustment and monitoring work after they wake up, going with all the apostles would be nothing more than an overload of personnel.

"This is not my opinion, but that of the other three apostles, they want to help with the end of this civilization this time."

“Why only this time?... No way."

"Yes. In this civilization, Chaos-sama's apostles are active for the first time in a long time, so I think they probably want to settle the score."

 Amaterasu's words brought to mind the image of a cute child with golden hair and eyes.

“…………Oldea.”

 I think of the child who was once with the now-gone Holy King. I wonder if I should have reached out to that child at that time as Chaos said? I don't know. But my pride as the god of order restrained me from doing so, and the child also wished for it. I have no regrets. I just sometimes miss that child terribly. Especially when I see Chaos and Nellia together, I can't help but wonder if something would have been different if that child would have been here beside me.

"That civilization was a world of unprecedented intensity and dazzle."

 Amaterasu consoles me as I think of the past.

“Yes, it was. And it was also the first civilized world that produced two roots in a single purification ordeal"

"This time there were six candidates. One of them is already half god and half human."

"So you think they need to go through a tougher ordeal than usual?"

"That is what the other three claimed. However, I think it is also true that they are concerned about Chaos-sama's apostles."

“Fumu… I see.”

 Well, what shall we do? Normally, I would not allow my personal feelings to interfere with the purification ordeal. But this time, there are six...... or even seven candidates...... It may indeed be necessary to make the ordeal more intense.

"...Alright. But whatever you do, do not kill Chaos."

"I am aware of it. Both of you are the great souls of the world, the anima. I would never violate one of them."

"Then it's fine. I will allow you to intervene. When you go down, you will not be my apostles, but...... what did you call yourselves when you were still on that planet?"

"The Four Saints."

"That's right. Then, call yourself that this time as well."

 A thought occurred to me. In the civilized world of this time, when Chaos called himself the Daimaou on a whim. Why does it somehow remind me of those days, even though it is so different from the time when Oldea was there?

"Thank you very much. And I would like to confirm one thing."

"What is it?"

“We will never lay a hand on Chaos-sama. But Chaos-sama's apostles, is it okay if we touch them?"

“…………You guys are apostles. You may do as you please."

"Thank you very much. Even though we had a clash in that civilization, those children regarded Chaos-sama's apostles as rivals. With this, we can finally settle the matter."

"......But you aren't going to intervene, right?"

 I knew that Amaterasu is going to supervise all the apostles, but just to make sure. The apostles are given restrictions to limit their abilities when they enter the Blue Planet, but even so, Amaterasu's power is too great to wield on that Planet.

 In fact, even when the apostles were allowed to act as Oldea's subordinates, only Amaterasu went thoroughly behind the scenes, and the last of the four saints was Oldea's old adjutant.

 In response to my question, Amaterasu makes a cute, mischievous face, which is rare.

“If Arama-sama will give me permission, I would very much like to play with those apostles, which Chaos-sama is very proud of.”

"I'm very sorry, but I can't give you permission. Amaterasu, you are a little too strong."

 The strongest apostle, born on that planet. That's Amaterasu. Aside from Chaos and I, the only person who can fight her one-on-one is probably Goddess Nellia, who has Chaos' divine protection.

"Arama-sama has nothing to apologize for. In this world, Arama-sama is the rule. I am the one who should be sorry for saying such trivial things. With all due respect............ I have one more thing I want to ask."

"Is something bothering you?"

"No, it's only been about 3,000 years since the last civilization was wiped out and this one started. I'm a little concerned because we usually wait 10,000 years before we wake the apocalyptic beast."

"You mean it's too early?"

"No, it's not for me to decide."

 I held my tongue for a moment, knowing that my failure to respond immediately would only be a leak of my own anguish to my children. Amaterasu's question has been my greatest worry for the past hundred years, and it is the very question I continue to ask myself, "Is this really the right thing to do?".

"I also thought that it was too early....... But now that we are ready, we have no choice. For the sake of the lives that were lost so far, we must always choose the best, not sentimentality."

 Yes, if it takes time to solve it, I'll wait for hundreds of millions of years. But the results so far have shown that it takes trials, not time, to create a god. A test, so strong that the entire species must unite for a single purpose: survival. To create a desperate strike of despair that shatters steel.

 The civilizations that successfully complete the ordeal and create a god will be sent to Eden, where they will be developed and live in a peaceful world without conflict until the time comes (depending on the god that rules each civilization).

 Yes, everything isーー

“For victory. I...... we will not be defeated. So we must gather more and more companions."

 Because I cannot afford to lose, So I cannot afford to be complacent.

 Amaterasu, sensing my determination, no longer asked me any questions, but simply bowed her head quietly.

"It was an unnecessary question. Forgive me."

 I took my gaze away from Amaterasu and looked again at the Blue Planet.

"Now go, my apostles. Let the end... begin."

 Ah. How much more of this foolishness do I have to repeat? The only friend who can speak to me as an equal is not next to me. I couldn't help muttering to myself, even though I made the utmost effort to ensure that Amaterasu would not hear me.

"Chaos... you idiot."

 I desperately want to meet you now.