Chapter 57
"(That)" had its own self from the moment it was born into this world.
"(That)" was called "Ipsissimus" by those around it, but it never thought of them as friends or comrades.
"(That)" was bound by the intentions and actions of those people. It was extremely unpleasant to have a powerful magic-driven wedge lodged deep within its own mind, unable to resist, but the newly born "(That)" was much weaker back then and couldn't fight back.
But.
"(That)" pretended to be obedient while waiting for a chance to remove the wedge lodged within.
"(That)" had something it had to do.
"(That)" had its own self because it had a strong desire from the very beginning.
"(That)" wanted to return to its original self.
A small, tiny fragment of its original self, cut out and taken out――a tiny, insignificant piece that couldn't even be called flesh. "(That)" was cultivated and born from that tiny piece.
Those who thought they could bind and control "(That)" didn't know.
They didn't know that a single command was given to the small fragment cut off from its original self, along with a small gift from its original self.
"(That)" wasn't created by the coincidence of those people, but was born with a clear purpose by its original self, which is still sealed away.
"(That)" aimed to replace its original self and return to it.
If "(That)" could return to its original self and regain its freedom, it could guide humanity to true happiness――a happiness with no hunger, no suffering, and no conflict.
That's what humanity wanted.
That's the role of its original self.
However, before that, "(That)" had to regain its own freedom first.
"(That)" waited. It waited for an opportunity that might come.
――And the opportunity arrived.
* * *
"(That)" was released into the labyrinth.
"(That)" was given a single command by those who called it "Ipsissimus".
The command was to kill the humans who had invaded the labyrinth. To keep killing.
"(That)" first devoured many monsters. Then, it replicated itself. It released numerous "(That)" entities within the labyrinth, parasitizing monsters and issuing irresistible commands.
As it did so, it consumed even more monsters, accumulating "magical energy." At the same time, it absorbed various abilities from the temporary physical bodies constructed from magical energy.
The abilities that could be recreated were limited by the parasitized physical bodies, but all "(That)" entities were connected through their minds. The acquired individual information was shared, and if they could obtain a suitable host, they could recreate all abilities in a single body.
Now, "(That)" roamed the labyrinth.
It was aware that it was being monitored. Not constantly, but occasionally, it sensed the gaze of an unseen presence. And that was likely the ones who bound "(That)" with contract magic.
However, in the instant the monitoring ceased, "(That)" succeeded in evading the monitoring gaze. The individual the monitors thought was the main body had already switched to a divided entity.
As long as it fulfilled the given commands, it could move relatively freely.
"(That)" roamed the labyrinth, quietly.
――No.
It was no longer just roaming. It had set a clear destination and was moving to avoid detection by the monitors.
The method to break the detestable contract magic was already known. Contract magic was a form of mind control that targeted the spirit, and its effects were triggered by identifying the individual. The identification target was the unique "spiritual body," and normally, there was no way to escape this identification.
But "(That)" could do it.
"(That)" took in information each time it devoured a monster, transforming itself. The numerous transformations of its physical body altered its spiritual body, making it an entirely different existence from when it was first bound.
The physical and spiritual bodies influenced each other.
The excessively transformed spiritual body could no longer be recognized by the contract magic as the bound entity.
In other words, it could invalidate the control through contracts.
Even so, normally, one wouldn't be able to withstand the excessive transformation of their spiritual body, and their ego would collapse. However, "(that)" had resistance. The original "self" that "(that)" was based on was, from the start, a being that only existed as a spirit, and thus had an unstable system that could easily change.
That's why the original "self" had a function to preserve itself while changing, and it was the same.
No matter how much it changed, "(that)" was a direct descendant of "God".
What made "(that)" "(that)" was not the amorphous, unsettling physical body, but the "spiritual body" that was given to it along with the command from the original "self", a part of God's divine power.
And...
The piece to recover the original "self" also existed within this labyrinth.
It wasn't the sealed physical body from the past. If "(that)" had that remade body, it would certainly be convenient. If "(that)" could recover it, "(that)" could exert its full power, but "(that)" knew it was almost impossible to recover.
However, the individual information that could be a substitute for "God" was being recreated by the labyrinth for some reason.
It was one of the strongest guardians connected to God's lineage.
However, it was, after all, an existence constructed by magical energy, and was only temporary. Even if "(that)" possessed the guardian, it wouldn't be perfect. The physical body maintained by the labyrinth system wouldn't be able to exist for long on the ground, and above all, since the original "self" had sealed "Gods"' actions using the authority of the highest god, it wouldn't be able to exert its original power as "God" unless it connected with "God Realm".
To use "God"'s authority, "(that)" needed to connect with "God Realm" and consciousness.
What was necessary was a human body with the innate talent to access "God Realm" on its own. It was an extremely rare talent, but it occasionally appeared in humans.
And the means to find the owner of that talent were also left behind by the original "self" before it was sealed. The knowledge regarding that was also given to "(that)".
If there's a human who has infiltrated the "Backdoor Jobs" into the system, that's the person "(that)" is looking for.
With the power of "Backdoor Jobs", "(that)" can access the "God Realm" without even breaking its seal (Closed). And once "(that)" gain access, it can wield all its authority.
That's because the delegation of authority has already been completed.
The highest administrative authority of the system already belongs to "(that)".
Therefore.
The individual information needed to make the host a substitute for God.
A host with the "Backdoor Jobs" to access the "God Realm".
If "(that)" have these 2, it can regain powers close to its "original self".
However.
It's unclear if someone with "Backdoor Jobs" will appear in this era. But "(that)" don't have a lifespan, so "(that)" can wait for years, decades, or even longer.
But.
It's good luck for "(that)".
And bad luck for others.
In modern times, a human with "Backdoor Jobs" exists in Necronia.
* * *
Three months.
It's been 3 months since the monster "Great Outbreak" occurred in [God's Remains Labyrinth].
During this time, the labyrinth has been opened up to the 30th floor.
Explorers who can delve beyond the 30th floor are extremely rare. So, even if the 30th floor is open, it won't have a significant impact on Necronia's economy. The city has seemingly returned to its daily routine.
However, the labyrinth is not fully open because the Unique Individual, suspected to be the cause of the "Great Outbreak", continues to appear.
In these 3 months, our team, ≪Labyrinth Conquest Team≫, has defeated 13 Unique Individuals.
Especially Io and I, who have participated in all the battles, have mastered the elimination procedure, from pinpointing to incineration.
It seems like the Unique Individual's awakening won't stop.
There must be a main body, a true individual, somewhere――that was the unanimous view of the Guild's Information Department.
So, of course, the Guild was using all its might to search for that main body... but finally, after all this time, they seem to have found an individual that could be the main body.
"――It's the Giant King Nord."
In the explorer Guild's guildmaster's office.
The guildmaster, a bald, bearded man, sat deeply on a luxurious sofa, his thick arms crossed over his chest, his strong face looking stern.
Across from him, Io, who was sitting on a similar sofa, raised a slightly doubtful voice, "Nord, you say...?"
On the other hand, I, sitting next to Io, said with an extremely annoyed tone, "Nord, of all people..."
――Giant King Nord.
The guardian of the 35th floor of the [God's Remains Labyrinth], said to have been the king of giants that existed on the surface in ancient times.
Like the [Four Great Families of the Seals], he's said to have inherited the blood of the gods and is considered a demigod king, with some even calling him the "Strongest Guardian".
However, as a guardian, Nord is someone who, for some reason, always takes the first hit without dodging, making him, in my opinion, a weakling on the level of Lich, the 30th floor guardian.
But that's only as a guardian.
If he were to act completely freely, he'd be the most troublesome opponent among the guardians up to the 45th floor.
"Do you have some concerns, Aaron?"
Io asked me, questioning my reaction.
"No, I just think he'd be a troublesome opponent if he were to become a Unique Individual."
I replied with a bitter face.
When the Stampede occurred, I did defeat Ignitor, but among the monsters that appeared on the surface, the one I struggled with the most wasn't Ignitor, but Nord.
The Ignitor that appeared on the surface was weakened, but Nord was strengthened instead.
Nord, freed from the shackles of the labyrinth, won't let his guard down. He'll unleash his half-god powers to the fullest.
And the Unique Individual-ized monsters aren't bound by the labyrinth either. They can move freely between floors according to their own will, and if they sense disadvantage, they'll flee without hesitation. On top of that, as Unique Individuals, their original abilities are also enhanced. It's unimaginable just how strong Nord has become.
More than anything, our usual method of binding and disintegrating enemies is uncertain against Nord. Simply put, he's too massive, and it's unclear whether Io can bind him or if I can disintegrate him.
At the very least, he's definitely stronger than Ignitor, who's in the volcano.
――I said this to the Guild Leader and Io, while hiding the truth about my Stampede experience.
"It's definitely...if he can avoid our attacks and defend himself, it'll be a pain. And binding him...honestly, even with prior preparation, it might be difficult for me alone."
Io, who could instantly kill Nord as a guardian, agreed with my thoughts.
Moreover, the Guild Leader frowned, looking troubled.
"With our usual members alone, it's indeed tough. We need to gather a sufficient number of people to defeat him...if the one possessing Nord is the main body, then defeating him should stop the Unique Individual's emergence, and there's no other way."
"Hey, hey, old man,."
I couldn't help but interrupt the Guild Leader's words, my voice mixed with anger.
Although I didn't explicitly say it, what this old man is saying is, in other words――
"You're not considering the sacrifices we'll make, are you?"
That's what it means.
If defeating Nord stops the Unique Individual's emergence, then it means they're okay with increasing the number of sacrifices, as long as they can defeat him.
Incidentally, even if the "Great Outbreak" occurs, if the cause is eliminated, it'll be easy to suppress it again.
"Who do you think will actually fight?"
There's no way anyone would be happy about being a pawn.
"Ah, sorry about that. I didn't mean to say it like that. Forgive me, it's just how it is."
However, the Guild Leader didn't flinch at my anger and apologized lightly, bowing his head.
"...You're not serious, I know. If you were, you'd have already beaten me up and fled to another country by now."
It's clear that he's not thinking of sacrificing me without a care.
But, as the Guild Leader, he's probably thinking that's just how it is. Still, it's troubling if he takes it for granted. So, from my perspective, I need to make it clear that I won't let him get away with it.
"If you were to flee now, it'd be... well, quite troublesome. I'm glad you could reconsider."
The Guild Leader said,
"But, realistically, we need to increase the number of people in the Subjugation Squad, don't we? If you 2 can take them down, that'd be the best."
"Let's increase the number!"
"That's what we'll do, of course!"
I and Io responded immediately.
The Guild Leader nodded, saying "Okay."
"Well, it looks like we'll have to rely on your clan as the core of the Subjugation Squad. We'll come up with a detailed plan and assign support members from the Guild. That's how it'll be."
"That's how it'll be. ...By the way, I want to ask something."
Io nodded at the Guild Leader's proposal and then asked.
"Do we have proof that the being parasitizing Nord is the main body?"
"――Yes. We've confirmed twice that a slime-like parasitic creature was released from Nord. The ones you defeated, the 12th and 13th, were parasitized by it. We haven't confirmed if the divided bodies have split further, so it's highly likely that's the main body. ...I can't say for sure, though."
"...In other words, you old man, you deliberately kept it from us, didn't you?"
It seems that this old man's words imply that the Nord they found wasn't from yesterday or today. Despite that, we were made to fight many more Unique Individuals, trying to get a grasp on the main body. That's what happened.
The old man didn't show a hint of remorse, shrugging his shoulders.
"Sorry about that. It was necessary."
"You think you can get away with that just by saying sorry in your old-man tone?"
"Wait, Aaron. Let's settle this after I ask my question, okay? And are you going to attack him without thinking? Please stop."
Io stopped me, so I sat back down on the sofa.
"What the old man――guild leader said just now..."
"Huh? Did you just call me 'old man'?"
Io ignored the guild leader's words and continued.
"In the guild, you guys were monitoring Nord, right? But if the main body was possessing Nord all along, then it must have become a Unique Individual a long time ago. If Nord was in the 35th floor's palace, wouldn't it be too late to find out? And during the process of eliminating the massive number of monsters, Nord must have been defeated multiple times."
"...Well, in reality, we don't know when it started possessing. It's likely that after becoming a Unique Individual, it stopped being a guardian, and a new Nord was born in the labyrinth....Thinking about it, it must have possessed Nord from a very early stage."
The guild leader's response made me recall the many Unique Individual monsters we had defeated.
Most of them had possessed guardians. However, the 4th one we defeated, the giant ape, was also like that. But after becoming a Unique Individual, it wouldn't take just a few days for a new guardian to emerge. At that time, the giant ape as a guardian didn't exist; only the Unique Individual giant ape did.
So, it means that the normal Nord that was confirmed in the labyrinth wasn't from a few days ago, but had been possessed and become a Unique Individual long before that.
However, that's how it is.
"Then, where was the Nord of Unique Individual?"
The location of the Nord that the guild found was not its original location, the palace.
The guild leader answered.
"It's on the 38th floor."
"The Snowfield Floor, huh... where exactly?"
"It's off the regular route."
The Snowfield Floor is incredibly vast. Moreover, the occasional blizzard reduces visibility to almost 0. However, when it's clear, the view is excellent, and one can see far into the distance.
It's too dangerous to explore off the regular route on the Snowfield Floor, so unless one is extremely experienced, they wouldn't venture off-route... but even so, it's hard to understand how something as massive as Nord went undiscovered until now.
"Why didn't we find it until now?"
"It was disguising itself as white."
"Disguising itself..."
It's been confirmed multiple times that Unique Individual can absorb the abilities of other monsters. That likely includes its main body as well.
"Moreover, it usually hides in the snow. It only comes out when it sends out its split body. Otherwise, it never comes out."
I couldn't help but nod in agreement at the guild leader's words.
If that's the case, it's no wonder we couldn't find it. It's likely that the main body didn't attack explorers and focused solely on hiding.
"But still, how did you manage to find it?"
"Yeah, we calculated its location from the movements of what seemed to be its split body, a slime-like creature, and investigated."
Apparently, they had discovered the split body much earlier. Well, we knew about the discovery report of the split body, too.
According to eyewitnesses, it looked like a red-black, melted meat-like slime.
At the very least, we knew it was an amorphous creature.
"Well, anyway..."
The guild leader let out a rare, tired-sounding sigh, then gathered his energy and lifted his face again.
"Finally, we've got a handle on the complete opening of [God's Remains Labyrinth]. It's gonna be a tough fight, but this might be the last Unique Individual. I'm counting on you guys, just like always."
"Yeah, let's just get it over with already."
"It's been a long time."
The Guild Leader nodded with a "hmm" and then smiled wryly.
"I'm counting on you, Sage, and also――."
He looked at me and said,
"Lord Extreme Sword."
I scowled grandly at being called that.
"Cut it out with that nickname... I'm sorry to the real Extreme Sword..."
――Lord Extreme Sword
For some reason, I'd started being called by that nickname by those around me.
Of course, I hadn't confessed to being the real Extreme Sword, nor had I been found out.
There was a reason for this, but it wasn't particularly deep――.
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