Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 222

Right after regaining the Creator’s power, my body became as infirm as when I was Noah.

Literally speaking, it’s the power of a god who creates all things in heaven and earth – it’s difficult for a finite human to accept such power.

Perhaps after getting used to it for a few more years, I’ll be able to stand properly again.

It was the same when I first ascended as Creator when I was Noah.

I spent several decades with an uncomfortable body before gradually getting better and being able to walk again.

And after several eras passed, my soul wore down and my body deteriorated again.

It’s similar to how humans are born and age.

When young, you can’t stand because you haven’t grown enough, and when old, you can’t move because your body has broken down.

Fortunately, I now have much stronger will than early Noah and know quite well how to handle things.

However, there are quite a few worn parts in my soul from dying by Belle’s hand and not properly going through reincarnation.

That’s why there are holes in areas like memories and techniques.

I probably won’t be able to endure through several eras like Noah did.

Even I don’t know what happens when you can’t handle the power and your lifespan as a god ends.

The system might transfer the Creator’s authority to someone else, or I might just become a living corpse sitting in the position of god.

“So, Hilde. That’s what I’m asking you. If no successor appears before I break down, I’d like you to take over then.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure…”

Hilde’s voice sank.

“If you’re not willing, there’s nothing I can do…”

Originally, Hilde was born to be the next Creator after me from the start.

Noah created her trying to run away from being unable to handle the position, but I won’t do that.

But realistically, I can’t endure as long as Noah did.

If Hilde isn’t willing, I’ll need to think of another way.

“No. How could I refuse when Senior asks? It’s just… I’m not sure if I can do well. I’ve never even thought about being a god.”

“You’ll probably be able to do it naturally. You don’t need to worry about that part.”

“Yes… But I don’t want to see Senior break down. Isn’t there some other way? Some way to heal Senior…”

“There is one.”

“Then…!”

“It requires sacrifice.”

“Ah…”

“You know what I mean?”

“Absolutely not then.”

The worn parts can be refilled with clean and intact ones.

Of course, since it’s not an ordinary person but a Creator’s soul, the sacrifice needed to fill it would not be small at all.

“Then, how much longer can Senior endure?”

“Well… probably until the era after next at most.”

“Era?”

“Yes. Until the world is born and dies twice.”

“…I’m not sure, but is that a very long time?”

“Long if you call it long, short if you call it short. Just like human life. But well… to the current you, it would feel like an incredibly long time.”

“Hmm… at least longer than 100 years, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s a bit reassuring. At least there’s time for someone to be born who can succeed Senior someday.”

“…That’s what I’m not sure about.”

I’m the first Creator in this galaxy.

Though called Creator, I didn’t actually create all of human history – rather, ancient humanity created gods.

I became a god simply because I happened to be the last survivor after ancient humanity perished and there was no one else who could do it.

However, I can’t entrust the world to someone emotionally unstable or with evil intentions.

In that sense, leaving Blanc was the best option.

If someone can pass her unreasonably strict standards for heroes, I can hand it over with peace of mind.

Of course, I wonder how many such people there are, or if they even exist, but billions and hundreds of billions of humans will be born in the future, so there should be at least one among them.

I hope there is.

“But I’d be reassured if you take over when there isn’t one.”

“Then what happens to Blanc?”

“Well, that’s for you to decide when the time comes. You can use her as the judge for the next god like I did, or eliminate her with your own hands.”

“Then… what about the other witches, no, sisters?”

“…”

In principle, except for Belle and Karen, they’re all transcendent beings so they can live on to the next era like Blanc.

But I’ll need to reclaim all their system authority and give it to Hilde.

“Or maybe… I should reclaim it now. Since forcefully taking it wouldn’t be good, I’ll need to persuade them somehow. I was planning to meet them one by one soon anyway.”

Margarete, Bari, Rusalka.

These three are transcendent beings from previous eras and also my children.

As both Creator and their father, I can’t just leave them be.

“Excuse me.”

Karen opened the door and came in.

“There are guests outside.”

“How many?”

“Three.”

Must be everyone except Belle.

I thought they would come someday.

“Should I have them come in one by one?”

“They wouldn’t listen anyway. Just bring them all in together.”

“Alright.”

“Eugene!”

As Karen went out, Vasilisa came in.

An innocent smile on her face.

A smile spread on my face too.

“Look at this!”

Vasilisa unfolded a piece of paper and showed it to me.

Though crooked, I could tell at a glance it was a drawing of me and Maia.

“Yes. You drew it well. That’s me and Maia, right?”

“Yes!”

I slowly reached out my hand and stroked Vasilisa’s head.

Though she too was a transcendent being in her past life, she’s the only one who perfectly preserved her purity, making her just like a child when you look at her like this.

For a moment, I thought about what would happen if I entrusted the next Creator position to her.

She would probably excellently create the fairy tale-like world that Noah so desperately wanted.

That wouldn’t be bad either.

But in the end, I shook my head.

The purity she possesses is too white.

She might have her heart swayed by creations.

Vasilisa is good just as she is now.

Nothing could be better than existing as a transcendent being who preserved purity, an eternal proof that humanity has purity.

“Hehe… Eugene’s hand is so big.”

Vasilisa grabbed my hand and rubbed it against her cheek.

After staying like that for a while, I heard movement outside.

“…”

“That’s…”

“As expected…”

Margarete, Bari, Rusalka.

They seemed a bit surprised seeing Vasilisa.

They must be seeing such a well-behaved and good Vasilisa for the first time.

“Welcome.”

I said to them.

“Vasilisa, I’m sorry but could you step out for a moment?”

“I don’t want to…”

“Go play with Maia. Please. It won’t take too long.”

“Okay. But you have to promise to play with me later?”

“Yes. I promise.”

After Vasilisa left, the room gathered all family members except Belle, Vasilisa, and Maia.

No, I’m not family.

The family member was Noah, not me.

I’m just not running away from past responsibilities.

I need to keep remembering that point.

“Margarete… didn’t come in person this time either.”

“What are you saying? I am always me.”

She probably hasn’t opened her heart yet.

“Noah…”

Bari called that name but couldn’t continue speaking, perhaps too overwhelmed.

“Noah is gone now.”

And regrettably and apologetically, I told them the cold truth.

“I am Eugene. As you know, that weak human who was a lower-ranked hunter.”

“You have Noah’s soul and memories. Yet you deny being Noah?”

Rusalka’s voice had a slight edge to it.

“Yes. Noah is gone.”

“I can’t accept that. No matter how much you try to run away, you are still Noah.”

“Besides, you ascended to god’s position like Noah. So you are Noah. No matter how I look at it, you’re just Noah wearing Eugene’s name and face.”

Margarete said.

I turned my eyes to Bari who was silent.

She nodded, seeming to think the same.

“Right… I didn’t expect you to understand right away anyway. But it’s an undeniable reality that the Noah you want can’t return.”

“That’s…!”

“And I don’t have much time either. At most, I plan to choose my successor by the era after next.”

“The era after next?”

“That body, no, soul is…”

“As you can see, it’s incomplete. I still have the soul wear from when I was Noah.”

“See, you are Noah after all!”

Margarete shouted.

“Listen until the end.”

I stared at her quietly.

“Ugh…”

“No matter how much you want it, as long as I define myself as Eugene, it’s impossible for you to change that by force. You should know that.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

All three were silent.

Though they can’t accept it emotionally, they must know with their heads that there’s nothing they can do.

They received some system authority from Noah in their own right, but no matter how strong a river’s current, it can’t overcome the sea.

Though I’m still experiencing aftereffects from ascending now, even in this state I could forcefully take their authority and send them back to the flow of reincarnation as pure souls.

Of course, I would never do that.

“So let’s negotiate.”

“Negotiate?”

“I’ve decided on Blanc to determine my successor.”

“Who?!”

“What nonsense is that?!”

“Absolutely not!”

“It’s already decided. I’m protecting Blanc. Once this era stabilizes again, she’ll start her work by the next era at the latest.”

“Just what were you thinking choosing Blanc!”

“Because she’ll pick good people more thoroughly than anyone.”

“…”

No one could deny that much.

“So, what do you plan to do with us?”

Bari asked.

“Are you going to kill us since we’re not needed in the next era?”

“Not that. Though I’m not Noah now, I don’t deny the past. I still think of you as my own daughters. That’s why I want to give you a chance.”

“A chance?”

“If Blanc fails, then Hilde will succeed me next. Hilde is your youngest sister, born after Karen. Though she’s lacking in some ways after dying once and being reborn.”

“…!”

“Youngest sister?”

“That child is…”

Their gazes all turned to Hilde standing behind me.

I could feel Hilde flinch.

“I’ll give you the right to judge like Blanc. Hilde, that is.”

“Se-Senior? We didn’t talk about this…!”

“What if we can’t acknowledge her?”

Rusalka asked.

“…By then I’ll probably be dead and in reincarnation. I’ll leave a mark on my soul and preserve my memories separately. That competition you’re waging, how about stopping it for now and starting properly then?”

“I see, so you’re saying one of us can possess you when you’re reborn, and raise you as our own Noah?”

Margarete grinned.

“…That’s right.”

I nodded.