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Chapter 120

「You’re just being nosy!」

Lute chuckled at my words.

「Yeah, that’s right, Cordelia. I thought you’d say that. Well then, Goddess? Have you reached a consensus here?」

At that, the goddess put on a melancholic expression and sighed deeply.

「…Even if your opinions align, do you think I, as the system administrator, would approve it?」

「Yeah, just an administrator… which is like a machine, right?」

「What do you mean?」

「—But you’re human.」

With Lute’s words, the goddess made a startled expression.

「…Huh?」

「No, at least you have humanity. Maybe you were created based on humans?」

「Why do you think that?」

「When I reincarnated, you smiled happily… and granted me the upgraded farming skill that surpassed the limit.」

At that, the goddess shrugged helplessly.

「I see, I suppose that’s the case. Well, indeed, I was created based on one of the developers who made me.」

「And, you’ve listened to the situation of this world from the Dragon Tribes before, right?」

「Yes, I promised to provide this platform, didn’t I?」

「Then, you do have ears to listen, and you have some choices. No, just by talking with me like this, it’s evidence that you yourself… are uncertain.」

「…Well, I don’t intend to hide anything, so let me explain. This system is entirely ego-driven… It’s the product of all involved parties postponing decisions. Even the developers are unsure what to do, and they’ve given choices even to someone like me, who is just a system administrator.」

「So, you’ve been unable to make a decision all this time, right?」

「Yes, as you say, there are only two choices. One is to maintain the status quo, and the other is to abandon the status and break free from the system. Of course, disarming is also an option.」

「Then… let’s talk to you not as a machine, but as someone with a human heart. Listen to us.」

「Yes, what is it?」

「If we deactivate the nanomachines, it will be irreversible. But… I want you, to entrust the future of the world to me, no, us.」

「…Even if humanity were to deal with monsters without the protection of the system, as you say, the fate of civilization remains the same. The endpoint of scientific civilization is self-destruction. That won’t change.」

Before Lute could say anything, the goddess stopped him with her hand.

「At the end, it’s the theory of relativity… the divine power woven by molecules and atoms. Eventually, it becomes possible to possess it at the level of criminal organizations. How can we avoid self-destruction? Environmental destruction, resource optimization inefficiency, all are inevitable as long as humans remain humans. It will inevitably corrode the earth and reach its critical point.」

I don’t understand what they’re talking about. Seeing Lute silent, she must have touched a nerve.

But I… I don’t like the way the goddess is making all these assumptions.

「Goddess? We have hands and feet. We have heads to think with. We will overcome any difficulties, just like Lute crawled up from being a villager to here. There’s no wall we can’t overcome.」

With my words, the goddess shook her head as if the conversation was pointless.

「But that’s not for your generation to do, is it? Ultimately, aren’t you just postponing everything and passing it on to the next generation?」

At that, Lute tapped the table.

「No, it’s us.」

「…?」

「We’ll have children, and those children will grow up… leading into the future. It might be irresponsible, but our will will inevitably remain in the far-off future. We won’t step on the same steps as the old Earth… no, we won’t let them step on it.」

「…It’s really irresponsible from start to finish. Please consider our feelings a little.」

「Unfortunately, I’m not you.」

With Lute’s words, the goddess looked troubled, and then—

—she made a gentle smile that seemed to be looking at a hopeless child.

「Incomplete in every way. But that’s what makes us human, isn’t it?」

「Yeah, because we’re imperfect, we have diversity. So, with some ingenuity, we should be able to grab hold of anything with these hands.」

The goddess shrugged resignedly and then raised both hands as if to give up.

「Do as you like.」

「So… will you disarm the nanomachines?」

「In the end, fight like humans to decide. Moses, who wants to maintain the status quo, and you, who want to break free from control. Not with ideals or arguments—fight and prove your righteousness. I will follow the logic of the winner.」

「…I don’t like such straightforward things.」

「However, I am not swayed by sentimentality. This is the result of considering the playfulness of humanity given to me by the developer, and the resolve of the Dragon Tribe. As the initial choice, your proposal was one of the predetermined answers.」

「Yeah, I appreciate it.」

And so, the meeting with the goddess ended, and the final battle began.