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Chapter 79 Part 4 – Alisa and ‘Mother’. What will the intertwined Ouroboros bring about in the future?

Getting treated as the same kind of person as ‘Mother’, Alisa made a displeased face, but she accepted ‘Mother’s’ point.

「…… You’re right. But let me tell you one thing. You said earlier that I can perform miracles. That’s not true. It can’t be called a miracle when it’s done by someone who has the power to do so. A true miracle is when a person makes the impossible possible through sheer willpower. Even if their strength is inferior. Just like what Scarlet did at that time …… Well, you’ll never understand it though.」

‘Mother’ pretended to nod in agreement with Alisa’s words, but there was a glint of contempt in her eyes. Alisa looked back at her in the same way. These two are absolutely incompatible. Except for one thing: strength.

Alisa snorted and continued her words.

「To hell with『God’s』orders. I cannot be moved by such things. But it wouldn’t be so bad if I were moved by the human way of life. So, if tonight, Scarlet and the others can perform miracles as human beings …… let’s see, since Scarlet is four years old, let’s make it if Scarlet can perform 4 miracles …… then I’ll spare the lives of Countess Rosenthal, Cornelia, and the baby inside her womb. It’ll be my birthday present to Scarlet for the next few years.」

Alisa looked up at the sky and muttered as she folded her fingers one, two, three, four.

「…… Oh, that’s a lovely idea. Let’s make that a deal. With this, the negotiation is done.」

‘Mother’ compromised with sickening ease. To her, the lives of both Cornelia and Countess Rosenthal are unimportant, all she wanted was a point of compromise. She pretends to have human emotions, but truly, she has none of that.

‘Mother’ held out her hand for a handshake, but Alisa brushed it away.

「…… It’s unpleasant. You’re just a lizard that pretends to be human.」

Alisa’s contempt did not have an effect on ‘Mother’.

「Ufufufu, what a harsh thing to say. But if I look at Alisa-chan from a normal person’s point of view, you’re quite a heretic as well. There is no place for you in the world of human beings. …… Even Alfred, who said he would abandon the royal family for my sake …… crumbled down when he learned of my true nature.」

‘Mother’ indifferently spoke of her memories, as if she was a machine without emotion.

「That’s why, Alisa-chan, come to the same place where I work. I hope you will get along with me like you do with the glasses-wearing Solomon-san. It’ll be an enjoyable life where you just have to listen to『God’s』commands once in a while.」

「…… Enjoyable? Heh, don’t you mean to say the life of a corpse. Besides, Solomon and I are just using each other. Still, in terms of aesthetics, that mad scientist is better than you. …… I’ve once met the so-called『God』you speak of. There is no divinity or aesthetics in that. It’s an inflexible, ugly system. Amidst the breath of spring, the sunshine of summer, the bounty of autumn, and the harshness of winter, but the only thing he can feel is the difference in temperature and humidity. If I follow a guy like that who is as lifeless as cold ashes, even my heart would be worn out.」

Alisa said in repugnance and then she laughed.

「In comparison to that, it’s beautiful to see how people struggle. They are all so incredibly weak, tossed about by the incessant waves of misery and suffering. The human world is full of tragedy and comedy. To the point that it’s hard for me to choose which one to keep an eye at. …… Ahahaha!! They are all so pitiful!!」

After letting out a maniacal laugh, Alisa showed a slightly proud smile.

「But you see, humans have no choice but to live even if they are weak, so they will not give up. They get over their misery and move on. No matter how many times they are defeated, they crawl back up and try to make their way somehow. If they can’t do it by themselves, they would entrust it to the next person. That steel-like willpower sometimes causes miracles to happen. That is something that the fossil『God』and their running dogs, who are only strong, do not have. It should be living people, not dead gods, who should make the times.」

Alisa pressed her hands to her chest as if in prayer.
Alisa did not intend to, but when she did so, she looked so lovely that it shot the hearts of those who saw her.

「Their fangs that are so small that they seem like they might break off are fine. That is exactly why the miracles they cause by biting the prey apart with their own fangs are worth it. Show me. Scarlet. The miracles that humans can create. And make my heart tremble. I believe in you. After all, you are the one and only lifelong rival that I acknowledge.」

「…… Ufufufu, you’re wrong, Alisa-chan. It’s not a miracle that the weak can perform. It’s called a fluke. Miracles are made by those who have the power. …… Just like this.」

‘Mother’ sneered and pointed both of her index fingers at Alisa.

「…… Ufufufu, the preparations are complete. Now you can’t escape anymore. This whole area is already inside my sensory network radar. If I were to use a metaphor, this whole area is now like a sandy beach without a single footprint. No matter how many times you jump with the ‘Dark Illusion’ or how many times you completely erase your presence, it is easy to infer your location from the spatial disturbance. Now then, take these attacks that you can’t see nor avoid.」

There was no sound or sign, but Alisa’s eyes saw countless masses of power fired by ‘Mother’. It was the long-range attack that slipped past Bradd and shot Cornelia in the forehead even though she was located behind Bradd. However, unlike the previous case where only one shot was fired at a slower pace, the power contained within the masses of power was far greater and there were no gaps in the barrage. Moreover, it penetrated the trees like a ghost and came at Alisa from all directions in an attempt to envelop her.

「Fufufu, this is the original ‘Demon’s Bullet’. It will only materialize and explode after it enters the body of Alisa-chan, the target. It will pass through any other objects with ‘Dark Illusion’, so the attack will hit the target with maximum power and it cannot be intercepted. If Alisa-chan is hit by even one bullet, the other demon’s bullets will automatically be attracted to you and then detonate.」

It was a long-range attack that added homing ability to the nature of ‘Dark Illusion’.

It chased after the retreating Alisa with the shortest distance possible.

The attack was too much for Alisa, who was as petite as a bisque doll. It was as persistent as the hounds of Tindalos.

「After I carefully thought about it, as long as I defeat Alisa-chan here and don’t let you go to Countess Rosenthal, everything will be resolved. A normal human being would be killed instantly with just a single demon’s bullet, but if it’s Alisa-chan, even if you were to be hit by all the bullets, you would probably only be seriously injured. I’ll adore and take care of you like a dress-up doll. It’s Alisa-chan’s fault for always praising Scarlet-san.」

It was an absolute crisis, but Alisa remained unperturbed and sneered at ‘Mother’.

「…… Hmm, another forbidden technique from ancient times? That’s what you call ‘Someone that knows little often repeats it’. Seeing you using these techniques so many times in a row, I don’t get why it’s called a sealed technique. I wonder if you’re senile in the head.」

「Ufufufu, when you get old, you can’t help but use the familiar techniques that have become ingrained in your body on the spur of the moment. Besides, I’m the only one left alive who knows that this is a forbidden technique. So it’s up to me whether I use it or not. It’s your fault for reminding me of the excitement of the battlefield.」

‘Mother’ calmly answered.

Alisa smiled with the corners of her mouth raised in the shape of a crescent moon.

「…… Then you should also remember the horror of the battlefield.」

Alisa stopped and quickly took a natural stance.

「I’ll show you the real ancient forbidden technique.」

Alisa quickly raised one hand and pointed to the sky with her fingers. Then she closed her eyes.

For a moment, all sound vanished. The whispers of the forest, the voice of the wind, and even the movement of air. In the silence, ‘Mother’ felt a ripple that was like the clear sound of a bell. All the power was absorbed by Alisa standing at the center of the ripple. The countless demon’s bullets no longer saw Alisa as an enemy and instead hurriedly came to her in joy, eager to help her.

Alisa opened her eyes.
Her eyes were still blue, instead of red.
However, it had an unfathomable color, reminiscent of the blueness of the universe.

‘Mother’ began to tremble. It was not fear. It was excitement. It was delight. Her hair stood on end and her entire body was covered in goosebumps. Saliva dripped from her gaping mouth.

「…… No way, that is ……」