Chapter 71
Within Haruto's original universe, time remained completely frozen by the effects of "Stasis", leaving Yuna, Velmaria, and the few other people inside the grand mall suspended exactly where they had been before the battle began.
A moment later, Haruto and Valerius returned to their side, appearing within the frozen shopping mall as though they had never left.
Valerius slowly stopped beside Velmaria before turning his narrowed eyes toward Haruto, studying the strange existence standing near Yuna.
"Hey, thing... what is your name?"
Haruto's expression remained completely calm as he glanced at Valerius from the corner of his eye.
(Thing...?)
He quietly sighed internally before deciding not to bother correcting him.
(Let's just pretend I didn't hear that.)
"It's Haruto Satoru."
Valerius remained silent for a moment as he committed the name to memory, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Haruto with renewed interest.
(Haruto Satoru...)
(I'll make sure to remember that name.)
Valerius then shifted his attention toward Haruto once more.
"Anyway, can you restore my connection to the concept of Regeneration?"
Haruto gave him a calm look before nodding.
"Sure. Just hold still for a moment."
The instant Haruto finished speaking, the surroundings around them seemed to fade into complete darkness.
The frozen mall disappeared.
The countless structures of reality vanished.
Even the familiar boundaries of space and time became meaningless.
Within that darkness, a single radiant white thread appeared before Haruto.
It shimmered softly through the endless void, stretching beyond what ordinary perception could comprehend.
This was an Existence Thread.
Every existence possessed countless threads that defined different aspects of its being, including form, purpose, identity, causality, and the relationships connecting it to fundamental concepts.
Haruto calmly reached toward the thread representing Valerius' relationship with Regeneration.
The connection he had previously severed was already present within his perception.
With nothing more than his will, Haruto gently restored the severed relationship.
The white thread slowly reconnected itself, its broken strands weaving together until the connection between Valerius and the concept of Regeneration became whole once again.
Reality immediately recognized the restored relationship.
Valerius' expression changed as he suddenly felt the familiar connection return to his existence.
(What...?)
His eyes narrowed as he tested the restored conceptual relationship within himself.
(My connection to Regeneration has been completely restored.)
For the first time since meeting Haruto, Valerius found himself genuinely unsettled by the simplicity of the process.
(What a terrifying ability for one existence to possess.)
The darkness surrounding them gradually faded, allowing the frozen shopping mall to return to Haruto's perception as though nothing had happened.
Haruto simply stood there with the same calm expression he had before.
Valerius continued staring at him for several moments, silently reconsidering exactly what kind of existence he had chosen to make a deal with.
Somewhere else within the Satoria Federation, Haruto stood upon a high cliff that offered a beautiful view of his nation below, while delicate cherry blossom petals drifted from the branches overhead and followed the gentle direction of the wind.
(Who would've thought I'd eventually build a nation of my own?) Haruto thought with quiet amusement as his eyes moved across the peaceful scenery before him.
Below the cliff, countless citizens traveled through the streets of the Satoria Federation, moving between shops that sold everything from weapons and equipment to elegant clothing while the entire nation remained filled with the lively movement of ordinary life.
"What are you looking at so happily, Master?" Fuyume asked as she approached from behind, her six enormous white fox tails swaying energetically through the air while their elegant tips moved naturally with every step she took.
Haruto turned slightly toward her with a gentle smile before allowing his eyes to rest on her cheerful expression.
"Oh, nothing in particular," Haruto replied calmly as he glanced back toward the city. "More importantly, where have you been?"
Fuyume's ears immediately twitched as she slowed her steps, her expression becoming noticeably nervous while she searched through her thoughts for an answer that would make her recent activities sound considerably more productive than they actually were.
"You know... I've been doing this and that," Fuyume answered quietly, her eyes beginning to wander toward the side as she struggled to maintain eye contact with Haruto. "I've been eating... and sitting around."
The final words became so quiet that they almost disappeared beneath the sound of the wind moving through the cherry blossom branches.
Haruto looked at her for several moments before quietly accepting the answer without making much of it.
(She's basically been freeloading.)
Even so, Haruto could not bring himself to genuinely criticize her when Fuyume had always taken her responsibility as his bodyguard seriously whenever his safety actually mattered.
(Still, it's fine. She's my bodyguard, after all.)
Haruto stepped closer to Fuyume before giving her a warm smile that immediately made her nervous expression soften.
"What makes you happy makes me happy."
Fuyume's ears perked up instantly as her golden eyes widened with genuine surprise, clearly expecting him to give her another lecture about spending most of her time eating and doing nothing.
"Really...?"
Her voice carried a mixture of disbelief and happiness as she looked at Haruto, while her six tails gradually began swaying with increasing excitement behind her.
Haruto simply nodded with the same gentle expression.
"Really."
Fuyume's face immediately brightened as she moved closer to him, her playful smile returning while her tails continued waving behind her.
"Master, you're seriously too nice to me."
She leaned forward slightly with an amused expression before adding in a teasing tone, "If Liora heard you say that, she'd probably complain that you're spoiling me again."
Haruto gave a quiet chuckle as he imagined Liora's inevitable reaction.
"She probably would."
Fuyume giggled softly before stretching her arms above her head, her previous nervousness disappearing as her energetic personality returned almost immediately.
"Then what should we do now, Master? I've been bored all day, so I wouldn't mind doing something interesting with you."
"Actually, Fuyume, could you quickly return to your true form?"
Haruto rubbed the back of his neck with a slightly tired expression, even though ordinary exhaustion could no longer affect his existence in the first place.
"I'd like to rest in your fur for a while."
Fuyume's movement stopped as her ears slowly rose, her expression changing from playful curiosity into unmistakable excitement while she stared at Haruto for a moment.
"Wait, you actually want to rest against me?"
Her six tails suddenly began wagging so enthusiastically that several cherry blossom petals were swept away from the ground around her feet.
Haruto smiled calmly while looking at her reaction.
"That's what I said."
Fuyume's smile became even brighter as she raised both hands with obvious excitement before quickly lowering them again.
"Then you should've asked me sooner, Master!"
A gentle white radiance immediately surrounded her body as her humanoid form began transforming, her silhouette expanding until an enormous white fox stood beneath the cherry blossom tree.
Her true form possessed a slender and graceful body that emphasized elegance rather than excessive musculature, while six enormous tails flowed behind her like pristine clouds of white fur that moved gently with the surrounding wind.
Despite her beautiful appearance, the sheer size of her body and the intimidating aura naturally radiating from her existence gave Fuyume a presence that could make ordinary beings instinctively retreat.
Fuyume happily lowered herself beneath the massive cherry blossom tree, allowing countless petals to drift from the branches above before settling gently across her enormous white fur.
The sight of her white body beneath the falling blossoms created an almost dreamlike scene, with the gentle movement of her six tails blending naturally with the petals surrounding her.
Haruto approached her side before carefully resting his back against her body, allowing himself to sink partially into the thick layer of fur covering her side.
The warmth immediately surrounded him, while the softness beneath his body created a sensation that felt strangely similar to resting upon a cloud.
Fuyume's enormous ears twitched as she felt Haruto settle comfortably against her, while her six tails gradually curled around herself in quiet contentment.
(Master is actually resting against me right now.)
A delighted smile slowly spread across her face as she closed her eyes, her entire body relaxing beneath the cherry blossom tree while she enjoyed having Haruto so close to her.
(This is wonderful... I could probably stay like this forever.)
One of her enormous tails gently moved closer to Haruto, carefully adjusting itself beneath him as though she instinctively wanted to make his resting place even more comfortable.
(If Liora saw this, she'd probably be so jealous.)
The thought made Fuyume's smile grow wider as she continued resting peacefully beneath the falling blossoms, quietly enjoying every moment with her Master beside her.
"Master," Fuyume asked softly while keeping her eyes closed, her relaxed expression matching the peaceful atmosphere beneath the cherry blossom tree. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
Haruto turned slightly onto his side, resting comfortably against Fuyume's soft fur as he looked toward her.
"Me and all the girls are planning to have a girls' night together, so I wanted to ask if you'd like to join us."
Fuyume opened her eyes and turned toward Haruto, her expression carrying a playful curiosity as she waited for his answer.
"What...?"
Haruto's eyebrows lifted slightly, clearly surprised by the invitation.
"Isn't it supposed to be for girls? I'm a guy, you know, so I doubt they'd want me there."
"Don't be silly, Master. You're always welcome regardless of your gender, but to calm your concerns, I'll talk to the girls first."
"Yeah, do that first."
Haruto leaned his back against Fuyume's soft, sparkling fur again, his expression becoming quietly amused as he looked toward the distant Federation.
(All the girls together... I wonder how that will turn out.)
Meanwhile, deep within the Satoria Federation, an enormous library stretched upward beyond what the eye could see, with countless shelves filled with books while spiraling staircases followed the walls toward an unseen ceiling.
Ancient texts, magical records, historical documents, and countless other forms of knowledge filled the enormous chamber, creating an atmosphere that seemed almost endless.
—Secret Library of the Satoria Federation—
"Mmm...? Miyuki, is this the right book?"
Sora stood beside one of the towering shelves while looking down at an old book marked with a complex magical circle, her attention fixed upon its strange inscription.
"There should be a crystal in the middle of it."
Miyuki reached toward the upper shelf and rose onto her toes as she carefully pulled another book free, glancing toward Sora over her shoulder.
Sora's eyes widened when she suddenly lost her balance, causing her to instinctively reach toward Miyuki for support.
Instead, she accidentally pulled Miyuki down with her, and both stumbled against the bookshelf as several books fell from the upper shelf around them.
Miyuki ended up with her back against the bookshelf while Sora landed close beside her, leaving both girls momentarily frozen as the final books struck the floor.
The sound of the falling books gradually faded through the enormous library, leaving an unusual silence between them.
They slowly looked at each other with widened eyes, neither understanding why the situation suddenly felt so different.
An unfamiliar feeling began to rise within them, almost like a temptation neither had the knowledge to identify or explain.
Sora continued staring at Miyuki as the strange impulse inside her became stronger, her thoughts becoming increasingly confused by something she had never experienced before.
(What is this feeling...? My body is moving on its own.)
Rather than pulling away, Sora followed that unfamiliar impulse and leaned closer, pressing her lips against Miyuki's in a kiss that neither of them had ever experienced before.
Miyuki's eyes widened for a moment before gradually softening, and instead of resisting, she accepted the kiss and responded to Sora's movement.
(I've never experienced this before...) Miyuki thought as a blush spread across her face, her thoughts struggling to understand why the moment felt so strangely pleasant.
Sora remained just as confused, yet the unfamiliar feeling made her reluctant to pull away, leaving both of them caught within an experience that neither possessed the knowledge to properly understand.
When they finally separated, both remained silent for several moments, their expressions carrying a mixture of confusion, embarrassment, and curiosity.
Neither of them understood what had just awakened within their hearts, because they possessed no wisdom or knowledge concerning such emotions.
It was something that had never been designed into them, something completely outside the purpose they had originally been given.
Yet despite their inability to explain it, both girls knew that something had changed between them.
(This can't be...) Haruto thought in shock as his eyes suddenly widened beside Fuyume. (No... no, no, no.)
A mixture of betrayal, disappointment, and anger crossed Haruto's expression as his hands slowly tightened into fists, his fingers trembling slightly from the emotions he was struggling to contain. He gradually rose to his feet while Fuyume turned her head toward him, her expression becoming slightly curious at his sudden change in demeanor.
Haruto released a quiet, strained sigh as he forced himself to maintain his composure, placing one hand against his hip while lowering his head enough for his bangs to obscure his expression.
"Mmm... F-Fuyume, I'll have to leave for now. I'll see you later," Haruto said softly, his voice remaining controlled despite the tension hidden beneath it.
Before Fuyume could respond, Haruto disappeared from the spot through "Instant Teleportation".
Haruto immediately appeared inside his luxurious bedroom before dropping to his knees beside the bed, his hands gripping the edge of the mattress as he lowered his head against it.
(Why did this have to happen...? They've developed desires independent of the design I gave them.)
His fist slowly tightened before striking the mattress, the impact carrying far more frustration than force as Haruto remained there with his head lowered.
Haruto had created the Servans for one fundamental purpose: they were meant to remain connected to him, with his divine presence woven directly into their existence and their roles built around serving and supporting him.
They were beings he had created to rely upon, individuals whose loyalty and connection to him were supposed to remain absolute, allowing him to place his trust in them without questioning where their existence ultimately belonged.
Yet that foundation had begun to collapse beneath him, leaving Haruto struggling to understand how something he had deliberately designed could develop beyond the boundaries he had originally established.
(Perhaps I should wait a little longer and see if this changes on its own. If it doesn't... I'll have to remove my divine presence from them.)
The thought remained in his mind for several moments before the final word surfaced, carrying a weight that made his expression tighten.
(Separation.)
The Servans were fundamentally dependent on Haruto, although that dependence did not make them mindless beings. Their existence was connected to his will, authority, and divine presence, with their development occurring within the boundaries of that connection.
But something Haruto had never intended had begun to emerge.
True Existential Independence.
Their existence was beginning to move beyond the limitations he had originally established, allowing them to develop desires and choices that were no longer directly determined by his design.
Haruto had intended for the Servans to remain pure according to the purpose he had given them, with his divine presence serving as the foundation of their existence.
To him, what they had done represented a violation of that intended order.
Haruto was their creator, their authority, and the one responsible for judging what they had become, yet that responsibility carried a painful contradiction because he still regarded them as his own children.
Even if he loved them, he could not simply ignore what had happened.
A week later, Haruto sat quietly in his office, reading through the reports arranged across his desk while the golden light from the windows illuminated the room. From the outside, everything appeared perfectly normal, yet beneath his composed expression, something felt deeply wrong, and the presence of his two most faithful subordinates beside him could not ease the weight that had settled within his thoughts.
Miyuki stood respectfully before Haruto's desk with her hands resting gracefully in front of her, maintaining the posture expected of her while Haruto finally lifted his eyes from the documents.
"My daughter, I want you to investigate every business throughout our nation and determine whether anything troublesome or suspicious has been occurring beneath the surface," Haruto said softly, a gentle smile remaining on his face.
"Every business throughout the nation?" Miyuki asked with slight surprise, her expression becoming more serious as she considered the scale of the task. "I believe I can manage it, Father, although checking everything will certainly be challenging."
"I believe you can handle it," Haruto replied calmly as he rested his joined fingers against the desk. "More importantly, Miyuki, how have your days been recently?"
"Huh...?" Miyuki's expression stiffened at the unexpected question, and her thoughts immediately returned to the secret she had been trying to keep buried.
(Should I tell Father?)
The memory surfaced within her mind, bringing back the moment she and Sora had crossed a boundary they both knew Haruto would consider wrong. The thought alone made Miyuki's heart tighten with shame, causing her gaze to drift away from her father.
"I...it's been alright," Miyuki answered quietly after gathering herself. "Nothing particularly important has happened that needs to be mentioned."
"Oh, I see," Haruto replied with a gentle smile before returning his attention to the report in front of him. "Just remember that I'm a forgiving God, Miyuki."
"The truth is, Father—" Miyuki began softly, but the words became difficult to release as the memory of Sora's warning returned to her mind.
She remembered what Sora had told her afterward, reminding her that Haruto had already made his position regarding their relationship clear and that admitting what they had done could leave him disappointed in both of them.
(Come on, Miyuki. Ask for forgiveness, and I'll forgive you.)
Haruto continued reading while quietly hoping that she would choose to tell him the truth herself, because he did not want to force a confession from someone he still considered his daughter.
"I know, Father, but there really isn't anything," Miyuki finally answered with a small smile, although the expression failed to reach her eyes.
"...I understand," Haruto said quietly, and although sadness briefly appeared within his golden eyes, he maintained the same gentle smile as he closed the report.
"You should go for now, Miyuki, because your investigation is going to keep you rather busy."
"Alright, Father," Miyuki replied with slightly more energy as she turned toward the exit, raising one hand in farewell while Haruto returned the gesture with a faint smile.
After the door closed behind her, Haruto remained seated for several moments while the silence of the office gradually settled around him. He eventually released a deep sigh and lowered his face into his hands, his fingers resting against his hair as the disappointment he had been suppressing finally became difficult to contain.
Vhalzareth noticed the change immediately and leaned forward with genuine concern, his usually composed expression becoming noticeably worried as he watched his master.
"My Lord, what troubles you?" Vhalzareth asked carefully. "If something weighs upon you, please allow me to assist."
Liora stepped closer as well, placing her hands gently against Haruto's shoulders while trying to bring his attention back toward them.
"Please tell us what is wrong," she said softly, her concern becoming more apparent when Haruto continued to remain silent.
"Be quiet."
Haruto's voice rose sharply for perhaps the first time, carrying enough force to make both of them immediately withdraw.
Vhalzareth and Liora lowered their heads at once, their expressions carrying the same instinctive guilt they would have shown after committing a serious offense.
"Forgive us, my Lord," they said together, their voices unsteady despite their attempts to remain composed.
(They already know that if they ask me for forgiveness, I'll forgive them, so why aren't they doing it? Is it pride, shame, or something else entirely?)
Haruto's thoughts became increasingly unsettled as his fingers tightened within his hair, his frustration directed less toward them than toward himself for being unable to understand what had changed within his creations.
Liora watched him in silence, her shoulders becoming tense as she struggled to contain her own worry.
(What's wrong with him? He looks so hurt, and I can't bear watching him suffer like this.)
Haruto slowly lowered his hands while staring at the documents scattered across his desk, yet the words written upon them no longer held any meaning for him.
(The more time I give them, the worse this becomes.)
His fingers gradually loosened as the thought continued to weigh upon him.
(I'm disappointed in myself for ever creating the Servants in a way that allowed this to happen.)
"...Liora," Haruto finally said, lifting his head toward her.
His expression had returned to its usual calmness, although the sadness remaining within his eyes made it clear that his thoughts had already moved toward something far more serious.
"Prepare the throne room immediately."
"The throne room?" Liora repeated with slight surprise before immediately understanding that Haruto was giving her a direct order. "Of course, my Lord. I'll have it prepared."
She turned and left the office without wasting another moment, leaving Haruto alone with Vhalzareth as the door slowly closed behind her.
"Vhalzareth," Haruto said quietly, turning his head toward him while his bangs fell across his eyes and partially concealed his expression. "I need your help with something."
"Of course, my Lord," Vhalzareth answered without hesitation, placing one hand respectfully against his chest. "Assisting you is one of the purposes for which I exist."
Haruto remained silent for several seconds before finally asking the question that had been weighing upon him since everything began to change.
"If I force them to return to me, can I still call it love?" he asked softly, his voice carrying a quiet uncertainty that was rare for him. "And if I allow them to leave, can I still call myself a loving father?"
Vhalzareth's expression became unusually serious as he considered the question, refusing to answer until he had carefully chosen the words he believed his master needed to hear.
"I would not force their hearts to return," Vhalzareth said calmly. "Leave the door open and wait for them, because if they eventually choose to walk away, then you must allow them to follow that path. However, you should not stop loving them simply because they have chosen a life without you."
Haruto lowered his gaze as Vhalzareth's answer settled within his thoughts, and for several moments he remained completely silent while considering the conclusion they had both reached.
(So we arrived at the same conclusion.)
His expression remained calm, although something heavier had settled behind his eyes as the meaning of Vhalzareth's words became clearer.
(So this is the paradox of a God's love... perhaps that's why it feels so suffocating.)
Haruto slowly rose from his chair while the golden light continued to stretch across the office, his expression becoming increasingly distant as his decision finally settled within him.
(I'm done waiting.)
His golden eyes hardened with quiet resolve as he turned toward the door leading to the throne room.
(I'll punish them.)