Chapter 718 - Intermission: ? ? ? ~ ~ 4 Billion Years and 20 Billion Years ~ ~

Late at night, right above the room where Kaito sleeps Sitting on the roof of the mansion, Alice absentmindedly gazed at the moon in the night sky.

It was a night like any other Until a single white feather pa.s.sed in front of Alices eyes and a G.o.d appeared beside her

[Haahhh What do you want, Eden-san? Kaito-san is already asleep, you know?]

[..]

[Unnn?]

Without answering Alices question, Eden took out a vermillion-colored cup from nowhere and offered it to Alice. After confirming that Alice accepted it even as she raised an eyebrow at her, Eden sat down next to Alice, took out a bottle of alcohol and poured its contents into Alices cup.

[What brought this on?]

[Nothing, it doesnt hold any deeper meaning. However, lets see Perhaps, because Shallow Vernal used Epilogue earlier that I remembered some things from a long time ago. I wonder how many years back then was it? From my senses, it was over 20 billion years ago, but there are differences between the flow of time between worlds after all. For other worlds, it may have been just a few seconds ago. I wonder what appropriate year should I describe it with?]

[I think you could just say it happened 20 billion years ago.]

[Then, it happened 20 billion years ago. I just remembered that time.]

[I see.]

Hearing Edens words that wont make sense to her ears, Alice drank from her cup without any questions.

A moment of silence remained for a while before Alice took out a small golden feather and held it out to Eden.

[Ill return this to you. In the end, it was never used]

[You dont need to return that anymore. I dont have any use for that feather that allows one to enter the world created by Shallow Vernal. Rather, why is it that you never used it?]

[Even if I forcefully entered that place, what the heck would I even do? Besides, it would be better for you if I hadnt used this This would probably be a breach of your contract, right?]

[Thats right. That is indeed an item that violates my contract with Shallow Vernal If you had used it, I wouldnt have been able to say no to any additional terms she pushed to me afterwards, even if its unfavorable to me.]

The feather Alice received at the night before Shallow Vernals ordeal was something entrusted to her by Eden. With it, even if its just Alice, she would be able to intervene in Kaitos ordeal.

In the end, Alice chose not to use it, believing in Kaito but there shouldnt have been any reason for Eden to give Alice something that would make her position worse.

[Why did you entrust this to me?]

[I dont know I guess I just had this hunch to give that to you.]

[Why is it that you highly evaluate only me and help me with things like this?]

[Havent I told you about it? That of all the people in this world, youre the one I think the most highly of]

[Thats quite the boring lie. Even if I have some combat skills, theres no way that youd be interested in someone other than your children.]

[..]

Hearing Alices astounding words, Eden fell silent. Alice also didnt ask her about this matter any further, and silence fell between them again.

It was unknown how much time had pa.s.sed, but they continued pouring alcohol into each others cups and drank. After repeating that process four times, Alice muttered to herself.

[How does it feel to be the G.o.d youve always wanted to be Makina]

[Since when did you realize it?]

The moment she heard Alices words, Edens tone changed. She somehow sounded younger than before responding with a voice that, for some reason, is filled with happiness

[You did tend to be lax at the crucial moments after all That moment you taunted me to a fight by showing your real body back in the Sanctuary Even if your appearance changed, you still have the same core as before, you know?]

[Clairvoyance huh What a blunder. I had my usual Null:Clairvoyance placed, but I wasnt able to see through how strengthened your skills are while your s Ultimate Battle Form is active. I guess this is where I say that huh As expected of Alicia.]

[Oya? Arent you supposed to be omniscient?]

[Even if Im omniscient, that doesnt make me almighty. My omniscience only allows me to know what I was trying to know, so I wouldnt know about something if I dont try knowing about it.]

Saying this, an innocent smile appeared on Edens lips. As if she was enjoying this moment from the bottom of her heart

[However, I never noticed it until that moment. I mean, who the heck would have noticed it that an old friend of mine, who had become a Mechanized G.o.d of her own volition and not only youve become the G.o.d of the other world, youve become an outrageous lunatic.]

[Calling me a lunatic is quite mean, dont you think?]

[No, no, with your actions back then, how would you describe that other than lunatic]

[Unlike back then, I just stopped putting up with anything anymore. I just want to love my cute, darling child as much as I can. Thats all there is to it and all these urges to kill that G.o.ds half-body and these lumps of flesh were merely because theyre hindrances]

[Alice-chan slightly regrets the past. If I hadnt respected your wishes and just stopped you back then, that G.o.d with a loose screw in her head wouldnt have been created But if it werent for you, Kaito-san wouldnt have been born H- Hmmm This is difficult.]

[Fufufu.]

Hearing Alices astounded words, Eden smiled again and a sense of calmness flowed between the two of them.

[Anyway, thanks to finding out your ident.i.ty, Ive been able to find the answer to my long-standing question. Youre the reason why its called Earth, a world revolving around machines, and why there are lots of things in this world that have the same name as the things in my knowledge.]

[Its not just the name. The Earth today looks like it did just before you and I met. Its mysterious, isnt it? I did have a hand in some things like how some things are called, but other than that, I didnt do anything. And yet, Earth had naturally become somewhat similar to that world Its kind of interesting, dont you think?]

[Please dont make the way the two worlds are destroyed the same, okay?]

[Ahaha, I dont know about that. After all, my children have already left my arms and became independent. How they perish is up to them However, no matter which means they perish, I would still receive them with my overflowing love. I would love my child, even when theyre treading upon the path of destruction~~]

[Why dont you find the screw you lost somewhere first?]

Seeing how Edens way of thinking still didnt change even when her tone did, still speaking about her love that could be described as insanity, Alice let out a sigh again. She wonders how many times she has already sighed because of her.

After chatting like that for a while, Eden slowly stood up.

[What a strange coincidence it is, but it was nice to see Alicia again in this world like this.]

[Haahhh Well, I was also caught up with nostalgic topics too Speaking of which, whats with your usual way of speaking?]

[D- Doesnt speaking like that make me sound G.o.d-like?]

[Its a simple formula of G.o.ds speaking polite speech huh No, but Shallow Vernal-sama does speak like that too, so I guess what youre thinking isnt exactly wrong Well, lets just discuss that with Kaito-san later. Rather, let me tell you this now. Kaito-san is pretty scared of you, you know?]

[Really!? W- Why? Even though my love for my beloved child is second to none!? Ah, could it be that my love for him still isnt enough? Alright, Ill give my beloved child a planet as a present later! Ill have to discuss this with Shallow Vernal immediately]

[Ah~~ Alice-chan clearly understands now. Your loose screw cant be fixed anymore]

At that instant, Alice threw the towel. She thought for a moment that she might be able to correct her personality since she was an old friend, but hearing Edens outrageous idea, she gave up.

As Alice let out another big sigh, Eden floated up into the sky and turned towards Alice She spoke with a dazzling smile on her face.

[Ahh, thats right, let me answer your first question Unlike back then, now that I can do what I want, love what I want Im the happiest Ive ever been!]

[That so In that case, well, I guess you made the right choice.]

[See you later then, Alicia.]

[Im called Alice now.]

[Thats right Anyway, lets talk again, Alice. Id like to hear about what happened after I left that world Just knowing about it with my omniscience is so bland after all.]

Saying that, Eden waved her hand and with her expression returning back to normal, she disappeared. After seeing her off, Alice looked at the golden feather in her hand and muttered to herself.

[I think it would have been better if she just treated Kaito-san with the personality she had back then, without all acting G.o.d-like Well, it wont do if she doesnt notice that herself, I guess Good grief, what a troublesome G.o.d.]

I want to increase Mama Edens heroine power. I have no regrets.

T/N: The name Makina is exactly the same as the Machina of Deus Ex Machina.

Also, Hazure chapters started pumping again, so please dont expect three chapters on those days Just like what happened today and the previous days.