The air changed in an instant.

Just moments ago, Thesis had been shrinking back, cowed after being lashed with Loqierra’s anger.

But now, it was different.

Clearly———– undeniably.

Different.

It felt as though I was standing in a gravity that pinned my body to the ground.

A dense, suffocating pressure———— so heavy my heart seemed to feel its weight.

Calm and quiet as it was, that voice carried a fearsome intensity, as though it held my very life and death in its grasp.

Thesis’ gaze was not fixed directly on Vysis.

She was looking at the ground, slightly downward in front of her.

And yet———— perhaps because of that, it only amplified the eeriness of the moment.

……So that’s how it is.

I swallowed hard.

This is……

The so-called…… second in Heaven’s hierarchy.

It seemed Vysis had finally grasped her situation, because……

[Uuuu———– no, um…… w- what do you mean by that……? I don’t have the faintest idea…… I haven’t been looking down on you either……]

Vysis’ eyes darted back and forth.

With pupils shimmering in golden light, Thesis glanced briefly at Seras.

[Within that High Elf resides a Wind Spirit capable of discerning truth from falsehood.]

[Ah———-]

Seemingly having caught in her breath……

As if she had forgotten something———–

That was the reaction Vysis gave.

Thesis spoke.

[Vysis.]

[Eh…… y- yes……?]

[I wished to know your motive. I had no interest in hearing hollow excuses plastered over with futile lies.]

[ ! ]

……So she had seen through it.

Glancing to the side, even Loqierra let out a relieved sigh, her hand pressed to her chest.

[Well…… I never thought Thesis-sama would actually swallow Vysis’ flimsy excuse whole…………………… but, just for a moment…… only for a moment, I did get worried.]

[……You.]

Don’t tell me———– she hadn’t fully trusted Thesis?

Still, she showed no sign of being shaken by Thesis’ transformation.

Which meant she likely knew about this state of hers.

[Thesis-sama has two sides, you see…… the soft, absentminded one, and that serious one just now. Unn…… I’d be happy if she could stay serious like that all the time, but…… apparently that state is pretty exhausting for her……]

Before opening her eyes, Thesis had apparently been in something like an energy-saving mode.

And then, Loqierra continued.

[You see, there’s one ability where Thesis-sama surpasses even Chief Deity Origin-sama———— that is, her power to interfere with Spirits. Vysis should have known that, but panicked and forgot. In other words…… Thesis-sama already knows what kind of power the Spirit inside Seras possesses.]

So that was why she could judge Seras’ words to be true.

Without looking at Vysis, Thesis said,

[Vysis———– setting aside truth verification, did you not notice that part of your logic was already collapsing? It has been a long time since we last met…… but you have grown dull. To think you believed you could talk this Thesis into submission with something so flimsy.]

[N- No…… b- but that’s because———- because of the brainwashing Loqierra and the human inflicted on me…… that’s why I’m making such blunders like this…… they tampered with my logical thinking domain……]

Vysis did not realize it.

No———– more likely, she had been made incapable of realizing it.

Among those in high positions……

Or among those called veterans or great figures, it is a story one hears all too often.

Even when their direction or words are wrong———– they can’t notice it.

Why?

Because no one around them points it out.

No one corrects them.

It is not that their demands pass by reason.

They pass simply because of their status or position.

They get their way thanks to power outside of reason.

Because they surround themselves with yes-men.

Because they have eliminated those “unpleasant” people who dared to offer criticism.

Status and authority———– intimidation or domineering violence.

With that, even without reason, selfishness can prevail.

And yet———– often, the person themselves does not realize it.

There are certainly cases where they truly cannot see it.

They come to believe their own “logic” is correct, and that is why their demands are accepted.

They mistake the situation for being guided according to their own sound policy.

But reality is different.

Those around them simply cannot point it out or refuse, due to their position or circumstances.

Even if they think “That’s not right” in their hearts……

They are too afraid of the “violence” that might befall them to say anything.

In the worst cases,

The Naked Emperor himself comes to believe he is exceptional.

If there are a few capable people around———– Surprisingly, things still function.

They humor the Naked Emperor, cater to him, and still manage to produce decent results.

And so, without ever noticing, he comes to believe his logic is correct———— that things “work” because of it.

That he is succeeding.

He convinces himself of it.

Vysis had likely lived in such an environment.

For a very, very long time.

In this world, that is.

She eliminated or distanced herself from anyone inconvenient to her.

She lived in a world where her own “logic” passed effortlessly.

Vysis was the only goddess in this world.

Unless the Root of All Evil descended……

There existed no being equal to or above her.

But now……

Standing before Vysis———– was an existence above her.

In position.

And probably in ability as well.

That is why, unlike before……

Vysis’ “tyranny” would not pass————- It could not possibly be allowed to pass.

[Will you persist in repeating it————– That nonsense.]

[Uuuu……]

[I believe I told you to state your motive, did I not?]

[E- Even if I told you…… t- there’s nothing in it for me……]

It seemed Vysis had realized that deception would not work on Thesis.

[By speaking honestly, depending on what you say, you might be able to avoid the worst possible outcome, you know? I might even think you have a point. However———- there is an absolute condition. You must tell the truth.]

For a while, there was a pause filled with inner conflict.

Then———

[…………………..I- I mean……]

Vysis began to speak.

[Isn’t it strange that there are things I want to do, yet I can’t do them because of incomprehensible restrictions?]

[………………]

[Even if you call it distortions of dimensions…… I simply want to do what I want to do. I want freedom. No, this world…… I don’t think that everyone, in every dimension, should be able to do whatever they want. It’s fine if it’s just me. Yes…… privileges only need to exist for me. Giving them to others, honestly, I’d rather not. After all…… in this world, the only one who needs to be happy———- is me.]

“To begin with”, Vysis continued.

[When h- humans…… look happy, it p- pisses me off. It makes my stomach churn. And on top of that, those people…… even though it has nothing to do with me…… they force things on me, you know? Without even checking my will…… “Goddess, Goddess”, they say…… “please listen”, “please look”…… it’s disgusting. E- Even though no one asked them to———– even though I’ve got nothing to do with them at all. I’m not interested…… in the happiness reports of b- brats…… of inferior creatures. Sharing happiness…… s- shouldn’t they just die?]

The way she spoke……

It was as though she were pitying herself.

[W- When I’m in a bad mood…… I want people to stop acting happy, at the very least. I want them to be considerate. I want them to grow up and properly sympathize with my feelings. If they can’t do that…… then I want them to look down and stay silent. No, if possible, I want them to show me their suffering, and heal my desolate heart. Acting happy when I’m in a bad mood…… I want them to realize that it’s an extremely selfish act of harm. To begin with…… just because I’m a benevolent goddess…… t- there’s no need to r- report every little thing…… w- why should I, of all people, have to smile and celebrate the “good things” that happen to insects like them…… that’s what I think. From the bottom of my heart.]

[…………Go on.]

[But conversely…… when I’m in a good mood, I want to see t- them suffering too. A- After all…… when the brats are suffering, and yet I alone am in such a good mood right now…… isn’t that the best? The sense of superiority is irresistible. It feels like I’ve won. No…… it’s not limited to humans. I don’t want any existence other than myself to be happier than me…… In this world, no———– in all dimensions, I want to act entirely as I please…… and be happier than anyone else. That’s why…… obstructive existences and elements must be eliminated…… t- they’re in the way…… everything…… all of it……]

Vysis was smiling.

Her eyes were wide open.

It was a smile mixed with two emotions.

Fear——— and absolute confidence.

Vysis truly believed in herself.

[Say, Thesis-sama…… I————]

Placing her right hand against her chest, Vysis continued.

[Was I…… mistaken?]

Those words just now……

They were not a question———– but an assertion.

An assertion that she herself could not possibly be wrong.

That was what they were.

Thesis opened her mouth.

[Vysis.]

[……Yes.]

[I will commend you for speaking honestly. However———— your assertion is nothing more than an exceedingly self-centered rationale.]

[……………………]

[First, let us address this notion of happiness being an act of harm. You say that it angers you when humans appear happy, but is that not————- because you yourself choose to involve yourself with humans?]

[……………………]

[Whether it is innate or acquired———- let us set aside your personality and disposition for the moment.]

Having said that, Thesis continued.

[If you were to act as a goddess distinct from humans, you could have constructed a position such as “a goddess who rarely appears before humans”. A being who only shows herself before humans at truly critical moments, when it is absolutely necessary, appearing to help them, to guide them. In other words, only entering the mortal realm when interfering in matters related to the extermination of the Root of All Evil. Had you done so, your points of contact with the humans you dislike would have been greatly reduced. And yet…… despite the long years that were available to you, you did not choose that path. Why is that?]

[Uuuu…… t- that’s……]

Vysis faltered, her words catching in her throat.

[You desire to see humans suffer———— in other words, you are fundamentally fond of involving yourself with humans and inflicting suffering upon them.]

[Ghk……]

She had been offering all manner of self-justifications, insisting that she was the victim.

But yes———– Vysis herself goes out of her way to get involved.

Even as she claims that humans have nothing to do with her.

She chooses, of her own will, to involve herself.

If she truly did not wish to be involved————- she could simply keep her distance.

Setting aside circumstances like my own childhood, or Liz’s time at the White Coin.

Given Vysis’ position, she could have adopted the method Thesis described.

[You perceive yourself as the victim. However, that is merely a way of granting legitimacy to your own “counterattack”———- your acts of harm. You likely find the state of “being wrong” intolerable. Unless you thoroughly maintain the feeling that “you are right”, you cannot accept or carry out anything. That is why you excuse yourself by claiming “humans are at fault”, and from the position of a “pitiful victim”, you attempt to make humans suffer in order to satisfy your own desires.]

[B- But……]

…..Yeah, I really don’t want to argue with Thesis-sama when she’s in full serious mode.

That’s honestly how I feel.

And purely out of idle curiosity……

I suddenly wonder who would win if she were made to debate with Ikusaba Asagi.

[There is no “but”. And besides…… I do not understand what it is about others being happy that displeases you so deeply. “Happiness”, to begin with, is a concept that is born independently within each individual. In other words, it cannot be truly “shared”. Even if two people are both happy, they cannot feel the exact same “happiness”. Whether it’s us Deities or humans, we are ultimately separate entities, each with our own differences.]

Here, Thesis paused briefly before continuing.

[You may be able to understand another’s happiness, but you can never share an identical feeling. Therefore, “happiness” is, no matter how far you go, something that belongs solely to the individual. It is an extremely lonely concept. Well, perhaps that is precisely why people wish to report it to others and share it———– but if you dislike being on the receiving end of that, then the solution is simply not to involve yourself. Alternatively, if you consider that complete sharing is impossible anyway and therefore meaningless———– would that not make it unnecessary to bristle so much over it? After all, in the end, it has nothing to do with you.]

Vysis looked cowed, biting her lip.

[T- That is……]

As one way of thinking, it does seem to have a point.

……Though from my perspective, it also just feels like Vysis has an incredibly narrow heart.

Still…… it’s impressive how Thesis can present an argument that goes so far in trying to understand Vysis.

———As for me.

From Eve and Liz,

From Nyaki,

From Pigimaru and Slei,

From Seras————-

From my uncle and my aunt,

If they told me……

“Something really good happened.”

Or “Something really fun happened.”

I’d be happy.

No matter how many times they told me, I’m sure I’d still be happy.

If they were happy, then I was happy too.

Even when I lived wearing a “mask” in front of my uncle and aunt.

If those two looked happy———– then I was happy as well.

……But, well.

If my real parents were living happily…… I wouldn’t be happy about it at all.

I see.

Maybe it really does depend on whose happiness it is.

Thesis moved on to her next point.

[And then———- there is your assertion that it is strange not to be able to do things as you please. In truth…… no one can truly restrict that. Fundamentally, no one has the right to stop it. That is the essential “freedom” granted to all living beings. However———]

Thud.

As if to silence Vysis, who seemed about to say something……

Thesis struck the ground with the base of her staff.

[“Freedom” that ignores others will——— naturally, be accompanied by reactive consequences for those actions. The situation you find yourself in now can also be called a “result” of having acted exactly as you pleased. “Freedom” is, by its very nature, a concept that will encounter resistance somewhere so long as others exist. Listen carefully. Freedom without walls cannot be called “freedom”. It is only when there are restrictions———– walls that freedom can become true “freedom”. And as long as others exist, excessive freedom will inevitably collide with a wall somewhere. That is an entirely natural thing. Therefore, while I cannot fundamentally deny your claim to freedom, the results brought about by that freedom————- you have no choice but to accept them.]

[S- Such a thing———– that’s just absurd, Thesis-sama!]

[Which of us is being absurd?]

[T- Too cruel…… this is far too……]

[What is far too cruel is your assertion.]

[U- Uuuu……]

Thereupon———– as though she had resigned herself to her fate.

As though a string had snapped.

Vysis collapsed weakly, both knees hitting the ground.

[……I understand. I…… acknowledge my own sins. Therefore……]

Lowering her head, looking as though she had given up on everything——— Vysis said.

[Please let my existence be erased as it is…… let me be annihilated……]

[What are you saying, Vysis? You———–]

[……………………]

[You are trying to avoid it, aren’t you?]

[———Guh……]

[The “Purification Corridor”.]

At those words, Vysis snapped her head up.

[Thesis-sama! T- That alone———- please, anything but that……!]

She was begging.

Probably——— truly.

That Vysis.

Begging her to stop.

So desperately.

Only then did Thesis finally raise her gaze and properly look at Vysis.

She stared fixedly at her.

Keeping my eyes on Vysis, I leaned my face toward Loqierra and whispered,

[What is that Purification Corridor thing……?]

[Simply put, it’s the punishment that any Deity would most want to avoid————- that is the Purification Corridor.]

So this was the one Loqierra had called “probably the best solution”.

I had deliberately tried to ask in a way others wouldn’t hear but……

[Specifically, what is it?]

[———–I shall explain.]

She must have heard our conversation.

Pointing the tip of her staff at the kneeling Vysis, Thesis spoke.

Vysis, as if her mind were spinning at full speed———-

Lowered her head again, grinding her teeth.

Desperate———– was exactly the word that fit her state.

[The Purification Corridor is the final means of rehabilitation for Deities who have been completely tainted by evil. Incidentally, only the Chief Deity and I are capable of using this High-Rank Primordial Spell, which possesses an excessive punitive nature. This is not a spell that anyone should be able to use lightly. After all, it is a Non-Interference-type Anomalous Spell, it cannot be improved or modified, and even now, it remains unknown who created such a spell, or for what purpose. In other words, while we understand its effects, there are still many unknowns regarding its core. This is merely my personal view but…… I believe this spell was not originally created by us Deities with self-purification in mind. Rather, it may have been created by those who stood in opposition to us Deities…… much like the Forbidden Curses, or your own Abnormal State Skills.]

“But well, I’ve digressed a little”, Thesis said.

[The Purification Corridor sends its subject into a “rift” located in the interstice of dimensions———– where the subject is “punished” semi-permanently until their evil is completely eradicated. What that punishment specifically entails is not known.]

“And then……”, Thesis continued,

[In the past, only two Deities have ever returned after completing their “rehabilitation” in the Purification Corridor. This is within the scope of what I am aware of, but——— of the Deities said to have been sent there, it amounts to 0.2 percent.]

In other words……

If, for example, a hundred were sent———–

Only two ever came back.

[Furthermore, both of them were in what your human world would call a “vegetative” state. At the very least…… there was no trace left of the person I once knew. One of them in particular had an exceptionally strong will, so…… to be honest, seeing them in that state was enough to depress me instead. It was the Chief Deity who sent that one into the Purification Corridor, which, at the time———– made me think it was for the best. If I imagine that it had been me who sent them…… anyhow, in other words, their condition upon return was so dreadful that it would have scarred the heart of the one who ordered it. No matter how cruel and selfish their deeds had been…… even so…… those days spent in the Purification Corridor must have been utterly horrific———— I do not even wish to imagine them.]

Vysis’ breathing……

Became ragged, growing more and more frantic.

Drip, drip……

Sweat fell from Vysis’ body onto the ground.

[Even so, that individual has gradually…… recovered, and now works diligently as a member of Heaven. Not a trace of their former evil nature remains. However…… there are still some Deities who were wronged by that individual in the past, so on occasion, they are treated spitefully, almost like a menial servant. They do feel pitiful, so I do scold them from time to time, but…… grudges accumulated over many years are truly frightening things.]

“The punishment that any Deity would most wish to avoid.”

……Indeed.

In a way, that’s even more terrifying than death.

No, when it comes to Deities———– it would be even more terrifying than annihilation.

And there’s more.

In what was just said, one thing wasn’t mentioned.

Well, it’s probably not something that even needs to be asked but……

The other returnee, who was barely brought up at all.

Most likely———– still hasn’t recovered from that vegetative state.

Thesis opened her mouth once more.

[I went on with some unnecessary personal talk, but…… the reason the nature of the punishment within the Corridor remains unknown is because of this vegetative-state effect. Both individuals have no memories of the time they spent inside the Corridor.]

Vysis spoke in a trembling voice,

[T- Thesis-sama…… p- please, anything but the Purification Corridor———–]

Cutting her off mid-sentence, Thesis said,

[You have done something truly foolish———- Vysis.]

At that moment……

[Uuuh…… gh…… ghhhkk…… uuuu———- uuuuuuuurrgghh……!]

————-Vysis’ gaze changed.

Vysis raised her face and opened her mouth.

[ ! ]

I thrust my hand forward————

[ < Para [<Hell————-

Vysis’ body suddenly began to emit black-and-white light—————-

▲

▽

Fuuuu……

My awareness returned——— …………….

……or rather…… maybe it didn’t, exactly?

In my field of vision……

Vysis, who should have been kneeling, was standing.

At the tip of Vysis’ nose———– The tip of Thesis’ staff was pointed straight at her.

Somehow……

It felt like a few seconds of time had been blown away.

But it didn’t feel like I’d lost consciousness, either……

It was a very strange sensation.

It was hard to put into words.

The others present were also murmuring slightly.

They had been holding their breath, all of them watching how things would unfold———-

But that just now must have felt off to them too.

[……What just happened?]

When I voiced that, Loqierra answered.

[That’s Thesis-sama’s most special ability.]

Thesis kept Vysis fixed in her shimmering golden eyes as she spoke.

[I removed the result that “your Divine Magic succeeded”. Therefore, the only result remaining for you now is “your Divine Magic failed”.]

[Ghh…… nngh…… uuuugh!]

[You understood it was futile, didn’t you…… but driven into a corner, you attempted a desperate gamble by using some powerful Divine Magic, I presume———– However, it is useless. The “result” you desire can no longer be granted here. Even if you attempt to choose self-destruction———— your own annihilation, by some means, you can no longer escape.]

When Thesis destroyed the restraint on Vysis’ mouth……

Loqierra had said it would be fine because it was Thesis-sama.

……Now I get it……

So this is the one ranked second in Heaven————- Thesis.

The reason Vysis hadn’t used Divine Magic after the restraints were removed……

———–was probably because she had already foreseen this outcome.

……I mean.

Looks like keeping her silent with that restraint really was the right call.

“However……” Thesis murmured, her tone tinged with concern.

[When I exercised my power, I felt a definite “resistance”. I see———- you had prepared proper countermeasures against this ability of mine. If you had not been weakened to this extent, and were in perfect condition…… thinking of that makes me realize once again that I must thank them.]

Saying that, Thesis looked my way.

[My apologies. I thought it might be unnecessary, but I also excluded the “success” of your Abnormal State Skill. It seems I cannot interfere with the effects of the Abnormal State Skill itself, but I can interfere with the causality tied to you yourself———- Touka Mimori.]

Just as Thesis said……

The <Paralyze> I thought I had activated hadn’t actually activated.

She can’t interfere with the effects after activation.

But she can interfere with whether it activates in the first place.

Still, Thesis continued with a gentle smile.

[You were the first to sense Vysis’ abnormality and act. I see———– now I understand why Loqierra holds you in such high regard. The second to move was that High Elf over there…… Seras, was it? Just as Loqierra said, the two of you seem to be a good couple.]

[……………………]

Hey now, Loqierra……

The “couple” there is a word that means husband and wife, you know.

————Well, I suppose it’s not entirely off the mark.

Seras, for her part, was bright red.

Thesis turned her face back to Vysis.

[Vysis, you may not have known this, but…… unless the target possesses definite evil, the Purification Corridor will cause violent dimensional distortions. That is why we cannot indiscriminately send anyone and everyone into it simply because they committed wrongdoing. Moreover…… my own interpretation of “evil” does not necessarily align with the interpretation of “evil” defined by whoever created the Purification Corridor. In other words, it must be “evil” as stipulated by the Corridor’s conditions. Therefore———— I needed to draw out your motives and true feelings, and determine, just to be safe, whether you were the kind of “evil” that could be sent into the Purification Corridor without issue.]

I’d thought it was just personal curiosity.

But the reason Thesis wanted to know her motive———–

So that was it.

Not unlike something Itsuki had said to me.

She really does…… have quite the personality.

“By speaking honestly, depending on what you say, you might be able to avoid the worst possible outcome”

She’d said something like that, but———-

In truth, it was nothing more than a confirmation process.

Vysis now looked as though she’d been driven completely to the edge of a cliff————

[You———]

Yet with a face overflowing with hatred, she glared at Thesis.

[You…… f*cking hag……! D- Don’t you dare…… make a fool of me……]

[Vysis.]

Without showing any particular offense, Thesis spoke her name flatly.

[Both the Chief Deity and I held your talent as a researcher in high regard.]

[ ! ]

[Viewed fairly, your talent as an obsessive academic far surpasses even that of Loqierra, who possesses such vast love. No…… when it comes to sheer aptitude, the Chief Deity herself said that you were likely among the very highest in Heaven. Both of us had great expectations for you as a researcher…… and were willing to overlook a certain degree of problems. However, the omens of the Ragnarok Second were observed far earlier than anticipated, and we were forced to devote an immense amount of time and awareness to countermeasures…… That is why we failed to notice your change. Still…… that is merely an excuse. We deserve to be criticized for negligence in supervision. Precisely because we valued your talent so highly———— ……it is regrettable. In many ways.]

At those words, Vysis seemed to glimpse a path to survival.

Tears streaming down her face, she began to beg desperately.

[———-P- Please, forgive my earlier rude words that I did not mean from the heart……! Please, I beg you, forgive me! I was terrified of the punishment of the Purification Corridor, and in my panic, I lost my senses! T- Thesis-sama……! I have completely———- repented, this very moment! N- No…… that might sound like a lie, so, let me rephrase it as this: I will make the effort to repent! And on top of that…… from this moment on, I swear that as a single obedient researcher, I will dedicate all of this talent that both you and the Chief Deity evaluated so highly, entirely to Heaven! Single-mindedly, eternally———— as a pure researcher, I wish to serve Heaven!]

[It’s too late.]

Thesis’ golden eyes shone even more intensely.

Then raising her staff high————- “Come forth.”

With divine majesty———- and solemn authority……

She spoke the name of the Divine Punishment.

[ < Purification Corridor > ]

N- No…… no…… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO————!!!]

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