I didn't see it.
I didn't see anything.
"Hello. This is D."
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Can't hear you, can't hear you.
"Oh my, how unfortunate. For some reason, I happen to have a spider self-destruct button in my hand."
I'm sorry, please forgive me!
Wait, what kind of button is that!?
When did you even make that thing!?
"I'm kidding. Nothing like that exists. Besides, even without it, I can turn a spider into a rather dirty firework easily enough."
E-eh.
I am not reassured at all.
"Rest assured. I won't waste a colorful character like you so carelessly."
Oh, really.
I'm honored.
Well then, I'll be going.
"Self-destruct."
I'm sorry!
"Just kidding. Kidding."
When you say that in a completely flat voice, it really doesn't sound like a joke.
"I get that a lot."
So what do you actually want?
"Just a simple congratulations. You've reached Immortality."
Oh hey, this Immortality skill — why did you make it in the first place?
"What do you think people ultimately aim for once they've been fulfilled?"
Huh?
"Wealth, fame, martial power, authority, and immortality. That's about the extent of what people everywhere strive for. And do you know what happens when they learn those things are truly within reach?"
They'd go after them no matter the cost.
Ah, so that's what it is.
"That's exactly right. Even when they know it's out of reach, people can't help but cling on. No matter what they have to sacrifice. So they struggle and struggle, and in the end, they exhaust themselves without ever obtaining it. The crystallized fruit of all that effort gets enjoyed by the administrators. Isn't that wonderfully efficient?"
You're as horrible as ever.
"I am the Evil God, after all."
Well, I just obtained it in a snap, so what does that make me?
"Xana Holowa was designed as an immortal Monster to begin with. I simply never anticipated that an individual would actually manage to Evolve."
Hey now.
So I wasn't supposed to be able to Evolve!
"It's not that you weren't allowed. It's just that the original Zoaele were an extremely rare spawn, and even when one did appear, it was designed to die before it could Evolve."
Huh?
What do you mean?
"The Zoaele had a corrosion attack, yes? But it didn't have Corrosion Resistance."
Wait, really?
"Indeed. So normally, the moment a Zoaele used its corrosion attack, it would kill itself too. Lucky for you — you had the Resistance."
That's insane!
Seriously?!
I nearly died without even realizing it!
"Thanks to having the Resistance, all that happened was your scythe became unusable. Normally it would have been instant death."
What a defective piece of work.
"It killed its target and then itself. That very behavior is why it came to be known as an inauspicious Monster."
Ah.
Now that you mention it, that is pretty inauspicious.
Talk about causing problems for everyone.
"The Edesaine is no different in essence, and it possesses an even more powerful Death Eye. It would have died long before it could Evolve."
Has any individual actually Evolved into a Xana Holowa before?
"None. Congratulations. You are the only Unique Monster in the world. *Clap clap*."
I'm happy about it, but hearing it from you kind of ruins the joy.
"And here I was, generously offering my blessing."
Well, yeah, because when I look at everything you've done up to now and think about it...
"I am the Evil God, you know."
Sigh.
Between the Taboo and Immortality, you really are awful.
"It would make me happy if you phrased that a bit more elegantly. For example, 'pure malice.'"
The fact that you can say that about yourself already makes it a lost cause.
You're way too brazen, seriously.
"Don't you think the Taboo system is brilliantly designed?"
I do not.
Someone like me, who's essentially an outsider, just gets to feel uncomfortable, but what about the people who actually belong in this world? Wouldn't they go insane once they max out their Taboo?
"In the past, those who maxed out their Taboo did not meet a pleasant end."
I'd imagine so.
"That's all part of the Taboo, you see."
It really is awful.
Well, I guess you bring it on yourself, though.
"And so, you learned the contents of your Taboo, and here we are now."
Yeah.
I think something might be wrong with me. If it were the me from a while back, I would've just said "who cares about that" and gone to sleep in a huff.
"All of this is likely the result of your parallel will activity, isn't it?"
Probably.
"I don't think you're fully aware of this, but that is an out-of-system ability, you know?"
Oh, really?
"At the very least, I have no recollection of implementing any Skill that would allow you to do what you've been doing."
Huh.
So you're saying I've been using a sliver of the domain of gods?
"That's correct."
Fufufu.
It seems the day I become a god is fast approaching.
"I have high expectations."
Man, I really wanted you to push back on that instead of just smoothly brushing past it.
"I'm being sincere. I genuinely hope you'll reach our domain."
Seriously?
"Yes."
What exactly is your goal?
"I told you already. Entertainment."
Ah, right.
That's how it was.
"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll do you a favor and give you a little lecture on various things, how about that?"
For real!?
"Sure. As long as it's within what I'm allowed to teach, I'll tell you all sorts of things about that world."
Oh wow, really?
Then what should I ask about?