Mynoghra Palace. The Throne Room.
Vittorio, who had served as a vassal using his own abilities, died, and returned to the Great Cursed Realm ahead of schedule, declared his victory to his lord with an utterly delighted expression.
This is the foremost reason why Vittorio is considered the most troublesome hero in "Eternal Nations."
Once summoned into the world, removing him from the game is extremely difficult.
Even if defeated, he respawns at a base and resumes his activities as if nothing happened, perfectly composed.
The immense bonus afforded by his lack of combat capability.
It's understandable why it's said many "Eternal Nations" players were vexed considering the negative influence he brings to the world.
Incidentally, he is exceptionally persistent, continuing to exist even if his summoner, Mynoghra, is destroyed.
That he carries the risk of collapsing the game balance the moment he appears might help one imagine just how despised he was.
"Oh great God – Takuto Ira.
You are the calamity that destroys the world, the bringer of death and terror.
You are the raging flame, the merciless blizzard, the howling thunder.
You are blood and blade and screams.
You are the sun that lights the world, and the night that envelops it.
You possess infinite wisdom and infinite authority.
You hold eternal life and an eternal body, unharmed by metal, hard things, soft things, the six elements, mistletoe, or all things whatsoever.
You are the one who was at the beginning and shall be at the end. The complete and perfect being.
Praise the great God—"
Even before the bold and audacious victory declaration of the hero known for his slips of the tongue, Takuto did not break his own rhythm.
In his hand lay the cursed tome he had obtained previously, open.
What was read earlier was the entry on the divine—namely, the part mentioning Takuto.
"I see... indeed. It's based on the Saint's oracle texts, but with additions made to make it more complete."
"Mm-hmm-hmm."
Its content was supremely arrogant.
There was nothing particularly odd in the passages describing what kind of person Takuto Ira was.
But the details of his power differed greatly.
Non-existent abilities and strengths, which did not exist in the real Takuto, were listed in abundance, and the very essence of deifying the existence known as Takuto was scattered throughout.
It is common for discrepancies to arise between reality and what is written.
Especially in texts meant to amplify religious fervor or publicize the state of a specific individual, some degree of exaggeration, large or small, would inevitably exist.
But the sheer abnormality of the content was something anyone who knew the real Takuto could grasp.
And that content was the first stratagem Vittorio had set.
"So, you used my status as the 'Nameless Evil God' to redefine Takuto Ira? That was a bold move."
Vittorio smiled broadly, his eyes gleaming with intensity, and bowed deeply.
Takuto derived the source of his power from faith.
If that was the case, then by adding color to that source, it was possible to easily dye the god himself.
It was the ideal image of Takuto Ira that Vittorio envisioned which was inscribed in that heretical text.
"That's why you banned idol worship, to ensure the target remains unchanged. To guarantee the new definition of the god reached me, the god I and the Ira religion worship had to be strictly identical. You left no room for extraneous concepts or interpretations. —Which also explains why you didn't encourage the Dark Elves of the Great Cursed Realm, the subordinates in Idoragia, or people like Mayor Anterize who know me, to join the Ira religion. You made me and them dismiss the whole thing as a joke with that ridiculous name and behavior, deeming it unworthy of consideration. Truly masterful."
Vittorio's eyes widened slightly at Takuto's words.
There was a hint of surprise that Takuto had read him so thoroughly. But at this point, there was no chance of a reversal. The confidence of the victor made the jester eloquent.
"The power of the 'Nameless Evil God' is extremely dangerous. The reason my god lost consciousness was precisely this. In other words, the act of imitating all things is an act of diluting oneself. It is nothing other than the foolish strategy of diluting the very essence of being Takuto Ira."
"Such a being is both something and nothing. For such an ambiguous existence to claim the personal name Takuto Ira is a contradiction in itself."
"Indeed! However, precisely because it demands careful handling, therein lies the opportunity for victory! If it is an ambiguous existence, then we need only fix it firmly in place! The lack of definition for the 'Nameless Evil God' allows us to do just that!"
No name—that is to say, it signifies emptiness.
If it is empty, then one may name it as one pleases. One may add color as one sees fit.
That was the impudent scheme Vittorio had conceived alongside Takuto's revival.
Of course, the question remained: even if one gave direction to the Nameless Evil God, would a new god truly be born as intended?
But that point had already been cleared. Vittorio had founded Iraism, and shortly thereafter, Takuto awakened, proving his theory correct.
"So you mean, Master Takuto did not lose his power when he lost his memories? His existence became... blurry?"
"That would be one way to put it," Takuto vaguely replies to Atou's question from beside him.
She was already unable to keep up with this high-level psychological battle.
She could only watch the events unfold in confusion. While she believed in her master's strength, the anxiety that something might go wrong was certainly present in Atou's heart.
"That is precisely why Vittorio created Iraism and inscribed my existence into the unholy texts. For the multitude of believers to fix the existence of Takuto Ira, king of Mynoghra and god of Iraism. It is, in a way, an act of naming the formless god. A redefinition of divinity."
Takuto Ira's redefinition using the Nameless Evil God's ability. A festival to birth a new god.
Vittorio's scheme had indeed fulfilled its purpose to the fullest.
"And that god is not the real Takuto Ira."
With a glance, Takuto browses the section describing his own divinity.
Therein lies the most fatally ironic line.
Namely—
"'The great god Takuto Ira takes the gaffe-prone hero Vittorio as his foremost subordinate'... So the earlier comment about a clumsy bunny-eared maid was serious after all."
"A great god requires a great consort! One who is excellent, adorable, obedient, and well-endowed! Fear not—with my intellect, even gender reassignment would be simple! I shall become the ideal beautiful maiden for the god at once!"
"Don't just arbitrarily decide my preferences and declare yourself my bride without asking..."
Even Takuto was exasperated by those words.
But he understood that Vittorio was serious. That much madness was evident in his eyes.
The inhabitants of Mynoghra possessed a fanaticism that often directed their crazed faith toward Takuto.
But Vittorio's was unparalleled in its magnitude.
"Still, I can understand wanting to elevate your own standing, but I can't quite grasp why you'd try to reshape me to your ideal. Your trust in me, as your lord, should make you averse to such actions..."
Takuto understood Vittorio's madness.
That was precisely why this one point eluded him.
His prediction was that if Vittorio truly recognized him as his lord, he would never resort to such arrogant measures as "reform."
He wanted to know what had overturned that prediction.
The answer was something Takuto never anticipated.
"It is your fault, Lord."
"Me?"
"The Takuto Ira I reverence cannot possibly be this mediocre! The Takuto Ira I know is far greater, more magnificent, brimming with wisdom, and filled with even, even more malice!"
Hearing those words, Takuto frowned.
He now grasped the general reason.
"Someone who would tussle with little girls in such a manner—such a feeble being cannot be him! Someone whose heart would be broken by a dark elf—such a feeble being cannot be him! Someone who would fall behind his enemies and lose his heroes—such a feeble being cannot be him!"
Atou, who had been watching the situation unfold beside him, reacted to those words.
Takuto gestured with his hand to stop her, making sure to listen carefully to Vittorio's rage-filled monologue.
"Your magnificence! Your infinite wisdom and power—no one understands them better than I, Vittorio! You are so much greater than this! You are not someone who should be halted by such obstacles!"
Vittorio was filled with dissatisfaction.
His lord had been outmaneuvered by the enemy. The lord he had acknowledged had shown a pitiful side.
He would never abandon his lord. Such base thoughts did not exist within him.
That was precisely why he would, as he willed, raise his lord to greater heights.
"Therefore! Allow me to reveal the true Takuto Ira! I am the one who understands Takuto Ira best! I, who love the existence of Takuto Ira more than anyone else in this world! That is why—"
Vittorio was without question Takuto Ira's subordinate.
That loyalty would never waver, at any time, in any circumstance.
"I shall prepare everything for you. Status, power, subordinates—all of it, I, Vittorio, shall prepare it all!"
This was the true festival.
A sacred ritual to consign all mistakes and failures to the past, and manifest the true Takuto Ira.
The first step toward spreading the true Mynoghra across this land.
"Now, great Player, Takuto Ira! Together with me, just like in those old days! This time, let us conquer the world together! Please! That is my only wish!!"
Vittorio declared with his voice raised high.
In his heart, he vividly envisioned the prosperity of the glorious Mynoghra, and the radiant future of his lord and himself, as if it were already there.