Can You Open That Door

—In that instant, Iver felt a silent suffocation, so suffocating that he felt dizzy and lightheaded.

Although there was already considerable evidence, and Iver had a premonition in his heart...

But how he wished his adoptive father could give him a negative answer at that moment.

Although Iver became wary of Professor Moriarty after awakening his Previous Life memories... he did indeed respect his adoptive father.

It wasn't just because of the other person's profound knowledge, nor simply because the other person took him and Yulia in and raised them, but also because Professor Moriarty possessed a humble and gentle character. When Iver was young, he admired his adoptive father's calm, wise, gentle, and unassuming demeanor.

That was exactly the image of the "perfect man" in Iver's mind.

Therefore, from Iver's perspective, he didn't actually want to be enemies with his adoptive father. Not to mention the debt of gratitude he owed his father for raising him.

However, if he killed Iver's biological parents first and then adopted Iver, then the nature of the situation would be completely different from adopting Iver as an orphan.

"Surprised?"

The robin didn't react in any particular way, but instead asked, "You should have guessed it long ago, right?"

"... Why?"

Iver asked in a deep voice, "What is the reason?"

"Of course, it's out of fear of Jacob. Since you've already made contact with Cardinal Loki and know you're a key figure, I guess you already know about Jacob's forbidden research... right?"

"With the body of a mortal, he achieved miracles that even the gods could not accomplish—replicating souls and creating life. He even wanted to create gods, and even things that surpass the gods... He truly deserves to be called a world-class Transcender, and indeed possesses unparalleled ambition."

... Swamp People? The thought popped into Iver's mind.

Seeing Iver's eyes flicker slightly, the Gem Bird revealed an extremely human-like smile—it might sound strange, but only in this "anime-style" Fairy Country could one truly see a bird smiling.

"It seems you already know that you are the Phantom Demon Egg he created. But that's not quite accurate. A more precise statement is... you are actually Jacob's experiment."

"... Experimental subject?"

"You are indeed the child of Julio and Annie, and after he modified you, he implanted Sacred Entity into you. I think you should understand the nature of the Sacred Entity by now."

"Fragments of the Ring Angel...?"

"It seems you're progressing even faster than I expected."

The Gem Bird nodded appreciatively. "Exactly. So, strictly speaking, you are not entirely the same as his other creations. Because you are unique and special—the quality of Sacred Entity is distinct from other 'contents'."

"So, I have another question for you, Iver..."

"Do you know where you and Yulia were supposed to be according to Jacob's original plan?"

—Yulia.

Iver's pupils twitched slightly.

He had previously considered that Yulia might also be one of Jacob's Swamp People. But now he finally received confirmation from Professor Moriarty.

Because Yulia possesses the Heracles Blood, she is of royal lineage from the long-declining Herasul Empire, and is also Phantom Demon Egg. Furthermore, the Paradox Flame Butterfly itself has unique characteristics— the Little Butterfly Lia is a unique Phantom Demon, meaning she is not a reincarnated phantom demon, but a newly born one.

So the question is, why did the newly born phantom appear only in Yulia's body?

If these low-probability events pile up together, then it is most likely not a coincidence.

When Professor Moriarty suddenly started adopting children, it was very likely that it was the "one child, one job" type of adoption.

He first confirmed that Iver and Yulia would enter the Orphanage, and then carried out the adoption plan several years later, taking them in. Those gaps in his life were perhaps spent observing them warily.

Iver was killed because his parents were murdered, but what was it because of Yulia? "That's the biggest difference between you and Yulia."

Professor Moriarty replied, "She does not have parents, but you do. Or rather, your shell is that of a complete infant; while Yulia's shell is merely flesh and blood that has been cultivated."

"... What exactly is the Paradox Flame Butterfly?"

"I don't know either. Perhaps only Jacob knows. But I do know... according to his plan, you were supposed to be entrusted to Bishop Mathers, while Yulia was supposed to be adopted by the Barton Couple."

"The Barton Couple..."

Iver slowly chewed over this somewhat unfamiliar name.

Then he finally remembered who the Barton Couple were—they were the Grand Guardian! David and Yulia were the same age, with Yulia being only a little over a month older than David.

If Yulia was adopted by the Grand Guardian, then she would be David's sister. In that case, it's highly unlikely she would pursue alchemy; she would probably join the army. She would then become Sky Knight and an officer in Avalon ... but what would be the point?

The only thing that's related to this is probably Yulia's strange characteristics when she was a child.

Iver remembered that Yulia possessed terrifying power from a very young age—when she was still an infant. That innate divine power began to decline rapidly after she learned to read and know her name. It wasn't until the day she was adopted, resisting leaving Iver, that she managed to unleash that power once more.

But Iver knew that the monstrous strength that many strong men couldn't withstand wasn't Yulia's peak condition. If Yulia had possessed her peak strength at that time, those people would have already been strangled or torn to pieces. It was precisely because she was too powerless at the time that she could only passively struggle against the crowd.

This characteristic...

... Could it be that Yulia is actually better suited for a melee class? "Heh, see that?"

Bird James chuckled. "You've started to find yourself speculating too. That's what I mean by 'knowledge is poisonous.' You only know a fraction of the truth, and you can't help but start pondering 'that possibility of the future.' How could astrologers, who know almost every secret of the Previous Life, possibly resist the urge to speculate about the future?"

"Yes, I did kill your parents—but it was Premature Death. They were supposed to die on Glass Island anyway, according to Jacob's plan. Otherwise, how would you have been raised by Bishop Mathers?"

Although what stood before Iver was merely a blue gem crystal bird.

But Iver seemed to see in it the man sitting upright with his hands clasped together.

"From this point of view, it was Jacob who truly murdered them."

Professor Moriarty said in a low voice.

Even though his current appearance lacks any authority, his words still carry power. "Jacob orchestrated all of this, Annie chose to accept it, and Julio chose to sacrifice himself. I brought forward their destined time of death, thus thwarting Jacob's plan—but even if I hadn't done so, they would still have been sacrificed by Jacob."

"—So, tell me, was I really the one who killed them? When the gunman pulled the trigger, was it the gun, the gunman, or the person who hired the gun that killed them? When the kidnapper decided to kill the hostage and detonate the bomb, taking the hostage down with him, and then used magic to kill him and accidentally injure the hostage... Is this a failed rescue or a successful murder?"

"Or to put it more clearly—was it the Curse Master I hired, or Jacob's 'grand plan' that truly killed them? Rather, it was because I thwarted Jacob's plan that I was able to save you from the 'fate' you despised, Iver. I am your variable."

"I think that the debt of gratitude for defying fate is greater for you than the debt of being raised, right?"

Bird James's tone was extremely calm, as if he were having a casual conversation. There was not a trace of passion or impulsiveness in his voice.

But that's precisely why... his words are so seductive.

Iver rationally knew that he was using a fallacy, but his thoughts were in disarray and he couldn't organize his logic for the time being.

But he also knew that most crucial and decisive word.

That was the title James himself used during his Promotion Ritual— "My Little Key".

Then Iver spoke, his tone becoming sharper and more aggressive. "Then... why did I become your key?"

"What exactly am I the key to? It can't be the key to open this damned birdcage of yours, Father!"

Do you know what a cicada molt is?

James countered with a question.

"... The first Pillar God change event that led to the change of several Pillar God?" Iver replied.

"Yes. The [Cicada Molting] occurred after a major event. Since then, history has been torn apart... A great being called the ' Reincarnation Angel ' lost the power to constantly restart the world as a result."

James said, word by word, "But strictly speaking, it's not about 'losing,' but about 'giving up.' The world isn't unable to restart, but it can't restart back to before the cicada's molting."

Upon hearing this, Iver's eyes widened slightly.

He guessed what James meant.

"As I said above, 'the things that determine which path you take are already determined, and even if you were to do it a hundred times over, your answer would be the same.'"

"The past is not necessarily unchangeable. As long as the right key and the right door are found, the history that was once locked can be restarted."

"And now, our great work is half done—you are the key I have found, Iver."

"You are not a fragment of the Ring Angel, but a fragment of the Reincarnation Angel."

"Therefore, you can open that Gate to the Past. We can... change everything."

"Whether it's Julio's life or death, or Jacob's plans... even the division of Herasul, the establishment of Avalon, the birth of humans and elves, the Self-Sacrifice of the Great Tree... and the succession of the Pillar God. The fall of the Supreme Heaven, the ascension of the Crown Lord, the solo dance of Constant Self... until the end of the First Age. Since the day Amber was born, everything can be chosen anew."

That deep voice, as if possessing a demonic quality, said, "There is still a chance. Everything... is full of opportunities."

"Isn't this good?"

Update complete! Requesting votes at the beginning of the month!