But Then Again...

Maybe I'll become a hero among the Forest Spirit Race because of this—in just a few minutes, Jinna's mindset became quite positive again.

"Well, in most worlds, Dwarf Race, or rather dwarves, are a race with Abyss to minerals, and it seems that the Goblin Race in this world are no exception."

Iori looked around at the ruins. "Riku, are you looking for something here?"

"I don't have a specific goal. I just want to see how other races live. In the past, I never had the time to stop and observe these things. I would just collect a few things and leave immediately."

We humans have struggled to accumulate substantial technological and knowledge reserves. While other races may possess brilliant civilizations, they offer little reference value to us. As a race that also lives underground and is adept at utilizing tools... we'd like to take a closer look.

Unlike most races that rely on innate talent, the Goblin Race creates items and records knowledge in books. While most items require an elf to activate, there are occasional exceptions.

"No matter what it is, even knowledge that is useless to them might help us survive better."

"In the past, encountering Goblin Race ruins like these would have been an incredible stroke of luck for us."

"Now that you possess a physical body that Soul Materialization, have your thoughts remained unchanged?"

"... This body is really convenient."

Riku said with a mixture of gratitude and surprise, "Not only can I ignore Reigai, but all my senses are also more acute. My strength, elven adaptability, stamina and reaction speed... I feel that with a little training, I can use extremely complex True Magic like other races."

"Oh?"

"For example, these items Goblin Race. Before, we could only watch them, because we didn't have the ability to control spirits, so even if we picked them up, they were useless. But now, I can just move my hand—"

As he spoke, the small box Riku was holding opened automatically, projecting a scaled-down topographical map of the entire continent.

"This feels amazing!"

"You adapted very quickly."

Iori greatly admired it.

"But even so, I still have no intention of retaliating against other races."

Riku paused, calming down. "At least for now, even if humanity gains power, it should invest it in how to improve their future lives, rather than wasting time and energy on revenge."

"A very mature idea."

Iori nodded.

He didn't offer any opinion, leaving it entirely to Riku and the others to decide.

"Is there anything you don't understand about the basic True Magic I gave you?"

"It's all here."

Riku pointed to his head and laughed, "Thank you, Iori-san... Don't worry, this content is simple and easy to understand, much easier to learn than the books of the alien race."

"Books... Do you speak their language?"

Iori was somewhat surprised.

Language is something that can only be learned through communication, but people in this world shouldn't have that opportunity.

Riku grinned. "I only know about five or six kinds, since some races don't communicate using written language at all. But for races like Goblin Race and Forest Spirit Race, which have a tradition of written records, I specifically studied them."

They often leave maps and troop movement information in abandoned camps. If we can't understand the writing on them, we might get caught in the crossfire at any time and be wiped out without even realizing it.

"Was it purely self-taught?"

Iori's expression turned serious, and she gained a deeper understanding of the resilience of humanity in this world.

They did not merely hide; they recorded the cultures, languages, and even customs of other races through oral tradition, writing, and all available means, and these records have endured to this day.

Relying on this intelligence, they chose the best escape route and hiding place, which enabled them to survive in this terrible world that was like Hell.

"Is there anything you'd like me to explain in more detail?"

"That's a lot... but I can't calm down right now."

"Yes, this knowledge must have had a great impact on you."

"I can never be grateful enough to Iori-san... But I always feel that Iori-san takes extra care of me. Is there a reason for that?"

"Perhaps, maybe we were destined to meet in our past lives, which is why I find the two of you particularly pleasing to the eye."

Iori smirked. "It's the kind of thing that makes you want to say, 'You two should mate already!'"

"Ah?"

"Ha?"

"Okay, Schwi will try her best!"

"No need, it's okay not to put in the effort for that kind of thing. Mr. Aizen must be joking with us!"

"It's alright, Riku. Although this machine doesn't have the corresponding function pre-installed, I can load the simulated breeding module."

"Don't take it so seriously!"

... Iori looked at them, and the expression on her face softened a little.

Indeed, "power" is a good thing. With enough power, one can easily change past regrets and save a couple's lives from tragedy by simply stretching out one's little finger, just like now.

—I must say, this is truly delightful!

As the three were wandering around a place that resembled a communal forging factory, the Ex-Machina girl suddenly looked up.

"This underground... has revealed a space."

Schwi looked at Riku: "There are traps installed underground, is it an anti-theft system?"

"Here?"

Riku looked around, but there was neither a door nor a keyhole.

"Well, it's something like a mechanism."

Iori bent down, reached her hand into the gap in the steel floor, and then gently pulled—

Crackling sound~

"Without a purely mechanical power source and an energy system rich in spirits, those races that routinely use their senses to find enemies and treasures would not discover the hidden problems here."

A moment later, the entire ground shook for Flash Step, and the heavy iron block was twisted and folded, revealing the deep and dark space below.

"As expected of Iori-san, you are truly knowledgeable~"

Riku sincerely admired, "Are all people from New World this wise?"

"Although not everyone is like me."

Iori smiled slightly and stopped Riku before he could enter the underground space.

"Since this place has been hidden by the Goblin Race, there must be some kind of protective measures in place. Moreover, the space inside is the most important place. The anti-theft system doesn't seem to be completely ineffective. We must encounter some danger down there."

That Ex-Machina girl should be fine, but you're a different story. Don't think you're invincible just because you're 'immortal.' You still need to be careful. So, before you go in, scout out what dangers might be there."

"Hmm... undeniable."

Riku immediately looked regretful. "I didn't even raise my guard. Have I become arrogant too?"

"If I had that secret technique to turn my whole body into Spirit Corridor, I would definitely be even more arrogant than you," Jinna said with a faint iridescent light in her eyes, scrutinizing Riku before letting out a soft sigh.

In terms of talent alone, Riku might be stronger than her, a Forest Spirit Race... That's too discouraging.

"Schwi... Schwi will protect Riku."

The girl stood next to Riku, looking like a close brother and sister, but in reality, it was the petite sister protecting her brother.

"Schwi, I am very touched by your kindness, but being protected like this by a child who looks only ten years old in front of others... really makes me feel very complicated."

"Um?"

Schwi tilted her head, seemingly unable to understand Riku's thoughts. "But... even though Riku has become stronger, Schwi stronger. Schwi anyone else in the village."

"Yes, Schwi is amazing~"

Riku affectionately patted her little head.

"You can still say these things now, but who knows what will happen in the future. Because Iori-san —no, Lord Aizen— has said that more and more people will be practicing the Third Magic, and we'll also be studying Magecraft and creating tools. Maybe one day we'll surpass Schwi!"

"Hmm... Schwi doesn't quite believe that performing a life form modification would require so many resources, especially if every villager had to come..."

"You don't need to worry about that, little sister."

"Does Lord Aizen want to save all of humanity?"

"Certainly."

Iori smiled slightly, "I call this the 'Human Completion Plan,' or perhaps the 'Final Mission of the Einzbern Storyline.'"

"What Einz... Does such a race even exist?"

"Don't worry about them, they're just a bunch of bad players who love to play and are unlucky whales."

Chapter 543 But then again...

"Although Einzbern's cause ultimately failed, I still believe that their aspirations were a beautiful thing."

—Ciel said.

Back in the human settlement, Riku summoned everyone and publicly demonstrated his Third Magic Body.

He spent a long time in the Goblin Race city, marveling at the prosperity of the alien civilization, amazed by the huge structures forged from metal, and also enraged by the Goblin Race's creation of "Marrow Explosion (God-Slaying Weapons)".

He probably envisioned leading humanity to create a secluded paradise, like the Sea Dwelling Race, Moon Caller Race, and Fairy Race, living peacefully until the end of the great war.

With the Jiachi of [Heaven's Feel], there is no need to consume food, worry about birth, aging, sickness and death, or fear of the black ash covering the sky. It is entirely feasible to find a secluded place to hide humanity!

(As for whether humanity will stagnate after the Soul Materialization —such concerns are too extravagant for humanity today.)

After all, Game Life is pretty much the same Worldline as the Garden of Sinners in the Type-Moon universe. If you ask the people in that world if they want their Soul Materialization... well, that goes without saying!

However, after seeing the information about "Marrow Explosion", he changed his mind. He had underestimated the malice of the alien race towards this world. Slaughtering cities and Evileye was no longer enough for them. These guys were even creating super weapons that could destroy the continent and even the entire world!

Under his persistent questioning, Jinna revealed that the Forest Spirit Race were researching "Void Zeroth Sanctuary," a technique on par with Marrow Explosion, which further solidified Riku's belief.

There's no escaping it!

"Don't be afraid, everyone. The reason I've become like this isn't because of the True Magic of the Forest Spirit Race or any other race, but because of this Mr. Aizen... no, His Majesty Aizen!"

Riku turned around and knelt down before Iori in front of everyone, his expression solemn and devout.

"He is a deity born from our prayers, who will bring hope to mankind, and who will be the object of our faith and service in the future!"

"So that's how it is," the villagers thought, surprisingly without much surprise.

To be honest, Schwi's arrival was already suspicious. It wasn't that no one noticed the strangeness of the Machine Beast Race girl, but Schwi integrated well into the group. The villagers cherished every beautiful moment in this precarious world and didn't deliberately expose anything.

Iori and Jinna are even more so. Both of them have very special temperaments. It's one thing that Iori can't hide her arrogant Forest Spirit Race, but even when she tries to suppress her aura, she still exudes a captivating presence, like a campfire on a winter night that draws people seeking warmth.

Now he makes no attempt to conceal his divine nature as a "hero" and "king," appearing as if he were seated on Golden Throne even in the underground cave.

As the villagers looked at Iori, they couldn't help but feel an urge to worship her. No one doubted Riku's words, and they naturally knelt down. Some were even moved to tears.

Jinna was the same; as if her mind had been taken away, she bowed to Iori in a daze. When she came to her senses, she was surprised—she seemed to have seen her All-Father Kainas.

But the two of them have completely different temperaments... Even a god from another race shouldn't have such a strong attraction to me!

Riku stood up, faced the crowd, and said, "As your leader, I have been the first to receive His Majesty's blessing. This ceremony will keep us free from disease and hunger, and will also allow us to master the mysteries of True Magic. From now on, this world will have sixteen races!"

"Riku... should we join the war too?"

Cronie looked up. As Riku's sister and the second-in-command of the village, she felt it was her responsibility to find out the direction for the future.

"Not to join the war, but to end it!"

Riku shook his head, his eyes resolute. "This world can't hold on any longer. The Goblin Race and Forest Spirit Race superweapons will destroy everything sooner or later. Even if they don't do it, someone else will."

They might be Giant Race, Dragon Race, or Flügel ... They wouldn't care what happens to the world; they'd only care about fighting and killing. If we continue to silently endure, only utter annihilation awaits us!

"But... how can we end this war that has lasted since Primordial Era?"

Cronie glanced at Iori, then quickly lowered her head again.

There's no need to worry about it.

Iori smiled and said, "The so-called great war was caused by the gods vying for the throne of the 'Sole God' and seizing its symbol, the Star Grail."

Most races were created by gods who used them as tools and vehicles to realize their own dreams. Because of the conflict between gods, every race is in a state of war and there is no possibility of peaceful coexistence.

Conversely, once a victor is determined among the gods, the great war will naturally end.

"... Old Deus? It's hard to imagine... Aren't gods eternal beings?"