Disc 2: Land of Castles and the Lion. Ch. 6: Believe Again

As he regained consciousness, Common Day awoke in an unfamiliar room, with Floating Man at his left side. He was in one of the medical stations of the Arianism Order. Pretty Anarchy Emerald, Black Tongue, and Western Land Slave were also present; the first two in silence, and the third napping on the floor.

It was through Black Tongue’s words that he learned what had happened that night.

The entire Rose Horde was dead now, only the Man in the Center captured and held in a prison managed by the Valley of Waters Kingdom representatives. Thanks to the bait, the ten mafia tanks could find an entrance to Stone’s Water and take down most of the Lion’s surviving forces. But since they relied on ancestral technology and a power source they could no longer replicate, they could no longer move, scattered across various points of the community. The neighbors decorated them like commemoration statues.

Satis and the BEP were captured by an elite force commanded by The Commentator. Apparently they were in alliance with Valley Work all these time. According to some witnesses, the woman manipulated them in an inexplicable way, which is why several parts of her plan were leaked. Many days had passed since then, and with Stone's Water still under reconstruction, there was no force left to send for his rescue.

In the weeks that followed, he continued receiving visits from his former comrades, as well as leaders from the various factions, all coming to thank him for his service. Even the representatives of the Valley of Water Kingdom—a group composed of two men and a woman—would occasionally stop by his room.

He hadn't completely lost his regenerative abilities; physically, he had healed entirely. However, he was now blind in one eye, and the NCCAG at his temple had to be reinforced to keep it from melting. It didn’t matter what gestures he made with his hand—he could no longer summon anything, not even the faintest stream of water.

No matter how high or bright the Moon shone at night, he could no longer see Satis.

Common Day refused to take part in any celebration, or even to leave his room. He had no interest in the news from the surface and hadn’t checked the world-ending countdown in a long time.

Eventually, only a small group of people kept visiting him. Floating Man used his psychological convalescence as an excuse to deliver long monologues about obscure theological theories. But what saddened him most was that his companion wouldn’t even react—wouldn’t even tell him to shut up.

Pretty Anarchy Emerald would sometimes come to read in silence, occasionally joined by Black Tongue, who did nothing but sharpen her knives.

But of all the people, it was Western Land Slave who spent the most time with him. She no longer saw him as a relevant opponent, so she simply stole his food and slept for free on the bed beside him. In theory, she now had more responsibilities within the Harvesters, but she delegated everything to her new underling, Unwashed Meat.

What hurt him the most was knowing that Valley Work—or whatever that creature truly was—had been right. What was the point in going on? The world was going to end soon anyway.

Perhaps the only consolation left to him was the thought that, no matter how much others had achieved, they all shared the same expiration date as he did.

I'm truly a terrible person.

One of those days, he remembered he still had unwatched episodes of Kikishime. In those moments of solitude, projecting that great anime onto his remaining eye, were the only times he managed to laugh—even if just for a few seconds. Eventually, he caught up with every season, and cried at the ending. He rewatched it again and again, and cried at the ending each time.

In a way, he felt sorry for god. How unfair we humans had been to kill him, when thanks to the world he created, we were at least able to enjoy great works of culture.

On one occasion, as he was watching a rerun of the second season, the representatives from the Valley appeared once again. Or rather, the representative. This time, she came alone.

It was the first time he’d heard her speak.

"How long do you plan to stay bedridden?"

He had no obligation to answer.

"I've only come to leave you a message. We know who you are, and we know that Rowdy Deer is a demoness. In our kingdom, we've gathered some of the scientists who took part in god’s homicide, and we understand what’s happening.

Both the BEP and your 'friend' were captured for a single reason: Golden Shogun has made a pact with the entity that left you in this state. He’ll help her assume the role of the third substance of divinity—in exchange for becoming the ruler of the Earth.

Of course, most of us don't truly believe that’s possible—not even your friends from the Arianism Order. But the truth is, the BEP is being used to power an instrument we don’t understand, and we can’t just turn a blind eye."

Common Day listened in silence beneath his blanket, unmoving.

"We also know what’s become of your family, Day-kun. In the envelope I’m leaving on your table, you’ll find everything we’ve gathered about them. We’ve clearly done our homework—who you are, what you want, and what you were once capable of."

That last sentence burned in his chest.

"In these last months, the people of Stone’s Water have changed… their attitude. I’m sure that just a while ago, most of them only wanted to run from the fight—eat, laugh, fornicate, drink, fornicate again—and repeat until the end of time.

But thanks to your plan, whatever the reason behind it, the people here are doing more than just living as if each day were their last. Now, they live for the chance to see one more day."

The woman chuckled to herself.

"Yeah, I know—I must sound a bit stupid. In any case, if you ever need me, you’ll know where to find me.

Just ask for the Dark Lady."

A few minutes passed after the woman left.

Yeah, of course. How convenient—your scripted, hollow speech, saving the reveal of your identity for the end as if that would somehow move me.

He rose from his bed and saw the envelope on the bedside table. With a candle, he set it on fire.

My family? What did she think? That I’d crawl on my knees for my family? That I, too, would change and become some kind of decent man?

The envelope burned to ash. Common Day started laughing.

What better way to bring evil into the world than by starting with yourself?

He recalled Valley Work’s words.

How I hate pretentious people. Demons have no idea what evil truly is.

As he walked out of the medical wing, the eyes of several subterranean neighbors turned to him. Word quickly spread: the Man from the Room had finally emerged from his slumber. He climbed one of the vertical ladders—since the nearby elevator was still broken—and reached the surface.

The sunlight was harsh, stabbing into his lone eye.

"God, I hate this shitty sun!"

His three companions started laughing.