Hours had passed since the mysterious man first appeared before Yugo and the others.
He had been carried into the academy’s infirmary, but he had yet to regain consciousness. A small crowd gathered in the cramped room, waiting for him to stir.
Naturally, Yugo was there, alongside his brother Fee, Ryuga, and his other friends. Even the teacher, Uno, was present. Furthermore, Yugo’s father, Eugene, also stood by, waiting to hear what the stranger had to say.
During the wait, Yugo had already confessed the truth to Eugene: that he was from another world, and his true name was Yugo Kurei. Even the stoic Eugene couldn't fully mask his shock, but he had managed to maintain his composure and decided to reserve judgment until they heard this man's story.
Eugene likely needed time to process the revelation himself, but he also seemed to want to avoid placing more of a burden on Yugo and the others so soon after their fierce battle. Yugo felt a quiet gratitude toward the man who, despite the news, still treated him as a father would.
"Ugh, nngh...!"
A groan escaped the man on the bed. As he slowly opened his eyes, Yugo spoke up on behalf of the group.
"...Are you awake?"
"Where is... this?"
"You’re in the Luminous Academy infirmary. We checked you over; you aren't seriously injured, just completely spent."
While the man was unconscious, the teachers had examined his condition. Though he looked like he had been through hell, the diagnosis was that he was simply suffering from extreme exhaustion rather than any life-threatening wounds. It was still a mystery where he had come from, but it was obvious he was caught in the middle of something deep and complicated.
The man sat up and looked around at the faces gathered in the room. Yugo asked the first question.
"...What’s your name?"
"...Adam. At least, that’s what I’m called."
Yugo stared intently at the man. Perceiving no sign that he was lying or trying to evade the question, Yugo continued to observe him, but his companions could no longer contain themselves. They began firing questions all at once.
"Who are you?! Where did you come from?!"
"Are you connected to Lost and the Masterminds? What is your relationship with them?"
"Are you the reason Yugo’s soul was replaced by a Reincarnator? What did you do to him?!"
"I... I’m sorry," Adam answered, looking bewildered. "I don’t know where to start. It’s a complicated matter, and my own mind is still in a fog..."
Surprised by a reaction that was far more human than he had expected, Yugo stepped in to help the confused man.
"Everyone, hold on," Yugo interjected. "I have just as many questions as you do, but we’ll get nowhere if we overwhelm him. Let him tell his story his own way first. Questions can wait until the end."
"...Thank you, Yugo. I appreciate it."
If Yugo, the person most affected by all this, was willing to wait, the others had no choice but to agree. Adam took a deep breath and began his explanation with a preamble.
"...First, I need you to understand that what I’m about to tell you is incredibly complex. I’ll choose my words carefully to make it as clear as possible, but please keep in mind that I’m simplifying things. I will do my best to be as accurate as I can."
Yugo nodded. As the others signaled their consent, Adam finally revealed his nature.
"Then, once more... my name is Adam. Whether that is my true name, I cannot say, but that doesn't matter right now. What matters is that I am what your people might call a God."
"A God...? Are you actually a deity?!"
"I used that term for the sake of the explanation, but in reality, I am not. I cannot perform acts like the Creation of Life as seen in your myths. Our purpose is world management. We ensure that the balance of the world remains undistorted."
"'Our,' you said..."
From Adam's use of the plural, it was clear that there were others like him—administrators who functioned as the "Gods" of the world. Adam paused for a moment, appearing deeply troubled, before resuming his story.
"As you likely already know, there is more than just one world. Countless worlds exist, and while we manage them to prevent any Anomaly from occurring, our duty is to assist those living within them."
"Then explain this disaster!" Uno demanded. "Reincarnators and masterminds are running rampant in our world, causing one atrocity after another! If your job is to manage and prevent such things, where have you been?!"
"I am sorry. I am truly sorry..." Adam replied, a pained expression crossing his face. "It is exactly as you say. This is a situation that should never have been allowed to happen... because the very source of this crisis is us. We, the Gods, are the cause."
Everyone stared at him in shock. As the weight of his confession hung in the air, Adam continued his story.