"I see..."
I fell into silence at the Great Spirit’s confirmation.
Words failed to come to me immediately. It wasn't a feeling of simple joy; while I was certainly relieved, my state of mind was far more complex.
"What is the matter? Have you grown so lightheaded with relief that you've lost your strength?"
"Perhaps a little," I responded tersely.
Even though I had been mostly certain, it was a weight off my mind to know that my interpretation was correct. It felt as though a doubt that had been nesting in a corner of my heart had finally been purged.
"The Will of the World is a concept forged from the collective unconscious of humanity. One might call it the ultimate destination of human karma."
"So, human karma is what interferes with the laws of reality."
The Great Spirit nodded deeply. She reached a hand toward the night sky, her fingertips moving as if she were stroking something invisible.
"Humanity’s drive toward happiness—which, conversely, manifests as a desperate wish to avoid destruction—distorts the world. The more people who harbor such a desire, and the stronger that desire becomes, the more potent its effect."
When a wish is unified, a miracle of equal magnitude occurs. It meant that the collective prayers of the people were what gave birth to a Hero. They were a Hero specifically because they were desired.
"The Will of the World is an ultimate concept, but it is by no means omnipotent. It does not act at all times, nor does it consider whether the consequences of its intervention are favorable or not. It is, as you pointed out, an imperfect mechanism."
"Indeed."
A concept constructed from unconscious desires. That was its greatest strength, and also its fatal flaw. If the people willed it, even a Hero could be executed, and even the most inhumane weapons could be brought to completion.
However, there was no guarantee of what followed. As a direct result of a short-sighted execution, a Demon King like me was born. For humanity, it had become a calamity of their own making. It proved that these phenomena did not always lead to a happy ending.
"The Will of the World protects people, yet at the same time, it could be called their greatest enemy."
"You mean it is a concept that can lead humanity to its own ruin."
"Exactly," the Great Spirit agreed.
It was a truly ironic structure. Humanity stood on the precipice of extinction, pushed by the weight of their own desires. Their very will to survive was, paradoxically, what was strangling them—and they lacked the power to stop it themselves.
"Once you are targeted by the Will of the World, resistance is generally impossible. Theoretically, it can annihilate any high-ranking existence. You are the sole exception to that rule."
"Am I?"
Though I felt a flicker of surprise, many things began to click into place. I turned to the Great Spirit to confirm my suspicions.
"I want you to tell me why I am the exception."
"Because you possess a special authority."
"...The Valley of the Dead."
I focused on the miasma swirling within my body. This power, constantly supplied to me, was what defined me as the Demon King. By sacrificing the beasts of the outside world, the density and mass of my miasma had reached even greater heights.
"The Valley of the Dead is the embodiment of human karma itself. It symbolizes the tragedy and ruin that serve as the polar opposites to the peace and happiness for which people universally pray."
I understood her words intuitively. The Valley of the Dead was the evil that people detested and sought to exclude from their sight. It was the place where all the world's dregs eventually settled. While the Will of the World was a concept that sought to save people but could invite destruction, the Valley of the Dead was its mirror image—composed of the same essence, yet fundamentally contradictory. It was exactly as the Great Spirit had explained before.
"This is the truth regarding the Will of the World. Do you understand?"
"Yes. It was very enlightening."
I offered my thanks to the Great Spirit. Thoughts that had been mere speculation now possessed a clear, solid outline. The difference this knowledge made was immense.
"Now that you understand the Will of the World is such a formidable concept, what do you intend to do?"
"Nothing changes. I will simply continue to resist."
I answered without a moment's hesitation. Knowing the truth changed nothing in the end. I was well aware that my existence was unwanted by the world.
However, the world required a Demon King. And so, I had to survive. No matter what manner of Hero might appear, I could not afford to suffer defeat. For the sake of world peace, I would simply press forward.
"That is a fine answer. It is a difficult path, but if it is you, perhaps it can be achieved."
Satisfied, the Great Spirit floated upward without a sound. Walking through the empty air, she glanced back one last time.
"I shall notify you the moment the situation changes."
"I’m counting on you."
As I responded, the Great Spirit vanished into the distant night sky. Silence returned to the balcony. Left alone with my thoughts, I turned and walked back inside.