In a realm of absolute white, save for a floating black sphere, a girl with a single mechanical wing sat with her eyes closed. Her name was Machina—a mortal who had ascended to godhood and become the Creator of her own world.
Since her parting with Alicia, Machina had traveled through myriad worlds, tempering her power until she became a true deity. Among the pantheon of Creators, she was now a top-tier existence known as the Machine God.
Her travels complete, she had finally fashioned the world she desired. That world had already outgrown its infancy, the period where her direct guidance was necessary. The automated observation systems, centered around the three Program Codes, were fully operational.
From that point on, she watched her world through Paradise—Eden—and waited in silence. Over vast eons, her capacity for love had grown exponentially. She waited for the day her "Beloved Child," someone worthy of that boundless affection, would finally appear, all while observing her world flourish beyond her touch.
Her world no longer required her intervention, and no other world’s Creator was foolish enough to challenge a being whose power was said to transcend even the omniscient and omnipotent.
And so, Machina remained still, processing immense streams of data through parallel thought. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and fixed her gaze upon the void.
A moment later, space itself tore open vertically, and a voice drifted through the rift.
"I apologize for interrupting your contemplations."
"It is of no consequence," Machina replied tonelessly. "I assume you have your reasons."
She was speaking to Shallow Vernal—a being she recognized as both a dear friend and someone to be feared from the depths of her soul. Their acquaintance had truly become a long one, she reflected.
"Then let us resume our negotiations," Shallow Vernal said.
Machina’s expression immediately soured. Shallow Vernal’s proposals were rarely to her liking. She entertained the talks only because of their long-standing relationship, but she was hardly enthusiastic.
"I cannot say I am eager for this," Machina said. "As you are well aware, I was dissatisfied with the Hero Summoning to begin with. Do not forget that I only grudgingly permitted it on the condition that my children’s souls be returned to me after their deaths."
"Yes, naturally."
In truth, Machina had flatly rejected the first proposal. However, Shallow Vernal had been uncharacteristically persistent, returning to the bargaining table time and again.
"And now you ask to 'borrow' a soul temporarily? If we were not such old acquaintances, I would have ended this already. Do not expect a favorable reply. Besides, why go this far? Is the child summoned this time so special to you... Shallow Vernal?"
"Kaito-san is my Singularity."
Those words sparked a flicker of genuine curiosity in Machina’s heart.
(She’s being incredibly stubborn this time. For Shallow Vernal to go this far is unexpected... it might even be a sign of change. Sigh, it can't be helped. I'm not thrilled about it, but if she’s going to beg this much, I should at least consider it. Besides, putting her in my debt could be useful later.)
Machina spoke softly. "You have changed."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I can sense more emotion from you than before. A Singularity, is he? You have piqued my interest in the child who brought such change to you. I believe I shall investigate him..."
Machina was omniscient. At this stage, Kaito Miyama was not yet her "Beloved Child"—he was merely "one of her children."
With her power, investigating him was trivial. She had no actual need to visit Trinia. She intended to glance at him with her omniscience, set a few conditions, and agree to the deal if everything looked safe.
So why did she end up journeying to Trinia in person? It comes back to a core principle: when the premise changes, the essence transforms.
After speaking with Shallow Vernal, Machina scanned Kaito’s life with her omniscience... and was stunned to her core. Though her face remained a mask of divine indifference, her heart was in a state of absolute turmoil. Never, in her life as a human or her existence as a god, had she felt so shaken.
She had looked into Kaito. And there, she found...
(Why? How? What happened?! When did you... come to wear such a forced, sorrowful smile... Alicia?!)
There was no mistaking her. She had found the one who remained her most precious, beloved friend. Alicia was smiling, but it wasn't the radiant, dazzling grin Machina remembered. It was an expression steeped in shadow.
Machina’s reaction was instantaneous. Stricken with anxiety over her friend’s condition, she did something she had never done: she turned her omniscience fully toward Alicia. And for the first time since ascending to godhood, she felt the weight of profound regret.
(So that’s what happened. Alicia... that’s why you... Why wasn't I there?! No, I can regret later. I have to help her... but how? I want to go to her side this instant, but...)
Machina wanted to rush to her friend, but it wasn't that simple. While she considered Shallow Vernal a friend, she also feared her. She had been careful to include a non-interference clause in their contracts, stating that neither would visit the other’s world.
Of course, as an omnipotent being, she wasn't physically barred by a contract; it was merely a promise. However, breaking it would give Shallow Vernal an excuse to do the same. She hesitated for only a second before a memory of a past conversation surfaced.
—It’s a promise.
Yes. She had made a promise to her best friend.
(It’s a promise, Alicia. I’m no longer the weak little thing who only gets saved by you. I can do this. There’s a way. In fact, Shallow Vernal is the one who wants something from me right now. This makes it easy to add my own conditions. She might balk if I say I’m going in person, though...)
Utilizing her divine thinking speed, Machina mapped out her entire plan in under ten seconds. Maintaining her facade of calm, she addressed Shallow Vernal.
"...I wish to judge him directly."
"Judge Kaito-san?"
"Yes. May I bring him back to my realm for a time? If I deem him worthy, I shall agree to your proposal."
Machina deliberately suggested taking Kaito away. Since they had a pact not to visit each other's worlds, this was the most logical way to "judge" him. But it was a feint—a preparation for her true goal. Though she felt a twinge of guilt for using her child as a pawn, she pressed forward for the sake of her friend.
"And if you find him lacking in value?" Shallow Vernal asked.
"Then I shall dispose of what is unnecessary. Is that not only natural? It is my prerogative to deal with the lives of my own world as I see fit."
This was a blatant lie. Machina loved her children far too much to ever harm them. Shallow Vernal, however, could not be certain of that. She gave the exact response Machina had baited her into.
"I cannot permit that."
This was the breakthrough. Once Shallow Vernal refused to let Kaito be moved, the path for the counter-proposal was clear.
"...Then let us do this instead. I shall visit your world to judge him. Not my main body, of course. I will use a Split Body made specifically for the task."
"You would come here? Would that not violate our previous agreement?"
"It would. Therefore, as compensation for overlooking this violation, I shall enter a new contract: I will never harm your Singularity. How does that sound?"
"Hmm..."
Machina knew this would work. By specifying a "Split Body," she was signaling that she would use a terminal with limited power—something Shallow Vernal could handle if things went south. For Shallow Vernal, having Machina in a world she monitored was safer than letting Kaito go. Plus, she secured a guarantee of safety for her Singularity.
"It is a fair offer. And if I agree, you will favor my initial proposal?"
"Yes. I shall consider it very seriously."
The advantages were now stacked in Shallow Vernal's favor. The answer was inevitable.
"Very well. I accept those terms. Will you come immediately?"
"I can prepare the Split Body quickly, but everything has its time. I will contact you when the moment is right."
Judging Kaito didn't matter to Machina; saving Alicia did. She needed to wait for the optimal moment, which her omniscience had already identified.
"I understand. I shall wait for you, Earth God."
"Earth God... I suppose 'Earth' is merely the name of a star rather than the world, but it is an acceptable title for you to use."
"If you would tell me your name, I would use that instead."
"Unfortunately, I have no specific name as a deity. But I shall think of one before I visit. I will be in touch, Shallow Vernal."
Machina didn't have a godly name. "Machina" was her human name, and the only person she wanted to hear it from was her one and only best friend. Other Creators called her the Machine God, but she didn't consider that a proper name. She briefly thought about inventing one, but dismissed it as a waste of effort. She decided she would just use the name of the terminal she intended to utilize: Paradise—Eden.
In the void, a mechanical voice rang out.
"Program Code: Paradise, Individual Number 76812, is hereby relieved of Wide-area Integrated Observation duties. Effective immediately, this unit shall serve as the connection terminal for Mother Brain Machina."
The eyes of the Machine Angel, adorned with ten pairs of wings, glowed with prismatic light. A rift opened, revealing the path to another world.
"Disengaging temporary synchronization with Program Code: Abyss and Program Code: Aegis. Inter-world Transfer activating in twelve seconds. Destination: Otherworld Trinia. Countdown start."
And so, Machina set out to fulfill a promise that had never faded, determined to save her dearest friend.
When viewed through the lens of Machina’s true goal—saving Alicia—her enigmatic actions in Trinia suddenly made sense. Why did she seek a mock battle with Kuromueina? It wasn't about judging Kaito; she was practicing holding back for a fight she knew was coming. Why bring Alice into the separate space? To force her into a situation where she had to protect Kaito.
The forced teleportation of Alice one hundred thousand kilometers away seemed extreme, but for Alice, who could move faster than light, it was only a momentary hurdle. It was designed to provoke a sense of urgency—to dredge up her buried Hero instincts.
"Weave the bonds! Hecatoncheir!"
(That’s right, Alicia. Your heart might have shattered once, but it won't stay that way. You’re already regaining that Hope.)
As she was blown away by the punch thrown by the girl who had been stuck in the past, now moving forward to protect Kaito, Eden came to a stop in mid-air and slowly spread the wings on her back.
(It’s shock therapy, I know. But I’m going to pull that light out from the depths of your heart—the brilliance that’s grown even stronger than before! The rest is up to you, Alicia!)
Eden escalated the fight, leading Alice higher and higher. Alice reclaimed her origin, her speed, and her strength. Her heart, once broken but mended by Kaito, began to emit an infinite light.
"This is the moment! The culmination of my heart! Surpass all limits... weave the world! Hecatoncheir!"
A star-like light enveloped Alice. It was the radiant light of hope that had once saved a lonely girl long ago. Eden’s face remained impassive, but within her, Machina smiled. She spoke words of joy for the return of her friend, whom she had never forgotten for a single day across the eons.
"Welcome back... my Hero."
??? "Senpai! Pull yourself together! The serious scene is still going!"
Serious-senpai "Ugh... not yet... not yet..."
??? "To think Senpai isn't here even though it's a rare serious arc... Wait, even without her, it's the same as always. No problems at all."
Serious-senpai "Hey... you."
??? "Well then, good work..."
Machina "Next are the lips! This is, naturally, one of my child’s most charming points. I need to speak on this at length, so listen carefully—"
??? "Are you guys still at it over here?! An entire chapter has passed and you still haven't even finished talking about his face?!"