Standing within that beautiful snowfield, I spoke with the other Isis-san I had encountered in my dream.
"B-But, um... you’re really incredible, Isis-san. To be able to connect our hearts and even temporarily suppress my memories... I didn't know you could do things like that."
It was a strange and wondrous ability. I knew that someone with Isis-san’s vast power—someone far beyond my own—could likely achieve many feats, but this felt different. I sensed there was something unique about this state, so I decided to ask.
『...Hmm. Right now, this is something only I can do. Because you have Shallow Vernal’s blessing, Kaito, ordinary mental magic is usually nullified.』
"Huh? Then, how did you manage to..."
『Well... it’s like a power I have as a God... I think?』
"Why do you sound so unsure of yourself? And wait—a power as a God?"
『Yes. It was the power I possessed... before I was reborn as Isis. Back when I was known as the Great Evil God of Despair.』
"...I’m sorry, what?"
I froze for a second. I felt like she had just dropped a world-shattering piece of information with total nonchalance.
The fact that she had been "reborn" was startling enough, but the name "Great Evil God of Despair" was far too familiar to ignore. I was certain I had heard that name during one of Alice’s stories about her past. Of course, there was no guarantee they were the same entity, but...
『I was... or rather, the being we originated from was a God of a world different from this one.』
"Um, does that mean... by any chance..."
『Yes. It’s just as you’ve imagined, Kaito. Long ago, I was the Evil God who was defeated by the Hero of Hope.』
"So it really was you."
『Yes. I’ll explain everything properly.』
As I suspected, she was indeed the Great Evil God of Despair that Alice had mentioned. And the "Hero of Hope" she spoke of was undoubtedly Alice herself.
『Even though I was called a God, I wasn’t actually that powerful. In terms of pure combat power, our current selves are far superior. Compared to Shallow Vernal, the God of this world, I was vastly inferior.』
Isis-san turned her gaze toward the transparent blue sky, weaving her words with a hint of nostalgia. If she had lost to the Alice of the past, then her combat strength at that time truly might have been lower than it was now.
『...I was lonely. I hated being all alone. As the Great Evil God, that was the only thought I ever had. But I couldn't speak. All I could do was link my heart with others... That was my only means of connecting with someone else.』
Hearing only that, she sounded like nothing more than a lonely deity. It was hard to imagine her as a being feared as an "Evil God," but I suspected there was a darker side to the story.
『However, I was possessed by the Magic Power of Despair. Much like the Magic Power of Death, it draws anyone whose heart I connect with into a state of total despair. Because of that power, I nearly destroyed my world twice.』
"That... that wasn't because you wanted to, right? It was just a side effect..."
『...Yes. I was lonely. I just wanted to be with someone. But whenever I reached out, seeking a connection, the world would be swallowed by despair. The first time it happened, I was sealed away. During those long years of imprisonment, my loneliness only intensified. The second time I was released, the despair spread even faster and further than before.』
Isis-san’s hands trembled slightly. She seemed to be reliving the cold, suffocating isolation of those eras. I tightened my grip on her hand, offering what silent support I could as I waited for her to continue.
『...Then, the second time, I was defeated by the Hero of Hope. Or rather, I was on the verge of being defeated. I cast aside nearly all of my physical form and used the last of my strength to flee to another world as a mere soul... because I didn't want to vanish while I was still all alone.』
It was a sobering realization of how much perspective mattered. When I had heard the story from Alice, it was a classic heroic epic—the story of a Great Evil God threatening the world, only to be struck down by a legendary hero.
But from the perspective of that "Evil God," there was no malice, no intent to destroy. She was simply lonely and sought a connection the only way she knew how—a method that, tragically, invited only despair. It was an incredibly sorrowful tale.
I couldn't stand to watch Isis-san tremble any longer. Reflexively, I pulled her slender body into an embrace. She looked startled for a heartbeat, but a happy smile quickly touched her lips as she leaned her face against my chest.
After a short silence, I spoke softly, careful not to rush her.
"...And that was how you arrived in this world?"
『...Yes. Almost as soon as I arrived, I encountered Shallow Vernal. As I said before, we aren't even in the same league. Shallow Vernal could have crushed me like a winged insect and erased my existence in an instant.』
I couldn't imagine what she must have felt then. She had fled her own world in a desperate bid to avoid dying alone, only to find herself standing before an overwhelmingly powerful being who could end her on a whim. The sheer sense of hopelessness must have been staggering.
『But Shallow Vernal didn't erase me. I don't know what she was thinking—it was likely just a whim. She took my soul, remade it into a core, granted me even greater power, and allowed me to be reborn.』
"And that rebirth... was you, Isis-san."
『Yes. During that process, the Magic Power of the Dead gathered within me, and the Magic Power of Despair transformed into the Magic Power of Death. No... it was strengthened. For some reason, my memories as the Great Evil God of Despair didn't vanish entirely; they remained deep within my soul. The reason we’re so prone to loneliness is likely because of the influence of those hazy memories.』
When I considered that, I realized just how long Isis-san had been enduring that isolation. It was surely a span of time far longer than I could ever comprehend. I found myself hugging her even tighter.
『I usually exist as a part of Isis Remnant... but since long ago, whenever Isis strongly rejected her own Magic Power of Death, I would manifest as an individual consciousness within her dreams. Though, today... I just really wanted to talk to you, Kaito, so I forced my way to the surface a bit.』
Isis-san’s story seemed to have reached its conclusion. I wondered what I should say to her. It would have been easy to say I understood her pain or sadness, but I didn't want to offer such hollow, pretentious words.
"Thank you for sharing all of that with me. I’m happy that I get to know you even better than before, Isis-san."
『...Kaito.』
"Please don't look so worried. It’s okay. Knowing about your past doesn't change the way I feel about you. Whether you have those memories or not, or even if your voice sounds different from the Isis-san I usually see... you are undoubtedly the person I know and love."
『...! Ah... Kaito... Kaito...』
Upon hearing my words, Isis-san burst into tears and clung to me tightly. Seeing the anxiety on her face, I could easily guess what had been going through her mind.
Isis-san fundamentally lacked confidence in herself. Having endured such a staggering amount of loneliness, she tended to default to the worst possible conclusions. Even as she told me about her origins as an Evil God, she had clearly been terrified that I would grow to hate her.
But that was a groundless fear. My love for her wasn't so fragile that it would be shaken by something like that.
Isis-san cried for a while, pressing her face against my chest. Then, she looked up at me with wet, shimmering eyes and slowly closed them. I understood what she was asking for immediately. I leaned down and gently pressed my lips against hers.
When we pulled apart, Isis-san wore an expression that was half-pouting and half-radiant with joy.
『...Kaito, I love you so much. I’m so happy I met you that I actually find myself regretting all the time I spent before we found each other.』
"I feel exactly the same way."
『...Yes!』
Isis-san beamed at me with a smile so bright it was almost blinding.
Hand in hand, we began to walk across the beautiful snowfield under the blue sky once more. Isis-san was in an exceptionally good mood, her radiant smile making me feel a deep sense of happiness just by being near her.
『Hey, Kaito.』
"What is it?"
『You’ll be waking up soon. When you do, I’ll be by your side as Isis Remnant, just like always, together with the other me. But before that, I have one request... while I still have my memories as the Great Evil God of Despair.』
I wondered what it could be. Since she specifically mentioned her memories as the Evil God, I assumed it was something related to that past. But her life as that deity was in a different world entirely. I wondered if there was anything I could actually do to help.
Isis-san looked directly into my eyes, her expression turning solemn.
『Um, I want you to keep the truth about me a secret from the Hero of Hope. Thanks to you, Kaito, she’s finally stopped being bound by her past and has started looking toward the future. I don't think there's any need to force her to remember me now.』
"I see. Well, considering you were her arch-nemesis, it might be pretty complicated if she found out. I understand. If that’s what you want, Isis-san, I’ll keep your secret hidden in my heart."
『Yes!』
She nodded with a bright smile, then stopped and looked at me tenderly.
『It’s almost morning... time to wake up.』
"Is it? It’s a bit sad to say goodbye, but... I’ll still be able to talk to you from now on, right?"
『Yes... I’ll be seeing you, Kaito.』
"Yeah. See you soon."
『Kaito... I love you. I love you so, so much...』
Isis-san pulled me into a final embrace, and I held her back just as tightly. Wrapped in her soft warmth, my consciousness slowly began to fade away.