Chapter 965: Chapter 965: Giving Them a Chance to Choose
"Siduri, how long can a world exist after losing the ’World’?"
"This..."
Suddenly asked this question, Siduri didn’t know how to respond. After thinking for a moment, she gave the answer she felt was true.
"The moment the ’World’ leaves, its destruction is already inevitable."
"Perhaps not physical destruction, but once the ’World’ abandons this world, the gods, humans, and the world itself are left without purpose.
Though this notion is cruel, when even the ’World’ makes such a decision, it signifies that this world no longer has any value for existence."
Gilgamesh looked at the screen in the sky and nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with Siduri’s judgment.
He hated the gods, for their recklessness had cost him his most important friend.
However, he couldn’t bring himself to hate the ’World’ itself.
As for the young man who ascended to godhood through legitimate means, Gilgamesh felt more admiration.
Especially since, when he took that step, he hadn’t abandoned his humanity—in fact, he had strengthened the human side of himself. Just that alone made him extraordinary.
But more importantly, Gilgamesh had begun to wonder what that world truly looked like, and whether it could offer him even greater enjoyment.
"Siduri, Babylon will no longer face any crises in the days ahead."
"This world holds no value anymore. That counterfeit won’t waste any more time in this era. Reduce our personnel and gather the residents of the surrounding cities."
"We must now prepare for what lies ahead."
"Understood."
...
"That concludes our discussion on foundational infrastructure for now. More core elements require establishing the underlying world framework first; otherwise, I cannot properly integrate ’Human History’ into this world."
The basic world architecture had been agreed upon, and Bell didn’t intend to push the progress too far ahead all at once.
World-building wasn’t something that could be done overnight, so there was no need to finalize everything in one gathering. After the first phase of construction was complete, subsequent meetings would follow naturally. Discussing matters then wouldn’t be too late.
"The remaining points concern the gods."
"The gods, huh."
Shiki Ryougi glanced at Meteria, noting that the woman hadn’t reacted at all. She immediately understood that the mother and son must have discussed this beforehand.
"You two talked this over?"
"You could say that. We discussed it with all the gods at the banquet two days ago, and they fully supported our proposed approach."
Bell’s honest words carried an air of "reason" and "righteousness," which left Shiki Ryougi somewhat puzzled.
"I suspect you resorted to threats, didn’t you?"
"No, I made no threats. I simply presented the facts as they stand."
"Such as?"
"If they refuse, Mother will transfer all authority over this world to the gods who choose to remain."
"..."
Shiki Ryougi raised an eyebrow. As expected, Bell’s answer didn’t disappoint her.
"So, what did you say would happen to the gods who remain once they lose our protection?"
"..."
"I forgot to mention that part."
After an eerie silence, Bell finally remembered the most critical issue that he had neglected to address.
"I was also discussing the threat of the ’Miniature World’ at the time. I assumed the gods would know that once a deity left behind loses its protection, it would immediately be detected by the ’Miniature World.’ Subsequently, the divine essence and Authority it possesses would be completely devoured by the ’Miniature World’ and the gods within it who share the same nature."
Shiki Ryougi immediately rolled her eyes at him.
"Was that intentional? Or just an oversight?"
Bell awkwardly scratched his head, his face flushed with embarrassment.
"Ahem, this time it really was an oversight. I covered everything except the problems they’d face if left behind."
"Our gods here actually dread boredom and idleness. Even if they’d forgotten a few details, they’d already agreed to relinquish their Authority, allowing Mother to sever herself from the world. I never said anything severe or threatening either."
This much, Shiki Ryougi genuinely believed.
Bell’s very idea of creating a new world and bringing both realms along with him proved he never harbored any malicious intent from the start. If he truly had such malice, he would have discarded the gods of both worlds outright.
Those gods born directly from "Human History" were actually far more suited to the new world.
"So you mean I should do the same?"
"Hmm, I suppose that could work. But aren’t the gods in the world you created a bit more... insane? If possible, I’d genuinely prefer not to inherit those lunatics. So, how about giving them just one chance to choose?"
The notion that many gods in the Type-Moon universe are lunatics had become deeply ingrained in Bell’s mind. Thus, aside from the few gods Bell could tolerate, whether the others chose the new world or not made little difference to him—in fact, he’d prefer they remain in their original world to die.
Of course, he couldn’t say that outright. After all, out of respect for Shiki Ryougi, he needed to at least offer them a choice.
Upon hearing this suggestion, Shiki Ryougi didn’t reject it, merely nodding with a smile.
"Then it shall be decided as you say. Give them a single chance to choose. If they fail, then they shall remain in the original world to die."
Shiki Ryougi’s smile was exceptionally sweet, her voice tinged with gentleness, yet the words she spoke sent an unparalleled chill through the gods of the Type-Moon world.
Thus, every god understood clearly: should this matter escalate, it would signify the end of their existence as gods.
Therefore, this time, there could be no room for jest.
Shiki Ryougi’s smile faded as she moved to the next question.
"And what of ordinary humans?"
This question, too, carried immense weight.
