Rebecca
Silence reels its head in the space where the members of Cauldron gathers. It's been a month and some since the mysterious cape— who has been designated as 'White'— fought Scion and also the incident that shook almost every earth and Earth-Bet in particular.
For how worried that everyone present in the room should be feeling, the colorful clothes they are wearing is an obvious contrast to the situation at hand but honestly Rebecca couldn't bring herself to care much.
If after all that and Scion is still alive, she is ready to burn along with the world.
Probably.
"What is with that get up, David? Are you trying something new?" She teases.
"You are one to talk Becky, are you into cosplay now? What's with the frilly clothes? At least Keith was decent enough to hide the fact he was on a beach." David replies without his usual bite.
"Ah… and I was sure I hid my tracks well." Keith chuckles as he scratches his head.
"Heh, not well enough." David smirks, but there seems to be something underneath his expression.
After being teleported and isolated in an alternate world Island for a month— by what we suspect to be the doing of 'White'— with no way of leaving, David seemed to have gone through a tremendous change. The usual proud and impatient Eidolon is now very meek.
What had happened on the island? Nobody knows.
"I'm glad everyone is in good shape." Doctor mother says to the group.
"It's a wonder what Scion's death can do for one's health isn't it?" Keith laughs.
"We don't know if he is dead but since all evidence proves that he is, and even the path closed itself, while the body of The Thinker has all but perished, it's safe to assume so." Contessa who is wearing her usual fedora but with pinafore and sleeves, and licking a lollipop states.
Hasn't she been too carefree lately?
Well, Rebecca could somewhat understand.
Everyone had lost their powers for a few seconds, which they think is the moment Scion had died. That should have made things chaotic but there were no casualties, not even from people whose powers assisted their living.
Was that also something done by the mysterious 'White?'. Most likely.
In those few seconds though, Rebecca had watched her hands, enthralled, feeling more alive than she had ever been. It came just as fast as it left, but the feeling had been very refreshing.
Contessa might have also experienced something like that too.
"And how is the state of things in Bet?" The doctor continues.
Rebecca hums before responding.
"While gathering every cape to fight Scion in the case 'White' had lost, was passed off as a worldwide drill for an Endbringer battle, the confirmed disappearance of every Endbringer a few days later seemed to have improved the standing of the PRT even more."
"At least, the economy won't be crashing anytime soon, so cheers to that." Kurt adds offhandedly, eyes still glued to his laptop.
"That's good, then."
The Endbringers disappearance was like having the sword of Damocles that has being menacingly looming over everyone's head suddenly disappear.
It was such a surreal feeling, though they didn't mention the news until May ending, when they were sure no Endbringer would be attacking.
Although there are still questions like: Where did the Endbringers disappear to? Not even they know, but as usual, the suspect is 'White'.
Rebecca is glad that the world seems to be healing itself at least.
She would admit that one of the first things she did was tracking the S9, Contessa helped her with their location, and she's glad she finally avenged Hero.
And all this was made possible by 'White', the maybe-Parahuman who they do not even have a picture of or know anything about except she is female and who knows if that is true as well?
"And we still have no leads on this 'White?'" David asks.
"Apart from appearing white and female, and the ability to access alternate worlds, including teleportation, we have nothing. And we don't know what they are after either. Since they took out Eden, that means they are at least aware of us, but we have received no contact yet. It's nerve wracking." The doctor responds.
Rebecca doesn't think they could stop 'White' if they were after something though, they can't be pathed and they fought and defeated Scion, alone.
What can they do to someone like that? Especially now that they have basically lost what had made them 'Cauldron', which includes the vials.
And even after flushing through their securities, there is still the lingering threat that 'White' could teleport them anytime, as they supposedly did with David so they have all been vigilant… well, as vigilant as they could be.
It's impossible to not get caught up in the worldwide celebration that doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon after all.
So all they can do is make contingencies against a probably-opponent they know nothing about while keeping up their false sense of security.
The conversation goes on even as the gnawing realization of their crimes and the lives they have ruined eats at them, knowing that despite all the atrocities they have committed, someone else was the one that took care of the problem, without any input from them.
Someone they do not even know.
One person.
What a distasteful feeling.
Everything they had done, while not for nothing, almost is. The 'It would be worth it in the end' now hangs as a blight upon their existence as they look upon their blood-soaked hands, whether caused directly or indirectly.
She speculates this is what David feels as well.
The 'savior' turned observer.
What had he dedicated his entire life for then?
They would live with the feeling of self-loathing till whenever their light goes out.
Or so Rebecca thinks.
And, even though it would not be enough, even though it won't make up for anything, she hopes to spend the rest of her life atoning for her sins.
She swears it even as she converses with her fellow sinners.
◇◇◇
Shiraori
Nom.
Nom.
Nom.
If you can guess where I am, I will give you a piece of my takoyaki and a sip of my juice.
Bu bu bu. You guessed wrong.
I will tell you where I am. You see… I am back in my original apartment!! Woohoo!!!
A big cheers to myself!!
Congratulations, congratulations.
Ah thank you, thank you. I rub the back of my head as I nod in embarrassment.
You see, after dealing with Goldie, and fixing the dimensional fissures caused by my last attack— Yeah, who would have thought [Annihilating Evil Eye] would start annihilating space as well, definitely not me— I went back to my Earth-Bet apartment to find D playing my games and eating my food.
I punched her to Uranus.
How dare she steal my celebratory dinner.
That's rude. Not when she has not reimbursed me for my chips.
I will forever hold that grudge. Hmph!
But as expected, she did not die, she just came back as if nothing happened. It seems not even the frost of Uranus can freeze her, since she's already cold at heart. Maybe I should try the sun next. Fingers crossed.
*Sighs* Was it too much to hope she would somehow die though?
"Shiro, is that how to treat your boss?" She says plopping on a chair she manifested and enjoying a bowl of yakisoba.
I. Shiraori. Did. Not. Drool.
D is actually a really good cook, but she's just really lazy to do any cooking, a trait we both share, although she's worse than I am though.
Anyway, a boss you are, sending me to a world on the verge of an apocalypse, don't you get tired of that sort of genre D? You know you can enjoy other things right? I hear 'Slice of life' is trending these days.
"But I don't want to, watching you suffer is more interesting."
D, I will send you to the sun.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I should have briefed you about the world before sending you here, don't send me to the sun please, it would be annoying even though it won't hurt." She says even though we both know she's not sorry at all.
*Sighs* I guess that's the best I can get out of her.
My mission is complete right? Can I have my vacation now?
She laughs. "Of course, Shiro, even by gods standard, you gathered a stupidly ridiculous amount of energy after all, and even now, you are still at it, so I'll cut you some slack for the time being."
Well, thank God, so thank me.
"Oh! Did you know the Endbringers were being subconsciously controlled by Eidolon?"
I stare at her.
D, you and I both know you purposely left out that info from the dossier!!
"Errr… teehee?" She pops out her tongue and knocks the side of her head with her hand.
Not now D, I don't want to deal with you. I want to go back to my apartment and enjoy my limited freedom in peace.
Oh! Before I forget, you have to take care of the shard stuffs since they would go out of control with no Goldie around, I had planned on destroying them all but civilization is too dependent on it, and it's not like magic where residents of the other world can still use it to a lesser degree even without the system.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I already took control of the shard network when you were fighting, since I knew you were not interested in it. I have everything under my control. The Endbringers will disappear in a few days as well." She says with a knowing smile.
I stare at her. This bastard.
You could have at least waited for me to finish fighting first you know. I almost died you know… okay that's a lie but dammit D!
So she was probably the reason why Goldie looked like he had given up in the end huh? Poor guy.
Anyways. You better not come for me till like a hundred years have passed.
The last I hear before teleporting is her laughter.
D, you stupid baka.
…
…
…
And that is how you find I, Shiraori right here, enjoying my takoyaki and juice, while still mining energy 24/7.
Sometimes I check back on that world when it crosses my mind.
Since there are no Endbringers tormenting the world, the villains are now getting cracked down on, which is to be expected.
Buggy has become a well known cape in the bay and she even has merch now. She started going out with the hunk from the gym, apparently he's the brother of that pain in the ass girl she saved that one time. She also made a deal with the PRT to supply them spider silk.
Meanwhile I used to give mine to The Demon Lord's army for free.
Isn't that kinda unfair?
Nai wa.
Anyway, the Sherlock Holmes girl turned her villain group into a rogue one under a different name. She might be the richest person in the bay. Even going as far as to hire the girl who the lolicon reptile tried to kidnap, I don't know how she managed that.
But what I don't understand is why she placed the note I sent to her on an altar, and keeps saying things like 'I hope I did not screw up today' and 'Please don't send me to the Birdcage' to it.
Hmm, I wonder what that is all about.
As for the 'many-powers-guy', the truth is that I sent him to an island as a sort of 'go stand in a corner' punishment, since he was largely responsible for almost destroying civilization, although unknowingly and before I knew it, a month had passed— I totally did not forget about him!— and when I checked back, he seemed to have passed through all the stages of grief.
He was lying on the ground and staring at the sky when I checked back on him.
Well, at least he seems like a more decent person now, so good job me?
And good for them too, I guess.
As for myself, not to brag, but I am living the life.
It must be true that good things happen to good people.
Undoubtedly this is truly the best benefit of being a God, and I will not let anyone come between me and Neetdom… sorry I meant freedom. Me and freedom.
Not Dragons.
Not Elves.
Not Terminator robots.
Not Aliens.
And certainly not Gods!
I am a spider but so what? I'm the strongest spider there is after all.
Muhahahahahahahahahaha.
"Master, did you hear what I just told you?"
Eh? I forgot I was not alone. What is it Vampy? And when are you going to stop calling me 'Master?' You know you don't have that curse anymore right?
"Sophia-chan, you know Shiro-chan has not been listening to you for a while now right? I'm pretty sure she has been monologuing." The Demon Lord who is enjoying a wine all of a sudden sells me out!
Don't listen to The Demon Lord, Vampy. I was definitely listening.
And so my adventure comes to an en—
*FWOOSH*
"Shiro! I have a deal for you!"
D is teleported to the sun.
And so my adventure comes to an end.
…
…
…
Good, no more surprises right?