"So… what you're saying is…"
Mikoto Misaka's voice trembled slightly as she tried to process everything.
"You're all from another world… and Izumi-sensei is the ruler of that world… who merged our world into his?"
"And those rules in our heads… they were all created by him?"
Her expression was filled with disbelief.
After a long explanation, she and the others had finally grasped the situation—at least, as much as they could.
Akeno Himejima smiled gently and nodded.
"Yes, that's correct."
"This world has no killing, no war."
"If you want anything… you obtain it through games."
She tilted her head slightly, her tone playful yet meaningful.
"So, Misaka-san… you'll have to get used to it."
A strange light appeared in everyone's eyes upon hearing that.
A world without violence…
A world where everything was decided by games…
It sounded absurd—
Yet strangely exciting.
Even Mikoto wasn't immune to that feeling.
But suddenly, she seemed to remember something.
Quickly, she pulled out her phone and made a call.
After a few tense seconds—
Her expression lit up with relief and joy.
"…Thank goodness."
"They're safe."
Her shoulders relaxed.
"As long as my family is okay… then I don't mind."
She looked around at this unfamiliar yet fascinating world, her eyes sparkling.
"In fact… this is actually kind of amazing."
After a brief discussion, Mikoto and the others decided on their next step—
Exploration.
This new world Izumi had created was far too intriguing to ignore.
And most importantly—
It was safe.
Completely safe.
There was no fear of sudden danger, no hidden threats lurking in the shadows.
Even children could run freely across the world, challenging others to games and earning abilities as rewards.
Akeno wasn't worried in the slightest.
Meanwhile, even those who had been bedridden before—like Shokuhou Misaki—had already begun traveling to other regions, eager to explore.
Though Izumi's world hadn't fused with many others yet, it was already incredibly diverse.
Spirits.
Angels.
Various fantastical races.
Combined with Izumi's deliberate design, the sky itself shimmered with surreal beauty, like something straight out of a fantasy dream.
For newcomers like them—
Everything was fascinating.
Even Aleister Crowley, after the world's fusion, had taken his revived loved ones and begun traveling, as if making up for lost time.
The entire world radiated life and vitality.
...
At the Edge of the Universe
Far beyond the skies—
In the depths of space within Izumi's world—
Izumi stood beside Gabriel, both gazing silently at a slowly forming mass of light.
It pulsed gently.
An existence that was gradually taking shape.
Gabriel's eyes were filled with anticipation.
"…Izumi-sama… will God truly be revived?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Izumi had taken the "will" of the Biblical God and placed it into the vacant divine throne of the former world.
Now, with the immense faith that had accumulated within that system—
The will was regenerating.
Growing stronger.
Reforming.
Revival was no longer a question of possibility—
Only time.
Izumi nodded calmly.
"Don't worry."
"It's only a matter of time now."
"I guarantee it."
Gabriel froze for a moment—
Then suddenly threw herself into his arms.
"Thank you…! Thank you so much!"
Tears streamed down her face.
"She's finally coming back…"
Izumi patted her shoulder lightly.
(…If that god wasn't female, I probably wouldn't have bothered.)
He kept that thought to himself.
After confirming everything was progressing smoothly, the two parted ways.
Gabriel hurried off to share the news with her sisters.
And only then—
Did Izumi finally turn his attention to someone he had completely ignored.
...
Back in his room—
Othinus lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
She couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
Couldn't even blink properly.
Hours had passed.
But to her—
It felt like years.
Loneliness.
Silence.
A suffocating stillness.
Even for a Magic God—
It was unbearable.
Just as her thoughts began spiraling into madness—
A figure appeared.
Izumi.
Her eyes instantly lit up with emotion.
But she still couldn't move.
Couldn't react.
"Ah."
Izumi snapped his fingers.
Click.
The restraints vanished.
Othinus immediately shot upright—
And exploded.
"You bastard!!"
"Do you have any idea what you did to me?!"
"I couldn't move, couldn't talk—do you know how horrible that felt?!"
"Idiot! Jerk!!"
Her voice cracked.
And then—
She started crying.
A Magic God—
Reduced to tears.
Izumi stared at her, utterly unimpressed.
"…If you keep crying, I'll throw you into a dimensional rift."
Instant silence.
Othinus froze.
Then glared at him with pure resentment.
Izumi shrugged.
A prisoner had no leverage.
"This is my world now."
"Not yours."
"You'll live here from now on."
"No wars. No chaos."
"Follow the rules."
He glanced at her.
"I'm sure the system has already explained everything to you."
Othinus snorted.
"…So that was your goal all along?"
"To merge multiple worlds into one?"
She wiped her tears, her tone bitter.
"You've got quite the ambition."
Izumi didn't deny it.
Without ambition—
What was the difference between a person and a lifeless shell?
His world was already powerful.
And it would only grow stronger.
One day—
It would stand at the very top of all dimensions.
And when that day came—
Even he didn't know how far he would go.
But one thing was certain.
He wasn't stopping.
Not now.
Not ever.
Izumi waved his hand dismissively.
"Since you understand, behave yourself."
"Follow the rules."
He smirked slightly.
"…Or I won't mind 're-educating' you until you do."
Othinus stiffened.
For the first time since becoming a Magic God—
She felt something unfamiliar.
Not anger.
Not fear.
But the unsettling realization—
That she was no longer at the top.