Everest slowly made his way to a secluded, dark alley and slouched against the wall. He was probably lost now—he just wasn't sure how lost he was.
And from what?
Lost my way?
Lost my hope?…
Lost my mind, perhaps?
He spun and kicked the wall to experience the fresh jolt from the pain. Then he banged his head one or two times.
At the moment, something else was at work.
Mama! I wanna eat ribs for breakfast… please…
Damn scum! Can't you do one job right?!!!…
Teacher! Pick me! Pick me!
I-I lost my job, darling…
Roam—Rome—road!—roan!!!
Everest dug his fingers into his now-bloody hair and clawed at his head.
Who are these people? Who are we?
No—no, who am I?
I was different, I was something, I was someone else… right?
Aha!
He frantically collected his memories. He found them—it had to be these ones.
He was a middle-aged man of the working class who was barely making ends meet, and yet, he had just gotten married on top of that. Life was far from blissful.
But… he loved his kids, and he'd go to the ends of the world for them.
He was late to work, but it was still rush hour, and the streets were crowded. He had to force his way through at times.
Suddenly, he heard the screeching of tyres…
No no no no.
This isn't it…
As the thought surfaced… his memories began rearranging themselves once more.
Yes, I remember now… it was this one.
She was in a spotless hospital room. The air was heavy, and he could faintly hear her distorted breathing from the oxygen mask, as well as the sound of a beeping machine.
But wasn't she supposed to be trying to go mad?
His memories collapsed and took shape once more—and this continued again and again.
For how long?
He didn't know.
It sure felt like an eternity, though.
[Everest June.]
The voice was faint and distant, but it seemed extremely urgent.
[Everest June.
Everest June!!
Everest June!!!]
Gasp…
Yes, yes, yes.
I am Everest June. I am in Stellar High.
The Benevolent Housemater seems to want something from me?
What does 'HE' want from me?…
Finally, his spiraling thoughts settled down like the passing of a raging tempest, and his cold, calculative thought process returned.
I… I still don't know, though.
Besides, I've got something more urgent at hand.
Soon enough, he revealed a brilliant smile, and one by one, he—
Neatened his hair, stood up gracefully, tidied his robes—then he looked up and around wistfully with the same brilliant smile.
"This won't do… isn't it common manners to not spy on your idols in their private time?
No peeping allowed."
Then his smile widened.
"I know you're still watching me, though…
And I know you're living in my head too.
But here's what you don't know."
He crossed his arms, as if studying the ceiling.
"I'm not the least disturbed because a few creeps are spying on me, though…"
That was exactly why he was disturbed.
"No. On the contrary, it's because I didn't get to give my greatest opening act.
How saddening, wouldn't you agree?"
There was that as well.
"If anything, you can spy all you want."
Then he continued inwardly, in a depth of his mind the ordinary peeper couldn't possibly gaze at.
But as for you…
We need to talk.
The star stream responded shortly after.
[That is correct.
Quite the performance out there just now.
'He' believes you've more than made up for an opening act.]
Everest didn't show his surprise, only nodding indiscernibly.
['He' wishes to make an exclusive deal with you.]
Let's hear it.
[Are you wondering why I not only allowed, but even encouraged the enrollment of a fraud such as yourself?]
The Benevolent Housemater…
He knew without a doubt. The second Great Enigma, Benevolent Housemater, was gazing at him now. The presence of a being at his level spoke for itself and could not be denied. Regardless, the voice in his head had ceased, becoming floating strings of text—most likely to protect a mere man from 'HIS' deific voice.
The Benevolent Housemater continued.
[It is because we're running out of time.]
"…"
Everest did not expect such a response coming from "HIM" and was temporarily at a loss.
[Let me tell you a secret…
I cannot save the world.]
Everest was only getting more and more puzzled. The Benevolent Housemater was widely renowned as the savior—hence his title.
He was the beacon of hope for humanity in the face of madness and corruption.
[The only one who can save the world…
Is the third and last Great Enigma,
The Deceased Doctor.]
'?' But the doctor is a fraud too…
Everest didn't let his thoughts wander far, else he risked divulging his innermost thoughts. Instead, he busied himself in acting sufficiently surprised.
[But he is missing, and we have not made any progress in searching for him to this day.
So we have given up.]
Everest suddenly found it easier to pretend he was shocked.
They gave up… they gave up?!
Who are they anyways?!
And what makes them think the Deceased Doctor can save this world?
Did they just give up on humanity as well?
Thankfully, the Benevolent Housemater soon answered his questions. The only problem was that it gave rise to a lot more questions.
[Instead, we are looking for the only one who can create a new world.
The first Great Enigma, Genesis June.
And if we cannot find even him?
Then we will just have to create him.]
"…"
Everest realized something just then.
He had been tricked.
Why would he tell me all these grand secrets?
Why do I have so many viewers that I'm on the verge of dissolving?
Why are the Benevolent Housemater and his Stellar High so interested in me?
Why?
Well, the answer is simple.
His smile grew more brilliant.
Genesis June.
A string of words appeared before his eyes at that point.
[So then, Everest June.
Here's the deal:
In exchange for all the information I gave you just now,
it is either you become Genesis June by the end of this Generation…
or you die.]
Everest couldn't help but burst into laughter. At some point, he even squeezed his stomach and rolled on the floor.
As his laughter died down and tears streamed down his face, he asked inwardly:
It depends… when do I die?
[Pardon?]
Well, ordinarily, I'd rather die than become that man… but I can't die yet.
So is it now, or on that day?
[We will see on that day.
You are welcome.]
Phew…
Everest heaved a sigh of relief, then asked perfunctorily:
And until then?
He immediately had a bad premonition.
[Well, isn't it obvious?
I will help make things easier for you.]
Oh. Oh no.
[To start with,
you are to survive your entire first year in England: Stellar High as a fraud—and nobody else should know of this.]
[…]
[That is all 'He' had to say directly—]
The voice resounded once more.
[You can summon me for my assistance at any time, Everest June.
That is all.]
Haaaa… That went better than expected.
Everest just continued lying on the floor.
It's really difficult tidying my appearance.
I'll just wait another few hours or so.
…
You guys can go now.