"I refuse."
As soon as Origami Tobiichi presented the terms of her proposed deal, Riku expression darkened.
It was as if she had touched his reverse scale—the forbidden rage within him. Even the look in his eyes turned fierce.
Origami hadn't expected this reaction.
In her impression, Riku was the kind of leader who placed the interests of the tribe above all else—a chief who would do anything necessary for the tribe's survival.
Decisive, capable, cold but not heartless.
Given the terms she had offered, there was no reason for him to refuse.
"Is it because I haven't shown enough strength?"
After thinking for a moment, Origami could only think of one possibility:
"If you have doubts, I can demonstrate that I have the strength to fulfill the conditions I promised."
"This world is a rotten mess precisely because of beings like you and the selfish desires of your gods," Riku said through clenched fists, his tone filled with hatred. "Do you have any idea how many disgraceful things I've had to do just to keep this tribe alive up until now? If I had the power, I would erase every god-made race and every Exceed from existence. How could I possibly become your accomplice and help you awaken another god who would only make the world worse?!"
"So, that's the reason."
Origami nodded slowly.
Hatred.
That was the true reason behind Riku refusal of her offer.
He was powerful and clever. In the short span of just five years since becoming chief, he had used brilliant strategies to improve the tribe's living conditions beyond anything seen in previous eras. The population had even surpassed the 2,000 mark.
But that progress came at a steep cost.
He had used his own people as human shields, sent them on missions destined to end in death, and had personally pushed loyal subordinates into the abyss...
Trading the lives of the few for the survival of the many—that's what he had done all along.
Even though no one in the tribe ever opposed his rule, and everyone knew it was the best course of action, the guilt never faded.
And the reason he was forced to sacrifice his own people time and again—was this endless war of the gods.
So he genuinely despised the gods, and every being that turned the world into such a state.
And now that he had Schwi—both a walking think tank and an arsenal capable of protecting his tribe—there was even less reason for him to work with Origami.
"In that case, allow me to change the terms."
Despite Riku firm rejection, Origami remained calm and composed. She changed her tone and said, "I can help you get revenge."
"Revenge?"
That word stirred something in Riku.
Realizing his emotions were flaring, he took several deep breaths to calm himself down, knowing it would cloud his judgment otherwise.
"You said it yourself—because of the greed and ambition of the Exceed and the god-made races, the world has become this way. You hate them, don't you?"
Origami stared straight into Riku eyes and enunciated clearly, "I do too."
Riku was stunned—he had never expected such words to come from a high-ranking race like her.
"Do you know which race suffered the most devastating consequences in this war?"
Although she posed a question, Origami didn't give him a chance to answer. She answered it herself, "The Spirit."
Riku furrowed his brows and was about to object.
But after a moment of reflection, he realized—she wasn't wrong.
If one were to truly regard the Elf as a race, then they—used as magical materials—were indeed the biggest victims of this war.
Every time a race launched an attack...
Every piece of magical equipment forged...
Every new spell developed...
It all came at the cost of countless Spirit lives.
The countless lingering spirits floating in the air symbolized the enormous price the Elves had paid in this Great War.
Compared to them, the suffering of humanity was almost trivial.
Suddenly, Riku recalled how Origami had introduced herself:
The incarnation of the collective will of the Spirit.
If that wasn't a lie, then what she had just said carried a lot more weight.
"You... you Spirit want revenge against the gods?"
Riku stared into her eyes, as if trying to see through to her true intentions.
"Yes. It's time this war came to an end."
Origami tone and expression were as calm as ever. No matter what subject she spoke about, she never wavered:
"The Spirit God will wipe out all enemies who stand in our way and make every being who resists—whether man or god—pay the price."
Riku wasn't sure if it was an illusion—
But he felt that within those serene, ocean-like blue eyes of hers, something was stirring.
Like a hidden undertow... a devouring vortex, holding the power to pull everything around it into the depths.
Riku could feel himself getting pulled into a scheme that could alter the course of the world. His voice went hoarse as he asked:
"Even if awakening your god wouldn't end the Great War, but instead make the world even more shattered... even if more Spirit would die, and even if you became what you despise the most... you'd still go through with it?"
"If only a demon can defeat another demon, then I have no problem becoming one myself."
Origami voice remained calm, but anyone could hear the unshakable resolve behind those words.
"Riku, as a chief who managed to grow this fragile human tribe into what it is now, I believe you have enough determination and willpower to make sacrifices."
Origami extended her hand toward him.
"Now, you have before you a chance to end this Great War once and for all—to bring peace back to the world. Are you still prepared to reject it?"
Staring at the pale hand before him, Riku pupils contracted, and his breathing quickened.
He's not the type of person who's afraid to take risks.
If he were to bind humanity to the chariot of the Spirit, they might rise as a sudden force, able to intervene in the war of the gods—and even end it.
But the odds were equally high that they'd be crushed along with that chariot by the divine forces.
This was a decision that would gamble the fate of the entire race.
Even someone as decisive as Riku hesitated at a choice of this magnitude.
Seeing that he remained silent, Origami withdrew her hand and didn't try to pressure him.
"I understand how serious this is, and that you can't make a decision right away. So, I will give you more time," Origami said calmly. "Until then, I will remain in your tribe under the identity of a human wanderer."
"Thank you."
With the weight on his shoulders temporarily lifted, Riku expression finally relaxed a little. "I'll try to give you an answer soon."
Having said that, as if completely exhausted, he excused himself and prepared to leave with Schwi.
But just as he was about to walk out the door, he suddenly remembered his original purpose for this visit. Turning back, he said:
"By the way—Schwi being a member of the Ex-Machina is something I haven't told anyone. Her current identity is also that of a human wanderer. Could you treat her as if she came from the same tribe as you?"
"No problem."
Origami nodded.
"If anyone asks, that's what I'll say."