The Saint stuttered.
Not because she was flustered, but because she truly couldn’t understand what I was saying.
“W-What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what you heard. You humans, including yourself, are not the same species as me.”
I took a sip of the substitute coffee, roasted so dark it looked like burnt chicory.
I had added two sugar cubes, yet it was still bitter.
It didn’t taste like this the last time I drank it.
“What does the word ‘same species’ even mean to begin with? Isn’t it a group that shares common ancestors, genetic similarities, and physical traits?”
“Uh…”
“Of the conditions I just mentioned, not a single one applies to you. Not one.”
Biologically, being of the same species literally means being the same kind.
Even if appearances differ, they are fundamentally the same kind of organism.
But isn’t every creature in this world said to be created by that damn goddess?
Our ancestors are different from the start.
I came from primates, which you people don’t even have.
“But we look the same. Ishmael, you don’t look any different from people from the East.”
“Just because the outside is similar doesn’t mean the inside is the same. Saint, do you know what your cervical vertebrae look like?”
“…My cervical vertebrae? Why that all of a sudden?”
At the seemingly random question, she touched the back of her neck.
By the standards of this world, it was an extremely normal skeletal and muscular structure.
Not particularly protruding or developed, but not especially fragile either.
However, from my perspective, it was an incredibly alien structure.
And no wonder, the cervical spine is attached vertically to the spine.
“The angle of yours and mine are completely different. My skeleton is weaker and less healthy in form.”
Humans on Earth are essentially evolved from quadrupedal primates.
Even after standing upright, the traces from walking on all fours remain in our bodies.
The cervical spine is the best example.
When walking on all fours, the head was attached to the end of the spine.
To walk upright, we had to lower our heads to balance, and thus the angle developed.
It was the result of a crawling creature trying to stand.
Thanks to that, a slightly tilted neck became the standard angle.
This naturally led to issues like turtle neck, herniated discs, and stiff shoulders.
But here?
“I don’t have a solid bone neck.”
People’s heads and spines are connected in a straight line.
Their backbones and tailbones are sturdier and thicker, and the thick skeletal structure firmly supports their heads.
This structure reduces the burden on the neck and makes it hard for muscles to stiffen.
‘A form that could never arise from normal evolution.’
Was it last year?
I happened to see a skeleton specimen stripped of flesh and discovered it then.
It was very different from the human skeletal diagrams I remembered.
That’s when I realized the truth—that there wasn’t a single ‘identical’ human to me in this world.
“There are other differences too—eye structure, teeth alignment, hip durability, and so on.”
Even if they look identical on the outside, the level of biological completeness is completely different.
Humans in this world have a structure impossible to exist unless they were designed from the start.
It’s hard to believe that idiot goddess was the one who made them.
“We are fundamentally different.”
Well, there were records that the summoned hero Hitlere (…that’s what it says, but judging by my own case, it was probably Hitler) left behind many descendants in this other world, so interbreeding should be possible.
But you know what?
Even demons can do that.
Humans from Earth can reproduce with humans from this world.
Humans from this world can reproduce with demons.
So Earth humans should also be able to produce offspring with demons.
Reproduction only happens between genetically close species.
From someone like me, what difference is there between humans and demons other than the horns on their heads?
“To be honest, from my perspective, you humans and demons are all the same. Either way, you’re both different species from me.”
I don’t feel a sense of kinship with anyone.
In that case… shouldn’t I choose the side that’s at least been kind to me?
*****
“In this damn world, the woman who took care of me was a demon. The one who swore to love me and spend her life with me was also a demon. To me, demons are more familiar and dear than your kind, Saint.”
“Ishmael…”
I planted a short kiss on Kalia’s forehead as she looked up at me with sorrowful eyes.
Then I held her shoulders and pulled her into me.
Don’t worry.
I’ll always be on your side.
There’s no way I’d betray someone I’ve shared affection with this many times.
“Are you saying… you’re going to abandon humanity?”
“That’s incorrect. You should phrase it properly. We were never on the same side to begin with, so how can I betray you?”
“…That’s true, too.”
The Saint let out a hollow laugh.
It seemed she had only just realized the scale of the disaster the goddess had caused.
“If I had to choose… I’m on the side of those who helped me. I’m simply repaying the kindness of those who offered it during the hardest and most painful times.”
The organization that took me in when I was bouncing between hard labor and homelessness.
Kalia, who loved me even though I was a powerless refugee with nothing.
Mahdi, who praised my abilities and accepted me as family.
I’m just giving back what I received from all of them—with plenty of added resentment and emotion directed at that damn goddess.
The organization wanted to overthrow the oppressors, so I helped by causing global chaos.
Kalia sympathized with her people, so I devised a plan to establish a nation to protect them.
Mahdi longed for the glory of the Great Steppe, so I prepared a way to become the Great Khan and build an empire.
It’s a simple give-and-take.
“You call it repaying kindness? But because of that, countless innocent people are dying!”
“Innocent? Isn’t it a crime to worship a corrupt goddess and persecute innocent demons?”
“Th-That’s…”
“Let me ask you this.
Ever since that brief conflict in the distant past, demons have been persecuted for hundreds of years like they’re worse than dogs.
They’re not even guilty of some original sin!
Isn’t participating in that kind of atrocity also a sin?”
I’ve said this before: demons are a race more pitiful than the Jews.
They didn’t even bear the karma of killing Jesus, yet they’re still persecuted.
Discrimination, violence, and hatred are a daily norm for them.
Even if you search every scripture and history book, there’s no real crime they’ve committed—yet they’re treated as if they shouldn’t even exist.
The goddess spews nothing but contempt and fury at them whenever she opens her mouth, even encouraging their oppression.
At my criticism, the Saint bit her lip.
Then, in a hesitant voice, she meekly tried to object.
“But… that’s the doctrine encouraged by the scriptures. From the believers’ point of view, it’s only natural—”
“So if it’s allowed by scripture, does that justify a crime? Then inciting and expanding war is also innocent, since that’s the doctrine and goal of the organization I belong to.”
Religious belief is not a free pass for sin.
If humanity’s hatred of demons is righteous, then my chaos should also be righteous.
They’re not that different, after all.
If anything, from a broader perspective, I might even have more moral justification.
These humans hate for no reason, but at least I have revenge and saving my lover’s people as motives.
“If you were trying to appeal to my sympathy, give up. The ones I sympathize with aren’t humans, but demons and nomads.”
Therefore, I feel no regret for what I’ve done.
I do feel a bit of guilt toward the disciples I raised and indoctrinated for my cause.
But aside from that, I don’t care how many die or how they die—unless it happens right in front of me.
‘Maybe I’ll offer a token of regret. Say, “I’m sorry” or “Thank you.”’
It’s not because I’m particularly unusual.
This is just human nature.
Unless someone is directly connected or has shown them kindness, people might offer cheap sympathy on the surface, but deep down, they don’t really care.
Of course, there are exceptions.
That’s why religions emphasize compassion and benevolence, isn’t it?
“And I’m sure I told you the last time we met.”
“…Yes?”
“Even if I stop now, the world won’t return to normal. If there’s no interference, it’ll just collapse anyway.”
I understand what Saint Joan Ayendénara wishes for.
That’s already impossible.
The international situation is already crashing downhill like a runaway cart without brakes.
And now there’s even a time limit.
To stop it, you’d have to block the path entirely or break the wheels… but the only one who could do that is the goddess, right?
But the goddess no longer has the strength to intervene in the mortal world, does she?
In the end, the fate of the world was decided long ago.
The destruction of the old order, and the rise of a new force to replace it.
“If you understand that, then give it up. Stop obsessing over something that can’t be changed.”
As I declared resolutely, the saint lowered her head.
Then Kalia quietly drew the sword at her waist.
Not to kill—but to restrain her.
“Sorry, but don’t think about going back. We’re not kind enough to let a high-risk person walk away just because they showed up on their own.”
“…It’s fine. Really.”
Huh?
“Are you planning to abduct me? Go ahead. I won’t resist, so please be gentle.”
With an air of resignation, she calmly held out both hands.
Both Kalia and I were momentarily taken aback.
What’s with this girl all of a sudden?