"Truth, the foundation of a world's existence. Mm, that's how I designed it. It's the core power of a world. Only a world that possesses Truth can exist eternally."
"And Dream Truth..."
Being asked like this by the perfect boyfriend from her fantasies, Utaha Kasumigaoka shyly pinched the hem of her clothes, the heels of her little leather shoes tapping against the ground to cover her embarrassed heart.
She had fantasized about doing lewd things with Lord Heavenly Principle more times than she could count.
And now, that very person was standing right before her.
According to the lore, everything about her held no secrets in his eyes.
In other words, her thoughts, heart, memories, body... she was completely naked before him.
Of course, that's only if he had that thought!
Aaaah, so embarrassing, so embarrassing…
Though she was usually sharp-tongued and known for saying shocking things, when faced with a situation where nothing could be hidden—and in front of the one she'd fantasized about, no, the Creator—it was a disaster!
So she tried her best not to think in that direction.
Quickly, she began explaining the settings of the world she created.
"All of my settings are already on Twitter. You all must have seen them, right?"
Ryou Yatouji nodded. "Indeed. As a writer like Miss Kasumi Utako, I've read your works. I've even referenced your settings."
"Your worldbuilding is incredibly vast and complex, yet organized—it's unbelievable."
Cold sweat formed on Takashi Matsubara's forehead. "Hiss... So you're saying the real world also conforms to Miss Kasumi Utako's settings? That's... that's just too unbelievable!"
"Dream Truth! This isn't just a setting—it's reality!"
Meteora fell into thought. "Because of the existence of Dream Truth, works created by people in the real world, once acknowledged by the masses, stir the Truth and thus form real worlds."
"I see. So this is the truth? It's not the Creator who made all this, but Dream Truth. It's simply that the real world can influence the worlds of the works."
Marine held her head in confusion. "Uuuu, I can't tell what's real or imaginary anymore."
"Since the works are turned into real worlds by Truth, then the tragic plots depicted in works from the real world—aren't those essentially acts of murder?"
The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy.
Noah smiled. "You still haven't grasped it."
"Don't think about the growth of a world through human logic."
"A high-quality Dream Truth fell into this world and catalyzed its evolution from an ordinary world."
"People's dreams and hopes stirred the Truth, and the Truth manifested those dreams and hopes—those works—into reality."
"When a work ends in a happy ending, its world becomes a real, independent world, no longer controlled by the real world, and can even interact with it."
"This is a means by which worlds evolve."
"And the authors, novelists, manga artists—they just happened to be the fuse for that evolution."
Everyone finally understood. Just as they were about to ask more, Noah continued speaking, and they held their tongues.
"Now then, where do you think inspiration comes from? Where do those world-creating ideas originate?"
Shunma Suruga pondered. "Hmm... I don't know. Creative inspiration just... comes to you."
Takashi Matsubara nodded. "Yeah, it just shows up suddenly. Could it also be related to Truth?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka raised her hand gently, her deep red eyes glinting, as if she had realized something, yet not fully grasped it.
"It's... information from another world, right."
"We merely received information from another world and mistook it for inspiration."
Gai Takarada swallowed hard. "Another world? Why are we talking about other worlds again?"
Noah half-squinted his golden eyes. "I've already spelled it out this clearly, and you still don't get it? How disappointing."
Suddenly, Meteora's eyes widened. "I—I understand now. So that's what it is. This is the truth of the world!"
"What?" Everyone turned to Meteora.
The magic book in Meteora's hands opened, and a magic circle appeared beneath her feet. The book projected an image above it.
"Based on Lord Noah's explanation, I've reconstructed the chain of events."
"The real world—our current world—was originally just an ordinary world."
"Then one day, a Dream Truth from beyond the world fell into it."
"The power of Dream Truth caused the real world to evolve."
"As a result, countless fictional worlds based on our imaginative works were manifested."
"The creators' inspiration, like Truth itself, originates from beyond the world—those already-existing worlds."
"The creators received that information and mistook it for inspiration. The works they created were then realized by Truth."
Selesia was instantly in disbelief. "So, you're saying our worlds—the worlds from our works—are merely replicas of already existing worlds?"
"This..."
Takashi Matsubara, Marine, and the others were shaken on the spot. So this was the origin of inspiration? It turned out to be information from another world!
Clap clap clap!
Noah applauded with a smile. "Correct. That is the truth."
"However, the worlds of works are not mere copies. A single novel or anime provides far too little information to create a world. The data required for a world is beyond what human effort can describe."
"These fictional worlds become real worlds."
"However, acknowledgment from people in the real world does indeed affect the worlds of the works."
Selesia was drenched in sweat, visibly shaken. She wiped her forehead.
Meteora continued to ask, "Then... what exactly is Altair? Why is she so unusual—able to travel between the real world and the fictional worlds like Lord Noah himself?"
Noah said, "Altair? She was born by accident—a spirit tainted with the aura of Truth."
"The world is strange. Miracles happen. Dream Truth falling into this world was a miracle. Altair's birth was another miracle."
"Her goal is simple—revenge for her creator. To destroy the world."
"She brings characters from numerous fictional worlds into the real world, disrupting the order that maintains balance. Once that order collapses, who knows what will happen? Will the real world fall in dimensional rank into the Dream Ocean, or will certain fictional worlds become real and trigger dimensional conflicts? That remains unknown."
Everyone was stunned.
"Destroy the world?"
Originally, they had all been speculating—what exactly was Altair trying to do?
When they first encountered Altair, she spoke of taking them to the gods' world, of changing the tragic fates of their own worlds through the gods, and of bringing about a transformation to the divine realm.
Of course, none of them believed her at first. It was too unbelievable, and no matter how you looked at her, she clearly didn't come with good intentions.
So, they immediately fought with Altair.
Altair's strength clearly overwhelmed them, but instead of killing them outright, she toyed with them like a cat playing with mice.
Eventually, during the battle, they were brought into the real world.
That was the experience most of them shared.
Others had been pulled into the real world because their own world's order had been destabilized by conflict.
Selesia snapped back to her senses, gritting her teeth. "I knew that kind of person was up to no good—nothing but lies from the start."
Shunma Suruga frowned. "That reason... destroying the world just because her creator died? Dragging the entire world down for revenge—it's just like some cliché villain's motive. Absolutely ridiculous."
Everyone agreed. Destroying the world for that reason was utterly absurd.
Gai Takarada's mouth twitched. "I hang out on forums a lot, so I know Altair is a really popular character in fan works. But who was her original creator? Why create Altair in the first place? I just don't get it."
Noah smiled. "Altair's creator was driven to suicide by online harassment. So Altair seeks revenge against those who bullied her creator. But since she doesn't know who the harassers were, she chose to destroy the entire world."
"It's really that simple."
"Alright, I've explained everything you wanted to know. From here on, I won't be answering any more related questions."
Meteora bowed toward Noah. "Thank you very much for revealing the truth to us, Lord Noah."
Noah waved a hand dismissively.
Everyone exchanged glances—then launched into discussion.
"The truth really is shocking."
"More than the truth, Altair's goal is what's shocking."
"Now that we know the truth, let's talk real strategy~"
"At present, we've identified most of the people Altair brought into the real world. Only a few recent magnetic field fluctuations remain unidentified."
"If we reveal Altair's real intentions to those she brought here, they'll surely turn against her."
"Exactly. Alicetaria, Mamika—they would never aid a villain."
Shunma Suruga sighed. "Sigh... but Blitz Talker is another story."
"His goal might be to kill me, the god who created him."
"After all, I poured my heart and soul into writing his character—I know him too well."
"I wrote a story where his daughter dies. Heh..."
Utaha Kasumigaoka looked toward the always-smiling Noah, and also at the Infinity Dragon God Ophis and the Red Dragon God Emperor Dream, both of whom acted like the rest of them didn't exist.
"I think we're all stuck in a kind of habitual thinking."
"Lord Heavenly Principle, Ophis, Dream—they're omnipotent, you know."
"If we just revive Altair's creator, wouldn't that completely resolve the crisis?"
Eriri's eyes sparkled with stars as she looked at Noah—but quickly glanced away shyly after a few seconds, afraid of annoying him.
"Yeah! Lord Heavenly Principle can do anything! He's the true God!"
"No, even God is just a subordinate of Lord Heavenly Principle."
Everyone turned once again to look at Noah.
Meteora hurriedly asked, "Lord Noah, is that something you can do?"
It really was the simplest solution.
However, in the real world, many powers simply didn't work.
Resurrection magic had no effect on people in the real world. Even though she was a sage in her own work's setting and knew resurrection spells, they failed here.
Because it was tied to acknowledgment power—people in the real world didn't believe someone from their world could be resurrected, so resurrection spells failed.
"I can do it."
Noah said plainly.
No one was shocked. Compared to forcibly paving roads through countless worlds, resurrection didn't seem all that surprising anymore.
Aki Kikuchihara adjusted her glasses—she was already used to it.
In the past ten-odd days, her worldview had collapsed and been rebuilt several times over.
"Since Mr. Noah can bring back the dead, our plan becomes very simple."
"We just need to find Altair."
In an instant, everyone relaxed.
Humans are like that—not afraid of difficulties, only afraid of not having the means to overcome them.
What was once an inferno-level challenge had now become baby mode.
"Next, the state will fully monitor magnetic field fluctuations and notify everyone accordingly."
"That would be helpful. I'm going to grab some coffee and perk up. How about you?"
"Oh, me? Gonna grab something to eat. Haven't eaten all day—it's been tense."
"We should all split up. That way, we'll have a better chance of encountering people from the fictional worlds."
"Great. I'll head out first."
"Um, could I consult with Master Eri Kashiwagi about composition techniques?"
"Oh, that? Another time. Right now, I'm going out with Kasumi Utako-sensei and Lord Heavenly Principle..."
"I see, thank you."
One by one, people in the VIP room began to leave.
Ophis and Dream opened their eyes and followed behind Noah.
Utaha Kasumigaoka nervously twisted the hem of her clothes. "Lord Heavenly Principle, shall we go shopping next?"
Eriri nodded like crazy, eyes turning into heart shapes. "Yes, yes! Let's go shopping together, Lord Heavenly Principle!"
There was no trace of first-meeting awkwardness between them.
When creating their works, they had simulated countless interactions and scenes between them—and had taken those seriously.
Noah smiled. "Sure. The second act of the stage play is about to begin."
Leaving the city hall—
Utaha Kasumigaoka and Eriri walked on either side of Noah, less than five centimeters away. If he reached out, he could hold both of them.
Utaha softly, yet firmly, said, "Lord Heavenly Principle, you're not from a fictional world, are you? You're from another world—the true Creator of the Teyvat Universe…"
"You're here to annex our world, aren't you?"
During their earlier discussion, she noticed something no one else did.
The moment the possibility was raised that inspiration was information from another world, she suspected:
Did she receive information from Teyvat, mistake it as inspiration, and create based on it—only to be noticed by the Heavenly Principle from that other world?
After all, Lord Heavenly Principle was omniscient and omnipotent.
Noah's golden eyes looked at the cautious Utaha Kasumigaoka, the corners of his lips curling up.
"Ah, I originally wanted to observe the various emotions a creator has toward their creation. But you figured it out so quickly."
Clap! "Not a shred of fun left. What a shame."
Utaha rolled her eyes. "You really are a god of mischief. I do know you're the God of Fun."
"By the way... do I have a chance to obtain a Vision, Lord Heavenly Principle?"
"I do have a wish—to fight for all that is beautiful."
In her dark red eyes burned deep anticipation, and her heart pounded.
This was the real Lord Heavenly Principle. As an ordinary person, could she too obtain real power—maybe even become a god?
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