Reincarnated as the Final Villain's Vessel

”To Preserve Humanity. ”

Listening to the Pillar of Blood’s words, I froze in place, my eyes widening before I even realized it... I couldn’t believe those words had come from one of the Pillars.

Not after everything I had experienced and seen in my life.

The smile on her beautiful face, however, took on a hint of amusement. ”It seems my answer surprised you. Now you’ve made me curious. What were you expecting to hear?”

I remained silent for a moment. ”I don’t know... but you’re a secret organization, aren’t you?”

Medirin covered her mouth as she let out a short laugh before sighing. ”Haa... yes, of course we are.”

With that, she walked through the door that opened before her. ”Come.”

I could only follow her into the clean white corridors... the place looked more like a hospital than an underground facility, and it wasn’t like the one I remembered either. This one felt more alive and comfortable.

Even so, I didn’t let my guard down for a single moment, though there wasn’t really anything I could do... or was there?

The sound of Medirin’s heels echoed through the walls as I asked, ”You said you want to preserve humanity. From what, and how?”

She glanced at me over her shoulder and waved her hand. ”Come on, walk beside me... or do you see something interesting back there?”

I almost sighed, but I did as she said, while she continued in a gentle voice... one that was anything but comforting to me.

”By guiding humanity onto the right path at the right time... even if that means using the wrong methods.”

So you know what you’re doing is wrong.

”What do you mean?... What threatens humanity?” I asked.

Medirin simply kept looking ahead. ”You’ll know one day if you live long enough, but the threat isn’t what’s coming... it’s ourselves.”

The corridor widened before us, and for the first time, I saw people in the distance, but I continued asking, ”And how are we the threat?”

”Humans are arrogant creatures. No matter the disaster, we refuse to submit and accept defeat. Only when despair consumes us do we think about surrendering and following a new path... and our history has never failed to prove that.”

The white corridor ended at a platform overlooking a vast open space. Only a few doors and people were visible on the opposite side.

But I couldn’t help focusing on the conversation. ”But what’s wrong with fighting? If we don’t fight to protect our beliefs and achieve our desires, then what’s the point of living?”

Medirin smiled. ”You sound wiser than the reports say, but yes, you’re right... normally, that’s how things are, whether in the wars we’ve fought against each other or against the creatures of this world.”

”But among all of them, there was one thing they all had in common... do you know what it is, Caius?”

We reached the platform overlooking the open space, which turned out to be a massive hollow in the center of this base, connecting dozens of floors stretching downward, where I could see people moving everywhere.

Some carried crates from one place to another, others stood in groups chatting, and some wore white coats like scientists... they looked like a group of ordinary humans... normal people.

They were laughing and smiling... yes, maybe they’d always been like this. I just had never seen it.

”The possibility of victory.” My voice came out louder than I intended, while Medirin stopped in front of a panel at the edge and pressed it.

”Yes... always. Even in our darkest moments of despair, there was always a small chance of victory. But there’s something else you’re overlooking.”

I raised an eyebrow as Medirin continued.

”The ability to surrender.”

”In every war we fought against each other, we always had the option to surrender. Even if it meant becoming slaves and losing all worth, we would still survive in the end.”

A mechanical sound echoed from the open space below.

”Even here, when we arrived in this world, we could have abandoned the idea of cleansing this entire land and occupied only a small corner of the continent, sparing countless lives... but of course, we didn’t stop, and we never will.”

Yes, she was right... but she was wrong too.

”But if we hadn’t, then we wouldn’t have...” I couldn’t even finish my sentence before she turned her head toward me with that same gentle look in her eyes.

”...we wouldn’t have built what we have today. Yes, you’re right, but I’m not saying we were wrong. No, we never were.”

She placed a hand on her waist as she stared into the vast space before us. ”Others may act like fanatical worshippers, but I’m not one of them.”

Nonsense.

A platform rose from below, and Medirin stepped onto it. I did the same, and the next moment, it began descending.

At the same time, she continued,

”What if we never had the ability to retreat in the first place... either we submit from the very beginning, or we don’t. If fighting and resisting mean certain annihilation and losing the chance to surrender, then what’s the point?”

I felt the faint vibration beneath my feet as we descended. As much as I wanted to disagree and reject her words, I ultimately remained silent.

I remembered what I had learned in Ancient Earth, wondering whether they knew about it or not.

But the most likely possibility was that they had known for a long time.

I watched the floors pass by one after another, along with the people moving across them. No matter how much I looked, this place wasn’t what I had imagined... or rather, it wasn’t like the one I knew.

There were no gloomy gray walls, no reinforced doors everywhere, no smell of blood and medicine lingering in the air.

No... the air was fresh... yes, fresh.

The platform finally came to a stop, and Medirin looked at me with the same smile. ”Why are you so quiet now? Are you surprised?”

I shook my head as I followed her. ”Where am I being taken now?”

”Just a tour of the place so you can get to know it.” She stepped off the platform, and I did the same.

Get to know it... as if I’d already agreed to everything.

At that moment, a group of people came out of a nearby door, their conversations and laughter filling the area.

But it all stopped as they looked at me in confusion. Then their gazes shifted to Medirin, and they froze in place before giving the deepest bow they could.

”We greet the Great Pillar.”

Their voices echoed as one.

But Medirin paid them no attention. ”Let’s continue our tour.”

We continued walking through the corridors, passing the group while I heard their relieved breaths behind us.

We passed by glass doors, and I saw what lay beyond them. Restrained monsters were being injected with strange fluids, while others had begun throwing themselves wildly against their cages, though not a single sound escaped into the quiet corridor... but my voice broke that silence.

”So you want me to become part of this... grand plan to preserve humanity from the unknown threat.” Only afterward did I realize there had been a hint of sarcasm in my voice.

But Medirin didn’t get angry or anything. She simply nodded.

”Yes... I know it doesn’t make sense to you, but you’ll understand with time.”

No, believe me, I understand perfectly now.

”With your talent, and with the support I’ll give you, you’ll grow quickly... you want to become stronger, don’t you?”

I shrugged as certain memories returned to me. ”Who doesn’t?... But there’s one problem.”

She turned her head toward me, a curious smile decorating her face.

”What is it?”

The next moment, I looked at Medirin while listening to the beating of my own heart.

”Who said I agreed?”