When the plot-skips players into the game world

——"Open [The Gate to the Past]."

It's not just simply "returning to the past," but having complete control over the power to return to the past.

Although Aiwass had long known that Professor Moriarty must have had ambitions... those ambitions were surely too vast.

If someone could endlessly return to the past, then it would mean that "the present" meant nothing to them. It's as if people in "the present" were enjoying "the future."

The future has not yet arrived. And the present can be redone.

That also means destroying everything in the current world.

People's dreams, ideologies, responsibilities, people's meetings, knowledge, love, the human experiences of birth, aging, sickness, and death, along with all earthly strife, would all turn to naught... because everyone would enter "another future," and it's even possible that people might disappear before they were born.

——What a dangerously powerful ability!

Therefore...

"Let me tell you a story."

Aiwass did not respond but suddenly began to speak.

"Oh?"

The Sapphire Bird did not demand an answer anxiously but emitted a sound of curiosity with keen interest.

So Aiwass continued, "There's this kind of game: at the start of the game, players receive their initial resources. The type each person gets is random, and the strength and value may fluctuate wildly, perhaps by tenfold or even dozens of times."

"That's quite fair."

Professor Moriarty remarked with approval, "Everyone is born unequal in this world. Origin, talent, family, personality... these things determined by luck to a large extent shape a person's life. The game somewhat reflects this situation, which is quite realistic. I think the game's only problem is, a few dozen times the difference is perhaps still too conservative."

"Yes, the initial resources of all players largely determine their subsequent gaming experience. And this game isn't just a one-time entry... If the game hasn't started yet, then everyone has plenty of opportunities."

Aiwass said calmly, "Therefore, there will be those who repeatedly restart the game, seeking a 'better start.' I call this 're-rolling for a better initial set-up.'

By this point, Professor Moriarty had realized what Aiwass wanted to express.

Therefore the Jewel Thrush just smiled humanly and did not interject.

And Aiwass continued, "But resources are not just of one kind. Therefore, in the process of constantly restarting to re-roll for a better initial set-up, there will always be various combinations. Just as you said... origin, talent, family, personality. Maybe one is good while the others are poor. It's also possible that several are good, but none outstanding. However, no matter what, the more difficult it is to acquire resources after the game has started, the more significant it is to re-roll for a good start — it might even surpass countless efforts made later in the game.

"What truly limits people from re-rolling, in reality, is actually only one factor. That is 'time.' Maybe they grow tired, maybe they can't keep up with the pace, or maybe they feel it's meaningless... because as the countless restarts occur, time in the real world continuously slips away.

"Although it seems they haven't used any resources to obtain a better start, they are in fact consuming a very precious and non-renewable resource—"

"...Time, right?"

The Jewel Bird interrupted Aiwass's speech.

He already knew what Aiwass wanted to say.

"Exactly," Aiwass nodded, "which is why I refuse—Do you say that's not good? I can assert that it's not good at all. Instead, it is like a sweet mousetrap.

"I don't believe returning to the past has any meaning... It would render everything in the present meaningless."

"Let's assume that no matter how the world is changed, there's always a 'better way.' Then, without 'time' as a constraint, the number of times one can restart is infinite... and humans are insatiably greedy."

Speaking to this, Aiwass's mouth curved into a slight smile, "You, even more so."

Bird·James fluttered his wings, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

And Aiwass continued, "And if there exists a 'best possibility'—leaving aside for a moment who is to judge this 'best,' or who has the authority to do so—then it ultimately means that there is a final solution to the problems of the world. In other words, according to this line of thought... the most ideal destiny is already fixed, and going back to the past would at most unearth it.

"So if you truly obtained the power to return to the past, after countless restarts and guiding history to that specified moment... wouldn't this also be a kind of destiny?"

Hearing what Aiwass said, Professor Moriarty's birdlike face finally showed some emotion.

"...To think of this so soon."

Professor Moriarty exclaimed, "It's no wonder it's you. Is this the wisdom of the Reincarnation Celestial Marshal? Even if you know nothing, even if you remember nothing, you're still so wise."

The Jewel Bird looked towards Aiwass, yet it seemed to gaze at another person reflected behind him.

And Aiwass's expression darkened slightly, "This is... from my own thinking.

"I have no reason that I must return to the past. Because I treasure everything I've encountered up to now.

"Every person I've met, every friend I've made, every gain I've achieved—they are all my precious treasures. Even if I could go back to the past, and meet them all over again. Even if this timeline would completely reset, then I would lose the experiences of my youthful self meeting them, getting to know them, overcoming difficulties together, and growing up with them.

"Even if I imitate myself from that time, and meet and get to know them again... the final experience would never be the same. As you previously said, 'Knowledge is poisonous.' Once certain things are known, you can no longer think from the perspective of not knowing that knowledge."

"To go back to the past... means destroying your present."

Professor Moriarty suddenly spoke, "If I'm not misunderstanding, is that what you mean?"

Aiwass went on, "Exactly. Not to mention, each restart by the Reincarnation Celestial Marshal is approved by the Nine Pillar Gods. It was only after the 'Cicada Slough' incident that history became fragmented. Before that, there was only one history in this world.

"Even if what you want to change is only the history we exist in, that means going against the Nine Pillar Gods."

"I know."

The Jewel Bird nodded, "I've known from the start."

—You knew?

Aiwass was taken aback.

You knew and still asked me this?

Or are you saying... your original goal was to oppose the Nine Pillar Gods?

He had originally thought that Professor Moriarty overestimated the rewind power of the Reincarnation Celestial Marshal.

But now Aiwass realized that his adoptive father seemed to have already attained an adequate understanding of it... perhaps even a deeper one than Aiwass's.

"Aiwass, let Dad teach you one more lesson,"

the bird uttered in a low, magnetic, aged voice: "Perhaps you know too much about the future, which makes you overcautious in your actions. Because you always consider the irrational aspects, this is like a scholar whose knowledge is too vast attempting to write a novel... The things you know become shackles to your thoughts and logic.

"So what if the Nine Pillar Gods oppose us? Opposition also means they care, and care brings influence, and with enough influence comes power. When we ascend to the Dream Realm, we can become Celestial Marshals... even Pillar Gods.

"You still haven't grasped the significance of [The Gate to the Past].

"Its meaning isn't to change the past... but to change the future."