"When the premise is changed, the essence is changed.

　Surely a change in a single premise can change the nature of what is already there, just as God said it would.
　A single piece of information to explain all of our baffling actions. A single truth is the key to discovering a cleverly concealed purpose.

　Why did she show up there?　The reason for this was the "promise" we made a long time ago - a promise.







　In the royal capital of the Kingdom of Symphonia, a small general store located off the main street. At that counter, the owner, Alice, was quietly tending to her knife.
　Usually, an alter ego in a cat costume is the shop keeper and the main body is attached to Kaito's guard, but today, unusually, Alice was here with the main body, leaving Kaito's guard to several alter egos and subordinates.
　And a little while later, pure white feathers descended on the store illuminated by the lights of magic tools, and with a dazzling glow, the god of another world descended.

What do you mean by calling me out, etc.?
'Oh no! You're right on time. We've been expecting you, Eden.

　After telling Eden, who can be described as expressionless, with a bright smile, Alice waves her hand lightly. Then the door of the store is locked and the tag in front of the door is turned over.
　Eden didn't react to the action, she just told him in a matter-of-fact tone.

'What can I do for you, sir?　I don't have enough time to devote to anything but my own children...
No, well, you know. I just need a little help.
....
''You see, when there was the incident with Shalovanal-sama before, I also realized that I was a little short of power. If I was one more level of ability, there were other moves I could have taken.

　Hearing Alice's words, which she told with a smile, Eden made a doubtful expression. As if to say that she didn't understand the meaning of telling it to herself.......
　As if that reaction was as expected, Alice's grin deepened as she cut to the chase with a grin.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what to do with your body and magic. The ultimate battle form itself can be activated with the interpretation that it will lead to protecting Kite in a broad sense, but unless I'm dealing with a higher-ranked opponent, it won't grow properly. That's why I wanted a training partner.
....
It would have been best if I could have asked Kuro-san to help me out, but I don't feel like interrupting him because he's trying out various things. Well, that's when it hit me!　Just ask Eden-san to be your training partner.
Nonsense, indeed, very nonsensical. There is no reason for me to listen to such a wish. I've wasted my time.

　


....

　Although it was a deliberate exaggeration, Eden turned back to Alice with some kind of troubled expression on her face.
　Then Alice gave a quick bright smile and continued to speak.

'No, of course I know that thing was done for me... well, it's not that I don't think there was another way or something...'
...No, no, that's not...
Yes, I know. When it comes to quick fixes, that was the best place to be. So I'm grateful, but I don't have anything to be angry about.
....

　

''........Well, I'm angry about the fact that you hid your identity for 'more than half a year before I found out' and 'more than two full years' before you actually said it, though.
Phew!

　The unexpected word caused Eden to back away significantly. Then she began to sweat profusely on her pale face.

'It's really a thin-skinned thing, isn't it!　Oh, where is our friendship that we used to talk to each other while looking up at the stars?
Ggh. Yeah, yeah, that's........
'You could have told me earlier, it's a terrible story!
Oh, no, no, it's... It's a long story...

　Probably if Kaito or Chromium Eina saw Eden's current appearance, they would be astonished. Normally, she should be able to even be called godlike and unmanned, but she's swimming her gaze around with an impatient look.
　However, for Alice, it's the reaction she was aiming for, but.......yes, Eden is no longer a troublesome opponent for Alice.
　Alice covers both eyes with a movement that is even more exaggeratedly blatant and folds up in a squeal-like outfit.

'Oh, I thought I was your best friend, hey!　That's sad!　It's so hard!
I did.
"Oh?
All right!　I can help!　You just have to do it!

　Looking at Eden, who tells her in a bare tone of voice in a burned-out way, Alice grins and smiles nastily. Then, she changed from her sad performance earlier and put on a big smile.

''No~ I'm grateful that you willingly accepted me. After all, the thing to have is a best friend!　So let's get started, but please prepare the 'space that won't break even if you get seriously out of control'. Oh, and I don't want to be away from Kite's guard for long, so ''When you're done, please return about one second after you leave. Oh, and I'm also hungry when I move, so please prepare 'good food' as well.
....
''Oops, I almost forgot. In fact, after the battle in the God Realm, after the increase in power, it looks like the knife won't be able to withstand the original strength of the knife, no matter how much magic power you use to protect it. Since there is no stronger material in this world.......please also give me 'easy to process and strong material'. Oh, we can do the processing over here, so it'll be fine.
''Well that's it. As soon as you found out who I am, this brazenness...................hasn't changed at all.

　Eden gave Alice, who told her requests one after another with a smile, a zit-eyed tsk-tsk. But there was no spike in her voice, and it was a gentle voice, as if to say "it can't be helped.

.........Haha, okay. I'm sure you're going to ask me a lot of questions anyway.......I'll get ready, so you'll have to take me to 'Paradise (Eden)'. I'll give you permission to disclose up to Information Level IV, so if there's something you want to ask me, you can ask me all sorts of questions.

　After he let out a sigh and told her that, a change appeared in Eden. The color of her eyes, which were very colorful, changed to 'gray' and she bowed her head at a beautiful angle to Alice.
　And immediately afterwards, something like a white door appears beside Eden.

''Then, Alice-sama, please come this way. I will guide you to the 《Mother Brain Machina》.

　Hearing a voice that sounded like a mechanical voice, Alice put her hand to her chin and asked with a serious expression on her face.

''.........I see. In other words, you're not a 'machina'?
I affirm. The "Total Management Observation Program" created by Machina-sama, code name is Eden. I'm speaking with Alice-sama now because she is an individual in charge of a planet called Earth, to which I was granted temporary access for guidance.
'Well, I've got a lot of questions, but I guess that's better on the move.
"Very well. Now, let me show you around.
.........whatever, but it's really uncomfortable for me to be treated with such a low profile, isn't it?









　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to see your own body clearly, although the landscape is supposed to be black, it's not dark.

I'm sure you can get there in an instant, but the fact that you're moving through this kind of space all the way through means.... ?
'Yes. That's right, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
'Hmm, so let's ask this first, shall we? To what extent does that answer your question?
There is a maximum information level of V. I think I can answer most of the questions at level IV. I think I can answer most of the questions at Level IV. This is the first time Machina-sama has given permission to disclose information up to this level.''
I see...

　After recognizing from Paradise (Eden)'s words that she could almost answer all but the most important secrets, Alice thought for a few seconds and then posed a question.

''Well then, first of all, let me ask you the first question. You said earlier that you are 'the individual in charge of the planet Earth', right?　Does that mean there are other beings out there that have the same role?
Yes. In regards to the observation program Paradise, there is a 470 billion and one. My individual number is 76812. Basically, there's no difference in appearance or ability, just a difference in responsibilities. As for their combat prowess, they are of the near-omnipotent class. If I were your acquaintance, I would consider them to be of the same rank as or slightly inferior to Chrome-Eina-sama.
By the way, what's that half-assed one?
''Yes. This body is the one I'm currently showing you, Alice. This body is a little different from the other paradises (Eden) because it was specially adjusted and remade for the sake of Kaito Miyama, whom Machina-sama calls her beloved child. However, there is no difference in the ability itself, and the internal structure of the body is more human-like.
''........That's an extraordinary story. After all, to Makina, Eden-san is........
Yes, sir. An endangered soldier who can be replaced at any price.

　Eden, which has the power to be called the god of world creation without a doubt and has an almost omnipotent ability, is only a convenient pawn that can be made as much as possible for Machina, the main body.
　While recognizing that Machina is an even more tremendous god than she imagined, Alice continues to ask questions.

''Then the next question.
'Yes. There is no doubt about it. There are two other programs that the Makina-sama created directly in addition to Eden. Let me introduce them in order, please look at your right hand.

　When Alice turned to her right according to the words of Paradise (Eden), the space quite far away from where the two of them were walking distorted and a huge iron star appeared.

''I saw that thing before in the divine realm... hmm?　But it's not the same as it was then, there's no core.
''Yes. When Lady Alice encountered it in Trineia before, it had a Mother Brain Machina inside.''
''........In other words, that's it. The reason Eden-san called it 'my main body' at that time was because there was a Machina inside, and that machine's star itself is not the main body or anything else.
'Yes, sir. Yes, that's right. That planet is the "Anti-Enemy Eradication Program", and its code name is called Naraku (Tartarus). Among the three types of programs, Machina-sama has given her the greatest power, and her power is the Almighty Grade. In most worlds, the entire world's creator can be eradicated by a single Tartaros.
That's a hell of a thing. And how many of them are there?
Yes, there are 98 trillion of them. There are 98 trillion of them.
"Inflation is atrocious...

　Just from what I've heard so far, Machina's army is 4.7 billion quasi-omnipotent-class bodies and 98 trillion omnipotent-class bodies. It was an excessive amount of force, and even Alice couldn't help but mutter in dismay.

''So ... what's the other program?''
Yes. I can't show you this one because I don't have a specific look for it, but it's called "Defense Program", code name is Shield (Aigis). It is a quasi-omnipotent program that specializes in defense, and it exists in "immeasurable numbers.
I don't know how many times this is going to happen, but it's ridiculous. Is that all?
'Yes. That's all the programs that Machina-sama created. However, as for Paradise (Eden), the only one of the three programs that has a personality, we are allowed to manufacture auxiliary programs at our own discretion. I also created two auxiliary programs, Pragram Alpha and Beta. They are now called Tenshou and Tsukuyomi, respectively, so if you ever come to Earth, please use them for your own purposes.

　Alice organizes the vast amount of information she obtained from Eden's words of paradise (Eden) as she thinks at high speed.
　After a few moments of silence, Paradise(Eden) announced in the same machine-voiced voice, "Do you have any other questions?

''Do you have any other questions?''

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I don't have the authority to reply to you since you are at Information Level V. Please confirm this directly with Machina. Please confirm this with the Machina-sama directly.
Oh, I see... yes, sir.
Do you have any other questions?
There are some, but, well, I'll have to ask Makina for the rest.

　When Alice said this, Eden stopped, turned around and bowed her head with a smile.

I'm sorry. Now, we have arrived.

　With those words, a door with a huge gear appeared in front of me. Then the gears turned with a loud noise and the huge door slowly opened.

''My guidance is at an end.
Well, thank you for everything.
"No, I'll leave you to it. If you ever visit Earth, please feel free to let me know.

　After saying that, Paradise (Eden) disappeared. After seeing it off, Alice muttered to herself while lightly scratching her head.