Thud- Thud- Pitter-patter-
Raindrops fell down through the opened sky.
The flames that had been growing larger while burning everything began to fade, and Brunhilde’s once-vivid vision crumbled.
The flames lost their heat.
Forgotten anger.
Forgotten hatred.
Regret, despair, sorrow.
Having lost everything…
But I didn’t lose my past.
I didn’t forget my past.
[Let’s go.]
I moved my heavy steps, fully feeling the raindrops cooling my surroundings.
Step by step.
Every time I walked through the air, the faint remnants of embers lit my way. The thirst-inducing blood aura made me forget the pain. The cold soothed my body that was burning with heat, and the feathers supported my stumbling form.
“Cartia.”
[Yeah.]
“Why did Cartia make such a choice?”
[…Well, I don’t know.]
“I found all my memories from before… are you just not going to tell me?”
After a moment of silence, Cartia let out a deep sigh and responded.
[At that time, I was just thinking about winning, but by the end, it changed. I may have realized my mistake after losing something precious. That friend I mentioned before… ‘Frey’. That friend—]
Listening to Cartia’s self-deprecating voice, I continued walking.
The ground I had just been standing on crumbled away.
The rain pouring from the open sky grew stronger.
Yet, the flames in the place where Brunhilde’s magic stone floated never dimmed and continued to call out to me.
[Ugh… I don’t want to get all emotional while talking about the past, so let’s stop here. To answer your question…]
Cartia clicked her tongue nervously and dropped her heavy answer.
[After the hollow, twisted victory, I wasn’t happy. So I gave up.]
Splash- At the same time, my steps halted.
I expanded my senses. The scenery around me formed.
The battlefield where Brunhilde had lived and walked.
I neatly stacked the endless hellish landscape in my mind.
After engraving it in my mind so I wouldn’t forget, I reached out. Grasping Brunhilde’s magic stone. The horrific heat that felt like it would burn my hand raged, but I didn’t let go.
With blood aura erasing the pain and cold soothing the heat, I inherited the lingering emotions.
Feeling the calmer emotions now, I fueled them. Just like back in Valoran, I felt Brunhilde’s magic stone surging inside of me, lifting my head.
“Ha…”
Even in a crumbling world, I swung Frey toward the black sun that floated nobly.
Crash—
The sky collapses along the drawn blade path.
The black sun splits, losing its dark light.
An even heavier rain slaps my cheeks.
The scent of war brushes past my nose, not the scent of hell.
In an instant, the landscape shifted. My body felt light. A chilling sense of buoyancy enveloped me as the wind and rain rushed past.
At that moment, thud—the soft earth enveloped my body.
A refreshing breeze blew in.
“Noah!”
The voice of Rubia riding the wind snapped me back to reality.
I shook my butt and stood up, unfolding my senses.
The sound of raindrops falling on the silent stillness replaced the sounds of the fierce battle.
The liberation army standing on the ground looked up at the sky in bewilderment, and the challengers leading them also surveyed their surroundings with blank expressions.
The subjugation was over.
More empty than I expected.
I eased my once-stiff face.
With a light smile on my face as usual, I turned my head towards Rubia.
“…Noah.”
“Rubia.”
“Is it… over?”
I extended my hand to show her the shell of Brunhilde’s magic stone that was left behind.
“…You did well.”
Hug- Rubia wrapped her arms around my body filled with wounds. I too surrendered to her embrace and felt her warmth.
“Hehe…”
I will save Rubia.
By any means necessary, even if I have to burn my own life.
Even if the world forsakes me and everyone betrays me.
You, at least, I will definitely save.
Crush- I pulled Rubia’s soft waist in tighter. I absorbed her fragrance, felt her touch, and gathered her heartbeat in my chest.
Before parting, I wanted to savor her just a little longer.
While indulging in her for a while, I suddenly felt a surge of powerful energy shifting the atmosphere.
The spirit’s wind brushed against my ear.
It enveloped my body.
‘It’s over. Save the romance for later, hurry up and come.’
Did Rubia hear Ser’s voice? She gently pushed me away.
“Shall we go?”
Then, she stretched out both arms and lifted me.
With her arms wrapped around my legs and back.
In a position… akin to a princess carry…
“Ru… Rubia?!”
“We have to fight right away, so rest now.”
“Ugh… No, I—”
“Shhh-”
“Ughk… Then… please stop touching me…”
Unable to refuse Rubia’s stern expression, I reluctantly brushed her hands off me.
In response, Rubia nodded as if she understood everything.
“What’s wrong? Are you getting excited again? Hmm… That would be a bit troublesome before the battle.”
“…Huh?”
Snicker- With a playful smile, Rubia inserted her tongue into my gaping mouth.
Licking up my burst wound, she let her divine power flow.
Slurp- Gulp-
“Ha…”
“Ru… Rururu, Ru… Rubia?!”
“Can you do it one more time?”
“Ah, no… Please, no more… I feel like something really bad will happen if you keep this up…”
“How disappointing…”
Watching my tangled legs and twitching body, Rubia smacked her lips and moved on.
Finally arriving at the peak.
Ser, with a light smile, welcomed us.
“You were amazing, Noah.”
Loosening Rubia’s arms slightly, I landed on the ground, hiding my embarrassed face as I nodded.
“Did you use techniques learned from Lord Cartia?”
“Umm… Yes. I tried to be careful, but…”
“Regardless, you trusted your comrades. Well done. From now on, continue to trust your comrades. Anything lacking, we as your friends will fill in somehow.”
Ser, cleaning off the remnants of dirt on my body with the spirit’s wind and water, smiled brightly and turned away.
Trusting comrades, huh…
To be honest, my actions were taken to break Brunhilde’s noble flames head-on.
Of course, there was a layer of trust in Ser and Rubia behind that… But it wasn’t solely based on pure trust.
I didn’t want to rely on others.
Didn’t want to rely on anyone.
I wanted to finish everything entirely on my own.
Because I had resolved to save Rubia.
And disappear from this world.
I wanted to depart without leaving any regrets.
Without any lingering feelings.
I wanted to leave empty-handed.
But, more and more, feelings of regret were sprouting.
Dissatisfied emotions were piling up.
A desire to see the world with those I’ve met was growing.
I widely spread my senses, illustrating the people on the ground waving at us.
I could hear the voices of the liberation army, bright and lively.
“Sadly, there’s no time for farewells with the comrades below.”
“Ah…”
“If there was time, they wouldn’t give you that chance. Such farewells should be laughed about after everything ends.”
I neatly folded away my chaotic feelings. Tossed aside unnecessary thoughts and steeled my heart.
Resolving myself, I followed Ser’s lead.
“Is this… the gate to the end of the world?”
“It looks like entering will kill you, but it has to be it.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Are you doubting me, the genius?”
“No, it’s not that. It looks too… ominous.”
Just as Rubia said, the gate to the end of the world was quite foreboding.
It looked as though countless holes had been drilled into the very fabric of space, resembling a splattered black paint across a drawn background.
“It’s fine. As an experiment, I tossed a few spirits in. They didn’t die, so all is well.”
“…You tossed more spirits in?”
“Yes. Just in case their durability might get affected, I tossed in the weakest low-tier spirits.”
Ser nodded nonchalantly.
“Then, they must be fine.”
Rubia, with a skeptical expression, also nodded.
“…I see.”
“I’ll lead the way.”
Ser took out a branch from Yggdrasil and began stepping forward.
Squish- Squish- He walked on the rain-soaked earth, scattering light through the desolate ruins.
Following suit, Rubia scattered her divine power around and walked after Ser.
In an instant, the cheers of the liberated army echoed to the ends of the sky as their wounds healed and vitality returned.
While they were cheers of ignorance, the delicate emotions contained within them were more distinct than anything else.
[Our adversary seems to enjoy being the center of attention more than one would think?]
In between, the gentle voice of Brunhilde echoed.
[Yes. Then, this sister will lend a hand for once.]
At that moment, enormous flames erupted from my body.
Not the pitch-black flames she once held, but the pure white flames she dreamed of.
Not flames that wanted to destroy the world.
But the wish to brighten the world.
They blazed magnificently.
“Noah?!”
“Hmph, we don’t seek to gain attention, but did you want to that badly?”
“Ah, no… That’s not it!”
“Though you say that, your body is quite honest. Why do the flames grow stronger?”
The flames, now uncontrollably swelling, burned every raindrop soaking the ground and pushed back the dark clouds.
[Can you hear? They are all calling your name, aren’t they? Thrilling, right? Huh?]
‘S-Stop! Stop it!!’
Eventually, the flames that soared to the ends of the sky burned away all the black clouds covering Cartia.
[Hahaha!]
Illuminating the clean sky.
The ruins of the battlefield after the fight.
The image of the world she dreamed of.
“Ugh…”
Hearing the overwhelming roar echoing madly, I clearly felt Brunhilde’s lingering emotions.
Grabbing Rubia’s hand that was waiting right in front of me.
I threw myself toward the end of the world.
*
Right after that.
The sound of a horn echoed through the sky.
The howls of countless monsters filled.
The scene enveloped Cartia.
