“It’s been a while.”
Thud-thud As Sirin walked over, her hand rested on my head.
“Did you do well while I was away?”
“S-Sirin…”
“Well, I was away for quite some time, so I thought maybe you’d forgotten, but thankfully you haven’t.”
Giggle-giggle Sirin laughed as she playfully messed with my hair.
Then she lowered her gaze to the ‘key fragments’ clutched tightly in my hand.
“How was Cartia?”
“…Great… It was great.”
“I see. So it was impressive.”
Sirin stared up at the sky that Cartia had opened for a while, then turned to look at Ser.
“Why didn’t you say ‘it’s been a while’ to me? Was I not missed?”
“No, I missed you too, Sirin. However… a lot seems to have happened while you were away. Whose choice was that?”
“Never mind. I’ll just say I didn’t exist. As a second, I didn’t miss Sirin and have no obligation to tell you that.”
“It was enjoyable, wasn’t it, Ser?”
With Sirin’s question, Ser’s eyes widened, and after standing in a daze for a moment, he let out a small chuckle.
“…As a second, I also don’t want to answer that. By the way… Sirin, what happened to you?”
“Haha, I kept my appearance like this to show how hard I worked while you were away. What do you think? Doesn’t it look like I’ve had quite the ordeal?”
Sway-sway Sirin extended her arms slightly, turning her body this way and that with a playful smile aimed at me.
Previously, I couldn’t see Sirin’s body. An unknown force had blocked my senses. But unlike before, now it was drawn quite clearly.
It was a devastating sight, difficult to behold.
“Sirin… what on earth happened…”
“I faced extremely powerful enemies. For a whole year, 365 days, 24 hours, I didn’t sleep and only fought.”
“It looks like it. Surely I told you that when you leave home, you’ll have a tough time.”
“Hahaha! That’s right, you definitely said that before I left. But it wasn’t entirely terrible. What I did wasn’t meaningless. Isn’t that right?”
Sirin turned her head.
“The foolish one who lost their name.”
She directed her gaze toward ‘Rubia’ who was walking over.
“Oh my, am I now ‘Rubia’? Calling me a foolish one who lost their name… how upsetting.”
Click-clack, click-clack
Not wanting her shoes to get dirty, ‘Rubia’ stepped onto a platform made of divine power as she approached us.
“That aside… you arrived faster than I expected?”
Her immaculate hand reached out toward Sirin.
In an instant, Ser’s wand was raised. Carpen’s blood aura exploded like a bomb. Frey’s Great Sword was enveloped in sharp sword qi.
But—
“It’s fine.”
Sirin waved her hand and met ‘Rubia’s’ grasp.
“Hehe, it’s been a long time. Do you know how much I’ve missed you?”
“You wouldn’t have missed me for that long.”
“Even so, meeting like this is rare for us, right? By our standards, it was the last quarter. In this world’s time, 2000 years have passed, you know. Besides… this adorable girl’s form is something I’ve never seen before.”
Sirin nonchalantly accepted ‘Rubia’s’ words, smiled softly, and released her hand.
“So, did you finish what you planned?”
“I wrapped things up adequately.”
“Considering the state you’re in, it doesn’t look that adequate.”
“Don’t you think it was a bargain?”
“Well, for ignoring the ‘regulation’… yeah, it does seem that way. Hehe.”
‘Rubia’s’ beguiling laugh subsided.
She folded her five pairs of wings gracefully.
Simultaneously—
Clang— Chains extended from behind ‘Rubia’ and coiled around her arms. Then around her legs, waist, and chest. More chains began to ensnare ‘Rubia’s’ body.
However, ‘Rubia’ continued talking, unfazed.
“Sirin, do you think what you did was valuable?”
“It wasn’t without merit.”
“Even though you could have made a better choice?”
“I couldn’t have made a better choice than this.”
Eventually, click— all the chains interlocked, making a rough sound.
The chains tightened without a gap left. From there, thorns began to sprout. Some extended straight while others curved like an eagle’s talon. Thorns that would tear the skin, sever the veins, and slowly began to drag her body down.
At that, my heart raced.
I knew that the ‘Rubia’ standing before us was not the ‘Rubia’ I once knew. I knew that we, or rather, I had to kill the Nameless One.
Yet, within her… there must be Rubia.
Surely, she would be waiting for me inside.
I couldn’t help but approach ‘Rubia’ like a moth drawn to the flames.
But I couldn’t move more than a few steps before stopping in place.
“Don’t worry too much.”
Sirin’s hand and gentle voice stopped my body.
“B-but…”
“It’s alright. That… no, ‘Rubia’ is just going to where she’s supposed to be according to the regulation. Furthermore, that distressed expression is probably just a wicked act.”
“Supposed to be…?”
“Yes.”
“Not an act, but… Hehe, you’re right. So don’t worry too much, Noah. We’ll meet again soon, uh—”
Clank— The chains binding ‘Rubia’ tightened as if to deny even her words.
“Ugh… Sirin, you’re being so unfair. You should at least let me say goodbye, right? After all… we love each other. Right, Noah?”
“Shut it.”
Sirin’s face twisted as she reached out her hand.
Then— Boom! A massive door materialized behind ‘Rubia’.
Laila’s Yggdrasil and the primordial beast Jiz were certainly colossal, but the door appearing before us was on a whole different level.
A massive door with no visible end. The size that could encompass all beings living in this world at once.
As ‘Rubia’ looked up at it, a bright smile graced her face.
“Why, I wonder? Why would Sirin go this far? There’s plenty of time until the end awakens… Could it be that she’s worried about you, Noah? Ah, that seems a bit much to ask, considering Sirin has lost all her powers now.”
Sirin ignored the comment and clenched her fists.
At the same time.
Rumble!
A sound indescribable erupted as the massive door opened.
An empty space. An empty void with nothing in it.
That space was connected to the chains that ensnared ‘Rubia’s’ body.
Finally, whoosh— it was as if something pulled on those chains, tightening them, which began to drag ‘Rubia’ towards the inside of the door.
And then—
“Ugh, bleh… spitting.”
Thick blood burst from Sirin’s mouth.
“Haha! Is this real? How could someone as rigid as Sirin change so much? It seems you’ve really changed thanks to Noah, haven’t you?”
“Don’t spout nonsense. I just didn’t want to ruin our long-awaited reunion with your drivel.”
Wiping the blood from her lips, Sirin gestured. Crash! A thunderclap echoed. The force of the chains intensified. The speed at which they pulled ‘Rubia’ away quickened.
“A reunion, huh… Hehe, yes. But what if I had disregarded regulations like Sirin and severed those chains? What would you have done then?”
“You? Disregarding regulations? Ha!”
Sirin scoffed as she glared at ‘Rubia’.
“If you had the guts to do that, you wouldn’t be cowering and hiding like you are now. You’d have entered paradise long ago.”
In an instant, ‘Rubia’s’ expression erased all signs of emotion.
“Was that truly the case?”
A voice, devoid of emotion or timbre, reverberated, sending chills down my spine.
But that was all too brief.
In an instant, ‘Rubia’ resumed her usual expression, chuckled softly, and said,
“Well, yes. It’s upsetting to hear you think of me that way, Sirin, but… I suppose I must take my leave now. Otherwise, you’ll grow to hate me more.”
Releasing her strength, she surrendered herself to the chains pulling her in.
“Goodbye, my Noah. I’ll be waiting at the gates of paradise. Hehe.”
Just like that, ‘Rubia’s’ enticing laughter echoed, and— Boom! The colossal door that completely swallowed her closed tightly.
What remained was dry wind and heavy silence.
Inside that silence.
“Sirin.”
Ser’s stern voice resonated.
“Hmm.”
As Sirin blankly stared at the spot where ‘Rubia’ had vanished, she turned her head toward Ser.
“Sirin.”
Once again. Ser called out Sirin’s name.
“Sirin.”
And then again.
“…Sirin.”
Continuing to call her name repeatedly, Ser finally spoke.
“Just now, I sensed Sirin’s magical power from that door. I felt your magic… which saved me countless times.”
With an expression still devoid of emotion.
“Sirin, what exactly is your identity?”
He lifted his wand.
Seeing that, Sirin drew her great sword and declared,
“I am the key to going to the ‘True Paradise.’”
Sirin’s vast magical power. Her great sword.
Kill intent.
“Your adversary. I will be your final trial.”
At that moment.
Carpen, shrouded in blood aura.
Frey, raising his great sword high.
All the spirits surrounding us.
And—
Ser’s magic.
Directed at Sirin.
“Ancient Dragon, Sirinius.”
Toward the ancient dragon, wearing an aloof smile.
“That is the ‘regulation’ of this world.”
