Since stepping into Alrva, scenes unfolded that I knew better than anyone, yet understood less than anyone.
Sirin, through the eyes of regulation, couldn’t see me properly, but others could.
Staying at Hermila’s house for two days in a panic, getting used to sensing energy and smiling for the first time, secretly going out to request a job because I broke the floor of her house with a great sword.
As time passed.
On the day it had been two months.
From receiving a request to meet Rubia.
At the time, I didn’t know, but hidden within those backgrounds was the help of adventurers in Alrva.
The food I ate wasn’t stimulating like other snacks.
Along with that, warm milk, which didn’t even exist in the guild’s kitchen, and sweet desserts were served.
Adventurers who left requests suitable for me, who was still at the same rank.
Every time I went out on a request, Luci was watching over me from outside my sensing area.
Heinzel, who hid in a corner just in case I might be scared.
Everyone who had to be careful with their words and restrained from cursing when I was around.
And even the blacksmith uncle, who always offered a gentle smile at me without saying a word.
It wasn’t just that.
Even for a simple special request, I was able to prepare for my journey because of the help of many adventurers and residents.
Everyone in Alrva treasured me dearly.
Despite losing everything, they were people who could share what they had with others.
So I closed my eyes.
Because I was afraid of the warmth I would never feel again.
Because the light, happiness, and laughter they held were blinding.
I couldn’t help but close my eyes lest I develop a lingering attachment.
Thus, after a long time passed and I opened my eyes again.
I found myself in Loholan village.
I was in Ursphere.
I had arrived at the Karahan Mountain Range.
I stepped into the garden that bloomed at the world’s end.
The end of a long, long memory was approaching.
In that fading illusion, I caressed the ring on my left pinky.
I couldn’t understand why I was shown such an illusion right before the battle with Sirin.
I couldn’t tell who showed me this illusion either.
But there was one thing I could understand.
The one who showed me the illusion.
Probably hoped I wouldn’t hate Sirin.
If I wanted to hate Sirin, she wouldn’t have passed me the feelings she felt.
And.
She probably wanted me to love the world.
Wanted to let me know that it was a world not just filled with harshness but also with warmth.
Of course, it might not have been such an intention.
But if that existence was the ‘she’ I knew.
I believed it was so.
“…Isn’t that right?”
I looked towards the crumbling sky and threw a question at her.
Instead of answering, that existence transported my body to a familiar place.
To the wilderness where Sirin had stayed for an eternity.
I felt Sirin’s warmth left on that land.
In the end, I recalled her silhouette with only a single chain remaining.
To fulfill Lilith’s request, Sirin spread despair to complete the world.
Breaking the chains of regulation, she imposed trials upon herself.
Thus, every time the world repeated.
Every time the beings living upon the earth died.
Sirin despaired.
Though she was frustrated, angry, and filled with regret.
She didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.
Because she saw that even without the despair she spread, the world was heading towards destruction.
Because she realized that this world, now absent of Lilith, was a world where only destruction remained.
From then on, Sirin masked her emotions.
Discarding all feelings, she bore her fate.
Receiving the hatred of all living things, she assumed the guise of evil.
Enduring while recalling the warmth of the sun that pierced through the black sun, she clung to her worn-out soul and chewed her fragmented feelings until she became regulation.
I don’t know if it was her mission or her destiny.
But Sirin accepted it.
Then, I too shall accept.
Whether it’s a mission or a destiny I can’t fathom.
The wishes of everyone that have continued until now.
The prayers of Cartia.
And.
The words my parents left me.
To become a hero who saves people’s lives.
I must accept, no.
I want to accept.
I want to bear.
And thus, I want to save.
The people who showed me warmth.
The people who shared hope.
Precious individuals trapped in absurd fates.
To save Sirin, who is fading into despair.
I want to save Rubia.
Not anyone else, but me.
The main character of the story that is about to begin, me.
So.
“It’s okay to end it.”
I reached out.
“Because I think I’ve found the answer.”
In the empty hand that had been so until now, Frey was grasped tightly.
At that moment.
[Yeah.]
My vision dimmed.
[I’ll be waiting.]
*
*
Splat—
I felt a fluffy sensation beneath my feet.
I gripped Frey firmly in my hand.
Taking a deep breath, I expanded my sensing area.
“You’ve seen it all, haven’t you?”
In front of me was Sirin, smiling wryly.
“How was it? That existence spreads despair in the world and induces death to all, calling forth the end of the world.”
I shook my head at her lonely tone.
“Haha, even if it couldn’t be helped, it doesn’t erase the deeds that you’ve done.”
“Still… in this world, you saved many people, right?”
In an instant, Sirin’s expression hardened.
“…What do you mean…? If you saw my memories, you would know. I was in Hablon, in Rochester, in the Mage Tower…”
“I saw everything you said. So I know. That’s… not what Sirin did.”
I recalled the image of Sirin I had seen in the illusion.
She was always present at the places where people were dying, yet, there was no blood of humans on her hands or great sword. The only things stained were the blood and flesh of monsters.
And.
The most decisive reason that I thought it was not despair that Sirin spread.
Was the emotion Sirin felt while watching that devastation.
That emotion, which seemed like it would tear my heart apart just thinking about it now.
At first, I believed that I was looking at the severed chains of regulation and thought it was the despair Sirin created.
But as time passed, the emotions I felt from Sirin were those of hatred and despair that I could not believe she had committed.
The severed chains of regulation were probably cut to save the people the Nameless One tried to kill.
If Sirin had shown from the beginning that she was saving people, there wouldn’t have been so much headache.
Seeing her playing such a mischievous prank… it looks like ‘she’ finds me a little frustrating.
“I didn’t properly see it, but that doesn’t mean I only watched.”
“Well, I guess.”
“Even so, the crimes you’ve committed cannot be forgiven.”
Placing the great sword that had been raised into the ground, Sirin, who had been silent for a while, let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“I have taken emotions I should not have. Experienced despair I should not have. Felt anger I should not have. What remained then? Destruction. The destruction that came from my hands, that should have protected the world.”
Sirin recalled the worlds she had destroyed until now.
“And so, I closed my eyes in the end, plugged my ears, and closed my heart. I watched even though I could have helped. I stayed silent even though I knew the end. And thus, in the end, I wore down and crumbled, and became the regulation of the world, no longer a single existence.”
Sirin recalled the despair she had felt until now.
“Adversary, you must have seen it too. That devastation is the result of acting on momentary emotions while forgetting the given destiny. If that is not a sin, then what is? If that is not my fault, then what can I say?”
Sirin reflected on the despair she had spread until now.
“Indeed, I have become nothing more than an observer, not the ancient dragon or its apostle, merely watching. I should have become the regulation, just a tool to oppress the world, which is the source of all despair to complete the world.”
Sirin drew her sword.
Unfolding her folded wings.
With her magical power bursting forth, she declared.
“Thus, let me declare once more in this spot. I am the regulation of this world, the adversary, the calamity that will be your final trial—”
“Sirin.”
I interrupted Sirin’s speech and gripped Frey.
“Whatever others think, for me, Sirin is neither regulation, nor ancient dragon, nor observer.”
And while looking at Sirin, who wore an expression of the past with eyes now invisible, I continued.
“My precious friend, Sirin.”
From the very beginning.
Even when I knew Sirin was the regulation.
When I discovered she was the one who spread despair.
Now.
Even in the future.
For all my life.
So.
“Don’t worry. I, your friend Sirin, will bear it.”
Your sins.
Your anger, fate, mission.
“All of it, just leave it to me.”
I am.
“The main character of this story.”
Sirin, who was silent for a while upon hearing my words, finally…
“…Ha, haha… Ahahahaha!”
She laughed.
While enjoying the festival of Ursphere.
Just like when we were eating chicken skewers and tanghulu back then.
She laughed brighter and more brightly than ever.
“Right, that’s it. You were… the main character.”
Continuing to giggle, Sirin then cleared her throat and uttered the words that remained vividly in my memory.
“However, is the sword you decided to wield as the main character not very shabby?”
“Shabby… you say?”
I contemplated my past memories for a moment, then spoke to Sirin, who was waiting for a response.
“Bring it on.”
Upon hearing my reply, Sirin smiled brighter than ever.
“Good.”
—Crack! The last remaining chain was severed.
