“Gift…”
[Are you curious?]
Thud I touched the black feathered wings.
“Curious… I am.”
I was curious, but I felt like I knew somewhat.
I heard Laila’s wish in Sirin’s memories. Of course, I have no certainty that my thoughts are correct.
After all… what I saw in Sirin’s memories could just be my arbitrary judgment fitted to what I desire.
[Then… when my turn comes, I shall inform you a little. For now, it seems better to focus on the matter at hand.]
Laila’s gaze turned towards ‘Rubia,’ who was frozen with a rigid expression some distance away, over my shoulder.
[Regulations… In this situation where even Sirin is absent, there is no existence that can tell how far along the Nameless One’s myth has progressed. If their myth is nearly at its end… they could break free from that ice at any moment.]
“The end of the myth… then—”
[You may wonder why they aren’t emerging now. Unfortunately, that is something I cannot know either. Their thoughts are beyond my comprehension. It is likely that… they remain still despite being able to break free from that ice, for the sake of entertainment.]
I nodded and concentrated my mind.
Recalling the sensation of my soul connecting with Tylant’s, I began to search for Valoran’s soul in the darkness.
A peaceful and calm soul, like a feather gliding through the void. I reached out towards it.
Then, it felt like something was filling the empty space within me.
Fizz
The specter that had taken on Valoran’s form vanished without a trace.
Moments later, Laila, who had her hand on my back with her eyes closed, slowly nodded her head.
[…Good job.]
It ended more emptily than expected, so instinctively I expanded my senses and conjured the image of ‘Rubia,’ who remained frozen.
[It’s alright. Do not worry, just do your part. I am on guard over there, and even if something happens, I will watch over you until the retrieval of the soul is complete. I vow this in my true name.]
With Laila’s words imbued with strong determination, a hollow silence hung in the sky.
I swallowed hard and reached out to the specter resembling Brunhilde beside me.
The wings made of thin membranes had embers still smoldering. The embers that remained smoldering even after the world was entirely frozen over.
I placed my hand above those embers.
Then, just like earlier, I sought out Brunhilde’s soul.
Fizz
Feeling an unknown energy swell within me, I clenched my fist.
The hand that had been over the ember bore no burn marks or traces, just a faint warmth remained.
[This time it went well too. Next up… is Cartia. It would be best to absorb Sirin’s soul after we’ve gathered all of ours. Because Sirin… is the final piece needed to complete the key.]
The spirit’s wind guided my body.
Towards the slightly distant, Cartia.
The spirit of Cartia was empty.
There was no hint of clarity in the expression conveyed through my fingertips, and her body felt exceedingly cold.
However, the stance she held until her dissolution was still firmly gripped.
Crack Biting my lip, I focused my mind.
Unlike Brunhilde and Valoran, I was able to find her soul almost immediately.
It was exceedingly bright and burned fiercely.
I reached out to that soul.
I grasped it. A soul far beyond what I could manage now, a giant light flowed into my body.
Energy surged into my body, which was exhausted from the battle with Sirin.
My muddied mind cleared, and the boiling anger gradually cooled.
And then, a wind blew.
The specter of Cartia scattered away following the wind that roughly tousled my hair.
I pulled back my outstretched hand.
The hand was still cold.
*
“Whew… Huh, Ha… Is it my turn now?”
Carpen, who had been smashing the spirits, walked towards me as I descended to the ground, retracting the aura of blood that burned like fire.
She still seemed to retain her zeal, her claws sharpened, but she gave me a bright smile.
“I feel like I didn’t show you enough of my cool side, which is a pity… but it can’t be helped.”
Giggle Carpen’s hand wrapped around mine.
“Remember this. The fact that I, we, existed. If possible… why not write it as a fairy tale or a splendid novel… but it sounds long, heh. Noah can’t see, huh? Then just spread our story widely. Something like, behind the world you’ve lived in… we were there, something like that? Make it as grand as possible!”
I didn’t answer.
I couldn’t reply.
I knew… that I wouldn’t be able to grant Carpen’s request.
Yet, Carpen continued to smile happily, wagging her tail.
“…I’ll start.”
I blocked my senses. Forcing my tightly closed throat to make a sound, I concentrated. I felt Carpen’s soul. Pure and upright.
I reached out towards that soul.
At the same time.
“I hope you end with a bright smile.”
Fizz
Carpen’s arm fell limp, descending softly.
I expanded my blocked senses.
Before me were only Carpen’s footprints.
“Stop dragging it out and hurry up.”
Tap Fray lightly patted my back and approached me.
I took Fray’s outstretched hand. A hand covered in calluses. That hand revealed what kind of time she had endured until now.
“I don’t have any special words to say.”
Snicker The forced laughter that resembled Cartia resonated.
“It’s not because the time spent with you was short, but because… if I ever meet that girl again, I don’t want to feel embarrassed.”
Crack Fray tightened her grip around my hand. Understanding the meaning behind that, I immediately focused my mind to find Fray’s soul.
“Well… since I’m a friend of your teacher. If I had to say something—”
Fray’s soul resembled Cartia’s.
Bright and brilliant. A soul brimming with courage and dignity.
I reached out towards it.
“Don’t act foolishly, do what you truly want.”
Fizz
The senseless hand that fell was still imbued with the lingering touch of calluses.
[Now, it’s Tylant’s turn. But… before that, Noah. I have something to ask you.]
Laila’s gaze shifted from observing Ser still kneeling before Sirin, now fixed on me.
[After absorbing our souls and completing the key to open the door to Paradise, what choice do you intend to make?]
Laila’s voice flowed into my mind.
I answered without hesitation to that voice.
‘I will complete the world.’
[With your own hands?]
‘Yes.’
[Do you understand what that choice means? This world, no, beyond this world—even in any higher realm, achieving something always demands a price. Do you understand what this means?]
I understand.
I’ve seen myself opening the door to Paradise through trials.
At the time I went through those trials, I couldn’t grasp that scene properly. Yet, after seeing Sirin’s memories and feeling her emotions, I got to understand to some extent.
What it means to open the door to Paradise and complete the world.
[To complete the world, a fitting price is required. That price… will be you, the one who opened the door to Paradise. By doing so, you will cease to exist. Furthermore, you will be erased from people’s memories, just like we were annihilated by the past termination.]
‘However, by swallowing this world, the… Nameless One will vanish as well.’
[If that is what you desire, then you can enter Paradise. Even if you enter the true Paradise by sacrificing our souls, the Nameless One will perish. Is that all? You don’t have to vanish. You won’t have to be erased from people’s memories. You could live happily in a world without war, alongside those who remain. Yet, you still intend to make such a choice?]
The ones who survive.
Indeed, Laila’s gift seemed to be the present I had thought it to be.
It’s slightly uncomfortable, but… since the essence of the beings in this world is souls, and the body is just a means of anchoring that soul. Reviving the deceased should be possible.
‘Yes.’
Still, that doesn’t change my mind.
[Why on earth?]
At the overly obvious question, a slight smile appeared.
‘Because, in that world, Rubia won’t exist.’
And.
‘I want to save everyone.’
Regardless of whether they are good or evil.
Regardless of the disparity in soul levels.
Regardless of helpfulness or harmfulness to the world.
I want to save everyone living in this world.
It may sound foolish.
I might seem like a fool.
But, I’ve decided that.
I chose to save this world.
That is.
The wish I have sought in this newly given world, and the ideal I have always dreamed of.
Of course… Rubia might dislike a world without me.
I secretly hope that she would.
But.
After being sad enough.
After feeling anger enough.
After enough despair.
I hope she can rise again, and lend me her support.
In a peaceful world, I hope she can smile.
Even if it’s difficult, I believe she can do it.
Because Ser is here. Because Hermila is here.
Furthermore, many others.
There are still plenty of those who harbor warmth.
Me.
Me, who loves Rubia.
This is the gift I’ve left for her.
Thus, I will.
Complete the world.
By any means necessary.
[…You’ve gone mad.]
Leaving Laila’s sigh behind, I shifted my steps.
Towards Tylant.
To pierce her heart and retrieve her soul.
With my remaining life.
To summon the dawn.
