Rubia, wearing the adventurer’s outfit and a perception-dampening robe she had set aside for a while, stood face to face with Hermila.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes.”
Her voice was cracked and weary, but there was a determined resolve within it.
“…Still, it might be better to recover a bit more before going—”
“It’s enough.”
Cutting off Hermila’s concerns decisively, Rubia checked her gear once more and lifted her head.
Sunken eyes. Pale skin. Chapped lips.
Even Hermila, who was no expert in medicine, could see that Rubia’s condition was far from normal.
It was no wonder; without her divine power, Rubia was no different from an ordinary person.
In that state, she wasn’t taking proper meals.
She wasn’t sleeping well.
She had barricaded herself in a space filled with the smell of ink and parchment and wasn’t even thinking of coming out. She couldn’t.
If Rubia, having become no different from an ordinary person, were to join the investigation team in her current state, she could be in grave danger.
Because the area where the team was operating was still crawling with monsters.
She might even collapse on the way. Traveling by carriage would be fine, but the roads were mostly so bad that she couldn’t even ride a horse due to the long-lasting battles.
“I’m sorry, but… please, Hermila.”
Yet, Rubia did not back down.
If one were normal. If one thought about Rubia. If one were a being with red blood flowing within, they had to refuse that request.
“…Okay.”
However, Hermila could not refuse.
It was Rubia’s request, someone who had been closest to Noah.
Even after Noah disappeared, Rubia had faintly felt her presence, so it was a plea that resonated deeply.
This journey was Rubia’s last hope to learn that Noah’s existence had completely vanished.
And Hermila, too, wanted to find Noah.
She wanted to deny the reality of Noah’s disappearance.
She longed to hear some assurance that Noah was alive.
She wanted to hear it from Rubia’s mouth, who alone could truly feel Noah’s power, that she was still alive.
So, with a nod, she took on that burdensome guilt of unknown origin and spoke while grabbing Rubia’s trembling shoulders.
“First, let me confirm this again. According to the reports sent by the investigation team… traces of Noah that remained at the edge of the world, meaning the traces of the battles she left behind, are slowly disappearing. They say… it seems that the power Noah left behind is also fading. The reason why the reports say it’s not confirmed but ‘seems’ is due to the testimonies of Heinzel, Yuria, and Delia… thanks to them. Those three strongly stated that Noah is definitely alive.”
As Rubia caressed the finger that wore a ring, she bit her lip and spoke.
“That’s right. Noah is… still alive.”
“…Yes. I think so too. I believe Noah… could not have disappeared.”
Hermila’s gaze lifted slightly from the report she had been looking at on her desk.
“So, go and see for yourself, feel it with your own eyes, and tell us with Rubia’s own mouth that Noah is… still alive.”
“Yes.”
In her once indifferent blue eyes, a firm resolve now shimmered.
Though they were no longer the clear and noble blue they had once been, they were still undeniably better than a year ago.
Seeing that look in her eyes, Hermila seemed like she wanted to say something, but swallowed her words and turned away.
“Well then, let’s go.”
*
“Ah, Hermila unnie.”
“Delia.”
“…Rubia unnie came too, huh.”
“Yeah. It’s been a while. Thank you… as always.”
“Thank you? It’s something I should do. I wanted to do it.”
“…Still, thank you.”
Rubia smiled as she grasped Delia’s hand.
It was a powerless smile. A faded smile, casting a shadow over Delia’s face.
“First of all, Delia. I’m going to meet Alex for a bit, so I’ll leave it to you, Rubia.”
“Okay.”
Delia answered resolutely, as if vowing not to let a single drop of monster blood touch Rubia.
Upon hearing that, Hermila turned to look at Rubia.
“Rubia. Don’t overdo it.”
“Yes. Don’t worry. Though it’s weak… I still have enough divine power left to protect myself.”
“…I see. Then, see you later.”
“Sure.”
Hermila, who had been staring at Rubia for a while, nodded and then walked off into the crowd.
“I don’t think we need to guide you right now. Shall we go straight in?”
Following Delia’s gaze, Rubia turned her head.
The state of Cartia could only be described by the word ruin.
The blood of monsters that had yet to be erased stained every corner, and despite being an open space, the faint lingering stench of blood made the environment grim.
Even with the sun overhead, the scenery felt ominous.
Nevertheless, the tents set up here and the voices of many investigators masked the atmosphere, but they couldn’t completely suppress it.
As Rubia took in the scene of Cartia, she raised her eyes to gaze at the ‘gate’ leading to the edge of the world.
A door floating in the sky.
That strange hole—perhaps a passage—that resembled the one Ser had opened before.
“Okay. I’m counting on you.”
“Got it.”
Delia gently wrapped her hand around Rubia’s. Shortly after, the two began to rise slowly into the air.
“I’ll make sure no other monsters touch you. But still, just in case, I’ll let you know. Right now, there are a lot of monsters at the world’s end. Of course, there aren’t many strong ones, but they do mix one in from time to time.”
“…Okay.”
“But you don’t need to worry. I’m here, and Yuria’s here… and Baldy is here too.”
Delia spoke, flushing yet sounding somewhat bitter. Seeing that, Rubia couldn’t help but grin.
“Hey… trying to explain isn’t as good as just going there. Let’s go. After all, Rubia unnie has been here a lot of times.”
With a heavily shaking head, Delia’s body exuded magical power. The twin tails that were flailing in rhythm with her head slowly began to rise in accordance with the flow of magic.
Then, sparks flew.
With the sound like a tiny spark bursting, the scenery changed.
The world’s end.
Through Delia’s magic, Rubia’s eyes, floating high in the sky, could capture the view of the world’s end at a glance.
The sight of Cartia was reminiscent of a peaceful village, but shrouded in an unsettling atmosphere.
The constant roars of monsters and the sounds of flesh tearing echoed endlessly.
The metallic scent of human blood drifted on the wind, but even more so, the nauseating stench of the monsters’ blood, rotting and festering, was far more intense.
“It’s much different from before, right?”
“…It really is.”
As their bodies gradually descended towards the ground, Delia, spreading sharp electric currents around for any contingencies, looked around and spoke.
“They said they didn’t know why monsters are flocking here. But… something feels odd. Usually, monsters try to kill and devour humans, right?”
“Right…?”
“That should be the norm, but… these guys are a bit different.”
Descending—as Delia landed on the parched ground, she tidied her disheveled hair and continued to talk.
“It’s as if they seem to be… running away.”
“Running away…?”
“Yeah. See over there?”
Delia pointed towards a place covered in a dark crimson hue.
The traces left behind by Noah.
The thick red sea imbued with Noah’s power.
“Monsters are gathering from there, and they were all moving like they were terrified. To be honest, I’ve never seen anything like this, so I don’t know how to explain it, but that’s what it is.”
Rubia narrowed her eyes, watching the monsters that continued to flood in.
There was no doubt that they were exhibiting movements entirely different from the monsters she had witnessed till now.
Normally, monsters that spotted a human would charge straight at them, following the scent.
But right now, the monsters weren’t doing that.
They seemed to be running away, not charging forward.
As if trying to get away from something they feared.
“That definitely seems to be the case.”
“Right? While they may lack intelligence, they must have instincts, so they can feel fear instinctively. I don’t know what kind of being that fear arises from, but there must be something we can’t understand—whether it’s some deity or whatever.”
A deep concern colored Delia’s concluding statement.
“Haah… For now, let’s go. Yuria and Baldy are waiting.”
“Okay.”
Pulling her gaze away from the strange scenery, Rubia took a somewhat heavy step forward.
Upon arriving at the outpost, there sat:
“Hmm. It’s been a while.”
“…It’s been a while, Rubia-nim.”
The still bald Heinzel and the somewhat worn-out Yuria were seated.
“It’s been a while, everyone.”
Hearing Rubia’s light greeting, Heinzel sprang up from his seat.
“Are you heading out right away?”
“Isn’t it better to let her rest a bit, considering she hasn’t slept at all?”
Yuria gave a wry smile at Heinzel’s hasty actions.
“Hmm. Is that so? Well, I suppose, yes. I agree with Yuria that it would be best for her to rest a bit.”
Heinzel scratched his head, looking rather disappointed, and plopped back down into his seat.
“Then, um. How long will she be resting? An hour? Two hours? Hmm… perhaps four hours?”
“Since you arrived two days after the messenger was sent, shouldn’t she rest at least a day?”
“Oh… Like that. Indeed. That makes sense since she must be tired.”
Heinzel slumped his shoulders in resignation as he watched Rubia.
“Let’s go right now.”
Rubia said in a voice clearer than before.
“Hmm?”
“I’m okay, so please, Heinzel, Yuria.”
“Hmm!”
Bang! Heinzel stood up from his seat with even more vigorous movement than before, put on the gear he had draped over the back of his chair, and with a creak-creak checked his armaments, he lifted his head.
“Let’s go!”
A booming voice.
Heinzel, who was normally impatient, was now even more anxious.
They couldn’t help it.
Because the traces of battle Noah left behind, the red sea, was rapidly diminishing.
Swish—swish—
Yuria, who had been advocating for Rubia to rest, began to prepare upon hearing Rubia’s declaration.
She too, like everyone here, must have been anxious.
There was no way one could be relaxed going out to find Noah, who had kept their life and the life of Hephaestus, and everything in this world safe.
Eventually, once Heinzel was ready, he slammed the door of the outpost open.
Bang—! The door swung open with a loud noise, and all eyes turned toward the investigation team.
Heinzel shouted at them.
“Investigation team—!”
A voice larger than most mid-sized monsters.
Upon hearing Heinzel’s roaring voice, every member of the investigation team drew their weapons in unison.
Soon after, thud. Heinzel stomped his foot and shouted again.
“Charge—!!!”
Boom—!
As Heinzel’s voice surged forth, an immense gravity descended upon the scene. The monsters rushing from the sprawling red sea were quickly crushed into paste.
All the members of the investigation team, and the liberation army, dashed over it. The cries of the monsters echoed as they cleaved with certain distinction between allies and foes.
The roots of the trees that shot up in an instant crushed the bodies of the monsters that survived, paving the way.
“Let’s go, sis.”
Having been stunned by the spectacle, Delia took Rubia’s hand. Like a balloon—both of them’s bodies began to float upwards.
“…I’m counting on you.”
“Then, keep your eyes tightly shut.”
At Delia’s words, Rubia closed her eyes. Simultaneously, crackle! A brilliant spark rained down beyond her eyelids.
Realizing the atmosphere that surrounded them had changed, Rubia hesitated to open her slightly dazed eyes.
The red sea.
What lay stretched before her was a shallow surface of water that failed to soak even her knees, yet it bore an overwhelming grip that was completely different from merely viewing it from afar.
“Ah…”
And before her eyes lay the quickly receding, or perhaps rapidly diminishing, edge of that sea.
From there, a multitude of monsters was rushing forth.
“Do you feel anything?”
“…Can I go down a little, just a little?”
“Hmm…”
After pondering Rubia’s words for a moment, Delia nodded, seeing Heinzel charging over from behind them.
“But be careful. Just focus on protecting yourself and don’t worry about us, okay?”
“I’ll do just that.”
Phew. With a short exhalation, Delia started to descend. Rubia’s body began to follow Delia as they dropped down.
The roars of monsters grew closer.
And that noise was soon overtaken by the howls and screams of Heinzel.
“Make way, you bastards—!”
With vicious swings of his arm, dozens of heads smashed apart. With the heavy slam of his gauntlet, hundreds of monsters vanished without a trace.
Above that, the vibrant yellow sparks that draped overhead incinerated the surviving monsters Heinzel had missed and aided in maintaining his momentum.
Eventually, when Rubia’s foot finally touched the ground, all the monsters that had been surrounding them had disappeared.
Of course, many monsters would come rushing in from beyond the horizon, but for now, it was a moment where they could breathe easily.
Confirming that, Delia gently released the support she had been providing to Rubia.
“Thank you.”
Rubia gave a brief expression of gratitude and immediately knelt, plunging her hands into the shallow sea.
“Phew…”
A short breath.
Following that breath, a faint divine power glowed.
The divine power shone weakly like a candle in front of the wind. It penetrated into the water, spreading wide.
At that moment,
“Hmm?”
“…What is it?”
The sounds vanished.
The roars of the approaching monsters, the frantic thrashes, all the noises disappeared. Their existence faded away.
They seemed to huddle and bow their heads as if waiting for a peaceful death.
Chills ran down Rubia’s spine. Cold sweat flowed. Her legs trembled. Her breathing became rough, and her neck stiffened.
And then…
Swish— swish—
The shallow sea began to ripple.
The dark crimson sea that cloaked the land started to churn.
Thump- Heinzel bit down hard. Channeling magic throughout his body, he stood in front of Rubia.
Gazing towards the horizon where the sound of the waves resonated, Delia, pale in the face, also stood beside Rubia.
“What the…”
Heinzel, who had rushed in late after hearing news to depart, stood beside them, staring grimly at the ominous sensation emanating from the horizon’s edge.
Swish—
The wave sounds grew louder than before.
An indescribable sense of pressure.
A power unlike anything they had ever felt, but one that felt familiar.
The black sun.
The primordial monsters.
The Nameless One.
Something akin to that which was called a god, no—something far superior, existed.
Before the power of that incomprehensible being, everyone present began to tremble.
They had no time to consider what it was.
The only thing they could manage was to breathe out slowly and hold on.
Rubia stood.
Rubia rose to her feet and started to walk.
Just as Hermila finally regained her senses and reached out to grab Rubia’s arm,
She couldn’t catch her.
Rubia moved rapidly, as if all her earlier staggering had been an act.
Swish— swish—
The waves surged forward.
From the horizon’s edge, the waves surged forth.
A natural disaster.
No, it was a dark expanse that seemed to encapsulate the ruin of this world. It rose up. The waves rolled. They crashed. They surged. The sky crumpled. The earth shook. It shattered. It twisted.
A hole opened in space.
From within it.
A red light flared.
“Uwaaaahhh!!!”
A roar that seemed to shake off the fear.
The beast-like howl burst forth as Heinzel’s magic erupted. He raised the ground beneath Rubia’s feet, shielding her as she advanced.
Flame! Beyond Heinzel charged Hermila, who trailed a violet flame that painted the sky. The flame rising towards the heavens opened wide like the jaws of a giant lion.
Rumble! Lightning gathered around Delia, who had belatedly summoned her power. Like it fell from the sky to the ground, and from the ground to the sky. Huge bolts of electricity dissolved the crimson world into a yellow hue and coalesced into the desired form of a mighty spear.
Following that, the roots of the plants and trees, the blooming flowers, the forged steel, the arrows shot, countless spells, shields, the cries of the diving investigation team, courageous roars, and screams.
Rustle.
They were severed.
Severed and shattered.
Debris scattered around.
In the midst of it all, Rubia ran.
Stumbling, swaying, she ran without rest.
And just as her strength began to wane, she—
*
Thump.
Someone’s hand caught her falling body.
She opened her tightly shut eyes.
A small hand appeared. A hand marred with scars, yet still felt strong, and gentle.
She lifted her gaze.
A familiar, warm scent tickled her nose. A scent she had recalled and cherished countless times. A scent she thought she could never smell again wafted through.
She lifted her gaze.
There was a very small body. A body filled with scars. Loose clothing. A shy shoulder peeked through. A body she thought she would never be able to hold again.
She lifted her gaze.
“…I’m back.”
A small voice emerged.
A voice that could barely be heard unless you listened closely. A voice that had announced it would always protect her. A sweet voice, a loving voice whispering love.
“Rubia.”
A voice that always called her name.
Rubia lifted her head.
Red eyes emerged. Adorably curved eyes came into view. A nose she had always wanted to pinch appeared. Lips that bore a bright smile were on display.
She blinked.
There stood—
“…Did you wait long?”
The one she loved.
The one she loved madly.
The one she could trade anything for.
The one she loved.
The person who loved her.
The person she never wanted to lose again.
“Noah…”
My Noah stood before her.
