As I opened my eyes to the sunlight tapping on my eyelids, the first thing I saw was…
“Good morning.”
It was Rubia, with a slightly disheveled appearance and a captivating smile.
I tried to respond with a “good morning” as well, but…
Bucck- Bucck-
No decent voice came out.
“Ugh…”
So I simply burrowed into Rubia’s embrace and rubbed my face against her.
“Whoa?”
Even as she exclaimed in surprise, Rubia’s arms wrapped around my shoulders and waist, pulling me in tightly so I couldn’t escape.
Rustle- Fluffy- The softness hidden beneath the comfortable fabric enveloped me, a bonus.
I was a little sweaty, but it felt just right, and the faint scent of perspiration made me feel at ease.
“Did you sleep well?”
Nod- Nod-
I slept very well.
Today was an important day, so perhaps that’s why I did nothing last night?
After four days of pain and discomfort following my return, today I felt perfectly fine.
Hrumph. Hrumph. I cleared my throat and lifted my face from Rubia’s embrace, meeting her azure eyes.
Then I leaned closer and planted a kiss on her lightly curved lips, careful not to make a noise.
“I missed you…”
For a moment, Rubia’s eyes widened.
Then they turned sweet again.
“Did you miss me even in your dreams?”
“…Yeah.”
I definitely asked to meet in my dreams, but Rubia didn’t show up. Still, I wasn’t disappointed.
In my dream… it was my friends, not Rubia, who appeared, and we all had peaceful and happy times together.
“Well then, you can see me to your heart’s content now.”
Giggle- Rubia chuckled and moved her hands.
Suddenly, the pajama that was tightly held together came undone and fell away.
“Eh, huh…”
Next, even the thin sleeveless top underneath…
The pants. The underwear. Everything.
…Why does it come off so easily?
And why is the story flowing this way?
While I was bewildered, my body found itself underneath Rubia.
“R-Rubia?”
“Yes?”
A slightly terrifying glimmer flashed in her blue eyes.
Her breath, full of anticipation, brushed against my face.
Rubia’s cool body, her snowy white legs, burrowed between my trembling limbs.
“T-today is… a, important day…”
“You were the one who tempted me first, Noah.”
“N-no, that’s… Gulp?!”
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
Rubia’s tongue withdrew after assaulting my mouth for five seconds. Our lips parted. A slippery strand connecting us hung down to my collarbone.
“Do you not like it?”
“A- ah, it’s not that… I don’t like it…”
“If you don’t want it, you can just push me away. You’re strong enough.”
“W-well…”
Rubia’s eyes are scary. Her voice is scary too.
It’s too close, and since it’s morning, I haven’t even done my hair or washed my face. I must look terrible. Did I drool while sleeping? What about those drool marks?
Blush- Blush- My face turned red with embarrassment as I tilted it to the side. I might not be able to hide my face from Rubia who’s on top of me, but I still tried my best.
And then…
I gripped her hand that was interlaced with mine.
I closed my legs around Rubia’s legs that had slipped in between.
Huff, huff.
After finishing my deep breaths, I cautiously turned my gaze to meet Rubia’s eyes.
“Then, please… go easy on me.”
*
“Ah, you’re here. Did you rest well…? Haah… Of course, that’s not really my place to say, but… didn’t I tell you to take a good rest yesterday?”
“We totally rested yesterday, didn’t we, Noah?”
Hehe…
Carefully moving my shaky legs, I made my way to the gathering place where everyone was.
“Noah! Rubia!! Good morning!!”
Unlike the tense atmosphere hanging around, Hephaestus with her pink hair greeted us cheerfully like her bright locks.
“Yeah. Good morning, Hephaestus. Did you sleep well?”
“Yup!”
“Yuria too… oh?”
Rubia inhaled sharply in surprise.
Following her gaze, I looked and…
Um…
Yuria seemed to be in a similar state as I was.
Slumped- She was melted into her chair.
What’s going on? Did something happen?
“Yuria looks like she… um, heh heh… seems to have rested well?”
But Rubia appeared oblivious, smiling brightly as she glanced back and forth between Hephaestus and Yuria.
Yuria simply shook her head with a wry smile.
“…Yes. I slept very well.”
Shaking her head while saying she rested well… what does that mean…?
With an uncertain look directed at Yuria, Rubia turned her attention to me and smiled.
“Shall we sit?”
Rubia’s light hand rested on my shoulder. And slowly, step by step, we made our way to our seats.
Our seats were right next to Charlotte.
To her left…
There were Heinzel, chatting with several liberators, and Hermila, checking the speech and adjusting her clothes next to Charlotte.
Behind them were Yuria and Hephaestus.
Jur and the heads of the Adventurer’s Guild.
Ms. Liberators and those who had connections to nobility or the royal family closely associated with Charlotte.
The speech hadn’t started yet, but we were told to go out in order one by one when it began, standing in a neat line…
…Why do I have to be up front like this?
It’s a little scary. My hands are trembling…
At least I’m not behind Charlotte.
It’s just beside her. I was told to stand at an equal level.
Rubia is also behind me.
Heinzel and Hermila too.
The front row consists of just me and Charlotte.
I feel like I’m suffocating already, dizzy, and my hands are shaking.
“It’s okay. You can do it, Noah. You have to show me your amazing side.”
Seemingly noticing my condition, Rubia gently patted my back.
“Y-yeah… I’ll… show… it…”
A shaky response.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes.
“…Noah.”
“Y-yes…”
“You don’t need to feel overly burdened. No one in this empire can speak ill of you. If anyone insults or laughs at you, I’ll personally take care of them, so relax. Just relax.”
“W-wait, you’ll… take care of…? Ah… no! Not that… ungh…”
The nobles and officers looking at me with subtle smiles turned as pale as a sheet.
In contrast, my friends Heinzel and Hermila.
Hephaestus, Yuria, and Rubia snickered quietly.
“Of course, we need to take care of those rude ones. Right, Hermila?”
“Indeed. Those who speak ill of Noah deserve to die. No, rather than killing them easily, it might be better to slowly feed them to beasts starting from their fingertips.”
“I can summon that beast.”
“Hmm, that’s a good idea. I’ll help you with that.”
“Hey, hey. Hold on. You’re too reckless. You might accidentally blow it up. If it explodes, cleaning up would be a hassle, so just watch.”
“Hm, that makes sense. It’s probably better to do it like that.”
Heinzel and Yuria nodded in agreement with Hermila’s words.
The faces of the nobles and officers had turned so pale they were almost white. Their jaws trembled.
“T-… explode…? Clean up…? A-… that’s no good…”
I was equally pale.
I couldn’t see my face, but I was sure of it.
In reality, I felt dizzy…
In that state, I looked at Rubia.
Like my friends, Rubia nodded, a calming smile on her face.
“Anyway, just think of it as everyone can be taken care of easily, so relax. Got it? Don’t think about what I told you yesterday.”
Swallow.
I nodded as I swallowed my dry saliva.
*
On a high, wide platform.
People in the auditorium stepped forward one by one.
Then, slowly…
I walked in step with Charlotte.
We stood right beside her.
The cheering was so loud that my ears tingled, and my heart raced. In the deep blue sky, many spells flew, the knight brigade lifted their weapons high, and various instruments produced beautiful sounds.
Amidst that, Charlotte and I took a step forward.
The amplification artifact resting in front lit up.
Not to mention Charlotte’s mana surged, enveloping her voice.
“Today, I will only keep my words high for this day.”
So, Charlotte’s…
“Though it’s a coronation, today’s protagonist will not be me.”
The Emperor’s speech began.
“Everyone, the deity is dead.”
An extremely shocking statement.
For just a moment, murmurs arose among the crowd, but Charlotte’s next words quickly silenced the commotion.
The story of Erden.
The hidden secrets of Erden and the many evils committed by the Erden Church were revealed.
Voices of anger were heard.
Voices of sorrow were heard.
Wails of mourning echoed.
Knights, mages, and royal figures did not silence such sounds.
Charlotte continued her speech without concern.
The tales of numerous heroes.
Tales of heroes who have departed from this world.
The story began with Luchi.
The tale of the swordsman who carved this world into reality began.
The hidden secrets of Hablon.
The story until the name Hablon was lost and became the eastern ruins was unveiled.
Then came the tale of how those eastern ruins became Hablon again.
The feats accomplished by Luchi were shared.
When the story ended, countless adventurers pounded the ground with their weapons. A grand tremor and a powerful sound surged into the sky.
Before the sound faded, Charlotte continued.
The spiritist. The mage tower master. The mages.
The first and the last to reach the pinnacle of magic.
Mages who perhaps achieved miracles beyond human reach.
The story of Ser.
It wasn’t the exact truth.
It was a slightly embellished and glorified account of Ser.
Nonetheless, the term ‘genius’ didn’t vanish.
It was a term Ser loved so much.
When Ser’s story concluded, numerous mages who weren’t part of the mage tower yet idolized Ser filled the sky with their magic.
Beautiful magic.
Somewhat rough magic.
Gorgeous and intense magic.
What would Ser have thought if he saw it?
Would he have scoffed?
Maybe he would have flaunted his own magic, claiming those spells were nothing.
Yeah, Ser would probably do that.
Because he’s Ser.
Self-proclaimed genius, Ser.
A faint smile formed.
Soon after, Charlotte’s lips began to move again.
Cartia. Frey.
Their tales.
Starting as humans, becoming the Sword of Victory, a hope for humanity, and opening up new skies, the heroes.
Cartia.
Standing in front of that Cartia and opening the way was Frey.
The mighty sword that supported her.
By retelling this story, all books and fairy tales regarding Cartia that spread throughout the empire would probably be discarded. And new tales would be written.
There would be two protagonists.
Cartia and Frey.
Since there are two protagonists, the story would double in magnificence and awe.
Surely.
Huff. I exhaled shakily.
Charlotte’s speech was unceasing.
Charlotte spoke of the forgotten heroes, including Sirin.
This story, too, would not be told as it was.
It didn’t mention the repeated worlds or their related stories.
It merely talked about the things they had done for this world till now.
Only the good stories were chosen.
The whisper of the crowd grew.
Confusion thickened.
It couldn’t be helped.
These were stories never told, truly vanished to the roots.
Still, Charlotte’s voice did not falter.
As the chaos grew, the murmurs spread, she spoke louder and stronger.
Proudly.
With gratitude for them, she spoke.
When their tales concluded…
Charlotte’s magical energy burst forth.
A blazing flame gathered together. It formed the immense shape of the sun, soaring high into the sky.
The original sun hanging there.
Beside it, Charlotte’s sun rose.
The murmurs quieted.
The confusion eased.
As silence fell…
Charlotte spoke.
“Next is the story about the hero who made today, tomorrow, and the future possible for us, today’s protagonist.”
Noah.
The New Noah.
Charlotte called my name.
I took a step forward.
Two steps.
I stepped forward.
A dizzying number of people looked up at me. They cheered loudly. They called my name. Behind that followed the title.
Hero.
Hero.
Cold sweat poured down.
My face turned bright red.
My hands and feet trembled, and dizziness hit me.
Yet, my heart raced heavily.
Charlotte’s voice faded from my ears.
Surely… she must be talking about praises for me.
Yeah, for sure…
So it was better not to listen.
If I heard my praises in front of so many people… my face might really burst.
Calm down. Calm down.
I recited that thought hundreds of times when Charlotte’s whisper grazed my ear.
Huff. I exhaled and placed my hand on my chest.
Once again, I exhaled, and clenched my hand.
Thud-! A different heartbeat than the previous pounding. Quivering. The flame within me ignited.
Dark energy began to rise.
I drew it up.
At the same time.
A black sun arose.
The sky was stained crimson.
Charlotte’s sun that she had raised.
The sun originally there.
Because of this, the rising murmur.
The chaos among the people. All of it.
Was overshadowed by my dark divinity.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
I slowly turned to glance sideways.
Charlotte, with her mouth agape, looked between the sky and me, shaking her head slowly.
“…Hmmph.”
