What to do? What to do?
I slowly turned my gaze to Rubia.
Rubia was smiling bitterly.
And she nodded, saying,
“Do as you wish.”
I looked at Hermila.
She too wore a similar expression as Rubia and said,
“It’s okay.”
I looked at Heinzel.
Heinzel…
“Khahaha!”
He burst out laughing heartily, unleashing a massive amount of magical power. His magic, touching the sky, darkened the crimson heavens even more.
Again, I turned to Charlotte.
With a pale complexion, Charlotte finally closed her eyes tight and nodded.
Suppressing her trembling breath, she faced forward.
I could see the terrified citizens of the Empire.
Adventurers and wizards, frightened at the sight of the black sun.
Once more, I looked at Rubia.
Rubia approached me, took my hand, and whispered in my ear,
“Do as you wish.”
No one can say anything against it.
Charlotte might have a hard time, but it’s okay.
Noah nodded.
“Because you’re the protagonist.”
I lifted the Great Sword.
The crimson divinity that erupted from my body enveloped the Empire.
The sword below, raised skyward, drew downwards.
Along that trajectory, along that line, following my path, the black sun was split apart.
The crimson sky was divided.
Behind it, the blue sky spread out.
The sun’s scorching light embraced the chaos of the Empire.
What had looked like a world about to perish moments ago suddenly transformed into a peaceful landscape.
And thus, an oppressive silence came.
The silence was broken by,
“Khahahahaha! Magnificent!!”
Heinzel’s laughter.
Then, a thunderous cheer erupted that I had never heard before, different from all I had heard up to now.
Everyone shouted my name.
Hermila too called my name.
Hephaestus and Yuria as well, even the trembling nobles stammered my name.
Charlotte wiped her face in disbelief.
Rubia asked,
“Noah, shall we run away?”
“Y-yes?!”
Taking my hand, she jumped down from the podium.
Gravity, lightening our bodies, wrapped around us. Thud– tree roots sprang up. Flowers bloomed around us.
The wind blew, petals scattered.
Through it all, Rubia’s steps blossomed.
My steps blossomed.
The people’s cheers grew louder.
Charlotte’s face turned even paler.
Amidst it all,
Rubia, looking refreshing and thoroughly joyful, smiled brightly.
I too, having caused an incredibly terrible accident, burst into a giggle– laughing and ran after Rubia.
As for what happened next… well…
Charlotte would take care of it.
*
Once Charlotte’s speech was completely over.
After the coronation was finished.
With magic signaling a new beginning, the festival began.
Rubia and I.
Having fled from a troubling situation,
Returned to the room we stayed in, tossed aside the burdensome conquests, and changed into comfortable clothes.
I wore the outfit I had always worn.
And the Great Sword I had brought just in case.
Rubia wore a white dress.
It was a bit revealing, leaving almost nothing hidden, a dress I didn’t want people to see, but I got her to promise to wear it with a perception-inhibiting robe and we went outside.
However, I too wore the robe snugly.
I couldn’t help it, fearing the uproar we’d cause wherever we went.
For that reason, it felt a bit suffocating and uncomfortable, but it was fun.
I ate as much as I wanted and did all the things I wanted to do.
A bit shyly, I even watched a bard sing about my story.
I also saw the play that had been prepared for ages… uh, plays about my friends were staged in turn.
Uh… it was super cringe and embarrassing but still enjoyable. I was surprised at how well they acted, with special effects bursting! It felt like watching a movie in front of my eyes.
Well… actually fighting is more like a movie, but anyway.
We had fun.
“Isn’t it enjoyable?”
“… Yes!”
Rubia asked me over and over.
In response, I answered enthusiastically multiple times.
I was really, really happy.
Just sitting there. Just watching.
Just breathing was fun.
After spending such a time, around when the sun fully set and the stars appeared in the night sky,
I heard Rubia’s voice filled with expectation.
“It’s about to start now.”
“That’s right…!”
The fireworks.
The ones I had been eagerly waiting for.
Visualizing them made my cheeks hurt from smiling.
The start of the fireworks… was just around the corner.
The festival would continue for a week, but this fireworks display was said to be a one-day-only event.
So, more, more, more.
I was beyond excited to the point words couldn’t express it.
“Shall we go soon?”
Nodding vigorously, I moved with a lively step.
Thus we arrived at a special seat prepared by Charlotte!
A spot with the best view of the firework festival!
A small terrace appearing over the river coursing through the territory’s center.
There was room enough for a hundred people, yet only Rubia and I were here.
I had caused such a ruckus…
My conscience was poking at me.
I must repay her later.
I bowed my head to Charlotte, who was probably off somewhere with her hands on her head, and carefully placed the jellies, snacks, and candies I had brought into the table.
Then, I organized them nicely for easy eating.
Taking out a slightly thick notebook I had hidden, I leaned against the railing.
Rubia, too, placed the drink she had brought onto the table and stood next to me.
“I’m looking forward to it. Right?”
“Very… very much so…”
Finally, Rubia, who had liberated herself from the snug perception-inhibiting robe, put on the wide-brimmed hat she had brought, which suited her white dress perfectly.
Then, Rubia skillfully took off my robe.
Organizing it neatly, she placed it on the back table.
And then, she took my hand.
Our fingers intertwined.
A peck. After a brief kiss, we gazed up at the sky.
A dark sky, stars twinkling and a perfectly round full moon.
Underneath it, Rubia spoke.
“There’s been a lot going on.”
“… Yeah.”
“Really… a lot has happened.”
Rubia’s grip tightened.
“There were good things and bad things, but… I was still happy. To me, everything was a miracle.”
The wind blew. Rubia’s hair tickled my shoulder. Her scent wafted over.
At that very moment, the lights all around the territory went out.
“May I be happy going forward?”
In the darkness, Rubia’s trembling voice echoed.
“Will that miracle continue…?”
And in response, as if to answer,
From afar, at the peak of the highest Imperial Palace, a firework burst forth, drawing a white tail up into the sky.
Following that, subsequent fireworks were launched, blooming beautifully against the night sky.
Watching that, I said,
“Yes.”
The words I had longed to hear from my past self.
The words I wanted to convey to my present self.
“It’s okay to smile. It’s okay to be happy.”
The words I truly wanted to share with Rubia.
“If you can’t do that.”
Words that could allow her to be happy.
“I will make it happen for you.”
I pulled our clasped hands closer, gazing at Rubia. I looked into her blue eyes.
The moistened gaze, trembling expression, tightly shut lips—I faced them head-on.
“I’ll make miracles happen time and again.”
—Kaboom! Fireworks dazzled upon Rubia’s face, illuminating her tears.
“Just believe in me, Rubia.”
Her eyes, holding sparkling tears, brightened.
Her tightly shut lips, which had been drooping, cracked a smile.
“Yes. I will… I will believe in Noah.”
The wind blew. Her silvery hair danced.
Tears scattered by the wind mirrored the light of the fireworks.
The reflections of the fireworks in the river, and the reflections of the tears.
All blossomed beautifully, rendering everything around us trivial.
Behind the dazzling background that seemed blinding, Rubia smiled.
“I love you, Noah.”
Seeing that smile.
Seeing those tears.
Looking at Rubia.
I too said,
“I love you too.”
Yesterday.
Today.
Tomorrow.
The day after tomorrow.
For the days to come.
My whole life.
No,
“Forever.”
Rubia’s eyes widened in surprise.
Grabbing Rubia by the shoulders, I cupped her cheeks.
And then,
Our lips—
Thump.
Thump-
Thump—
Thump――
I didn’t make it.
[I’m a genius.]
The familiar voice reached me.
[Oh? Is this a book written by Noah? But… the second master? That’s a little upsetting. In a way, wasn’t the first master actually my child?]
The nostalgic voice echoed.
[Damn it. You didn’t think of me as a disciple, did you? The true master is me. Be grateful that I even consider you the second one.]
I opened my eyes that I had closed.
[If we’re going by that logic, am I not also a master? You were slicing through things with Sword Qi I had shown you before.]
Standing before me was Rubia.
With tear-filled blue eyes, she was looking not at me but behind me.
And she was smiling.
—Boom! Again, fireworks erupted, their brilliant lights adorning the black night sky.
[A master or not, what matters now?! It’s been ages since Noah and I met!]
Simultaneously, I caught sight of vibrant red hair beside me.
[Hehe. That’s right. Your words are true. Instead of debating such things, I should enjoy the flowers that bloom in the night sky.]
A floral fragrance wafted through.
[I just want to be next to you, Noah.]
Crisp and soft as snowflakes, her hand wrapped around mine.
[… My energy is fading.]
Black feathers drifted through the brightened sky from the fireworks.
[Get lost, will ya? The girls have some gossip to catch up on. Tch.]
Amid the debris of the exploded fireworks, a tiny spark ignited.
[And, Noah. Regarding this part. You must append a title before my name. Just having the name there makes it look lacking.]
So, I…
I…
Turned around.
[Hmm… Wizard. Wizard Ser. Yes. Wizard Ser sounds good. No need to add genius, just write Wizard Ser.]
“… Ser?”
[Not at all! Please repeat after me. Wizard Ser.]
And there she was.
With milky-white hair flowing,
Holding the book that lay on the table.
Ser, with her violet eyes, was gazing at me.
[Oh man. This jelly is too sweet for me. I should have asked for a drink instead. Tch.]
Carpen was grimacing as he chewed the jelly he held in his hand.
[Yah. What kind of drink can a kid have? Have some strawberry milk instead.]
Freya was gulping down my strawberry milk without a care.
[Whoa! Way better than the skewers I had before!]
Sirin was devouring the skewers I had brought along as a late-night snack.
[Huuuuuh… I really want to mark my territory…!]
Carpen was taking my hair and sniffing it.
[Ugh… stop that. Noah hates it, you know.]
Trying to push Carpen away was Tylant, or rather, Sonia.
[The moon is incredibly bright. It’s a shame it’s not red.]
Valoran smiled softly while gazing at the moon.
Luisar.
[Oh? Are you sulking? Huh? Are you sulking, old man?]
Brunhilde was teasing Luisar.
[You made a choice you won’t regret. Good job, Noah.]
And handing me a cheerful bouquet was Laila and Primavera.
“… Just what, how, how…”
The fireworks above drowned out my voice. And the sudden appearance of people, their voices drowned mine.
But Ser heard my voice.
[Explaining everything one by one is a hassle, so just think of it this way.]
She smiled.
A white smile she had never shown me before, one not shown to anyone else.
[A miracle has happened.]
Sirin, interjecting with bright laughter, added,
[Haha! That’s right, it is a miracle. The miracle made by the child and accomplished by Ser. But, we haven’t come back to life. Like the souls of those monsters of the end. Our souls exist only thanks to you and your divinity, Noah.]
[That’s true, so I’m… I feel the same. You get what I mean, right?]
Approaching me was Cartia, who walked over and popped a jelly into my mouth.
[Why are you looking like that? Didn’t you want to see your master?]
“Cart… Cartia… Cartia…”
[I wanted to see you just a bit. You little brat.]
Cartia’s embrace, though somewhat rough and wild, enveloped me completely.
[Is there a reason you didn’t answer me?]
After that, I could hear a somewhat dissatisfied voice from Ser.
[Oh. Is that so?]
Then, as if realizing something,
She walked over to the Great Sword I had momentarily leaned against.
Stopping in front of it, she spoke.
[Noah. I request a revision of what’s written in this book. Please append the title of Wizard before my name. Wizard Ser. Do you understand?]
Hearing that, the others couldn’t help but chuckle.
Freya, Sirin, Carpen, Sonia.
Even Rubia was all smiles.
And together, they approached where Ser stood.
[Hey, I think you should append the title of Hero to me too. What’s with the human Cartia?]
[Hmm, then I want to join the same level as Cartia, so ‘Hero’ sounds great.]
[I want… winter? Why… I said I preferred spring… Noah, that’s too much.]
[What?! Why do I have nothing?! At least give me something like ‘King of Beasts’ or something cool!!]
[Red Moon. Not bad, huh.]
[Commander? What the hell. Who told you that? Hey, don’t use that name, just write Brunhilde!]
[Hehe. Flower. Not bad at all. I like my name very much.]
[The child is right. I prefer the name you gave me than Sirinius. Sirin. Please write it as Sirin.]
[Noah. Just to emphasize, I am Wizard Ser. Please remember and correct it. Also, the description is a bit lacking. Could it be a bit more ornate and cool? The place I reached is the end of magic. The dream of every wizard. But… writing it like this? I’m highly disappointed.]
“Uh, uh…? I’m… I’m right here, you know?”
Why… why is everyone talking to the Great Sword?
“Um… Noah, I think this description suits just great. Thank you for writing it beautifully.”
Now even Rubia was talking to the Great Sword.
Why…?
“Ugh… I’m right here…!”
Boom— My scream echoed amid the exploding fireworks. At the same time, everyone’s gaze turned to me.
[Oh, is that so? I thought the Great Sword was your main body.]
“What… what did you say…?”
[Well, thinking back now, one could assume the Great Sword is the main body, right? Isn’t that right? Until you drew my sword, you couldn’t walk or see properly without it, you absolute loser.]
“A… loser…?”
[Isn’t it true? I think they all think the same. Hey, look at Rubia’s expression. She can’t deny it and is just holding her laughter back.]
“N-no, heh… it’s not like that… heh heh…”
A… loser who couldn’t walk or see properly without the Great Sword…
Uh… well, that’s… kinda true…
Still, even so…
“The Great Sword is not the main body!”
完.
