A Thought for Your Eventual Rest

"Hey, Balor. You doing okay?"

"Master Reima? I am... but what brings you here?"

It was a holiday—right in the middle of summer break, actually. I’d found myself heading toward the church, unable to get Balor out of my head. She was praying, as usual, but the moment she sensed my presence, she cut her devotions short and made her way toward me. Even with the blindfold on, her movements were unerring.

"Whoops, excuse me. I stood up too quickly..."

"It’s fine," I said, waving off her apology. "Stay there. I’ll come to you."

"I feel terrible making you... Ah, you’re as fast as ever."

I made sure to let my footsteps fall heavily so she could track me. I stopped directly in front of her, then circled around to her back.

"I’m going to take the blindfold off for a second."

"Wait—isn't that dangerous?"

"Relax. I talked to everyone. I’ve currently got [Resistance Bestowal] active on the whole group. We’re safe."

"Why would you do such a thing? The mana consumption alone for the entire group must be..."

"Don’t worry about it," I muttered. "It was just something I wanted to do."

I reached around and untied the cloth sealing her sight. For the first time in a while, I looked her in the eyes. They were amethyst—the hue of the Dead Eye. To anyone else, that gaze was a death sentence. To me, they were just beautiful.

"Yeah, no signs of strain," I noted. "I was worried since you keep them covered 24/7."

"It’s safer that way," she replied softly. "But more importantly, what is this about?"

"I wanted to thank you again. And maybe... go for a walk? Things got chaotic the other day and we didn't get any time to ourselves. I figured we were overdue."

"I... I would like that. But are you sure? I feel as though I am receiving far more than I deserve."

"Give me a break. You worked your ass off the other day, didn't you? Besides, I promised the others I'd make time for them too. But mostly, I just want you to see more of this world, Balor."

She spent most of her time cooped up in this church, avoiding contact with others as much as possible. She knew how dangerous her eyes were. It was an act of kindness on her part, but a lonely one. In a world this loud and lively, it felt wrong for her to stay tucked away in the shadows.

"So, we’re going exploring. Where to?"

"Is someone like me... truly allowed?"

"Stop with the 'someone like me' talk," I said, a bit more sharply than intended. "I tell you this all the time: have some damn confidence."

"I do not wish to hear that from you, Master Reima."

"Well... fair point."

"If you are going to be that way with me, then I shall be just as blunt with you. Understood?"

She’s getting harder to handle, I thought. Our dynamic had changed drastically since we first met. Seeing her express her own will so clearly was a sign of growth, but it was also... ticklish. Or maybe just awkward.

"Fine, whatever. Since we're out, let’s go see something you don't get to see every day."

"I know what exists in this realm, but I have seen almost none of it with my own eyes."

"Then we've got a lot of ground to cover. I wonder how many spots there actually are..."

This world had been remodeled so many times to accommodate my Summoned Beasts that I’d lost track of its geography. There were World Trees, volcanoes, and oceans. Honestly, as the owner, I probably understood the layout the least.

"In terms of area, I believe the Norse and Greece sectors occupy the most space," Balor offered.

"The Indian Faction and the Demon Faction just sort of live however they want. And the Japanese Faction... they’re so obsessed they’ve even reproduced the four seasons. They’re a law unto themselves."

As a guy from Japan, that area should have felt comfortable, but the sheer chaos of that group usually made me want to turn around and walk the other way. Their routine consisted of drinking, fighting, and then holding a banquet to celebrate the fighting. Most of them were downing booze six times every two days. We had a blacksmith in the group who hated alcohol, but they didn't give a damn; they just kept drinking.

"It does usually smell of sake over there," Balor agreed. "Whenever I pass through on a walk, they always try to drag me into their antics."

"Want me to tell them to lay off?"

"No, it’s fine. It’s actually quite fun. It’s loud, and everyone is always laughing."

"If you're okay with it, then I guess it's fine. Anyway, let’s go see the cherry blossoms."

"The blossoms? Those are the plants from your home country, aren't they? I heard they had them in Wakuni as well. Are they here too?"

"Apparently, there’s a massive one. I only found out about it a little while ago."

"They really do whatever they want, don't they?"

Apparently, Merli and the others had been using it as a spot for flower viewing. It had basically turned into the local tavern. I’d seen it when I went to cast the resistance buffs, and it had floored me. It was an Ayakashi Cherry Blossom. It grew by gorging itself on everyone’s overflowing mana, which apparently made it sturdy enough that even Balor’s gaze couldn't wither it.

When I told her that, her eyes actually widened. She agreed to go immediately.

"Come to think of it, Master Reima, do you remember? Our meeting was... quite strange."

"Yeah... If I recall, I got dropped off of Berg and landed right in front of you. We ended up in a hell of a fight, didn't we?"

"Fufu, yes. You got so angry because I tried to destroy my own eyes. And then, you started praising them without a hint of hesitation. I remember it all. 'Those eyes, beautiful as jewels'—that’s what you said."

"Wait, did I actually say something that embarrassing?"

"I remember every single syllable. Every word you’ve ever given me is etched into my mind."

This is bad. I knew I’d said some things in the heat of the moment, but having her recite them back to me was agonizing. I felt my face heating up. Did I say anything else cringeworthy? Just hearing that much makes me want to crawl into a hole.

"Fufu. Your face is getting red."

"Shut up. Come on, let’s just get going."

"Yes. Your Balor will follow you anywhere."

I watched the scenery pass by, but I didn't take my eyes off him.

He was the one person my power could never kill. My most precious person. I didn't want to use a word as cheap as "fate" to describe us, but meeting him was the greatest joy of my life. He was the one who gave me courage.

"Master Reima, I am happy I met you. You acknowledged me, gave me a voice, and gave me a place to stay. Thank you for making me one of your companions. Truly."

"Where is this coming from? Stop saying embarrassing stuff."

"Words have to be spoken if you want them to be heard. My, your face is very red today."

I watched his face, a sight I rarely got to see, flush a deep crimson. My smile deepened. I would keep killing for his sake. I could never forgive an enemy; I certainly couldn't forgive anyone who tried to distort the "death" he was owed.

"You know, Master Reima? I’m just happy to be of use to you."

Death is a cruel, terrible, wretched thing. But it is also a kindness. It is a parting, an end, a result that can never be undone.

And yet.

It is also the gentle, sacred rest that comes only once. It is the peace at the end of a journey.

"When you finally go to sleep someday, I will be there to pray for you. So, until then... and for everything after, I’m in your care."

Parting is lonely. I didn't even want to think about a world without him. But to deny him that end would be to steal his peace.

So, I offered a silent blessing. Thinking of the man who would one day sleep in peace, I whispered my heart's truth.

I love you, Master Reima.