Chapter 146: At the Twilight Beach Where the Moon and Sun Fill the Air

I wanted everyone within my sight to be smiling.

It was a wish I’d harbored since I was a child—though, obviously, it was a pipe dream. A life where people are constantly smiling sounds a little terrifying, anyway.

But I couldn't help but wish for it.

I wanted the people around me to enjoy themselves, to smile even just a little. I didn’t want them to hurt; I didn’t want them to cry. It was that kind of wish.

People might call it hypocrisy. I knew I was being self-righteous. Even so, I had aimed for a world where everyone could live that way.

Then I learned of tragedies I’d never imagined.

I met girls who possessed Scriptures that forced them to live as villains.

I saw the regret of those who had been fallen into evil, left with nothing but the ability to take from others.

Every time I met people like that, I couldn't just walk away. I chose to stay with them. I had no obligation to do so, but I never forgot that simple wish—to give them even a moment of peace.

As those thoughts drifted through my mind, I realized I was hearing the sound of waves.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself on an unfamiliar Twilight Beach.

The murmur of the surf, the song of birds... as far as I could trace my memories, the last place I’d been was definitely the ocean, but I knew this wasn't it. I had no idea why I was here.

"…Is it stopped?"

The sun was melting into the far horizon, staining the world a deep vermillion, but the scene was frozen.

It was a fleeting, vivid sight. Between the sun that showed no sign of setting and the quiet waves, I couldn't feel an ounce of reality.

Ah, this is a dream.

It made sense. I’d been put to sleep, after all. Besides, a place like this couldn't exist.

When I looked up, a moon was hanging in the sky.

This was some unknown, alternate world.

"Beautiful," I muttered.

I didn't really have the time to be admiring the view, but my eyes were captivated nonetheless. I might have been dead. There was no reason for her not to deliver a finishing blow after putting me to sleep, and no guarantee that the whims of a woman that powerful wouldn't change.

"…I’m exhausted."

The atmosphere here was strange—realistic, yet accompanied by a heavy sense of unreality. I suddenly remembered that I used to like this time of day.

Struggling was pointless in a place like this. I sat down on the sand and decided to wait for my eyes to open on their own without doing a thing.

The only thing on my mind was how tired I felt.

Maybe staying in this world wouldn't be so bad. Maybe I could just rest for a while.

"————"

Then, a song reached me. I spun around reflexively, and my breath caught at the sight.

They were beautiful—that was the only way to describe it.

Luna and Sol were there.

They were playing innocently in a space illuminated by both the setting sun and the full moon. Mysterious and radiant… the two who had always supported me were right there.

"Right. I have to keep going."

Seeing them, I was finally able to choose to wake up.

I’m a simple man. Truly a fool, an idiot, a single-celled organism… because just seeing this sight was enough to make me think I could try again.

No words were exchanged.

I just watched the two of them playing together. That was all it took.

"Alright, time to wake up."

I’d give it just a little more effort. I had to defeat her. I felt like I could finally take another step forward.