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And so...
Having finished her story, Nanalicia quietly closed her eyes.
Silence descended upon the room.
Her past was far too grand, far too heavy for words. I could only sit there, utterly stunned.
"…Um, wait a second," I finally managed to croak out. My voice was terribly hoarse. "Then… the Licia who was inside the ring is…"
My gaze drifted toward Nanalicia’s left hand. The ring was right there.
"…"
Luka’s eyes widened in realization. "Licia, how did you…?"
"I hate to admit it, but Licia is essentially half of who I am," Nanalicia replied, offering a slightly troubled smile.
"Half of you, Nana…?" I tilted my head, trying to process the concept.
Then—
"That’s exactly right."
A spirited, youthful voice spoke up—one that sounded like a younger version of the woman before me. The ring pulsed with a faint light, and the figure of a girl materialized beside her.
She had sky-blue hair and features that were a mirror image of Nanalicia’s. However, her expression was far more uninhibited, carrying a hint of maturity.
"Licia…!" I blurted out in surprise.
A beautiful girl had actually emerged from the ring. Licia—if that was indeed her name—shrugged her shoulders and gave a light chuckle.
"Well, it’s certainly a bit complicated." She placed a hand over her heart. "I’m essentially the 'past' that was severed from Nanalicia."
"The past…?"
"Yes." She looked off into the distance, a wistful glint in her eyes. "The 'me' from back then desperately wanted to cut ties with everything. I wanted to leave behind the girl who had been summoned by the Hero and obsessed over by him—including the very name 'Licia' that served as the symbol of that life."
I listened in silence as she continued.
"The name 'Nana' was a gift from Minato," Nanalicia added with a gentle smile. "For me, it represented the beginning of a new life. That’s why, when the world was reset, I made a wish. I wished to leave my past self behind."
That wish had apparently triggered a miracle. Licia turned her gaze toward the ring.
"This ring is a Divine Artifact, an object directly connected to God. My heart—the heart of the severed 'Licia'—found a home inside it. To put it simply, I’m a manifestation of Nanalicia’s past, her memories, and just a tiny bit of lingering regret."
"Regret…?" I muttered.
Licia smirked at my words. "Of course there is," she said, her gaze softening. "After all, I’m still the same Nana from those days."
Nanalicia nodded calmly in agreement. "But I am Nana now."
"And I am also Nana," Licia countered.
"Exactly. Just because we were separated doesn't mean you've ceased to exist."
"…I see." I crossed my arms and nodded to myself. "So, in the end, you’re both the same Nana, but you’ve developed into two distinct personalities."
"Something like that," Licia laughed.
"I finally get it!" My expression brightened. There was a certain satisfaction in finally solving a mystery that had been nagging at me. "Still, that’s incredible. Being able to actually talk to your own past like this."
Nanalicia narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression peaceful. "Yes. Thanks to her, I’ve been able to truly look toward the future."
Licia let out a small giggle of her own. "But you know, since we technically exchanged rings, doesn't that mean Luka and I are engaged?"
"Wait, what?"
Nana’s reaction was immediate and sharp. "It seems being named by that Trash Bug has made you quite delusional, hasn't it, Licia?"
"Oh, please. If I had been the one here first, I would’ve forgotten all about the Demon King and just spent my time being lovey-dovey with Luka."
"…I’ll kill you."
"Are you two… okay?" I asked tentatively.
The heavy atmosphere from before had softened, or perhaps it had just taken a turn for the chaotic.
"Luka and I are already married, you know," Nana insisted. "What you’re doing is outright husband-stealing!"
"I’m half of you, so that basically makes me half-married to him anyway."
"…I am definitely killing you."
"Both of you, please calm down…"
Is this what they call a harem?
The oppressive weight that had been crushing my chest began to lift, and I felt my spirits rising. Even so, the reality of Nanalicia’s journey was now firmly engraved in my heart. I knew now just how much she had endured to reach this point.
But if we could truly start over—if the three of us could walk this path together from now on…
I hadn't remembered everything yet, but the thought made me genuinely happy.