◇
As the scenery shifted, the lush, rich scent of greenery filled the air.
"……This place is……"
The location felt nostalgic, yet it was a sight far removed from the memories I held.
"It’s the spot where the Village of Dawn once stood," Shion told me.
"…………"
This was my hometown, destroyed by the Cult ten years ago.
Grass grew thick over the ruins of buildings and the cracked, once-paved roads. The place, where the voices of neighbors and the sounds of daily life once echoed, now offered nothing but the rustle of the wind through the trees.
"I’m sorry. Did you not want to come here?" Shion asked hesitantly, noticing my silence.
"……No, it’s not that. I knew I’d have to visit eventually. I was just scared for some reason. I kept making excuses to avoid it."
"……I see."
I answered Shion’s question as I took a step forward.
We walked without exchanging another word until we reached a patch of land where several crude graves stood. They were the headstones Oliver and I had made.
"Orun, why don't you say hello to your parents and the villagers?"
"You're right."
Following Shion's suggestion, I walked to the front of the graves and knelt.
"Um…… Dad, Mom, everyone. I’m home. I’m sorry it took me ten years to come back."
As I faced them, a flash of memories from everything I had experienced up until today surged through my mind.
"There’s so much I want to tell you, but for starters, I finally settled things with Beria. Though Philly did get in the way again at the very end."
I had expected my emotions to run high once I stood here, for better or worse. However, as I actually faced them, I felt an unexpected sense of calm.
"You know, I’ve had a dream for a long time. I never told any of you because I was afraid of how you’d react, but—I want to try to reach the Outside World. I want to see with my own eyes what has become of the world now that hundreds of years have passed since humanity vanished from it."
I confessed the dream I had only ever shared with Shion.
I had been too scared to say it back then, but now I wished I had. They might have teased me. They might have been exasperated. They might have even been angry. But I still should have said it.
Because now, no matter what I said, there would be no reaction.
Regret really did find a way to cling to everything.
"I know that to reach the Outside World, I have to break the Wall of the Principles of Magic. But if I did that as I am now, most of humanity would die. That’s why I’m going to solve this problem myself. I don’t want the world I was born and raised in to disappear either."
I voiced my resolve before them, hoping that they were rooting for me in heaven.
"I'll come back again before I set out for the Outside World. See you later, everyone."
Having finished my greetings, I slowly stood up and turned back to Shion, who had been watching over me.
"Are you finished?"
"Yeah. Shion, thank you for bringing me here."
"W-What’s with that? So suddenly. This wasn't a big deal."
When I expressed my heartfelt gratitude, Shion turned red and acted flustered.
"Hey, there’s one more place I want to visit. Will you come with me?"
I made the request to Shion, who was busy fanning her face with her hands.
"Eh? Another place? Yeah, of course!"
With Shion’s consent, I began walking toward our destination.
◇
I led Shion into the forest near the Village of Dawn. I came to a halt once we reached the spot. To any outsider, it was just an ordinary, unremarkable clearing in the woods.
"This place is……"
It seemed Shion realized where we were.
"Yeah. It’s the place where we made that promise on 'that day.' Hey, Shion…… can I ask for that again?"
I didn't need to be specific for her to understand. Shion nodded, a radiant smile on her face.
"Yeah! Leave it to me!"
Shion held her hand out and activated her magic. When she had shown me years ago, she had only just mastered Special-grade Magic, and it had taken time to cast. Now, the spell was complete in an instant.
"—【Blizzard】."
The scenery transformed. A silver world of frost spread out before my eyes.
"Yeah, I think I did it better than last time," Shion murmured with satisfaction as she surveyed the frozen landscape.
"……It really is beautiful," I admitted, the honest thought slipping out.
"A lot has happened since that day."
Gazing at the silver world, I reflected on everything that had led to this moment. My childhood in the Village of Dawn; the ten years spent in an explorer party with Oliver and Luna; and this past year since joining the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky. Truly, so much had happened.
Shion smiled and nodded in agreement.
"You're right. These were days we couldn't even have imagined back then. ……If I had told my younger self that in ten-odd years, I’d be trying to kill Orun, I’m sure I wouldn't have believed it."
"You mean what happened last year on the 30th Floor of the Great Labyrinth of the South. I was shocked that someone so strong existed. It really wouldn't have been strange if I’d died there."
"I thought you were already dead back then, so even when I felt traces of you, I forcibly suppressed the feeling. But when I saw the jet-black mana you manipulated, I knew it was you. My emotions were a total mess with happiness and confusion."
"Even though I’d lost my memories, the moment I saw your face, I was overcome with an indescribable emotion. If I’d regained my memories then, my head probably would have spun just as much as yours."
"……The next time we met was in the Regrif Territory, right after you finished fighting the Hero."
"That was it. Come to think of it, I remember the expression you had when I proposed we fight together. You were trying so hard to hide how happy you were."
"I-I couldn't help it! You just don't understand, Orun. You had just defeated a Hero you weren't supposed to be able to beat, and your eyes had turned black. Just as I started to have a faint hope that maybe you’d remembered me, the idea was immediately shot down. I had no choice but to cry in my heart. Then, to make it even harder, you asked for a joint struggle—I didn't know what kind of face to make! Besides, you were calling me 'Woman in the Robe' and all these other weird things!"
Shion protested, puffing out her cheeks.
At the time, Shion had asked, "Do you remember me?"
And I had coldly replied, "There's no way I'd forget—why did you think I'd forget you, who tried to kill my disciples?"
……Yeah. If I were in Shion's position, I would have been heartbroken too.
"Looking back, I treated you quite harshly."
"Exactly! You should reflect on it!"
"Yeah, I’m sorry. I swear I won't treat you like that ever again."
"……Eh!? Why the serious tone? Um, I understand the circumstances, and I’m not actually angry, you know?"
"I know that. But—it’s a fact that I kept hurting someone precious to me."
"…………Eh……"
"The next time we met was in the Hidden World. I was truly in despair then. If you hadn't been there, I never would have stood up again. Even if I’d returned, I would have been overrun by the Cult. You saved me, Shion. Just like you did just now, by scolding me when I became narrow-minded. It’s been driven home to me again and again. You are a special existence to me."
"W-Wait! Seriously, wait……!"
As I laid bare my true feelings, Shion stopped me, her face turning bright red.
"…………"
I waited for her to speak as she sat there with her head bowed. Finally, she looked up at me, her eyes moist.
"Hey, if you’re going to take that back, now is the time…… Okay? Because if you don't, I’m going to take those words literally."
Shion's voice trembled as she spoke.
"You can take them exactly as they are. —I love you, Shion."
I hadn't intended to say it just yet. However, standing in this place where we had made our childhood promise and reflecting on our journey, I couldn't hold the feeling back any longer.
A single tear rolled down Shion's cheek.
"……Really?"
"It’s the truth. Shion, you are the one I cherish most."
"I know you aren't the kind of person to say things like this lightly. But words alone make me anxious. ……So please, make me feel safe."
Shion looked up at me, her eyes wavering.
Without a word, I leaned in closer. I pressed my lips to Shion’s as she closed her eyes. For a brief moment, time stood still for us, and I felt as though our hearts were truly connecting.
When we slowly pulled apart, Shion wore a deep, radiant smile.
"I’m so happy, I feel like I could die……"
"That would be a problem. I want you by my side from now on. Besides, we still have that promise to go to the Outside World together."
"……Yeah, that’s right. It all starts now, doesn't it?"
"Exactly. There are still many things we should do, and many things we must do. For now, I have to focus on those, but I want to make memories together so that ten years from now, we can laugh about the time we spent apart."
"I'll help you. When we’re an old man and an old lady, I want us to look back on this as a wonderful memory. For that, we have to make sure this has a happy ending!"
"Right. And to do that, first……"
"We retake Kyokutou."
"Yeah. Kyokutou holds the foundation of the principles of magic—the Phoenix Shrine. For my objective, I need to secure it quickly. Besides, retaking Kyokutou is the long-held wish of Fuuka and Haruto-san. It’s for the sake of those two, who have helped me so much. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got."
"I'm going with you! Fuuka is my best friend. Besides, if it’s necessary to fulfill my 'promise' to you, there’s no reason for me to stay behind!"
"Yeah. I’m counting on you."
"Mhm! Leave it to me!"
For my own goals, to fulfill my promise to Shion, and to grant the wishes of my comrades, I would continue to fight with all my soul.
At this moment, I was branded the "Enemy of the World" by nearly everyone alive. Looking only at the situation, I was at a massive disadvantage.
But strangely, I didn't feel like I would lose. I had Shion and my other reliable comrades with me.
I was by no means alone.
Sunlight peeking through the clouds illuminated the silver world. As we looked at each other and shared a laugh, we leaned in close once again—.
Thank you for reading to the end.
This concludes Chapter Eight!
In the current plan, I believe this marks the end of Part One. I have written about 1 million characters to reach this point, and I cannot thank the readers who have stuck with me this far enough.
While I have a roadmap toward the conclusion, the goal is still quite a way off.
Regarding the update for the next chapter—the start of Chapter Nine—it will be sometime next month! I apologize for not being able to give a specific date, but I plan to resume posting in February. Updates will remain on Fridays at 19:00.
As mentioned before, Chapter Nine will be set primarily in Kyokutou. Centering on Fuuka’s journey to reclaim her home, I also hope to delve deeper into the world, the labyrinths, and the true identity of "that thing" regarding magic beasts.
And surprisingly, Orun and Philly—who have yet to exchange a single word—are finally scheduled to face each other!
I will continue to do my best so that you can enjoy the story. Please look forward to it!
I am always happy just to have you read the story, but honestly, receiving your thoughts and feedback makes me even happier. I would be very grateful if you could share your impressions whenever you feel like it!