The Sanctuary was a small island compared to the God Realm at large. Even so, it covered a fair amount of ground... yet, I knew. I had a feeling Shiro-san would be here.
The Sanctuary was still bathed in starlight. This place, where flowers bloomed in every nook and cranny beneath my feet, was where Shiro-san and I had first met.
Standing at the edge of the flower field and silhouetted against the stars, Shiro-san gazed down at the God Realm. She looked so much like a masterpiece of art that I found myself staring in spite of myself.
"……Kaito-san? Why are you here?"
"Erm, there was something I absolutely had to tell you, Shiro-san..."
Though her eyes wavered slightly at my appearance, Shiro-san asked in her usual expressionless, monotonous voice.
"Something you... must tell me?"
"……Yes."
As I nodded, Elise-san’s previous fortune came to mind. The Door in Reverse Position... true victory wasn't something I could obtain simply by beating Shiro-san. I had to find the Key to Open the Door.
I had been thinking about that constantly during the Final Trial. What was the key? What kind of action would constitute a victory in the true sense?
I’d found what seemed to be the key, but I lacked the confidence to know for sure if it was the right answer.
It was just an intuitive feeling, but... this was probably my first and last chance. I could only turn the key once. If I made a mistake, that door would never open again. I felt that Shiro-san, of all people, would seal it shut forever.
That was why I hesitated for a moment. But... well, in the end, all I could do was throw my honest feelings at her. I didn't know if it was the right or wrong answer, but I was going to convey the feelings currently welling up in my heart to Shiro-san.
"……'If I had been the one you met first... If I had been the one who saved you... would I have become someone special to you?'"
"——!?"
The moment I spoke those words, obvious agitation flickered in Shiro-san’s eyes.
"……I don't remember where or from whom I heard those words. But the words themselves remained etched in my heart. As I thought... those were the words you said to me, weren't they, Shiro-san?"
"……"
Those words had been stuck in my head ever since the Six Kings Festival. Even though I couldn't remember the source, I felt they were words I must never forget.
Shiro-san said nothing. However, I was certain. Shiro-san was the one who had uttered those words, and her deepest wish was contained within them.
"My answer to that question is this: Even if the order we met in were different, I’m sure nothing would change."
"……"
For a moment, a shade of sadness appeared on Shiro-san's face, but my next words transformed it into something else entirely.
"Because you’re already special to me, Shiro-san. You’re a unique, one-of-a-kind existence. I can’t imagine anyone being more special than you are right now. So, no, it wouldn't change."
"……Eh?"
"Honestly, I’ll just say it plainly: you’re so incredibly airheaded and outrageous that there’s no way anyone could ever replace you."
"……Eh? Eh?"
I was witnessing something incredibly rare. Shiro-san was visibly bewildered. It was as if her understanding couldn't keep up with what was happening.
"……Special? Me? But... I haven't saved you, Kaito-san..."
"You're awfully fixated on that part... Then, look, who was it that treated me when I was heavily injured in Rigforresia?"
"……It was me."
"Then that means I was saved by Shiro-san."
"……Does it... work like that?"
"It does."
Shiro-san seemed remarkably obsessed with the idea of saving me. So, even though it was a bit forced, I decided to push through in that direction.
Of course, I understood that the "saving" Shiro-san spoke of had a different meaning, but since nothing could be done about that unless I truly erased my memories, I would have to make her see reason another way.
"……And one more thing. Do you remember? When we first met... you said you would give me whatever I wanted, and I turned it down, right?"
"Yes."
"I'm saying this late, but thank you. It was because you presented that choice to me that I was finally able to understand what I truly wanted."
"……"
"But, well... it's like this."
Seeing Shiro-san's agitation, I paused my barrage of words. I stepped directly in front of her to speak my heart.
"……It doesn't matter. The order we met, or what was done... Shiro-san, you've helped me so many times. I was often swung around by your whims, but the time we spent together was truly fun and made me happy. I was drawn to the person named Shallow Vernal, and no one else. So, I'll say it as many times as it takes. You have long since become special to me... and you are a unique existence that no one could ever replace."
"……"
When I told her with a smile that she was a special and one-of-a-kind existence, Shiro-san's eyes widened, and she fell silent. Then, after a short while, she suddenly looked down.
"……Fu, fufu……"
"Shiro-san?"
"……Haha, fufufu, is that so... I was already special to you... Ahaha, even though I'm supposed to be able to read hearts... there are things I just don't understand."
I’d seen her smile before, but this was the first time I’d ever seen Shiro-san laugh so joyfully from the bottom of her heart.
After laughing for a while, Shiro-san suddenly turned her gaze toward the sky of the Sanctuary.
"……Ah... Truly... I am glad I created this world."
"……"
"In this world, there are things I do not know... and things I cannot do..."
Then, Shiro-san turned her eyes—faintly shimmering with tears—toward me and spoke with a voice thick with emotion.
"……I have... an Unending Story... Oh, how..."
I will probably never forget the expression Shiro-san wore today for as long as I live. Standing in the flower field illuminated by starlight, the Goddess wore a surprisingly soft smile.
"……How... happy I am."
The expression on her face as she spoke, her voice almost like a song as she claimed that it was happiness to have things she could not do... was so helplessly beautiful that it left me speechless.
"Thank you, Kaito-san... and congratulations. My beloved Singularity... you have certainly defeated the God of the End. For the first time now... I am standing in a place that is not a conclusion."
I didn't quite understand the meaning behind her words, but it seemed the key I found had been the correct answer. I see... it seemed an incredible treasure had been hidden beyond that door after all.
Being able to see Shiro-san's current expression was, in itself, the greatest reward of the trials. Her smile was soft enough to make me truly believe that.
The Blessing of the Creator God has evolved into Shallow Vernal's Love.
World Creation Magic has become available.
However, Magic Power is insufficient... Overwhelmingly insufficient. It is insufficient to an appalling degree.
Kaito has learned Little Epilogue.
However, the person himself has not noticed... It is better if he remains unaware.
New Title Acquired: Unending Story
- As long as Shallow Vernal exists, Kaito’s story will not end.
- In short, this is an out-of-the-question combo where Shallow Vernal, the Last Story, also cannot end no matter what.
Serious-senpai: "Wait! I have a lot I want to say... but just one thing... since there doesn't seem to be any more seriousness left, can I go home?"
???: "Rejected."
Serious-senpai: "……It's over."