The World You Saved

Perhaps it’s because unrealistic things have been happening too frequently lately.

Even the most absurd imaginations seemed like they could actually happen.

Therefore…

“D-Don’t tell me you’re planning to keep me trapped in this Ferris wheel until I agree to help you—”

“No, nothing like that. Even I wouldn’t do such a thing to a child.”

It was unavoidable to voice the unpleasant imagination that suddenly filled my mind.

Almost simultaneously, a voice denied my words and instead asked if I’d been watching too many movies.

With nothing to say, I blushed for no reason.

“I guess that’s what makes you a child, so innocent.”

What followed was a small chuckle.

Feeling like I would get even more embarrassed if I kept quiet, I asked in a crawling voice what she wanted to talk about.

Either way, the person sitting in front of me now was the sole heir to a global corporation.

It seemed unlikely that what this somewhat extraordinary person wanted to tell me would be ordinary.

The problem was.

“Lua, are you… really the hero who sank the Tower?”

The question that followed was extraordinary in a different way than I had expected.

“I did hear about what happened in the Tower from Guild Master Genesis, but I wanted to hear it directly from you.”

Since she already knew all about my such-and-such appearance witnessed by the guild master of another of the Three Major Guilds.

“Yes, I did sink the Tower. But… please don’t call me a hero, it’s embarrassing.”

In the end, I nodded and revealed a fact that until now only a very few people knew.

But Tine’s curiosity didn’t end with that one question.

She continued to ask about the monsters of the Tower’s upper floors that I had defeated alone.

That is, she even asked about the moments when I was temporarily synchronized with my first playthrough self through the power of the holy artifact.

…How does she even know about such things?

“Guild Master Genesis said he already saw the monsters defeated, right?”

“Um, Tine. Are you perhaps close with Guild Master Genesis?”

“Ah, well. It’s not so much that we’re close, but more that he’s close with money, you know…”

The way she trailed off looked very suspicious.

No matter how I thought about it, there seemed to be no particular reason why the heir to the world’s most successful corporation would be interested in what happened in the Tower…

‘That… the Tower isn’t as dangerous as you’re worried about. That sister of yours is also an extremely strong person.’

‘I know she’s strong. I know, but… I still think it would be better if Uncle Rier helped…’

…Come to think of it, there was a reason.

I was the one who gave Tine a reason to be interested in the Tower.

Then, I opened my mouth to ask with a suspicion.

“Did you have Guild Master Genesis stalk Uncle Rier?”

“S-Stalk? I just asked him to observe what kind of activities he was doing in the Tower.”

“And how did you know Uncle Rier went to the Tower?”

“The coordinates of Rier’s airship showed up right in front of the Tower and… oops.”

She inadvertently revealed that she was tracking Rier’s airship coordinates.

She seemed not to realize that it was already too late even though she belatedly covered her own mouth.

This was getting scary.

Why do almost all the people I meet have no middle ground?

…Maybe I’m the problem?

Is my ability to judge people practically zero…?

“A-Anyway. So you’re saying you’re the one who defeated that Petrification Colossus monster?”

“Yes. Maybe because I targeted its weakness, it wasn’t as difficult as I thought.”

“Then, how did you know that the Petrification Colossus’s weakness was around its chest area?”

“Ah, th-that was just… I studied hard.”

“Even the weakness of a monster you might encounter only once in a lifetime?”

“…Yes.”

It’s not a lie.

I had already experienced most monsters, and even more trivial and detailed things were forcibly injected into me by Odd.

Most of the various questions that followed were similar questions.

So, after somehow answering all the various questions.

This time, a curiosity I had never thought about reached my ears.

“Why don’t you let people know that you saved the world, Lua? Most people in the world don’t know about your hard work.”

“I… don’t know? I never really thought I needed to let people know.”

The fact that people were no longer in danger was already enough for me. Tine’s face briefly became complicated at the sincerity I uttered without thinking.

What followed was a story about one of the reasons why Tine liked Rier.

“You’ve heard the story of Rier entering a rampaging dungeon alone, right?”

“Yes. I’ve heard about it. But isn’t that just because he likes to fight…?”

“Anyway, he ended up saving people. About 50 people. And yet he didn’t receive any reward and left for another dungeon the very next day.”

She said she couldn’t help but find it so cool how he left without even receiving words of gratitude. I swallowed what I was about to say as Tine’s eyes became distant, reminiscing as if she had been there at that very moment.

“But in a way, I wished Rier would receive even a tiny bit of reward. It’s not easy to fight monsters.”

“That’s… right. It’s not an easy thing.”

“I want more people to be grateful to Rier, to know that Rier saved people. Even at this very moment.”

I just nodded and listened attentively in front of Tine, who had now transformed into a fanatic praising Rier.

Either way, right now there was nothing I could do except wait for Tine’s story to end.

However, not long after.

“Not just Rier, but the child who saved all the hunters in the Tower. No, actually, the child who saved this very world.”

“Doesn’t that child deserve to receive gratitude from more people? And shouldn’t more people know about the child’s hard work?”

“They say good deeds and kindness need no reward. But my—and my father’s—belief is that at the very least, one should receive words of gratitude, no matter how small.”

Tine’s father.

That is, the words of the chairman of the global corporation Pelia were being conveyed through Tine.

“If the child permits, I want to let the world know about that child’s achievements. If that’s not possible, I at least want to leave it in the records.”

“What do you… think, Lua?”

I couldn’t speak for a while under the most serious gaze I had ever seen.

Most of it was because I hadn’t anticipated the time, place, and person who would bring up such words at all.

It was only after some time passed that I unconsciously shifted my gaze slightly toward the scenery below.

Like that, the scenery beyond the Ferris wheel window that filled my eyes was the same as always.

The noisy yet joyful atmosphere unique to amusement parks, with no trace of anxiety or worry.

Why did my throat begin to tighten at some point? Just moments ago, I was really fine.

“Everything down there is the world you protected, Lua. So…”

Don’t let the world remain unaware any longer. At those words delivered with the clearest gaze ever, my vision turned misty.

A feeling I had never experienced in my life, strange as strange can be and odd as odd can be.

Yet not so bad. A ticklish, rippling feeling somewhere in my chest.

-Nod.

Made me nod once instead of shaking my head.

“…I’m sorry. I couldn’t refuse. And she already knew I was a fake daughter…”

As soon as I reunited with the person who had been waiting for about an hour, I first offered a sincere apology.

I also said that she didn’t seem like she would back down no matter what I said.

Sure enough, a faint sigh was exhaled almost simultaneously.

However, unlike what I thought, he didn’t get angry or try to argue.

“Was it so difficult to say you disliked Tine that you cried? Well, for a child who was willing to give up her life out of concern for her sister, I suppose it’s understandable.”

“…That’s not why I cried.”

“That’s good to hear. Either way, I don’t want to get scolded by Cinia for making you cry.”

I summoned the courage to speak to the deep voice that said he would have to think about what to do next.

I suggested that since we had tried every possible method, instead of continuing to refuse, maybe Rier should try changing his mind this time.

“It’ll be hard to find someone who loves you as much as Tine does, Uncle Rier. So, couldn’t you… meet her at least a little bit?”

“…I know she’s a good person. But I know myself too well to be the good husband Tine expects. It would probably hurt Tine too.”

“Y-You can adjust to each other. It’s not like you to give up without even trying.”

I whispered in Rier’s ear that in Tine’s case, she was actually attracted to his fighting style.

When I added that she said even seeing him once a month would be fine, even his fierce gaze wavered momentarily.

“So, what exactly is her reason for going this far…”

“It’s because she likes you, Uncle Rier. I heard she’s liked you since she was quite young.”

However, it was already quite late to continue persuading Rier.

The thought of having to endure that rough flight again and return to Asha made me momentarily dizzy, but there was no choice…

-Whrrr.

“I’ve come to pick you up, Ms. Lua. Asha was worried that your return was getting too late.”

Or not.

“Sa-savior. Tana is my savior.”

“…Savior?”

I unconsciously clung to Tana’s leg to prevent her from escaping.

Though there was no need to cling since she had come to pick me up anyway, I just wanted to cling.

In fact, it was more because the thought of no longer having to ride in a recklessly piloted airship made rational judgment impossible.

In exchange, though it’s a bit of a stretch to call it that, I suggested that Tine ride in Rier’s airship instead of me.

Although I still couldn’t understand why she would volunteer for such hardship, since she insisted, I had no choice.

“Wait, what about my opinion?”

“You can give her a ride just once, right? We’re going in the same direction anyway.”

“…Now I see you’re not my daughter but Tine’s. When did you switch sides?”

Not long after, I waved goodbye to the two people heading toward the airship on the opposite side.

And from Tine, who suddenly turned toward me.

“Tomorrow morning! Look forward to it!!”

Such words.

Words confusing enough to perplex anyone who didn’t know the context were heard.

“…What is she talking about now?”

“Ah, that’s… a secret.”

Honestly, I didn’t know what Tine was planning to do either.

I couldn’t tell Tana anything as she looked at me with eyes half questioning, half suspicious.

“B-But it’s not anything dangerous. And probably not reckless either.”

“…Probably?”

Almost simultaneously, I forcibly led Tana into the airship with the crescent moon pattern, saying I was hungry after having fun all day.

There was nothing else I could do.

Nothing else I wanted to do, either.

I just… hoped it would be a good day until the end.

“Lu-Lua. Wake, wake up!”

“Mmm… What’s the matter?”

It was already late morning with the sun high in the sky.

Perhaps because I had spent the whole day at the amusement park yesterday, I woke up later than usual.

The person who never complained no matter when I woke up was looking at me with a noticeably flustered expression.

I unconsciously turned my head toward where Asha’s index finger was pointing.

【Next news: The individual who destroyed the “Phantom World” and the “Tower” that appeared in the sky all over the world about half a year ago is—】

“…What is that.”

For some reason, stories about me were literally pouring out from the electronic billboard visible through the huge window of the hospital room.

【As seen in the video footage just now, the “Nameless One,” who until now existed only in records, had revealed its appearance, but thanks to Ms. Lua and her companions—】

Still thinking I might be dreaming, I unconsciously pinched my own cheek.

…It hurt.

In other words…

“I’m doomed.”