Chapter 114: Interlude – Mana’s Story (4)

A year later, Esther left the world, as she had previously declared.

The expression “left the world” carries two meanings here.

One is known only to Mana and Esther herself—that she sacrificed her life to seal Fenin.

The other meaning, accepted by the rest of the world, is that she “ascended to the heavens, leaving the earth.”

According to records, Saintess Esther Roderick received a divine oracle from the goddess on the 500th day after the Dimensional War ended.

It reportedly said, “You may return now.”

When Esther responded to the voice, white wings sprouted from her back, and she soared into the sky before everyone’s eyes.

She became light—a warm light like the sun illuminating all the land.

Like an angel returning to the heavens after fulfilling her mission, or a child reuniting with her divine mother,

Esther thus proved beyond a doubt that she was indeed a true saintess before taking her leave from history.

Thousands witnessed the event firsthand, making it an indisputable historical record.

It’s an event often placed as the grand finale in most tales of Hero Lier.

The day, later named “Ascension Day” by the Church of the Goddess, became a global holy celebration.

However, the truth is, it was a perfectly orchestrated hoax created by Mana and Esther behind the scenes.

The principle was simple.

While everyone was mesmerized by Esther’s radiant figure, Mana used invisibility and cast magic to stage the ascension.

A transformation spell to make wings appear, a flight spell to ascend to the heavens, and a spatial displacement spell to ensure Esther vanished seamlessly.

While Mana handled 90% of the work, Esther poured every ounce of her divine power into light, ensuring no flaws in the process could be noticed.

The reason these two, typically so honest, resorted to deception was to spare the world from mourning Esther’s death.

If she had taken her own life quietly, the shock would have been immense, and countless speculations would have arisen.

There was even the risk of Lier being unfairly blamed, given how their relationship had subtly drawn public attention.

To prevent this, Esther asked Mana to disguise her death as a sacred event, ensuring the world wouldn’t grieve her absence as a tragedy.

She wanted the world to continue living in her spirit even after her passing.

For the first and last time in her life, Esther told a lie—a monumental one—for the sake of the world.

Just as her previous companion, Sien, had once done for them.

That night, Esther left these final words to Mana:

“Thank you for helping me, Mana. Let’s reunite in heaven someday. Until then, I hope you live happily and in good health.”

With that, she swallowed poison and peacefully fell into eternal slumber.

Mana buried Esther’s body in a place only she knew—a mountain overlooking Esther’s birthplace.

It was her way of paying respect to a saintess who had devoted her life to humanity until the very end.

Thus, one fewer person remained.

Seventy years later, Lier passed away of natural causes.

The greatest human of all time grew old like anyone else and closed his eyes with a smile, saying he had no regrets.

He departed in the very way Esther had wished.

Another person was gone.

A hundred years after that, Gareum abdicated his throne.

Despite being hailed as the eternal king of the North and an ageless warrior, even he couldn’t withstand the weight of accumulating years.

Feeling his death approaching, he abandoned his crown and disappeared with only an axe in hand.

His body was never found.

Another person was gone.

Fifty years later, Exia ceased functioning entirely.

After returning to Elpidion, she had grown visibly melancholic and withdrawn.

Though she endured out of a sense of duty when three remained, with only two, it became unbearable.

She refused even Mana’s offer to take her out of the temple and eventually fell into a deep, endless sleep.

Another person was gone.

From six to five.

From five to four.

From four to three.

From three to two.

From two to one.

The last one standing, as everyone predicted, was the immortal elf, Mana.

Her race, blessed with eternal youth, showed no signs of aging even as her comrades passed away one by one.

If anything, she grew more resplendent with time.

But Mana knew her youth was a curse rather than a blessing.

How long must she live? How long must she not die?

Why couldn’t she share the same fleeting time as her companions?

These thoughts tormented her soul every night, urging her toward extreme choices.

Without the sense of duty to uphold the school Esther left behind, she might have ended her life.

That’s how profound the emptiness her friends’ absence left behind was.

She finally understood why so many elves warned, “Never give your heart to humans.”

The silver lining was that around this time, printing technology developed, leading to a blossoming creative culture.

Interestingly, Mana found solace in depictions of her old comrades in stories written by others.

Well-written portrayals of her friends were so vivid they felt real, offering her genuine comfort.

Mana’s excuse to Sien, that it was her “only way to stave off loneliness,” wasn’t a lie—it was entirely true.

Finding a new source of vitality, Mana began living with a more positive outlook.

She believed luck would eventually come her way, that one day, she would find a new bond to quench her thirst.

Finally, 500 years after the war, a gift descended from the stars.

Sien was reincarnated.

Once, Mana’s disciple, Sally, asked her:

“Master, I have a question.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Why don’t you confess?”

“…?”

Mana furrowed her brows at the sudden question.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Out of nowhere?”

“It’s just… the content of the book you’re reading made me curious…”

Sally glanced at the book in Mana’s hands.

Its cover depicted a white-haired swordmaster and a red-haired mage locked in an intense gaze.

“You once said the second Hero was your old companion, right? Sien, the swordmaster.”

“Yes.”

“And you like him, don’t you?”

“.”

Mana hiccuped unintentionally, and Sally gave a sly smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Since you already know everything, don’t bother trying to hide it now~ It’s blatantly obvious.

You’ve been reading nothing but books about Sir Sien and your mentor endlessly, thinking no one would notice. Isn’t that a little shameless?”

“Ugh….”

Mana groaned and blushed deeply. She sighed, nodded, and admitted:

“You’re right. I like Sien. So what?”

“It’s not ‘so what’; Sir Sien has been resurrected this time, right?

Don’t you even think about confessing and sharing a sweet love story? It’s your chance to finally have your 500-year-long devotion rewarded.”

“……”

At those words, Mana erased her blush and stared at the void as if deep in thought.

After a moment, she replied in her usual, calm tone.

“Not really.”

“What?”

Sally was startled by the unexpected answer.

Mana didn’t seem shy or hesitant due to lack of courage, nor resigned as if she’d given up.

She genuinely looked as if she had no such desire at all.

Her mentor was not one to hide her emotions well, so it was easy to tell.

But why?

“Is it because Sien has become a woman, and you’re no longer interested? Are you not into yuri romances?”

“Absolutely not. I still like Sien.”

“Then? Is it because society frowns on same-sex relationships?

If that’s the case, you could adopt her as a daughter and keep your love within the family. As your apprentice, I’d totally understand and support that—”

“No, that’s not it either.”

Mana shook her head repeatedly at Sally’s guesses, leaving her disciple with a baffled expression.

“Then why? Come on, tell me. I won’t spread it anywhere.”

“……”

Mana closed the book she had been reading and set it down.

She gazed at the ceiling in silence for a while before speaking.

“It’s just… I think the third time would be a little too much. So I’m trying to prepare myself in advance.”

“Third time? What do you mean, third time?”

“Yeah.”

Mana turned her eyes back to her book, signaling she wouldn’t say more.

Sally, left unsatisfied and scratching her head in frustration, glanced at her mentor who was now engrossed in her reading again.

Then, almost pouting, she muttered:

“Are you really okay with this, Master?”

A slightly provocative question.

“If you stay still, someone else might snatch the one you love.

While the lingering ties from the past are still there, you should act fast. If you regret it later, it’ll be too late.”

It’s common in both fiction and reality—when someone takes for granted the time they’ve spent together, only to have a proactive suitor steal their beloved away.

Especially since her mentor was a true herbivore, never having held a man’s hand, let alone dated anyone.

Perhaps she believed that love would fall into place on its own without effort.

That’s how Sally saw it.

But then…

“…Ha!”

Mana suddenly burst into laughter, lifting her head to look at Sally.

Her expression suggested she found the situation genuinely amusing.

“What? Why are you laughing? Did I say something wrong?”

“No, not at all. It’s just… it reminded me of something from the past.”

“The past?”

“Yeah.”

Because, a long time ago, I had similar doubts. About my closest friend.

Mana leaned back in her chair, smiling as she closed her eyes, recalling a distant memory.

The face of a nun she had been closest to, 500 years ago.

“I once asked her if it would be okay if she wasn’t the one by their side, if someone else took that place.”

It was a question Mana had once posed to Esther 500 years ago.

And now, it was the same question Sally was posing to her.

Life is strange. To now be on the receiving end of the same question she once asked.

But the most amusing part was that she now fully understood Esther—why she made the choices she did and why she could smile until the end.

“Yes, it’s fine.”

Because my only wish is for you to be happy.

I want you to live as yourself, just as you are.

Sometimes shockingly competent, and sometimes causing unmanageable trouble, the same as ever.

Even if you face failures that make you feel down, that’s okay.

I believe you’ll always rise again.

Please create many connections as you live. I’m sure you will.

You’re more charming than you think, just as you are.

You don’t need to imitate a hero. Your existence alone is enough.

Many will naturally be drawn to the light of your soul, just as I was.

And among those connections, I hope you’ll find the one partner to spend your life with.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a woman or a man.

I’ll respect your choice, whoever it may be. You’d never pick someone unworthy.

Maybe, just maybe, Exia might even fall in love with you. That would be truly amusing, in my opinion.

Whoever it is, cherish and love your chosen partner.

Don’t let your flirtatious side resurface.

The world of Elpidion isn’t as forgiving as the demon realm.

Looking elsewhere while in a relationship would label you an irredeemable scoundrel.

Though I’d still love you unconditionally, others would criticize you, and that would hurt me.

I wish for you to be loved by as many as possible.

Even if you don’t choose me, that’s okay.

As long as you can laugh with someone else, live without regret, and fill the canvas of your life with joy,

That alone will make me truly, truly happy.

I only hope that my name remains as a flower in your heart.

As a breeze, a leaf, a drop of dew, or a ray of sunlight.

If I can exist as even a faint trace in your heart,

Then my life will have been worth it.

May your soul soar freely toward the blue sky.

“…Haha.”

Lost in sweet memories, Mana smiled without realizing it.

Indeed, this is what love is.

The miracle where the mere sight of a loved one’s smile brings happiness, no matter the distance.

A power greater and richer than any holy or magical art.

The little mystery born from one nun had crossed 500 years to settle in her friend.

This is the way elves of Tír Ó Sydhi love.