Only You

,Ross.

,Yeah.

,…Are you going to stay with me from now on?

At Luna’s question, I lifted my closed eyelids. Slowly turning my head to the side, I saw Luna’s face covered in blood. In her eyes, a mixture of faint anxiety and anticipation, I smiled.

,No.

,…Why?

With a feeling of stuffiness in my chest and a feeling like my lungs were being crushed, I forced a smile and said.

,Because you’re dead.

I reached out and stroked Luna’s cheek. It’s warm. So much so that I don’t want to believe it’s fake, it’s the same touch as before.

,I want to stay by your side like this, I want to be with you… but I can’t right now.

,Why?

,Because I’m going to bring you back to life, no matter what.

Luna, who had been staring at me blankly, asked in a small voice.

,…Am I not enough as I am now?

,Yeah. Not nearly enough.

,….

I tried to get up completely and open the door of the carriage, but it wouldn’t budge at all. Luna, who had already gotten up, said to me in a resentful voice.

,Is your promise with Ellie more important than me?

,…No.

Even when I pushed the door with my shoulder, I only heard a creaking sound – the carriage door had no intention of opening. Luna, who had already gotten up, wrapped her arms around my waist from behind as I kicked the door with my foot.

,Then stay with me… it’s too scary here, it’s painful and I don’t want to be alone.

At Luna’s pleading voice, tears streamed down from my eyes. I couldn’t even imagine how painful Luna’s last moments must have been. So, Luna’s words made me feel like my heart was being stabbed by countless blades. Was Luna this hurt too? In her last moments, did she regret meeting me?

I wanted to ask. I wanted to be forgiven, and I wanted to be punished by Luna. That’s why I can’t give up. Even if bringing Luna back to life means losing everything, I’m already losing everything. Luna was the driving force of my life, and my only guide.

I gently stroked Luna’s hand around my waist and said.

,If you were really Luna… you would have helped me open the carriage door. Luna is the kind of idiot who endures the pain and swallows her disappointments. Luna is the one who forces a smile and says it’s okay even when I leave, while holding back her tears.

,…Anyone’s personality is bound to change after experiencing a painful death. Do you know how stupidly I lived, how much I regretted it in my last moments?

I released Luna’s hand from my waist and turned around. Looking straight at Luna, who was shedding tears of blood, I smiled, even though the corners of my mouth were trembling like crazy.

,Still, Luna will believe in me.

,….

,Because I know that I will love and resemble only you, forever, for a really long time.

I blinked to clear my blurred vision. A teardrop fell into the pool of blood on the floor of the carriage, making a small noise. I hugged Luna. Embracing her warm body temperature, her unique scent, all of it, I felt a sense of comfort for the first time in a long time and said.

,So, even if you resent me and regret meeting me… I can’t stop here. Because I love you.

,…What if I don’t want to come back to life?

I slowly pulled away. Meeting Luna’s gaze as she looked up at me, I opened my mouth.

,Did you forget how selfish I am? Loving you was a selfish act from the start. So, first, I’m going to save you. I’m just going to do it.

Luna’s eyes filled with tears. With a resentful face, Luna said quietly in a tearful voice.

,…I regret meeting you. Everything I did with you, too. It’s all your fault that I died.

At those words, I could actually smile. Even if I heard those words from the resurrected Luna, it wouldn’t be the worst thing for me.

,…That’s exactly what I really wanted to hear from you.

Looking at Luna, who had become blurry again in my blurred vision, I said.

,Anything you say to me is fine.

I turned around. For some reason, it felt like the carriage door would open this time. Slowly pushing the door open with my hand, I wanted to see Luna one last time, but in the end, I decided not to look back. Our meeting will definitely not be the last.

As I slowly stepped out of the carriage, I felt a hand pushing my back. Staggering out of the carriage, I couldn’t help but smile at the voice coming from behind.

,…Idiot.

With the sound of the carriage door closing, I took a vigorous step forward. In the fading world, I didn’t stop walking.

***

When I opened my eyes, a familiar message appeared before me.

,Synchronization rate 11%」

It seems that the synchronization rate dropped sharply because I overlaid Jin Shian on top of Ross’s soul. Still, I was relieved that I didn’t reach the 10% that Ross of Aspiration had warned about.

,Ross, you idiot…!

Ellie suddenly ran into my arms. It seems she didn’t believe in the promise and was worried. As I was stroking her back to reassure her, everyone came closer to me. Feeling their gazes on me as if they were looking at something amazing, I realized that the Lily Mask was gone. I was now bare-faced.

Raelan, noticing my embarrassment, was about to swing his staff to kill the people who had realized my identity, but I used spatial telekinesis to stop Raelan’s staff from being swung.

The people who belatedly realized that Raelan had tried to kill them glared coldly. Before a fight could break out, I patted Ellie’s back and said to everyone.

,Do we need to fight each other? We barely survived.

,I’m going to spread your identity around. In less than a week, who Lily is will be sold for a high price at the Information Guild.

,…I still want to believe you.

Raelan didn’t look pleased with my answer, but Lamine and Ellie nodded as if they were satisfied with my choice. To be honest, Raelan’s choice was right. Eliminating situations where variables could occur is the best way. However, we survived by supporting each other at the brink of death. That’s enough to create a bond, even if there wasn’t one before.

,I swear on the honor of the Red Magic Tower, I will keep everything about Lily a secret.

At Valentine’s declaration, Colton also nodded and vowed never to talk about Lily. Derock, who exchanged glances with Kelton, also nodded.

,Adventurers always repay the debt of saving their lives. I won’t do such a cowardly thing as revealing the identity of my benefactor. I can swear on my soul.

No sooner had Derock finished speaking than Raelan sneered.

,You’re not thinking of paying off your debt with just that, are you?

,Of course not! Do I look like a cunning person like a magician!

At those words, all the magicians’ gazes turned to Derock.

,Ha, I should have just left you to have your head chopped off.

,It was wrong to throw a cunning potion to buy time.

Realizing he had made a mistake, Derock glanced at me and muttered.

,If there’s anything I can help you with, please ask me anytime. I’ll think of anything as a priority.

,I will also work hard to help Lily-nim with Derock.

At Kelton’s vow, I thanked everyone. While Raelan, who was the only one not satisfied, warned everyone again, I asked Ellie, who was next to me, what I was curious about.

,But… what happened?

,You don’t remember anything?

,…Not at all. It just feels like I closed my eyes and then opened them.

At my words, Ellie let out a deep sigh. Frowning slightly, Ellie looked at me and said.

,No matter how dangerous it is, you can’t do that again.

,You told me to do it.

When I retorted out of spite, Ellie made a face full of apology. Not wanting this kind of reaction, I was flustered and added that it was okay. But Ellie’s expression didn’t brighten easily.

,…I’m still sorry. It couldn’t be helped, but it’s true that I put you in danger. Actually, Jin Shian warned me. He said not to call himself into this world again.

,The other me said that?

,Yeah, he said that next time, you won’t be able to escape the world’s denial.

It seems he realized that the synchronization rate with Ross was rapidly decreasing. But I felt a strange sense of incongruity. Calling himself into this world, that expression seems a little different from when I materialized Jin Shian inside me…?

,And he had something to tell you.

,…?

Looking at me, who was puzzled, Ellie said clearly.

,He said that the true talent of a writer is not to be eaten by the power of the story and dragged around arbitrarily, but to lead the story to the desired ending.

Ellie’s eyes, resembling obsidian, sparkled with anticipation as she looked at me, and I awkwardly scratched my cheek.

,How is it? Did something suddenly click in your head, or did you suddenly realize something with a creepy feeling?

,…Not at all.

It’s definitely a meaningful saying, but I didn’t feel anything or think anything at the moment. Watching Ellie quickly lose interest, I scratched my head and suddenly stared at Ellie. Ellie, whose eyes sparkled again at the sight, took a step closer and shone her eyes.

,What, what is it? What suddenly came to your mind?

,Yeah, why did the mask I was wearing disappear?

,…I don’t know, it wasn’t there from the beginning.