episode_0101

From then on, I started practicing.

In fact, I didn’t imagine anything grand when it came to training.

I just thought it was time to organize the realizations in my head and embody them in my body.

But my expectations were shattered as soon as I started training.

“Wouldn’t it be fun to simply practice alone?”

So said, by the one she summoned.

“I made it based on the information in my head.”

A middle-aged man with black hair and a handsome mustache.

It was my first time seeing this face.

But the moment I saw that face, I realized.

‘strong.’

That the man is at least a warrior who has reached the state of consciousness.

“When I was in the empire, Izzy was called the strongest warrior in the empire. At that time, the empire boasted the greatest power on the continent… It is probably safe to say that it was the strongest on the continent at that time.”

A man who may have been the strongest on the continent in the past.

The moment I learned that fact, I felt confident and confident.

This time will be of greater help to me than I thought.

That we may be able to go further than simply organizing our enlightenment.

The time given was limited.

It is also a path that must be advanced even further from the distant state of the state of intention.

It’s never easy.

Still, I had to do it.

To stop the ‘organization’s’ plans.

To prevent the destruction of the continent.

I drew my sword.

***

Since then, time has passed quickly.

In the past, I sparred with the strongest warrior in the empire, and after the spar, I went through the same process of organizing the realization in my head.

As if the reputation of being the strongest in the empire was not in vain, the opponent was incredibly strong.

However, I still felt like I was definitely a step below the swordsman.

However, the fact that he was an incredibly strong enemy did not change, and the fact that he was an opponent who would be of great help to me also did not change.

At first, we lost by a fairly significant margin.

Even though I had taken a step forward since the fight with the swordsman, I felt the difference in class and lost.

The level was also high, but more than anything, the difference between physical ability and magical power was too large.

Hearing that he was the strongest on the continent, perhaps because he trained martial arts for a long time while receiving the full support of the empire, his magical power and physical abilities were at a level that even calling him a monster was insufficient.

In that situation, pushed to the limit, I was helpless and had no choice but to lose.

The good news is that even if I got hurt or had something wrong with my body, it healed instantly thanks to the power of the space I was in.

Thanks to this, I was able to challenge the man without stopping and without persistence.

Through that process, I learned a lot and gained a lot of insight.

And with the realization I gained from my fight with the swordsman, I began to make the path that had begun to be vaguely visible little by little clearer.

It is true that he took a step forward in the fight with Hamel, but honestly, it was almost a coincidence. After that, I didn’t have time to make that realization my own.

So, to be honest, my skills were at a standstill.

Those skills began to develop properly through this training.

Thanks to the fact that time stood still outside, I was able to focus on my training without burdening my mind, and I progressed at a rapid pace.

And at the point where I had reached a certain level of enlightenment, I was no longer being pushed around one-sidedly by the man.

Nevertheless, although it was no different from losing by a significant margin, I was making solid progress step by step.

During those days, I did not simply devote all my time to training.

I also had a proper conversation with the person who created this space, the woman who took over El’s body.

There was a purpose to obtain information, and there was also a purpose to simply relieve boredom.

Anyway, there were a few things I learned from those conversations.

First, her name.

I found out her name was Cheryl Ardimante.

And, roughly, what kind of life she has lived.

She was born with a natural talent for magic, and was noticed by her teacher, who was an imperial wizard at the time, and was put on a truly elite course.

With a posture reminiscent of El and a sense of triumph, she boasted that she was a rare genius who had grown up by breaking all records that existed in the empire.

Well, putting aside the fact that such an attitude does not seem very trustworthy, I thought that what she said was a lie.

Otherwise, no matter how much time is given, you won’t be able to reach this area.

I also learned that she had a close relationship with Ald, the man who destroyed the empire, whom she mentioned earlier.

Although she didn’t say anything specific, I knew it the moment I saw her expression.

That she feels guilty towards the man, Ald.

And that guilt hasn’t gone away yet.

Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.

Also, I heard specific stories about this space.

Sheryl, who escaped the ruined empire and became alone, is said to have devoted herself more and more to magic to forget the deep feeling of emptiness.

To the point where it seems like the original effort was in vain.

It is said that thanks to the hard work that literally put in blood and sweat, her skills improved day by day, and she reached a level that no one can compare to.

And around that time, she saw the future once more.

The future I mentioned before, where disaster comes to the continent.

Forced to watch the fall of the empire in vain, she delved into magic with the sole intention of preventing the coming disaster, and tried to use her characteristics as a successor to get closer to the source.

About the coming disaster and finding a way to prevent it.

Originally, it was an area that was not allowed to humans, but she succeeded in realizing that miracle by using her natural talent, unparalleled level, and the characteristics of a continuous person.

Through him, she said she saw a more concrete future and found me, the only possibility to prevent that disaster.

However, it was not enough to say that the possibility was slim as it was, so she made a plan to increase that possibility, which was extremely weak.

And, she said, the plan has been successfully implemented and has reached this point.

She also told me about El.

Now that she was able to see the future more clearly by accessing the source, she knew that she would be born in a world outside the empire as a distant descendant of one of the families she was acquainted with, and she arranged for her to see the future for this place. I said I let go.

And the fact that it is El.

In that way, I was able to hear everything about her and this space.

Anyway, in that time of isolation, I gritted my teeth and devoted myself to training, and time passed quickly, and eventually half a year passed by.

“… Phew.”

After finishing the last sparring, I caught my breath.

From behind me, I heard Cheryl’s voice.

“Are the results satisfactory?”

At that question, I inadvertently tilted my head.

“Hmm… Well.”

There were clear results.

However, if you ask me if I am satisfied with it, there is an ambiguous part that makes me nod my head.

“Anyway, you are not satisfied. what… This is only natural when you think about the enemies you will have to face in the future.”

Shaking her head as if she was tired, she raised her head again.

“It’s time to go.”

“… That’s right.”

I spent half a year in this space with her.

And the end of that time is now just around the corner.

Several emotions passed through my mind.

A feeling of regret that I was not able to achieve completely satisfactory results, a sense of relief that I was finally able to leave this desolate space, and… … .

“Now it’s goodbye.”

The sadness of having to break up with Cheryl, and a hint of loneliness.

“The space will be released soon. Then you can go back.”

I calmly nodded and listened to her explanation.

“Do you have any last words?”

She asked me with a smile like she always did.

Accordingly, I

“You really have nothing to say?”

Instead of answering, I asked her backwards.

Cheryl’s eyes widened at that question.

“Wow, I didn’t know I’d be asked that question backwards.”

I continued speaking to Cheryl, who burst into laughter while saying that.

“Now we’ll never see each other again.”

“Hmm. I guess so. Unless you die and become a soul─”

“No. It doesn’t sound like that. You’re gone now.”

“… … .”

Cheryl closed her mouth.

And, with a slightly surprised look, he smiled.

“… They say I’m quick-witted, but I didn’t expect you to notice that much.”

She smiled sheepishly, as if she had discovered a secret she didn’t want to know.

“I thought. No matter how great a wizard he is, no matter how connected he is, it’s strange that he maintains a space like this without any compensation.”

Time was kept close to stopping.

It was literally close to the power of God.

I wonder if even the most advanced wizard would be able to do something like this.

She maintained that for half a year.

It never occurred to me that no matter how transcendent a wizard he was, he could do it without any consequences.

Furthermore, there was another crucial part.

“Because I felt your presence gradually fading away.”

As time passed and my level subtly increased, I felt a sense of alienation from her.

Little by little, the presence of her soul is fading away.

It was something she kept hidden in her own way, but I was able to notice it more clearly as time passed.

With all these doubts gathered, I came to a conclusion.

Her soul is getting closer and closer to extinction.

And, the reason is probably because of this space.

“… Oh my, I didn’t mean to reveal it.”

Cheryl looked troubled for the first time since they met.

But soon, a soft smile appeared on his face again.

“You have nothing to feel guilty about. Because I just did it out of my own will. And, in fact, rather than a noble will to save the world, it’s just… I was just trying to relieve my guilt. The guilt of not being able to save Ald and of not being able to save the empire and surviving alone.”

Sheryl, the last survivor of the Empire, an archmage who has surpassed the human frame, smiled shyly and expressed her true feelings.

I’m towards her like that.

“Thank you.”

I calmly expressed my gratitude.

“… … .”

Her eyes wavered slightly.

“Whatever the reason, it was a great help. It’s all thanks to you.”

It doesn’t matter what the reason is.

Whether it is a noble spirit of sacrifice or unresolved guilt.

What’s important is that she walked this difficult path on her own, and that I received help from her.

“I will definitely prevent destruction so that your efforts will not be in vain. and… I won’t forget you.”

I spoke sincerely, filled with gratitude.

After hearing those words, Cheryl looked at me with blank eyes for a moment,

“… This is such a scary man.”

He smiled with a face I had never seen before.

“Now, it really is goodbye.”

“… That’s right.”

I will probably never see her again.

Perhaps, her soul will disappear after this moment.

but.

“I hope we can meet again.”

I hoped to be reunited with her.

I knew the chances were low.

No, in fact, it should be said that there is no such thing.

However. Nevertheless, I did not want to completely erase that slight possibility.

“I agree.”

She also didn’t bother to point out that fact.

He just nodded and smiled softly.

So we said goodbye.

“Don’t give up. I think you can do it.”

Finally, Cheryl’s voice resonates quietly.

Pachang─

The space was broken.