Ch.122Fulfilled Dream

# 1.

“【Come. Savior from another world.】”

When Nahan first heard the dragon’s words, he thought he had misheard.

That made sense, since what was playing here was merely Casler’s memory.

He had assumed the rampaging dragon was just babbling nonsense, so he planned to rescue Casler and escape from this place.

But that wasn’t the case.

“【Come. Savior from another world.】”

The rampaging dragon in the screen was clearly looking at him beyond the screen.

“Can you hear it too?”

“Hear what…?”

“Never mind.”

An invitation that Flora couldn’t even perceive, meant only for him.

So Nahan asked Flora to help him become more deeply involved.

“Send me to the Dragon Lord.”

“What? Send you to the Dragon Lord!? Even if it’s just an illusion, it’s dangerous!”

“It’s fine, just hurry.”

【<Black Curtain> activates.】

【Usurpation – Output of Aura is restricted due to the use of [Word Command].】

After facing the power Nahan was unleashing, Flora finally nodded.

“With this much power, you shouldn’t fall victim to the illusion… Alright. I’ll send you right away. But you must come out before ten minutes pass.”

After finishing her words, Flora pointed to the playing memories and added an explanation.

“The germination maintenance time is 10 minutes from now. If you don’t escape within that time, the <Seed> will sprout.”

“Seed?”

“I don’t know the details, but… with the power granted by the First Elder, it resonates with the caster and allows them to temporarily break their limits three times total.”

Breaking limits?

‘Everyone’s trying all sorts of methods because they can’t break through their ranks, so isn’t this good even if it’s temporary?’

As if reading Nahan’s thoughts, Flora spoke with a grave expression.

“The moment the seed sprouts, you become bound to the First Elder, and once all three chances are used… you’ll have your body taken by an unknown entity.”

“Bound…? Are you alright now?”

“It shouldn’t be able to peek into the illusion.”

“I see.”

After pondering briefly, a memory surfaced.

“Don’t tell me that’s why some of the Ten Masters changed?”

“…That’s right. I heard they were changed like that, then used as chess pieces for destruction. So please make sure to keep to the ten-minute limit.”

Seeing the guilt blooming on her face, Nahan nodded and completed his preparations.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Yes, then…”

A small magic circle activated immediately.

【<Germination> is suspended.】

【<Black Wolf (Ex+)> intervenes due to the call of <Dragon Elder (???)>.】

After a dizzying sensation like falling off a cliff, when Nahan regained consciousness, he had already entered the memory.

“Great Dragon Lord!! Why are you doing this?!”

“Don’t talk to it, just run!!”

“Where is Lord Casler?! Where is the Lord?!”

Nahan walked toward the Dragon Lord, moving in the opposite direction of the fleeing blood clan members.

At the same time, a tail lashed out.

CRASH!!

As fragments flew out and scratched his cheek, blood seeped out with a stinging pain.

-Even if it’s just an illusion, it’s dangerous!

Only then did he understand Flora’s concern, but there was no time to hesitate.

Step, step, step.

Walking slowly, avoiding the incoming attacks and fragments with minimal movement until he arrived.

As he raised his head to look at the Elder, someone grabbed his wrist.

“Are you insane!?”

A man with silver hair, red eyes, pale skin, and a monocle.

“Garendal?”

“[…?]”

When Nahan unconsciously muttered, the startled man grabbed his hand and pulled.

“[I don’t know how you know me, but──!!]”

Tick.

In that moment, Garendal’s movement completely stopped as he was about to add something.

“【You’ve come, savior from another world.】”

The colors surrounding them shifted to black and white, centered on Nahan and the Dragon Lord.

“【This is the same power as the red child you met. The price I paid is my life, so do not worry and answer me.】”

From beyond the frozen world, the rampaging Dragon Elder asked a question.

“【Have you seen it?】”

“Seen what?”

“【The source and goal of the Abyss. The path you must walk forward.】”

“The Abyss?”

“【It is the ultimate evil of the world you’ve entered. A wicked existence that distorts balance. It is darkness that devours light and covers the sun. Having witnessed it clearly, have you decided your path?】”

To the riddle-like question, Nahan asked without lengthy consideration:

“Are you asking about the Eclipse?”

The Elder nodded his massive head.

Nahan answered the Elder’s question based on the memories he had observed.

“The leader of Eclipse is the reincarnation of an entity called ‘Abyss.’ The Abyss is engaged in a wager with the Goddess and seeks to obtain divinity through the destruction of the world.”

Facts learned through Casler’s memories.

Though he didn’t know what the wager with the Goddess was about, or why the Abyss sought divinity, Nahan’s path was clear:

“The salvation of the world.”

To save <Those Who Could Not Be Saved> and reach a happy ending, to save the <Emperor> and the <Hero> and return to his original world.

As if reading Nahan’s thoughts, the Dragon Lord nodded.

“【The world is built on balance, and the Abyss is the counterweight to the Goddess. Their wager began because they could not understand each other. If you can save everyone and establish a new standard……】”

The colors around them gradually returned.

“【You too shall be saved.】”

He extended his massive foreleg to pat Nahan’s head and added with a small breath:

“【This is a moment of respite granted by the Goddess before the Abyss surges. Even in the darkness approaching from all sides. Please, though you may waver, do not fall, and walk forward calmly.】”

As he finished speaking, time in the memory began to flow again.

─『Hidden Quest Completed!』─

◆ Balance of the World.

: After accessing the world’s origin, recognize the wager between [Goddess] and [Abyss].

◆ Reward.

: [Old Memory].

With a tick, time flowed again, and Casler’s memory resumed playing.

At the same time, his vision swayed.

“[──Let’s escape for now!!]”

Pulled by Garendal, Nahan followed him away from the Dragon Elder.

Thud,

CRASH!!

The place they hurriedly ran to and hid was Casler’s room.

After pushing Nahan inside, Garendal turned to rush out again, shouting:

“[You should be safe here for now!!]”

But he couldn’t leave.

Because Nahan, who had entered the room, was holding his wrist, stopping him.

“[Huh? Human? How is your strength…?]”

“I need to ask you something.”

“[This isn’t the time for…?]”

“Please. It will only take a moment.”

“[Huh…?]”

To the bewildered Garendal, Nahan hesitated briefly before speaking.

“Where is the small garden?”

“[…What?]”

.

.

.

【<???? ?? ??> : 00:08:07】

# 2.

In a corner of the Blood Clan fortress.

Under the tree in the small garden where Casler and Ran had their modest wedding ceremony.

As Casler gazed at the crumbling domain of the Blood Clan, Ran looked at him and asked:

“[…Something must have happened.]”

A question that came as if she knew nothing, as if she were truly Ran from the memory.

Slowly turning his eyes away from the fortress, Casler silently embraced Ran and answered:

“It’s alright.”

“[Hm?]”

“I know everything. You don’t need to pretend to be a memory.”

“[……]”

A moment of silence followed.

Gently pushing away from Casler’s shoulder, Ran forced a smile and asked:

“[…How long have you known?]”

“From the beginning.”

After attempting to release the third restriction – the Cold Heart.

Casler noticed the change in Ran, who had been moving only according to memory.

He couldn’t miss it.

It happened right after a strange power resembling the Master’s took control of the illusion.

【<Ran(Ex+)>’s wish is granted.】

【Happy Ending – <Wedding> is in progress.】

Unlike the memory, Ran suggested a walk instead of tea time, changed into a dress and smiled, and they held a hasty wedding in the small garden.

It was clearly the future that both Casler and Ran had wished for.

It was clear that the Master had somehow made their dream come true.

Casler forced a smile and answered:

“From the beginning… I knew everything.”

Ran’s lips trembled.

She clenched her fists, holding back tears, and created her usual cheerfulness.

“[You should have said so sooner.]”

“I’m sorry.”

“[Geez… I acted like I didn’t know for nothing.]”

“…I’m sorry.”

Seeing Casler continuing to apologize, Ran nestled into his arms and asked:

“[So, how does it feel to see me again after so long?]”

“It’s good… Even if my life ended with this illusion, I wouldn’t regret it at all.”

“[Don’t say things like that, you fool.]”

A lukewarm warmth gradually spread from his chest where he held Ran.

When he realized the warmth was tears, Ran barely squeezed out her voice and asked:

“[You don’t hate me, do you?]”

“…Ran, I-“

“[Now when you think of me… it won’t just be sad like before, right? Right?]”

Ran’s hands trembled as she asked.

Ran didn’t know why she was able to come back to life, even if briefly.

She only wished for Casler’s happiness, even if it meant using all of the fleeting time given to her.

So she tried to smile.

She wanted to show a bright smile and send him off with her usual cheerful expression.

“[I won’t… just remain as your sorrow, right?]”

Why did the tears keep flowing?

As she tried to stop the unstoppable tears by nestling deeper into his chest, gentle hands cupped her cheeks.

What she finally faced was Casler, crying just like her.

Unlike Ran, he managed to force a smile while holding back his tears and answered:

“You were never my sorrow, not even once. Ran, you are my greatest happiness.”

“[Ah…!]”

The two embraced each other again.

“[Me too. You’re my only happiness, Casler.]”

“I love you, Ran. More than anything.”

“[I love you too…! I love you too…]”

They held each other tightly, afraid they might separate, and occasionally kissed.

And as always, time flowed on.

【<???? ?? ??> : 00:00:30】

Finally, the time for farewell arrived.

Ran held the hem of her dress and pouted her lips, and Casler took her hand and kissed it.

At the same time, Garendal appeared.

Having witnessed and heard everything from Nahan, he looked at the couple and declared:

“[This concludes the wedding ceremony.]”

A tiny, humble wedding.

Yet for someone, it was an unattainable dream, and for another, it was a dream finally realized.

“[Thanks to you, I was happy, Casler.]”

“Thanks to you, I was happy, Ran.”

“[…Goodbye.]”

Thud.

Ran pushed away the sobbing Casler.

【<???? ?? ??> : 00:00:10】

【<Black Wolf>’s Word Command forces the illusion.】

【<Germination> is forcibly terminated.】

Casler returning to reality.

And,

“[Thanks to you… thanks to you, my dream came true.]”

“[Please take care of our Lord.]”

Ran and Garendal were offering something to Nahan as he tried to escape.