Ch.201Towards the End. (3)

Crash……!

With a thunderous sound, the ground split open. As if sliced by a sword, crimson blood gushed from the crevice.

The Demon God’s inner world was collapsing. I thrust ice toward Olivia’s heart. To end her life in an instant, without a moment of pain.

Olivia didn’t resist. Being merely a soul, I didn’t even feel the sensation of piercing flesh.

Gently, like dipping a hand into water.

Perhaps this too was her consideration. It surely must be.

The surrounding landscape gradually turned crimson.

Beyond the split sky, a forgotten blue light shone down.

[■■■■■■■■……!]

Amid the terrible scene of demons raging to prevent the death of a god and the Demon God’s immortality struggling desperately, my gaze remained fixed solely on the person before me.

Grandmaster, Olivia.

I summoned my magic power as if burning it.

And.

[You have slain the Demon God.]

I killed her.

[Main quest completed.]

*****

When I opened my eyes, I was lying alone in an empty space.

A void where even time was unknowable.

The only thing present was a blue crack of unknown origin.

I hadn’t expected to wake up in such a place, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected either. Surely, I had thought that some kind of passage would be necessary to return to the original world.

As I slowly rose to my feet.

[“…Olivia.”]

From behind me, a voice was heard.

[“Answer… answer me.”]

I instinctively turned around.

[“Please…”]

Melina was sitting with her back to the sunset. She held Olivia, whose eyes were closed as if asleep, embracing her protectively. When the wind blew, tousling Melina’s golden hair, I unconsciously drew in a breath.

Melina lifted Olivia’s limp hand. She pressed it against her own cheek and wept.

‘This is…’

My heart sank.

‘A view of the outside world.’

I couldn’t understand what was happening.

Whether it was Olivia’s arrangement or divine providence. Though I didn’t know, I stared outside as if entranced.

[“Lady Melina.”]

After a while, a voice calling Melina was heard. A girl in faded priestly robes. Livga approached and sat beside her.

While Melina held Olivia’s body, the battle continued. Some monsters still remained. Of course, victory was already assured. There were only a few monsters left.

But no one rejoiced.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t, Melina resented Olivia. Her heart ached. She wished Olivia had left even a single word as her last will. She wanted even some formal words asking her to live long and healthy.

Then she could have used that as an excuse to keep living.

But her resentful disciple hadn’t left even that much.

[“…Livi.”]

Melina feared that.

Perhaps even Olivia’s smile was a lie meant to reassure her.

She was so, so afraid of that…

It was because of this that she unconsciously blurted out the words lingering in her mouth.

[“P-please recite a prayer…”]

After gasping for breath for a while, Melina grabbed Livga’s collar with trembling hands.

She didn’t believe in God, but now she was more desperate than anyone. If her disciple couldn’t even go to heaven… she didn’t think she could bear it.

[“…Sister will be fine.”]

That was Livga’s answer. Even though she was the Saintess, it was impossible to know whether Olivia had gone to heaven or not.

Yet, she said so anyway.

Not simply to reassure Melina. She wasn’t foolish enough to tell a lie that would soon be exposed.

She just felt certain.

Because if it were her sister, that’s definitely how it would be.

If her sister couldn’t go to heaven… it was something she couldn’t even imagine.

That god would no longer be a god.

[“…What a fool.”]

Aurelia smiled bitterly. She was smoking cigarettes one after another, watching them from a distance. In the final moment, she had seen it. The faint smile that bloomed on Olivia’s face.

No one here would think so, but at least Olivia must have considered her own death a good passing.

Her bright smile was proof of that.

Trying to ignore her trembling hand holding the pipe, Aurelia secretly wiped her eyes.

Looking at Aurelia, Aria spoke. Eyes weathered by the passage of time. She was the Emperor.

[“Do you also think Olivia went to heaven?”]

Aurelia felt the gazes pouring on her. Despite hearing the Saintess’s words, everyone seemed unable to hide their concern.

The fact that the companions’ expressions hardened at the question was proof of that.

Aurelia slowly opened her mouth.

[“Unless the goddess has gone mad, she’d have to take her, right? After all, she dumped all her work on Olivia. What does it matter if she wasn’t a believer?”]

Some companions sighed in relief. Watching them, the Emperor asked in a whisper.

[“Not that. I’d like to hear your thoughts.”]

Aurelia was also an atheist. Instead, she believed in reincarnation.

After looking around for a moment, Aurelia began to speak.

[“…I think Olivia has reincarnated.”]

[“Why?”]

[“Because Aither’s heaven might not be such a good place for Olivia.”]

The heaven of the Goddess of Light is a place where everyone enjoys complete and eternal happiness.

But could Olivia truly find happiness there? With the memory of ‘extermination’?

[“It might be better to reincarnate and lose her memories. At least… that’s what I think.”]

The Emperor nodded. She thought the same.

[“Through countless cycles, I have felt that forgetfulness… is truly a blessing from the gods. In that sense, you might be right.”]

I…

Could only smile bitterly as I watched all of this.

Everyone was trying hard to hide their sadness. Only because Olivia wouldn’t have wanted it.

Why did it have to be me? Among all those users, why specifically…

‘…me?’

Then the blue crack approached me.

[Would you like to return?]

As if I shouldn’t have such doubts, it urged me.

To return to the real world. To meet the people waiting there.

Suddenly, I felt bitter.

‘…I thought I wouldn’t hesitate at all if this situation came.’

From the first day I fell into this world until now. Every day without fail, I had imagined this moment. The moment of returning to my original world.

But now that the moment had arrived, I couldn’t easily take a step.

The witch who had destroyed the world was dead.

The Demon God was dead, and the world had regained peace.

Is that enough? Can I truly be satisfied with that?

“…”

I reached my hand toward the blue crack. Through the glass-like crack, blue hair was visible.

[Would you like to return?]

Instead of answering, I slowly opened my mouth.

“…Where to?”

Then, as if it had been waiting, a notification window appeared.

[To where you should originally be.]

At the same time, familiar scenery appeared beyond the crack.

A gaming desktop on a desk. A carelessly discarded headset.

Things that were infinitely familiar to me.

Things I had missed, had longed for.

If I returned to the original world, I planned to do things I couldn’t do before.

I would travel with my family and eat the home-cooked meals I missed. I would drink all night with friends I hadn’t seen for a long time.

That’s what I would do.

As much as I had suffered until now, I intended to live happily.

“…”

I asked, one last time.

“How long will this passage remain open?”

[…..]

No answer came. But that made me more certain. This crack would never disappear until I crossed over.

My gaze was no longer directed at the crack.

I was looking at the scene on the opposite side.

I could see Melina stroking Olivia’s hair with trembling hands. I could see Livga praying for Olivia with her hands clasped. I could see Esthie and the King of Martial Arts bowing their heads in silent prayer.

I could see Kiel, half-leaning on his sword, sobbing endlessly.

Could they truly live happily ever after?

Could they fully enjoy the peace that Olivia had wished for?

‘…They probably can’t.’

I sat down in place. Somehow it felt like I had to.

Whether it was because of the guilt sleeping deep in my heart, or because I didn’t want to leave this world, I didn’t know, but one thing was certain.

‘I need to watch over them.’

I need to watch over them. At least until they manage to live happy lives, even if forced.

That way, Olivia can let go of her last lingering attachment.

And I too can shed my final guilt.

This is my atonement.

Atonement for deceiving them.

[I wish you good fortune.]