Ch.205Epilogue.(4)

“……Well, I suppose it’s time.”

Aurelia’s expression lost all traces of humor.

“I’ve been forcibly suppressing a ritual that was already at its limit, enduring it for an entire cycle. Yes, it’s time to go……”

Aurelia put her pipe in her mouth without the slightest hesitation.

“……So you’re leaving today?”

A faint sigh escaped with the smoke.

[Indeed. I will likely enter the path of reincarnation tonight.]

The Imperial Princess silently listened to the Emperor’s words. Her role was merely to convey the Emperor’s words, not to respond to her.

“He says it is so, and that he will likely enter the path of reincarnation tonight.”

“Huh……so that’s what you meant when you said it was difficult to come outside?”

Aurelia furrowed her brow.

It would probably be less taxing to just transmit consciousness rather than speaking directly.

“You’re practically dead. Now you’re even having someone else speak for you.”

[Hehe. If you’re jealous, get one for yourself.]

Aurelia’s eyebrows furrowed even more.

“Why would I do something so crazy? Unlike some people, I plan to live out my natural lifespan.”

[Yes. I suppose you will. You are truly living happily.]

“……”

The rapid exchange of words stopped, and a moment of silence fell.

“Everyone dies eventually.”

Aurelia spoke calmly.

“And Olivia was able to decide how she would die. That alone makes it a good death. Though it’s sad, of course……”

She glanced at the Imperial Princess.

“But it would be a waste to spend every moment grieving the life Olivia saved, wouldn’t it? So we should enjoy it as much as possible. Don’t you agree?”

That’s what Olivia would want.

Aurelia was sincere.

“Me, Cain, Esthie, and the King of Martial Arts are living well. So if you happen to meet Olivia after reincarnating, tell her that we’re doing fine and will continue to do well without her.”

[Hehe. You already seem certain that I will meet Olivia.]

Aurelia chuckled.

“Sometimes, I feel a gaze.”

[……A gaze?]

“It feels like that sentimental fool Olivia is watching over us from somewhere.”

[Are you sure it’s not your imagination?]

Her eyes, usually full of mischief, were utterly serious in this moment.

“Hehe. As you say, it could be my imagination.”

Though she said that, Aurelia knew it wasn’t imagination.

Even now.

This overwhelming sense of déjà vu.

Since becoming a Grand Magician and developing her spiritual power to its limit, she could see what others couldn’t see and feel what others couldn’t feel.

Aurelia slowly steadied her breathing and looked up at the sky.

‘Though I can’t see or touch it…’

She could feel it.

This gaze, full of unnecessary worry yet warm with affection.

That’s why she needed to live even happier. So that Olivia could let go of all attachments and start a completely new life.

‘We’re living well, so go live your own life now, you damn fool.’

Aurelia swallowed those words. Olivia was stubbornly persistent, so saying such things wouldn’t change anything. She would just smile and continue anyway.

‘She’s the type who never stops until she’s satisfied.’

Aurelia looked at the Imperial Princess again.

“So what will you do now? You can’t live like this forever.”

The Master of Dark was still writhing on the ground. No matter how powerful he was on the continent, it was impossible to resist such extremely compressed time.

Aurelia nudged the Master of Dark with her foot. Foam was pouring from his mouth. The once dignified assassin who always maintained an expressionless face was gone, replaced by a weak man who couldn’t even control his own body.

Honestly, Aurelia found the Imperial Princess’s actions more satisfying than disturbing. From the moment he had stabbed people with poison-coated daggers, she thought he deserved at least this much.

Of course, that wasn’t the real issue. The problem was that the Imperial Princess considered herself just as guilty as these people.

“I……”

The Imperial Princess began to speak.

For seven years, she had been thinking about how to apologize to Olivia. Of course, she couldn’t find an answer. Olivia was already dead.

“I plan to cross world-lines.”

But not in other worlds.

Understanding the Imperial Princess’s meaning immediately, Aurelia’s brow furrowed.

“……You’re insane.”

The Imperial Princess slowly shook her head.

“What you’re thinking won’t happen. I will never burden Olivia. I’ve planned meticulously, and above all, I have no intention of returning to this world.”

“……”

The Imperial Princess had researched with the Emperor for a long time and found a way to cross world-lines without changing anything about the “perfect” ending Olivia had created.

“……”

Hearing something completely unexpected, Aurelia rubbed her forehead vigorously.

Her head hurt.

‘Crossing world-lines doesn’t mean going to the ‘future’.’

The Imperial Princess’s eyes were clearly filled with thoughts of meeting Olivia. Given the context, she must be planning to go to the ‘past’…

“I’m sure you’ve thought this through, but you know that one small mistake could ruin everything, right?”

In other words, even this ‘current’ cycle where Olivia completely destroyed the Demon God could be erased.

[We’ve calculated everything perfectly over seven years. That won’t happen.]

Aurelia shook her head but couldn’t bring herself to object.

No matter how she thought about it, the Imperial Princess couldn’t possibly live a ‘happy’ life in the current cycle. If things continued this way, she might cause a major incident someday.

‘Besides, if they say there won’t be any problems…’

“……At least say goodbye to everyone before you go. You know what I mean, right?”

“I’ve already given them some indication.”

That’s why she had visited Olivia’s grave. It was the cleanest way to meet the Saintess away from others’ eyes.

She had also met Esthie and the King of Martial Arts months ago. Finding them as they traveled through the world’s hidden places wasn’t easy, but it was a necessary process.

‘It took a week just to find them.’

She had deliberately delayed the Master of Dark’s ‘judgment’ to the end in order to meet Cain.

“I bet you didn’t tell Kiel and Melina.”

[I did tell them.]

“Well, it might be better not to tell them. Given their personalities, they would definitely want to follow… Wait. What did you just say?”

[I said I told Kiel and Melina.]

Aurelia’s eyes widened. Logically, it made sense to inform other returnees, but Kiel and Melina were different.

They had been ‘very close’ to Olivia.

‘And they carry that much more guilt.’

So much that they couldn’t forgive themselves until the day they died.

“No way, they just let you go? They would have insisted on coming with you…?”

[Hehe. Of course they said they would come. They made quite a scene, unlike their usual selves.]

Aurelia closed her mouth. The next moment, her eyes began to glow with a faint silver light. With her spiritual eyes opened, she could clearly see the Emperor smiling with familiar warmth.

Of course, the Emperor’s eyes lacked their former sharpness. They had become so cloudy they almost looked white.

“……So what did you do?”

[I had no right to stop them. And this was the best solution. So we agreed to meet soon.]

“This is truly… maddening.”

Aurelia’s lips moved for a long time. She had just put out her cigarette, but already craved another.

“So the three of you decided to go to the past?”

[Only the Imperial Princess will go to the past.]

The Emperor spoke firmly. Only one person should cross the world-line. That way, no variables would arise.

“Then what about Kiel and Melina?”

[That’s a secret.]

The Emperor said with a faint smile.

At that moment, a sound like clock hands ticking came from somewhere. Shortly after, the Imperial Princess’s bangs fluttered slightly.

“The time has come. It’s truly time to go now.”

The Emperor no longer spoke through the Imperial Princess’s mouth. He didn’t want to do so until the very end. Death wasn’t frightening. He was only sad to part with the connections he had formed.

Outside, it had grown completely dark.

The Emperor’s soul was also gradually dispersing from the edges.

‘Perhaps ten minutes at most?’

The Emperor activated the magic circle he had prepared in advance.

“What is this…?”

“Didn’t I just say? I agreed to meet Kiel and Melina.”

Flash…!

As the spatial transfer magic circle emitted light, the group’s figures disappeared somewhere.