Ch.209Epilogue.(8) (End)

The hair that once reached my waist had somehow grown long enough to flow all the way to the floor.

Seven years.

My body and mind had endured those seven years without issue, but it seemed my hair couldn’t do the same.

Rustle.

After briefly playing with my hair, I turned my head back to look at the screen.

The same people appeared on the screen every day, but not once did I find it boring or tiresome.

[Hmm, it seems there’s a problem with the mana circuit?]

[The Blue Tower Master doesn’t know that?]

[Stop nitpicking and let’s help Aramis. I never thought restoring the master’s magic would be easy.]

[Hoho. Finally, the time has come to show my dignity as a dragon.]

Watching my disciples always filled me with contentment.

[Hahaha! I have caught a bigger fish than you!]

[That’s not a fish, it’s a mermaid, you idiot.]

[…A mermaid?]

When watching the King of Martial Arts and Esthie Aquar, a smile would bloom on my face.

[We’re doing fine, so live your own life now, you damn bastard.]

When I heard Aurelia’s words, various emotions mixed together. Bitterness and joy. Relief that I hadn’t been wrong. Seeing her living well despite her ups and downs with Cain made me feel both sorry and grateful.

I rose groggily from my seat. The faint reflection on the screen looked quite similar to how I appeared when I first fell into the game.

Blue eyes and white hair.

If I had to find differences, they would be the length of my hair and how much more mature I looked.

What was certain was that my current appearance no longer gave me any sense of discomfort. It felt as familiar and natural as if it had always been my body.

Suddenly, I remembered a question I had asked long ago. When I asked “Olivia,” “Was it you who brought me here?”

At that time, “Olivia” answered like this:

[Yes and no. Since the past and present have become intertwined, there is no longer a correct answer.]

Only now did I understand what those words meant.

I was, at one time, Olivia.

That’s why I felt no discomfort in this body, why I could handle mana freely from the beginning, why I grew emotionally close to the returnees.

It was all because of that.

“…”

When I first learned this fact, I didn’t know what expression to make.

I couldn’t figure it out at all. Should I not have left like this from the beginning? Should I have somehow… continued to survive in that world?

‘…I don’t know.’

Because I couldn’t tell what was right.

That was the main reason I had watched over the returnees for seven years.

Because that world was where I, as a human being, first originated.

Because I, not ‘Olivia,’ wanted it.

Because I didn’t want to sever my connection with them.

Because at some point, atonement had simply become a wish.

I watched, and watched, and watched again.

“…I want to see Livga.”

As I said that, the scenery before my eyes slowly changed. The screen was now showing what I wanted to see.

Beyond merely showing, it gave the illusion that I was actually present in that space.

A mountain covered with snow. A woman in priestess robes wearing a benevolent smile.

‘It’s time to move it.’

‘Should we? Olivia wanted to be buried here.’

‘Master Cain. This place is too cold and too cramped. Although it’s a place filled with my sister’s memories, I don’t want her final resting place to be recorded so poorly.’

‘I agree with that. Olivia was too modest, even for someone modest.’

‘Lady Aurelia. Would it be possible?’

‘I think it should work. I’ve inscribed preservation formulas, so it should remain intact for the next five hundred years.’

‘Not that—I mean the spatial transfer.’

‘Hmm, I’ll have to try it to know. Is there really a need to move this entire space?’

‘We can’t be the only ones to see it.’

Ah.

Olivia stood dazed, watching the scene. It was an all-too-familiar place.

The place where I first taught my disciples after falling into this world. The space where I lived with Melina, filled with all kinds of precious memories.

Aurelia stood in an uncharacteristically demure posture. At the end of her gaze was a statue made of ice. Livga had carved it herself.

That statue, with its gentle smile, looked exactly like Olivia—no, like me.

‘Saintess. I didn’t know you were so skilled with your hands.’

‘Me too, make one for me too!’

‘I’ll make one for Master Cain later.’

‘Hmm, I would also like to request one. It’s definitely not because I don’t have confidence in making one exactly the same.’

‘Hey. Instead of making such requests, go outside and break some ice. We’re starting to run low.’

‘Alright…’

The King of Martial Arts dragged his feet as he went outside. Esthie paid him no mind and concentrated on her task.

With a most reverent face, she wrote a name on the memorial stone.

[Olivia]

‘You write beautifully.’

‘…I was once a princess.’

Esthie murmured as she put down her pen. Cain, who had been fidgeting, exclaimed.

‘I want to write something too!’

‘No. Memorial stones should only have names on them.’

‘But… it looks too empty. Such a large stone with just a name… it looks too lonely.’

‘You just want to scribble on it.’

‘No, really no…’

Watching them, Livga smiled.

‘If you want to write something, you may.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes.’

Cain got up from his seat with a bright smile. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he wrote down the words.

[My first friend]

It was crooked, but no one laughed. Even Aurelia just stared blankly at those words.

‘Are you going to write something too?’

‘…’

Aurelia carefully took the pen. After hesitating for a long time, she slowly began to engrave words.

[A companion for eternity]

Esthie too.

[My savior]

The King of Martial Arts as well.

[The most capable magician]

The King of Martial Arts handed the pen to Livga. She looked at Olivia’s statue once.

[Family]

‘Let’s go.’

With Aurelia’s words, the King of Martial Arts carefully lifted Olivia’s statue. Cain picked up the memorial stone.

‘Where are you planning to place it?’

‘I’m thinking of placing it where my sister was born.’

‘…The City of Beginnings?’

‘Yes.’

‘Even though the people of that city don’t know who Olivia is?’

‘From now on, we’ll make them know.’

‘I like that answer.’

Aurelia drew a formation on the ground. She was trying to move through space.

Fwooosh…

After a moment, a faint light began to envelop their bodies. Livga put her hands together in prayer.

‘God, may my sister’s path ahead be filled with peace.’

And she opened her eyelids. As if entranced, she turned her head in my direction.

‘…Ah.’

She gaped blankly, then slowly broke into a smile.

There was no longer any trace of sadness on Livga’s face. Only gratitude to the god who allowed this final meeting, and joy for the long-awaited reunion.

Livga smiled like a child.

Just like when we first met.

Bright and fresh.

Happily.

The screen shakes.

When I closed and opened my eyelids, I was back in that familiar space.

With mixed feelings, I wiped the corner of my eye with my fingertip. My eyelids were red.

It wasn’t because I was sad.

I was happy and grateful.

I felt that only if they sensed Olivia watching from somewhere, would they not give up on life.

That they could live their lives joyfully.

That’s why I kept watching.

“…Ah…aah.”

It seemed I had finally received my reward.

I, no.

Olivia clutched her chest tightly.

It was time to leave. They would carry me in their hearts for the rest of their lives, but they would no longer grieve. They would miss me, but they would also recall the happy memories at the same time.

“Aah…aaaah…”

After shedding tears for a long time, Olivia struggled to get up.

[Would you like to return?]

Just as Olivia was about to reach for the blue rift.

Thud…!

Someone was knocking from beyond the rift.

The moment she heard that sound, Olivia realized who was on the other side.

Thud…!

This had happened before.

When I created a barrier to isolate the outside world to fight Asmodeus…

Crack…!

Before Olivia could react, the rift tore open. On the other side was Kiel Rothschild in a suit.

Behind him, Melina smiled at Olivia.

“Livi.”

Golden eyes.

“Have you been crying because you couldn’t wait?”

Olivia nodded.

“Come here…”

She ran and embraced Melina, burying her face in her shoulder.

Melina smiled.

Kiel and Aria smiled too.

Without anyone needing to go first, they all embraced Olivia.

With faces full of happiness.

The End