Ch.211The Final Farewell (1)

*

Just like those days Sylvia and I spent together in Millwood Village, time began to flow slowly once again.

Waking up to the beautiful songs of birds and morning sunlight filtering through the gaps in the wooden walls, my day would begin with a gentle kiss on Sylvia’s lips as she lay quietly beside me.

During the day, Sylvia would spend time hunting with Sister Maria.

Clearly, hunting was just an excuse to share various stories.

Parting with Sister Maria would be harder for Sylvia than for me, who had been separated from her for so long.

Meanwhile, I prepared for our departure from the forest by organizing the area around the cabin with Pia.

The twisted, creaking wheel of fate finally began to turn silently without any noise.

Although the hammer and chisel I threw myself into to correct that fate were both broken, and my life was consumed as lubricant, I felt no resentment or bitterness.

I am completely satisfied with the ending we’ve reached.

Listening to the birdsong returning to the fallen forest, that’s what I thought.

On the third day after killing the Demon King.

I carefully sank Malice’s necklace, glowing with blue light, into the lake.

This was to respect Sister Maria’s decision to become the spirit guardian of this forest instead of the Green Lady.

Of course, I had tried persistently to persuade her over the past few days, but Sister Maria’s mind was made up.

Even Sylvia, who had gone hunting with her for several days, shook her head, saying that Sister Maria’s stubbornness couldn’t be broken.

The necklace slowly sank toward the bottom of the lake.

As it descended slowly into the crystal-clear lake where the bottom was clearly visible, the blue jewel dissolved and merged with the water before even reaching the bottom.

According to Pia, Sister Maria’s soul had been trapped in Malice’s necklace.

At this moment, Maria must have been completely liberated from this necklace and taken her place in this forest.

I bowed my head quietly, looking at the necklace that had become a simple piece of metal after losing its gem.

As if praising my choice, the large tree that was once the Green Lady trembled in the wind.

A large leaf rode the breeze, gently brushing past my head before landing softly on the lake’s surface.

“Please… take care of my sister.”

Pia quietly wiped the tears from my eyes and embraced my shoulders that were trembling up and down.

She didn’t say anything, but an indescribable comfort seeped into my body.

Unlike Sister Maria, Pia had decided to come with me.

Even though she knew I wouldn’t live much longer, and even though she didn’t know what would happen to her when I died.

I asked Pia why.

But Pia said nothing, just quietly rested her head on my shoulder.

Though Pia, in the form of a healthy and beautiful teenage girl, certainly had a slender and refreshing appearance, the warmth of her leaning against my shoulder was as cozy and warm as the tail that had wrapped around me when she was in fox form.

*

One morning, a week after returning to the cabin.

I rubbed my sleepy eyes and headed to the lakeside to wash my face.

After washing away the oil and Sylvia’s saliva that had covered my face during the night with water cold enough to jolt me awake, I slowly lowered my head and waited for the ripples on the water’s surface to subside.

“…Ah!”

I could see my pale green eyes reflected on the water’s surface.

Eyes with no trace of red remaining.

Though it was a change as small as a tiny dot compared to my whole face, even this small change made my face feel very unfamiliar.

At the same time, it also felt incredibly nostalgic.

I stared at my face for a long time, enough that someone might misunderstand me as being extremely narcissistic.

Then suddenly, I jumped up with a shout.

“…Sylvia!”

I called out to Sylvia and sprinted toward the cabin.

The curse Sylvia had transferred to me was gone.

Surely, the curse placed on Sylvia must have completely disappeared as well.

But perhaps due to exposure to so much misfortune?

I couldn’t feel at ease until I saw it with my own eyes.

I felt I needed to see Sylvia’s face, her eyes, right away to be reassured.

At the same time, the excitement of wanting to share this joyful news with her, who couldn’t even remember her original eye color, spread like wildfire in my heart.

Just twenty seconds.

Even those twenty seconds it took to run from the lake to the cabin felt unbearably long as my heart raced wildly.

“Sylvia! Sylvia!”

I shouted her name and roughly pushed open the creaking door.

Sylvia, who had surely been sleeping in when I left, was already standing in front of the door with her sword drawn.

“Ash, what’s wrong!”

“…!”

“Ash?”

I stared intently at Sylvia’s face.

Perhaps due to the sudden situation, Sylvia hadn’t yet noticed the change in my face.

With a trembling voice, I slowly opened my mouth.

“…They’re blue.”

“What?”

“Sylvia, you have beautiful blue eyes.”

I heard Sylvia take a small breath.

Dropping her sword to the floor, Sylvia slowly raised her trembling hands to gently hold both my cheeks.

Her face drew closer to mine.

Realizing she was using my eyes as a mirror, I stared at Sylvia’s eyes without blinking until she could fully see her own.

Blue.

More blue and clear than this beautiful lake, more blue than Malice’s gem that had dissolved in it—crystal-like eyes that trembled slightly.

“…Hello.”

I greeted the blue-eyed Sylvia I was seeing for the first time.

“It’s really nice… to see you again.”

She greeted the green-eyed Ash she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Tears clearer than her eyes welled up in Sylvia’s eyes before rolling down her cheeks.

She looked so pretty, so beautiful that she seemed not of this world, that I held my breath for a moment.

Was it because of that? Or because I had run so hard with my broken body?

My heart was pounding harder than it ever had before.

I felt a slight pressure from her fingers holding my cheeks.

Sensing her intention, I gently closed my eyes.

Her lips, wet with tears, pressed against mine.

Even while kissing me, Sylvia continued to sob, her shoulders shaking.

I couldn’t begin to imagine the magnitude of pain she had endured since acquiring red eyes, even after all I had been through.

But because I could feel what was in her heart, I embraced Sylvia with all my strength.

“What are you two doing so early in the morning?”

Sister Maria’s voice came from behind me.

As I slowly turned my head, she was looking at Sylvia and me with an incredulous expression.

“I disappear with Pia every night. You should show some restraint during the day.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Pia, who peeked out from behind Sister Maria with a disgruntled face, agreed with her scolding.

However, as they alternately looked at Sylvia’s and my faces, their expressions gradually changed to mild surprise and joy.

Pia let out a cheer.

Sister Maria placed her hands on her hips and grinned.

“The curse is broken.”

“Yes.”

“That’s great. You’ve been through a lot, Sylvia. You too, Ash.”

“…Sniff, sob…”

Sylvia just nodded, whimpering.

Seeing Sylvia crying like a child, I embraced her tightly once more.

Today, her broad shoulders and firm body seemed so fragile and delicate.

“Um… so.”

Pia, who had been hopping around in front of the cabin, slowly lowered her raised arms and muttered.

I nodded and said to Pia.

“Yes.”

“…”

“Now, it’s time for us to return to Goldfield.”

*

“You’re really not coming?”

“I’ve already said no, so stop asking.”

The day after the Demon King’s curse completely disappeared from Sylvia and me.

In front of a large carriage, I made one last offer to Sister Maria to return with us.

Of course, as I expected, she refused.

I knew it would be like this, but I couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

“Take good care of both of them.”

Sister Maria said, looking at the two coffins loaded in the back of the carriage.

One contained Sister Alice’s body, and the other held Layla’s ashes.

We decided to leave Layla’s tombstone here.

Although Layla’s remains, or what was left of them, would return to her homeland, her soul had dwelled and departed from this forest, so we decided to leave the tombstone behind.

It was also a consideration for Sister Maria, who would remain in this forest, so she could remember Layla.

Since Sister Maria said she wouldn’t return to her homeland, Layla’s tombstone would be the only trace of family for her.

I quietly closed the carriage door containing the coffins and said.

“Thanks for making the carriage. I didn’t know such magic existed.”

“It’s magic I created.”

“I feel awkward saying this as someone who’s benefiting, but why did you create such magic?”

“Do you know how many people were in the hero’s party? And how far it was from the capital with the royal palace to this forest where the Demon King’s castle was? I made it because it was necessary.”

“Ha, a genius is a genius indeed.”

Despite the slightly sarcastic compliment, Sister Maria puffed out her chest and raised her head.

“Of course! Plus, it will move on its own for about a day. After that, you’ll have to find horses or push it yourself.”

“So that’s why it consumed so much magical power. How will you use magic without me?”

“Well, I’ll have to slowly teach myself spirit arts.”

“…I see.”

“You won’t have time to be bored. So don’t worry and go.”

Sister Maria said, placing her hands on her hips.

I looked at her face for a moment.

The face of my only family, which I might never see again after today.

Sister Maria, sensing my intention, said nothing and gave me a faint smile.

After staring at her for a long time, I quietly opened my mouth.

“…Honestly, you’ve changed a lot. So different from my memories that I was quite shocked at first.”

“Well… a lot of time has passed.”

“Still,”

“I was still beautiful, right?”

“…You were still my sister. Even that part just now.”

“Huh, you brat.”

I hugged Sister Maria tightly.

Sister Maria tried to push me away with a yelp.

“What are you doing? That’s gross.”

“Sister,”

“Ugh, what?”

“You said you’re not really Sister Maria. Just a spirit who inherited her memories.”

“…”

“But I still think you’re my sister.”

“…”

“I really missed you. And… take care, Sister.”

I gave my final farewell and slowly released Sister Maria.

Sister Maria smiled mischievously, showing her front teeth.

It was her characteristic tomboy expression that remained in my memory.

Sister Maria ruffled my hair and said.

“I missed you too, little brother. You need to be happy now.”

“…Yes.”

I slowly climbed onto the driver’s seat.

Sylvia and Pia were already seated there, having gone up first to allow me and Sister Maria to say our goodbyes.

As I sat down, Sylvia grabbed Pia, who was sitting between us, by the scruff of her neck and lifted her up.

“Don’t sit between me and Ash.”

“Keeek!”

“…Don’t fight.”

Sighing, I looked to the side and Sister Maria gave me a nod.

Asking if I was ready to leave.

“…”

The preparations were complete.

All that remained was for Sister Maria to transport this entire carriage outside the forest.

It was quite nerve-wracking for me, but what about Sylvia?

Sylvia was silently staring straight ahead.

But judging by how tightly she gripped the reins—with no horses attached yet—with veins bulging on the back of her hand, she seemed quite tense as well.

Of course.

How desperately must she have wanted to leave this forest?

How many times had she imagined leaving this forest and returning to the world?

A thousand times? Ten thousand times? Or was it such an excessive dream that she dared not even imagine it?

I turned my gaze from Sylvia and briefly looked around the lakeside.

The scenery, though beautiful, would never be missed, quickly passed through my field of vision.

Since entering this forest, I had to endure hell like I’d never experienced before.

In unbearable pain that didn’t end even as my mind and body screamed and cried out desperately, I lost my former self and everyone who knew the past me.

But because of that, I met Sylvia.

The only woman left for me, who was completely broken.

Yet I found love in this forest that was too good for me.

“I’m ready.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Sister Maria looked at me and said.

“Tell Mom and Dad for me.”

“Yes…”

“And… bury Alice properly.”

“I will.”

“Oh, and take good care of Sylvia. You’re marrying my friend, so don’t you dare cheat.”

“As if I would…”

“And… and…”

“…”

Sister Maria paused for a moment.

Did she still have something to say?

Looking at Sister Maria’s face, she was trembling her lips with a bewildered expression.

“And…”

“…Sister?”

“Ha, damn it… why am I like this?”

“…”

“I just… don’t want to send you away. Suddenly.”

“…Sister.”

Sister Maria’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

And then, jewel-like tears fell to the ground.

“…Sister, are you crying?”

“No, I’m not!”

“…”

This is a first.

Seeing Sister Maria cry.

“Aish… ahem, ahem…”

Sister Maria muttered, rubbing her eyes vigorously and clearing her throat.

Then, avoiding my gaze, she continued.

“This is embarrassing, so I’ll recite the spell quickly. It’s my first time mixing magic and spirit arts, but Pia explained it in detail, so it should work.”

Just as Pia had once sent me back to Goldfield territory through teleportation, this time Sister Maria would transport us outside the forest.

You might wonder why she couldn’t send us straight home, but with large luggage like a carriage, it would be too risky, and if she made a mistake while pushing herself, there could be terrible consequences. So she agreed to help us just get past the difficult forest path.

Sister Maria wouldn’t make a mistake.

After all, she’s a genius.

Neither I, Pia, Sylvia, nor Sister Maria herself thought anything would go wrong.

But we were still delaying the moment of farewell, unnecessarily dragging out time.

And no one pointed out that fact.

“…Phew.”

“…”

Finally, Sister Maria seemed to have made up her mind and let out a determined sigh.

Sensing that the moment had finally come after all the delay, I gave my final greeting to Sister Maria, who was catching her breath.

“See you again.”

At that moment,

My vision changed rapidly.

Light of incredible brightness, which I had never felt in the dark forest where sunlight barely penetrated, filled my vision.

A vast meadow with not a single tree blocking the view like in the dense forest,

And an old dirt road with faint hoof prints stretching to the horizon—an unfamiliar sight.

Looking back, I could see the point where the dense forest began.

“…We’re out.”

Sylvia muttered blankly.

We had finally left the Vortex Forest.

.