Ch.246Epilogue – Nevertheless, They Wished to Live On (2)

“So, do you have any plans for the future?”

After grasping the general situation, I decided to spend time with Irie listening to additional reports from Sanson after parting with Baudouin.

“For now, we’re focusing on securing resources and survivors by traveling between islands while waiting for the Captain to wake up.”

“…It seems there are survivors even when the world has been turned upside down.”

“Everyone wants to survive, after all.”

Should I consider that fortunate, or unfortunate that they have to live in such a world?

No, we all gathered on the ark to survive too.

If that desire remains, we should consider survival a blessing, not living as a misfortune.

“One fortunate thing, as the Captain mentioned, is that dangerous elements like monsters and the Demon Tribe aren’t free from this collapse either. Taking advantage of that gap, the bird people are conducting reconnaissance, and the underground people are searching beneath the islands they’ve reached.”

“Is there enough food?”

“We’ve managed to sustain our food supply thanks to the elves and the World Tree. However, given the number of people on the ark, everyone’s concerned that we might exhaust the World Tree and deplete our resources if we continue like this.”

In short, we need to secure a stable base where we can focus on farming and livestock.

But Briton IV, which we’ve just joined, is completely detached from the ground and soaring into the sky as the dimensional collapse accelerates.

Having seen its surface gradually crumbling away, it would be unreasonable to hope we can continue to settle here.

“Come to think of it, the ground here seems unstable too. You’re not planning to stay here indefinitely, are you?”

“While the Captain was unconscious, the dwarves modified the ark to implement flight capabilities. Although for now we can only lift it slightly to move to nearby islands, they say long-term flight could be possible with further improvements.”

Flight, huh.

Certainly, as the land is being turned upside down, our mode of transportation should focus on air rather than land or sea for survival.

If we go that far, it might be considered an airship rather than an ark… No, it would be more challenging than simple flight.

In normal skies, we’d only need to calculate wind movements, but the current world is in a state where countless dimensional rifts are forming.

With those forces occurring in all directions, creating irregular and fierce air currents, calculating and navigating through them would be no easy task.

“Are you concerned that navigation might be difficult?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. I wonder if there’s a suitable solution?”

If we can’t solve this issue, we might end up stranded here, waiting for an inevitable fall.

When I asked about this, Sanson casually replied.

“You don’t need to worry about that. The ark currently has a reliable navigator on board.”

“Navigator? Who are you talking about?”

“It’s Vivian Platonis.”

“…What?”

Vivian?

Is he talking about the Vivian I know?

“She’s been researching dimensions, including the ritual for summoning heroes. Although it’s impossible to restore collapsed dimensions… since she’s the only one on this ark who can read and gauge dimensional flows, we can set aside concerns about navigation to some extent.”

“Well, when you put it that way…”

Certainly, she would be the best navigator in a situation like this.

But the issue is people’s perception of her.

Most people might just think of her as a court magician or a member of the magic tower, but Sanson, as my close aide, would know something about her background.

“…Is it okay to have her join us?”

She’s a doppelganger created through the Crown Prince’s ability, thoroughly raised as a tool by vampires who manipulated her.

And since she might have contributed to the world becoming like this, there would be those who don’t welcome her presence.

“We’ll need to hide it from those who don’t know the circumstances… but I think it’s fine.”

Despite such concerns, Sanson answered nonchalantly.

“I believe the Captain had good reasons for saving her.”

Even while I was unconscious, he maintained his respect for me, waiting for my return.

No, even after this moment passes and in the future…

He will maintain that heart until the end of the long journey ahead.

****

Since Vivian came up in our conversation, I needed to check on how she was doing.

After parting with Sanson, I was heading to where she was with Irie when we happened to meet someone welcome.

“Oh, I heard you woke up, and it’s true?”

Garam Lee.

One of the three heroes aboard this ark and the child with whom I formed a sibling-like relationship.

“Brother, it’s been a while. Did you sleep well?”

“Ah, well, my body feels fine…”

But her reaction upon seeing me again was remarkably casual for a reunion after a month.

“Why are you reacting like that? Everyone else is praising me for waking up.”

“Hmm, should I perform a welcoming ceremony for you here?”

“No thanks, kid.”

“Haha, don’t feel too disappointed. That kind of thing doesn’t suit either my style or your personality, right?”

Certainly, I found those previous displays quite burdensome, and it would be awkward to talk about how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other after being unconscious for a month.

But just as I was thinking her reaction was too nonchalant…

“Besides, I believed you would come back.”

With those sudden words, I felt my previous discontent fade away, and I broke into a smile.

Yes, this is what it means to entrust your back to someone and trust them, I realized.

“How’s Jaseong?”

“He’s currently working with the dwarves on the ark’s flight device. I’m about to join them too.”

“I’ll have to postpone meeting him then.”

“I’ll convey your greetings. Now, I have a pile of work to do, so I’ll excuse myself. Enjoy your date, brother.”

“You’re getting cheeky.”

“Hehe~”

As I made a gesture to flick her forehead, she stuck out her tongue and left.

As I turned away from the empty space she left, I became aware of Irie firmly gripping my arm with both of her hands.

“Irie?”

“D-date…”

She glanced up at me.

Her cheeks were flushed red.

“We’ve been apart for so long. When we’re together, this much is… eep!”

Feeling tempted by her shyness, I pulled her close with my arm and quietly said:

“Don’t feel too pressured. We’ll have plenty of time for this in the future.”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Irie nodded at my words and quietly rested her head on my shoulder.

It didn’t take long for the shyness I felt from her to fade away.

****

After slowly touring the ark with Irie, we arrived at the archives.

It was a place where they stored books discovered from the places the ark had visited, along with various information.

It was also where Vivian had taken up residence after joining us.

According to occasional reports, she was continuing her research by reading books every day without fail, just as when I first met her.

The most surprising thing was that unlike in the past when she focused only on her research, she had voluntarily offered to conduct research that would benefit the ark.

“She’s always reading books, so I rarely see her directly, but the last time I saw her, she seemed to be adapting well to the ark.”

“That’s good to hear. At least she doesn’t seem to be going berserk like before…”

“That violent behavior was due to her psychological instability caused by the vampires’ curse of oblivion. She hardly showed such tendencies during the time I spent with her.”

Come to think of it, Irie had stayed with Vivian at the imperial palace while I was away.

Although her approach was meant to find a way to send me back, given Irie’s affectionate nature, she probably didn’t see Vivian as particularly different.

“And… she’s someone we can call our benefactor.”

“…That’s right.”

If it hadn’t been her who stood in my way.

And if she hadn’t remembered me and maintained that goodwill, we wouldn’t have been able to protect our child safely.

So I should express my gratitude in our upcoming meeting. Just as I was about to enter the archives…

“Miss Vivian. Have you made a mess of your room again?”

Hearing a voice from inside, I paused for a moment to discreetly observe the interior of the room.

“Uh, um… it happened while I was researching.”

“Research is important, but if it’s this messy, it’ll be hard to find your research materials. You know there’s a limit to how much I can help you like this, right?”

“S-sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“…Cleaning is my role, so that’s one thing, but why do you always pick out the vegetables from the meals I prepare for you?”

“Vegetables are somehow, uncomfortable to eat, and they don’t taste good…”

“If you don’t eat them regularly, your health will deteriorate. Come on, open your mouth. I’ll feed you.”

“Uuugh.”

Two familiar voices.

Recognizing them, I entered to find the two people I expected welcoming me.

One was Vivian, whom I expected to be here.

And the other was Cheska Flandor, whom I thought would be hostile toward her.

“…Master?”

“H-housekeeper?”

As their gazes focused on me, Vivian began approaching me, clutching a book to her chest.

“Housekeeper, have you finally woken up?”

“Yes, I just woke up. Were you worried about me too, Vivian?”

“Mmhmm, of course I was worried. I kept thinking what if you never woke up…”

A whimper began to emerge. Her trembling body and lowered head suggested she might burst into tears at any moment.

“…Hehehe, I’m happy to see you again.”

Yet in the end, Vivian faced me with a smile.

She still looked tired, but the unstable and haggard appearance she had shown before had somewhat disappeared.

Was it because the beings that had constrained her were gone? Or was she genuinely happy to see me?

“Ahem.”

As I was about to feel joy at this reunion with her, Cheska interrupted with a cough.

Then she directed sharp eyes at Vivian, as if cautioning her.

“Miss Vivian. I am the housekeeper of this ark. Don’t you think it would be better to address the Master differently?”

“Uh, um. Is that… so?”

Vivian mumbled awkwardly at the sharp voice.

Then she blinked her eyes, looked at me, and carefully began to speak.

“H…Hyoseong?”

“…Miss Vivian.”

“Hehehe, that’s right, the housekeeper’s name. It was definitely Hyoseong, right?”

Damn, this again. Despite my thoughts, Vivian smiled timidly.

“Hyoseong, Hyoseong… Hehe, it’s still a strange name no matter when I hear it.”

“……”

“…Um, did I make a mistake?”

As I stared at her silently, anxiety appeared on her face, but I smiled and tried to let her current words slide.

“No, it’s fine coming from you, Miss Vivian.”

It’s always something I’m sensitive about, but for some reason, I didn’t feel that way at all with Vivian.

That’s because she’s such a special person to me, and I know there’s no malice in her shy teasing.

“Eh, hehe. That’s a relief then.”

As Vivian smiled brightly at my response, I quietly faced her and wanted to ask one thing.

“Miss Vivian.”

“Yes?”

“Are you comfortable with life on the ark?”

I wondered if she might not adapt to life here. And if she truly felt okay about setting aside the path she had pursued until now, considering it a mistake.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

To my question filled with anxiety, she soon answered with a faint smile and a bright voice.

“Everyone is kind, I’ve found something I want to do… and most importantly, Hyoseong has returned.”

“I’m so, so happy right now~”

Even a fragment of what was once called a disaster…

By meeting me, she became a human being who could mingle with everyone, as if teaching me this lesson.