Ch.333333. Congratulations

The battlefield, once filled with heat and frenzy.

At the time when morning dew rises, only quiet footsteps echo.

The wolf with the form of a wildly thrashing tiger had already departed somewhere.

The massive path of light she had risked her life to protect was now wide open.

Embracing her fiancé, today’s hero returns to the world.

The pitiful tears she shed had already stopped. Though her eyes were rimmed with red, she pretended nothing was wrong as she held Deus Verdi’s body.

Everyone present knew that the scene before them was the final moment of this incident.

Normally, cheers should have erupted. They had toppled evil, saved the world, and eliminated the Spiritmaster who possessed the power to destroy the continent.

They should have applauded, laughed, and thanked the gods for this beautiful achievement accomplished by the united nations.

But no one could rejoice while watching the woman who had killed the man she loved for the sake of the continent.

The military forces cleared the way for Erika Bright as she headed outside the academy, still embracing Deus.

It looked like…

A scene of mourning for Deus Verdi’s death.

* * *

The funeral was modest.

In fact, it could hardly be called a funeral.

Just a nameless grave, standing alone in Greyfond.

Without anyone knowing.

Very quietly.

However, many people came to visit. Starting with Tairn and Gloria, who had been commanders on the battlefield.

Saintess Lucia and Princess Elenoa.

Everyone stood before his grave for a long time. And most wore similar expressions.

The last to visit was the master of Griffin, Orpheus Luden Griffin.

Late at night.

He stood at the grave with only Gloria as his escort, his face hidden under a robe.

A nameless grave.

Though the modest grave had not a single flower placed on it, it was spotlessly clean.

Orpheus knelt on one knee before the grave and bowed his head.

“It took some time to sort things out. I couldn’t leave my post carelessly with foreign dignitaries present.”

A soft whisper.

The king apologizes for coming last and swallows a bitter breath.

“Thanks to Erika Bright eliminating you, we were able to maintain our standing. She’s now the leading candidate for the next Grand Mage position.”

He tried to speak calmly.

“They’ve actually reassessed the level of our kingdom’s magic. Thanks to this, even Zerman, which seemed to be preparing for war against us, has changed direction.”

However, he couldn’t hide his choked emotions as his voice gradually became unsteady.

“After you disappeared… I thought the oppression against Black Mages would worsen. I judged that the position of Spiritmaster would no longer be viable.”

Indeed, the view toward Black Mages was not favorable, and the position of Spiritmaster was predominantly met with skepticism.

“Thanks to Plague Mage Becklin and Blood Mage Pellestan, our medical field is experiencing explosive growth. You could call it progress.”

Thanks to these two, the image of Black Mages was gradually softening.

After all, they were presenting innovative paradigms for incurable diseases and blood transfusions that had been impossible to treat until now.

“Those two told me. That you… told them to prepare to become heroes.”

Deus had personally visited Becklin, who was imprisoned in the magic tower, and had also asked Pellestan when he first captured him.

Becklin had no choice. Pellestan decided to dedicate himself to the Griffin Kingdom, carrying on Luanes’s will.

“Owen Baltani has agreed to take the position of Spiritmaster. The boy isn’t a Black Mage… he simply comforts souls through his music.”

If another Black Mage had taken the Spiritmaster position, there would certainly have been opposition.

Owen doesn’t have such abilities.

He can do nothing but play music to please souls.

Thanks to this, he was able to establish himself as the second Spiritmaster.

“So this is why you were so busy?”

Everything had been prepared.

That was…

“To take responsibility even after your death? Did you refrain from teaching Black Magic to renew the image of Black Mages that would be damaged through you, and to place Owen in the position of the second Spiritmaster?”

It was truly detestable.

“Why…”

Finally, King Orpheus placed his hand on the tombstone and shed tears.

The captain of the royal guard, Gloria, who stood behind him, quietly turned away, pretending not to see.

No one should witness a king’s tears.

“Why did you burn your life for what comes after death!”

If he heard these words now.

He would surely have answered calmly as always.

– I am a Spiritmaster.

Life and death.

A man who stood closest to that boundary.

That’s why he worried about what would come after death while living his life, and after death, he looked after the lives of those who remained.

“My friend.”

Orpheus understood from the explanations he had heard.

That Deus Verdi was now living somewhere as someone else.

And that he was still fulfilling his responsibility to the continent.

Though Deus had died, the souls in his body were still sleeping.

His corpse could be buried in a pristine state without any blemishes.

And that this was the final mission of his friend who might be living somewhere on this land.

“Though no one may acknowledge you, you remain a great hero who continues to support this land.”

Orpheus’s forehead touched the ground as he slowly crouched before the grave.

“More than wearing the crown of Griffin’s king.”

Flowing tears dampened the ground.

For the first time.

The king knelt before someone, bowing his head deeply.

“Being your friend was the greatest honor for me.”

* * *

Robern Academy was quite busy as the semester started a bit late.

“Nngh!”

This was also true for Professor Per Petra.

Recently, she had submitted a paper on prosthetic bodies to the academic community, causing tremendous ripples, making her one of the busiest professors at the academy.

There was talk that her innovative research achievements would establish a new school of thought called biomechanical magic.

She herself wasn’t particularly interested in such matters.

“Phew.”

Having roughly finished her work, Per looked around. The research lab she now used alone.

Deus’s traces were quietly and slowly being erased through time.

“Well, that’s mostly done.”

Stretching, Per slowly rose from her seat and looked out the window. Come to think of it, she needed to bring in an assistant now.

Until now, she had shared the research lab with Deus, so there was no space to bring in another person.

“It’s a shame.”

In truth, Deus was absent from the academy more often than he was present.

He was much more dedicated as a Spiritmaster than as a professor, and that was natural.

Perhaps that’s why?

It felt like if she just kept waiting like this, Deus would walk in with his usual stoic expression.

“Everything has an end, they say, but…”

Who could have predicted that their connection would end like this?

Professor Per felt both regret and worry simultaneously.

Regret toward the deceased Deus, and worry for her friend Erika Bright, who would ascend to the position of Grand Mage after killing her fiancé.

“Such an ending is truly cruel.”

Though she could barely speak in front of others, she tended to talk to herself a lot when alone, which was something of a characteristic.

“Even the heavens are heartless.”

As Per pouted and looked out the window, her contemplation was interrupted by a knock from outside.

“Per, are you finished?”

“Eh, Professor Erika?!”

Speak of the devil.

Just as she was thinking about her, how timely was this visit?

Professor Per jumped in surprise as if caught doing something wrong, habitually dusted off her lab coat, and headed outside.

Erika was waiting with a calm expression.

Some might say she looked the same as always, but Per knew. That she had changed a little.

“Y-Yes! I’m mostly done!”

“Good, then let’s go now.”

Today was the day of the award ceremony for Professor Per Petra and Erika Bright.

Professor Per was on the verge of establishing a new school of thought by creating prosthetic bodies similar to actual human bodies.

And Erika had been designated as the next Grand Mage to succeed Rockpellican.

Because of this, the auditorium was now packed with Rockpellican and his disciples.

The closed auditorium doors.

At the entrance, professors serving as event staff gave some signal inside before opening the doors.

The two entered, welcomed by the grandly arranged students and professors.

‘Ugh, my stomach hurts.’

Professor Per, who wasn’t particularly fond of such situations, waved her hand with a pale expression, complaining of stomach pain.

But Erika was simply walking down the path they had opened for her, expressionless.

Professors and the Grand Mage’s disciples whispered as they watched her.

Recently, people often said such things about Erika’s behavior.

That it seemed as if Deus Verdi’s coldness had transferred to her.

In fact, Professor Per had similar thoughts, but she also knew that Erika couldn’t endure without behaving that way.

The ceremony proceeded with numerous audience members applauding and cheering.

After Professor Per received her certificate of appreciation from the principal, it was Erika’s turn.

Grand Mage Rockpellican specially took the stage and grabbed the microphone.

He shared appropriate words of wisdom with the academy students and requested a big round of applause for Erika Bright, his new successor.

“……”

Slowly.

And calmly.

Erika, called up to the stage, looked around at the people applauding her.

‘Congratulations.’

Students congratulating her.

Fellow professors applauding loudly.

Her assistants even shedding tears.

The Grand Mage’s disciples acknowledging her merit or envying her.

There were various emotions, but ultimately, she was being congratulated.

She would bear the title of Grand Mage at the youngest age in Griffin’s history.

For now, she would continue as a professor, but once the semester ended, she would be called to the palace to work.

They were congratulating her.

All of them.

Congratulating her for killing her fiancé.

For piercing the heart of the person she loved.

“Congratulations.”

Suddenly, she found herself standing before Rockpellican. He tried to encourage her by patting her shoulder.

But she looked down at the heavy certificate in her hands with hollow eyes.

– Thank you for killing your beloved.

The world, the kingdom was saying that to her.

“Ah…”

She had endured.

Really hard.

She had tried to endure.

Erika buried her face in the certificate, her head bowed deeply. Her body trembled so much that it was difficult to move her feet.

“Don’t cry! Don’t cry!”

“Congratulations, Professor!”

“You’re amazing!”

Had they mistaken her for crying from emotion? The thunderous encouragement from behind almost made her want to vomit from disgust.

She hated herself for receiving such congratulations.

‘Deus.’

Without you.

‘Deus.’

These things.

‘Deus.’

What’s the use?

None of the burdens you left me are heavy.

For you, I can wear this kind of crown with a smile.

‘But the fact that you’re gone.’

That one thing is too hard.

Erika, unable to hold back her welling tears, forcibly covered her face.

She needed to get down from the stage first.

With that thought, Erika took a deep breath.

[Oh.]

If it weren’t for the woman standing right beside her.

Black robe, voluptuous figure, childlike exclamation.

Semi-transparent black veil covering below her eyes.

[This is awesome.]

Erika’s eyes trembled as she looked at the Dark Spiritmaster who gave a thumbs up.

She couldn’t properly understand who she was seeing right now.

Could the people around not see her?

There was no separate commotion from anyone.

“Y-You… how.”

Her lips became parched.

Erika wore an expression that showed she couldn’t properly understand the situation.

But then a woman of completely opposite coloration appeared beside the Dark Spiritmaster.

[We heard today was an important day for you…]

Stella said with a gentle smile.

[He said he absolutely had to come.]

As she spoke, Stella’s gaze naturally guided Erika’s toward the entrance.

And there.

“Ah.”

A man stood there, slowly applauding in congratulation.

Strangely, no one seemed to notice him. Mysteriously and magnificently, as if nothing was visible.

He was congratulating her.

The certificate she had been holding was already thrown to the floor. The woman who had descended from the stage was running, paying no attention to her surroundings.

Toward him.