Ch.368Chapter 368 Epilogue – Palace of Flowers and Spring (1)

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The moment I decided to accept the invitation to an unknown place.

My and Shizu’s actions were swift.

“Did you eat a hearty breakfast? Judging by your expression, you seem quite eager to go.”

Before I knew it, we had finished breakfast in an instant and reached Alcor, who was playing with Flora.

However, despite our hurry, the scene before my eyes revealed that more time had passed than I thought.

Gone was the sight of him causing a commotion trying to drink kvas in the morning and then being caught by his daughter, not knowing what to do.

“Daddy! Are we going home now?”

“I suppose we should. We have guests to invite, so shouldn’t we take them quickly?”

“…Can I come play here again next time?”

“Of course.”

“…Hehe.”

The evidence was Alcor, who had somehow transformed into a caring father looking after his daughter.

The sunglasses he had worn to hide his striking appearance had vanished from his face.

His already radiant appearance seemed to shine even more brightly, his expression naturally relaxed while spending time with his daughter, indicating that quite some time had passed.

The fortunate thing was that the romantic gazes directed at him had disappeared, likely due to the sight of him spending time with his child.

Yes, surely no one would look that way at a married man with a child… right?

“Ah, you’re here.”

Alcor, who had been playing with Flora, turned his gaze toward me and waved, expressing his delight.

“You could have come more slowly. I lost track of time playing with my daughter.”

His words conveyed not regret about the time delay, but rather disappointment that Shizu and I had arrived sooner than expected.

Though he had told me to take my time, I found it strange how it contrasted with his earlier subtle signs of hurrying.

“When I’m in this place, I unintentionally neglect my family. No matter how hard I try, it doesn’t work. That’s why it’s precious—spending time with my daughter, even in this form.”

Alcor’s calm yet universally understandable explanation prevented my confusion from growing.

…Would I also become pressed for time if I started a family with Shizu and had children?

They say nothing is more foolish than assumptions and imaginings about things that haven’t happened yet.

But right now, I desperately want to entertain these supposedly useless thoughts, if only briefly, and consider what the future might hold.

“You’ll be there soon enough yourself.”

“I’ll try not to neglect them.”

“Yes, that’s the way.”

That’s why I could calmly accept Alcor’s words of wisdom.

“Good. Now that everyone’s here, we’re all set.”

Since all who needed to go had gathered, Alcor seemed unwilling to delay any longer and stood up while still holding Flora.

“Everything is prepared.”

Altair, who had somehow appeared among us, reported that preparations were complete, signaling that our sudden change of destination was nearing its final stage.

…Come to think of it, seeing him report back after disappearing somewhere suggests he prepared something.

Besides his well-fitted butler uniform and the sword at his waist, I couldn’t tell what Altair had prepared.

“Hmm, well done.”

Alcor nodded with satisfaction at the report, and while I couldn’t be certain, it was clear he had ordered something, though I couldn’t determine what it was, which left me puzzled.

“On his back…”

When Shizu whispered something to me, I turned my gaze to Altair’s back.

Only then did I notice the backpack on Altair’s back.

I almost asked aloud what it was.

The backpack on Altair’s back had a peculiar presence.

It was bulky enough to be worn on the back, but.

It was so tightly wrapped that I couldn’t guess what was inside.

Feeling my gaze, Alcor quickly turned his head and winked at me, so I put aside my thoughts about the backpack’s contents.

“Since we’re at a tourist spot, it wouldn’t be right to leave empty-handed.”

He was simultaneously joking and being cryptic, making it awkward to inquire further.

Anyway, seeing that both people and items were prepared, it seemed the time had come.

“Ahem. Shall we go then?”

The time to depart for an unknown place I had never set foot in before.

“First, come closer to me. Yes, that’s good enough.”

After clearing his throat, Alcor called us to his side, then raised his left hand leisurely despite holding Flora—that was the moment.

It might have seemed abrupt, but for beings who had reached transcendence by accumulating achievements beyond the imagination of those destined for mortality.

One of the most common ways they display their transcendent power is by using their fingers.

I sensed that Alcor would soon demonstrate the miracle of traversing worlds using his left fingers.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done this alone without anyone’s help.”

…Alcor’s tiny soliloquy sounded quite concerning, but.

Snap-!!

With the light flick of his fingers, my vision went dark, and I realized that Alcor’s spatial-temporal transfer had been executed very successfully.

Well, I was worried about getting trapped in the ravine of space-time, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.

My blurry and dizzy vision gradually returned to normal as a flash of light sparkled.

While my vision was returning to normal, my other senses perceived the following:

The refreshing scent of lilies that naturally cleared my mind.

Pleasantly warm sunshine that gently stimulated my skin.

And finally.

“Welcome to the Palace of Flowers and Spring, those who have devoted themselves to the world.”

A woman’s voice that overwhelmed me the moment I heard it, as if its majesty had been softened into gentleness.

Though not forced, I instinctively felt the need to kneel on one knee and pay my respects.

Who could be the owner of this voice?

Even as I naturally knelt with one knee touching the ground, I wondered who this woman could be.

Despite my temporary blindness, I could feel with my entire body one thing for certain:

The being I was about to face when I opened my eyes was one of the most exceptional among transcendent beings possessing divinity.

Not long after kneeling on one knee, my shaking vision returned to normal.

“Please raise your heads.”

The gentle voice filled with warmth encouraged me to look up as my vision recovered.

Shizu and I raised our heads toward the voice without hesitation.

It was radiant. Not as a figure of speech, but a brightness that was just shy of blinding occupied the place where I raised my head.

A literal jade throne, carved from a single piece of jade, created this radiance—a sight that needed no description beyond “noble” at first glance.

But right now, Shizu’s and my gazes were not directed at the throne.

Our eyes were fixed on the being sitting on the throne, whose presence dimmed even the holiness and radiance of the jade seat.

She was a beautiful woman. Perhaps falling just slightly short of Shizu beside me.

Silver-white hair that naturally evoked lilies.

Green eyes infused with both the benevolence of fresh verdure and the profound mystique accumulated as a transcendent being.

Features that openly displayed kindness in their expression.

Every element that composed her matched perfectly with this place she had introduced as the Palace of Flowers and Spring.

Perhaps noticing my gaze filled with faint admiration.

The woman—no, the goddess—seated on the throne gave me a subtle smile, then.

“Forgive my late introduction. I am Regina Liliacaer. From what your knowledge would call the high places, I oversee spring and the life directly related to it, humble though my role may be.”

She revealed to me her name and what divine office she held.

With each word she spoke, the goddess who introduced herself as Regina surprised me, making her claim of humility seem excessive.

Though I didn’t want to make comparisons, I couldn’t help but do so.

The gloomy ruler of the demonic realm who had twisted my life by forcing me to repeat countless times had sat on a throne carved from ominous obsidian.

He had enjoyed unleashing his power as a pastime and life’s pleasure, intent on overlaying the world with his own distorted values.

The goddess before me not only spoke humbly but was also extremely restrained with her power, yet what emanated from her made that demon god’s uninhibited aura seem like a gentle breeze in comparison.

Desire, the incomplete god who had obsessed over power in his longing to become an exalted being.

Regina before me, clearly a complete being, yet treating her power not as an end but as a means, knowing how to govern it.

“Let me introduce myself again. I am Alcor Vermillion. Truly insignificant compared to my wife, but I bear the duty of fighting to grant the wishes of the weak who wish to protect but lack the strength to do so.”

And standing proudly beside such a goddess, Alcor introduced himself—the culmination of achievements that countless people couldn’t express even in the realm of epic poetry.

It’s not that I never wished for such a moment in my life.

How should I describe this exhilaration of having a wish fulfilled all at once?