episode_0074

Hm… Where did I leave off…? Right, there was actually another reason, besides growing fond of Revo-ssi, why I wished Revo-ssi wouldn’t leave. Ever since the day I realized I was immortal, I’d had nightmares every time I slept.

“Ugh… Ughhh…. Aaaaagh!!”

Every time, I was tormented by the same nightmare, and every night, I would wake up at least once in the middle of it. The nightmares always showed everyone seeing me as a monster, and me being the only one left standing on this world’s soil at the end of the world.

“Gasp…. Gasp… Again…. The same dream again…. Ughhh….”

Even after waking, I could never forget that gaze, that scene. Perhaps it was because I felt it might truly come to pass. I thought these nightmares would end the day I met Revo-ssi… but they didn’t at all. The nightmare always brought me the same pain. But there was something different now.

“Akeda-ssi?! Are you alright?! You had a nightmare again, didn’t you?!”

“Ugh… Re… Revo-ssi….”

Every time, there was someone there to worry about me. Whenever my screams woke me from a nightmare, Revo-ssi, who had been sleeping outside, would immediately rush over and stay by my side. I was able to feel again how warm and comforting it was to have another person around. One day, as Revo-ssi continued to look after me, and I gradually regained my stability. Hm… Perhaps it was about a month later?

“….. But Revo-ssi… what’s your age… no, your *venerated* age?”

“….?! Isn’t that a term used for elders?!”

When I used the term ‘venerated age,’ Revo-ssi was greatly flustered. And it was understandable; from my perspective at the time, Revo-ssi certainly seemed old enough to be called an elder. But Revo-ssi, perhaps unfamiliar with the expression, seemed bewildered, and I sighed, then spoke to him.

“Honestly…. You’ve lived for a thousand years… no, even more… many times that, haven’t you?”

“…. Ahem…. Uh… Ye-yes, that’s right….”

“Then how old are you, exactly?”

“My age is, what was it…. 1,492,874.”

“…..”

At the time, I had thought Revo-ssi was someone who had lived for about ten thousand years. But when I heard that number, I was so dumbfounded that I immediately gave up trying to comprehend it. In a word, it was an age that might have witnessed the birth and end of the world. So, for a few days after I learned Revo-ssi’s true age, the atmosphere became a little awkward. Then, there was a time I actually got angry because I was genuinely worried about Revo-ssi.

“Seriously!! You said sleeping outside could make you sick, so why are you doing that, Revo-ssi?! And to sleep up in a tree, where it might truly be cold!!”

“Well, how can a man stay in the home of a lady living alone…? Breaking the roof was already a nuisance, I can’t cause any more trouble.”

“Enough! It’s fine if you sleep in the living room, it’s fine if you sleep in the main bedroom, just sleep inside!! I’ll end up worrying about my benefactor’s health too, you know!!”

“B-But I must maintain a gentlemanly image….”

“You’ve already made a huge hole in the roof, and now you’re talking about being a gentleman?! That’s enough! Just sleep inside, starting tonight!!”

It was nothing major. I just wanted to make Revo-ssi sleep inside, even by force, because I didn’t want him to get sick. However, I was too weak to use force against Revo-ssi, who possessed the physical ability to complete all house repairs and cleaning within a minute. So, well….

“It’s night, why are you sticking your head out the window instead of sleeping?!”

“Aargh!! If you don’t sleep inside, I’ll stay up all night and drag you down from that tree!!”

“….. Damn it… A fairy more tenacious than the H.S.A…! Ugh… I give up…”

Because I kept being stubborn, he eventually raised the white flag first. But it seemed Revo-ssi was still too embarrassed to sleep together, so I slept in the main bedroom, and he slept in the living room. And the next day, I learned something Revo-ssi couldn’t do.

“Revo-ssi? You’re always eating something outside… I’m still quite good at cooking, so I’d like to treat you to a meal.”

“Hm? Oh… you mean this?”

Revo-ssi showed me the food in a paper bowl. Hm… It was a meat dish… and it looked like it used red seasoning. Anyway, he told me what the food was.

“This is combat rations made by the H.S.A. What was it again…? I think it was chicken fried rice.”

“Hmm… Then, let’s see…”

“…Hm? Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa?! Wait!!”

As it happened, I had brought out a spoon. So, seizing the moment he was off guard, I scooped a spoonful of his food and ate it. Then my tongue started to hurt terribly.

“Aieeeeee!!! Wha… what is this… Blech…..”

“I… I like spicy food, you see…. It was food I asked them to make quite spicy….”

“This won’t dooo!! Revo-ssi, you should eat with me too!! I’ll treat you to something more delicious!”

At that time, I, who didn’t know what spicy taste was, forcibly dragged Revo-ssi over and served him a meal. Perhaps because Revo-ssi knew how stubborn I was, he obediently followed my words that time. And I vowed to research sweet flavors that could neutralize spicy ones.

“…. So that’s why there are so many sweet foods in Karizan…?”

“Yes~ And I don’t regret that vow even now~”

Realizing that the reason for so many sweet foods in Karizan was because Akeda, the village chief, truly disliked spicy flavors, I let out a hollow laugh. Akeda then chuckled softly and asked me.

“Zeke-nim, you’ve tried spicy flavors before, haven’t you?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Hehe… We fairies have never experienced spicy flavors. Well… there’s not much to say, but even now, I can’t adapt to spicy tastes.”

“Ah… so that’s why…”

Ah! The story was drifting off to strange places again. Let me continue. From the day Revo-ssi and I started eating together, until the following week, he, who was in the living room, asked me as I was making lunch.

“By the way, Akeda-ssi, do you still hate the World Tree?”

“Pardon? Why do you ask?”

“Hm… If it’s truly a strange entity, I could investigate and have it punished…”

“No… the thing is… The World Tree-nim wasn’t like that originally. Then it suddenly started showing such behavior… I don’t understand what it saw to make it act that way.”

“I see… In that case… I’ll postpone the investigation.”

After hearing me, Revo-ssi said he would postpone the investigation and started reading his book again. At that time, I was also teaching Revo-ssi cooking and potion-making methods, and Revo-ssi would accumulate knowledge through books whenever I was busy. Then I asked Revo-ssi.

“Revo-ssi, I have something I’m curious about.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Re… Revo-ssi, are you perhaps interested in love…?”

“…. Hmmmm…. Love, you say….”

When I asked about love, Revo-ssi seemed to ponder for a moment. Then he let out a chuckle and answered me.

“No. Honestly, I’ve never even thought about marriage.”

“Eh…? Why… why not?”

“Well… Unlike Akeda-ssi, I chose to be super long-lived. In this world, choices always come with consequences. The reason I joined the H.S.A was because I wanted to save even one more person. That’s why I gave up the kind of life where I’d marry and live happily for a long time.”

“That’s just…”

“That’s part of it, but honestly, I’m a coward, you see. So, I’m also afraid of bearing the responsibility of having a lover, and I don’t have the luxury to take on such responsibility, so eventually, I gave up dreaming of such a life. But I still want to be seen as kind to others, you know!”

When I heard his words, I tried to retort. It was because I had admired him. Of course, he’s still in my heart, but… The moment I heard his words, I finally gave up on dreaming of a life building a happy family with him. Because I thought I might burden him even more… And…

“However, there is no mercy for criminals. Roughly how I’d kill them is…”

“Y-You don’t have to say that!!”

It was because I began to fear seeing his terrifying side… His face, as he spoke of having no mercy for criminals, was not his kind and gentle face… It resembled a horror unseen in this world.

“Hm…. It feels like Revo-ssi is a combination of me and Aria.”

“…Eh?! Zeke-nim! I don’t show such a face to you, Zeke-nim!!”

Aria explained why she wasn’t like Revo at all, but upon hearing it, I became even more certain that Aria resembled Revo. Like me, Revo has no interest in love, and like Aria, he has no mercy for his enemies. So, if you combine both our personalities, you get Revo’s personality…

“Hmph! I’ll prove that I am a far more valuable person to you, Zeke-nim, than that human named Revo!”

“What? What value?”

“You’re comparing me because I’m weaker than that human, aren’t you, Zeke-nim?! So I’ll work even harder and gain enough strength to kill even gods!”

“You don’t have to go that far!!”

As Aria vowed to gain transcendent power, I scolded her. Then Akeda, seeing this, let out a small laugh and spoke to us.

“To kill a god, you say… And strength… Since you mention such things, I really want to tell you about that situation back then.”

“What situation?”

Hm…. That was exactly one year after Revo-ssi arrived here. Revo-ssi, who had been investigating the dimensional structure of this place, was writing down the results on paper.

“Hmm…. This dimension has a unique structure. No wonder the dimensional path is never visible… Phew… So this is why the H.S.A said it was hard to find this place…”

“Um… Revo-ssi… then… are you leaving today…?”

“Ah… yes… Uh… hm… Are you alright?”

It was natural for Revo-ssi to ask such a question. This was because Revo-ssi, who had shown me nothing but kindness for an entire year, was leaving, and I was shedding tears due to my regret and my wish for him not to go.

“…. I’m scared to be alone like this….”

“…… Don’t worry, Akeda. The fairies down below would never see you as a monster…”

“That’s not it!! I really don’t want you to leave, Revo-ssi!! My heart is full of the wish for you not to go… I’d rather leave this world and go with Revo-ssi….”

“…. No. Absolutely not.”

When I said I would accompany him, Revo-ssi showed a resolute side I had never seen before. At that sight, I was so utterly flustered that my tears stopped.

“Of course, there are dimensions as ordinary or beautiful as this one. But outside is hell. In that hell, I constantly fight, fight, and fight. I don’t want you to know all the tragedies and suffering happening there. Furthermore, even if you follow me, I might leave for missions in dimensions where time flows differently, so you would have to wait for me for a long time again. Whether you live here or follow me and live in the H.S.A, the time you’d have to wait for me would be the same… no, it might even be longer.”

“…. That can’t be….”

“…Well… I also don’t get to see my subordinates’ faces often because of that. That’s why we all believe we’re connected by heart and approach everything we do with that thought.”

“…. Connected by heart, you say?”

“Yes. We believe that, and we dream of the day we’ll meet again.”

“….”

I wanted to refute him, but it was just my stubbornness. Revo-ssi must also have many comrades and colleagues he misses while on missions in other dimensions, so I began to feel pathetic for being so selfish. Then Revo-ssi gently tapped my forehead with his finger and spoke.

“And isn’t it oneself who can take the best care of oneself? If you continue to not think of yourself as a monster and maintain that altruistic nature of wanting to help others, your loneliness will completely disappear. Just like how I think I’m with my colleagues even though we’re far apart.”

“…. Can I really do that?”

“Yes. I believe it’s entirely possible, as you are a good person!”

When Revo-ssi spoke with a bright smile, I realized that the person I admired trusted me this much, yet I was distrusting myself. So, I flashed a bright smile like Revo-ssi, took his hand, and said.

“I understand. I understand what you mean now. I want to believe in myself, love myself, and share happiness with others, just like Revo-ssi. And because I received this feeling from you, Revo-ssi and I can also be said to be connected, right?”

“Of course!”

“…. Someday, Revo-ssi might fall in battle…”

“You could also die suddenly, you know.”

“But I won’t lose heart. Even if the time comes when we part forever, I will live on in this world, remembering you. Because Revo-ssi is the one who gave me that courage!”

“Ahaha… Is that so? Let’s see…. Please take this.”

After hearing my vow, Revo-ssi took something out of his pocket and gave it to me. It was a blue crystal-shaped gem. Receiving it, I asked Revo-ssi.

“What’s this?”

“Ah, I obtained it by chance while investigating this world. It will help you. And it would be convenient for you to remember it as a token that connects you and me.”

“…. You’re right…. I’ll cherish it, Revo-ssi. And thank you so much for saving me.”

“…. I feel relieved…. Ughhh….”

“Huh? Wh-what!?”

After Revo-ssi gave me the gem and I thanked him, he suddenly let out a sigh of relief and collapsed right there, didn’t he? Along with a strange sound. Flustered, I asked him.

“W-Why are you suddenly like this?!”

“Oh boy…. The truth is… it’s true that I’ve tried to save those in despair until now… But I still felt a sense of responsibility in my heart… Haaah…. And it’s just the feeling of the knot in my heart completely unraveling all at once, hahaha….”

“…. Was I a nuisance?”

“No….. It’s just… the anxiety that I might not have been able to save you has been resolved. I’m sorry for worrying you…”

“…. Pfft….. Hohohohoho….. Hehehehe…. Augh…. Seriously… this just makes me not want to send you away even more…”

“…. Haha… well, now….”

Truly… it was the first time I had ever laughed so much. I was so genuinely happy that I didn’t want to let Revo-ssi go even more. As if the heavens had given me a gift, the time I would spend with him did increase. However, the extension of time wasn’t thanks to a pleasant event. Just before my laughter ended… something immense happened. As the ground suddenly began to shake, Revo-ssi and I were greatly flustered.

“….?! Wh-what on earth is this tremor…?! I even investigated and found that this place doesn’t experience earthquakes?!”

“E-Earthquake, you say?! W-What on earth is happening, Revo-ssi?!”

“I don’t know either!! Akeda-ssi! Do you perhaps have any idea?!”

“Any idea, you ask?!…. Don’t tell me…”

I had a hunch about something and turned my head in that direction. And Revo-ssi also followed my gaze and turned his head there. Then we saw it. The World Tree, about to swallow the world whole.