episode_0252

A week had passed since the war with Camilla ended. It was enough time for those freed from brainwashing to realize what they had done until now, and others were repairing their villages, which had been destroyed by the cult’s atrocities. Through the war with Camilla, the Krentid World truly… many things changed. First, humans began to abolish the slave system one by one, and all groups that employed slaves were being searched.

“Oh ho… So there are slaves here…? They still don’t know that most of the Krentid World has agreed to abolish slavery, and they’re doing this… Do they want to be beaten to death…?!”

“Gasp!! W-we haven’t sold any slaves to anyone yet…!! So please forgive us…!”

“Did you see these crazy people!!! Arrest them all!!”

Perhaps it was due to the great guilt they felt over beastfolk and elves being forcibly enslaved… Humans’ way of thinking changed so much that they no longer kept even their own kind as slaves. Furthermore, all the leaders in the Krentid World signed a certain document without exception….

“So… this is the document that all the human leaders signed together? Living in this world, I’ve seen everything… Haven’t you, Arvina?”

“Indeed, Alten. For all the human leaders to sign a document apologizing to us and send it… Isn’t that surprising even to Elder Spess?”

“Hmm. This is certainly a surprising development. To even receive an apology from humans… Ha ha ha… Our ancestors would have been pleased to see this…”

That signature document was, surprisingly, an apology to the elves and beastfolk. As Chief Arvina and Elder Spess read the document, they recalled how humans had fought for them until now. Especially since they had sacrificed themselves to save Chief Arvina for atonement, they decided to forgive them. Then, Veronica stared intently at Chief Arvina, tilting her head as she asked.

“Come to think of it, I heard you suffered quite a bit because of a poisonous herb… Are you alright now, Chief Arvina?”

“Ah… Fortunately, it seems humans have an antidote. The Magic Association led by the mage named Andres, who fought with us… they had it. So I’m perfectly fine now.”

“That’s such a relief… Do you know how shocked I was to hear that the Chief was terminally ill?!”

“Heh heh… I apologize for causing you worry.”

Fortunately, thanks to the Magic Association led by Andres, Chief Arvina’s life was saved, and because of that, Chief Arvina could continue leading the village. Oh, and Andres is currently developing new magic with his Magic Association, and even with dragons.

“Ohhh… This will definitely increase the quality of magic. This is… a good discovery, Protega-nim.”

“Call us anytime you need our help. Dragons no longer look down on other races or keep their distance.”

After the battle, the dragons put aside all the caution, arrogance, and distrust they had held towards other races. Perhaps it was because they grew close while fighting together, but after the battle, the dragons became friendly enough with other races to joke with each other. And Bivi, watching this scene from atop a rock, smiled, believing in her heart that an era of peace had arrived.

While the dragons were getting along well with others, Esti followed Rapien and arrived at a place where mutated monsters could live peacefully. Esti was greatly astonished that this place was not far from where she had lived and asked Rapien.

“To think such a place existed… Why did I not know about this place all my life…?”

“Still, it’s a great relief that you know about it now, Esti! You’re going to live here with me now, right? Right?”

“Hmm… I might have to move Rezef’s grave here… Rezef would have really liked a place like this… Thank you, Rapien, for showing me this place.”

“Heh heh… You’re welcome.”

Esti found a new residence and decided to live there with Rapien. While Esti was no longer living alone, in a hospital, Viola peeled an apple and spoke to Adoleth, who was crestfallen beside her.

“So don’t be so disheartened. Everyone else was controlled too, weren’t they?”

“…When I think of all the people I’ve hurt… it’s agonizing… My head…”

“Did you forget that Jervell was like that at first but got better later? You can get better too. Let’s learn how to live while atoning in our hearts together.”

“…Thank you… Thank you, Viola… Thank you….”

Adoleth thanked Viola greatly for her encouragement and sobbed. While Viola patted Adoleth’s back, encouraging her again, Remie was living in Grovel with Cecilia and Merzel. Then, Cecilia made a perplexed expression and asked Remie.

“But… are you really not going back to the original continent? Really?”

“How could I… How many times do I have to tell you I’m a Holy Knight with nowhere to go? I’m just going to live here. More importantly, are you two going to stay here too? Everyone knows your past and has forgiven you, haven’t they? So why…”

“If there’s a graveyard, there must be a gravekeeper. We plan to keep living here, Remie. But… if anything has changed, it’s that both of us have decided to go outside more often now.”

“Hmm… I wonder if a village will form here at this rate… Since more people are starting to gather…”

Remie joked that Grovel might become a village later, and at her words, Cecilia and Merzel burst into laughter, thinking that it was certainly possible since more people were starting to gather there. While Remie decided to live in Grovel, Yuria and Tiavel were living together in Ther.

‘Mom. But are you really okay without Dio V Runner Mister?’

“Hmm… It’s certainly a little empty… No… very empty. But… heh heh heh…”

To Tiavel’s question about whether she was truly okay without Dio V Runner in this world anymore, Yuria turned off the stove under the pot and walked towards the window. After looking at the clear scenery through the window, Yuria closed her eyes, felt the wind, and spoke to Tiavel.

“But he said that if it’s fate, we’ll meet again. I… believe I’ll be able to meet him again someday.”

‘What a shame. You could’ve had a dad, and a sibling too.’

“Wha…? A-a dad…!!”

Tiavel pouted and wrote on a paper that it was a shame she could have had a dad and a sibling, showing it to Yuria. Yuria read the words, blushed, and became extremely embarrassed. Thus, Yuria decided to wait for Dio V Runner, and Nerha and Saphia heard some news from Rubaea and Iruvan, then spat out the drinks they were holding, greatly astonished.

“Th-they’re dating?! What in the world is that supposed to mean?!”

“Ahaha… The exchange between Kroa Spring and Karizan has become active now, hasn’t it? Then, somehow… well… I had feelings for him ever since we defeated the priest named Okute together…!!”

“…This is crazy… To think that kind of sibling would get a lover… Is the world about to collapse again…?”

“…?! What in the world are you talking about, Noona!!!”

Nerha, who never dreamed that someone like Iruvan would get a lover, was greatly astonished and sighed, making Iruvan extremely embarrassed. Then, Rubaea and Saphia started laughing at Iruvan and Nerha’s reactions, and Iruvan became even more embarrassed by their laughter. Meanwhile, Uncle Gid was on a ship with Mister Kols.

“You finished your work, so weren’t you going back now, Gid? Why are you taking a ship somewhere again?”

“Ah… That’s because I’m going to continue my journey now. Don’t worry. I’ll be back in two years.”

“Before, a beastfolk named Karina also asked me to take her to another region, so I did… and now you too?”

“…?! Why her?! She was supposed to keep protecting Kartun with Tess and Fertea… Ugh… No… She’ll do well!”

Uncle Gid was greatly surprised to learn that Karina had previously asked Kols to take her to another region, but he soon decided to focus on his own journey, trusting that she would manage well on her own. Meanwhile, in Arjel Village, the Riera sisters accidentally made eye contact with Eli, who was helping others there.

“E-Eli…? Is that really you…?”

“Eli Unnie….”

“….!!”

Eli, whose eyes met with the Riera sisters, desperately tried to flee from the spot. However, Riera quickly grabbed Eli’s arm, then shed tears and hugged Eli tightly. Tiara, who was beside them, also shed tears and hugged Eli.

“You fool… Why didn’t you show yourself…? Do you know how worried I was…?”

“Waaahhh… Eli Unnie… I’m so glad you’re safe… Don’t ever leave again… I’ll forgive you… Okay?”

Contrary to her expectation that the two would scold her, Eli began to shed tears, as they pleaded for her not to leave, expressing relief that she was safe. Then, as Melian, who was beside them, also hugged her, Eli hugged the three of them and began to cry.

“Ah… Ahh… U-Unnie… Tiara…”

“Huh…? Eli, your… voice is…”

“Huh… Huh…?”

When Eli, who had been crying, called out to them in a small voice, the Riera sisters were startled, and Eli herself was greatly bewildered and perplexed. Thus, Eli, who fortunately reunited with the Riera sisters in Arjel, decided to resume her work as a wandering minstrel with them.

“Alright… I’ll write it like this, then? Anyway… so many things happened that it was confusing… Right, Aria?”

“Indeed, Zeke-nim. It’s already two weeks since the war ended, but… it’s still confusing…”

Aria and I, recovering our strength in Todrua, completed the entire adventure log through the letters we had received from our connections until now. Truly… thinking back, my journey was unbelievably absurd. I met people from another world, met various races, fought the World Tree, fought beings from another world… and finally, I even fought and won against a goddess… I doubt there’s anyone else in this world who has had such an astonishing journey as mine.

“Zeke-nim. Actually, I used to think that all I needed on the journey was to monopolize you. But… you continued to guide me on the right path… and you even confessed to me that day, didn’t you? Heh heh… Thanks to that, I realized anew what it means to live in this world.”

“It’s the same for me, Aria. I was also someone with a broken part in my heart. But… as I kept recalling our journey together… I never expected to develop these kinds of feelings. Anyway… this adventure log is now completely finished. Right?”

“Yes, it is. Most of what’s written in this book is already known to everyone in the world, so it won’t be something to brag about to others. Heh heh…”

Aria pressed her finger on the completed adventure log, saying that most of the contents written in it were facts already known by everyone in the world, so it wouldn’t be something to brag about. I nodded in agreement. Now everyone understood the truth about demons and angels, and the pain of others… Perhaps this peaceful era came about thanks to Camilla’s rampage… I often found myself thinking this while writing the adventure log.

“Alright… Shall we depart again now? Our bodies have recovered enough.”

“What? Are you leaving already, Zeke? I thought you’d settle down here after bringing such a cute young lady.”

“Ah… Father-nim!!”

As I was about to depart again, my father entered my room and asked if I was leaving again. I quietly nodded. My father then looked at Aria, who was smiling at him, and simply smiled back. With our bags packed, we left Todrua once more. Todrua… the place where I was born… where my journey began. And… the place where my journey began anew….

“Alright… then shall we embark on a journey again? This time, let’s explore the changed Krentid World.”

“Sounds good, Zeke-nim. Oh, right! Zeke-nim, before we leave, just one more time…”

“Hm?”

Aria suddenly stopped me, as if she wanted to do something before leaving. I smiled with anticipation, waiting for her words. Then Aria giggled and said to me.

“Zeke-nim, I love you. More than anything in this world.”

“…I love you too, Aria, My beloved Black Saint.”

“Waaahhh!!!”

“Hmm? What’s that child?”

In a dark dimension filled only with ruins, a man with short green hair, wearing green armor, discovered a hideous-looking girl brought by his subordinate and tilted his head, asking.

“It seems like a child who was flung out from another dimension… Their heart seems full of wounds.”

“Oh, my… Still, it’s a great relief. This dimension was dangerous as it’s about to be destroyed… Do you have nowhere to go?”

“Waaahhh!!”

“…I see… Then… come with me. My name is Jelly Renford… Oh, if you don’t have a name, I’ll give you one. Arin… Arin Renford…”

Jelly gave the experimental subject XMC-034 from the Levarud facility the name Arin Renford and headed to R.S Headquarters with them.

Black Saint = END =

BONUS: Afterword

Hello, this is the author, Photon.

The eighth side story of Dimensions, *The Black Saintess*, has finally… come to an end like this ㅜㅜ.

It’s already been almost two years since I started serializing this…

Originally, I knew it would take a long time to reach the end because it was such a long novel….

But now that the end is approaching, I feel a bit bittersweet…

Actually, the main point of this novel was to reveal why Arin Renford, an experimental subject from the Lebarude facility, was raised by Jelly.

But of course, the biggest focus was on Zeke Looprian and Aria Ritt growing up together.

I wanted to show through Aria and Camilla that even the strongest being can be broken if they don’t receive affection. As a result, Aria, who received Zeke’s love, was able to defeat Camilla.

Ah… you might wonder why a goddess would lose to a human….

In the Dimensions story, gods… or rather, Kaju, are treated as no different from humans, lol.

Oh, by the way, there are a few hidden elements in the final episode.

Excluding Arin’s story and the announcement that *The Black Saintess* is over, all the word counts are the same as in the first episode.

And it also has the meaning of starting a journey towards a new world from Todrua.

And the protagonists and bosses all had problems related to love.

Zeke Looprian – Didn’t even properly understand the emotion of love.

Aria Ritt – Had a strong attachment, but longed for love because she didn’t receive it.

World Tree – Amplified by Camilla, gave love to everyone but went mad from the great loss of their deaths.

Eli – Had a twisted love based on strong attachment.

Stein – His obsession and love for the world and evolution brought about a twisted ideology.

Camilla – Showed selfish and obsessive behavior due to the importance of love she realized late and the yearning for it.

Aria Ritt is probably the character I’ve generated the most with AI art.

That’s because Aria had many mental and external changes.

On the other hand, Zeke Looprian… only three pictures!!! lol

It wasn’t easy getting here.

Perhaps it was the energy I spent serializing multiple novels a week… lol.

Still, I was able to gain a little strength because there were people who read my novels.

For reference, *The Black Saintess* has almost the same points as the prologue of the Dimensions main story.

But strangely, it has more episodes than the prologue of the main story…

I was surprised when *The Black Saintess* suddenly became popular while I was serializing it.

I didn’t think it would surpass the Dimensions main story, lol.

Well… there were many things that happened… but I’m glad that I was able to finish *The Black Saintess* like this after all the effort.

*The Black Saintess* was not originally intended to be connected to the Dimensions main story… but the characters from *The Black Saintess* reappear in Part 3.

So, whether I’ll serialize *The Black Saintess 2*… I’ll have to wait and see.

Or maybe I’ll have the *Black Saintess* characters appear in an indie game I make later…

And I really didn’t know it would become exclusive, lol.

I thought, ‘There’s no way it’ll go exclusive…’ but I was really surprised when I saw the preference count go over 500, lol.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has loved *The Black Saintess* so far.

I think it was the most enjoyable time I had while serializing a novel on Novelpia.

….

Eh, let’s bow again!

Thank you for loving *The Black Saintess*!!

I love you, my readers!!