Episode 1143
Chapter 259: The Truth of the World, Your Truth, My Truth (12)
Jin and Murakan looked at Elona.
“…Misha is right. This isn’t a permanent farewell. But since we don’t know when Jin will meet Murakan and Misha again, I feel sorry. It could take a year, ten years, or even longer… there’s no way to know.”
For beings called immortals and dragons, that wasn’t a long time. But from a human perspective, it felt endless.
Yet Murakan’s face brightened instantly, and he nodded.
“Whether it’s one year or a hundred—well, a hundred’s too long. We’d all be old and dead by then. Ten years? That’s fine! Isn’t that right, kid? The world’s being restored, so what does it matter if we don’t meet for a while? Bah, I just made a fool of myself crying!”
He had already accepted the sacrifice as if they would never meet again.
“Tell Strawberry Pie… to enjoy life to the fullest and wait just a little longer. But if I don’t come back for too long, and if someone better than me comes along, tell her to marry him.”
“Yeah, finally some sense. That’s a better future for Strawberry Pie. What’s she see in a loser like you anyway?”
“Hah? Well, you wouldn’t know. What do you know about love? You only know how to pine in the shadows.”
Crack!
Misha’s fist flew. Murakan tried to dodge and counter, but the harder he fought back, the more he got hit.
“Ow! Stop it! I’m hurting! I have to go!”
“Save the rest for later.”
They would meet again.
Because there was hope, Jin and the others weren’t just overwhelmed by sadness. No matter when, where, or in what form, as long as they could meet again.
Still, Jin and the others embraced Murakan and Misha as if they would never see them again. Misha frowned, saying it was a bit gross, but there was no real displeasure.
“Veradin.”
“Elona…”
“Life isn’t about how long or short it is. At least, that’s how I feel. Some live long lives but remain unhappy, while others live brief moments and find salvation. I suffered as a monster for many years, but the short time I lived as a person… meeting Gaju made it full of meaning.”
“That’s a relief. I’m glad you think that way.”
“So even if I scatter into the world and lose this form, don’t be too sad. As the mountains and fields, the wind and sea, the earth and sky, I will always be there, remembering the time with Gaju.”
A heavy, distant rumble echoed.
The sound of the world breaking apart. Massive lands screamed as they cracked, the seas boiled and dried up.
Soon, the shockwave would reach Morganeil’s domain.
“I don’t want to spend my last moments in chaos. Now, let’s begin. Everyone, close your eyes and wait quietly.”
People clasped each other’s hands and closed their eyes. Jin held Murakan’s hand; Murakan reflexively grabbed Misha’s hand but quickly let go in surprise and took Valeria’s instead. Valeria held Dante’s hand, Dante held Syris’s, Syris held Enya’s…
Everyone was holding hands.
Veradin couldn’t bring himself to close his eyes and looked at Elona. She gently cupped his face with both hands.
Slowly, she closed his eyes and kissed his forehead.
“Take care, Veradin.”
“Take care, Lady Elona.”
He wanted to open his eyes again. But just as he hesitated, wondering if that would only make Elona suffer more, he felt her hands covering his eyelids disappear.
“Ah…”
When Veradin opened his eyes again, he saw a single sunstone. A sunstone small enough to hold in both hands—that was Elona.
Everything else was darkness. Even the people standing right beside him were barely visible outlines. But someone grabbed Veradin’s hand. It was Enya. With his free hand, Veradin held the sunstone close to his chest.
Murakan and Misha dissolved into particles and vanished into the sunstone. Jin’s hand, which had been holding Murakan’s, was briefly empty, but Valeria quickly took it.
“Jin, show me Shuri.”
At Helluram’s voice, Jin didn’t hesitate and took Shuri out of the red gem.
“Meow!”
“When I cursed you with immortality, I wanted to show you eternal darkness. A darkness where only this kind of scene continues.”
“Meow meow…”
“When the light disappears and all life turns to ash, I hoped someone would witness it. Honestly, I couldn’t bear to exist alone in the void. That’s why I made you immortal. So we could be together when that world comes.”
Shuri sensed a dark energy leaving her. The curse of immortality was lifting.
“People might call that cruel and selfish.”
“Meow-nya…”
Feeling Helluram’s final touch, Shuri closed her eyes.
“Beasts are foolish and pitiful creatures. Why don’t you avoid my hand? Well… I suppose it’s not something I can understand. Your new master is kinder than I am, so enjoy the rest of your life.”
Soon, Helluram’s form began to fade into the darkness.
She scattered like a black stream, flowing into the sunstone. The more she did, the whiter the sunstone became.
It became a single light. Like the very first light that existed at the dawn of the world, shining alone in the darkness.
At that moment, the light was so dazzling no one could keep their eyes open. The demon stone, still shaped like a staff, crumbled into tiny pieces and was absorbed into the light.
Those holding hands felt their bodies tremble. Would the world truly be restored? Fear and hope mingled, and time seemed to stand still.
Then familiar voices began to be heard. Voices they thought they’d never hear again echoed in their ears.
“Huh…? Am I dead?”
“Daytona?”
“Linpa brothers!?”
These were the voices of those who had died in battle. Seeing the strange new world upon awakening, they thought they had come to the afterlife.
But soon, the will of the light was transmitted into their minds. They realized the shattered world was rising again.
People who had died were returning from all corners of the world.
At the same time, countless errors in the multiverse were closing. Though invisible, everyone could sense it. The dimensions born from the atrocities of historical manipulation were shutting down.
All distortions that had lasted a thousand years were disappearing. Finally, everything was returning to its rightful place.
Their minds went blank.
As their senses dulled, the only thing people remembered was that they were holding each other’s hands, before losing consciousness.
July 30, 1805, Garden of the Sword.
A mage dressed in a black robe, like mourning clothes, entered the garden.
It was Veradin. Since the world’s restoration, he always wore black. As a sign that he was still a sinner, and to honor the vanished Elona.
“Lord Veradin, how about wearing something else for a change? You look so gloomy every time I see you…”
“Yeah, Lord Veradin. Many see you as a hero, not a villain. You don’t have to keep acting like a sinner all the time.”
It was Dante and Enya. They had come to the Garden of the Sword to see Jin, but he wasn’t there, so they were drinking tea with other riders.
“Some people do see me kindly, but there are still countless who shudder at the name ‘Giple.’ Until not a single one remains, our family will wear black.”
“There’s only you left among the Giples now.”
“No, there’s one more.”
Octavia. Veradin had come here to visit his aunt, who was imprisoned in the Garden of the Sword’s underground prison.
“Ah, Octavia. She’s hard to understand. Since she surrendered herself in the end, the world was safely restored. I told her she could stay in prison as long as she wanted and come out when ready… but she still doesn’t seem to want to leave.”
It was Mary.
In fact, Octavia had surprisingly strong public support. The final battle with the demon army and the process of the world’s restoration had been mostly made public.
Except for Jin, who was the only one to return with memories intact, the public knew everything.
Jin had wanted to reveal even that, but his companions persuaded him not to. They argued it was a secret they wanted to keep to themselves, and so Jin kept silent.
“No matter what, I can’t understand those who support Aunt Octavia. Does doing one good thing erase all her crimes? By that logic, anyone could be a good person. Our aunt is a bad person. She knows it herself, which is why she won’t leave prison. Same with me.”
Mary shrugged and took out two new cups, filling them with tea.
“Go drink with your aunt.”
“I can’t refuse the kindness of the great Runcandel…”
“Stop joking around. You’ll get hit for that.”
Veradin smiled at Mary’s fist, grabbed the teacups, and headed to the underground prison.
Unlike the other prisoners, Octavia’s door was open.
“You’re here.”
“Yes.”
Octavia stared at the teacup Veradin placed down for a long time before finally taking it in her hand. When the world was restored a year ago, she hadn’t held anyone’s hand.
“Stop coming to find me. People will start pointing fingers. Unlike me, you didn’t commit your sins by choice. There’s nothing good for you in being tied to me.”
“But we’re family. How can you say that?”
At those words, Octavia let out a short, bitter laugh, recalling what Kelliac had once told her.
“Survive and live out your days in peace. Becoming a shining presence at least once wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Or, like me, you could become a monster the world has never seen before. Still, you’re my sibling, aren’t you?”
“Huh?”
“That’s what Kelliac of the Demon Order said to me. Seeing you call me family brings his words back to mind.”
Still siblings. Still family.
The two remaining Ziphl recognized each other that way.
“Wouldn’t it be better to go out and contribute your knowledge to magical education or research? Like I do.”
“I’ve thought about that. But all the magic I mastered was specialized for killing and destruction. It’s not the kind of knowledge this era needs.”
Still, if it were Aunt Octavia, she could surely make great strides in healing magic research… Veradin was about to say that, but then she looked at Octavia’s hands and feet and shook her head. The body Octavia had destroyed herself never returned when the world was restored.
“Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done.”
“I’ve decided to never leave this prison until I die. I can’t be a shining presence or a monster, but this is my own conclusion for atonement.”
“Still… your final choice was definitely a shining moment. If you hadn’t made that choice, Lady Elona wouldn’t have been able to restore the world safely like this.”
“That’s why I’ve at least earned the right to atone in this way. I’m fine, so you should take off your mourning clothes now. Didn’t Lady Elona ask you so earnestly?”
Veradin didn’t answer, only sipping her tea.
“I heard the day after tomorrow is the succession ceremony for Jin’s head of the family. At least then, wear your white robe like before. Only the Runkandel may wear black at that event.”
“Yes… I was planning on that anyway. People mustn’t forget that I’m a Ziphl, that I still carry that name.”
“If you don’t forget yourself, it won’t matter if everyone else does.”
At those words, Veradin nodded.
Though they were in an underground prison, a warm breeze seemed to blow gently between them. Veradin reached out and caught the breeze in her hand, smiling. It felt like Elona had come.
“It’s strange. Even here, there’s this warm wind, Aunt. Let’s keep living without forgetting—who we were, what we did, and how we’ll atone going forward.”
For the first time, Octavia brought the teacup to her lips.
“…Let’s do that.”