Ul and the others proceeded further in.
The cave created within this World Tree was truly large and spacious. It was to be expected, given that its material was the True Babel that originally existed at the center of the Ark, but it was still vast.
Perhaps this place itself was warping space like a labyrinth, I mused as I trudged along. Then, from a dissolved section of the tree trunk, a sliver of the outside landscape began to become visible.
“So high…”
“If you fall, you’ll die?”
It seemed Ul and the others were at a considerable altitude. The view from the gap indicated a great height. Carefully proceeding along the path reinforced by Shintani and the others for exploration, they navigated each step and obstacle. And then,
“—Right, it looks like you’re okay over there too, Shintani.”
“Yeah, somehow…”
“Are you feeling a little better?”
“Not quite, it’s not that simple… but, thank you.”
“The data has been saved, so please check it upon your return, Master.”
They spotted Rine, likely communicating with Uuga. She noticed them too. She ended the communication and turned, smiling.
“Oh, Ul. I’m glad you’re alive.”
“You look unharmed as well—”
“Ul-!!!!!”
“Gahh!”
An abrupt, full-force tackle struck Ul’s side, interrupting their greeting.
There was no need to wonder who it was. Echel, with a tear-streaked face, had launched herself at Ul. Ul, now accustomed to it, petted Echel’s head from his fallen position.
“Good tackle… Glad you’re doing well.”
“Are you checking my health with a tackle?”
“I’ve gotten used to it, since I take it every time…”
It had become a ritual of sorts, enduring it rather than risking evasion. When Ul looked up at Echel’s face, she was still crying, but her expression was one of overwhelming relief as she clung to him.
“I’m so glad… you’re safe.”
“I truly agree. It’s a miracle.”
Of course, they hadn’t intended to die, but it wasn’t a battle where they could have been sure of emerging unscathed. It had required resolve, and indeed, they had lost comrades. Much had been lost. That was the nature of the fight.
But still, being able to confirm each other’s safety was sheer luck, a miracle, and the fruit of their efforts. They deserved no blame for praising themselves for a job well done. As Ul petted Echel’s head, she happily pressed her head against his stomach, acting spoiled.
“How passionate, though as usual, it’s reassuring.”
Then, Rine also appeared. While directing a look of exasperation at the thoroughly collapsed Echel, she carefully examined Ul’s body.
“There don’t seem to be any strange curses left.”
“Well, I managed. How about you? Are you okay?”
“I was immobile from magical exhaustion until just now. I really pushed myself… Not as much as you, though.”
Ul got up, still holding Echel. Rine extended her hand. He took it, returning the handshake. It was an offer of straightforward affection, without calculation or pretense.
“Good work, Ul. It’s thanks to you that I, Rayline, and the descendants of the White King could reach this far.”
“If it weren’t for you, I would have died at the very end… I should be the one thanking you.”
In response to Rine’s formal gratitude, Ul scratched his cheek.
Especially in this decisive battle, they had relied entirely on Rine and the others for the most crucial parts. Without them, they wouldn’t have even had a starting point on how to rescue the two heroes.
The one who should truly be thanking them was him. It was a battle that had made him keenly aware that he could do nothing alone.
“If you put it that way, we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without you to execute our risky plans either.”
“Well then, let’s just say we both did our best.”
“Indeed. But truly, this was a good opportunity.”
As she said this, she held out her palm. A self-operating formation, controlled by Greyre, was constructed in her hand. Having witnessed her formations countless times, Ul understood that she was attempting to replicate the White King Array.
“I truly learned a lot. It’s a blessing to have learned techniques that were originally kept secret without any reservations.”
“That’s great—”
“I’m still not satisfied, though.”
Before Ul could say anything, Rine cut him off. Even though the battle was over, a glint of passion burned in her eyes.
“The creator’s spell construction techniques were astonishing. That was from a thousand years ago! A THOUSAND YEARS AGO!! And yet, the fact that we can’t surpass it is due to our laziness! Ah, honestly, I need to get back to Uuga and check the records immediately!”
“Scary.”
“That’s bad, isn’t it?”
“She’s scary.”
Echel and Akane hid behind Ul.
“The world has opened up, a new land where both hardship and fortune exist! There’s so much to investigate, it’s the best!”
As she spoke, she gazed out at the view through the opening. Nature was still growing and constantly changing rapidly, devouring itself. This change would likely not settle down for a long time. They were in the tumultuous period of the dawn. Rine’s eyes sparkled at this realization.
“Apparently, Greyre has already started that too.”
“I’ll overtake them soon. I can’t lose to some old geezers from a thousand years ago.”
“Scary woman.”
Stunned, Ul commented his thoughts. Rine turned, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, Ash King, I am your magician, am I not?”
“Correction, you are incredibly dependable.”
Ul shrugged, and Rine grinned with genuine amusement.
***
“Thank you too, Echel. You really saved me.”
“I know, but I was so, so worried!”
Turning his gaze to Echel, who was hiding behind him, she blushed crimson and threw herself at Ul again. Unlike Rine, who was bursting with curiosity, Echel had held back a lot.
“It’s completely different from the situation we discussed beforehand! And you’ve gained more familiars besides Shizuku and Diz! Just, just let me vent!”
“I’m sorry.”
Truly, the initial objective was for her familiars to be a means of expelling gods from the two heroes, but the number had doubled at a rough estimate. Of course, even Echel understood it was unavoidable, but her emotions didn’t easily settle. Expressing those feelings without reservation was her virtue.
“Rine! Can I become Ul’s familiar too?”
“What for? In your case, you’re the one who should be increasing familiars. Your Majesty.”
“Nnngh—!”
Dismissed by Rine, Echel cried. Protestingly, she hugged Ul tightly, and he, while letting her, repeatedly petted her head, then suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
When he looked up, she had a somewhat vacant expression. After impulsively saying everything she wanted to say and releasing her anger, she looked at Ul with an expression that was both fearful and relieved.
“Ul.”
Her voice, as she called him, trembled, and she looked on the verge of tears. Ul gently stroked her cheek. Echel tenderly touched Ul’s fearsome dragon palm and began to cry uncontrollably.
“Shizuku and Diz, I’m so glad we could bring them back…!”
“Yeah.”
“I’m glad we could protect everyone’s home…!”
“You’re amazing, Echel.”
While Ul plunged to the front lines, the responsibilities of protecting Uuga fell heavily on Echel and Rine. The enemies Ul faced were calamities that surpassed even dragons, and the situation was dire, bordering on annihilation. They couldn’t look back to help.
Yet, the reason Ul could advance without hesitation was his faith that everyone in Uuga, and especially Echel, would be alright.
“Thank you for protecting my home, the place I return to.”
“Yeah…!”
Echel nodded repeatedly, and with teary eyes, she looked up at Ul.
“Thank you for saving me back then.”
She didn’t need to specify when; he knew. He embraced her and petted her head, and warm tears fell on his cheek. It was warm and comforting, but they couldn’t stay like that forever. Ul tried to get up—
“Well then, I should go see those guys’ faces too— Echel?”
—but Echel, still clinging to him, looked up at him with coy eyes. Her gaze had become intense, like a predator eyeing its prey.
“Ul.”
“What is it?”
“You said ‘later’.”
“You did say that, didn’t you…”
It seemed she hadn’t missed a single word he’d uttered in the heat of battle. And to her, it was incredibly important. Her unwavering resolve was, in a way, reassuring.
Echel, silently pleading with her eyes for him to hurry, made Ul sigh. He opened his arms and embraced her.
“…Here.”
The details of what followed, with her having her way with him, will be omitted.
“I won’t say anything about it now, but if you keep this up, you’ll be stabbed.”
“I was already stabbed to death by Yuri… and by Diz and Shizuku too.”
“You’re announcing that warning quite late, as it’s been like this since long ago?”
“Then it’s too late. My condolences.”
“I’m already dead.”
***
After indulging Echel for quite some time, they parted ways, and Ul and Akane proceeded further.
However, it seemed they were nearing the exit of this cave. They felt a clear flow of air from outside, different from the drafts leaking through the cracks. Following the markers left by Shintani and his companions, they hopped over a low wall to reveal an open space.
The top of the World Tree, a spacious hall formed by strong, sturdy branches.
The space somehow reminded Ul of the hanging gardens of Babel. As he looked around, at the edge of the hall, two figures, one golden and one silver, stood side by side. They too noticed them and waved.
“Lord Ul, Miss Akane.”
“Yo. You’re awake.”
“Hey.”
Despite the twists and turns, it was a deeply emotional sight to see the two individuals who were the primary objective of this battle sitting together amicably. They naturally made space for Ul, and he sat down with Akane.
“So, what were you looking at?”
“The world.”
Diz pointed at the outside world visible from the edge of the hall.
The scene that unfolded was, to put it mildly, devastating.
The central Metropolitan country of Plaudia in the Ark, now a ruin after the fierce battle. Plants were sprouting in the collapsed cityscape, appearing from who knows where. Colorful flowers and even trees large enough to swallow buildings existed. These lush growths unceremoniously consumed human activity. Moreover, what appeared to be the roots of the World Tree extended endlessly, engulfing the remnants of the painful conflict.
This phenomenon continued endlessly. It extended beyond the city, and beyond the Ark.
The landscape of the area once called the Demon Realm had also undergone a drastic change.
The Demon Realm’s sea, once filled with eerie black mud, now appeared vibrantly blue and majestic. While they couldn’t see what was happening beneath the surface from this distance, it was likely that various creatures, once confined within the black tears, were now overflowing. The land was the same. The barrenness that rejected even a single blade of grass was nowhere to be seen. Vegetation flourished, the terrain rose and fell, and everything had returned to nature. In the forests, the presence of various animals could already be felt.
“We destroyed the world…”
“Yes.”
“Indeed.”
To Ul’s words, the two nodded quietly.
They had undeniably destroyed the world. The great nature now unfolding before them would hardly be kind to humanity. Even to attempt to glean its bounty would surely be a struggle. A world so fierce that one could easily be destroyed in return, without mercy. To call this salvation was perhaps too lenient.
Ul continued to stare for a while. Then, Akane, as if concerned, rested on his head and asked.
“Are you regretting it?”
“Not at all.”
Asked by Akane, Ul smiled.
“I was prepared… Well, but looking back—”
He could mostly recall what he had done since aspiring to be an Adventurer, and he had no regrets or misunderstandings about it. These were all choices he had made, decisions he had taken. He understood that— but even so, the fact that they had arrived at this point made him shudder slightly.
“It was… a bit too hasty.”
“A bit?”
He felt no nostalgia for the time when he struggled to count his Copper Coins. That was only recently.
“Well, we lived too fast, didn’t we.”
“Yes, that’s cause number one.”
“Am I number two?”
“Akane is number three.”
“That’s what I was going to say!”
“Then I’m number four.”
They were all speed demons. They had many points of reflection.
***
After that, the four of them watched the setting sun for a while. It was the real sun, not the Sun God visible from the Ark of Israelia. However, from their perspective, Ul saw no difference from the real thing. Thus, he felt no particular sentimentality towards it. But it was undeniably beautiful.
“Well then, is there anything you want to do from here?”
Gazing at the scenery, Ul asked. It might sound casual, but it was important. They had surpassed gods and destroyed the world. Diz and Shizuku had been rescued, and their objectives were all fulfilled. Of course, the duty to solidify the world in its current form remained. If they didn’t do what they needed to, Yuri would kill them, so they hadn’t forgotten that.
However, separate from those obligations, Ul asked about their “desires.”
“Yes, yes! I want to help many people!”
Diz was the first to raise her hand.
“A desire like a saint’s, delivered in a pleading voice.”
“It’s my preference.”
“Perhaps it’s because you became a familiar, but you’ve really become good at cutting to the chase…”
He was surprisingly awestruck, but Diz didn’t seem to be joking. She gazed at the beauty of the twilight before them as if burning it into her memory.
“I betrayed myself and tried to abandon one world, but this time, I want to help many people find happiness.”
“We’re not omnipotent. It might still be difficult to save everyone.”
“Even so. I will probably hurt and grieve about it—”
Diz looked at Ul, hesitating slightly, and then said.
“—If that happens, will you comfort me?”
“I will.”
Ul answered instantly, and Diz’s face brightened as she leaped into his arms.
“Oh, and I want to go on a date with you!”
“Now you’re just being super girly.”
“But Diz, do you even know how to date?”
“I don’t!”
“You don’t, huh…”
As she had been active as a hero since childhood, she wouldn’t know child-like games. Ul recalled how terribly she played at the end.
“What should I do? Should we go monster hunting together?”
“So violent. Try something more peaceful.”
“Then, a soul-to-soul contact?”
“Is that the proposal that came out of that?”
“Do you only have 0 or 100 as options???”
Diz might need to learn more about the balance of a girl her age, a conventional one. But considering that Ul himself and those around him were quite unconventional, that might be difficult.
As Ul pondered that they’d just have to get used to it gradually, Akane turned her gaze to him.
“Brother?”
“For now, I want to rest when we get back to Uuga. Truly…”
“Your desires are very clear.”
“No, I’m genuinely exhausted. I don’t want to leave my room for about three days…”
He was truly, deeply exhausted, and the pressure had been immense. Of course, he still felt the weight of having altered the world to its current form, and he knew he shouldn’t forget it. But since he wouldn’t forget, he wanted to rest a little.
“Then, do you want to isolate yourself and do that? Have some girls serve you and do…?”
“The dragon inside is laughing like an idiot, so Diz, let’s fix that biased knowledge of yours… Akane?”
When asked, Akane tugged and moved her body, transforming her current fairy form. She nodded.
“I think I want to grow a bit now. I can only grow for a limited time.”
“Can you do that?”
“Isn’t it easier than destroying the world?”
“That’s true. It really is.”
If they could do something on the scale of destroying the world, they could probably do anything. What Akane meant by “growth” was unclear, but Ul mentally noted it as a goal to pursue.
“And you don’t want to return to being human?”
“It’s convenient.”
“You’re strong…”
“Everyone around you has stopped being human.”
“That’s true.”
Spirit possession should by rights be a solitary, peculiar condition, but mere spirit possession had long ceased to be special. At least, none of the residents of Uuga would care about her condition. Worrying was futile. Thus, finally, Ul shifted his gaze to Shizuku, who was silently gazing at the scenery.
“Shizuku?”
“…Me?”
Asked by Ul, Shizuku slowly tilted her head.
“It’s difficult for me.”
“Do you want to be with Brother?”
“But that’s already come true…”
Since arriving, Shizuku had been holding Ul’s hand. As if that were enough, she looked at her hand and said thoughtfully.
“I’m already sufficiently happy, I can’t think of what’s next.”
Upon hearing this, Ul and Akane exchanged glances and smiled at Shizuku.
“There’s no need to rush.”
“There’s no obligation to.”
Desire is a right, not an obligation. If she couldn’t think of anything, that was fine too; there was no need to force it. Naturally, desires would arise when one regained a healthy mind and body, so there was no need to force them.
“You can search slowly.”
“…But, I…”
Shizuku then fell silent, as if searching within herself. The silence was long, but they knew she was thinking, so Ul, Diz, and Akane patiently waited for her to continue. Finally, she slowly raised her head and said.
“I want to go on an adventure with Lord Ul and everyone again.”
“—…Nnnngh…!”
Ul hesitated.
“Brother, is this really how you’re supposed to hesitate?”
Akane was exasperated.
“I know, I know, but… if possible, can’t we have a safe adventure?”
“What is a safe adventure?”
“Give up, Brother.”
“I don’t want another all-in, betting-the-farm, high-stakes adventure anymore…!!”
“Well.”
Ul lay down on the ground and lamented. Diz poked his cheek, and Akane stepped on his stomach. Shizuku, seeing the three of them, let out a small, quiet laugh, unnoticed.
Thus, the world was destroyed and saved. The Ash King and heroes who fell, who accomplished this, and their retinue—later known as destroyers who ruined the world, or saviors who saved it—prayed to, cursed by, and embroiled in various troubles… but that is another story.
***
[Impossible Mission: Ash King’s Imperial Decree: Planetary Destruction]
[And]
[Impossible Mission: Ash King’s Imperial Decree: Planetary Rebirth—Achieved]
[World Tree Germination]
Proclamation
Proclaimed by Noah, the World Protection and Management System.
The future of humanity has been opened.
The planet has been reborn. Thank you.
People / Everyone.
Proceed into the infinite wilderness that has been opened. / Be careful not to fall.
Create paths, and hold hands. / You can cry, but laugh sometimes.
March forward, advance with all your might. / Please, continue forward.
Glory and good fortune to humanity. / Please, find happiness.
May your journey be blessed. / May you have a good journey.
