Chapter 4: Ode to Youth
“Phew…”
Eating the steaming ramen, Lonis let out a long breath.
It had been a long time since she had experienced such peaceful daily life. Ever since heading to the Vast Sea, she and everyone else had been constantly busy, so tense they barely relaxed even while eating.
But now?
Finally, all matters had been resolved at this stage, and they could rest!
Moreover, Sun Loli Goddess Alice had said there was no hurry, so she had prepared time for everyone to relax.
It was like a holiday, wasn’t it?
Everyone could do whatever they wanted, but Lonis hadn’t expected that almost everyone chose to stay on the Time Shuttle. They didn’t plan to act alone anymore.
After all…
“Mm, didn’t I go home before? So this time Cécile also felt it would be better to travel with everyone.”
Cécile nodded and said seriously.
“I think so too. Anyway, school is on holiday, so going back would just mean staying in the dorm, which is terribly boring.”
Zhou Mixue also shrugged, not intending to leave.
…
Most of the other girls felt the same.
After all, they had almost used all their strength fighting Castor, and they needed rest. It couldn’t be more fitting as a post-battle journey!
However…
…
“Su Ling, why did you take out all the swimsuits!! We are going to the snow mountains, not the seaside.”
“Hehe, I heard Jessica say that the hot springs with the Fiery Abyss flavor are very comfortable. So of course, I had to prepare them~~~”
“Hot springs…?”
“I prepared one for Little Lonis too, let’s go soak together then!”
“Ngh, Su Ling… In any case, thank you.”
…
…
Actually, Lonis and Elus going to the Snow Kingdom this time wasn’t for fun.
Since they had already taken their revenge, Lonis wanted to go back to comfort the spirits of her predecessors.
Moreover, they had left in such a hurry last time that Lonis hadn’t had a good look at the country at all. She only remembered everything being frozen under the white snow, making it seem utterly desolate.
So this time, cleaning and organizing some useful things would be fulfilling a certain regret, wouldn’t it?
However, Lonis hadn’t expected… her companions to follow. Companions like Su Ling had even treated this as a hot spring trip.
So…
…
“Elus, isn’t it okay?”
“Haa, what isn’t okay?”
Elus frowned, looking at Lonis with a somewhat “tsundere” expression.
“I mean, going back to the Snow Kingdom, won’t it be a bit sad…”
“Hmph, of course, it’s sad. After all, that’s where I lived when I was little. However… with how things have turned out, I think I should be able to let go.”
“Eh?”
“Death is not a shackle to restrain the steps of the living, but a flag to encourage the living to move forward. Before, because I couldn’t completely let go, Castor seized the opportunity and repelled me.”
“Ah…”
“So, what Su Ling said is not wrong. Take this opportunity to have a good time in the Snow Kingdom. Little idiot, you don’t need to worry anymore, am I not forcing a smile?”
Seeing the slight smile on Elus’s lips, Lonis understood that Elus had completely let go.
Because…
If she accepted what Alice had said,
It would mean accepting the reality of the Snow Country’s destruction.
Unable to alter causality, unable to bring back those who had died.
All of this might be unavoidable, like fate, leading to a past that we wouldn’t regret.
But, this was also the trajectory etched into our lives, and there was no need to choose to escape, right?
Because choosing to forgive fate was also choosing to forgive oneself.
To have prepared for revenge for over a hundred years, yet to finally choose to understand everything, was truly remarkable for Elus.
So…
“Hehe~~~”
“Hmph, why are you grinning, Little idiot? Are your ears itching again?”
“N-no! I just feel my wife is so amazing!”
“Haa, wife?”
If it were in the past, Lonis wouldn’t have even dared to think of calling her “wife,” let alone saying it. Elus would have teased her.
But now?
The black-haired girl’s pretty face turned slightly red, and her big eyes looked at Lonis with “slight dissatisfaction,” but she didn’t actually do anything:
“Hmph, it’s fine to call me that in private, but if you dare to call me wife in front of everyone later, I’ll absolutely tease you to death.”
“Got it, thank you, Wife Lonis >
