Kuromel woke up. So, the conversation with Melfina, possible only in dreams, was over for now.
“Then, we’ll continue this next time Kuromel falls asleep—”
“—I am truly sorry, but conversing with you like this is not something I can do often. I don’t know when the timing will be right for us to speak without me noticing you… I’ve uploaded the information about the remaining Apostles, obtained from our shared memories, to the subordinate network. It would be best to explain directly, but time is short, so please refer to that.”
“I see…”
I thought I could meet you as many times as I wanted in dreams, but I guess things don’t just work out that easily.
“Please don’t make such a face. It’s unlike you. … Is it alright? My purpose is to create a world that entertains you, and then, once there are no enemies left on the surface, to slay you with my own hands. And then, I will reincarnate you again and repeat the same thing in a new world. In other words, I will completely master your reincarnation and allow you to enjoy the ultimate life in the world of gods.”
“Haha, you’ve thought of everything. …And, you’re truly foolish. You’re only thinking of me, no matter what.”
“Yes, truly…”
Before the dream faded, I hugged Mel one more time.
“But you know, it’s my fault too for making Mel do that. Kuromel is also a part of you. It’s a husband’s role to love all of them, including her. So, I’ll enjoy myself as much as you try to entertain me, and then I’ll shatter that foolish ambition. It’s my duty to correct my wife’s mistakes, right? Even if she’s a formidable and powerful wife.”
“…I am a good wife, you know.”
“Ah, I know, I know.”
Did she get jealous of herself? Mel pouted a little, her cheeks puffed out. She rested her head lightly on my chest, not showing me her cute expression. What a waste.
“Speaking of which, what happened to Maou after that?”
“Cecilia, after receiving an oracle from Elearis that the Demon King’s subjugation was complete, transferred Maou back to her original world along with a servant.”
“I see, she returned to her original world… Wait, she casually took the servant girl with her too. That woman…”
I never met Maou myself. However, I didn’t feel like Maou was a stranger. That’s probably related to Maou’s origins.
“Until the end, Maou seemed worried about you. It’s strange, isn’t it? Even though you were enemies who tried to kill each other.”
“No, it’s not strange at all. I just have a feeling, somehow, that she’s that kind of person. Hey, about Maou, Saeki—”
“—My lord, please ask that question to Rion. Our time together is limited. For now, please just… as it is…”
“…You’re right.”
Not being able to touch or speak when I want to is quite frustrating. I wonder when Mel will appear before me again?
“…Time, huh.”
“It seems so. My lord, though it’s impertinent for me to say, please do your best.”
This world began to distort. It seems Kuromel is truly waking up from her sleep. Honestly, just like Melfina, she’s a troublesome princess who makes me feel a mix of joy and unease just by waking up.
“Trembling Poetess…”
“D-Don’t read my mind!”
Without even a proper emotional farewell, I woke up from the dream with that shout.
***
“…Did he leave?”
Kelvin’s figure vanished from the dream world, leaving only Melfina behind. The beautiful garden started to crumble from the edges, and the water filling the fountain evaporated. Waking up from a dream essentially means the collapse of the dream world. Only Melfina’s consciousness, which has no physical form, remained in this place, and the rest of the scenery returned to darkness. In a world devoid of light and sound, she was there all alone.
There was one thing Melfina had not told Kelvin. It was that she was in a truly precarious state. With her golem taken and the other personality, Kuromel, manifest, Melfina was becoming an increasingly ambiguous existence. If Kuromel were to reach the Land of White Wings and officially become the Reincarnated Goddess, Melfina might cease to exist entirely.
However, she deliberately did not convey this. She knew that if she told him, Kelvin would try to fight, even if it meant sacrificing his life. What was needed now was not for him to worry about her and attack, but to make adequate preparations. To gather forces capable of confronting Kuromel.
And, this was Melfina’s personal wish, she did not want to interfere with Kelvin. The current Melfina, having shared memories with Kuromel, had been influenced by both good and evil to some extent. Her desire for Kelvin to be happy, to be entertained, and to smile was the same for both her white and black sides, and she did not want to spoil the situation she had built with so many sacrifices. It was a selfish desire, and she would likely be furious if Kelvin knew. Yet, she could not tell him. …Because she loved him from the bottom of her heart.
“It’s just like my position when I was inside Luminary. But you endured it. This solitude in nothingness. Burning with hatred, rather than being purified… Therefore, I want to try my best too. Not with hatred, but with the hope in my heart that you will come to pick me up—”
Her voice would likely reach no one. Melfina sank alone into the darkness.
This chapter was intended to be the final chapter, but the past arc turned out to be longer than I anticipated, so I would like to revise this part to an interlude. From the next chapter, it will be the final chapter, returning to the original timeline…
