“Hah… hah…”
I collapsed into a chair, catching my breath after finishing my blacksmithing work.
“Hmph. You actually followed me all the way here…”
Reinard watched me with an impressed expression. It seemed my hard work had paid off, but at the cost of most of my stamina.
“R-Reinard, is it always this busy…?”
“Hmph. If I were this busy every day, I’d have withered away by now.”
Reinard shook his head at my question.
“I suppose so…”
Even for me, who was getting closer to becoming a monster, this was a strenuous amount of work. It seemed that today’s blacksmithing had been unusual.
“I thought I’d make you give up and admit defeat with this task, but you followed along so easily…”
“So that’s how it was…”
I’d realized something was off when, after the warehouse’s metal fittings were emptied, he’d started reforging repaired items. It seemed it was all a prank aimed at me. I couldn’t help but offer a wry smile.
Seeing that, Reinard also gave a faint smile.
“You’ve really changed, kid… You were so short-tempered before…”
He narrowed his eyes, as if reminiscing. It seemed Reinard’s mind held a different version of me. Likely, the “Primordial Kanami” that Apostle Sis and Guardian Aid knew.
“The kid from back then would have immediately clicked his tongue and said, ‘This is too much trouble, I quit.’ You’ve truly changed. …No, perhaps this is your true form. The first time I met you, you had a similar expression to now. …Hmph, such a nostalgic memory.”
Reinard continued to talk to himself. His words were undoubtedly about a thousand years ago.
“Um, are you going to tell me about a thousand years ago…?”
He had gently brushed me off when I asked yesterday, but today it seemed a little different. It looked like a story from the past was about to begin.
Reinard showed a briefly troubled expression, then earnestly asked me for magic.
“Kid. Find out where Rowen is right now.”
“Eh? Ah, yes…”
Overwhelmed by his intensity, I reflexively cast Dimension. I had only expanded it slightly, but I immediately knew Rowen’s location. He was in the garden of a certain mansion, making snipping sounds with shears. Liner was helping him next to him.
“He’s working in a magnificent mansion. Is he really a gardener?”
“A magnificent mansion, you say… Hmm, at this distance, it should be fine. But, let’s talk in the warehouse just in case. Alright, come here.”
With no regard for me, he forcefully changed our location. Then, Reinard sat down on a convenient platform.
“Still, to choose my place as your work destination is a good instinct. As expected. And among us, I’m one of the ones who remained.”
Leaving me behind, struggling to keep up, Reinard continued to speak. It seemed like a conversation that couldn’t be overheard by her, as he had been worried about Rowen’s gaze.
“If it were the hardened kid from our second meeting, I wouldn’t have told you anything, but with you now, I can tell you everything. I’ll tell you what I know. About a thousand years ago, and about ‘here’—’Viais.'”
“…Please do.”
I had no reason to refuse. I nodded without hesitation.
“In exchange—help Rowen. It’s likely that we can no longer save her.”
His expression was deeply troubled. From his somber face, I could sense the dire condition of that cheerful Guardian.
“Save Rowen? Is she really in a state that needs saving right now?”
Though I had expected it, I gasped as I faced the reality.
“For a thousand years, I’ve done everything I could ‘here’, but it was no use. She says, ‘It’s fine now, thank you,’ but nothing has been resolved. She hasn’t been able to resolve her lingering desires even after a thousand years.”
“…You know about the Guardian, Reinard.”
The mention of lingering desire made it clear that he understood its mechanism.
“Ah, I know. Or rather, everyone in Viais knew. That ‘here’ is a space to completely kill Rowen.”
“A space to completely kill Rowen…”
I frowned at the ominous words. It was probably me who created it. I waited for Reinard’s words, wanting to know the full story.
“‘Here’ is a space created by you, kid, for Rowen. Therefore, ‘here’ fulfills all of Rowen’s wishes at that time. If Rowen’s lingering desire was ‘Peace in Viais,’ it would have been perfect. But Rowen’s lingering desire was not ‘Peace in Viais.’ I realized that in the first hundred years. Then, in the second hundred years, the world began to crumble, in the third hundred years, people’s souls began to break, and after five hundred years, everything went mad.”
Reinard spoke calmly, so I couldn’t immediately grasp the horribly tragic words. However, from the words “crumble,” “break,” and “mad,” I could sense a fragment of that suffering.
“You’ve probably realized it by now, but most of this town was created by ‘retrieving and converging’ memories from the continent. Both people and things. However, most of their souls have been worn out and no longer maintain their original forms. Like my grandson outside, they’ve lost past memories and have become mere beings who just reproduce ‘Peace in Viais.’ Ironically, this world has been wearing down Rowen’s ‘soul,’ yet only Rowen has managed to clearly retain her memories. That idiot’s ‘soul’ is just too resilient.”
By cross-referencing the information with Rowen’s, I’ve gradually come to understand “here” — “Viais.”
A thousand years ago, when creating the labyrinth, Primordial Kanami intended to thank Rowen. That’s why he specifically created a separate “space where all wishes are granted” just for her. It was meant to be “Viais’ world of peace,” where Rowen would fulfill her lingering desires as she spent time there — everyone thought so. Primordial Kanami, the people of Viais, and likely Rowen herself as well.
However, that’s not what happened.
Rowen was probably supposed to disappear in about a hundred years. Yet, even now, a thousand years later, she still exists in the same condition as she did back then. Conversely, it was “Viais’ people,” who were meant to showcase “Viais’ world of peace,” that disappeared.
The laws of this world, riddled with inconsistencies, have become clear.
But it’s a story with no hope at all…
That’s probably why Reinand is asking me, who came from outside this world, to save Rowen.
“I see, I understand most of it… But if you know this, it means your ‘soul’ is also quite resilient, isn’t it, Reinand-san?”
“No, my memories are almost completely worn away. However, a thousand years ago, I was more of a monster. Thanks to that, a sliver of my self-awareness remains—no, that’s not right. Perhaps it’s because I developed a lingering desire not to leave Rowen behind. Hmph…”
Reinand offered a gentle, faint smile. But that smile was too tragic.
Although my age is apparently also over a thousand years, I feel like I haven’t even lived twenty years. While I can imagine the long span of time he must have spent watching over Rowen, I can’t truly feel it.
I just vaguely understand that there must have been immense suffering.
“Rowen began to tell herself—that she was saved, that she was rescued, that she was rewarded, that it was for the best, that everything was over. She’s been doing it for hundreds of years, continuously. Ah, she couldn’t possibly not break. That’s why I want you to save her. I know it’s wrong to ask you, young man, but I’m begging you.”
Reinand bowed his head, something I thought he would never do for anyone. All for the sake of one girl, Rowen.
It was a situation unthinkable from his attitude yesterday.
“I thought you hated Rowen, Reinand-san.”
“…Ah, I do. I hate Rowen and you too. After all, because of the two of you, all the ‘people of Viais’ died. Even my grandchildren playing outside. Ah, everyone died. That’s precisely why Rowen, burdened by guilt, won’t leave here.”
“Because of me and Rowen? Could you explain that in more detail?”
“Certainly. You should know. …We in the northern countries were at war with the southern countries. And Rowen was their leader, their banner. Despite that, just when victory was within reach, the ‘Ruling King’ and the ‘Knight Commander’ fled, abandoning their posts. They abandoned all the soldiers they led, deserted the people they protected, and vanished without a trace.”
“Th-That’s understandable that they’d be resented…”
In essence, it was a massacre caused by the abandonment of those in ultimate command.
I’m astonished by the depth of heart of the Viais people, who warmly accepted those two war criminals.
“However, that’s in the past now. It’s in the past. Everyone here feels that way. This space did function properly concerning the resentment from a thousand years ago. Everyone should have been able to forgive each other. Only Rowen, however, could not move on. Perhaps because she’s bound by her lingering desires, her presence hasn’t faded at all, no matter how much time passes.”
“Do you have any idea what Rowen’s lingering desire is?”
“I don’t know, which is why I’m troubled. However, what she wanted to achieve even at the cost of abandoning everything must have been something a queen of Viais couldn’t accomplish. I can only tell you that much. …Do you understand, young man?”
I speculate.
Given the tendencies of the guardians so far, Rowen likely has lingering desires that she herself doesn’t recognize. Or perhaps, desires she knows but cannot fulfill.
Her true lingering desire.
Frankly, I can’t even imagine it. It’s impossible without memories of the past.
“No, I have no idea…”
“Is that so? As expected, the loss of your memory is a difficult point…”
“I’m sorry…”
“No, I apologize. I asked too much. …However, I believe that the fact you appeared at this moment is surely for Rowen’s sake.”
I can sense his expectations.
That’s precisely why Reinand probed my character through blacksmithing.
And having found my character worthy, he has sincerely explained everything and is even bowing his head in entreaty.
Torn by dilemma, my chest tightens.
Right now, what worries me most is the ground. That’s why I was planning to deceive Rowen and head to the surface as quickly as possible. My plan was the opposite of Reinand’s request.
Having heard of Rowen’s current situation, a part of me has begun to think that perhaps I should help his beloved first.
The weight of “Now” and “Past” is being measured on a scale.
However, sadly, the answer as to which is heavier has already been decided. That is why I could only respond with vague words.
“I will do everything I can…”
“No, that’s fine. I’m just glad you’re considering it. I know I’m asking too much…”
Still, Reinand accepted my response. He likely sensed that my attention was more on the ground than on Rowen. Yet, he said it was fine.
Then, we tidied up the workshop in silence, ending our work for the day. I received my daily wages and left the house to return to the castle.
“Uh, uhm, Commander! Please wait!”
However, Bess-chan stopped me at the entrance. Just like in the morning, her face was still flushed.
She ran up to me and handed me cookies placed on a beautiful pink handkerchief.
“I tried baking some snacks while you were working! Please enjoy them if you’d like!”
I could tell from her trembling shoulders that she had mustered her courage to say that.
“Thank you. I’ll take them.”
I couldn’t possibly reject her courage, so I nodded.
However, I noticed my hand, as it reached out to take them, was trembling just as much as hers.
Suppressing it, I smiled and took a cookie.
The confection, containing precious sugar, seeped into my tired body. Even I, a picky eater when it comes to food, could exclaim its deliciousness with both hands raised.
To be precise, it was as good as the sweets from my world—no, that’s not quite right either.
The taste was so nostalgic that it felt as if I were the one who taught her how to make them.
“They’re incredibly delicious… You’re very good at baking…”
“Ehehe, I’m glad! I’ll make some more! Please look forward to it tomorrow too!”
Bess-chan waved goodbye with a bashful smile. It was undeniable that she had feelings for me.
Likely, the Bess-chan from a thousand years ago admired the “Primordial Kanami” from that time.
Despite that, she apparently abandoned everything, including this child.
I understand her resentment towards “Apostle Sis” likely drove her to this, but it is still difficult to accept. Burdened by what I may have done, I managed to return a smile.
“Y-yes, I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow! Commander!”
And so, I finished my first day of work.
Working with Reinand as a blacksmith yielded more than just the copper coins accumulated in my “Inventory” or the growth of my skills.
I learned the beginning of the story of what Rowen and I had done in the past.
Even though I had only just stepped through the entrance, I felt overwhelmingly melancholic.
The time from morning to evening had restored about half of my MP.
Conversely, my stamina had been depleted, but it posed no problem for magic development.
To develop new Dimensional Magic, I continued to experiment in my own room.
I had already mastered “Default,” so I focused on practicing “Distance Mute.”
Concentrating my dimensional magic power into my hand, I imagined touching my desk and chair, as if they were in my “Inventory.” Then, my fingertips passed through them as if they were holographic projections.
However, I could only pass through them; I couldn’t interfere with the contents of the objects. Furthermore, I couldn’t use my entire arm like “Primordial Kanami” could.
This was merely a rudimentary “Connection,” or perhaps I had simply shifted the objects’ positions by manifesting the “Dimension Cutter Sword” on my fingers.
I understood that “Distance Mute” was different from the magic I had known before.
It was closer to “Dimensional Battle Calculation – Prologue.”
That was a magic that increased the dimensions one could see.
And “Distance Mute” was likely a magic that increased the dimensions one could touch.
Perhaps this sensation could only be acquired by challenging the “Laws of Dimensions” at the cost of one’s life.
If this were during combat, I would have challenged it without hesitation, but in peacetime, I tended to play it safe. It wouldn’t be too late to conduct more research—however, while I procrastinated, the ground might be in grave danger—I found myself weighing the scales in my mind once more, deep in thought.
Of course, I didn’t believe that accurately weighing the scales would lead to the best possible choice. If things could be resolved rationally, I wouldn’t be in this situation.
As I continued to groan in my private room, I heard a sound from afar.
Immediately, I ceased my magic development and activated “Dimension.”
There shouldn’t be anyone else in this castle.
If there was someone—
“It’s R-Rowen! I’m home! And include me too!”
With a creak, Rowen opened the window and entered the room. Reinand, looking apologetic, was clinging to his waist, indicating he had come despite Reinand’s attempts to stop him.
“I heard you guys are eating delicious food together at night! Why didn’t you invite me yesterday?!”
It seems he couldn’t stand us making our own dinner.
With a sack of large proportions slung over his shoulder, the lord approached me, a grin revealing his fangs. It appeared the sack was filled with a copious amount of ingredients.
Seeing the lord, who looked like a child of old, caused a pang in my heart.
This lord, who appeared so innocent, was likely hurting so deeply inside that he couldn’t bear to face it. He was in such a state that Reinand described him as broken, shattered, and gone mad.
When I thought of his smile as the survival tactic of a girl who had lived for a thousand years, I couldn’t bring myself to drive him out of the room. So I replied as kindly as I could, like a close friend.
“…We’re making our own meal with our own money. There’s no reason to invite the lord, is there?”
“But, you’re friends with the children, right? Even if just to show respect to the homeowner, you should have invited me, shouldn’t you?”
“No, I don’t really think of you as a friend, nor do I intend to respect you as a homeowner…”
“Eh, Eeh!? That was so casually cruel!”
“Ah, if you’re willing to pay, you can eat. However, it’s three silver coins per meal. Please note that a friend fee will be charged separately.”
“That’s not cruel, it’s wicked! O-Okay. I’ll lower the rent for you in return.”
“You should have just said so from the start. We don’t have any financial leeway, so we’ll be tight when it comes to money.”
“Hmm, even though you’re children, making me do that is a bit too harsh in this world…”
“If you pay the gold for the friend fee, then from today onwards, we are friends. Or, if you send us to the surface, that alone will make us best friends.”
“Let’s stop with the friendships based on such transactions!?”
“Now, hurry up and tell me how much the rent will be reduced. Depending on that amount, it will determine how much of Rainer’s cooking I can eat.”
“Uh, well, how about half price?”
“Then it’s about half a person’s portion, I suppose.”
“What kind of calculation is that!?”
“—Just kidding. For now, Rainer, get started on dinner. I’m incredibly hungry too.”
After our pleasant chat, I asked Rainer.
Rainer confirmed with his eyes whether I was okay with the lord being present, and I nodded in response.
My MP for magic development was completely depleted. I debated whether to use magic by draining my life force, but decided against it for today at least.
“Understood, Christ. I’ll head to the kitchen. I’ll be back soon.”
“Ah, wouldn’t it be better if we all made this together after all!? As friends, to deepen our bond!”
“………”
Perhaps he’s doing it unconsciously, but it piles damage onto my heart, so I wish he’d hold back a little.
Knowing the circumstances, his desperate efforts are too sorrowful.
When I think of him repeatedly parting with people in the town over hundreds of years, and now living with people who are just empty shells, the word ‘friend’ weighs heavily on me.
“R-Right… It will be faster if the three of us do it…”
And so, I naturally became lenient. I granted permission for the three of us to head to the kitchen together.
“Alright! Leave the vegetable chopping to me! Actually, I’ll only do the chopping!”
“…For now, I understand you have no cooking skills. Just try to stay quiet as much as possible.”
“Yes!”
We left the room and walked through the quiet, deserted castle.
I understood his excitement at our appearance as new residents if he had lived alone in this castle for a thousand years.
We made dinner together, the three of us, while enduring the lord’s trivial talk.
And what was served were rough meat dishes and bread.
The lord boasted about chopping vegetables, but his pickiness was as extreme as a child’s, so in the end, it centered around meat dishes. There were steaks from Viais, generously seasoned with local spices, chicken and seaweed soup, and steamed wild boar wrapped in vegetables. Our masculine cooking, combined with the lord’s preferences, resulted in terrible nutritional balance.
The lord continued to chatter even while eating dinner, his talk accelerating rather than stopping.
During the conversation, I brought up the topic of magic. I wanted to know the details of the magic Rainer was being taught.
“Speaking of which, the lord is teaching magic to Rainer, right? Has Rainer learned any new Wind Magic?”
“No way, Rainer has absolutely no talent. He’s only learned two types so far.”
The lord laughed about his pathetic disciple, and Rainer pouted.
“You’re far too abnormal. Don’t compare me to the legendary king from a thousand years ago. Learning two types of magic in just a few days is amazing on the surface.”
“Rainer! Look up, not down! No, the surface is up here… so look down, not up! Right? Anyway, don’t be satisfied with your current situation. There are many ridiculously strong monsters in this world, so it’s best to strive. Like Kanamin over there, or the knights from the ‘South’!”
“Christ and Rowen, huh… I certainly want to surpass those two someday…”
“Hm? Rainer, how do you know Aleis’s name? Could he be famous on the surface a thousand years later? Even after death, he’s still the same.”
“No, Rowen was the guardian of the 30th floor, so I met him on the surface.”
“Whoa… So, he’s on the ground right now?”
“No, he’s not anymore. Christ defeated Rowen.”
“Huh?”
Lord naturally believed Rowen was alive. But Rainer shook his head, correcting his mistaken perception. Lord looked as if he had seen the sun rise in the west. As his expression didn’t change, I followed up on Rainer’s words.
“Yeah, I defeated Rowen.”
“You, Kaminamin? Really?”
“It’s true.”
“Eh? Did you kill him with a trap?”
“I defeated him in a duel.”
“You mean a duel in the sense of long-range attacks from another country?”
“In an arena with spectators, facing each other properly, and defeated him according to the rules of a duel.”
“Facing each other properly…? Ah, you mean you took hostages then?”
“No, I’m not playing riddles. I genuinely defeated him in a head-on battle.”
“Eh? That’s a bit hard to believe… Looking at you now, Kaminamin, I don’t think I could possibly win…”
“…Well, it might be understandable that you can’t believe it.”
Honestly, I considered my victory over Rowen to be the result of many coincidences. And I only managed to finish off the monster, ‘The One Who Steals Earthly Principles,’ with Reaper’s help. I can’t confidently say I’m stronger than Rowen.
But for some reason, Rainer began to vehemently deny it.
“Lord, we’re not lying. Christ is undoubtedly a swordsman who surpasses Lord Rowen. As proof of that, Christ has inherited Rowen’s sword.”
Rainer pleaded with his eyes, so I reluctantly took out ‘Aris Family’s Treasure Sword Rowen’ from my Inventory.
“This magic power… could this be Rowen Aleis…?”
“Yeah, it’s Rowen’s magic stone. He achieved his lingering desire and became a sword. By the way, Rainer and I inherited the Aris Family’s swordsmanship.”
“Wow, so that’s what happens when you die properly…”
Lord stared intently at the crystal sword placed on the table, but didn’t reach out to touch it. With an expression that seemed somewhat fearful yet also a little admiring, he was confirming his future self.
“Hey, what was that duel with him like? I’m really curious. After all, he’s a monster we couldn’t defeat even with overwhelming force from the Northern countries. I can’t imagine him losing.”
“…Right. Thinking back now, I feel like the duel with Rowen began the moment we met. It was a battle of how to understand Rowen’s swordsmanship.”
“Uh-huh. And then—”
To convey it to Rainer beside me, I meticulously recounted my encounter with Rowen and our parting. Rainer has always held Rowen in high regard. He must want to know as well.
“—And then, I’m entering the ‘Dance Tournament’ to regain my memories.”
“Hmm, I’m surprised by the existence of Teeda, who harasses you even after defeating him. It seems his persistence hasn’t been cured even after reincarnation. I wonder if it’s because the children didn’t deal with him during his lifetime?”
To explain my memories, I also explained the relationship between Palinkron and Teeda. When I mentioned Teeda’s name, he widened his eyes, and I realized they knew each other.
“Rainer probably knows more about Rowen’s appearance during the tournament. I want to know too, can you tell me?”
“Of course, Christ. I’m sure Rowen-san would want that too.”
Rainer spoke just as meticulously as I did. He recounted how Rowen fought the ‘Strongest,’ Glen. How he was cornered by his interactions with aristocrats. And finally, how he met Fenrir Aleis, the modern-day ‘Sword Saint,’ and reached a conclusion within himself. Then, Rowen and I would meet again in the finals, and Rowen would disappear.
“So that’s how he disappeared, like a guardian, that Aleis guy…”
“Yeah…”
Lord, having heard everything, looked genuinely envious. However, he quickly changed his expression and grinned.
“But this is also a story about how that Aleis guy kept getting weaker and weaker. And in the end, you beat him with a stolen technique with two people ganging up on him, which is beyond cowardly. That’s not a duel.”
“I-it was absolutely a duel for us!”
Come to think of it, he was right. But since they themselves believed they had fought a fair battle, we decided to call it a victory in a duel. Lord seemed to have accepted Rowen’s defeat, and with a refreshed expression, he stood up from his seat. While we were talking, eight parts of the dinner on the table had already been eaten.
“Alright, little one, let’s aim for a guardian-like dissolution too—! And with that said, just as that Aleis guy left his swordsmanship to two people, I’ll have the two of you inherit my magic!”
It seemed that after the meal, they were moving on to magic training. Lord, the girl who was called the Demon King and ‘Primordial Kanami’. I was a little interested in that magic, now that I was struggling to learn Dimensional Magic.
