I believe Rustiara Fuziaze was dreaming until the very end.
However, such “dreams” are truly uncertain, always shadowed by a lingering anxiety that can be easily dispelled with a reach of the hand.
Those born as “Magic Stone Humans” can never escape that anxiety throughout their lives. I’ve heard that because the bloodline holder, the origin of everything, was dominated by such emotions until death, their daughters naturally fall into similar sensations.
But I, at least, was supposed to be different from other “Magic Stone Humans.”
After all, Rustiara Fuziaze was the pinnacle of perfection, having overcome all the flaws of “Magic Stone Humans.”
Before my birth, enormous funds were invested to infuse my blood with all sorts of “Spell Formations.”
Using forbidden “Curse Techniques” to an excessive degree, I was subjected to brainwashing-like mental stabilization.
The adjustments were perfect, leaving no blind spots in the plan.
Even if I were told immediately after birth that I was to be a substitute for the deceased, I wouldn’t feel the slightest anxiety.
On the contrary, the more I read the prepared heroic tales, the more pride I felt in becoming a vessel for past great figures. The more I spoke with followers of Revannism, the more a sense of superiority washed over me for being born with this mission.
—I wasn’t afraid of disappearing or dying.
It’s not a lie.
From reading so many heroic tales, I was acutely aware of the existence of truly unfortunate minor characters. Being able to become the foundation for a hero while being blessed by the world, relatively speaking… I thought it was not a bad life.
In other words, the brainwashing-like education and adjustments from “The country of Fuziaze” and the “Senate” had been successful. I understood that this was the kindness of the adults’ hearts.
But, regrettably—in the end, I too would come to harbor strong anxiety in my heart, just like the other “Magic Stone Humans.”
That anxiety was not about the eventual ritual. What terrified even me, whose adjustments were supposed to be perfect, was always just one thing.
“New Calendar Year 1011.”
That was one year after my birth.
In the central grand garden of Fuziaze Cathedral. A large fountain that reached the roof scattered cool droplets. Next to it, despite the clear sky, a simple lectern had been prepared. Furthermore, in front of it, a desk and benches, so expensive it was bothersome to measure, were lined up.
It resembled a small classroom, but I was the sole, luxurious student. And the man who was supposed to be lecturing from that podium had cast aside the history books and heroic tales prepared by the “Senate” and was reading aloud a story about a boy and a girl.
“—And so, surrounded by many citizens, the boy and girl dramatically and beautifully, and of course, movingly, cry out their hidden love. Hehe, please imagine it, young lady Rustiara. The scene where the voices of the vast crowd, like an approaching blessing, shake the world under a dazzling white light that seems to be a blessing. It would be a magnificent ending, as if a giant curtain were about to be drawn from the sky, wouldn’t it?”
“Uh… yes…”
If there was anything that could have frightened me, who was supposed to be perfectly adjusted, it was—only this tutor’s theatrics. I listened to the personal theatrical inclinations of Hein Helvishein, a man proclaimed as the finest Knight in the land.
“Yes. And so, this concludes today’s story. Thus, the boy and girl, having overcome hardship and suffering, live happily ever after. In a distant land where the differences of their birth need not be considered, together, slowly, happy, forever and ever…”
At that time, being mentally young, I absorbed this love story disguised as an adventure tale by Mr. Hein, like dry soil soaking up rain.
It was unavoidable for me, newly born. I sat alone on the bench, with no one else, and savored the newly imparted knowledge.
“Live happily ever after…”
—It feels as though this was the beginning of Rustiara Fuziaze, calculated backward from the end of my story.
Therefore, my “Diary of the Hero Rustiara Fuziaze” begins its prologue from here.
“Yes. The two live very happily. Even though it’s a fictional story, it’s truly enviable. Yes, it is truly enviable…”
Knight Hein, dressed in a more formal teacher-like fashion than usual, clenched his fist and vehemently expounded on the future of the fictional characters.
However, I still couldn’t empathize with the story as deeply as he did. As a beginner in “Reading,” who had just started reading fictional stories, I voiced the reason with a question unique to my inexperience.
“Lived happily… Mr. Hein, is that after this page, and forever?”
“Huh? Uh… you mean what happens after this?”
“What happens after this. Where is the continuation of that last page?”
I looked around, searching for a book with the same title. Hein, after scratching his cheek with a slightly puzzled expression, slowly shook his head.
“There is no continuation. Books are like that. The story ends where the author stops writing.”
“…It’s over now? But, I want to read more. I want to know more and more about their happy life afterward, Mr. Hein.”
It was precisely because I liked the story that I felt this so strongly. However, the tutor before me smiled kindly and reassured me.
“Young lady, it’s alright. While it is true that the story ends here, the boy and girl will undoubtedly continue to live happily. There is no mistake about that.”
Hein stated this with conviction. However, I held a different impression than he did.
I don’t think there’s “no mistake.” It might continue with “However, unexpectedly—” on the next page, or a few years later, there might be a line saying, “Actually, when we lived together, we didn’t get along that well.”
“…I understand. So, that’s the end of the story. I’ll give up.”
However, I nodded obediently. Mr. Hein’s way of enjoying books was the correct one. Thanks to the common sense ingrained in my blood, I could discern that I was merely blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Perhaps sensing my dissatisfaction, Hein, without breaking his smile, replied with a furrow in his brow.
“I can understand how you feel, young lady. However, let us believe. That for those who have overcome hardships, there is such a reward… At least, I always read books with that belief.”
“Believe that, and read books…”
I learned how to read books—”Reading”—from Mr. Hein. Though my dissatisfaction had made my cheeks puff out, his way of thinking was surprisingly easy to accept.
It was undoubtedly more enjoyable to believe that the next page would continue with “And then, the two lived happily forever—” and that even after many years passed, “the two lived as loving companions.”
“Indeed, that’s right… It gives it a sense of… ‘dream,’ you know? After all, stories should be dramatic and filled with hope.”
As if it had been planned from the very beginning, I easily grasped the basics of Mr. Hein’s “Reading” method.
“You seem convinced. Well then, shall we get back to class? As much as I’m impressed by how quickly you pick things up, her ladyship, if it’s discovered that you’re just taking breaks, it will affect my performance review.”
With that, Mr. Hein carefully placed the book he had brought with him on the lectern and casually picked up a history book of Fuziaze that was on a nearby bench.
The original lesson was about to resume.
However, throughout the class, I continued to ruminate on the stories Mr. Hein had read to me. Just as he taught me, I believed that a future filled with happiness awaited, imagining my own continuation of the story in my head, thinking, “We’ll take our time together, happily, forever…”
—In the prologue, I learned so much from Knight Hein Helvishein.
Not just knowledge or combat techniques.
It encompassed a wide range of things, from how to spend my days to how to enjoy life.
As a result, in less than a year, I had developed the hobby that Mr. Hein had intended.
I truly came to love reading.
I particularly favored the genre of “Adventure” and began to admire “Heroes.”
After all, a large part of my lessons was the history of the battles of Lady Tiara Fuziaze, as told in Fuziaze’s Revannism.
Since I was the vessel for Lady Tiara’s successful rebirth, I was able to empathize with the story more than anyone else.
In those legendary battles, Lady Tiara, who possessed “beautiful long hair like flowing golden sand,” just like me, was incredibly powerful, giving me the illusion that I had been there a thousand years ago.
The more I “Read,” the more I felt as if I, “I,” had met an Apostle and become a Saint. I felt like I had become a Shiso and united the countries of the continent to fight evil Apostles. I felt like I had become a Hero and “Adventured” all over the world… It was fun from the bottom of my heart.
“—Hehe.”
A laugh escaped my lips unintentionally.
Sera Radiant, the beastkin female knight guarding me, Sera-chan, who heard it, spoke to me in a gentle voice.
“Her ladyship really does love books, doesn’t she?”
“New Calendar Year 1012.”
On this day, too, I used my free time before class to “Read.”
By this time, I had already devoured all the books in Fuziaze, so I was mostly rereading my favorite legends from a thousand years ago.
“Yes, I love them. This is my only enjoyment in this boring Cathedral.”
As I answered immediately, Sera-chan looked towards a nearby training area and suggested another hobby.
“Personally, I’d recommend practicing swordsmanship and magic more… If you’d like, I can accompany you now…”
“Hmm, I’m sorry. I prefer reading books. …Oh, if it’s a sword instructional manual, I’d be willing to read it. And if it came with an autobiography of a master, that would be great.”
With a body full of my “Aptitude,” I could understand most things just by reading them.
However, seeing me only study and not practice, Sera-chan’s sighs grew deeper.
“Sigh. It’s all because of Hein’s educational policy. That man brings too many books…”
“Does Sera-chan dislike books?”
“It’s not that I dislike them. I don’t particularly care for difficult books… but I do buy books like these occasionally with my own money and read them.”
Sera-chan picked up one of the books stacked on a nearby platform. It was a romance novel disguised as an adventure tale that Mr. Hein had brought at the beginning.
“A story about a man and woman bound by the red ‘Threads’ of fate… I think it’s lovely.”
Sera-chan blushed slightly and narrowed her eyes.
As she reminisced about the story in the book, her usual tough demeanor was completely gone. Though not many knights in Fuziaze knew, she surprisingly had a girlish side. However, being somewhat man-averse, she only showed such an expression to women she had grown to trust…
Glad to see that rare expression, I wished for her story to remain happy forever.
“Hehe, I agree. I hope one day a handsome person worthy of Sera-chan, bound by the red threads of fate, will appear.”
“I-I didn’t mean it like that…!! And more importantly, there must be a suitable gentleman for her ladyship—”
At that point, Sera-chan stopped talking.
As if struck by realization, her refined face turned pale. Sera-chan is truly an easy-to-understand and cute woman. She suddenly realized that such a future might not exist for me and looked as if she might commit seppuku at any moment.
To show that I didn’t mind, I smiled gently and spoke an arrogant reply.
“Hmm, someone worthy of me, you say… However, there aren’t many men who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me, you know? I’m not bragging, but the beauty of I, the Living God, Rustiara Fuziaze, is quite something. Fu fu fu.”
“Her ladyship…”
Sera-chan understood that it was a joke. However, being a serious person, she composed herself and replied earnestly.
“Yes. A man worthy of a woman as lovely, kind-hearted, modest, and considerate as her ladyship… there really aren’t many! And if one were to appear, I, Sera Radiant, will strictly vet them! Whether that man can truly make her ladyship happy, with my own hands…!”
“…Somehow, if I leave it to Sera-chan, I don’t think anyone will pass. If that time comes, let’s leave the screening to someone else… Yes, perhaps someone like Ragune-chan.”
“W-What, her ladyship! Does that mean I’m inferior to Ragune!?”
“To put it bluntly, yes, that’s exactly what it means.”
As I stated so plainly, Sera-chan’s mouth opened wide, and she began to lament, “No way…” However, she no longer seemed on the verge of self-harm, so my uncharacteristic, haughty joke had paid off.
Just then, the girl whose name I had just mentioned appeared from the bushes in the garden.
“—Ahaha. I think I heard my name called—Knight Ragune appears! Looks like her ladyship is making her senpai trouble again with her wicked side, huh?”
“Ah, Ragune-chan.”
Ragune Kaikuola, the youngest of the Seven Knights of Heaven, hopped beside me with the agility of a wild animal.
“But you’re reading again. You never get tired of it, do you, Miss?”
Just like Sera-chan, she picked up a nearby book at random—saying the complete opposite of what “Seven Knights of Heaven” usually implied.
“I’m not good with this kind of thing. When I read text, my brow gets all tense.”
Her opinion left me just a little bit dissatisfied.
So, I tried to convince Ragune-chan to become a fellow enthusiast, and as I looked at the book she had picked up—I was surprised not to recognize its title.
“Huh?”
I feel like I’ve read it sometime in the last year.
I’m sure it wasn’t a typical adventure story, but a romance novel popular among noble daughters.
It wasn’t just unconventional; I dimly recall it being a rather strange story. It was about a noble’s daughter who met a “Foreigner” from another world, different from this one. The story was set in the same Labyrinth Allied Nations as here, and while it started as a typical love story, the protagonist dies midway through. Nevertheless, the story continued plainly, which was impressive, and in the end… what happened? It felt like a happy ending.
The two people at the final page looked very happy, so I had placed the book within reach, intending to reread it someday. If not, there would be no reason for it to be here.
“—Ragune, you have training with the Commanders today, right? Why are you here?”
However, Sera-chan’s voice interrupted, stopping my memory-checking process.
“I’m with you ladies, just on a break. My goodness, the Commanders’ training has been so tough lately. Miss, please ask them to make the training a little lighter!”
“You always rely on Miss like that…!”
Unlike the other “Seven Knights of Heaven,” Ragune-chan speaks to me very casually.
Even though I know it’s a role assigned to her by the country of Fuziaze, I consider her my best friend and talk to her as such.
“I think that’s because Ragune-chan is so highly regarded? After all, she’s the prized protégé of Mr. Hein and Palinkron. …A prized protégé like in hero tales!”
“No, I think that nuisance of a catchphrase that appeared out of nowhere is the biggest reason my training is so grueling… Miss, where did you hear that?”
“Rather than heard, I was the first to start proclaiming her as the prized protégé. …Frankly, I was annoyed that I was the only one studying, so I dragged Ragune-chan into it. Ragune-chan, you’re always just patrolling the Cathedral grounds and seem to always be free.”
“So it was your doing, Miss! Ah, I had a feeling… Blast it. My nice, easy patrol job—all because of you, Miss…”
Ragune-chan, muttering curses, rests her head on my lap, feeling exhausted.
I truly think Ragune-chan is good at playing the role of a friend.
Even knowing it’s her job, I enjoy our conversations like this. In my personal opinion, she’s the one among “Seven Knights of Heaven” who works the hardest.
And perhaps tired from her work, Ragune-chan squints as she gazes at the surrounding scenery.
“Sigh… But this garden… it’s really beautiful, isn’t it…”
“The garden? Yes, it is very beautiful. It’s said to be the best garden in the Allied Nations.”
“Ah, it’s so beautiful… I wish I could stay here with you forever like this… Haha.”
I thought she meant she wanted to continue skipping training, but looking at her face, I realized that wasn’t the case.
As if repeating herself, Ragune-chan muttered, “Forever, just like this…”, her expression unlike anything I had ever seen. She was smiling, no doubt.
However, it felt less like joy or peace and more like impatience or regret.
Sometimes, I don’t understand what Ragune-chan is thinking. She’s always cheerful and energetic, with a sunny disposition—but that day, the backlight was too strong, making it impossible to see through.
If one could see the depths of her heart at that moment, it would likely be only someone with a special “observational ability.” At that thought, another “Seven Knights of Heaven” appeared.
“—Unfortunately, Ragune, that’s not possible. …And with that, it’s almost time for my class. Those who aren’t involved, please leave.”
It was Palinkron Legacy, the knight of lowest rank.
He was still dressed in a merchant-like outfit, unbefitting of a knight, with a very untrustworthy expression. And by his side was Mr. Hein, dressed and with an expression that contrasted him. Lately, I’ve often seen these two walking together.
Palinkron, who had appeared in the garden, lightly patted the shoulders of Ragune-chan and Sera-chan, who were resting near me, urging them to leave.
It seemed our break time was over while we were chatting.
“Already the break is over? And Mr. Hein is here too. There’s no escaping this.”
“Then, it’s time for my rounds. Permit me to excuse myself, Miss.”
Informed of the time, the two began to move swiftly, like knights. Finally, Palinkron patted Mr. Hein’s shoulder as well, who was walking beside him.
“Hein, make sure Ragune doesn’t run off, okay?”
“Yes. Of course.”
At that moment, I felt a strange flow of mana.
“Hm…?”
It wasn’t the use of magic.
As a living magic dictionary, I was confident in that. Then, what was this sensation, like a severed “Thread,” as I looked around—
“Miss…”
Mr. Hein looked at me with very sad eyes.
It felt like this expression had appeared more often since the beginning of the year. As I wondered about it, Palinkron cut in between us.
“Hey, hey, it’s my class today, you know? Well, if you want to switch, I can.”
“…No. I’ll leave it to you, Palinkron.”
Mr. Hein reluctantly left the garden with a Ragune-chan, looking back.
We, Palinkron and I, watched their retreating figures. As no one was left around the grand fountain—
“…It’s not as easy as it sounds. Our job as ‘Seven Knights of Heaven’ is to perfect our lord through sacrifice… and yet, the closer we stay to our lord, the duller our judgment becomes.”
He casually said what everyone had been careful not to utter, right in front of me.
I called out his name, exasperated by his blatant abandonment of his duty.
“Palinkron, what kind of person are you…”
However, I understood that it was his way of teaching.
Unlike the perfunctory lessons from the other Seven Knights of Heaven, Palinkron’s were practical. There was no start signal, and he didn’t care about morals or common sense at all.
“But perhaps the Senate, knowing this would happen, prepared the Seven Knights of Heaven for you? So, how much of this is according to plan? Let’s think about it for a bit, Lady Rustiara.”
As Palinkron spoke, he climbed onto the giảng-stand, and I faced him with a sense of tension.
He was definitely not a person to trust.
But I could tell he genuinely wanted to “teach,” so I answered him seriously.
“The Senate on the mainland has a prophecy from Saint Tiara. I heard it’s a kind of precognitive magic. Isn’t everything proceeding as planned until I become Saint Tiara? Including the current state of the Seven Knights of Heaven?”
“Hoh, so you believe that. …Then do you think the anxiety you’re feeling now is also part of Saint Tiara’s plan? What do you think about you being drawn not only to your role as a Magic Stone Human but also to a life as a Person?”
“Th-that’s…”
I couldn’t answer immediately.
I was flustered that Palinkron had discerned the anxiety deep within me: “Is this really okay as it is?”
My anxiety was clearly unnecessary for Tiara’s rebirth. Then, why were these knights, the Seven Knights of Heaven, surrounding me, fueling that anxiety? If she truly possessed the power of precognition, why didn’t Tiara…?
As I pondered this, I felt the flow of magic around me fluctuate greatly again.
It felt like a current of water hitting my skin.
“………!”
I immediately looked up and shook my head vigorously to escape the strange flow of magic.
I was able to react because Palinkron had taught me about it before.
Just because it’s a duel doesn’t mean everyone fights according to the rules of a duel.
Instead of answering his question, I ignored the rules of our conversation and asked Palinkron a question.
“Palinkron, now… No, did you do something to Sera-chan and the others earlier? It wasn’t magic… Was it something else…? Especially to Mr. Hein…”
When I presented this “answer,” Palinkron’s expression softened for a moment, like a teacher seeing a student get a correct answer in a pop quiz, and then he immediately played dumb.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? If you say ‘not magic,’ I don’t know what you mean. Isn’t it just your imagination?”
“………”
I stared at him intently, accusingly.
With a feigned shrug, Palinkron surrendered.
“…Haha, you’re right. So, don’t look at me like that. Sera and them, they’re companions who accept me no matter what. Hein is a precious idiot who calls someone like me a friend. I would never do anything strange to them; I’d support their ‘dreams.’ I swear on that.”
He rarely used warm words like “friends” and “companions.”
The pleasant-sounding words increased my wariness.
“Hmph. Alright, alright. As a knight, I swear on my family name. Not by ‘contract,’ but by my own will. —Palinkron Legacy supports his friends’ lives. I sincerely wish for them to live on, never to be controlled by anyone.”
Facing my continued doubt, Palinkron, with a grinning face, made a simple knight’s oath.
Honestly, I couldn’t trust him at all.
Not only his relaxed expression and mannerisms, but even the wording of his oath was suspicious. It was so vague that it could be interpreted in many ways, clearly intending to leave options open for the future.
However, for some reason, the words “never to be controlled by anyone” felt genuine.
It was a spirit that wouldn’t allow his friends to be manipulated, for example, by the chain of the Helvishein family name that bound Mr. Hein, or the burdens of the country of Fuziaze, and beyond that, the various powers of the Senate.
“…I admit that there is a peculiar friendship between you and Mr. Hein, albeit a slight one.”
“Slight one…? Well, thanks. We’re childhood friends, you know. It would be a problem if you didn’t at least acknowledge that.”
In the end, Palinkron evaded the question of “Did you do something?” skillfully.
I didn’t press him further. He was implicitly admitting, “Of course, I must have done something, haven’t I?” so no matter how much I blamed him, he wouldn’t reflect and stop.
Thinking of him as a truly troublesome and bothersome knight, I sighed deeply.
Then, Palinkron, showing no signs of remorse, took out an unfamiliar book from his pocket and began to concentrate on his actual duties.
“Alright, let’s put an end to today’s clowning around and have a serious talk. If I don’t teach you properly, I’ll be killed by the Senate’s assassins… Ah, being a hired teacher is tough.”
The book, emitting a faint purplish magic, was one I had never seen before.
It might be a book from the Legacy family, which handled forbidden techniques.
“Today, I’ll talk about the power to not lose to a ridiculous magic called prophecy – the ‘Uncountable Numbers.’ …Listen carefully, my student.”
“…I’ll be in your care, teacher.”
It had turned into a lesson, so I bowed my head reluctantly.
During that time, I showed no carelessness towards this shady man. I maintained my alertness, ready for anything that might happen, and committed the techniques Palinkron spoke of to memory.
In the end, nothing happened that day.
Palinkron’s lesson concluded peacefully.
It would be much, much later that I would realize that what he truly wanted to teach me was that very sense of vigilance…
—The prelude to my story mainly involves interactions with the Seven Knights of Heaven.
Before the story truly began, I was taught various things by the Seven Knights of Heaven.
Even though I was a finished product with self-awareness from the moment I was born, the influence of the Seven Knights of Heaven was immense.
After all, as Rustiara Fuziaze, a Magic Stone Human, I didn’t have parents in the traditional sense. Therefore, these Seven Knights of Heaven had served as my parental figures.
And through the unspoken between the lines, by receiving various knowledge and values from these parental figures, I began to follow a path deviating from the Senate’s plan.
I started to think that perhaps I should follow a different path than being a sacrifice for Saint Tiara’s rebirth.
My heart was clearly wavering.
At its end, with the promised “Christmas festival” day of “New Era 1013” just a little while away—
“—Mr. Hein. One last time, I want to see the outside……”
I find myself wishing for that.
The knight who was asked this, though surprised, did not dismiss it.
“…I’ll consult with my superiors. Please give me a little time, young lady.”
The prologue came to an end, and the first chapter began.
“—In the year New Era 1013, when it was ‘just a little while’ until the Christmas festival, Rustiara Fuziaze said, ‘One last time.’ The greatest knight, Hein Helvishein, reluctantly but gladly accepted. She and the knight, to confront their cursed birth and discover their true desires, headed towards their greatest aspiration, the ‘Labyrinth’—”
The pre-prepared page turned.
I entered the labyrinth of the Allied Nations and met the condition that ‘Aikawa Uzunami is only summoned when Tiara Fuziaze enters the labyrinth a thousand years from now.’ As if pulled by something other than magic, I walked through the labyrinth—
“—Hey. You who are lurking there, come out.”
I encountered a boy.
When his golden eyes fixed on him—all the blood in me stirred.
Thanks to always having it ‘displayed’ because I was in the labyrinth, his somewhat joking ‘Status’ appeared before my eyes.
[Status]
Name: Aikawa Kanami HP 4/51 MP 1/72 Class:
Level 1
Strength 1 Stamina 1 Dexterity 1 Speed 2 Intelligence 4 Magic Power 2 Aptitude 7
Condition: Confusion 1 Bleeding 1
[Skills]
Innate Skill: Swordsmanship 1 Ice Magic 2
Acquired Skill: Dimensional Magic 5
???: ???
Unique Skill: Foreigner 1
Including being concluded with the three letters ‘Foreigner,’ I saw it all.
My heart pounded at the string of abnormally high numbers.
The biggest abnormality was ‘Aptitude.’
I had never seen it before. I, who had seen countless people with ‘these eyes,’ had most of them at 0 or 1. Even the ‘Seven Knights of Heaven,’ selected from esteemed families on the continent, had 2. And I, who is called a ‘Living God,’ have 4. Yet, he has 7…!
Furthermore, his level is 1.
At his age, he should have surpassed level 1 just by living a normal life. In other words, this is the greatest proof that he is not normal.
It wasn’t just the ‘display.’
His apparent age was about the same as mine, and he was very close in height.
His black hair and black eyes, unusual in the Allied Nations, were captivating, like a character from a story. Every time the tips of his black hair swayed in the quiet wind blowing through the corridor, I was struck by an abnormal sense of unreality. Along with the unfamiliar sound of the name Aikawa Uzunami, I could feel my sense of reality, built up until today, crumbling.
My fragile values, having been raised in the cradle of a cathedral, were breaking with a loud noise.
To that extent, this Aikawa Uzunami was my very ‘dream.’
—It’s hot.
I clutched my chest from the overwhelming heat. My cheeks softened.
All I know is that it was hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, and unbearable.
At that time, I didn’t understand what that emotion was.
But I knew it felt similar to ‘reading.’
No, to be honest.
He looked like a book to me.
I envied him from the bottom of my heart, embarking on an ‘adventure’ as if from a book.
I, from birth, had been stuck in a ridiculously boring prison, studying every day. After classes, it was endlessly repeating sword and magic training. Just hellish days of endlessly honing abilities I had no intention of using. With the continent’s finest knights always on patrol, there wasn’t a single interesting incident in three years.
Yet, this Aikawa Uzunami, in the labyrinth I finally reached after three years, at the extreme state of level 1, looked like he was having so much fun, even while on the verge of death…!
I can’t stand the envy…
I wish I could be like you…
If possible, I want to have a fun ‘adventure’ with you…—
“—And so, in the labyrinth a thousand years later, my master and I, who had once sworn to ‘live together forever,’ were reunited.
However, the ‘world’ is truly cruel, and the soul that had a fateful encounter retained no memories from a thousand years ago. Still, there is no need to be disheartened. No matter how many times the ‘world’ tries to tear the two apart, they will always be bound by the red ‘thread’ of fate.
This time, it is arranged so.
The boy and girl begin to walk a new path on a redrawn board.
This time, to re-swear ‘let’s live happily together forever.’
To re-choose the true ‘One and Only Destined Person.’
The first chapter of a new story now begins—”
Amidst great confusion, a strange narration floated into my head.
It sounded similar to Mr. Hein’s way of speaking, so I thought it was a line from a heroic tale I had been read over the past three years, but the title didn’t come to mind.
Besides, given my nature as a ‘Magic Stone Human,’ I have many memories that aren’t my own. Since accurately verifying them is difficult, I pushed the strange narration out of my head, thinking it wasn’t the time for that.
“More importantly…!”
I am now encountering a ‘dream’-like situation.
I immediately used all my knowledge up to this point to calculate how I could ‘adventure’ with him.
I can’t bear it anymore.
Knowing that my remaining time is short, I felt I had to ‘adventure’ now.
I had already reached an ‘answer’ through my interactions with the ‘Seven Knights of Heaven’ today: I wanted to spend my last moments inside my beloved book—
I moved quickly.
First, I have to save him.
Undoubtedly, he is the ‘protagonist’ of my story—though saying that is a bit embarrassing, and I’m not sure yet, so I’ll “candidate” for now.
To prevent that ‘candidate’ from dying, I need to heal him with 《Cure Cool》 and make him stronger with 《Level Up》. However, moving too much here would alert the accompanying knights. Even though this is my last free time, straying too far from the ‘Senate’s’ schedule would be bad. In that case, it would be better to part ways cautiously, sneak out of the cathedral at night, and meet him alone—
“Hee, hee, hee…”
While I was thinking, I heard the sound of pages turning somewhere far away—
After everything was over, its true identity became clear.
It was a mysterious book that always had the next page ready, no matter what choice I made.
It might have been a bit bloody, but I believe it was the most sacred book in the world—
