And so, Aikawa Uzunami’s sky was under the worst weather, continuously.
In the refreshing sense of release that everything was over, an empty hole could not be filled.
It was the same as Maria.
Faced with the fact that she had lost Rustiara, her heart crumbled in just seven days, and she couldn’t bear the sorrow.
Furthermore, unlike Maria, I had a continuation.
It was the eighth day since the “final battle” ended.
Eyes, dry from tears, began to reflect a certain “hallucination.”
Whenever I visited a place of memories to sort out my feelings, I could see it.
The characters of “Rustiara Fuziaze’s Diary,” which I had read too much and memorized, would spontaneously surface in my mind and be written out into the real world exactly as they were.
In the labyrinth on the first floor, where we first met, I saw “Rustiara using Cure Cool on me.”
If I went behind the familiar tavern, I saw “Rustiara inviting me on an adventure.”
If I walked to the main street, I saw “Rustiara playing at the eve festival with me.”
And at the end of those fun days spent with Rustiara, the Eleventh Crossroads awaited.
This was the place where all “destiny” and “curses” were decided.
At this Eleventh Crossroads, we said “I love you” in a “confession.”
“—Regardless, I love Kanami who is doing her best—”
Therefore, I, Rustiara’s “protagonist,” decided to keep trying no matter what.
Even if many hardships awaited, I would continue to move forward.
That’s what she believed about me, so I would keep living.
“—But, it’s okay if I’m not there—”
Looking back, those words could only be interpreted as foreseeing the battle to come.
As those words foretold, Rustiara died.
“I was vaguely aware, wasn’t I… at that moment, of our destiny…”
Now, I hold the “diary” in my left hand and the “white rainbow-colored magic stone” in my right.
That magic stone was too beautiful, like a “fake,” and I felt somehow cursed.
Rustiara was continuously “dreaming” within it.
Even after the story ended, a “happy” continuation where she continues “adventures” with me, continuously—
Even I, a dimensional magic user, could feel that beautiful “dream.”
Of course, it was a “miracle” that could only be heard because there was a “connection” between souls.
“—Kanami, are you okay?—”
I could hear a “voice.” Not only that.
I could also feel a soft touch and warm temperature from my right hand.
Before I knew it, I was holding not the “white rainbow-colored magic stone,” but a hand.
It was the hand of the “one and only destined person.”
I turned my eyes to the side.
Beside me, Rustiara Fuziaze was there, her long hair blowing in the bad weather wind.
Holding hands, like lovers, Rustiara and I were sitting on a stone bench at the Eleventh Crossroads.
As a couple befitting the most romantic place in these Allied Nations, I was so “narrowed” that I could only see Rustiara, and spoke.
“Rustiara… I’m okay.”
The pages of the “diary” in my left hand were turned by the wind.
On the pages that should have been blank, I could see the continuation of the story being “written,” and the “auditory,” “tactile,” and “visual hallucinations” worsened.
“—Are you still dwelling on past memories, Kanami? Like a nagging parasite?—”
Next to me, that Rustiara spoke.
I could hear her voice. I could feel her body heat.
It was no wonder that a reply naturally spilled from my lips.
“…Yeah, I know. I want to move forward with everyone too. But, honestly, I can’t right away. If I could, I wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.”
“That’s true, I guess… You really are the type to dwell on things, Kanami. That part of you is so dark! So incredibly dark!”
She laughed, cheerfully and brightly, as always.
So, I smiled back, as always, and continued to talk.
“I know. But compared to when I was engrossed in games in my ‘original world,’ I’ve become quite a bit brighter.”
“Hmm… really? …Well, compared to when I cried my eyes out every time I saw you, I guess I’ve made a little progress? I guess I just have to get used to the current situation little by little.”
Rustiara smiled as she watched me grow, acting a little like an older sister.
Just looking at that smile lightened my heart.
I reconfirmed that her brightness had truly saved me.
However, still not fully recovered, I responded directly to her concern.
“It can’t be helped that it takes me the longest… Because I love you the most.”
“…………!”
Rustiara’s face suddenly turned red, and her wide-open mouth began to tremble.
But she quickly pursed her lips and retorted, not to be outdone.
“I love Kanami the most too… I love that part of you that gets unnecessarily hurt.”
“…………!”
My direct feelings were met with a direct response, and my mouth also slackened and opened wide.
The heat on my already flushed cheeks intensified, and they began to tremble.
Rustiara and I were having a foolish conversation befitting the Eleventh Crossroads.
Yet, each of those foolish conversations made me happy.
Because, just talking with the person you love is fun.
Even with conversations that would make anyone else cringe, just tossing them back and forth fills the cracks in our hearts.
Rustiara seemed to be the same, looking back at me beside her and smiling sheepishly for no reason, her lips curling into a grin.
After we both confirmed our blushing faces sufficiently, we turned our gazes forward.
A lively townscape unfolded before us.
Watching couples walk through the Eleventh Crossroads, I let out a sigh of fulfillment.
“…Ah. Peaceful times.”
“Yeah… it’s peaceful. As soon as our story ended, the history of these Allied Nations also felt like it reached a turning point, right?”
“Rather than the history of the Allied Nations, I think it’s more accurate to say Tiara’s history has ended… In any case, it feels like the scene after the game’s ending. From here on, we’ll just slowly spin a quiet continuation here, for all the hardship we’ve endured… Like this, talking about trivial things with you, little by little, the continuation of our story…”
“Even if the story ends, the boy and girl who overcame hardships will continue to live ‘happily’… Kanami, do you know? This was my ‘dream,’ you know?”
“I know. It was written in your ‘diary.'”
“Of course, in that ‘dream,’ it wasn’t just the two of us, but everyone too. Dia, Maria, Snow… the world where we reached this final page with all my beloved people gathered—”
“This world after clearing the game—”
“Continues.”
We spoke in unison.
Our feelings were in perfect sync, one.
The understanding that these happy days ahead are our ‘happiness’ connected us.
…
It’s not suspicious.
Some people would deny this, calling it mere escapism if they saw us now.
However, I won’t let anyone deny it.
In my and Rustiara’s world, this is ‘happiness.’
There’s no more enjoyable time than this.
“Yeah. I’m having a lot of fun too. For example, just thinking about how you’re being looked at by people around us right now is quite fun.”
Rustiara echoed my sentiment, also saying it was “fun.”
I would gladly go along with such trivial, useless chatter.
“No, I absolutely won’t let you enjoy it in that way. When I talk to you, I cast magic meticulously so no one can see us.”
“Hm? Does that mean it’s just the two of us in the world? That’s romantic and not bad, I guess… but I kind of want everyone to see us. This isn’t about wanting to torment Kanami or anything, it’s just a little bit of bragging. I want to tell everyone that the rumored great hero has been betrothed to this Rustiara Fuziaze. I want to celebrate with everyone that after a truly eventful year, we were able to become ‘happy’…!”
“I think that’s more than enough. You became quite the topic of conversation in the Allied Nations during the previous ‘confession.'”
“I want to be talked about even more and more! Now that I have my mother’s and my sister’s blessings, I have to monopolize you completely. So that even someone like Maria can’t easily interfere.”
Her expression was a little serious.
She seemed concerned that someone other than herself might die from my ‘curse.’
“Rustiara, you don’t need to worry about that. Until I die… no, even after I die, you will eternally be my ‘The One and Only Destined Person.’ I will never let go of this hand we hold.”
As I vowed to reassure her, I tightened my grip on her right hand… but simultaneously, our blushing accelerated considerably.
Even as I said it, I felt the cheesiness of my own words hitting me hard.
Looking beside me, Rustiara’s face was redder than ever before.
Her whole body trembled as if she was about to bolt from sheer embarrassment—but unlike our ship journey back then, she accepted my words.
“Yeah, I won’t let go of Kanami either. From now on, I’ll always remain in a corner of Kanami’s heart. And then, I’ll watch with a smirk as Kanami gets lost or suffers.”
“…Yeah. Truly malicious.”
As much as I know it, Rustiara is the epitome of disgusting, a thrill-seeker, scary, and vulgar—a truly worthless person.
“Yeah. I’m malicious and I’m a terrible person. But because Kanami said he likes my bad parts, I feel reassured that it’s okay to be myself…”
But I fell in love with that Rustiara.
Because she smiles when she sees my flaws, she’s always bright, dazzling, and has saved me… I want to confirm it again and again and again.
“Me too. Because you said you liked my flaws, I felt reassured that I don’t have to be perfect…”
We had confirmed it with our ‘confession,’ so there were no discrepancies.
Because we are connected through love, we can feel ‘secure,’ hold hands, look up at the sky, and feel like we can still try to keep going, even under this dreary, overcast sky.
After this confirmation of our love, for the umpteenth time, Rustiara waved the white flag.
“—Alright! Let’s stop our talk here! Because it’s embarrassing, that’s enough! More importantly, more importantly—!”
Though we are both shy, Rustiara is always the one to reach her limit first.
After waving my hands around enthusiastically for a while, I shifted the conversation to my companions.
“Speaking of which, I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Everyone’s starting to move on from me. I want things to go back to normal so I can see Kanami getting dragged around by Maria, Dia, and Snow again!”
“…I don’t think it’ll be as intense as the first time. Thanks to the bonds Rustiara left behind, everyone’s been getting along really well lately.”
“Oh really? Heh heh heh, I stirred things up before I died, you know. Especially Snow.”
Rustiara was weak when it came to her own romantic entanglements, but she was strong-willed when it came to her companions. Understanding her expectations, I pushed back a little, coldly.
“I know what you stirred up, but I don’t think it’s possible.”
“Is that so? Snow’s mother-in-law wants to arrange a marriage with Kanami, so I foresee some trouble. That woman wouldn’t hesitate at bigamy or anything.”
“Reaper said something similar before, but that’s absolutely impossible. I still believe people should be united with their one and only destined person.”
“I think time will sort that out, too. Even if it’s not right now, after a few years, when everyone’s a mature adult… their feelings will have changed.”
“Feelings… changed…?”
“Besides, with what happened with Nosfy too, our sense of ethics is already pretty messed up. What’s the harm in adding another bride or two? It’d just be interesting.”
“Interesting… you say that…!”
It was precisely because she said such things with such conviction that Rustiara was so troublesome. Her love was as broad and unfettered as ever. I felt a pang of frustration knowing that no matter how strongly or deeply I declared my love, she would effortlessly brush it aside.
I’m sorry, Rustiara, but I’ve made a vow. From now on, forever. I will never marry anyone other than Rustiara. It’s not a ‘Contract,’ exactly, but a kind of ‘Rule’ I’ve set for myself.
—The only time I would break this personal rule would be when I die.
Yet, my resolve was in vain, and Rustiara continued to laugh.
“I honestly believe time will resolve things, and I trust everyone! So, one day, we’ll all truly be ‘happy’ together! I promise!”
Human feelings are fluid. Nothing in this world is immutable. That seemed to be one of Rustiara’s values, but it felt like she was saying my ‘narrowing’ wasn’t eternal either, and I disliked it.
However, I knew that if Rustiara were alive, she would undoubtedly say this: No matter how long I continued to look at Rustiara, her second sentence would always be “Everyone together,” and she would avert her gaze.
I understood. And because I understood, certain feelings were stirred within me. Even I knew that they were not pure. They were viscous, heated, and red, as if they were about to ooze out and crawl forth—
“Is Rustiara there?”
A third voice cut into our world for two. I hurried to shift my focus beyond Rustiara.
Before I knew it, a man with short blue hair stood before me, his gaze following the direction I had been looking. It was Seldra, the ‘Thief of Nothingness.’ He smiled, his mouth forming a crescent. My current state must have seemed novel to him, being so easily bored. His worst habits were on full display, but since neither Rustiara nor I were without our own faults, I didn’t complain.
More importantly, his question was critical to me. Was Rustiara here, or not?
“She is. I believe so.”
I answered immediately. Hearing this, Seldra frowned, his expression conveying incomprehension. However, after staring into the empty sky for a few seconds, he sighed with a smile.
“…Ah. If that’s what you believe now, then she must truly be here. I believe it too.”
He didn’t deny it; he strongly affirmed it. However, his reason seemed slightly different from mine. It felt like awe at my overwhelming power, the ability to control even my soul, so I added a bit more.
“No, it’s not that deep. This is just a ‘Curse.’ I’m talking to Rustiara to pay for the ‘narrowing’ as well.”
Furthermore, it was also a test run for my newly acquired ‘Writing’ skill and my returned ‘Parallel Thinking.’ However, my Casual attitude seemed to cause Seldra even greater fear. He scratched the back of his head, trying to make me reconfirm the abnormality of the ‘Curse.’
“Just a ‘Curse,’ you say… Perhaps to you, but… let me tell you, it was quite a sight. You, who only I could see, repeating soliloquies endlessly. I even doubted my own sanity and was frozen for several minutes.”
As I already knew, all of this was a ‘hallucination,’ and to others, it would not appear sane. Even now, within ‘my world,’ Rustiara was speaking to Seldra, “Long time no see. It’s been since you died, hasn’t it?” but it would never reach him unless I relayed it. To prevent the conversation from breaking down, I returned to the reality of sitting alone on a ‘Bench’ at the ‘Eleventh Crossroads’ and spoke with Seldra.
“…Yes, I understand completely. That’s why I’m hiding and talking like this with magic. I make sure not to talk with Rustiara in front of everyone. The last time I did, in front of Rainer, he got really worried.”
“That’s for the best. Even I, who am accustomed to madness, am a bit traumatized by that. A normal person would absolutely not accept it.”
“Besides, speaking of the original topic, how did you find me? Even Snow, who is good at detection, can’t break through my ‘Stealth’ anymore.”
“Hey, don’t compare me to that lazy bum. I’m the man who captured Noi, the first ‘Thief of the Principles of Dimensions’, twice. Originally, scouting and reconnaissance are my strong suits.”
There was no lie in Seldra’s boast.
Now that I have regained all my memories, I can recall events from a thousand years ago as if they were written in a book.
I also know well the original profession Seldra had in the enemy country.
“Of course, if you were serious now, it wouldn’t be that easy. If you use《Dimension》, I’d sense you before I could get close.”
Seldra asked, as if to confirm something. There was no reason to hide it, so I answered honestly.
“I don’t use《Dimension》 all the time anymore. That’s why I couldn’t sense your approach just now… I’ve decided to end this life of constant tension.”
“…Are you really not using it? Not even a little?”
“If I use that, everyone’s privacy would be exposed. Moreover, if I try to avoid privacy within the expanded《Dimension》, it’s incredibly tiring. So I decided it’s better not to use it at all.”
“Privacy? Ah, you mean personal secrets. Indeed, that’s important.”
“That’s why I will no longer ‘see other people’s private lives with magic.'”
I don’t need such a broken magic anymore. By declaring it strongly, I tried to reassure Seldra. However, because the declaration was too strong, Seldra, who is a ‘Thief of Principles’, seemed to feel a peculiar weight. He was cautious, as if he had been told about a new ‘Principle of the World’.
“Don’t worry, that wasn’t a principle, just a personal rule. I’m tired of ‘curses’ and ‘prices’, so I don’t ‘trade’ anymore… Seldra, you can also feel the ‘World’, can’t you?”
Saying that, without looking back, I pointed towards the gaze I felt from behind. Seldra glared at the ‘rift’ that must have been there.
“Only faintly. Indeed, with that declaration just now, no magic power was exchanged. It’s a rule only within you.”
“That’s right… Still, if even Seldra can only feel it faintly, does the intensity of the gaze change according to the ‘World’s’ preference? By the way, my and Rustiara’s stories are so attention-grabbing that ever since that ‘final battle’ ended, we’ve been constantly watched.”
“You’re being watched? So that you don’t bring Rustiara back to life?”
“There’s no hostility like that at all. They’re just enjoying the continuation of Rustiara’s story with us… That’s why it’s troublesome.”
We were favored by the ‘World’. What’s important here is probably that Rustiara is favored more than I am. Right now, the ‘World’ is watching ‘Rustiara, the Protagonist’, not ‘Aikawa Uzunami’. I can actually sympathize with that taste. Because the story flows so well, I’m in quite a predicament. Seldra seemed to read my complicated emotions from my wry smile. He continued with his objective of confirmation.
“Enjoying it, huh… Is that also Kanami’s goal from now on?”
“Yes. From now on, I’ll go on ‘Adventures’ like a normal person. Like a ‘Protagonist’ for Rustiara.”
Once the Allied Nations are restored, the focus will likely shift to ‘Adventures’ to save the World. While resolving Hidaki’s and Tiara’s debts is important, if the World that forms their foundation is destroyed, it would be all for naught. For that reason, I will have to conquer the ‘Labyrinth’ that I created myself. Honestly, my motivation isn’t high. There’s the feeling of a sham because I’m the author of the ‘Labyrinth’, or it’s too unchallenging because my level is maxed out. Even before that, the ‘Deepest Part’ that is the clear reward lacks appeal.
As the mastermind of the ‘Labyrinth’, I know what lies within. With an unlimited source of magic power, if I add faucets like ‘Magic Stones’ and ‘Spell Formations’, any wish can be granted. — Except for my true wish. Currently, I am in a state of being like a magic lamp that only I cannot use, and despite being urged repeatedly by Apostle Diplakla, my free time is being spent on dates.
“…”
Seldra continued to watch me intently. His gaze was similar to the ‘World’s’. He seemed to be expecting something from me. In Seldra’s case, it’s probably an expectation stemming from being a ‘Thief of Principles’. Combining my memories from a thousand years ago with my actions a thousand years later, a faint answer emerges. His superior, Titty, had also said so. Sensing what Seldra wanted to confirm most today, I apologized.
“I’m sorry, Seldra. The trip to ‘Another World’ will have to wait a little longer. Considering the safety of the trip, I want to practice my magic.”
“…Huh? A trip to ‘Another World’?”
“Huh? Seldra wants to go to the ‘Another World’… to the world where you and Hiyotaki were born? Using Hiyotaki’s magic, ‘Replace Connection’?”
During the ‘Final Battle,’ Hiyotaki attempted to escape to the ‘Original World’ using the magic ‘Replace Connection.’ I can learn that magic from Hiyotaki’s magic stone.
Of course, its ‘Spell Formation’ is complex, designed for my sister, so it won’t be easy to imitate. It’s a magic that even surpasses the highest tier. That’s why we talked about wanting to experiment beforehand, considering the risks of failure and side effects… It seems Seldra didn’t have that in mind, and his answer was hesitant.
“Ah, ah… That’s right. That magic was my reward, which is why I temporarily followed Hiyotaki. That is undeniable.”
Feeling curious, I seek confirmation. Of course, it’s not through the ‘Reading’ skill or the ‘Threads’ magic, but through direct conversation.
“Titty mentioned it before. Seldra gets bored easily, and seems to be smiling all the time, but not genuinely smiling… You want to escape because ‘your world’ is boring, right? You’ve been thinking for a thousand years about finding fun things there and experiencing ordinary ‘happiness’.”
“………!”
The ‘Thieves of Principles’ we had fought until then all harbored a small wish at the end of their grand ambitions. Following that empirical rule, I tried to point out my own observations, but it seems I struck a surprisingly deep chord. Seldra was extremely flustered and couldn’t find words of denial.
I decided that my assessment wasn’t far off, and made a promise.
“I’ll definitely repay you. Thanks to you, Seldra, I was helped in many ways.”
“Helped? What are you talking about? I was lured by the reward of Hiyotaki’s ‘Replace Connection’ and helped kill the person you love?” Seldra shook his head, looking disbelieving.
At this point, many of my doubts were resolved. It seemed he was wary of me taking revenge on Rustiara. Reconfirming the importance of repeated dialogue, I thanked him again.
“As an older brother, I’m grateful you sided with my sister. Rustiara, who wanted to save Hiyotaki, feels the same. We are truly grateful to you, Seldra, for standing by the lonely Hiyotaki, even if it meant becoming our enemy.”
Therefore, it’s impossible for us to resent Seldra. He finally seemed to understand as I solemnly conveyed this. Seldra sighed in relief and replied.
“…It’s a relief to hear you say that. It’s eased my mind, just a little.” He still looked somewhat unconvinced.
Perhaps he couldn’t forgive himself, even if others did. Rather, he seemed ashamed of being forgiven.
—This is probably the core of Seldra, the ‘Thief of Nothingness.’
He fundamentally dislikes himself. That’s why, no matter how bright and kind the places he walks through, his own world remains dim, stagnant, and somber, never changing.
I felt like I understood that feeling. To strive and strive, to battle and battle, only for the end to be met with a sense of emptiness is a painful thing.
So, in his stead, I praised him with all my might.
“Seldra, you are truly commendable… You always tried to be an equal ally to everyone. You persistently tried to be a good person in any situation. Even if it didn’t lead to your own enjoyment, you continued to strive for the sake of the world and its people. I can confidently say that the results of your efforts have led to the development of the Allied Nations.”
Seldra worked hard and fought, helping those around him in his own way. Despite possessing unfair ‘Innate Differences,’ he continued to try and ‘adapt’ to human society.
“Yet, ‘Seldra’s world’ never changed. That must be painful. Truly painful.”
The more he tried, the more the people around him gradually became ‘happy.’ However, Seldra himself gained nothing and was never satisfied. His life was far from enjoyable.
When I empathized with that emptiness, Seldra looked surprised, his expression like that of someone saved from hell. As a fellow sufferer of his long-standing worries appeared, he almost smiled genuinely.
However, Seldra quickly shook his head. In a very quiet voice, he called out the name of a companion, as a self-admonishment.
“‘Fafnir’…”
I wasn’t using any skills or magic. However, it looked like Seldra now remembered the boy who once tried to save all ‘Demons,’ including Dragon People, and regretted it.
It seems that simply talking won’t resolve his ‘Lingering Desire.’ Especially for a ‘Thief of Nothingness,’ who is complex and unique. The cause might be that, unlike everyone else a thousand years ago, he could freely travel between the North and South. The ‘Threads’ were tied everywhere, connecting and tangling, making them impossible to unravel easily.
I have already overcome the most difficult hundred-floor ‘Ordeal.’ Even so, I cannot be careless about this eighty-floor ‘Ordeal.’ I prepared to use my skills and magic not automatically, but voluntarily. I had that much leeway thanks to the ‘Constriction.’
Apologies. I will be taking next week off from posting.
