270 – Back to the North Pole Citadel
When the story ended, the giant thorn that connected heaven and earth had disappeared. All that remains is a small thorn in my hand.
Prince Amin was no longer seen. It has not disappeared. It’s not like my mind was scattered and split across the universe again. Now he no longer has any obligations.
Out of the state of becoming one with the laws of the universe, he let go of the powers he could not control anyway, and left this world as something other than an ancient god or a human. From the moment I took over the last regrets he had, he had no regrets of any kind in this world.
While he was suffering from the heavy burden he was carrying and the pain he inflicted on himself, and while he was momentarily becoming one with the laws of the universe itself, he seemed much different from what I remembered from his human days. It cannot be said to be a corruption, but if we look only at the status of existence itself, it would be more accurate to say that it has been sublimated.
[You did it! Really caught that thing. But who is that guy from earlier? It appears to be a spirit created by the coming together of overwhelming natural forces. What did you talk to that led to it handing over this item to you and leaving?]
From a human being who was originally an incomplete being without even one of his physical and spiritual beings, he has become a being capable of self-reliance with only his mind. So I should congratulate him. He endured the fate he imposed on himself and left this world as a greater being. He succeeded in breaking free from the bonds that bound him.
[What did you talk about? What I’m saying is, don’t be so frustrating and try to talk quickly.]
Why do I feel so heavy though? The worries didn’t last long. I was soon able to find out the reason. Because in a sense, he was like my senior.
Wasn’t it also planned for me to abandon my body, become a greater being, and ascend to heaven? Will there come a day when I no longer have regrets about this world like that?
That day wasn’t even that far away. I wasn’t conscious of it until now, but eventually I will end up like that too. The exact aspects are different, and there may be differences in the detailed process, but there is no difference in the fact that a human becomes something beyond human and leaves the world.
The body of a person is like a vessel containing a spirit. When the shape of the vessel changes, the spirit is also transformed. Because the change occurs as naturally as water, by the time you notice it, it is already too late. The change will already have occurred and there is no way to reverse it.
-We will wait for the day when you stand next to us.
I remember one word that the Angel of Light left me a long time ago when he gave me a revelation. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but looking back, he wasn’t the only one who said those words.
From Noble mtl dot com
Other angels also left words with similar meaning, and even the blue bird did the same. If it is my destiny to ascend to the sky and stand in the same place as them, will a change like Amin happen to me? Will I also be able to complement the human mind and have the heart of an angel?
If my body is already slowly changing into that of an apostle,
Will my heart become like that someday?
The answer was already decided, so I couldn’t help but move on.
‘That’s not necessarily the only answer.’
The dragon, Ajahadaka, noticed something strange and kept his mouth shut.
Although she pretended not to notice, Oberta glanced at me as if she felt an unusual energy.
I saw Yanid watching me with a serious expression, and Roca rushing towards me.
Especially Roca.
Especially the child with whom I have built the most bond.
The people of Pumpkin Vine Village were simple and good-natured people.
These are the people we encountered while adventuring with the warrior party.
Neighbors I met in Larpentia, a small city in the empire.
An encounter with a vampire that had many twists and turns.
And the relationship created between the island and the distant Citadel.
If my future is to someday cut off all ties, ascend to heaven, and throw off humanity, that is not necessarily the only answer.
Accepting ascension. Refusing to ascend to heaven and remaining on earth. You don’t necessarily have to choose just one of the two.
“I’m sorry. I was reflecting on what I had heard for a moment. He is…”
More than anything, now is not the time for me to indulge in personal sentiments. I opened my mouth, glancing at the spot where the thorn had been stuck, the hole where I couldn’t even see how deep the end was.
The thorn that was freezing the ancient body has been pulled out and held in my hand, and there is nothing that can bind it anymore. The source of the cold has disappeared, but the cold that has been released so far is still effective, so it will not be released from the cooling right now and the metabolism will return to normal.
However, since the thorn has been pulled out, the thaw will slowly begin to proceed, and the movement of the ancient body will gradually return to normal. One way or another, from the moment we pulled out the thorn, we had only two options. See the end, or see the end in a different sense.
“…That’s how it happened. It seemed like there was nothing left to regret in this world, so he left me with only those words and left for the sea of stars. We don’t know where the core of the primordial body he spoke of is, but only one person knows. North Pole Citadel. “There is probably a primordial core deep underground there.”
Pick up the thorn and drive it into the core.
It’s easier said than done, but I don’t think it’s that easy to do.
But if you don’t do it, it’s really over. Us and everyone else too.
Everyone here is a special person, but the decisions we must make from now on are even more special. Just because we are here, we are empowered to make decisions that will determine the end of this era.
-I think that’s nonsense.
[But, has there been any story that makes sense so far?]
The lives of everyone living in this world are placed on our shoulders. Whether the hope passed down by someone from the past can really become a star and brighten everyone, or whether it will become a mere empty flame and disappear depends on this very moment.
“Let me ask you just one thing. Would you like to come with me to the North Pole Citadel?”
[I have to go.]
-What other options are there?
“Of course I will follow you.”
“I’ll go.”
Even though they could have given up or abstained, all four were willing to stand up. Even if I succeed or fail, this will be the last time. If you succeed, you won’t have to think about anything else, and if you fail, you won’t have to think about it either.
-Can you believe what that guy named Amin says? If you stick a thorn in the nucleus, is there any guarantee that it will stop?
[You have to try to know that. I don’t know if it will stop if I succeed, but it will never stop if I don’t do it. If there is another solution other than this, please suggest it.]
If even this fails, there is only one alternative left.
Miracle, the night when the Milky Way blooms. A blade of condemnation falling from the sky. The first time he used it, he couldn’t even defeat the Demon King, but the second time he used it, he destroyed the Monster King.
I don’t know how powerful the third and final one will be, but this is the best and final hand I can mobilize. After that you really don’t have to think about it. Because by the time I use it, I will no longer be able to maintain my current state.
[Then everyone, get on my back. Whether it succeeds or fails, let’s get it over with quickly. Let me be clear, if I don’t succeed, I will run away immediately. Neither the Primordial nor the Harvesters can reach the sea of stars. When I take a deep breath and come back, this cycle will have ended.]
“Thank you for helping us this far, Ajahadaka.”
[Hmph. I just repay the kindness that gave me fruit. As a dragon, I am indebted to the ground race and cannot deprive them of their reward. Don’t talk nonsense, get on board.]
Normally, I would have refused out of courtesy, but this time the situation was urgent. We climbed on the dragon’s back with our thanks, and after a while the dragon took off. We spread our wings and began to reverse the path we had already taken. Buzzing. Only the sound of the wind passed by my ears.
*****
…Is there an owner?
The owner has left.
Where did he go?
It doesn’t matter.
This monster, made up of only eyeballs and a tail, did not have a brain that could think of such complex things. I don’t think about ‘why’, ‘for what’, or ‘why’ the owner is not here.
When he is not here, he only lives with the concept of protecting this place on his behalf. Although it is called a monster, this monster is special. Unlike other monsters that are independent life forms, have an ego, and have a clear self-will, Bemore had nothing like that.
It is something made closer to a weapon than a monster.
This monster weapon only moves according to the commands entered by its owner.
Bright.
The large eyelids open, revealing eyes that could swallow a castle whole. The long tail that stretched under the ground was still drawing energy.
Bemoa’s eyes looked at a point in the sky. His pupils quietly contracted and he glared at that place. It does not distinguish whether it is a guest, a passing traveler, or an enemy.
No, I can’t tell the difference. As I said, this monster has no brain. All you have to do is shoot them all down and that’s it.
The sentinel of the North Star stretched out his legs and rose.