125 – 54. Finale
Gazing at the azure sky, Kaien let out a sigh of admiration before speaking abruptly.
“I heard the news. You succeeded in killing Mashin.”
“Yes, Captain.”
With a slight upward curl of his lips, Ian lowered his head as if embarrassed.
Kaien seemed to find Ian’s modesty amusing as he chuckled softly.
“You’ve grown a lot. Just a few months ago, you were just a recruit, but now you’ve taken down Mashin and become a hero of the Empire. Living long enough to witness all kinds of things, indeed.”
“It would have been impossible without your help, Captain.”
“What did I do… I couldn’t even kill him, so don’t give me too much credit.”
“No, really, your help was significant.”
“Alright, alright. Enough of that.”
Kaien downplayed his own accomplishments, but without his assistance, defeating Satan would have been an unimaginable feat. Perhaps Ian would have tasted the bitterness of defeat before reaching Phase 3. Maybe either Ian or Celianna would have lost their lives without countering Satan’s vast sorcery. Excluding Satan’s extensive magic was crucial in their strategy, a challenging and vital task. It was only natural for Ian to express his gratitude towards Kaien for taking care of it.
“I truly appreciate it. Without you, Captain, it would have been impossible.”
“Enough with the flattery. That’s in the past. You’re graduating now.”
“…Yes.”
“You’re not someone the Headmaster would easily let go… but approving an early graduation. It must be because of what you’ve done.”
While relieved to hear of his cherished disciple’s graduation, a bittersweet feeling lingered in Kaien’s mouth. As the one entrusted with leading the platoon, he felt a strong desire to guide the most important third-year students, Ian and Celianna. However, Kaien decided to fold his hand. Hadn’t Ian always been someone who acted with purpose, even if his actions seemed somewhat incomprehensible? Choosing to leave for Ark must have been driven by a newfound goal. Sending off a cherished disciple was heart-wrenching, but wishing them well for the future was perhaps part of his duty as a Captain.
“Care for a smoke?”
“No problem.”
“When I brought you to our platoon, many others opposed it.”
“…Yes.”
Nurturing a well-bred noble and placing them in a good position could lead to a smooth life. However, Kaien didn’t view such devious acts favorably. He believed that the opportunity for learning should be open to all. Even if someone had committed a grave mistake, he thought that their right to education should not be stripped away. If no one took responsibility for the child and abandoned them to a cruel world… he had thought of bringing them into his embrace willingly. That was the attitude an adult should have.
“It’s tough, isn’t it? Why would a precarious aristocrat like you do such nonsensical things… I’ve heard enough of that talk. Can I be honest? There were times when it was difficult. I even had doubts about my decision.”
There were moments when he questioned whether he was doing the right thing, but those thoughts didn’t linger. Kaien made up his mind once again.
He looked at Ian and thought, “It won’t work.” He would turn the ridicule from those who pointed fingers into cheers for him.
He resolved to do so. And that’s why he believed in Ian.
It was a moment where one could wager their life, and Kaien’s decision soon returned as a move of God.
“Waking up and seeing the faces of the other instructors, that’s when I felt the taste of life….”
Ian, who saved the empire, was the one they had ignored and underestimated just a few months ago.
In an unbelievable reality, their expressions became so subtle that it was hard to tell if they were happy or sad.
Overcoming the aftereffects, Kaien could finally burst into laughter nonchalantly.
“You’ve been through a lot, and I appreciate it. It must have been tough, and enduring it well. Saving my life as well.”
Finishing his words, after patting Ian’s shoulders twice, he exhaled a bitter smoke and let out the words he had kept in his heart.
“Still, before quitting, I made sure to produce one decent guy and keep the promise I made to the Emperor.”
“You’re quitting….”
“Didn’t you know? I decided to step down from the instructor position by next year. I’ve done a lot, so it’s time to stop.”
Stepping down from the instructor position? What on earth was he talking about?
The platoon leader couldn’t fathom what he was saying at all.
“Wasn’t it a position appointed by the Emperor? But why…. Surely.”
“Nothing’s been taken away, so don’t have strange thoughts. It’s just that it’s time to take a break and quit. Satan…. I felt a lot while fighting him. It’s time to stop now.”
Was he feeling the limits of his body? While Ian accepted Kaien’s words like that, his intentions were completely different.
“Until now, I fought without any thoughts. I didn’t have a reason to live anyway, and before dying, I thought that passing on the experiences I had to the young ones in vivid colors was all I could do.”
Fighting with him, he had many thoughts after falling.
Is that really all there is? Is a life without purpose for oneself, teaching children and finishing life the fate given to oneself?
He pondered deeply. After a considerable amount of time passed, Kaien could come to a certain conclusion.
“While recovering in the hospital, I thought. Fulfilling the dreams of the miserable deceased who believed in a fool like me…. Isn’t that right?”
He intended to fulfill the wishes deeply held in their hearts.
Traveling as much as he wanted on behalf of the one who wanted to, carrying his picture and wandering in picturesque places.
Providing warm beds for parentless children and supporting those who seek education… those kinds of wishes.
“Isn’t that all I can do for those who left first?”
“…”
“Phew. It’s time to get up now. The counseling is over. Live well outside and contact me occasionally. Or come visit me in person when you have time.”
Like flicking off a cigarette butt, Kaien brushed his hand over his clothes, then extended his right hand.
“Thank you for everything. Ian Volkanoth. Congratulations on graduating.”
Ian, holding his hand, smiled broadly.
“Thank you. Platoon Leader.”
***
Ria and Ark.
The problems that had been troubling Ian for the past few days had all been resolved by now.
Of course, that doesn’t mean there are no more remaining issues.
Starting with Celia, who still hasn’t regained consciousness and is lying in the hospital bed, to Hailey who refuses treatment and is holed up in the corner. Furthermore, there will be a need to meet Bianca and Reina.
However, what was currently bothering Ian was something else altogether.
“Where on earth is Ariel and what is she doing? Could she have gotten herself imprisoned or something?”
His younger sister, whose whereabouts had become mysterious. That was the biggest issue at the moment.
As the hero who saved the continent from the brink of destruction, he wouldn’t likely find himself in a dire situation wherever he went. But if she doesn’t show herself like this, as her older brother, he can’t help but worry, can he?
“Eri must have told Ari everything to the Emperor. About the mistakes she had made and the treatment I had received because of them all these years.”
After that, if she had hidden herself, it would be appropriate to inquire about her whereabouts at the palace first.
Ian tried to contact Eri to find her, but in the end, he didn’t ask Eri about Ariel’s whereabouts.
The reason was… simple.
“Where on earth had she gone and what had she been doing?”
“Th-that. I’m not sure where to start with this….”
Just as Ian was about to contact her, Ariel appeared at his doorstep.
Seating her on a chair, Ian began questioning her like an investigator, and the tense Ariel started confessing what had happened during that time.
“Did you really go to prison? What was the reason…?”
“At that time, I mean, when I shot the goblins hiding in the caves and accidentally swept up civilians nearby. Because of that incident, I was briefly imprisoned and then released.”
“Then, wouldn’t it be right to inform the family? Why didn’t you send word?”
“If the punishment had been severe, I would have definitely contacted them… But since there were no victims, and I was granted leniency for acknowledging that I had no choice but to deal with the goblins, I was only there for about 3 days…”
“Since it wasn’t a long time. If news got out that I was imprisoned while unconscious, the family might have been in turmoil, so I kept it hidden.”
“Uh…”
Ariel responded cautiously, bowing her head deeply as if ashamed.
It wouldn’t take long anyway. Rather than causing a commotion by contacting the family for no reason, she had planned to quietly wait and then come out.
Although he wanted to raise his voice and ask if that made any sense, now that he realized it was not done with ill intent, he couldn’t say anything more.
After letting out a held breath, Ian gazed at her again.
“Phew. Alright, let’s say you were imprisoned for 3 days. And then? What have you been doing all this time until now?”
“T-that.”
“Don’t beat around the bush, just tell me.”
“I, I took the entrance exam for the palace knights. Really.”
“Knights? Why suddenly the palace knights?”
“Since my brother will inherit the family… and now that Masin is gone, the benefits as a hero have ended. Of course, I did receive a considerable amount of money, but it’s not enough to live a lavish life forever.”
Although she had been promised lavish rewards enough for three generations, she had handed over all the merits to Ian. Naturally, the rewards coming her way would diminish.
“There was an exam for those interested in the palace knights among the 1st and 2nd-year students at Arc, so I took it on my way back… It’s just for extra points since it’s a preliminary exam, but it would be good to get extra points to prepare for the exam after graduating from Arc.”
If she attached herself to the family with Ian’s help, she could enjoy a lavish life without a care. But now was the moment she felt she had to stand on her own.
And she had chosen to start that independence with the palace knights.
“I’ve only caused trouble for my brother so far. Even if I can’t help, I want to live well on my own without reaching out for help.”
“…”
Silently nodding in response to her earnest answer, Ian gazed into her eyes.
***
Ariel’s application to the palace knights was decided to be passed over without any fuss.
Of course, it was somewhat difficult to understand her decision to take on a significant matter concerning her future without even consulting anyone.
But it wasn’t something bad, and if she said she would find her own way, there was nothing one could say, right?
‘It’s much better than living idly at home complaining. Besides, Ariel’s destiny was always like this.’
In the ending of Heroic Academia, Ariel graduates from Arc and passes the final exam to be accepted into the palace knights, embracing happiness with heroines.
Of course, there wouldn’t be friends applying to the palace knights with her as back then. Still, it was inevitable for her to find her rightful place.
‘The palace knights pay well. And it’s a position that receives better treatment than most nobles. If she lives by her own abilities, there’s no better place that suits her.’
Now that she knew the truth about her inner feelings, it was better to wait from a distance rather than interrogate, “Why did you make that choice?”
“It seems like fate is truly at work… just as Eris predicted.”
Of course, the Heroic Academia was nothing but a parallel world she created to draw herself in.
Ariel’s destiny seemed to be unfolding just as she had seen back then.
Since the ending credits stated that she lived happily ever after, there was no need to worry about her future anymore.
“If the flow of this world and the Heroic Academia’s future are similar, I was foolishly dragged in, endlessly regressed, almost becoming a desperate protagonist searching for happiness at the end.”
Living a difficult past life and then possessing a life where hell unfolded. Even now, it was bewildering how it all happened.
“Still… I’ve let go of the bad memories. The void has been filled nicely, so I’m fortunate.”
Ian, who had been catching his breath, remembered the moment he faced Lucifer after delivering the final blow containing all memories.
Given the sweet offer to grant any wish, Ian’s wish was simple.
“I… as in my previous life as Lee Hyun-woo, I wanted to live that life again. Not struggling for money as before… just living a normal life.”
Living the life he had always dreamed of.
Eris, smiling, remarked that she had expected as much.
“Indeed. Humans are beings of unpredictable nature. Understood. I will make sure that wish comes true. Furthermore, I will restore the important memories that were consumed.”
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As her words ended, Ian slowly closed his eyes.
He could now experience the ordinary life he had longed for.
No need to take the bus for fear of wasting money, no need to engage in hard labor at a young age to earn money. During vacations or free time, occasional family trips…
Such a happy life.
Even now, when he closed his eyes, memories of those times brightly resurfaced.
The memory of young Lee Hyun-woo, hastily writing his overdue diary the day before the end of vacation, then tossing it on the desk and stretching out on the bed.
The last entry he wrote in his diary came into Ian’s view.
[“Today, I watched a movie. There was a time machine in it, and when I asked Mom, she said you could go to the future. If I ride it, could I meet my future self? If I do meet, I want to ask if my future self is living happily.”]
“Are you happy?” Ian’s response to that question was simple.
“Yes. I am living happily now and will continue to do so.”
With a sincere smile, Ian let out these words.