160. Start (2)
160. Start (2)
“… It’s gone.”
“I guess the time is up… “
Luna and Hare watched over the old man from beginning to end.
They hid behind a tree and held their breath.
Luna expressed regret in a small voice.
“That older sister, but she seemed to like the old man very much… “
“… That’s right.”
Hare looked around and saw the man who was left alone.
‘What are you thinking about? ‘
I stood still for a long time, not even showing any movement.
He just stared at the empty space where Aina became transparent.
Hare wanted to run to that old man right now and hug her in her arms.
“… Uncle is pitiful No matter how much I think about it, I hate her.”
“I neither hate nor like it… I feel sorry for her.”
I finally conveyed my feelings.
You had to go far away.
‘How would I feel if I were a child or an older sister… ‘
Luna thought that just imagining her would bring her to tears.
And then, even after a long time, the old man didn’t move.
Luna and Hare looked at each other and nodded.
‘… Shall we go now?’
‘Yes! Let’s go!’
A silent signal.
The two came out from behind the tree and approached Lee Jun-woo.
Even when they got close, Lee Jun-woo didn’t notice them, perhaps because of the shock.
Luna carefully grabbed his sleeve to make her recognize herself.
“Mr. ? Are you okay… ?”
“… Luna, it’s you. Why are you here?”
“I was worried about you, so I followed you… “
“… I see.”
Lee Jun-woo closed his eyes for about 10 seconds and then opened them again.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he said as he moved his steps.
“It is late. Let’s go home and have dinner.”
“… Yes.”
A man who acts as if nothing happened.
He took empty steps, as if he were floating 1cm in the air.
Seeing that scene, Luna and Hare felt something frightening and unfamiliar.
***
After the uncle returned home.
The man acted normally as usual, as if something had happened.
He cooked rice, said not to be picky, and cleaned the tableware.
It was a very bizarre scene that seemed to have forgotten Aina in an instant.
“… I am anxious.”
“You two? I’m very anxious too! Uncle is strange!”
A party of warriors gathered in Luna’s room after the meal.
Unsure of the situation, Saten raised her hand and asked.
“Certainly, it is strange. He became eyes similar to mine.”
“Oh, that’s right! Come to think of it, they resemble Saten’s eyes!”
“Are you talking about color?”
“That’s not it, their eyes look alike!”
Luna pointed her finger at Saten’s eyes.
Looking closely at her eyes, Hare nodded her head.
“… That’s right, now the old man resembles Saten’s eyes. Those are empty eyes.”
“You mean I’m empty? I can’t get over that sound.”
Saten, impatient, jumped up from her chair, furrowing her eyebrows.
Saten smelled strongly of her fight.
Luna panicked and decided to correct Hare’s words.
“It’s not that my heart is empty! It means your eyes are empty! Don’t get me wrong, Saten!”
“… I was angry because I thought it sounded like my brain was empty.”
“Yes, yes? I didn’t know, hehehe.”
“… “
Saten was uncomfortable, but she calmed down when she saw Luna’s smile.
In the past, he would have spit on her smile, but now Saten tried to control her emotions as much as possible.
It was thanks to the uncle’s teachings.
“So, is it bad that your eyes look like mine? I like being the same as you.”
“That’s the problem! You mean that the old man changed like Saten overnight!”
People die if they change all at once!
Estiya agreed to Luna’s cry.
“Yes, people should always be the same! Without the saint’s miracle, it’s hard to change all at once! So, you are saying that my brother is in danger!”
“How specifically is it dangerous?”
“… You are well aware of that, Saten.”
Sug-
Hare raised her head and met Saten’s eyes.
‘Empty eyes just like yours… ‘
The only thing that resembles you is that one eye.
Still, that fool’s words might help you think.
Hare was jealous of Saten, who had eyes similar to that of his uncle, and she asked.
“… What would you do if your loved one disappeared right in front of her eyes? I will kill the enemy who made it disappear and die together.”
“Hmm, I’m not curious about your opinion. I’ll give you the answer. If it were me, I would have no idea at first, but I would realize later.”
“… What?”
“When I am alone. Oh, I really think my lover is gone, so I’m going to end her life. Of course, I’ve never had a lover.”
“… “
Hearing Saten speak proudly of her, Hare thought about her for a moment.
‘If… ‘
What would happen if Saten’s thoughts and the uncle’s thoughts were similar?
‘… Could it be that the old man will leave us behind?’
No way.
I don’t think so.
You can’t believe us…
‘I’ll take care of you until you can defeat the demon lord.’
At that moment, the uncle’s words passed through Hare’s head.
Feeling an ominous feeling, Hare hurriedly opened the door and ran out.
Luna, startled, shouted loudly.
“What are you doing, Hare?!”
“Your old man told me before… !! I promise to be your guardian until then… !”
“What?”
She didn’t talk about it after that.
The uncle who lost his teacher has lost the driving force to live according to Saten’s words.
So, it wouldn’t be strange if he took his own life.
“Ah, mister… !! He might leave us behind… !!”
Hare ran towards the uncle’s room, leading her lost balance.
Imagination comes to mind as bad thoughts pass by.
The moment I opened the door to the room where Mr.
“… Mister.”
Hare’s imagination had become a reality.
“… Couldn’t have gone far Find your uncle.”
Leaving behind a book on the bed, Hare left the house and followed the uncle’s trail.
***
A square wheel cannot roll if the slope is low, and it loses power and stops in place.
In order for a wheel to roll, it must maintain its original shape.
That’s the basic principle of wagons that anyone who has seen it at least once knows.
However, the wheels of my carriage seemed to be square.
“… I’m back, Aina.”
A magnificent view of the scattered city of Aina.
If you look far away, the scenery of a pretty city spreads out.
If you turn your gaze downward, a high cliff appears below it.
Even though the way to die is different, the result of dying is the same.
“I’m sorry about the warrior party… I didn’t make a promise, so are you okay, kid?”
The moment I lost you.
I lost my reason to live.
The warrior party can now walk on its own.
Now I want to rest comfortably.
“It would be more hell if I survived alone, so please understand.”
I looked down the cliff.
Even if you can see the end, it will be difficult to maintain your life if you fall naked.
“In case you don’t know… “
Should I be certain about the last thing?
I used non-attribute magic to float a thin thorn into the air.
It was meant to stab me as I fell.
So I stood at the edge of a cliff where the cold wind blew.
[You don’t like it, Junwoo? The warrior party you raised will be waiting for you at home.]
[1. It bothers me.]
[2. I don’t like it.]
“… I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it. I’m sorry I recorded my death, Minerva.”
[If I stop you, don’t you intend to quit?]
[1. There is.]
[2. Does not exist.]
“No.”
I answered firmly.
This resolution was made over a period of more than 10 years, and it is safe to say that I have lived to achieve this resolution.
In the first place, my purpose was revenge against the Demon King of Jealousy.
“Still, when Aina returned, her thoughts diverted. In the end, it turns out like this.”
“… I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, Junwoo.”
Took-
Minerva put her trembling hands on my back.
I didn’t expect this.
“Is it okay if I go outside? It would be dangerous.”
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“It’s okay, Grimoire wasn’t in the future. And… “
You are my apostle.
With a whimper behind her, Minerva opened her mouth.
“So, I’ll let you go, huh… If you make up your mind and run alone, it’s so sad… “
“… Thanks, Minerva. And I’m sorry. To leave you alone.”
“It’s okay… Because there is a meow… If the warrior party defeats the demon king, people will remember me… “
Minerva must have seen the future.
You know very well that this is the only way for me to be happy.
That’s why Minerva came all this way to support me.
Because I know Minerva like that, I quietly closed my eyes.
“Thanks for letting me go, Minerva.”
“Yes… OK… Uhh… “
Minerva pushed my back with weak force.
It was fine though.
I had the will to go forward, and the wind was helping me.
‘Is this the end… ‘
That’s how I was finally able to achieve what I wanted.
The moment the thin needle pierced my heart and fell passed my eyes.
And then, the figure of the warriors party naturally came to mind.
‘I heard that you can see a kaleidoscope the moment you die… ‘
Why does the image of a warriors party come to mind right now?
Even if I try to get rid of lingering feelings as much as possible, I can’t help but have some left over.
Hero Luna.
Hare the thief.
Wizard Saten.
Saint Estiya.
I put a book on the bed, so if you look at it, you’ll be able to deal with the remaining Demon Lords well even if the road is blocked.
It is safe to say that the last demon king was dealt with without my help, and Minerva sent me away without catching me.
The party of warriors will somehow catch the devil and save the world.
‘However, those children will be sad for a while when they see me dead… ‘
I’m a selfish guy who would die even knowing that.
Took-
A small sound rang in my ears and I felt a slight pain in my back.
The moment the needle pierced my heart, my eyes closed and I couldn’t hear the sound of the wind.
If all these eyes close, I will die.
“… I’m sorry, kids. I couldn’t have been stronger.”
The moment I got closer to death as I spat out those words mixed with regret.
From the top of that cliff, there were enough screams and voices to be heard from here.
-Row… hundred… !! Do… blanket… ! … Dragon… !!
I couldn’t quite hear what the screams were saying.
I think I heard what the voice was saying to me.
But that’s a story in a realm I can’t understand.
That’s how I met my second death.