Chapter 118

Who am I…?


And where is this place…?

I don’t know. I can’t remember anything.


I just want to bury my head here and sleep deeply.

Wait, bury my head? Bury… bury… explode? What did I just say? What does “explode” even mean?

I’m sure I knew it, I’m sure I understood it, but I can’t remember. I can’t remember anything.

-“A spirit dwelling in a body where life has ceased will naturally be like this.”

…Who are you? Sneaking into me, standing there without me even noticing when you arrived—who are you?

-“The heart is like a fetus in its mother’s womb. It cannot exist independently without the body. Just as it takes ten months to emerge from the womb, it needs sufficient growth to do so.”

Heron? Wait, Heron, is that you? But who was Heron again?

Your voice is as beautiful as a nightingale’s. But what’s a nightingale?

-“He called that realm ‘First Tier.’ Truly an extraordinary human.”

Was that so? Did that really happen?

I don’t know. I can’t remember anything. All I recall is terrible heat, blinding light, and a flash of the Light of the Sunset. Yes, the sunset. For some reason, that word sticks in my memory.

…That’s all. What was I doing? Who am I?

-“Think slowly. Who are you?”

No, more importantly, who are you?

-“I’m the one who caught you before Death could take you away.”

I heard laughter. It felt like they were treating me like a baby, and it annoyed me.

A person? Are you really a person?

-“I used ‘my’ feather as a storage device to temporarily hold your spirit.”

A feather? Hmm… what was that again?

Something I don’t have. And the color… was it blue?


I think I saw black feathers too… no, maybe gray. It’s confusing. What was the real color of a feather?

-“Sometimes, the truth isn’t singular. Every color you can imagine can be the color of a feather.”

Liar.

-“But if you’re asking about the color of my feather, blue is the correct answer. Should I praise you?”

Praise? Praise…?

Hmm… I think I used to like that.

But no. Because the praise I want to hear…


At the very least, it’s not from you. I know you’re not my enemy, but still, no.

-“I see. I just wanted to spoil you.”

Why… did I forget? The person who always cheered me on and praised me.

-“Do you have a better idea of who you are now?”

My name is Roka. The last survivor of the Blue Wolf Clan, probably.


But now, the past doesn’t matter. I’ve already decided to entrust everything to my Master.

I need to see Master again. Can you help me?

-“Of course. It’s not difficult.”

Really?

-“Your body has already fully recovered, and it’s even advancing beyond that. Your mind is just taking time to adapt to your grown body. Just open your eyes. Then, he’ll be right in front of you.”

Open my eyes…


So Master will be right in front of me?

-“Yes. Child. Enjoy the moment.”

What are you talking about?

-“To you, I might become a cruel sky. He will eventually return to my side.”

What?

-“Child. Candles are lit because there is darkness. In a world without darkness, there’s no reason for candles. He only reaches out to the darkest places.”

A person.


A very beautiful person, wearing blue feathered robes, smiles at me. They’re getting farther away. Fading.

But inversely, my mind is becoming clearer. Memories are returning. Forgotten things are resurfacing, and my thoughts are awakening.

-“Now, wake up. But don’t lose your strength. No matter how desperately you try to protect your ‘Master,’ his ascension to the heavens is an unchangeable fate. Stronger than destiny…”

Don’t make me laugh. Master is mine. And I am Master’s alone.


Even if it’s the god Master serves, they can’t just take him away. Absolutely not.

-“Oh, is that so?”

Are you mocking me? Are you mocking me right now?

-“The reason you have hope, the reason not all hope is tinged with despair, is because he stands on your side.”

…What are you talking about?

-“So, any action that goes against his will cannot have hope.”

Roka doesn’t know about that. What I know is,


A wolf never runs away from its decisions.

-“Well, do your best. I’ll cheer for you too.”

The woman added, with a laugh.

-“Goodbye, Roka. I hope we can meet again.”

*****

‘The night the Milky Way blooms.’

The axe that dug deep into the ground finally struck something. It seemed to have pierced its vital point in one strike, but there’s no way to know what it was.

‘I definitely hit something. Hmm.’

The culprit that revived the already exhausted Phoenix. Was it deep underground? Did the Milky Way blooming night target it, destroying it while defeating the Phoenix?

But why? Did the Miracle judge it as a threat to me? If it thought it needed to be destroyed, there must be a reason. But I don’t know that reason.

Anyway, it was too far away, so all I know is that the axe hit properly. I couldn’t even tell what it hit.


The only thing certain is that the Miracle’s power has grown stronger than before. My level has risen that much.

‘It means I’ve transcended humanity that much.’

I let out a deep sigh. It’s a good thing, but it’s hard to accept it as such.

Still, it’s a relief that this commotion seems to be completely over now. I waited a bit, but there was no sign of the Phoenix stirring again. Even the aftershocks have completely stopped, and the volcano has quieted down. The disaster, after causing great sacrifice, has come to an end.

A near-perfect silence, with no sound of insects or birds. The only sound in this stillness is Roka’s breathing. Watching the still-unconscious child, I took out a mirror and looked at myself.

Beyond the mirror was me, with shattered eyes. Yet, the world still looked clear. No, it seemed even clearer than before.

Instead of shattered eyes, another eye, one invisible to the naked eye, had taken its place. Now, even with my eyes closed, I could see clearly. Truly, not an ability an ordinary person would have.

But even if I could turn back time and be given another chance,


No, even if that chance were given ten or a hundred times, my choice would still be the same as now. So, I have no regrets. However, something else keeps bothering me.

‘There’s definitely something more.’

The Phoenix has been destroyed, and the Citadel Republic has been saved. Now, the chaos will disappear, and daily life will return.

Yet, why does a corner of my heart feel uneasy? Why does it feel so unsettling? Perhaps it’s because something new, something I don’t know about, has appeared.

‘What exactly was that thing deep underground…’

Whatever it was, it’s already dead, so it’s no longer a threat. For now, I’ll have to be satisfied with this.

It’s not like I can dig up whatever’s buried in the lava to find out more.

“Ah, the Artabus Ship.”

I was looking at the sky for a moment when a black dot began to appear among the white clouds. Originally not black, but now with a soot-covered hull, the Artabus Ship seems to be returning, having sensed that the situation has been resolved.

As it got closer, I could see black smoke rising here and there. I’m not sure if it’s visible, but I instinctively reached out and waved.


Over here! Over here! It seemed to spot me and Roka, gradually coming closer.

“…Hmm.”

Did the sound of the ship wake her? I heard rustling from behind.

The child, now awake, rubbed her eyes with both hands and looked around with a dazed expression. She seemed completely out of it. I can’t even scold her for charging at the Phoenix with that state of mind.

“M-Master?”

Looking around to see if I was really alive, she finally opened her eyes wide upon seeing me.

As if some great disillusionment had struck her, the child even staggered. No, it’s getting harder to call her a child now.


Yet, why can’t I let go of calling her that? It’s become a habit, it seems.

“Your eyes, why are they…”


“It’s okay. It’s nothing.”

So, you don’t have to cry. You don’t have to cry so sorrowfully.

I reached out and hugged her trembling shoulders tightly. What had to happen eventually has only just happened now. I am utterly at peace. Truly, I can smile without worry now.

Our child has grown splendidly. She’s become strong enough to protect herself, no matter who she meets.


Even if he were to take me away tomorrow, she would undoubtedly be able to stand on her own.

Congratulations on becoming a Master, Roka.