For some time now…
I started seeing strange things.
“Fall down already! Just die already, I said!”
“What kind of trick are you using?!”
“Monster of a kid!”
Not living up to their size.
They were charging in enthusiastically just a moment ago…
Now they’re keeping their distance, hurling curses and insults like there’s no tomorrow. Though it looks like they’ll charge in the moment they get an opening…
…In the middle of all this.
For some reason.
A tiny kid is weaving through them like performing acrobatics, taking them down one by one.
It feels like I’m seeing things, so I keep watching.
With a body much smaller and weaker than his own, he moves like a leaf blown by the wind against overwhelming attacks…
…cutting, stabbing, slashing at vital points with every move.
His motions and intentions strangely resemble what I instinctively knew before…
And I can’t look away.
As if teaching or reminding me…
“Aaaaaah!”
The illusion starts to break as the barbarian swings his greatsword.
“…Like this.”
I block the sword.
Sliding along the blade’s edge.
Deflecting it.
It’s nothing spectacular…
But for some reason, it feels deeply ingrained.
Using the momentum from deflecting, I strike back.
Surprisingly, the counterattack flows more smoothly than ever before.
“Keh!”
His chest splits open.
Piercing through flesh and breaking ribs.
His chest is torn apart horribly.
The illusion still performs acrobatic feats – jumping over enemies by stepping on their legs and shoulders, flipping backward over their heads…
Charging into enemies to make them awkwardly attack, slipping between their legs or riding over their backs…
Using his small size to grab fingers instead of being grabbed, breaking joints like I did earlier…
And going further, using their instinctive reactions to destabilize their center of gravity.
Some don’t care about broken joints and roar as they try to crush him…
He uses their tense shoulders and rigid reactions to cut out eyes, stab necks…
Causing bleeding by severing ankles and slicing thighs with slightest openings…
‘Skilful.’
Still, there’s an unsettling feeling.
How could someone so young become like this?
Suddenly…
The illusion stares straight at me.
Just like I’m looking at it, it’s staring right back at me.
All I can see are faint but clearly shining gold eyes…
Seeing those two golden eyes makes me realize…
…Something unknown.
Is it a premonition?
Or just a simple longing I want to believe in?
…I don’t know.
Just that…
This memory pops up.
The old woman cleared her throat and said:
“One of the countless stars will come to you. I just tell what I’ve seen; the rest is up to you to interpret.”
One of the countless stars…
What does it mean?
I don’t know.
Don’t have the strength to think.
Even holding on to breathe might be my last moment.
My consciousness fell long ago.
Everything looks blurry.
Yet those two eyes remain sharp.
‘So that’s it.’
Ruel.
You survived.
Survived to reach here…
…to arrive here.
I don’t know who this boy is…
But those eyes resemble Ruel’s.
“…I see.”
Unconsciously looking up at the sky…
“If this is how it ends… then it’s fine, I guess.”
Did I fulfill my role?
I don’t know…
…Just…
“?…”
Suddenly…
Through his eyes…
I see the world.
That small village grew into something incomparable.
Inside the church, a stonecutter works hard on a sculpture.
What could take so much effort?
When finished, the statue brings tears to my eyes.
A man collapsed, leaning on his sword stuck in the ground, barely holding on.
Behind him, countless people cling desperately…
Though I don’t recognize their faces…
Strangely, they transform into familiar ones.
“How could you leave like this?”
“I’m sorry! If only we could have helped…”
“You must get up! You can’t do this!”
“Uncle! Uncle!”
“How dare you leave like this?”
Father…
“…”
The black-haired boy with Ruel-like eyes looks up at me.
“Boy, can you tell me your name?”
“…”
About to fade any moment…
But those vivid golden sulfur eyes look up.
And he answers…
“I am Carriel.”
“…”
A child with Ruel’s eyes speaks my name.
Could this be what “countless stars” meant?
And among those countless stars…
You’ve arrived before me.
A child with Ruel’s eyes demonstrating techniques known only by me and my master…
Facing the same trials without giving in…
“…”
“Thank you.”
The boy bows his head.
“No, quite the opposite.”
Rather me…
“Thank you.”
In the fading consciousness…
From somewhere above, pure white light pours down.
A voice I’ve heard before…
The boy calls out…
“Carriel! How long do you plan to keep us waiting?”
Then another familiar voice – a girl pouts and scolds.
“I was about to die of boredom!”
There they are.
Drawn by some force, the man walks toward the light.
The heavy body feels feather-light now.
Naturally letting go of the sword he held.
Responsibilities and duties feel lifted as well.
The man slowly approaches that place.
Now a young boy again,
He runs lightly smiling toward the boy and girl bathed in light.
Behind them…
A man resembling the original stands with a woman leaning on him,
Smiling warmly at the running boy.
For a moment,
The boy stopped and turned around.
“…”
The taller boy…
The boy with the same name looks toward the other boy.
The boy, Carriel, waves his arms widely.
The clear sound of a horn echoes across heaven and earth.
Eventually, the world…
is enveloped in pure white.
And in that whiteness, the remaining boy with dark eyes…
Closes his eyes and silently turns away from the scene.
“…”
The world is collapsing.
Yet the giant warriors laugh heartily instead.
“Hahaha! So it’s finally over!”
“Didn’t I say it would?”
“A man like that? Even gods would envy him!”
“Truly, a life full of regrets.”
“But even so, without witnessing his end, how could we rest in peace?”
Their eyes turn pale again.
Looking at Carriel, they show expressions that can’t be understood.
“Weren’t you guys blaming him?”
“We did!”
“Lots of blaming!”
“But the blame wasn’t for him. It was for our tribe that abandoned us, our brothers and families.”
“Caught in the illusion of warrior’s honor, what did we actually do?”
“Ah, showing off our strength was fun though.”
“So we deserved it!”
…Completely different from before.
“True, we came here filled with resentment. But watching his life and determination changed us.”
We should have become spirits or vengeful ghosts.
But because he upheld his beliefs even in death…
“Our hearts were moved too.”
His life had not a single stain of shame.
“We who were full of shame began to envy him.”
“That’s why we roughly watched over the area he protected.”
“Those who remain will stay, but it’s coming to an end.”
“We don’t have the strength anymore.”
“…”
Even after death, he guarded the land as a holy spirit.
…Is that what happened?
What kind of amazing person was he?
Hollow laughter escapes.
I don’t know why, but sorrow wells up.
A life full of regrets.
Even though it seemed to end well…
Doesn’t it mean both the living and the dead endured silently for such a long time?
So Carriel couldn’t help but ask…
“Did I come too late?”
“There’s no way.”
The warriors immediately proclaim.
“Everything happens in its own time, boy.”
“…”
The pure white sky shatters into pieces.
Like gold and white snow falling everywhere.
Beautiful yet elegant.
Holy and sublime.
It feels so fleeting.
Like cherry blossoms swirling in spring.
Suddenly,
I feel a strong lavender scent.
I see…
This place was originally filled with lavender scent.
Especially during festivals.
They say flower petals are thrown during holiday celebrations.
Wishing for blessings.
With sincere hearts.
Wishing well for others.
Praying for good outcomes.
With joy.
With happiness.
That was…
The village he pledged his life to protect…
“…”
Like a fleeting dream,
The world in front of my eyes…
…fades away.
What remains behind…
Is the radiant straight sword of Saint Carriel.
Suddenly…
Crack!
The cracked sword breaks in half.
As if shedding all burdens it carried.
The sword itself seems to announce…
Its role has ended.
====
-This settles it.
The Demon King gained undeniable certainty.
That’s not the vessel of a hero or warrior.
No, perhaps once it was.
But right now.
It’s completely something else.
That’s not a hero, warrior, emperor, or anything.
…A saint (聖人).
An early form of a holy son (聖子).
Or perhaps a divine human (神人).
Exactly that kind of vessel.
Watching Saint Carriel’s ascension, the Demon King reaffirmed.
-So that’s why the sages surrounded him.
More than half, nearly 90% were sure.
But there was always doubt.
Nothing perfect is complete.
Thus until absolute certainty comes…
No promises are made.
But when the moment of certainty arrives, it’s settled.
-That Pope brat had good instincts from the start.
At first, I thought he was just famous with a good reputation.
Even when Hermine helped him become Pope, he didn’t seem particularly threatening.
…Turns out everything was a mask to deceive the world, something even I, the Demon King, didn’t realize.
Maybe he received divine revelation to remain hidden until the end.
-And that guy poured oil on the fire while dying and baptized him?
Impressive.
Perhaps he also received revelation, or had some ability to see or discover things others couldn’t.
-But why appear exactly at this time?
Truly.
Truly.
Truly.
-There’s no time to get bored.
The gold smiled.
Not like a fully bloomed flower.
But like a wilting flower making one last burst of life.
Such a smile appeared cruelly on her face.
It wasn’t envy, jealousy, inferiority, or frustration.
The emotion lingering there…
…Regret.
Or irritation.
Or…
Anger.
