Chương 86: Final Chapter: The Peace We Found
I'd achieved everything I'd set out to do. From now on, the world would move forward without the need for picking out proxies. People would forge their own destinies.
They wouldn't need me anymore either. While I wasn't the saint, I'd become the prophet. People gave way too much importance to the things I said. If I stated that something was white, everyone would agree, even if it appeared pitch-black in their eyes—that was just how influential I'd become.
However, I didn't believe it was right for some sort of absolute presence to remain in that kind of setting. How could the people choose their own path if I was right there dictating what was right or wrong?
Thus, it was time for me to leave center stage. I'd go to the forest where Profeta used to live, build myself a nice, big log house, and spend the next century relaxing.
And really, all excuses aside, I was just done with politics. I couldn't think of anything more cumbersome, and since there weren't any monsters around anymore, I didn't see the point in putting in all that work. The heroes in stories are always cool and all, but with their foes out of the way, even they would struggle to shine. The same went for me. Without monsters to butcher, I didn't have much to show.
Besides, if I remained in the public eye, I'd mess up sooner or later.
I'd still offer advice to the royals if they so desired, I'd help out if the people needed me, but—as a general rule—I wouldn't get involved anymore.
Back to my plans. I'd set up a small field behind my house. Since there were also plenty of fruit trees in the forest, it looked like I wouldn't struggle too much to be self-sufficient. Actually, the guardians also regularly brought me fruit or game they'd hunted, so I had more than enough to get by.
I had a lot of time on my hands thanks to the turtle, so I figured I'd take it easy and slowly try to grow ingredients that didn't originally exist in this world. That way, I could cook everything I craved.
"Lady Ellize! I caught a lot of fish today!"
I turned toward the voice and saw a casually dressed Layla with a basket full of fish. Verner was right next to her.
Layla had left her position as a knight behind to follow me to the forest. I felt a little bad about it—she'd worked hard all her life to earn her spot as head of the saint's guard, after all—but she'd assured me that I was her only saint, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
One way or another, she'd adapted to our new lifestyle pretty quickly. She fished or hunted every day, which was actually a great help. I was starting to think that her true calling was to be a huntress all along.
Oh, right! Let me tell you about the others too!
Fiora and random dude had somehow gotten together, and they were even thinking of getting married in the future!
Four-Eyed Pervert was still working as a teacher. Apparently, he was in the middle of writing a book on my achievements. He often visited us here and was one of our only links with the outside world. He even sent Stil's birds to keep in touch regularly between his visits. I couldn't help but think that his level of devotion was kinda freaky, but oh well.
Marie and Aina had officially received an offer to become knights after their graduation. They were still training at the academy for the time being, but they'd soon join their peers. While there was no real need for a saint any longer, the royals had decided to keep a professional army around. The knights would work there from now on, and instead of offering their loyalty to the saint, they'd offer it to the people.
In the end, this generation's saint, Eterna, never assumed her rightful spot. Instead, she continued to attend the academy. She told me that she intended to return to her birth village after graduating. Her broken heart had apparently healed quite fast, since she'd been getting cozy with Sylvester Lordnight—Verner's roommate. As far as I was concerned, that was for the best. I just wanted her to be happy.
Alfrea was the one who had succeeded me as the saint. Apparently, she wasn't doing that great of a job, causing headache after headache for her attendants. That sounded just like her.
Last, but not least, our dear protagonist—Verner. He'd ended up following the most surprising of paths. I still had no clue what he was thinking, but he'd suddenly decided to put his studies on hold to leave on a training journey. He'd blurted out that "he wasn't worthy of standing by my side and wouldn't come back until he was strong enough to protect me." He'd even left behind the sword I'd given him, departing empty-handed. Apparently, he needed to "earn the right to wield it" or something.
I checked on him from time to time with my newly gained powers. He was mostly fighting strong people to hone his skills and developing manly friendships everywhere he stopped.
What in the world is he trying to achieve? He's not going back to the bodybuilding♂ ending, is he?
I knew that he was working so hard for, uh...me...but I still doubted I'd ever be able to return his feelings. That was why I'd told him he should give up on me and find another girl he liked, but he'd hit me with the most embarrassing line I'd ever heard.
"Becoming strong enough to protect you is my happiness," he'd said.
What's up with that insane pick-up line, Verner?! If I had the heart of a girl, I would've fallen for you on the spot!
I'd gone through a bit of a change during the final battle, but I was still a straight man inside. Sadly for Verner, I'd never ever return his feelings. I...was still a man inside...right? To be fully honest, I wasn't so sure of it anymore. A few weeks ago, I would've insisted that there was no chance that my mind would ever swap genders, even if my body had. After all, I'd lived as Niito for years, and my identity was fully formed by the time I'd transmigrated. However...since that final battle, I could tell that something fundamental had changed inside me. To tell the truth, I was kind of scared I'd eventually let myself get swept away.
Even though Verner had once again veered off course, he'd come to visit me today for the first time in a while. He apparently had something to give me.
He'd bulked up a lot while he was away. I still remembered how scrawny he'd looked the first time I'd seen him—a slender pretty boy right out of a dating sim. Now, he looked like he should be in some sort of fighting game. All he needed was a white dogi—the kind you see martial artists wear—and he could start saying "I must keep searching for someone stronger than I!"
You're still Verner, right? The dating sim protag? You weren't replaced by some fighting game character, right? You're not going to hadouken me out of the blue now, are you?
I couldn't tell how this world would change from now on. (In fact, I was especially lost when it came to Verner, I had no idea what that boy was doing.) But somehow, I firmly believed that things would turn out all right in the end.
Why, you ask? Because the eternal tragedy of the scattering flowers had finally come to an end. This world wasn't the world of Kuon no Sanka any longer. A new story had already started to unfold—one I didn't know anything about.
"So, um... Lady Ellize, would you please accept this?" Verner asked, handing me something. "I found it on an eastern island, and then...Miss Layla and I worked on this together."
It was a hair ornament made with an angelo. It looked very similar to the one I'd lost after my fight with Alexia. Now that I thought about it, I hadn't worn a flower in my hair since then. It wasn't like I particularly minded either way. I hadn't been wearing the angelo flower for the looks of it, after all. I simply kept it around in case I ever needed to recharge my MP urgently—not that I'd ever even needed to in the end.
I hadn't missed the ornament after losing it, yet...Verner had somehow kept it in mind and found a new one for me.
Stop it! You're gonna make me blush, you idiot!
"As I thought, white flowers suit you the best, Lady Ellize."
Stop it! You're gonna make me blush (again), you idiot!
Verner was a natural at this whole dating sim protagonist thing. I still couldn't believe he could blurt out such lines so easily.
Well, I needed to thank him, at the very least. Angelos were incredibly rare, after all. I couldn't help but wonder where that island was. He didn't swim all the way there, did he?
At any rate, I'd pour some mana into it later so that it'd never wither.
"Thank you, Verner. And thank you too, Layla," I said with a smile.
Rejoice, this beautiful girl (from the outside only) is blessing you with her smile!
Verner and Layla both blushed and averted their eyes. I get why Verner reacted like that, but what's the deal with you, Scotterbrain?!
Suddenly, I heard a voice call out in my head. Someone, anyone—please help me!
Oh my, someone's in need of saving.
I used my prophetic powers to figure out the location of the scream. It had come from a mountain trail five kilometers away from here. I could see a young girl in distress. She'd missed her footing and had fallen down a cliff. She was injured and couldn't get up on her own.
That's a bit of a pain, but I can't leave her be, can I?
I told Verner and Layla I'd be out for a short while and flew to the girl.
◇
The girl held her wounded leg with one hand and wiped the tears that kept rolling down her cheeks with the other.
She'd left her village to head to the closest city, but she'd lost her footing on a mountain path and tumbled down a cliff. Thankfully, she hadn't lost her life, but her leg was broken and stuck under a rock. She wouldn't be able to walk.
Had she known things would end up this way, she would have made a detour and avoided the mountain. It was too late for regrets, though.
This mountain wasn't all that dangerous, but who knew when the next traveler would walk along this path? What would become of her if she was forced to stay here all night? Would wild beasts attack her? What if she died of thirst or hunger before anyone found her?
Someone, anyone—please help me!
She pleaded for help inside her heart again and again, but who would hear the voice inside of her? She'd been screaming out loud until a few minutes ago, but her voice had become hoarse. Even if someone were to walk past her, they may not notice her if she couldn't scream, she realized.
The cloudy sky above her suddenly cleared up, and the sun shone upon her. Then, a beautiful girl wearing a pure-white dress descended from the sky. Her blonde locks gleamed like gold, and her glimmering green eyes looked like two brilliant jewels.
She was so beautiful that the wounded girl couldn't help but wonder if God had carefully handcrafted her.
"I heard your voice calling for help," she said, holding out her white, unblemished hand for her to take.
Today too, the beautiful fake saint sparkled, the sun shining behind her.
Image here:
(2k word count)
A/n: and that's for volume 4. Man i really love this series.
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