Chapter 451
Chapter 451
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: 2-121. World (1)
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"Hmm? What color flower do you like the most?"
Iril lifted her face, which had been buried in the bouquet. A petal clung to her glossy nose bridge. The bouquet, made of yellow and white narcissus, gave off a sweet, early summer scent.
"It's an important question."
I nodded. After our touching reunion, the three of us were having dinner in Numbton's cabin. The slanting sunset brightly illuminated the kitchen. The stew Iril had made in abundance was more than enough for four people.
Ronan-3 spoke up.
"Obviously white, right? It has to be."
The guy was greedily shoveling down potato stew for the first time in three years.
Seeing he still hadn't broken his stubbornness made me sigh involuntarily.
"Idiot. White's just in your head."
"You little... Hoo, forget it."
Ronan-3 gritted his teeth. He was desperately trying not to swear in front of Iril. She narrowed her eyes, glaring at the bouquet.
"Hmm... It's hard... I like all narcissus."
"No dodging. If you had to pick one?"
"Just one? Fine, I can be decisive when I need to be. If I had to choose exactly one..."
Iril triumphantly clenched her fists. But it lasted only a moment.
She groaned and clutched her head.
"Aaaah, I really can't choose!"
It wouldn't have been this bad even if I'd asked her which hostage to kill out of two.
She pattered over to the windowsill and stuck the narcissus bouquet into a flowerpot.
"I like white, yellow, orange—all of them! And they're all from Ronan, so I can't rank them! What am I supposed to do? Huh?"
"W-Well, if that's the case, no helping it. Don't force yourself."
I hurriedly soothed her.
We looked like she might cry if we pushed any further, so Ronan-3 and I had no choice but to drop our stupid bet.
I could see why all three memories differed. No matter the color, Iril must have cherished the first narcissus gift from me like the world's greatest treasure.
A sudden wave of self-loathing hit me.
'I left a person like this and ran away from home.'
It was a feeling I'd had many times, but it resurfaced every time I saw Iril.
Ronan-3 looked much the same, his expression darkening.
Suddenly, Iril turned to me with a grin.
"Hee hee, you really surprised me, though."
"Huh?"
"I wondered who the extra guy was. But a second Ronan? I nearly fainted! Where did you say you came from? Flat world? Parallel world?"
"Parallel world."
"Right! That!"
Iril clapped her hands. I'd only revealed myself after Cain and his son's reunion.
To her credit, Iril didn't faint and listened to my explanation. Not sure if she understood perfectly.
"Doesn't it feel kinda creepy? Suddenly two grown men who look just like you."
"No! I love it. Ronan is Ronan, no matter where he's from. He even wrote letters for me... I'm doubly happy now, sis."
Iril stood on tiptoe and patted my head. Her beautiful hands, like her face, were covered in calluses from farm work. The doubled guilt stabbed at my heart.
"...Glad to hear it. I like it too, sis."
"Yeah! So, how's me over there? Still living in Numbton?"
"Ah, no, not that."
"Gasp! What happened? I love our village so much..."
"Well, something did happen. She got married."
"M-Married?!"
Iril's face turned apple-red. Potato stew sprayed from Ronan-3's mouth. Violent coughing echoed through the kitchen.
"Koff! Hack! Kheeehk!"
"Ugh, gross."
"R-Ronan! You okay?!"
Iril rushed over and handed him water. Steam still rose from the stew splattered on the table.
Cain, who'd been focused solely on his stew, finally spoke after a long silence.
"This is... news to me."
He slowly stirred his bowl with his spoon. He feigned calm, but his hands trembled like someone with a fever.
Right, this man was our sister's father.
"I'm curious. What kind of dog—er, what kind of man would dare take my daughter? Do I know him?"
"Planning to kill him if I tell you?"
"As if. Just pure curiosity."
"Total lie. You probably know him, but can't say in front of sis. Who knows how things turn out in this world. Anyway, I'll just say he's the best guy out of all the males I've met so far."
In truth, Schlieffen was a really good guy. Great character, family wealth overflowing. But what I liked most was his fanatical, one-sided devotion to Iril alone.
'If we cross paths, it'll probably happen here too. Most likely.'
There was no one else fit to be her partner anyway. If forced to choose between Iril and the world on giant scales, Schlieffen would pick her without a second's hesitation. Cain sat stunned in shock.
"Eek! I-I really got married? Someone to take an ugly girl like me?"
Iril cupped her cheeks with both hands. Her flushed face was adorably over-the-top. Her shy yet expectant expression tore at Cain and Ronan-3's hearts.
Cain said,
"...Follow me. Parallel world son only."
"Pardon?"
"I wanted more reunion time, but my gut's churning. Let's start the lesson now."
Before I could reply, Cain rose from the table and left the cabin. Ronan-3, still looking lost, clutched his burned throat and kept coughing.
"Ah, wonderful."
Cain smiled. The western wind tousled my hair and his. After dinner, we stood atop a nearby hill, taking in Numbton's scenery.
"Isn't it beautiful? This is what I missed most while stuck as canned goods."
"Yeah. I think so too."
I nodded vigorously. This spot was where I'd buried my father in the original world. Few hills offered such a full view of the village. The peaking sunset set Numbton ablaze.
"Doesn't want to set, huh..."
I muttered, recalling Adeshan's words. It was the inspiration and origin of my aura.
Such an intense sunset after so long. The sinking sun burned with a reddish-purple hue, drawing in the world's light.
Cain tilted his head.
"Hm? What's that mean?"
"Nothing. Just mumbling. Glad you're feeling better."
"Quiet. I just got over it."
Cain clicked his tongue. His face, so like mine, still showed clear displeasure. Even a parallel world tale, his daughter's marriage was serious business.
"Whoever he is, if he's no good, I won't let it slide. To take Iril, he must pass Cain's test. A harsh, merciless one."
"Scary... But didn't you say you'd teach me something?"
"Right. Your fault for bringing up nonsense."
Cain irritably brushed back his bangs.
I wanted to tease more, but decided to end it here.
I said,
"Not bringing the other son? Wouldn't it be good to learn together?"
"Not time yet. That kid needs basics from scratch. Even if curse lifts soon, reaching my level will take at least ten more years."
"Damn, ten years?"
"Yes. Could be more."
He didn't seem to be lying. Cain looked away from the village and met my eyes. The affection in his gaze was gone, replaced by a swordsman's cold sharpness.
"World."
Cain said.
"The realm you must reach to face that mage Akasha."
"...World?"
"Yes. Name I made up, but people will call it that henceforth. Originators hold naming rights. Didn't expect the next after me to be such a villain."
"What kind of technique is it?"
"Explaining now. Neither of us scholars, so I'll keep it simple."
Cain drew his sword hilt. The longsword, taken from Abel, slid out with a chilling ring. He spun it in the air as he continued.
"World is aura's final realm, mana use's known limit. You know aura manifests from user's imagery rooted in body's natural mana?"
"Basics. Mix personal imagery with accumulated mana."
"Good. Even basic aura makes one strong. Exposing your core is never easy, no matter how small. But manifesting World is harder."
The sword's spin stopped.
"World deepens your imagery into spatial concept. Invite foes to your world unbound by circumstance or time. There, you achieve most desires. Turn it to lightning, summon storms... It's all you, after all."
"God-like, basically. Not easy."
I let out a hollow laugh. Finally understood the absurd Boundless Abyss power. Akasha's magic was untouchable because his level was a dimension higher than any foe before.
Cain nodded.
"God... Yes, can see it that way."
"Akasha's already there?"
"Only explanation. Maybe higher than me. Quite the foe you made, Ronan."
I held back from saying I didn't make him on purpose.
Cain's face grew more serious.
"Ronan, frankly, your skills aren't that great. Precision-wise, nothing special."
"Harsh words."
"Just facts. You win by being strong as a person. Overwhelming power crushes. That's your way."
"...That good?"
"Of course. I think so too. No need for fancy techniques—just faster, sharper than foe. Eternal feats by those dominating instants. You, far stronger than me, already rule the instant."
The sudden high praise gave me chills. I'm confident, but hearing it from father felt awkward.
But Cain wasn't just praising.
"World's different. Raw power alone can't break it. Only another World can."
"Can I reach it?"
"No guarantees, but we try. Theory done—now practice."
Cain gripped the hilt two-handed. White radiance rippled along the blade. It was Cain's unique mana from my original world, but somehow different in texture.
He held the longsword vertical like a salute and murmured low.
"Watch closely. This is my world."
A halo of light burst from the blade, enveloping the area.