Chapter 461
Chapter 461
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 461
Chapter Title: 2-131. The Most Radiant Thing
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#131
I woke to the chill rising from the ground.
"Ugh."
I was lying in the middle of a dark forest. Through the swaying treetops, the night sky was visible. Dawn was near, as nearly all the stars had faded.
I slowly moved my limbs. Fortunately, nothing was unresponsive. My sword hung obediently at my waist.
"Hoo... fuck."
I let out a sigh of relief.
It seemed I'd somehow made it through the rift.
"Urk."
Suddenly, nausea surged up. Crossing this rift had been particularly hellish.
The security particles made of Akasha's mana were ten times heavier than any I'd encountered before.
One small mistake, and I might not have escaped.
"You bastard."
I cursed as I got to my feet. My mood was foul beyond words.
It felt like Akasha had chewed me out: Don't mistake me for an ally just because I helped you.
"Anyway..."
I looked around like some country bumpkin visiting the capital. The arrangement of trees and rocks felt familiar. Dark red bloodstains marred the dew-covered underbrush. The conclusion came quickly.
This is where I was.
It was definite. This was the spot where I'd met Sarante from the future. Everything matched that moment, save for the sky's color.
How much time has passed?
I couldn't gauge it.
I'd thought it would be quick, in and out, but it had turned into a nearly half-year adventure. Maybe even more time had passed here.
A foreboding premonition flashed through my mind. What if Adeshan had already given birth alone, and unable to wait for me, married some other scum?
"No way."
I knew it was impossible, but my imagination ran wild anyway.
I come home grinning ear to ear, a bouquet of lush flowers in hand. Adeshan is doing dishes in her apron. Our eyes meet. A plate shatters. Two figures burst from the bedroom at the sound—one a kid who looks half me, half her, and the other a stranger. A bookish type with obnoxious glasses. He glances between me and Adeshan, then asks politely,
'Sir, I think you've got the wrong house.'
At that instant, I draw my sword. The holy sword that slew Bald King Man four times cleaves the glasses-wearing prick faster than lightning and returns to my side. Hundreds of red lines carve across his scrawny frame. Blood and flesh explode. The living room turns to hell amid screams.
Adeshan cries, 'Honey!'
The snot-nosed brat cries, 'Daddy!'
Obviously, not to me—to the glasses guy sprawled in a pool of blood.
"No."
The thought reached that point, and I couldn't bear it. I bolted toward the least tree-choked path.
Something had to turn up if I kept running. Twigs scratched my face. My bangs whipped in the wind. Soon, the brush thinned, revealing an open clearing.
"...This."
My eyebrows shot up. My hair was a crow's nest.
In the clearing's center, amid building rubble, a bonfire crackled. The flames, nearly spent on logs, sputtered toward extinction. A red-haired dwarf huddled before it, asleep.
"Asel."
A face so welcome it brought tears to my eyes. My friend Asel wore the same outfit as the day I'd left for the parallel world. His grubby work robe was caked in dirt.
"Hic... n-no...!"
He thrashed as if in a nightmare, kicking off his sleeping bag and groaning. His face was flushed, breathing ragged. Waving his hands at nothing, he muttered in a strangled voice.
"Marya... no more... I have rights too..."
"What the hell kind of dream is this guy having."
I frowned. Unpleasant sleep-talk. Begging Marya for mercy confirmed I'd returned to the original world.
I considered waking him but held off. One conversation might lead to endless rambling about my parallel world exploits. Suddenly, my nose stung like I'd bitten a chili pepper.
I draped a blanket over Asel's small frame and greeted him.
"I'm back."
"F-five times is really too much... spare meee..."
He replied with sleazy mutterings instead. Looking up, I saw the half-ruined city in the distance—the capital's core under reconstruction.
I stared blankly, murmuring to myself.
"...I'm really back."
Everything was as it had been the day I left. Only I'd changed. My coat fluttering in the dawn breeze attested that it hadn't been a dream.
Yeah.
Suddenly, Adeshan's face flashed before me again. The glasses guy imagination followed.
In my mind, she clutched her glasses, sobbing. If I hesitated any longer, she'd turn to me and scream with hatred, 'Why did you come back! Why! After abandoning us!'
"Don't make me laugh."
I had no intention of hearing even imagined nonsense like that.
I turned my back on Asel and ran toward the city center.
She'd be deep in dreamland by now. As a key figure in the Imperial Restoration Council, she strictly kept to her sleep schedule. Without it, she couldn't handle the mountain of work or her belly's complaints from our little friend inside.
Everything's fine. What lunatic would break into my sister's house and touch my woman?
I swept back my bangs, calming my nerves.
Of course it'd be fine. Just a few hours. I now knew enough time hadn't passed for some stray bone to erode my home.
But the anxiety persisted. I'd been away from Adeshan for nearly half a year. Holding hands on walks, nights embraced in sleep, days conversing with my ear to her pregnant belly—all felt like distant memories now.
"Hoo."
Dawn was brightening. The blue-shadowed world no longer needed torches. I ran on without stopping. Nearer the city center, rebuilt structures increased.
"Hey, mister, killer outfit!"
"Wasn't that Lord Ronan just now?"
"Whoa! Where you off to in such a hurry?"
Voices rang out as I passed people.
Mostly early-shift laborers, familiar faces all worn by sweat and fatigue. It hit me anew: this world had so many heroes.
"Thanks, everyone."
I muttered as I crossed the city. My destination: my sister's house before Phileon.
Adeshan and I lived there together now. The safehouse I'd bought during academy days was one of the lucky survivors. Temporary lodging, so we only used the large second-floor room.
Suddenly, my sword hilt buzzed at my waist.
"It's fine, Ronan. You're good at night work."
"Lin...!"
"Yeah. Trust me. Based on all the data so far, the odds of Adeshan cheating are converging on zero."
It was the holy sword's spirit, Lin. Too chaotic to check earlier, but she'd stuck with the sword and returned. Great news, but timing sucked.
"Good to see you. But I really don't want to curse you out today, of all days."
"Yeah. Sorry. I was just excited too."
Lin went quiet. Her compliance made me feel guilty. Fifteen more minutes of running, and the house came into view. Pale gold tinged the eastern sky.
"Here goes."
Close enough for a clean shot. My thighs bulged. I leaped toward the house, maintaining speed. My low arc flight landed silently on the second-floor balcony—heels up. Curtains blocked the view inside.
Not the glasses guy. Definitely not.
I took a deep breath and slid open the glass door.
"Adeshan?"
I whispered softly enough not to wake her. Reunion joy could wait till she rose.
The room, expected dim, had lights on. Scanning, I furrowed my brow.
"Huh?"
No one was there. Eerie silence hung in the air.
Looking around, my gaze froze on the bed.
"...No."
My heart plummeted. Both pillows on the double bed were dented. On the one where I laid my head, strands of purple hair clung.
The imagined glasses guy revived. Reforming around his glasses, his hair gleamed violet.
He adjusts them with obnoxious gestures.
'Sir, what do you think you're doing, barging in like this?'
I couldn't move an inch from the balcony. Paralyzed like every pore had been injected with toxin. Suddenly, splashing echoed from the en-suite bathroom.
"...!"
My eyes widened. Someone was bathing.
Hopefully Adeshan—but maybe not. Maybe two together. My heartbeat thundered. No different from facing Akasha.
Hand on hilt, I moved to enter—
"Ronan. What're you doing there?"
A soft, beautiful voice sounded from behind.
So achingly familiar, my head turned slowly.
"...Adeshan?"
"Why'd you come in through the balcony? Weird outfit."
There she stood—Adeshan in work clothes, tilting her head at me. Fresh from washing, water droplets fell from her black hair ends.
Half a year. Our gray eyes met, and my mind blanked white.
After long silence, my lips finally spoke.
"...Who's in the bathroom."
"Huh? Oh, probably Erzebet. She helped with reconstruction yesterday, so we shared the bed."
"Ah, yeah. Erzsebet."
I nodded stiffly.
All suspicions melted like snow before her beauty.
That explained the familiar purple hair.
Adeshan narrowed her eyes.
"What's with that face. You didn't peep, did you?"
"Ahaha... hahaha..."
I couldn't answer. Laughter kept bubbling up.
Her eyes narrowed further as she put hands on hips.
"Suspicious... Come here."
I did. My coat flapped like great wings. Adeshan flinched, then composed herself. Our heights matched perfectly.
She lightly tugged my cheeks.
"I'm asking if you peeped."
"I didn't."
"Really?"
"Why peek when I've got you."
"...Fine. I believe you."
She released me. Playful pinch—no pain.
Meeting my gaze, Adeshan beamed. Joy too pure for pretense. She slowly raised a hand, stroking my hair. She was alive.
"Up early."
"Ah, yeah."
"Not tired? Should've slept more."
"I was gonna, but I missed you so much... Thought I'd see you before work starts. Our baby's missing Daddy too..."
Adeshan rubbed her lower belly. Blush colored her pale cheeks—shy.
That was why she'd risen early.
I couldn't hold back. I pulled her nape, kissing her.
"Mmph...!"
Adeshan's face flushed. She squirmed, slapping my forearms.
But I had no intention of stopping. My other hand yanked her waist close. Resistance ceased; her arms wrapped my neck. When I pulled back briefly, she leaned in first, lips meeting.
We repeated it endlessly. Like lovers knowing the world ends tomorrow.
A thud from the balcony—someone collapsing.
"...?!"
Erzsebet, fresh from her bath. Hands over mouth, peeking at us. Trembling, eyes fixed here.
"Oops."
Somehow, I'd become the glasses guy.
I scooped Adeshan princess-style and leaped toward Phileon Academy. Landing atop the tallest spire. Horizon sunrise, golden city, alma mater's grounds—all in view.
A beautiful dawn.
I kissed once more, then parted.
"R-Ronan...?"
Adeshan panted, speechless. Her disheveled face unbearably lovable. In her gray eyes, sprouting dawn and a more earnest me reflected. This moment eclipsed Akasha, parallel adventures.
"Adeshan."
Now, I could say it.
I raised my hand slowly, cupping her face gently.
"I love you. Marry me."
Her eyes widened. Tears welled in gray depths. The long-deferred proposal. Morning breeze whipped our hair like flames.
Tears streaming, she nodded.
"...Yes."
I no longer feared the future. Whatever end awaited.
This moment was too radiant to live in dread of unpassed events.