Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Beneath the Sunset Light☆ (1)
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“Haaah…”
Freyja was slumped weakly at the very base of the World Tree. The aftermath of unleashing all the 'Golden Armaments' stored within her [Eternal Spindle] at once had left her suddenly overcome with fatigue.
*Drip—*
Suddenly, she felt something warm trickle from her nose.
It seemed the backlash from instantaneously expending all her ether had finally hit.
*'If that ruffian finds out about this... she'll tease me relentlessly...'*
After lecturing Clara about not overexerting herself for the sake of [Fate], if Clara found out that she herself had pushed past her own limits to overcome [Fate]... it was obvious she'd be teased for ages.
If that happened.
She would subtly bring up Brynhildr to counter Clara.
*Twitch.*
Her purple cat ears moved playfully.
Freyja recalled the two, who had been so physically affectionate overnight that it was suspicious. It was almost irritating to watch.
*'It's obvious they have feelings for each other... What on earth are they hesitating for? Especially the ruffian, she's so blatant about it... Hmph. Idiots.'*
Well…
*'…That's a problem for those lesbians to sort out themselves.'*
Those who interfere in a lesbian romance will not be forgiven.
That must be a universal truth acknowledged even by the Beast God and the World Tree.
…Probably.
*Wipe, wipe—*
As she thought this.
Freyja wiped the blood from her nose with her dusty sleeve.
The once-elegant white sleeve of her uniform was now a mess, stained with dust and blood. The beautiful fabric was torn and frayed, looking shabby.
“…”
It was like a reflection of her alma mater, Public Vana Boarding School... which had nearly ruined everything with vanity beyond its means. From now on, a reality different from the past would await those who remained.
*'The beastkin began not as golden nobles, but with a thirst for knowledge in caves. Perhaps this is the more proper path.'*
Freyja muttered with a heavy heart.
“Haaaah… The research materials and books are all burned… the school building is ruined… the noble faction is all wiped out… E-everything's a mess…”
Even as she said that.
She knew she could no longer turn a blind eye.
After all, she had cast aside all her lingering attachments for this very reason.
“…”
Research would start anew, based on the new magic.
The school would be reformed to fit the city's new circumstances.
In any case… the research faction, including herself, would be at the center of it all.
“…”
Thinking about the cleanup, Freyja leaned fully against the trunk of the World Tree.
The trunk of the World Tree, filled with a gentle white light.
A sacred place that should have been protected by several layers of barriers. Now, the only remaining barrier was the one around the United Student Council building in the deepest part.
In truth, this wasn't a place to be relaxing so casually.
*'Who cares… I'm so damn tired I can't lift a finger…'*
But due to her exhaustion, she couldn't care less. She simply leaned against the massive, still-standing trunk of the World Tree. A faint warmth spread across her back.
A brief moment of rest.
…
“…?”
But why aren't they coming down?
Are they seriously doing some crazy lesbian stuff up there?
Are they really going to get it on in front of the World Tree?
*'No way…'*
Freyja cautiously raised her head.
“…N-no way, are they r-really rubbing up against each other up there… I-it can't be. That's just insane. G-good heavens… getting frisky on top of their defeated enemy's corpse…”
When she looked up.
She saw the form of the [Serpent of Wisdom and Cycle] slowly vanishing, starting from its head. The giant serpent, which had seemed ready to swallow the World Tree itself, was disappearing into the twilight.
*Fwoosh—*
The sight of an overnight nightmare fading away.
The remains of the massive ancient god… which could have destroyed the Academy City, were scattering like ash. Sunlight streamed through the gaps. The clouds, which had been cleared away by the immense power of the lightning, now revealed a sunset pouring down.
The warm sunset light tickled Freyja's face.
“…”
But there was a new presence here.
*Rustle—!*
“…!”
Freyja turned her head toward the sound.
There stood Frau, as disheveled as she was.
“…Frau.”
“…Freyja.”
The fox-eared girl, Frau, was also bleeding from her nose. As the snake tattoo on her body slowly faded, she lost her strength and swayed. Ether was gradually dissipating from her slender shoulders.
*Shwooo…*
Unlike herself, who had simply exhausted her power,
she was truly losing all of her ether.
*'…She probably won't be able to use her powers like before anymore.'*
After today.
She would become too weak to live in this Academy City any longer. She would become an ordinary human, like the residents of the outside world.
*'…And because of her stolen [Fate], the rest of her life will be empty.'*
Freyja spoke in a bitter voice.
“Why… did you make such a choice?”
“…”
Frau looked at Freyja with empty eyes. Beyond the inferiority complex in them… was a kind of resignation.
“I wanted to be a brilliant mage like the [Golden Witch]… and like you. Among us, the so-called Golden Generation, there were many geniuses… but at the very least… I wanted to defeat you. That's why I wanted to beat even the [Azure-White Lightning Spear] and show you.”
That I was a more outstanding mage than you.
That our noble faction would achieve greatness on par with the [Golden Witch].
“…”
Freyja was bewildered by the fact that the arrow of her endless inferiority complex had been aimed not at the strongest in the Academy City, but at herself.
“…I-I'm just… an i-insignificant student.”
The Sage of Ignorance.
A commoner who just rolled in.
Even if she had awakened her [Unique Ether], wasn't that the extent of her [Fate]? No matter how mediocre Frau was as a mage, was she really more brilliant than the head of the noble faction…?
Well, she couldn't agree.
*'The one who truly inherited the first grimoire and the magic left by the [Golden Witch] is another student, anyway…'*
Contrary to Freyja's thoughts.
Frau spoke in a hollow voice, as if it might snap at any moment.
“I… wanted to be like you… someone who could venture alone into the unknown darkness…!”
“…”
“Now… I have no [Fate]… no honor, nothing…!”
“…”
“In that case… all I have left is…!”
“…”
Frau raised her wand and aimed it at Freyja.
“…”
Frau's unreasonable final outburst.
Freyja didn't even have the energy to dodge it, so she just quietly accepted her fate. There was nothing she could do with a body that felt like it would collapse at any moment.
*'Is this… my [Fate]? I suppose I've done too many things beyond my station yesterday and today.'*
As her vision slowly darkened.
Freyja offered a final prayer to her juniors in her heart.
*'Orange ears, Mila, and everyone else… keep moving forward. Don't be afraid of the unknown, like I was.'*
Gathering her last bit of ether.
Just as a dagger was about to be launched at Freyja's throat…
she heard the sound of an arrow flying.
*Shwoooosh—!!*
The scream came from the other side.
“…!”
An arrow of deep green ether was embedded at Frau's feet.
“Knghh…?!”
Frau was trapped by vines that shot out from the green ether arrow, unable to move. After struggling for a while, she went limp as if her energy had drained away.
“Goodness…! What is all this commotion!”
A tall elf girl strode over from the distance. She spoke in a voice as elegant as rolling jade beads.
“The Sword Spirit was getting fussy, so I rushed over from plowing the fields, and now the Golden District is a wreck…! Why are you two fighting in front of Lord World Tree with blood pouring from your noses…? I don't get it… If you like physical labor so much, you should've come to our school and dug up some potatoes.”
“…”
Freyja looked ahead and, in a trembling voice, called out the title of the girl holding the bow.
“…[The Verdant Greatbow], Anna.”
“Yep, yep.”
[The Verdant Greatbow], Anna.
An elf student with dazzlingly beautiful blonde hair tied in a single ponytail fluttering behind her. She held a greatbow as tall as herself. And, as if she'd come straight from working in the fields, she was wearing work pants and a loose shirt.
The strongest student of Holy Alfheim High School scratched her head and said.
“So what happened? Why'd you cause such a ruckus under Lord World Tree? And what's with that giant snake head? I have to get back to plowing, so tell me quick.”
“Th-the World Tree…”
“…Hm?”
Freyja said, her consciousness slowly fading.
“Th-the World Tree is just a big tree… Why do you white-eared elves use honorifics for it… I-I've never really understood…”
“What, has this crazy bitch lost her mind—!!!”
Having used up all her energy, Freyja fainted on the spot.
***
Atop the slowly vanishing remains of the 'serpent'.
The scene where all enemies had disappeared in a flash of immense white lightning.
Hilde and I were quietly holding hands, watching the sunset over the Academy City. I could feel a faint, throbbing pulse from our warmly intertwined palms.
“…”
“…”
The view of the city we had protected spread out below us. But… as breathtaking as the sight was, the scars of destruction left by Ratatoskr were also easy to see.
“…”
“…”
There was surely much to be done,
and much to prepare for in the future.
But…
I wanted to savor what I had learned when our hearts were connected.
Our clasped hands.
A state beyond Apex.
The moment our souls resonated.
The emotion that had brushed past our hearts.
“…”
“…”
I carefully opened my mouth. It couldn't have been my imagination… that our clasped hands seemed to tremble as my lips parted.
“…Back then.”
“…”
“You said there was something you wanted to say─☆”
“Yes, that was…”
Hilde nodded and was about to say it without hesitation. The warmth in her eyes confirmed that it was what I was expecting.
But.
I stopped Hilde from speaking.
“…Wait a moment.”
“…Lara?”
Hilde looked at me, bewildered.
She probably thought that now that she vaguely understood the emotion we felt when we were connected… there was nothing holding her back.
But… even so.
I didn't want to just haphazardly lean on her after simply confirming our feelings. I didn't want to make a rash decision about such precious emotions.
The tender consideration of a girl thinking of her friend.
The last shred of pride of a man who once loved a woman.
A complex heart where everything was intertwined.
So…
“To you, who has… loved me, I'll tell you my entire story.”
“…Lara?”
“My wavering emotions, the things I've watched over, and the secrets I've never told anyone… I'll tell you everything.”
“…”
“After you've heard it all… if you still have the confidence to say it, could you tell me then─☆”
“…Yes.”
Hilde replied, still wearing a dazzling smile. Somehow… it seemed that smile held nothing but a single conviction.
“Of course. I will… always.”
I'll wait for you.
“…”
…
Where on earth did this conviction come from?
In my past life or my present one, had I ever… been loved like this?
Was making this girl wait any longer… really the right thing to do?
Countless thoughts raced through my mind.
“…”
All I could do… was make a promise.
I grasped Hilde's hand and said.
“I will… I will surely… love you.”
“…Yes. I'll wait.”
“I will surely… become someone who can reach where you are.”
“You already… have.”
I shook my head.
“Not… not yet.”
“…”
And then, I gave her the most affectionate gesture I could for waiting for me.
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed the cheek of the girl who was slightly taller than my female form.
*Chu—*
“…Hehe, for the Hilde who waited for me… who loves me, 10 points…☆”
“…”
*Ruuuumble—*
The faint, distant sound of thunder.
I was about to turn and face forward again…
“No.”
“Hm?”
“It's not enough.”
Hilde grabbed my cheeks and brought her face close.
“…!”
All I could see was a wave of silver.
All I could feel was the softness of her lips.
Hilde became a silver wave, seeping into me.
“…”
“…”
A clumsy touch.
The hardness of teeth.
The warmth of our touching cheeks…
“…”
“…”
I quietly held Hilde's back.
And so, within a silver wave illuminated by the sunset, we…
『Getting along, are we?』
The golden cat was watching us.
We hastily pulled apart and screamed.
“Aaaah?!”
“Yikes─☆”