Chapter 74
Chapter 74
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Beneath the Sunset Light☆ (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A golden cat, idly wagging its tail.
The Golden Witch spoke to us, her tone still serene.
『Did I interrupt something?』
“…”
“…”
‘You think?’
The words nearly escaped my throat, but…
Gulp—
The warmth lingering in my mouth.
The moment I unconsciously swallowed to speak… the faint sensation of something foreign made my mind go blank, and I couldn't say a word.
This isn't my saliva.
“…”
We kissed.
Hilde and I definitely kissed.
Now that I was fully conscious of it, my heart finally began to pound.
The phantom warmth on the inside of my lips.
Something warm and wet had definitely touched the inside of my mouth. A place I'd thought was off-limits had been breached. Awkwardly, we felt each other's pulse, our lips meeting, yearning.
Craving each other's affection, we shared a space we had never allowed another into. I vaguely understood what third-rate romance novels meant by 'the feeling of melting away.'
Thump—
Thump—
The feeling of my heart about to explode, my body growing damp, my head overheating. I knew exactly what this heart-wrenching emotion was… which only made it more embarrassing.
‘Dammit…’
And what was even more embarrassing was that this was the first time since becoming Clara that I'd shown such a flustered side in front of someone else.
‘If it had just been Hilde, maybe... but...’
…Not that I ever showed myself getting worked up in front of others back when I was a man. But showing it in this body feels even more shameful for some reason.
I glanced at the Golden Witch.
“…”
Meow—!
As if to give us time to compose ourselves, she let out a single meow and watched us quietly.
“…”
This was the same outfit I hadn't cared about even when my skirt flipped up while fighting Ófnir. Yet now I found myself standing pigeon-toed, fussing over my clothes.
I don't smell, do I?
Ha… I'm losing my mind.
Meanwhile, Hilde, who had shared the same act, didn't seem to be feeling the same heated(?) emotions. She simply touched the corner of her mouth and glanced over. She even licked her lips, the nerve.
‘Or is she just not the type to get embarrassed over something like this...?’
Then again, Hilde comes from a rich family... and I hear she's waited on hand and foot at school, so she probably isn't too sensitive about privacy.
“…”
I'm technically older, but I can't help feeling like I've lost. If we were going to do it, I wish she'd at least share in the embarrassment.
‘The scenery was just too romantic, was that it? Did Clara's sensibilities kick in? You were an easy woman, Clara... I mean, I'm one to talk, but with the pretty filter added on top, this whole situation is just mortifying.’
Cao Cao was amazing. Even when he was attacked during a passionate night with a married woman, while Cao Ang and Dian Wei were dying, didn't he escape with perfect composure?
I want to learn that kind of boldness.
‘Please...! Please just pretend you didn't see anything...!’
I repeatedly tried and failed to act natural by crossing my legs. In the end, I buttoned up my coat and spoke to the Golden Witch in a deliberately casual tone.
“Ahaha—☆ Your timing was really... really... not great...!”
The Golden Witch nodded and gazed at the sunset. Through the cat's gradually fading body, the afterglow was faintly visible.
She was slowly disappearing.
『...Yes, it seems so. But I'm running out of time. I used all my ether to stop the Serpent of Wisdom and Cycle and create the new magic.』
“...I see☆”
『I've already told the children in the Sage's Room everything I could... It's time for me to depart.』
“…”
The Golden Witch watched the lonely, setting sun in the distance, her ears twitching. She looked as if she might embark on another adventure right then and there to explore this world.
But…
『My story has already ended. This is merely... a note written on the very last page. The children who remain must continue the rest of the tale.』
“…”
“…”
『Originally, this was power I had saved for the moment you would face the Dragon Crouching in the Abyss, which we failed to defeat and could only seal... but because of 'his' choice, the Serpent of Wisdom and Cycle was also awakened. It's possible that even the other beast god, the Wolf that Desires Vengeance, might rise.』
Hilde reacted to the word 'his' and asked the Golden Witch.
“The one Lara asked about... the Prophet, you mean?”
『Yes. You already heard the important parts earlier, but...』
Twitch—
The Golden Witch's ears fluttered lightly, moving as if recalling a breeze from a distant memory.
『A very... kind man, an adult all four of us relied on... and a man who was hurt by our 'sacrifice.' Other than the fact that he came from 'another universe,' we don't know much about him. He was always just there to listen to our stories.』
“...I see.”
『...However, the fact that the children who carry the same [Fates] as we did are all gathered here at this moment cannot be a coincidence.』
“…”
『Above all, the child who inherited the [Fate] of the girl whose very name has been forgotten—the [Saintess of Sacrifice]—is here.』
The Golden Witch looked at me and said.
『A fate that requires you to erase even your name and devote yourself to the world... As this era's [Saintess of Sacrifice], are you prepared to accept that fate?』
“…”
『Can you endure the injustice of your [Fate] pushing you down the path of 'sacrifice,' even against your will?』
“…”
Her voice was laced with concern. And I remembered the last name, faintly engraved beneath the statue of the Golden Witch.
The Saintess of Sacrifice.
A title that even I, who knew the original story, was unaware of.
…
It's not that I completely understood its meaning.
But—
Hero, Standard-Bearer, Witch... and Saintess.
A figure whose title was written alongside the [Fates of the Three Heroes]. If there was someone who inherited that [Fate], I couldn't help but think it had to be me.
‘After all... Central Prism Academy was the protagonist's school in the game.’
It only makes sense that the final member from the main school would have some foreshadowing.
Clara.
The girl who was completely forgotten at some point in the original game.
It's surprising that such an absurd comic relief character had the role of the [Saintess of Sacrifice].
‘Well, it's not like finding more hidden lore in this world that I didn't know about is anything new.’
Ever since seeing 'Urðr'... I had to accept that she, too, must have had some crucial role.
‘Perhaps the reason I, who died from overwork, was reborn in Clara's body... and the reason I was able to defeat the Priest of Corrosion and break free from the 'original Clara's' weapon aptitude in this world…’
...is all thanks to the sacrifice of the girl who changed even her own name and completely vacated her place for my soul, an anomaly in this world.
I am here today because of Clara, the [Saintess of Sacrifice]. And... that [Fate] of 'sacrifice' still remains with 'me.'
What must I 'sacrifice' myself for?
“…”
No.
It's already been decided.
What I want is a happy ending where everyone can smile.
‘And a happy ending where I can meet the seniors I can't see right now... that kind of happy ending.’
I looked at the slowly fading Golden Witch and said.
“Of course—♪ What's important is the 'story,' not [Fate], right? It would be a problem if the one who said that forgot☆ Whether it's the 'Prophet' or , you can leave it to me—☆”
『…』
The Golden Witch looked at me and prayed silently.
『I pray that your 'sacrifice'... will not be as painful as hers, and that you will be able to smile with those who remain...』
“Leave it to me—☆ If worst comes to worst, I'll just fight alongside Hilde and my friends here~☆ Just like this time, we'll take care of everything in a flash!”
“…Lara.”
Hilde looked at me with worried eyes. But I laughed cheerfully so that neither she nor the Golden Witch's projection would worry until the very end.
There's still so much I don't know.
But I, too, wish for a happy ending that transcends [Fate].
I laughed loud enough to echo beyond the sunset.
“Ahahaha—☆ Don't worry so much~”
“…”
『…Yes. Thank you.』
Hearing my laughter, the Golden Witch turned her gaze back to the sunset.
『…』
The entire sky was dyed gold, turning the city a golden hue. All memories, too, were stained gold, shining faintly.
『…』
Our story was not yet over.
But the story left by the Golden Witch was turning to its final page.
『…』
The Golden Witch wrote on that final golden page.
-May your lover, your friends, everyone be happy... May your story be remembered by all. May the miracle brought about by the fate of 'sacrifice'... bring happiness to everyone, including you...
Glimmering gold.
Scattering ether.
The golden murals vanished like a fleeting dream.
And so.
The golden cat disappeared into the dazzling sunset.
The slowly fading golden fragments shifted into the forms of a young girl, a clumsy mage, a seasoned adventurer, and a mature woman. Then, they changed back into a small golden cat and ran off.
The story of the little girl who ran out of the cave 1,500 years ago... came to a close amidst the golden sunset.
“…”
“…”
Hilde and I watched the sunset for a while before climbing down from the body of the 'serpent,' which was now completely crumbling away.
Now it was time for the massive cleanup.
*
Lotha left the Seekers' library and looked up at the sky, where the sun was already setting.
“…”
In her arms was... the first grimoire, now empty, all its golden letters having vanished. She resolved to begin writing her own story within its pages.
A murmur.
The faint sound of voices could be heard nearby.
The Seeker students were also excited, ready to begin new research based on the newly discovered magic.
It wasn't that no one noticed Lotha leaving with the first grimoire. But after witnessing her deeds, most of them acknowledged her right to it.
Above all, the fact that she was the successor personally named by the Golden Witch carried great weight.
Lotha left the lightly buzzing library behind and walked forward.
“…I should get back to my senior.”
*
Alvitt and Kara stood with their backs to dozens of scrapped magitech armors and an unconscious Andrea being dragged away, gazing at the sunset.
“…”
“…”
A cacophony of noise.
Behind them, the United Student Council, Aesir Girls' High School... and numerous other students were handling the aftermath of the incident.
Amidst it all, Kara suddenly muttered.
“By the way, where is our senior comrade?”
“Well, seeing as the 'serpent' isn't moving anymore, I guess the incident's been resolved.”
Alvitt scratched her head with a troubled expression. Kara turned to her and offered the congratulations she hadn't been able to give during the battle.
“Anyway, congratulations. To think you reached the state of [Wave Ether] in the middle of all that chaos. That's a growth rate seldom seen, I'd say.”
“Um, about that... A 'hawk' suddenly appeared in my mind and...”
“A hawk?”
“Umm... I don't know. I'm not sure either.”
“Then who does know?”
“Good point...”
The two fell silent for a moment.
“We should go find our senior comrade.”
“Yeah, let's go talk to our senior.”
“It seems we have much to discuss. Hehe... It was quite an eventful night...”
“I'll say...”
*
A week spent in the Golden Quarter.
During that time, the group from Central Prism Academy stayed at the United Student Council building, which had survived the Serpent of Wisdom and Cycle's attack.
Despite being busy with the cleanup, Hilde and I met often to talk.
We laughed, we sulked, and we shared many stories. And so, for the first time in this world, there was someone who had heard my entire story.
My past life and my present one.
Secrets and misunderstandings.
The conclusion we reached after sharing everything was...
“I love you, Lara.”
“Uh, yeah...☆ Me too.”
…And that's how it went.
And upon seeing this, our juniors all wore dumbfounded expressions and let out shrieks of horror.