Chapter 339
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Another Tale
"...Rishir?"
"Yes? Ah, sorry. I felt something strange for a moment."
"Something strange?"
"Like something was watching me—"
Lindal looked in the direction Rishir had been staring just moments before.
There was an endlessly sprawling field.
And countless gravestones.
Gravestones erected to honor the great will that had been carried forward through innumerable sacrifices and attempts.
"..."
Lindal alternated between looking at the gravestones and Rishir with a surprised expression.
"You felt like they were watching you...?"
"They..."
Rishir slowly mulled over Lindal's words, taking in the vast field once more.
The gravestones that seemed, perhaps due to his imagination, all directed toward him.
"..."
A moment later.
Rishir gave a meaningful smile.
"Maybe so. I'm not entirely sure myself."
"...I see."
Rishir.
And Lindal quietly took in the sight of the field swaying in the wind for a while.
"I'm glad."
The words came out of nowhere.
"Glad?"
"Yeah."
Lindal's steadfast eyes turned to Rishir.
Now those eyes held only the person before him.
Perfectly serene.
"I'm truly glad no problems arose for you, that you can enjoy the future you forged yourself."
"...Ah."
Rishir smiled softly.
"I feel the same."
Rishir reflexively recalled the situation back then.
The phenomenon that came after sharing his existence with everyone.
His body and mind becoming transparent, filled with pure purity.
If.
That state had continued unchanged, what would have become of him?
"..."
Deepening contemplation.
Eventually, Rishir shrugged it off.
Either way, one fact was crystal clear.
"Yes. Truly glad."
Rishir was more than satisfied with the current outcome.
No need to look back at the past.
"..."
Lindal smiled warmly, watching Rishir.
Whoosh—
A clear wind blew, gently embracing the entire place.
The peaceful time continued for a while.
They fully savored the present they had created.
"So."
At the end of it, Lindal looked at Rishir.
"Rishir, why did you come find me? You must be busy with all sorts of things in the present world."
"...Ah—it's not anything else, but I had a question for you."
"Go ahead. I'll answer anything I can."
Rishir clenched and unclenched his fist once before speaking.
"Lindal. What exactly is my ability— the true nature of this power?"
A transcendent being called the God King.
Rishir believed the only one who could provide the answer to the question he'd long held was standing before him.
"..."
Lindal nodded as if to say he'd expected it.
He answered with a confident expression.
"Well, I don't know."
Very assuredly.
As if any fault lay not with him, but with the other party.
"..."
Rishir felt wronged but couldn't bring himself to argue.
An awkward silence flowed for a while—
"Sorry, Rishir. For not being helpful."
"No, if anything, I'm sorry for asking something unreasonable."
"Anyway. Thanks for relying on me. Anything else on your mind?"
"Not at the moment."
"Alright. If something comes up later, don't hesitate to lean on me. Though I might disappoint you like now."
The words, delivered with a joke, served as farewell.
Lindal expected Rishir, having settled his business, to return to the present world soon, and prepared to see him off.
"..."
"...?"
But for some reason, Rishir showed no sign of moving.
"Rishir?"
"...If it's alright, could I stay here a bit longer?"
"Huh? Oh, sure, I'm happy. Happy, but... mind if I ask why—"
At that moment.
Lindal's words cut off abruptly.
"Rishir!!!"
The true holy sword Jallak—
the medium connecting Rishir to the great will—
Subjected to a strong impact there.
"Urk, sorry Rishir...!!!"
Roera.
She set down Jallak, which she'd gripped like a collar, and strode toward Rishir.
With a tail of countless people behind her.
The crowd stood at a slight distance.
Some watched with excited, spectacle-hungry faces—
But others wore the world's most serious expressions, like Roera.
"Explain!"
Roera thrust her face close, as if ready to headbutt Rishir, and said.
"What the hell is this sudden engagement—"