Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Wrapping Up
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After wrapping up my heart-pounding wuxia adventure in Enbus, I slumped onto the sofa and said,
"I'm thinking of taking a break from TRPG for a while."
"...!!!"
The Violet Magic Tower Master, who had been lying with her head on my thigh, bolted upright in shock. Her expression made it look like she'd just heard the sky was falling tomorrow.
She even started prodding my face to check if I was a doppelganger. No matter how much she pinched and pulled at my cheeks, nothing peeled off. Because I'm the real deal.
As the Tower Master let out a little squeak and made a huge fuss, Pingbalrez emerged from the bathroom, all steamy and warm.
Her skin was slightly flushed from the hot water, and while she'd put on pants, her upper body was bare. Instead of a top, she had a long towel draped around her neck to cover her chest.
Without any lust suppression, my gaze might have darted all over the place, but with my enlightened mind, she just seemed like a regular bathhouse uncle.
...No, that's a lie.
I averted my eyes from that gravitational pull of immense mass and stared off at distant mountains. My situation, where I had to endure despite knowing better, felt a bit pathetic.
"...What's going on?"
"Yuri! Something's wrong with him—he says he's taking a break from TRPG!"
"He could be a doppelganger disguised as the Mad Wizard. I'll strip off his pants to check."
"Why the pants...?"
As Pingbalrez moved to undress me, I grabbed my belt and strained to keep my pants up while thinking.
Is this really that shocking?
To calm the Tower Master's hysterics, I spoke slowly and calmly, laying out the facts. Flowers don't bloom red for ten days straight—this was just natural.
"No one can think about TRPG all day, every day. You need to take breaks sometimes."
"...You did!"
"Even the most fun thing can't be done 365 days a year nonstop."
"...You did!"
I did. Yeah, I did.
In my previous life and this one, nothing had ever gotten my heart racing like TRPG. That's why I dove in headfirst and kept going until now. TRPG is still my life's passion.
But sometimes, you need balance between life and hobbies. Now... I had precious daily life beyond just hobbies. I wanted to live happily ever after with Yuna and Yuri.
And without proper rest, session quality drops.
For the well-being and happiness of both TRPG and me, we needed some distance. That was my conclusion.
"So... what do you want to do instead of sessions? You're not planning to destroy the world, right?"
"How about casting massive Illusion Magic on the moon to brainwash and train all intelligent beings across the continent and become ruler of the world? I saw it in a comic."
"What the hell do you think I am?"
"Eek...!"
I pulled the chattering Yuna into a hug and tucked her against my chest. That subdued the flimsy Violet Magic Tower Master. Her face was already flushing as she purred contentedly.
Pingbalrez roughly toweled off her hair, then slipped into a dress shirt and suit before joining us. She lay down, embracing me—who was holding Yuna—with a faint scent of medieval magic body wash.
Lately, we'd been spending a lot of time like this, all three tangled up together.
Yuna was prone to loneliness, and I craved human warmth too, so it made sense. Even the seemingly stoic Pingbalrez seemed to enjoy it.
At first, I thought she was just clinging to tease both Yuna and me.
But unlike a sly vixen who subtly flaunts her allure to savor the flustered reactions, she looked more like a cat happily perched on a car hood.
Were it her nature, or some past event?
Maybe Yuri Lancaster's history wasn't all smooth sailing either. That was my quiet guess.
As Yuna nuzzled the underside of my jaw with the top of her head, she asked,
"So, what are you really gonna do?"
"Rest. Lounge around like this, or... catch up on human relationships I've been neglecting. Go out for drinks. That sort of thing."
Back to a human life, not the machine-like existence swallowed by TRPG as a Game Master.
"...That's really all?"
"For a sharp Tower Master like you, I gotta hold on tight."
"Waaah."
As Yuna said, there was more to do besides resting.
There were two reasons I suddenly felt this way.
First, watching former Enbus' Nangong Cheonghwi play family, I realized I couldn't just keep playing—I needed to do something for my own family too.
Looking back, I'd been neglecting Yuna and Pingbalrez, so I wanted meaningful time with them.
"Then start with a gender-swap date, Mad Wizard."
"......"
I wasn't ready for that yet.
Second, I was chasing a nagging sense of dissonance in my mind.
Since joining the Violet Magic Tower, I'd been running flat out. Researching like the world would end without TRPG, then spreading the results everywhere.
That felt off. Wasn't I being too serious, too desperate?
Still just a hypothesis, but maybe "that thing" in my head was influencing me. Maybe there was a reason I had to spread TRPG to everyone.
I planned to dig into that.
The sensation of being led went beyond discomfort—it ignited my fighting spirit. One must choose their own fate. Never let others do it. That's what I believe.
That's why I hate those who treat people like chess pieces for their goals. No matter how brilliantly players perform, they'll force a bad end out of stubbornness. I can't help but despise them.
Yuna clapped her hands as if she got it.
"No wonder I thought it was weird how you meticulously organized session ideas every night before bed...!!"
"No, I did that in my past life too."
"Indeed. I thought it odd too. You stared at the floorboards, said the grain looked like a squid, and started brainstorming an offshore trawler session?"
"That was my past life too."
GMs are the type who see wind rustling leaves and think, "Session material." Nothing weird there.
The Violet Magic Tower Master's face soured as she listened seriously to my hypothesis.
"...Isn't it just that you love TRPG too much?"
"No, it's different."
"That's the least convincing thing I've heard all year, Mad Wizard."
Anyway.
So... I decided to take it easy. Clear my head, do non-session stuff. Spec up too. I still haven't achieved apotheosis.
And there was magic to finish.
In my previous fight with Roderus, I'd repelled him with a holographic power armor. Bolstering the hologram's weak physicality with gear.
Inspired, I planned an artifact. Make holograms solid, supply emergency power, boost efficiency converting faith to mana.
Grant it to named NPCs, and I'd have summonable allies anytime.
That's why I'd been dragging Little Evil God to every session lately. Though the form differed, the essence was the same—faith from Roderus and Enbus steadily built up in the Evil God.
My vision:
Frontline: Heavenly Demon. Backline: Evil God.
The merciless AI parry machine tanks upfront, the Evil God—master tormentor—rains debuffs. I casually cast spells to crush foes.
Perfect.
I glanced at the clock, slipped my hands under the Tower Master's sides, lifted her effortlessly, and set her down beside me. Then I unwound Pingbalrez's arms from my waist and stood.
"Where to?"
"Enbus submitted a leave of absence. Needs a professor consult, so I'm handling that."
"...Enbus seems headed back to his family. Hope it goes well—could be dangerous."
"It will."
Not empty optimism. I believed it would.
I was still linked to Roderus via mind projection. I'd peek into his dreams now and then to check the Red Duke's moves—he was at the ducal estate.
Magical girl gigs paused, obeying the duke while watching for openings, but struggling.
Facing that huge house alone isn't easy. But what about two?
Reinforcements, Roderus. Sending your brother.
Area debuff master apotheosis fighter Nangong Cheonghwi incoming!
Enbus Redburn sat ramrod straight and requested of the mage,
"I wish to leave the Academy for a time."
"Very well."
The exchange was brief. The mage pulled a leave form from a drawer, placed it on the table, and Enbus Redburn signed.
Enbus sighed. Complex emotions welled up: anxiety and tension about the road ahead, doubts if he could pull it off.
Opposing the turmoil: the image of heaven cradled in his heart.
He would return to his family and upend everything. Replace cries with laughter. Then, at last, he'd have a family.
As Enbus steeled himself staring at his signature, the mage casually asked,
"Burying the past and starting anew is an option."
"......"
"You have friends, a relationship teetering on romance, and above all... the readiness to build a family. Restarting life would be simple."
True.
Graduate with honors, pick from the flood of offers. Knight for a noble? Fine. Build your own force? Good too.
Apotheosis experts had endless paths.
Wealth, comfort, a house with a big garden—wife, kids, happy family forever.
But to forsake certain future bliss for danger?
"I want no regrets in this life."
"Good."
The mage nodded.
He pondered briefly, then pulled a deck of cards from his pocket and asked Enbus,
"Know astrology?"
"Magic to divine the future from stars, yes."
"Yes. These cards are for 'astrology play.' Want a reading? No real authority since it's a game, but light fun."
"......"
Enbus eyed the plain cards—no mana, but wielded by the extraordinary.
One who could freely send people to other worlds might divine futures sitting right there.
Thus, Enbus firmly shook his head.
"No divination needed. My heart's path is set—future good or bad won't sway me. I'll just march straight—"
"Romance fortunes too."
"...Read for me."
Enbus scooted his chair flush to the table. No matter how firm his resolve, romance was different.
The mage shuffled and asked,
"Current situation?"
"We've kissed, but no progress. Is it... just friends? A pity kiss? Or does she like me? No clue."
"Don't need cards for that. You both like each other—pursue it."
"But her face is expressionless, and I'm unsure for confession, so..."
Shhh.
The mage fanned the cards on the table. Pick one, he suggested.
After a staring contest, Enbus picked one after five minutes. The mage flipped it: an upside-down moonlit night scene.
"Anxieties will clear, everything clarify. Tangled, murky emotions untangle neatly. Not just romance—all matters."
"...Sounds good."
"But accept someone's change honestly. No matter how shocking—it's unchanging truth."
"...?"
Cryptic advice.
Yet meaningful, so Enbus etched it in his heart.
Enbus Redburn packed his bags and exited the Academy gates. Glancing back, Luna was there to see him off—but her face was sour.
Someone-or-other had kissed her, then filed leave for a long trip.
Gaze Insight revealed it. Enbus avoided Luna's burning stare. Still, duties called.
Enbus gave an awkward smile.
"See you later."
"Take too long, I'll forget you."
"...I'll hurry back."
Only then did Luna thumbs-up contentedly. Enbus memorized her face one last time, then turned away.
Destination: Redburn Ducal House. Reunion with brother Roderus imminent.
Much changed since leaving. He'd gained apotheosis, family, conviction. What his house denied, the world granted.
Now, time to repay his house. Uproot and remake it all. Set everything right!
His chest filled with vast righteous qi, Enbus roared to the heavens.
"I'm no bastard of the Redburn Ducal House. I'm Nangong Cheonghwi, prime disciple of the Great Nangong Clan!"
Hahaha!
His hearty laughter echoed wide across the sky.
Nangong Cheonghwi finally returned to the house that made him.