Chapter 337
Chapter 337
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 337
Chapter Title: S6. The Mage, Her Friend, and Yuna
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Chek. Pero snapped a crisp salute. I returned it with a simple one of my own.
"I'll fill in the rest with everything I've got! Leave it to me!"
"Good. I'm leaving the rest to you."
The big sections were all wrapped up. Now only the fine details in every nook and cranny were left. Sticking around this floor any longer would just be a waste of time.
I opened the door and, just before heading to the next floor, asked,
"So, you gonna give up? On romance."
"...I'm gonna keep at it until I've been dumped three times!"
"As long as you've made up your mind!"
I'd create an opportunity for her to meet the princess. No idea how it'd turn out, but I hoped she'd at least be able to accept the result, even if she regretted it.
I pushed on the handle with all my strength. Light from the memories leaked through the crack in the door, welcoming me. I'd get another glimpse into those memories on the way up.
Was this... the story after Yuna made her first friend?
I knew this story's ending was tragic. But I prayed it wasn't too tragic. That amid the pain, she at least had one small comfort.
Forward.
As time passed, the petals were plucked away one by one.
Every attempt at life and happiness vanished into bubbles of meaninglessness.
Yuna's heart never reached them. The scheme that began with the golden ticket snowballed, and her efforts to encourage the children only bred misunderstandings.
"How... how can you smile like that? How are you still smiling...? Ah, I get it. That's it. You're in league with those mages, aren't you?! That's why they don't torture you. You're just mocking us!"
It was hatred born of agony.
But that hatred was still better.
By the time the kid framed for the golden ticket died. The one who raged every day because they couldn't survive without hating someone died. The one who went completely mad and bashed their head against the wall until they died.
Silence descended.
A lonely, desolate silence, like being the only one left in the universe, crept up the spine. The chill made one's whole body shudder involuntarily.
And so, the only survivors left at the end were two.
Yuna and Alice.
"I wanna be a butterfly. If I could turn into one, I could just fly away free."
"Butterflies... aren't they kinda gross?"
"Just don't look up close."
The two stared beyond the unopening wall, imagining the sky that might be there. But it'd been so long since they'd been trapped in the tower as test subjects.
"...What color was the sky again?"
"Sky blue."
"I mean, what does 'sky blue' even look like...?"
They couldn't picture it well.
As they tried to recall what a clear sky looked like, Alice suddenly remembered her own past.
"Me? I was just a gutter rat stealing wallets in back alleys. I thought that life was the worst, but I realized too late it wasn't."
"Me? I was... nobility."
Alice's eyes went wide in shock. How on earth had someone of noble blue blood ended up as a Magic Tower test subject?
She asked carefully,
"...Were you, like, from some affair or something? Illegitimate?"
"...My parents loved honor. When a mage came and said he'd make me the Violet Magic Tower Master's direct disciple, they were thrilled and sent me here. They probably don't know what I'm going through... Even if they did, I doubt they'd care."
"Being noble doesn't mean it's all good. Damn it... When we get out, make it big and shove it in their faces."
"Yeah."
How grateful they were for a friend who could comfort each other.
The gnawing hunger like pain in their bellies, the dizziness from malnutrition. It all felt better chatting with a friend.
The two girls whispered for a long time, sharing stories about themselves, their families, their hobbies... and their dreams.
"Me? I'm definitely getting out of here. Then I'll get revenge on these bastards, and after that... I'll get married. To anyone. Doesn't matter if they're ugly. As long as I can live a normal life."
"Even if they're really ugly?"
"...If they're really ugly, maybe I'd think about it. What about you?"
"Me? Well... umm..."
Dreams.
The word was too vague and hazy, so Yuna quietly shook her head.
"I dunno..."
"You were trying so hard to save everyone, I thought you wanted to be a holy knight or something. No dreams, huh...? Then share mine. You get married too. Ideally to someone rich and capable, and live a normal, happy life."
Yuna closed her eyes for a moment, lost in imagination.
Marriage. For that, she'd need a man first. What kind? The imperial family had golden hair, right? A prince with golden hair and blue eyes? Hmm... didn't quite click.
Maybe something more... ordinary would be better. Yuna put the face of her imaginary man on hold. Covered it with fluffy clouds for now.
Then they hold the wedding. Vow eternal love, do that... brief lip-to-lip contact thing, and fall asleep together under the moonlight.
Sounds good. Probably happy.
Suddenly, an idea struck her, and Yuna muttered in a hoarse voice,
"...I wish you'd come to my wedding."
"Duh. Of course we'd be each other's guests. I'd go to yours, you'd come to mine. Friends, right?"
"Yeah, friends."
Yeah, because we're friends.
The most irreplaceable friends in the world.
......
"Only one of you will survive. Tomorrow, we'll choose the one who believes more deeply in our scaled god. Discuss your final moments carefully."
Because they were friends.
Drizzle fell. So I conjured an umbrella and held it up.
Crown Hall a century later was nearly half gone. Ground and buildings alike vanished without trace, like a cluster of sky islands.
Sitting cross-legged on a floating inn roof drifting through the air, looking down revealed nothing. Falling would mean eternal plunge.
As I waited quietly,
Whish—Pang!
A hook flew in, latching perfectly onto the chimney. Wire tautened with a twang, and a graceful woman shot through the air to land.
A beauty in a full-body tights suit. So perfectly sculpted, you'd wonder who carved her. No hiding it—it was Centra.
"...Creator, why the umbrella? Sun's shining."
"Raining, so."
"...Sad dream?"
"Wasn't mine, but damn it was sad."
With Centra here, prep was done. I pushed off my knee and stood.
I knew this floor's clear condition: collect and view Yuna's memories. Mirror Yuna really wanted to convince me, it seemed.
"Great Kaiju is great and all, but no flight. Navigating floating world debris solo would suck... Needed your help. Let's go, Centra. That way, toward the Golden Door."
"...Should I carry you?"
"As if. I've got manners and dignity."
I repurposed the transformation device Dreaming Mirror to turn into a hamster-sized fluffball. Climbed atop Centra's head and gripped her hair tight.
"There, no unnecessary contact. Won't get chewed out by His Highness."
"If you can transform, why not just become a bird and fly?"
"Using phone while driving's dangerous. If Yuna's memory hits mid-flight, I'd crash straight down. Scary."
"True. Raining, after all..."
Pew—clank. Whish—!
Centra fired her rope gun, soaring building to building like flight. The world, absorbed by Mirror Yuna, faded bit by bit—fleeting.
Some stories torment because the end is unknown. Others because it is. Yuna ends up alone.
If only this were illusion. If I could intervene, direct it into a tale where everyone laughs.
"Can't change the past."
I know. That's impossible.
"Even we who could... You didn't change us, Creator."
Right. I didn't. Could've made an Abraham untouched by horror, a Centra never in the Resistance.
But they'd just be different people, not the happy Abraham and Centra I knew.
"In the end... those alive and breathing can only look to the future."
"Yeah."
Forward. Have to.
Swish, plop.
Centra set me down before the Golden Door. I reverted to human form and looked at her.
"Thanks. Too late for rock-paper-scissors on this floor. I'll open the way down, you head there."
"Creator."
"...Yeah?"
"A loving couple overcomes any hardship for each other. I'm living proof. So... come back safe."
"......"
Fair enough.
Words from a couple still thick as thieves, race and situation be damned. If I can't trust that, whose should I?
I'll love fiercely. Until the eternal rain stops.
Creeeak—
I opened the Golden Door and saw Yuna's final memory.
Alice wanted to live more than anyone.
To boost survival odds, she'd obeyed the mages from the start. When they demanded religious conversion, she memorized scriptures obsessively, like a paranoid.
She ignored obvious trap escapes, endured any doubt. Starved herself to adapt to minimal food, lay still all day to conserve energy.
A life for survival alone.
She'd abandon most of what made her herself to live.
But she broke her own rule. When she saw the golden-haired girl, who'd vowed to move forward righteously even in hell... being strangled.
Snapping to, she held a bloodied chair in her hands.
"...Damn it."
She didn't show it, but she regretted. Should've let her strangle to death. No standing out.
But she couldn't bear it. Couldn't let a brainless whiner steal the girl's noble light.
She was Alice's star.
It'll be okay. Another chance will come. Don't abandon humanity. Alice found comfort in Yuna's clinging hope.
Yes, with that star. As long as she's there. Even if survival demands sacrifice... I won't forget what I lost.
But she never imagined it'd come to just the two of them.
"Only one of you will survive. Tomorrow, we'll choose the one who believes more deeply in our scaled god. Discuss your final moments carefully."
Never dreamed it'd lead to choosing which one lives—pure horror.
After long silence, Yuna spoke first, softly to her one true friend.
"...I'm too dumb to memorize scriptures. Heh heh."
"......"
Lie.
Alice had known Yuna was sharp for ages. She'd probably memorized every page of the scriptures she'd glimpsed. Yuna was yielding the chance to live.
"Don't... don't do that, Yuna. Let's just... compete fair and square."
"...If only one can go, it should be the one with dreams. I'm fine."
"......"
Emotions boiled. But topping was self-loathing. Because relief washed over her. Knowing Yuna would keep her word. Knowing it was sincere.
I won't die. Relief.
But, but she just couldn't.
Say I'll die, you go, Yuna.
"...Kuh... sob. Hic...!"
"Don't cry... It's okay. It's okay, Alice... I was happy to be with you."
Cowardly, she accepted Yuna's sacrifice.
......
The time came.
"Chapter 3, verse 32."
"Don't know."
"The Great Black Dragon Emperor decreed: The imperial capital's name shall bear eternal immortality in memory. Engrave it on unchanging stone so pronunciation, script, and form endure time."
Each time The Goat asked, Yuna said she didn't know. Alice got them all right. The long recitation ended.
"Excellent. Yurensuto's subject got them all wrong, but you aced it."
"......"
She lived.
Lived. Survived.
But no joy. Alice felt confusion. She'd thrashed for life, silently accepted Yuna's sacrifice, and now...?
"T-Take care, Alice. Later... definitely later."
Yuna promised an impossible reunion, half tears, half smile.
Guilt tore at her heart. So.
"Since you know our god so well, we'll use you for the Evil God Statue materials, Alice."
Stab—!
And.
When The Goat's arm pierced her back and ripped out her heart, Alice felt relief instead. It hurt less than her heart tearing.
Yes, the deeper believer lives. Didn't say how they choose. Fooled. But.
Good. I die. Truly...
Splat. Heartless body crumples. Alice's soul bound with the heart became the first Evil God Statue.
"Begin the experiment's final phase. Mirror from Yurensuto's subject, reflect the Evil God Statue... Draw a obedient god from the illusion realm. Completion is near!"
Manifold mana lines connected to Yuna's body.
Forcibly stretching the soul for the Mirror—unbearable agony. Yet Yuna sat doll-like, eyes vacant.
The door opens.
Crack, split. Cross-shaped rift in space swirled with infinite possibilities. The Goat carefully pressed the Evil God Statue against it...
Even then, Alice's consciousness lingered.
Unexpected. It should've scattered. Leftover awareness reflected the wrong thing in the mirror.
From within the Evil God Statue, Alice prayed. Earnestly to the being crossing from the mirror.
I don't know who or what you are. But if you're born from me. If my voice reaches. If you're willing to grant my wish.
I pray thus.
Please, make Yuna the happiest in the world.
S0. The modern sleepless city.
Mirror Yuna continued, perched on the building railing.
"Yuna's soul not breaking enough was another variable. The mages thought it'd shatter, but that light you hold remained. With self-awareness, it's a person, not a mirror."
"...So the Mirror reflected Yuna's closest form. And her friend's wish dwelled within."
"Right. That's how I was born."
An illusory figure from imperfect Evil God Statue and imperfect Mirror, made solely to make Yuna happy.
Like Yuna, but not Yuna.
"First thing after Yuna was born: erase her starlight. You saw. She suffered needlessly, got hurt."
"...Then cleaned out the old Violet Magic Tower?"
"Yeah. Wiped them all. Yuna might've said 'give the passive mages a chance' or 'they had reasons.' But no."
"Yeah, couldn't say that. You did good there."
Twirl.
Against the city nightscape with moonlit glow, Mirror Yuna spun half-turn to face me.
"You'll be Yuna's wound."
"Wrong. I get your good intentions, but distinguish crisis from peace. Your job's done."
"Before you grow in her heart, I'll erase you completely here."
"From now on, I'll take care of Yuna. If you won't retire gracefully... I'll force you out."
Kigig, kigigi—
The world warps. Desert sand cascades like waterfalls from the sky, buildings sprout atop buildings, sword rain falls from above.
And... that pure white, beautifully shining moon.
Instinct told me: that's the Yuna I love.
"There you are, Yuna."
Wait just a bit.
Once I quietly disband your toxic fan club president, I'll reach you for sure.
I chanted with resolve.
"The sky is indifferent. No love in its gaze. If no one fathoms my heart, I can only advance alone toward that moon." "—With heart as brush, bloom beneath my feet."
⟨ Moon-Crossing Scene - Skybound Fantasy Pillar ⟩