Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Diary (3)
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"Ganon...... ugh......"
Mayatrei sat huddled with her hands clasped tightly together, sobbing.
To her, this was the first new trace of Ganon she'd seen in 700 years. Jamie couldn't even begin to fathom what emotions she must be feeling.
Jamie sat beside her and gently patted her back.
How long did she cry?
Finally calming a bit, Mayatrei opened her mouth with a self-deprecating expression.
"Ganon was a gruff man. And quiet. He never showed his joy, not even a little."
But the words in the diary were pure expressions of Ganon's feelings that even Mayatrei hadn't known about.
Though clumsy, they were infinitely precious to her.
"He says he loves me. He never once said anything like that. Even when I clung to him, he'd just make that annoyed face......"
Tears welled up in Mayatrei's eyes again.
Old memories resurfaced. But she could never see the object of those memories again.
Having touched his heart through the diary like this, it tormented her that she couldn't respond to it.
"Ganon loved you, and you still love Ganon. So I think he lives on forever in your heart."
"......Not bad for a brat."
Mayatrei let out a small chuckle at Jamie's words.
She wiped her tears and hugged her knees.
"I want to go back to those days."
"Who doesn't?"
It was a world 66,666 years and 7 more years removed.
'The past.'
What if it had been regression instead of reincarnation?
He wasn't sure which was better.
The Diablo Volpir of those days had been a demon beyond comparison to now.
"By the way."
As Jamie was lost in thought, Mayatrei spoke up.
The sadness had vanished from her face, replaced by a slightly cold gaze.
"Wh-what's with that look?"
"What are you, really?"
Mayatrei turned slightly toward Jamie and continued.
"You're no ordinary black sorcerer."
"Uh...... I just learned some black magic too......"
"No. Others might not notice, but I can."
This was Mayatrei, the dragon deeply entangled with the black sorcerer Ganon.
And not just that.
"I told you. I tried everything to unseal the diary. You think I didn't use black magic?"
"Eh? You learned black magic?"
"Are you insane? I brought one guy along."
"You kidnapped him."
"We just agreed. I said follow me if you don't want to die, and he naturally said yes."
What was that if not a blackmail kidnapping?
But Jamie didn't bother arguing.
"Anyway, I made that guy use black mana too. But the diary didn't react at all."
"......"
"Above all, that black mana of yours. Is it really the mana that forms the basis of black magic?"
Jamie didn't know how to answer Mayatrei's sharp, successive questions.
He let out a deep sigh and said,
"I'm a sorcerer carrying on Ganon's legacy."
"Everything Ganon left is right here. You're lying."
"No. I didn't receive anything directly from him, but the path he and I pursue is the same. So it's not wrong to say I'm carrying on his legacy."
Mayatrei narrowed her eyes.
She glared at him for a while before speaking.
"You're going to fight the 12 Gods too?"
"Pardon?"
"I've read the diary too. Ganon didn't write everything down, but it's not hard to grasp the context if you're perceptive. He was furious at the 12 Gods and despised the dragonkin who sided with them. If you're walking the same path as that Ganon......"
"Yes."
Jamie nodded.
He wondered if he should tell her this, but she was Ganon's one and only ally. She'd lost so much because of it, but he'd just felt the rage contained within her with his own skin.
Mayatrei said worriedly,
"It's impossible."
"......"
"I hate the 12 Gods too. The dragonkin as well. But separately from that, impossible is impossible."
Even Ganon, who surpassed humans and rivaled dragons, hadn't overcome the gods, let alone the dragonkin.
The gods' power encompassed the entire dragonkin race, and there were twelve such beings.
He couldn't even imagine how strong one needed to become.
"I get that you're a human with tremendous potential. You might soon wield power equal to a dragon."
Mayatrei, a dragon herself, acknowledged Jamie's talent.
"But that's not enough. Far from enough."
Even Ganon couldn't handle two or more dragons.
And not just any two—they were quite strong. When facing the black dragon Igos, one of the stronger ones, he fought alongside Mayatrei and still died.
"Even for me, who's lived over 2,000 years, the trials ahead are unimaginable."
"......"
"Give it up. Live happily as a human. That's the path for you."
It was a challenge doomed to failure.
She couldn't even imagine the horrific future it would unfold.
All Mayatrei could say was to give up.
To her, Jamie replied,
"In the distant, ancient past. There was a man who challenged the 12 Gods alone."
"What?"
"At first, he had many comrades. They believed in him, and he believed in them. They were always as one."
Jamie closed his eyes.
"But one by one, two by two, three by three...... they began losing comrades beyond count. Comrades who died in battle, who fled, who betrayed. So many."
Every day was despair.
It was agony enough to want to abandon everything.
He even thought submission might be better.
"But the man didn't give up. Even after losing everything and standing alone, he challenged the gods, casting aside even himself."
"......"
"In the end, his challenge failed, and he was sealed in the eternal void by the 12 Gods. But even then, he didn't give up. He vowed that someday, far in the future, he would rise again."
In the pitch-black void of nothingness.
Diablo Volpir yearned for an unseen hope.
And some responded to that hope.
"Ganon. Or someone before him. Finally, me."
Jamie opened his eyes.
His glowing purple irises stared clearly at Mayatrei.
"I've inherited that man's legacy and come this far."
"You."
"So I can't give up. Somehow, in my lifetime. Even if I die, for the generations after."
His small fist clenched tight.
"I will kill the 12 Gods."
His expression and voice were resolute.
Mayatrei judged she could never dissuade him.
"Follow me."
"Pardon?"
She stood and walked off without hesitation.
Jamie chased after her, clueless as to why.
They arrived at the cavern with Ganon's tombstone.
Mayatrei approached the tombstone and gently caressed it.
"Ganon would permit it too, if it were you."
"Permit what......?"
"Take it."
Something flew toward him—whoosh.
Jamie caught it hurriedly and checked the contents. His eyes went wide.
"Can I really take this?"
"Quick, before I change my mind."
Mayatrei answered without looking at him.
Jamie looked at the bracelet in his hand, 'Perfect Cell'. He'd been agonizing over how to ask for it, and here she was handing it over first.
He couldn't fathom her feelings.
He simply thanked her.
"I'll use it carefully."
"Return it when everything's over."
It's mine, though?
That would be tactless now, so Jamie smiled in response.
Perfect Cell was too big for a child's wrist, but it shrank to fit upon wearing.
And then—
Bzzz—!!
Perfect Cell thrummed, emitting purple light.
As if recognizing its master, greeting him after so long.
"It seems to recognize you as its owner."
Mayatrei said, slightly surprised.
Jamie smiled faintly and stroked the bracelet.
'Long time no see.'
Seeing Jamie's smile, Mayatrei chuckled softly and leaned against the tombstone.
Then she said to him,
"If. When that time comes."
Jamie's gaze turned to her.
"I'll stake everything to help you."
"Thank you."
"Go on now. Your family must be waiting."
"......Take care."
Mayatrei watched Jamie's retreating figure as he bowed and left, then spoke.
"The dream you dreamed is still continuing, Ganon."
She snapped her fingers.
The relentless rain over the entire mountain range stopped as if it had been a lie.
Ras slicked back his drenched blond hair and spread out his senses.
But aside from small fish, nothing registered.
'Captain was right after all.'
He'd thought Jamie could survive even the swiftest rapids.
But over two hours had passed with no sign.
He might really be gone. How could he face Sears then?
"Jamie...... damn it."
He clenched his fist and punched the wall.
"I'll find you, even if it's just your body!"
"Impressive resolve."
"It has to be. For a kid like Jamie."
"What kind of kid is he?"
"His magic talent is one thing, but he's smart, outgoing, gets along with everyone—a good kid. Especially that incident last time......"
As Ras continued enthusiastically, he sensed something off and turned.
"Fancy meeting you here?"
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"Ja-Jamie!"
Ras hugged the floating Jamie with all his might.
Jamie dodged backward first, ending up dunked in the water.
"Pha!"
"Hahaha. You look like a drowned rat."
"You rascal!"
"Let's head back."
"Yeah! Hahaha! Madam will be thrilled!"
Jamie flew swiftly toward his family, listening to Ras's hearty laughter.
"Jamie!"
Sears was the first to run over, naturally.
Seeing her unharmed son, she sobbed and hugged him tight. Jamie nearly had his guts spill out.
"Oppa—waaaah!"
Sara, thinking disaster had struck her brother, clung to his leg and wailed.
"Damn...... I believed in you!"
Riki shed tears of joy, and Anna, relieved, grabbed her young master's arm and bawled.
"Truly a relief. Truly...... You've done us a great favor. Thank you, Sir Ras."
"I didn't do much."
Ras shook his head at the captain's thanks.
The sky cleared.
The endless rain stopped, and the sun rose behind the dark clouds.
Jamie patted Sears's back and looked behind.
'Until next time.'
He bid farewell to Mayatrei, somewhere out there.
And the carriage set off again toward Uptown.