1. Epilogue
1. Epilogue
'Son, please take good care of the farm. It's a precious farm that we've protected since your halabeoji's time.'
Baruch Spinoza left behind the words to the world, 'Even if the world ends tomorrow, I will plant an apple tree.'
The boy's abeoji wanted the boy to become such a person as well. The boy, too, didn't dislike his abeoji's last wishes.
Holding his abeoji's hand as the spark of life faded away, the boy swore. I will protect the farm, so please close your eyes in peace.
However, the boy could not keep his promise.
[ Breaking news. An unidentified individual who identified themselves as the Demon King has carried out a large-scale massacre in Incheon... ]
One day, the Demon King appeared right in the middle of the streets of Incheon.
The Demon King destroyed the peaceful daily lives of many people, and among them was the boy's daily life as well.
People fell into despair, and everyone thought that this world was doomed.
However, heroes always emerged in troubled times.
[ We beg of you, Awakened Ones. You are the only ones who can save this dying world. ]
Beings called Awakened Ones suddenly appeared in the pitch-dark world.
They willingly threw away their lives to become beacons of hope for many people.
The boy was one of them. He was the biggest beacon of all, and was called the Archmage.
[ It is right before the commencement of the Incheon Reclamation Operation. Everyone, this is a historic moment. ]
[ How many people lost their lives in the past Incheon Catastrophe? Perhaps this is the moment that long-held desire is finally realized. ]
Countless people's expectations and hopes were contained within the boy's beacon.
It was excessively heavy, but even so, the boy pressed forward and eventually reached the source of everything.
It took far too much time to get here. That story was so long that even if he met his abeoji in the future to tell it, he wouldn't be able to tell all of it.
Besides, it didn't seem like his abeoji would find it particularly interesting anyway.
'Still, I should have something to talk about.'
Instead, the boy wanted to prepare a different story.
Once this fight was over, he would return to the quiet countryside of Gangwon-do and farm.
In the place where his abeoji's farm once stood—now collapsed—he would grow various crops again just like before and paint it green.
It wasn't to save the world. The boy had come all the way here solely for that.
Rather, if he had a grand goal like saving the world, he would have failed.
And so, the boy faced the Demon King.
"I am the Demon King who has destroyed the most human realms in history."
The Demon King looked at the battered and bruised boy.
That once mighty mana could no longer be felt, and his face was so badly swollen he couldn't even open his eyes.
One arm was missing, and the Demon King's sword was thrust into his chest.
The blood he had spilled was already near lethal levels. The fact that he had extinguished the massive beacon the humans trusted most brought immense joy.
"However, no Hero from any world was as strong as you. How did you do it?"
When he first came to this world, he thought it was a truly bizarre place.
No matter which dimension's humans were brought here, they wouldn't be weaker than the humans of this world.
At least the weapons were worth acknowledging.
It was a realm of lowly humans who couldn't even use magic, yet with those weapons alone, they produced effects similar to magic.
Yet, for there to be a mage more powerful than any dimension in such a world...
It was truly astonishing.
"...Tree."
The boy whispered very softly with dry lips.
It was audible, but what it meant was impossible to tell.
'Has he already lost his mind?'
However soon after, as if determined to spit this one thing out, the boy spoke clearly once more.
"Apple tree."
Thud. The boy fell to his knees as if his strength had completely run out.
The Demon King smirked. Had he known it would be like this, he should have asked while the boy was still coherent.
"Goodness, it has been a long time since I've had such a fierce battle."
Over the course of two long days, they had tested each other's everything.
It was a battle where it wouldn't have been strange no matter who won.
The Demon King felt deep satisfaction. How long had it been since he had fought with all his heart? No, perhaps it was even the first time.
For that, the Demon King was too strong. The life of a powerhouse who had gained everything was bound to be boring. The death match with the boy was a novel form of entertainment.
"I enjoyed it thoroughly. How about you? Did you enjoy it?"
Surely it was the same for the boy.
That much power was abnormal for a human.
Compared to himself who lived as the Demon King, a human's life possessing that level of strength would be several times more boring.
"No, not at all."
The boy gave a completely different answer.
The Demon King had no response for a long time, then barely managed to reply.
"......That is truly unfortunate."
Answering slowly, the Demon King fought against his closing eyelids and looked down.
Half of his upper body had been blown away.
The massive hole pierced through the Demon King's upper body was a fatal wound that could never be restored.
It wouldn't be strange if he collapsed right now. In the first place, it was a miracle he could even speak.
However, there was something the Demon King absolutely had to say to the boy. Gathering his last remaining strength, he spoke.
"I acknowledge you. O sole Hero of this era. It is... the Demon race's defeat."
With those final words, the Demon King's body turned into white powder and scattered into the air.
The boy had ultimately saved this world.
However, he could not save himself.
"Is it... over?"
With no more strength left, the boy laid down on the spot.
The stifling dark clouds filling the sky cleared away.
The light lost for so long shone brightly upon the boy.
"It's hot."
Panting softly, the boy reached out toward the sky with his only remaining hand.
'I'm sorry. For not being able to tell you the story about the farm.'
The boy intuitively knew that his story had come to an end.
He had hoped there would be a side story, even just a tiny, really tiny bit for the future.
Regrettably, the boy's life seemed to curtain call as an epilogue without any side stories.
He slowly closed his eyes and accepted his death.
"Hero-nim."
The boy opened his eyes at a fluttering sensation.
An unfamiliar woman appeared before his eyes.
"You have worked hard."
"......"
Before he realized it, his surroundings were a lush green meadow.
The boy slowly sat up. He looked at his right arm. The arm that had definitely been torn off was attached whole and healthy.
"God?"
There could be only one person capable of performing such a miracle.
She smiled quietly.
"Yes. I am the Goddess who governs all dimensions. As for my name, I am called differently in each dimension, so I don't really have one."
"......What about Appa?"
The boy looked around his surroundings. Before he knew it, the Goddess was standing in front of the boy with her hands behind her back.
"He is doing well. He was happier than anyone while watching Hero-nim's achievements."
"......I see."
The Goddess looked at the boy for a moment, then spun around with a swish and walked.
"The reason I summoned Hero-nim separately like this is to offer my gratitude—and to give you a special perk."
"A perk?"
"Yes. Because Hero-nim is a great person who saved the world. Granting the wish of such a person is something I, as a God governing dimensions, should naturally do."
'So there's something like that too.'
It was something he hadn't even imagined, so it inexplicably put him in a good mood.
"What is it that you desire?"
The boy spoke without hesitation.
"I want to farm."
"...?"
The Goddess, who had been relaxed all along, got a little flustered.
"Uh, farming...?"
"Yes."
"Um, reincarnation is completely possible. Not to mention status, I can also grant you power. Ah, the only thing that's a no-go—reincarnation into the same dimension is impossible. That would cause a bit of confusion..."
Even before the Goddess finished speaking, the boy shook his head.
"I don't really care about stuff like that. I just need to be able to farm."
At the boy's attitude, which lacked even a shred of greed, the Goddess smiled.
"Then, I will take care of the details myself."
"Yes."
The Goddess waved her hand.
A single gate appeared on the green field.
What could be seen beyond it was a peaceful village.
"You may enter."
'She's just like a department store clerk.'
Suddenly having such a thought, the boy moved his steps.
"Um, Hero-nim."
"Yes."
"Was living in the world called Earth fun for you?"
The boy tilted his head, thought for a moment, and said:
"It wasn't fun."
Even upon hearing those words, the Goddess simply remained smiling.
"I hope the next world Hero-nim lives in will be fun."
"Yes."
Before heading into the gate, a final thing he wanted to say to the Goddess came to mind, so the boy spoke.
"It'd be nice if it's a place without the Demon race."
"I see."
The Goddess answered like that, then quietly extended both hands and pointed at the gate.
The gate flickered for a moment, and the scenery changed.
It was a lush green field just like where he stood. A cottage was also visible.
'Did she change it for me?'
The boy bowed his head to express gratitude, then stepped into the gate without hesitation.
**
A gentle breeze.
In a vast meadow, a single lonely cottage.
In front of it, a platinum blonde girl was lying down.
The girl stayed still like that for a moment, then felt around her body.
Reaching her chest with her hand, she let out a small sound.
"Ah."
She said she'd take care of it herself, but it really felt like she just did whatever she wanted.
This time, she spread her hand and concentrated her mana.
Blue flames circled a few times before disappearing.
"Mana is the same as my past life. Maybe even more."
Well, since she was going to farm anyway, it didn't particularly matter.
The girl stood up awkwardly.
Something folded in the hem of her white one-piece dress fell to the ground.
It was a token. She didn't know what it was, but characters were engraved on it.
-Ella.
"Must be my name."
Nod. She quietly accepted it. She didn't really like the name, but since she was going to farm, it was fine.
Ella clasped her hands behind her back and looked around the surroundings. She opened the cottage door once, tried jumping once, and even rolled around on the ground.
Nodding once in satisfaction, Ella flew up into the sky this time.
"Medieval."
There was a village nearby. There was also a large city quite a distance away. The architectural style was medieval.
"Atmospheric mana."
She had felt it for a while now, but this place seemed to be quite a blessed world. The atmospheric mana was concentrated to a degree incomparable to Earth.
However, stuff like that didn't matter much. Ella stared intently at a certain spot.
She felt numerous presence signals that were thoroughly sickening and familiar.
"......There ARE Demons, aren't there."
It seemed this story was going to be a fantasy.