Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Hope
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Among the Mir of primordial times, the one with the largest wings was Etz, the Mir of the Zephyr Winds, but the one with the greatest body by far was Yam, the Mir of the Vast Sea.
"Is that... thing even something you could call a living creature?"
The Yam, glowing in a deep azure hue all on its own, was stirring ever so slowly. It was beauty incarnate-no, its very form evoked emotions that transcended mere beauty in those who beheld it. It was a sense of awe, like encountering a god.
"O El Miplas."
Bulki found tears streaming down his face unbidden. It was a feeling neither purely sorrowful nor joyful-like the urge to die upon witnessing something too beautiful.
The Yam, ceaselessly undulating with fins like enormous wings, came to a gentle halt before Bulki and the Hoshekh Hatar behind him. Or rather, it simply existed there, like a brightly shining star in the dark depths of the ocean.
『You must be the Hero.』
Her gentle voice rippled through the endless abyss, as if carried on sound waves through the air. It even felt as though some divine presence infused it.
"How is this possible...? You can speak our language?"
Unlike when he had met Cheret, Bulki couldn't help but speak with instinctive respect. Yam continued, her expression unknowable.
『By the will of the great El, only Cheret among the colors of light that make up our world was robbed of speech. Of course, I too have lost something.』
Yam rolled her massive body once, as if in delight. Her fan-shaped, intangible tail swept over Hoshekh Hatar and Bulki.
It passed through them like light through glass, creating no disturbance whatsoever. Bulki reached out in the water, trying to touch the drifting azure glow, but his hand met nothing.
『My true body is imprisoned. What I lost were the hands and feet to share my life with others.』
"Then what is this form now? An illusion?"
Yam seemed to "smile."
『There is much I'must tell you. About the powers of the Mir, their origins, and this world.』
With that, she scattered her blue light throughout the sea in a single burst. That glow illuminated the entire ocean.
『I am Yam, the Mir of the Vast Sea, commanded by the great El's will to symbolize life, in the blue light.』
At that very moment, Cheret too began to shine. In the seawater, the Mir's light spread slowly, blending like paint dropped into water.
『At the request of my old friend, Cheret the Glory Mir, I shall guide you, Hero, to Or's corpse.』
"Or's corpse?"
By then, the Hero's companions aboard Hoshekh Hatar and the crew-who had heard Yam's voice transmitted through vibrations-realized through her form and words that they were witnessing myth made manifest. And what astonished them even more was...
"Father?"
"Dabagnel!"
"Father, are you all right? Something bizarre happened! An arrow pierced my throat, and in that instant, a blue light swirled around me, healing the wound and bringing me back to life. We haven't seen any other bodies on the way here that weren't monster remains."
Every soul aboard Hoshekh Hatar who had perished in the battle had risen from death.
"The Hero saved you! Oh, Miplas!"
Dayagnel embraced his son from his resting place, tears streaming down his face.
"Is all this a miracle wrought by the Mir of the Vast Sea?"
Only Shainelius, who fully grasped the situation, gazed at Yam beyond the once-more-glowing cross spear.
Unlike what Dayagnel had described, those inside the ship could now see the radiant cross. Entranced by its ecstatic light, she murmured,
"So this is what life is-such beauty."
And from the depths, the light spoke again.
『Even though Saar's kin, born from Or's death and resurrection, will not vanish, by now everyone who was dead or wounded aboard that small vessel should be fully healed.』
"Did you overcome death itself?"
『No.』
As Bulki asked while floating away from Cheret, Yam replied.
『Rejecting death was 'his' doing. All I did was use my power to rekindle the lives of those whose breath had faded but who had not yet truly died.』
At Yam's words, Bulki recalled the one who had defied all comprehension of the world during the Third Demonic Invasion: Great Demon King Lucifer van Ivelhac. The aura he exuded was worlds apart from the warm, enveloping presence of Yam before him now.
"Thank you, benevolent Mir."
『Now is the time to go. But first...』
For a moment, Yam turned her body away from Bulki.
『We must overcome the fear.』
"Fear?"
Following Yam's words, Bulki peered into the distant darkness, where another terror still lurked.
No-it was a space filled entirely with Saar, terror incarnate. Thousands, no tens of thousands, no, countless hands beyond numbering were closing in on them.
As if the entire sea were brimming with dread, their grotesque, horrifying movements made terror itself well up from the abyss like a tide.
"H-how do we overcome that? If they overrun us, how can we protect all those people behind us?"
To Bulki's question, Yam once more seemed to "smile" before replying.
『You were afraid, weren't you?』
"What?"
『Of being alone now, with no one left to understand you, the Hero.』
Bulki clamped his mouth shut at words that probed the depths of his soul.
Cheret too seemed to "smile." The two ancient beings acted as if this encroaching horror meant nothing at all.
『It is natural for the leader to feel lonely, but look. See the hope you have sown in this world.』
Yam charged straight at the terror, confronting it head-on. Though her true body was elsewhere, she seemed able to adjust her manifestation at will, devouring, tearing, and shattering the fear with abandon.
"Hero! Can you hear me? I don't know if it's Yam's power, but your words got through-so maybe the opposite will work too! This is Rondnel of the 2nd Knight Order holding the line, so fight to your heart's content!"
'Barrier Withstanding the Deep Abyss's Terror'.
In an instant, a spherical barrier enveloped the entire Hoshekh Hatar, expanding outward.
"Hero! It's Dayagnel. You saved my child-truly, thank you!"
"Hero! Keep pushing! Leave our backs to us! Port side, turning!"
"The Hero fights with us! Ready torpedoes! Don't let a single enemy escape! Fire!"
Hoshekh Hatar charged forward within the barrier itself, plugging the horrors and unleashing a barrage of torpedoes. The sight resembled stars embroidered across the night sky.
"Bulki! I've wiped out all enemies inside the ship! You're up next-take them down!"
Shainelius's voice echoed from the ship's deepest underbelly, through dark corridors where she had slain foes. Next came my voice, recording it all.
"Healer Lilite here! No wounded or dead! Hero, you've saved us all!"
Then, the voice of a young boy rang out.
"Hero! It's Dabagnel! Drive back that terror, please!"
Voices filled the turbulent depths. Like vibrations, they pierced to the deepest abyss of Bulki's heart. Its name was hope.
"Ah."
Hope is that which, even if it cannot save everyone, will surely lead this world toward righteousness.
'But you'll lead this world toward righteousness.'
In that instant, Bulki recalled his friend's words. He had been drifting aimlessly, as if unborn, but now he found his center and moved like a bird soaring through the sky.
His eyes regained their fierce glint-not red, but the golden gaze of the Hero.
『Thus, you are not alone, Hero.』
Having devoured most of the terror, Yam wrapped her enormous fins around Hoshekh Hatar.
『Fear begets anxiety, and anxiety births the abyss anew.』
And Cheret charged toward the terror.
『But you sow hope, and that hope will overcome fear, anxiety, and the abyss itself, returning to you!』
Boom!
A vibration spread to the ends of the sea once more. Cheret's power scorched the abyss. It was the primordial force that burned away terror: purification.
"Thank you."
Even as enemies burned, Bulki's sword thrust fiercely, absorbing all the purifying flames that incinerated the terror. In that instant, the entire world ignited.
'Sword that Shatters Foes Together with All'.
And Bulki vanquished the enemy. For together, they could dispel any horde, no matter how fearsome. The pulverized terror scattered through the depths.
No fear remained in Bulki now-only courage filled him.
This battle, in which all claimed victory, would later be sung by bards as thus:
「Er'el tuv shatah
The Hero drinks the good
Er'el netsach levav male
His heart filled with eternal victory
Hu or matsa
He obtains the light
Er'el kol chosech shataph al
Even if the Hero bears all darkness overflowing
El yakir oz yarash
He possesses my steadfast might
Morah medinah
Realm of terror
Kol nefesh saraf arutz
Where all souls are fiercely devoured
Ma'amak metzulah
The deep abyss
Regel ga' efes ketz
Endless brink where no foot can'touch
Tov nefesh lahav nag'a arutz
Where blades of the righteous reach
Er'el
My Hero
Tuv shatah
Drink the good
Netsach avah avur natan
Devoted to forging conviction through trials
Eloah lahav
Holy blade
El Elyon
O great El
Anachnu yaval
Look upon us
Olam yeshah yaval
Bestow eternal salvation
Ya'ash mo'al
Before despair
Chosech mo'al
Before darkness
Chayah savav kutz
Rise from death
Elyon Eloah Ariel
From the great Holy Brazier
Chayah savav kutz」
"Can you hear my voice, Hero?"
And with that, Bulki awoke in his room to my voice once more-Lilite's.