Published at 22nd of January 2024 12:05 pm

Chapter 292: Learning It Was Actually Dangerous Afterwards Makes the Predicament a Hundred Times Harder

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

“Do you remember when you died, Ed?”

“Hm? Ah, well, I remember, yeah.”

At Tia’s question, I nodded naturally. Thinking about it calmly, it feels like I had a rather embarrassing exchange, but it’s something that never happened in this world, so there’s no problem.

“After that, Ed’s body sparkled and vanished. Not just the body, but the traces of the blood you shed, all the evidence of your existence disappeared! The only thing left was your sword.”

“What? Eh, do I really vanish when I die!?”

“Why are you surprised, Ed?”

“Well, I mean, I don’t know anything about what happens after I die…”

I’m surprised, and Tia was also surprised, and then I made a sullen face. I must have died countless times, but since this is the first time I’ve heard about what happens after I die, I can’t help it.

I mean, is that really what happens to me when I die…

“Probably, the world should’ve reset at that point. But this time it didn’t because Tia was here.”

This world, including a hundred other worlds, is a miniature garden created by the God to imprison me. So, there’s no meaning in the world after my death, and it seems like the world is designed to rewind everything back to the beginning simultaneously when I die.

But, this time Tia remained here. Though small, Tia, who carries a part of my soul, acted as a wedge that prevented the world’s reset from functioning properly, and the result was that only my body disappeared… maybe? I don’t know any more than that since I didn’t design this.

“Ah, by the way, what happened to the sword?”

“Of course, I collected it. Look.”

In response to my question, Tia casually takes out the [Dawnbreaker] from the [Single Bank] and shows it to me. Good, I wouldn’t have been able to face Master Dalton if I had lost this. Since it’s now connected to my [Stranger’s Box] I’ll equip it again later.

“I’ll continue the story. Anyway, since all traces of you disappeared, we were able to continue our journey as if nothing happened. As far as the public is concerned, we just parted ways with you.”

“Hmm, I see.”

At that time, I didn’t have the luxury of thinking that far, but now that it’s mentioned, dealing with the corpse of a comrade who died in the town’s church would be troubling. Saying that the Demon King infiltrated the hero’s party would be out of the question.

“But, it wasn’t like our previous fun journey. Euralia was very wary of me accompanying her, and Burn seemed lost in thought, or rather, depressed… I also felt uncomfortable. If you hadn’t asked me, we probably would have disbanded there.”

“That sounds about right… yeah.”

I could only nod in response to Tia’s bitter smile. If the opposite had happened, if Tia had been killed, and Tia had asked me to… Ah, no, it’s impossible. If Tia had been killed, I wouldn’t have been able to not kill the other party. I think I’m a rather tolerant Demon King, but crossing that line would be the end.

(T/N: At this point they are one confession away from marriage)

“I’m sorry for pushing you. But—”

“Fufu, it’s fine. Besides, now that I think about it, I’m glad I traveled with them until the end. Certainly, Burn and Euralia did something terrible to you… But if you keep looking at the other person without being blinded by anger and hatred, you can see that they’re not just enemies… No, to be precise, what was originally visible became clouded by terrible emotions, but as time passed, it cleared up and I could see them clearly again, I guess? Like what you told Burn earlier. Where you stand and how you look at things changes the shape of ‘rightness.’ They were not merely Ed’s enemies but were struggling, thinking, hurting, moving forward, humans just like me… and they were my companions.”

“………………”

At Tia’s gentle words, my heart was filled with joy and guilt. I’m proud of Tia’s compassionate nature, and I feel bad that she had to endure so much to reach this point.

“Hey, Ed? Is this the reason you asked me to help Burn and the others?”

“… Who knows.”

“I see… You really are kind”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t say anything! Seriously…”

At Tia’s mischievous smile, I turn my face away, embarrassed. I didn’t want it to end with just hating and resenting them. I didn’t want my death to merely leave a scar on Tia’s heart. If she sees through such a childish whim, of course, I would be embarrassed.

“Well, it’s fine. Anyway, we continued our journey… and defeated the Demon King. I was wondering what would happen without you, but I was able to defeat him much more easily than I thought… Euralia was amazing. I feel like she alone might be enough. The power of a God is really something.”

“Heh, is that so?”

I haven’t told Tia that I read the {Record Of The Hero’s Story} of this world. I can’t pretend to understand Tia’s daily life from such a thing, so I decided to treat it as a reference material in the back of my mind.

…Speaking of which, what happened to the god fragments Euralia collected? I’ll have to check that later too.

“So, after defeating the Demon King, I asked Burn not to disband the Hero Party, and then I secluded myself in a remote forest to devote myself to magic research.”

“Huh? You didn’t go back to the <White World>?”

“No. Because, you know, if I went there alone, I don’t know what would happen. I might get trapped there, and besides, it’s more convenient to research magic in a world that has become peaceful after defeating the Demon King.”

“I see, that makes sense. So, you’ve been here all this time…?”

“Yes. Thanks to all the attention being on Euralia, my impression didn’t linger strongly, so I could walk around outside normally after 10 or 20 years.”

“20 years!? Wait, that means…”

A casual number slips out, and I open my eyes wide and look at Tia’s face. But there is no tragic color on Tia’s face, she is just quietly smiling.

“Well, it’s magic research, it takes time. Especially this time, I felt a more certain connection, but it felt much farther than before… In the end, I couldn’t make it work. I didn’t feel like I could reach you even if I used the rest of my life.”

“Of course! What foolishness–“

“You wouldn’t know, Ed…but I became a grandmother, you know? I probably wouldn’t have lasted another ten years. Well, I thought I could return to my original body through the <White World> if I could just meet you, but– Kyaa!?”

Before I knew it, I was holding Tia. My heartbeat throbbed so fast it seemed to burst, and I felt cold sweat flowing down my back like a waterfall.

The flow of time differs from world to world. I knew that, and it’s not like I was wasting time on unnecessary detours. But still, if I didn’t make it in time… that thought wouldn’t leave my head, and without realizing it, my arms tightened.

“Hey, Ed, it hurts.”

“Ah, sorry… Tia, I am…”

Tia gently places her index finger on my slightly open lips. That soft sensation easily seals my mouth.

“It’s okay. I tried my best too, but this time I didn’t make it in time, that’s all. Ah, now it’s two wins and one loss. But I won’t lose next time!”

“Next…?”

“Yes, next. If there’s a next time, I’ll win again. So… if you don’t want to lose, don’t leave me behind again.”

“………. Yeah, never again. I’ll never leave you again. So Tia, don’t leave me either, okay?”

“Yes, yes, alright… Fufu, you are being quite a spoiled child today, aren’t you?”

I don’t need a next time. I don’t mind losing forever. Rather than feeling like this, I would happily crawl on the ground.

Hugging Tia like a child whining that they don’t want to be alone, she gently strokes my head. That touch is endlessly gentle, and I surrender myself to the sweet warmth for a moment.

(T/N: I understand I have been quite irregular with my updates this past month but just bear with me till the end of this month. My mid sems are in 10 days after that I’ll be posting regularly)

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