Not being able to see, not being able to hear, is a significant obstacle in doing anything.
If it were a normal situation, I would have beco soone utterly helpless at this point of sensory deprivation.
In that sense, I was quite a fortunate person.
I had a special partner nad Ari.
‘…What’s going on, Ari?’
Although proper conversation was impossible for , perhaps due to the special relationship between a witch and a demonic beast, Ari and I were able to communicate with each other through our thoughts.
[…The magic is starting to fall.]
Thanks to that, even in my current condition, I could understand the situation through Ari.
The overwhelming magic that I had been sensing was, in fact, descending towards the city—the despairing situation.
‘…I see.’
Hearing this, I made up my mind.
Then, it seed that Ari noticed what I was thinking.
Just like Yoon Si-woo, who was holding my hand in front of .
From the flas rising from my back and Yoon Si-woo’s hand holding mine, intense emotions were transmitted.
Yet, I had no choice but to say this to them.
“Yoon Si-woo, tell everyone. I have a thod.”
This was the mont to ignite my last remaining spark.
*
As I was conveying my plan to Yoon Si-woo and slowly gathering my strength for preparation.
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, I sensed the presence of others around .
While they must have been busy evacuating the citizens, for a brief mont, I thought there was no reason for them to gather in such a place, but then I realized there was only one reason for them to co here, and I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
“…Ha ha, could it be that everyone ca here to say goodbye?”
If they didn’t stay as far away as possible from the epicenter during the remaining ti, it would be dangerous, but how foolish…
While I had such thoughts, at the sa ti, I couldn’t help but feel joy thinking about the hearts of those who ca all the way here to see off.
Thus, each person who had co began to say their farewells to one by one.
Perhaps it was because they had co to see enough tis during my hospital visits that they were so close to .
Even though I couldn’t see, and couldn’t hear.
I could still clearly distinguish who was in front of without needing to ask Ari.
I felt a deep sense of responsibility from the hand patting my shoulder—it was Martina.
This gentle hug that felt affectionate was from i, I thought.
As I shook hands with Dwight, held Marin’s hands for a mont, and tightly embraced Florene to the point that I could hardly breathe.
I profoundly felt that I had encountered many connections here.
Then suddenly, I recalled the ti when we held Eve’s funeral.
At that ti, while seeing countless people mourning the teacher’s death, I thought, “I hope that soday, many people will grieve my death like this.”
Looking at the people who had gathered for today, I felt naturally relieved that I had not lived my life for nothing.
…Yes, for now, I was glad that my eyes and ears were like this.
If both had been fine, I surely wouldn’t have been able to hold back my tears.
And while I was lost in such thoughts, I felt the presence of soone most familiar to approaching.
“…Sylvia.”
Sylvia’s body was trembling lightly.
Even without needing to see, I knew she was crying uncontrollably.
“…What, are you crying again? Sylvia, you really are a crybaby.”
I wiped the tears from Sylvia’s eyes with my fingers, but her tears didn’t co to a halt easily.
I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at that.
Although Sylvia looks young, she is surprisingly strong.
She wouldn’t easily show tears over minor issues.
Yet, she often cried so easily whenever standing before .
That ant I held that significant place in her heart.
Just as Sylvia was such a presence for .
Because of that, I wished even more that Sylvia wouldn’t be too painful over our parting.
“Sylvia, I have sothing to give you.”
I took out the item I had kept lovingly tucked away in my embrace.
It was the sa ring that was now worn on Sylvia’s left ring finger.
Did she think of it as a farewell gift?
Not wanting her to burst into tears again, I continued speaking to Sylvia.
“Do you rember, Sylvia? The day I received this ring back from you.”
Yes, it was the day I received it back.
When I first received this ring from Sylvia, I couldn’t think of her as a true friend, and soon after, I returned it to her.
However, despite being started by my selfishness, Sylvia always cherished that relationship.
She never gave up her intention to be my friend.
That’s why I can’t forget it.
The day when you, Sylvia, ca to rescue when I was chased out of the city as a witch.
The sky on that starless night when you handed the ring back to .
“I really was happy to beco friends with you, Sylvia. I’ve hardly ever experienced that much happiness in my life.”
That was my salvation.
“Every ti I see that ring, it brings back those monts, making feel happy. So for , it’s the most precious thing in the world.”
You gave such a happy mory that I could draw strength just by recalling it, even amid tough monts.
So, Sylvia, my dear friend.
“I hope you keep this. I hope you rember that there was a friend nad by looking at it.”
I wish you would treasure the mories with as your treasure.
Don’t cry because of ; instead, smile while rembering .
“Think of it happily that you t and beca friends with .”
With such feelings in my heart, I asked Sylvia.
“Can you do that for ?”
When Sylvia accepted my request, I felt joy blooming in my smile.
But just as I was smiling, I suddenly felt the next person hugging , unable to hold back a bitter smile on my face.
“…Yoon Si-woo.”
…It seed the real crybaby wasn’t Sylvia, but rather him.
Yoon Si-woo, who was hugging , was crying.
Not with tears, but with the heart.
He was crying inside, shouting at not to go.
I knew.
How much Yoon Si-woo cherished .
How could I not understand the feelings of not wanting to let go of soone precious?
But,
“Yoon Si-woo.”
I had my own reasons to leave.
I gently pushed away Yoon Si-woo, who was hugging .
I felt his hand grabbing mine tightly.
As I slowly grasped his hand, I thought of all the countless things Yoon Si-woo had done for .
I wouldn’t have been able to endure this world without you.
But because you were here, I could co this far.
Because you were here, I learned to like this world.
So Yoon Si-woo.
“Thank you so far, really.”
Let protect this world where you are.
With such feelings, I spoke to Yoon Si-woo.
Then it seed Yoon Si-woo felt sothing, and he released the hand he had been holding.
Then, no lengthy words were needed.
I smiled and asked Yoon Si-woo.
“Please take care of everything behind .”
Then I asked Ari.
What did Yoon Si-woo answer to my request.
Ari conveyed that Yoon Si-woo said to leave it to him.
Hearing that, I chuckled softly.
…Still, he really was terrible at lying.
But nonetheless, it was reassuring to know that, even if it was a lie, Yoon Si-woo was soone who would always keep his word.
So now, I could leave without hesitation.
I lifted my gaze to the sky, where the falling magic was, and requested Ari.
‘…I’m sorry, Ari, this is my last request. Please take there.’
If we entered the magic, I knew Ari would likely perish as well.
That was why I told Ari so.
[…There’s no need to apologize.]
In response to , Ari spoke.
[If it’s what you wish, I will be with you until the very end.]
Ari flapped her wings and soared toward the sky.
And at that mont, I could feel it.
“What is…?”
Flas flying toward from all directions.
As those mystical flas wrapped around my body, I felt my ruined senses miraculously recover, even if just for a mont.
Blinking my newly revealed eyes in astonishnt, I muttered.
“…How?”
Confused and awestruck, I was t with Ari’s addition to her earlier statent.
[We are together until the very end. All of us.]
Then I realized.
That every single one of those flas was a demonic beast of wrath.
They had all sent their power, sacrificing their lives to help .
“…Thank you, everyone.”
As I embraced the gathered flas, I ascended into the sky with Ari.
Now I could see the black sun clearly.
To protect the world from the falling doom.
Reviews
All reviews (0)