Gozine

Though I summarized it with the word promise, there’s only one thing I want from Luna.
That she has a blood relative, and I ask her to not hate her sister, even if that sister grew up with far more than Luna ever had in her wretched past.
Of course, this isn’t something I can interfere with. It’s entirely a matter between the two sisters, and the one who should resolve it, the former Emperor Esteban is no longer in his right mind.
But doing nothing and losing a companion is worse than at least making this attempt. I know how much resentment and defiance Luna harbors toward the imperial family, but I can’t help but feel this is unavoidable.

In the end, I want everyone to live. All my companions except me. They’ve each lived fiercely in their own way, striving to change the lives given to them.
There aren’t many on the continent who would condemn them, but there are countless forces that could destroy them. People can be cruel. Often enough, they’ll drag others to ruin for their own gain.
So, I’ve taken it upon myself to act as a kind of breakwater.
Even without me, they can unite. But even after the great evil called demons is eradicated, the darker aspects of human nature will still cast long shadows over the continent.
In this situation, though it’s embarrassing, I’ve come to realize I’ve been a focal point for my companions. If I disappear, they’ll surely be thrown into disarray.

Truthfully, I’m prepared to die. In fact, I’m already dying. But…
I don’t think this situation works entirely in my favor. To complete the puzzles called my death and eradication of evil, they must be able to find happiness without me.

It’s regrettable, but things have unfolded exactly as my mother Altende (an angel of Arden, or, as Noah put it, one of the Four Sages) said they would.
Why must I live and die by the Goddess’s words? Why must I repeat this meaningless cycle? Even now, I still don’t know.
After so many regressions, the few things I’ve managed to understand are these. The Goddess’s commands are absolute. The first being to steal the Philosopher’s Stone was Baal (the First Archduke). Judas. The one who became a demon.
The first angel sent to stop them was Altende. She became the Goddess’s pawn, and I’m something even lesser than that.

Nox von Reinhaver. Altende coldly bore me for her purpose. She approached Theo from the dark family, charmed him, and brought me into this world, creating this hellish chain of events.

‘How cruel. Truly.’

Maybe it’s because I can see the end now.

I don’t even feel angry.
Perhaps I’ve been buried under too many lifetimes of memories.
But if this tranquility helps me, I have no reason not to use it.

Like the 28th regression, when I first thought I had possessed this body in the beginning.

An army swarming like clouds.
Right now, I am looking down from the window. The knights and mages gathered in the imperial palace tense as they face the massive force closing in. The scale is at least several thousand. To survive, each of us will have to cut down a hundred.
If we hold out here, it’ll be a small victory. If we fail, it’s over. Even if we win, the next battle awaits, this is an overwhelmingly disadvantageous fight.

But what else can I do?

Until now, this is how it’s always been for me.

Maybe this is Nox’s way. No matter how impossible the odds, I confront them, regress, regret, and repeat. All of it feels too familiar.

Of course, if I say there’s one difference this time…
This is the last. I’m ready to let go of everything here.

“Let’s go.”

At my voice, the Black Sword Knights of my family, who had been hiding with invisibility, began to reveal themselves.
I’d sent Theo a letter warning him that the imperial palace and Eldain Academy would be attacked, asking for urgent reinforcements. But as expected, he’s quick to weigh profit and loss.

Whatever.

“Don’t die.”

Now that there’s no need to keep playing the ruffian young master, I said it calmly.

“…Young master?”

“Young master… Sob… With all due respect, This Christopher, I solemnly swear to obey your command…”

“I’ll cut out the tongue of anyone who talks too much.”

“Gasp”

Christopher quickly shuts his mouth. I smirk and descend the stairs.
A knight of the imperial family.
My position here is unshakable, despite being part of the enemy faction wielding dark mana.
It’s ridiculous, but I’ll do what I must.

Only one thought crosses my mind as I descend the stairs.

Will my lie spread to the soldiers? That wouldn’t be good.

**********

At the same time, I have predicted what’s about to happen.
For example, the battle in Rondel. The first duel is about to begin.

‘They’ll do well there. Since the awakened Cell even intervened in the battle. I could say this is a battle where victory is guaranteed.’

Of course, that’s just my belief. I can’t guarantee they’ll actually pull it off. But I’m too tired now to doubt and agonize alone.

Either way, I should briefly explain the current battlefield.

The northwestern region of Rondel is a barren wasteland.
To put it bluntly, it’s not an ideal place for war.
There’s almost no supply line, and since it’s uninhabitable, even bandits avoid it. It’s funny, in a way.
They make a living attacking innocent traveling merchants.
Yet they won’t dare set foot in such a dangerous zone.

But, to fight in this barren land was entirely the Emperor’s decision.
Penelope agonized over it repeatedly to make the best strategic choice.
She also agreed to fully utilize our weapons.

— The recently commercialized portals. Let’s use them.
— A rapid transport method that the enemy lacks. Of course, cavalry is essential in large-scale battles, but for now, moving troops via portals is our best option.

Naturally, I had to agree.
The second thesis I co-authored with Professor Lars.
Simplification and Commercialization of Teleportation Portal Formula.

Our successful development of this weapon is something they don’t have.
Thus, even with fewer troops, we now have the advantage of mobility, allowing us to fight flexibly.
It’s only natural to use it.

So now, as I descend the palace stairs. The army including several Grand dukes invading the imperial capital.
And the forces fighting fiercely in the wasteland. I plan to fight while moving between.
I believe our side will win. I trust Robert von Stiliner. But war is unpredictable,
So I want total victory.

‘I’ll obtain it no matter what’

With that resolve, I reach the bottom of the stairs and take my place at the front of our formation. The enemy forces, like black specks, swarm toward us.
Why is that? My heart pounds wildly.
Is it anticipation that I can finally end this story?
Or am I just a battle-crazed child, desperate to prove my strength and achieve results worthy of it?

In fact, I don’t really know.

Right now, all I can do is drown in the roaring battle cries, sharpen my sword, and drive it into the enemy’s heart, cutting off their heads. That’s all I’m capable of.

“From this moment, the Demon Subjugation War begins! Anyone who disobeys my orders will be executed on the spot under military law. Understood?!”

I shouted, and the answering cries were faith in me.

“Yes! All for Emperor Penelope and the people of the Empire! Charge!”

“For them! Charge!”

I mounted Carl, took the lead, and began to charge forward.
The first enemy to appear falls easily to Black Blade Flash.

My mana is enough. I’ve prepared overflowing reserves of mana stones for this moment. I drank Erina’s potion to prepare for the worst of the worst case. Not only can I wield dark mana more effectively, but I’ve also thoroughly planned to break enemy’s plan.

Now, all that’s left is the clashing of weapons, the spurting of blood, and the suffocating screams of the battlefield, proof that I’m still alive.

Truly, that was all.

**********

Paracelsus.
The one who holds the ninth and final Philosopher’s Stone.
Staring at the red gem embedded on the back of his hand, he hides in the depths of Eldain Academy’s underground.
There’s no other reason.

“If I join the battle and lose the Stone, the worst will happen. That’s why they’ve tied me down here. Typical of Her Majesty the Emperor.”

What a joke.

Paracelsus mutters words he’d never dare say to the Emperor aloud and loses himself in thought. His past. From the moment he obtained the stone, these thoughts deepened, stopping only at the most recent events.

— I’ve experienced the future many times and returned here.

Nox’s words.
They were true.

This noble wasn’t born exceptional. He was living proof of someone who endured deeper suffering every single day.
That fact gnawed relentlessly at Paracelsus’s mind.

“He said I died in his memories multiple times.”

Nox mentioned the same happened to his other companions, but regardless, it was his story that came out of Nox’s mouth. And if that future meant death, then even he couldn’t help but be bothered by it. After all, that wasn’t the ending he had wanted

He had planned to expose the truth about the one who killed his master, then leave this academy.
That’s why he annihilated the monstrous bandits in the east without keeping any companions. He trusted no one. Without anyone to rely on, he endured until now.

But now, his thoughts have shifted slightly.

If Nox von Reinhaver knows his future.
And if he’s made judgments based on that knowledge just like now.
Were they friends in some timeline? Or something close to it?

‘I’m not sure, but…’

Is he protecting the stone in his hand, or himself?
Nox is moving forward regardless. And Paracelsus also knew how to destroy this stone. There was only one path for him.

From the back of his hand.
No, exactly from the red stone embedded in it, a voice slowly begins to rise.

— If you take me to where the other fragments are. And kill me there, you can erase me completely.
— But if you don’t, annihilating me completely is impossible. I’ll reappear on this continent. I will reappear on the continent once again. Even if it takes hundreds or thousands of years!
— So, what will you do?

Demon’s whispers.
They say those who converse with devils are always plagued and tormented by this.
He never thought he’d be affected, but the soul embedded in his hand speaks nonetheless.
To kill it, all nine Philosopher’s Stones must gather.
For now, Paracelsus chooses to trust Nox, respecting his noble willingness to sacrifice himself. But if necessary, he’s decided he’ll give up his own Stone.

Even if Baal were to appear stronger and kill everyone, either way, the continent would never succeed in eradicating evil unless he were completely destroyed.

If at least he had been a friend to the future version of himself, and if there was something Paracelsus could do, he would give it his all. Even if death awaited him, this was the one fact that would never change.