“Protecting my Family, staying by their side… that is the path I will walk even if I must break my oath and stain my soul with filth! If I could live my life over again, I would still make the same choice!”
Waletidina was stunned for a moment.
Looking into Iyue’s eyes, she did not see the bravado of someone inferior, nor the escape of a coward… but a determination so clear and pure it was transparent to the very bottom.
And that moment of hesitation cost her strength in the struggle, allowing Iyue to once again secure a dominant mounted position.
“But… for not being able to die together with my brothers and sisters that day, for not being able to stand by your side and fight alongside you… I’m sorry.”
Iyue’s fist, together with the tears slipping from her eyes, struck Waletidina’s cheek and sank deep into the dirt.
Chapter 113: Farewell, Partner
Waletidina was surprised—because she had never seen this woman cry.
The days the two had spent working together were not a very long span of time for an Elf… and compared to the years that had already passed since their parting, that period of working side by side was even shorter.
But even at this very moment, the memories in her mind of the days the two had spent together remained extraordinarily vivid: tracking and hunting Magical Beasts together in the forest; bathing together in the spring, checking each other’s wounds and scrubbing each other’s backs; hiding in the same tent while the wind howled and the rain poured, sharing a blanket and sleeping foot to foot…
Before joining the Brigade, she had been Iyue’s examiner and Instructor; after joining, she had become Iyue’s guide and partner.
Iyue grimacing from the pain of her wounds, growing irritable and furious at the endless harassment of mosquitoes and bugs, the dejection of having to dig up insects from under rocks to stave off hunger…
In these memories, she had seen this woman display all kinds of expressions… but she had never seen her cry.
‘Compared to me, whom my colleagues call “a sculpture,” you are clearly a person of abundant emotion. But even in those situations and circumstances where it would have been acceptable to cry, you did not shed a single tear.’
‘That was why I once admired you. I believed your Willpower was firmer than mine, believed your strength was unassailable, believed that you, whose temperament, talent, and skill were unmatched by any other, were a model Knight, a goal I needed to chase—’
“But I was wrong. You are not a Knight.”
Waletidina closed her Eyes and took a deep breath.
“You are truly weak, Iyue. I have never liked you. But this time, you won this Contest.”
She loosened her clenched fist and abandoned the counter Spell she had already prepared. And at that moment, her body slowly dissipated like dust swept away by the wind.
“Waletidina…!”
Iyue was startled by this turn of events and immediately jumped off her… but then she also realized that her own body was disappearing in the same manner.
“Calm yourself. All of this is merely an Illusion Realm. You should be well aware of that.”
“But… you… you are not an illusion. Although I don’t know much about this Mist Barrier, I am certain you are the real Waletidina—”
Remembering the series of scenes she had witnessed while bowing, Iyue’s expression turned grim.
“Ah… why make such a face? Since you believe I am the real Waletidina, then those things you witnessed are naturally all true as well.”
“Then… you…”
“I am no longer long-lived. And my condition in reality can hardly be called ‘alive.'”
“I saw some images earlier… I think whatever happened to you is likely related to the Family Head—no, to that woman who is the Family Head of the Nairme Family. Can you still recall what happened?”
“The Family Head of Nairme…” Waletidina repeated the title almost in a whisper, then gently shook her head.
“I do not remember meeting her. In my memory, she had already retreated from the world and lived in seclusion for a very, very long time… and now all the industries and systems related to the Nairme Family have been handed over to the younger generation of the Family—Lai Wei An Se and Nephtalia. Over the years, the factions they represent have been locked in endless strife. Because of that, rumors have even circulated in high Noble circles that she has already passed away.”
“That woman… she might already be dead?”
“She was a person from the same era as the First Queen. Even the longest-lived Elf would find it difficult to survive until now… but I do not know the specifics. Should you not go ask your younger sister about these matters?”
“She… you’re right, I should go ask her.” Faced with Waletidina’s rare teasing expression, Iyue seemed somewhat flustered.
But in an instant, she cast aside her doubts and gazed firmly at her former partner lying on the ground.
“Ah… this is indeed the real you. From the very first moment I laid Eyes on you, I knew you were not a part of this Illusion Realm… not one of those endless Nightmares that haunt me.”
Half of Waletidina’s body had already disappeared as she slowly smiled.
In Iyue’s memory, that was an expression that rarely appeared on her face… rarer still than a meteor occasionally streaking across the sky.
“There is one thing I must earnestly entrust to you, Iyue.”
“Even if you didn’t say it, I would still go find a way to help you. Though I have never seen a condition like yours, perhaps the Great Sage and Her Royal Highness the Holy Maiden might have a way—”
“No, that is not it.” Waletidina’s Smile vanished. “I am asking you to kill me.”
“What did you say?”
“What I wish to entrust to you is for you to kill me. After you see the real me in reality, please do not hesitate for even a moment—kill me immediately.”
“What nonsense are you spouting… how could I ever do such a thing…!”
“You must do it!” Waletidina’s thunderous voice cut Iyue off. Iyue stared blankly at her as she was about to disappear and asked:
“Why?”
“I do not know. But my intuition tells me… you must do it. Otherwise, everything will become irreparable.”
“This is my one and only request in this lifetime. To learn your true heart at the very end, to know that you did not betray your Oath out of fear of death… I am glad.”
“Farewell, Iyue… my partner.”
After leaving those words, Waletidina vanished completely from before her Eyes.
…
……
………
“Truly a pitiful child.”
Watching the scene on the Crystal Screen, Nine Night Moon’s sigh echoed through the room.
“Even if you plead like that, that soft-hearted child could never kill you… for she is as gentle as Iruna.”
“And so your struggles and resistance were futile from the very start. Still, watching moths continually hurl themselves into the flame and burn themselves to ash is a rather fine form of entertainment.”
This Illusion Realm had not deviated from Nine Night Moon’s expectations.
Though she did not know much about this granddaughter of tainted Blood… she was, after all, a member of the Brave’s Party that had defeated the Demon King.
No doubt the Curse about to be shown to her would not make her falter either… just like that Hero who had been transformed into a ridiculous form.
At this thought, Nine Night Moon had to admit that she had indeed somewhat underestimated these people who had once slain the Demon King and ended the prolonged War.
But once she obtained that Relic… everything would change.
If it truly possessed the efficacy she imagined, then whether it was the other “Moons” or the Demon King and the Hero, all would be nothing more than dust beneath her feet.
“An eternal life, infinitely accumulating Magic Power… heh.”
Now, the realization of this vision was already within reach. Soon she would shed this decayed body and be reborn.
“Time is almost up… then let me take one last look at what kind of experiences that human girl called the New Hero has had.”
Nine Night Moon moved the last Crystal Screen connected to the Illusion Realm before her.
For her, watching the past of a girl who had only lived for a little over a decade held little value… and Milin’s reckless charge into the Mist, disregarding her own safety, was also beyond her expectations.
But considering the people that girl had encountered in her life were all among the most powerful figures on this Empire, she felt she ought to pay some attention—
“Hm… is it a malfunction?”
She channeled her Magic Power to establish the connection… yet that Crystal Screen remained empty, without a single image.