― That he still had regrets. It didn’t matter if his body rotted and disappeared from the face of the earth, but the memories of the dreams he shared with her, the emotions they shared, he didn’t want it to all disappear along with his body.
His feelings never reached their fruition, and it was a path filled with pain and worries. Even then ― he wanted at least me to remember them. That there was a man like him and a woman like her. That they had dreams together. That there were days they walked together in pursuit of their happy future.
It was out of nowhere. Also, what was I supposed to do when he confessed his feelings like that in here of all places? There was only one answer I could give him.
Yea, there was no choice. I was a magician just like my father was.
But ― what he said lingered around me.
“― Suimei, if there was anything I’ve chosen in my life, it was magic and Shizuma. Now, I have only you to rely on. So I implore you. Find the Association’s philosophy. If the truth the leader seek really exist, then there is no one who can’t be saved in this world. So ―”
― Save the women who cannot be saved in my place.
After leaving behind the word “Sorry”, the man who dreamt of a happy future with his family passed away. Without even listening to my replies.
As if he already spoke everything he wanted to say. Like a real statue this time. The dreams he had imagined in the sky just beyond the window. Without ever being able to see the happy family he had hoped for.
He was willful. He forced me on an abnormal path, a dangerous path. And to preach such a happy dream to me.
It all felt abrupt.
So that’s why. That was why I shouted at the dragon that was letting out its last roar.
― I will achieve your dreams. At any cost.
… Yes, there was a day like that. The day I howled at the grief of losing my father. The oath I shouted back then. I never once felt my actions were wrong since then. Thus, after chasing the mystery, here I was.
To walk towards the end of the path and prove that there was nobody who cannot be saved.
It was a childish dream. It wasn’t realistic and there was no feasible chance of reaching the end of the path. It was more faint than looking for a slightest outline of a figure in thick morning fog. But I wanted to achieve that dream. It was a dream that I wanted to achieve.
Science and magic. Regardless of the discipline, the wisdom that is said to lie at the end after solving the laws of nature: the Akashic Records.
Past, present, future and the astral plane as well. The record which contains everything. If a happy future for those who could not be saved was written down, then they could be saved. The leader’s philosophy to pursue happiness for all. If someone could find the record, it would validate that the path those two had trodden on was not pointless.
The oath like confession now was a vow.
“.... Father, the words you left behind might have been a curse binding my future. But I am your son and a magician. I want to see what you chased after. So ―”
Just like you, I will go to save those who could not be saved. I will save them no matter what. In this world as well as that world.
I closed my eyes and slowly chewed on my oath. Never forget. I steeled my resolve once again. I will save her. I will save that girl crying from the misfortune she has to carry with her.
When I opened my eyes, a disgusting desert filled my sight. Just glancing at those creatures filled with evil and malice was enough to make me feel disgusted. They were swarming like maggots on a piece of rotten carcass.
It was a funny situation. I made all that ruckus back in the castle because I didn’t want to run into something like this. Now here they were. What a cruel irony.
“Hmph.”
I blew away any sense of self-deprecation with that snort. I remembered what Rajas said to Lefille and glanced left and right furiously. They were probably that thing’s subordinates. How many of them were there? Thousand? Ten Thousand? It was no use thinking about it now, but I didn’t like how many of them there were.