"It’s hard to believe even after seeing it."
Elicia slipped out of the library and looked up at the sky.
"The Great Void I saw in person—it’s probably a bit different from what you saw. I knew theoretically that it could be killed, but it felt like that was just a delusion."
"You couldn't have been slacking off for five years, after all."
"Still, one thing is certain. It was wounded."
"And my master was the one who did it..."
I tried to continue, but I was so dumbfounded that I just shook my head.
That Delsia? She chose to stand against the only remaining god to protect the world?
When I last saw her, she was mired in heartbreak and despair, knowing that someone else had reached the Heavenly Realm first. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had fallen into ruin right then and there.
"...How, and why?"
"I don't know either."
Elicia shrugged, her expression suggesting she found it just as hard to understand.
"What I do know is that the fountain pen your master used had left a deep gash on the body of The Great Void. It looked like it was in a great deal of pain."
"So that’s why the plan was delayed for these five years."
Only then did I understand why everything hadn't ended and had instead been dragged out during the years I was gone.
It had looked like she was slowly weaving a scheme, but in reality, she had dealt a blow to Delsia.
'Knowing that I would escape from the Deep Sea, she didn't just try to find and kill me, but set a trap named Elicia instead—'
Because she couldn't move right now.
Even if I summoned the Deep Sea out in broad daylight like this, that thing in the sky wouldn't notice.
A wave of shock washed over me as I realized that fact.
'What on earth did she do?'
Delsia is a human... well, no, she’s an Elf.
And she is likely the greatest mage in the Empire.
But even considering that, her opponent is an Outer God who has absorbed countless worlds. Is it even plausible that such an opponent could inflict a wound so severe that it couldn't even move on its own?
There was something unsettling about it, but since Elicia had no reason to lie in this situation, I accepted it as fact and nodded.
"I understand. Then let’s get out of here first. It’s dangerous to stay here for too long."
"Ah, okay."
Elicia, who had been nodding hurriedly, suddenly seemed to realize something; her expression turned wistful, and she shrank back.
"...But I can't leave this city."
"What? Why?"
"It hasn't been long since I became the city itself. If I leave, everything I touch will become dangerous this time."
"...No, you said you traveled around a lot while you were a Witch."
"I found out about that while traveling in that state... And by the way, who came up with the title 'Witch'? That’s a bit much, don't you think?"
"Then what should I call you going around stealing the memories of knights?"
Linmel crossed her arms and retorted boldly.
"There are 19 knights who became farmers because of you. Do you know how valuable that manpower is? You’ve been playing these little games of dolls..."
"Playing dolls?"
"I, I can give their memories back. I don't need them anymore anyway. I'm sorry about that. I think I acted too recklessly because I thought everything was over."
Surprisingly, Elicia didn't argue with Linmel but hurriedly admitted her fault, showing a vulnerable side.
Yet, the fact that she couldn't leave remained unchanged, and she looked at me with teary eyes.
"But I really can't leave. Especially now that you, Zern, have returned... My very existence is a flaw that contaminates the world. If I leave this place and stay with you, that would be exactly what The Great Void wants."
"..."
"I'm fine. Just, please tell my dad. Tell him I'm doing just fine. But since we can't see each other again, tell him to treat me as if I don't exist."
That was—a rather sad thing.
It was even sadder that Elicia thought it was no big deal. She must have finished her goodbyes in her heart a long time ago.
It was my fault. After a moment of hesitation, I shook my head.
"...No, Elicia. You can leave."
"H, huh?"
"I'll come to kill you after everything is over."
"?"
Elicia looked puzzled by my sudden death threat.
Of course, I didn't actually mean to kill her.
"The worlds I've killed live within me. If you truly are a world—if you are a world I can directly swallow—you won't be contaminating this reality, but the Deep Sea instead."
"B, but then your world will be ruined..."
"It doesn't matter."
I truly didn't care about the Deep Sea.
Listening to Chukya, it seemed gods felt a pathological pleasure in expanding their own worlds, but that wasn't the case for me. Whether Elicia dissolved all the seawater or not, it was none of my business.
"Not right now. My world is still useful."
"..."
"But when everything is over, I'll give the Deep Sea to you. Just hold on until then..."
Wait for me.
I was about to say that when I was caught off guard by Elicia rushing into my arms.
"Sniff, *hic*... thank you, even if it's just words..."
Elicia was practically sobbing as she wrapped her small frame around my waist.
Is this the second time? I patted her back to soothe her for a few minutes, and when she finally looked up at me with a faint smile and tear-stained cheeks, she asked shyly.
"B, but. If that day really comes, will it always be just me by your side?"
"No. There will probably be several..."
The chances of my world remaining a pure Deep Sea in the process of defeating The Great Void were very slim. Some worlds had already melted into it.
But Elicia, as if she hadn't heard me, smiled softly and took my hand.
"I'll be waiting here. If you ever need me, come back. I'll keep the door open anytime."
"Keep it closed. A stranger might wander in."
"Okay!"
I felt a complex mix of emotions as I stroked Elicia's hair.
Elicia had likely forgotten that I could use Sense to perceive almost everything.
Yes, even inside the library where the door was already open.
[Hmm, this mage is trash. To think she'd weave such a magic circle...]
'Was I like that while reading books?'
...It seemed the younger version of me that Elicia remembered was a bit of a weirdo.
But since I felt that if I asked for a correction from this beaming Elicia, she might end things herself before I even got the chance to "kill" her, I said nothing.
There are some things in the world that are better left unknown.
***
After leaving the former capital.
I looked up at the sky with a slightly uneasy expression. The sky, a bit gloomier than before, looked like it might rain soon—that was all; The Great Void's face wasn't visible.
At the very least, it seemed true that it couldn't come for me immediately. As I let out a sigh of relief, Linmel, who had also sighed, glared at the capital and twisted her face in disgust.
"I beat her up pretty well, but I still don't feel great. I wonder if I can hit her more later?"
"Hit me if you want to hit someone. It’s my fault for being gone for five years."
"No, Zern isn't at fault! You were deceived, right?"
"Deceived... yes. But if I had known, I might not have gone in."
Not "might," but definitely.
Perhaps that was why Cheonhwa hadn't told me. Of course, no matter the circumstances, I could never understand it. As I trembled with clenched fists, Linmel spoke up quietly.
"Now that the Witch hunt is over, do you want to go meet people you know? The director and the kids will all want to see you."
"I suppose I have to. But there's something I want to check first."
Delsia wounded The Great Void.
If that was true, I wanted to find out by any means necessary what method she used and how deep the wound was.
"My plan includes keeping The Great Void from escaping, but I don't have a way to defeat it yet. I need to find my master."
"You just have to fight and win. I'll help you!"
"What if we lose?"
"I won't let us lose!"
Linmel smiled confidently. It was a smile that hadn't yet lost its innocence.
How nice it would be if everything could be solved like that. I smiled bitterly and patted Linmel's head.
"Thank you. But I need a more precise plan. This battle will likely be the last bit of strength I can muster. Let's head to the forest where my master returned."
"Okay. Got it. Want a piggyback ride?"
"...It's close to here, so I'm fine."
I exerted my last bit of pride against Linmel, who was trying to sit down with innocent intent, and began to walk toward the forest I knew on my own two feet.
It was actually quite far, but now that I knew I could show off my abilities to some extent, I wanted to test them.
"Let's see..."
*Drip.*
I poured the water bottle I was holding onto the ground, creating a tiny puddle.
And using my Sense, which had now expanded to an unbelievable degree, I looked at the entrance of the Elf forest.
'Focus.'
I slowly drew up my power.
If my Sense can reach it, I can use my abilities. I clenched my fist in the air—
*Drip...*
Dozens of kilometers away, a stream of water fell into the empty air.
A small puddle was created there as well. With two puddles now in existence, I recalled the door magic Delsia used to use so often.
A god-tier magic that allowed one to reach any place they had been to just by opening a door.
As a Demigod, there was nothing I couldn't do.
"What are you doing?"
In front of Linmel, who was watching with a look of wonder, I lightly dipped my finger into the puddle.
My finger sank into the water, slowly at first, then deeper and deeper, far beyond the actual depth of the pool.
And at the entrance of the Elf forest, which I had seen through my Sense, my finger poked out from a small puddle.
"It actually works."
"Huh?"
I grabbed Linmel by the shoulders, lifted her up, and shoved her straight into the puddle.
Linmel went in more calmly than I expected, and a moment later, her legs emerged from the puddle at the entrance of the Elf forest.
She looked around, realized she was in an entirely new place, and stared back at the puddle in a panic.
"Whoa...! What is this?"
"Something like magic."
I threw myself into the puddle as well and emerged in the same spot.
I moved my body around, but there were no issues. It was an incredible feat to instantly replicate a spell that Delsia had spent decades perfecting, but my brow furrowed regardless.
'This means that guy can do it, too.'
I became even more curious about what kind of trick Delsia had used to wound The Great Void.
...Perhaps.
'She couldn't have actually fallen, could she?'
Well, if she had fallen, there would be no reason for her to fight The Great Void. And a grand mage of Delsia’s caliber wouldn't have any way to fall unless she collapsed from within.
I convinced myself and looked out at the forest. Linmel was already gazing at the scenery, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Wow, the colors of the trees in this forest are so fascinating!"
"..."
And—
I gritted my teeth as I looked at the black forest, covered in ink, visible to the naked eye.
...She didn't fall, did she?
The end.
ⓒ Rotten Gimbap#1i525
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