282. Epilogue (3)
After killing the Demon King.
And after he left this world.
Not much time had passed since then.
The world was still chaotic, unable to find its bearings.
Having lived under the rule of the demon realm, people forgot how to find their own way.
But, there was a story.
Our story remained, and was pointing them to their path.
"It's time."
At the voice calling me, I involuntarily looked at my fingertips.
There was my hand, gradually turning transparent.
Unlike the beautiful bracelet around my wrist, this hand appeared only faintly.
I was scared.
Somehow, I instinctively knew this was the end.
The era ruled by the demon race.
Once I announced the end of that era, I would disappear.
Somehow, I knew it instinctively.
Today would be my last.
"No, that's not it."
This wasn't the end.
It was actually the beginning.
I steeled my heart and took a step.
Walking and walking, I stood atop a platform where everyone was watching.
It was in front of the enormous temple currently under construction.
How ironic it was.
The prison where I had been trapped for a thousand years was now the site for my temple.
"Everyone."
There, a multitude of people had gathered.
Truly, so many people.
No, not just the people here.
Through magic, countless people were watching this place even now.
I heard voices.
Voices offering their wishes to me one last time.
But now, I no longer possessed the power to grant those wishes.
Only a flicker of strength remained.
Enough power to grant only a single person's wish.
"......"
What should I say?
My being here today wasn't for any grand reason.
From the start, they had no idea this would be my last day.
Only I knew what it meant to be a Saintess.
After all, I had been the sole Saintess for the past thousand years.
To them, I would be seen as the first and the last Saintess.
But—
"Saintess."
As I remained silent, hesitating, the priests, reading the mood, brought a young girl before me.
She was a Saintess.
"She is the child with the Stigmata."
"...... What is her name?"
"Sarah. Sarah Machvela. A poor orphan abandoned by her mother."
The young girl was so thin one could hardly believe she could be a Saintess.
Had she not borne the divine protection, had she not had the body of a Saintess, she would have died long ago.
"Would you hold my hand?"
"...... Pardon?"
Lowering my head, I extended my hand to the girl.
She seemed not to understand what I meant.
"I'm just a little scared."
"Saintess—why are you?"
By now, the priests were watching Sarah and me from afar.
Their gazes did not understand us.
Nor would they even try to understand what I was saying.
"Well......"
Fear of death?
Or the burden of having to speak before so many people?
No, it wasn't that.
"Ah, I see."
"Thank you."
The girl gently took my hand.
In her warmth, I felt myself regain a little composure.
"Aren't you scared?"
"...... I'm scared."
Just for having the Stigmata, she was brought to a place she didn't know.
This world was still lacking.
Consideration for people, morality, everything.
"But, because I can help so many people."
Sarah answered.
"I know so much. I just do."
That perhaps came from her authority as a Saintess.
Her clear eyes were bright, revealing a distinct fear.
Yet, even knowing this, she stood here.
Knowing how her own future would end, she chose to stand on this stage.
"Well then......"
Could you tell me just one thing? Whether my wish will come true.
That's what I wanted to ask.
But I let out a breath.
"... You're not going to ask?"
"I'm not."
She must have known I'd wanted to ask about the future.
But I deliberately didn't.
"Because I already know."
Yes, I knew.
Even so, I had only hesitated out of fear.
But looking at the girl before me, I regained my resolve.
This girl, Sarah, also stood here knowing her own future.
So, as her predecessor, I ought to set an example.
"Come."
Holding the girl's hand, I faced the crowd.
Gripping her trembling hand tightly, I steadied my breath.
"Everyone."
I, Estella, spoke to them all.
"A great deal has happened up until now."
Calmly, I addressed everyone.
Today's speech was to mark the end of everything.
The end of the demon race's rule, and the beginning of a new age for humanity.
I spoke to the people.
Of ourselves, who once lived under the dominion of the demon race.
And of our journey that began within it.
I hated humans.
It was natural.
There was no way I could like those who had buried me underground for a thousand years.
Selfishly praying to me, wishing upon me.
Always desiring that I grant wishes for them, regardless of my own desires.
I wanted revenge.
When they brimmed with hope, I wanted to crush it all.
And get my revenge in the most miserable way possible.
"Now, the rule of the demon race is over."
Yet, I couldn't do it.
Because on the journey for revenge, I came to love.
"Surely, now will be the age of humanity in this world."
The moment I said so, a faint light enveloped my body.
I saw the shock and fear in people's eyes.
The girl holding my hand gripped even tighter.
Looking down, I could see my body half-transparent.
As I announced the end of an era, I could feel my own end drawing near.
"Everyone."
To them, I was hope itself.
A symbol of their wishes.
I knew it.
Even though I hadn't loved them, they had wanted me more than anyone else.
Now, I understand.
That it is not wrong for humans to wish for miracles.
"You must be afraid."
My form slowly fading—it was, to them, akin to losing hope and miracles.
But that's not right.
Humans weren't simply beings that placed all their hopes on others.
They could be beings who seized those hopes with their own hands.
He had taught me that.
"When the future is not visible, when you don't know what to do, only fear stands before you."
They had lived their lives ruled by demons.
Unaware of their own possibilities.
"The road ahead may be rough."
They did not know what they themselves could do.
Not knowing, they could do nothing but wish.
"But, even a small step is enough."
So, all that's needed is to show them.
To guide them and show the way forward.
"Please take a step forward, with your own feet."
If this girl, holding my hand, is the one, I am sure she'll do it splendidly.
But perhaps, that will not last long.
It will likely be shorter than any Saintess before her.
"Even if you stumble, keep taking steps and don't give up."
This girl will be forgotten by those who start walking for themselves.
That will be a heartbreaking, perhaps miserable fate.
But, she's here nonetheless.
"Then surely, you will achieve a miracle."
These words were not only for them.
But also for Sarah holding my hand.
And for myself.
"Surely."
Those holding their breath, staring at me.
Now, they no longer sent fearful eyes my way.
No one reached out for a fading miracle.
"Everyone."
Now, more than ever, my world was peaceful.
"From now, I will be embarking on a journey."
The light enveloping my body grew stronger.
The hand holding the girl's grew ever more transparent.
"It will be a very long journey."
Even so, I continued calmly.
"Beyond remote worlds, across endless time... a journey to break through the infinite darkness."
I recalled the bright golden thread.
The golden thread that had connected me to him.
My power, but not mine.
That thread wasn't simply a means to grant wishes.
It was a bond.
Not mine, yet mine—a bond.
"To tell the truth, I am a little afraid, and frightened."
I looked to Sarah.
As if she knew, she carefully let go of my hand.
"Will I make it there, without losing my way?"
Then, I took a step forward, facing them all.
"Will I tire and give up partway?"
Even knowing the end, the darkness is still frightening.
I wasn't sure whether my mind, worn by a thousand years, could endure.
"So, please, wish for me."
Raising my hand to those watching me.
And folding both hands in a prayer.
The bracelet on my wrist shone with a pure light.
"So that I may not lose my way as I go forward."
The last authority left to me.
A single wish.
"Across distant worlds—"
My power would never be spent on myself.
"Across endless years—"
That was the nature of my authority.
A hope not permitted to me.
"... So that I may arrive at the end."
Even so, I made one, last wish.
Even if it was un-Saintess-like, I would not yield this.
"I too will pray for it."
My hands faded away into light, disintegrating from my feet upwards.
So, I looked up at the sky.
"May fortune favor your journey."
The world turned to light.
In the pure white light, what I saw last was the sight of people praying for me.
"May your futures be as magical as magic itself."
There were people praying not for themselves, but for me alone.
A blessing upon my journey, a prayer for my safety.
'Be happy.'
'Thank you.'
The last wishes I heard in the silence were like that.
Wishes for someone else, for me, rather than for themselves.
Those words became light, a lantern in the darkness.
The darkness—
In that endless darkness, I kept walking.
A long time passed.
I did not know how much time.
On and on.
Endlessly.
"Ah-yeon, did you hear?"
I just kept walking forward.
In a world where I could see and hear nothing.
"What? Song-ah unni?"
"What else, it's big news. They say there's a rift in the dungeon?"
"Really?"
"I heard it from some manager."
I walked on, recalling only a single promise.
Many times I stopped, wanting to give up, but there was a voice pushing me forward.
"They said a manager went in with the hunters and saw it? Or, felt it?"
"What's that supposed to mean? By the way, Song-ah unni, do you want to go into the dungeon with me? I'll protect you."
"Managers aren't supposed to do that."
There was a lantern.
The hope that had never reached me was guiding me on.
"Hm~. But it's still bothering me."
"What is?"
"The manager's story."
"Are you crazy? Why would there be a rift here? That only happens in America."
I wanted to learn magic.
Then, I could help him with my own strength.
Not with some god-given authority, but by my own power.
"This won't do."
"What?"
"I'll be right back!"
There was only darkness.
For a thousand years, the only thing that had been with me was the dreadful darkness.
But, one day, light found its way to me.
It must have been an accident.
To him, meeting me must have been mere coincidence.
But to me, it felt like a miracle.
"Haah, haah. Where is it, seriously?"
The day he left.
I made a promise with him.
Perhaps he thought it was just empty words.
But I was sincere.
This time, since you came to find me first—
"I found you!"
Next time, I'll be the one to find you first.
"... Who are you?"
There were eyes filled with despair.
There was a man there who had given up on everything.
For him, today's incident wasn't just a matter of a rift.
It seemed as if his dreams had been shattered, his ideals broken.
I grew anxious.
I didn't know why.
But I approached him with quick steps.
I saw his startled face.
It amused me, so I laughed a little.
"You're..."
I held out my hand to him.
Approaching first, bowing my head, I gave him a confident smile.
"Are you the manager who discovered the rift?"
To become his miracle.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
The final chapter...
I don't know why but I felt sad reading this chapter.
Also, thank you author-nim for not taking the harem route...
I will forever be grateful to you for that...
This novel is a great read.
And this chapter hit so hard for me.
It went full circle... And I love it...
Thank you for reading and supporting this novel...
【｡° ૮₍°´ᯅ`°₎ა °｡】