Chapter 28: Someday, Again

— Soon, you will lose this memory.

— Aim for the deepest part, Isshiki Itsuki.

◇

The overflowing light had settled before I knew it.
In my right hand was the shattered core. Above me, the enormous cloth once donned by the Undead King was descending.

“Whoa, wait, I can’t see anything!”

My vision was utterly dark. Although I can walk on air with [Flexible Enhancement · Red], the sheer size of the cloth is still overwhelming. It’s so big, six people could sleep under it like a futon.

While fumbling around, I gradually descended in altitude and finally set my feet on the ground.

As I emerged from the giant cloth, Kirishima-san and Shiraishi-san rushed over. Both were breathing heavily and stared intently at me.

“…Good job.”

Kirishima-san stepped forward and lightly tapped her fist on my left shoulder.
On the opposite shoulder, Shiraishi-san also lightly tapped her fist.

And then—

“I told you there was a curse! Why did you rush in! And what’s with nonchalantly flying around!”
“If Isshiki-kun died, it would all be pointless! Don’t you understand!?”

I was being lightly punched from both sides. I quietly accepted their anger.
I was aware of the danger I had put myself in. To have someone angry out of concern was something I was grateful for.

“I’m sorry.”

As I bowed my head, the two stepped back and caught their breath.

It’s not an excuse. Even so, I felt that I had to put that moment into words.

“But I felt that I had to go. It wasn’t a battle to avoid losing, but a battle we had to win. That’s what I thought.”

I looked at the shattered core in my hand.

The enemy was strong. I had gathered information beforehand, prepared thoroughly, and had magic that was well-suited to the task—and only then did the fight hold any chance.
Even with all those favorable conditions, had I not seized the moment, the opportunity would have vanished.

Shiraishi-san was looking at me.

“So, in your mind, you thought you could do it, Isshiki-kun?”
“Yes. I believed I could make it in time.”

As I nodded, Kirishima-san placed her hand on my head and started to mess up my hair.

“If you thought so, then it can’t be helped.”
“Hey, Kirishima-san. I’d appreciate it if you could be a bit gentler.”

Her petting was much more vigorous and lengthy than usual. It kept going on and on.

“…Thank you, Isshiki.”
“It’s not quite over yet. There’s still something I have to do.”

I showed them the cracked core in my hand and freed myself from Kirishima-san’s petting.

This core was in the center of the Undead King’s body—it was conveying some sort of message. I closed my eyes and carefully read the magic inscribed within.

“There’s one last thing I have to do.”

The reward given to those who have defeated the Undead King—a one-time magic.
—Release of Souls.

“[Dawn Funeral Fire]”

The core of the Undead King turned to dust, and a blue flame emerged in my right hand.
It wasn’t hot. Just a little bit cool at first, then gradually warmed.

The flame resonated with the [Mausoleum Palace].

From gaps in the ground, from cracks in the walls, from spaces where nothing appeared to be—dim light began to rise towards the heavens. Adventurers, monsters, all the souls that were trapped here.

Among them, one lightly patted my shoulder and slowly took form.

“It was a good fight. Congratulations, Yuko, Haruka—and Isshiki-kun.”

A slightly taller adventurer than me stood there clad in light armor. He wasn’t solid. The faint light would likely disappear if touched.

But even so.
Even such a fleeting vision held meaning.

“…Haru, to?”
“…Haruto?”

The man’s soul silently affirmed, then looked at Kirishima-san and Shiraishi-san.

“You both have become strong. There were spells I didn’t know, and I now understand how Urashima Taro must have felt. …But the Undead King was strong! I would have liked to fight too!”
“Huh?”

“Would my sword have cut it? No, probably not—”

“…I forgot. He was a dungeon fanatic by nature.”
“Ahaha… Oh yeah, that was how he was.”

Kirishima-san held her head in her hands, and Shiraishi-san gave a dry laugh. Haruto-san gazed at them with satisfaction. The warm light in his eyes was nothing like an illusion.

Haruto-san looked at me.

“It’s Isshiki-kun, right? There’s something I’d like you to receive.”
“For me?”

Haruto-san extended his hand, stopping it in front of my chest.

“There’s a magic I used to use a lot when I was alive—I’d like you to inherit it, if you don’t mind.”
“…Thank you.”

Through the flow of mana, a type of magic was engraved within me.
Haruto-san smiled.

“My adventure has ended. But my adventure, and our adventure, will never disappear. As long as dungeons continue, even if their end should come, our adventure will always continue. Watching everyone today, I could feel that from the bottom of my heart. I am satisfied. I am fulfilled.”

Kirishima-san was smiling.
Like the bright, clear sky, her smile was free from any cloud.

“I’m going to live until I become an old lady.”

Haruto-san seemed surprised. Kirishima-san pointed her index finger at him.

“So, have a nice relaxing time in hell.”
“Why hell? Haha. I think it’s the Blood Pond Hell. I hope it’s lukewarm…”

Laughing as if he were beaten, Haruto-san’s presence began to fade.

Still, the three of them were laughing.

“See you, Haruto.”

Shiraishi-san waved her hand.

“Make sure you remember, Haruto.”

Kirishima-san smiled.

“Thank you. Someday, again—”

Haruto-san vanished.

At the same time, the flame lingered in my hand extinguished.
I tried to grasp the final speck of fire, but it slipped through my fingers.

I turned my back on the two and decided to walk away.

I walked alone through the still, restored [Mausoleum Palace].
I don’t need to remember the sound of tears.