CH-168.2

 Chapter 168.2

"…The magic power of the Demon King Anos…" (Reno)

There was only one explanation as to why Reno could feel the magic power of the Demon King of Tyranny from the baby she and Shin conceived. It was because the rumor and legend that formed its source were about Avos Dilhevia.

"Everything is guided by fate." Nostalgia said with great reverence.

"And here and now, the Child of God shalt be born." (Nosgalia)

His Divine Words made a magic circle appear over Reno's belly.

The magic power of the baby inside her suddenly manifested itself.

That was the ｢Growth Kurst｣ spell.

The Child of God grew rapidly, and was about to be born.

"Don't do this… If I give birth to it now, it won't survive…" (Reno)

Reno held her own stomach tight.

However, she couldn't stop the birth of the Child of God.

"Haha! Rejoice, for the Child of God appears to be a girl. She will succeed thee and become the new Mother of All Spirits. Now, rejoice and celebrate, for thou have become the womb that gave birth to a mighty god. To the order of this world." Nostalgia declared with a wicked smile.

"No! I can't…! Not yet…!" (Reno)

A transparent baby emerged from the magic circle floating over Reno's belly.

That baby was floating over the flower field.

She was detached from her mother's womb, and only possessed a feeble amount of magic power, as if her source was about to disappear at any moment.

"Ah…" (Reno)

Reno fell to her knees on the spot.

Due to the birth of the Child of God, Reno betrayed her own legend.

The Great Spirit Mother was now about to disappear.

"What are thee going to do, Great Spirit Mother? This baby is the order that will destroy the Demon King of Tyranny, something thou do not wish for. And if thou leave her alone, she will perish." (Nosgalia)

Reno weakly gripped her hand tight, and grabbed tear flowers from the garden.

"…Please… Come to life… A spirit who can… save this baby… Anyone…" (Reno)

One after another, the tear flowers turned into light and vanished, giving birth to many spirits.

The flower field quickly turned into a barren land.

And when the very last tear flower disappeared—

"…Yes… They're born…" (Reno)

Reno raised her head, as if clinging to hope.

"…The Space-Time Fountain Ezessei… I'm sorry, I know you were just born. But please, take her with you. To a place where she can live… Two thousand years from now. I'm sure… the Demon King will save her… I know… he will save her…" (Reno)

With the last of her strength, Reno used her spirit magic to wrap the baby in silk cloth, and a cradle woven from soft wood.

"I'm sorry I can't even hold you. Or even give you a name. I pray from the bottom of my heart that a good person will pick you up." (Reno)

"Haha!" Nosgalia laughed in a casual tone.

"The plan of a god is absolute. This child is no proof of thy love as thou believed she was. Nor is she even the child of Shin Reglia. So why are thou saving her? Thou were made into a womb for the Child of God by way of my divine words. In other words, thou became the mother of the Child of— GAH…!?" (Nosgalia)

Nosgalia's words were cut short.

What was thrusted out of his mouth was the Gneodoros, the God Slasher.

The Heavenly Father turned his eyes behind him.

Shin was there.

"Well… If it is not the God-Slaying Sword… But thou are too late… Even if thou kill me, it would change nothing at this point. The Child of God was born just now. With the more of the imaginary Demon King Avos Dilhevia as her foundation, she shalt be the great spirit who—" (Nosgalia)

Before Nosgalia could finish his sentence, Shin swung down Gneodoros and sliced his head in half.

Now that it was split in two, the head burst into mist, and the magic power of the Heavenly Father completely vanished from the scene.

"Reno!" (Shin)

Shin rushed over to Reno and held her body, which was about to disappear.

"…I sincerely apolog—" (Shin)

"Thank you, Shin. For protecting me." (Reno)

Reno desperately extended her trembling hand to him.

Shin grabbed it firmly.

"I'm sorry… Shin… I lied to you…" Reno said with a sad look on her face.

"…It wasn't love… And there was no miracle…" (Reno)

Tears welled up in her eyes, yet she bravely held them back, trying not to shed any.

Then, in a dispirited voice tinged with despair, she softly muttered.

"…It wasn't even your baby…" (Reno)

Her face was full of sadness, yet she never cried.

"…I'm sorry… Shin… I'm sorry… I couldn't teach you about love…" (Reno)

Over and over, she apologized to him.

"Even though you gave me so many things… I'm sorry I could return any of your favors. That baby is…" (Reno)

Reno spoke as she held back her tears.

"I sent the baby two thousand years into the future. If the peace of our world is ever threatened as a result, then with your own hands, you'll have to—" (Reno)

"Is it a boy?" (Shin)

Reno momentarily fell silent at Shin's question.

"Or is it a girl?" (Shin)

"…It's a girl…" (Reno)

"Very well. Then please rest assured." (Shin)

Shin looked straight into her eyes and spoke up.

"I promise to protect her." (Shin)

Reno widened her eyes in surprise.

"I will build a world where she can live even after two thousand years." (Shin)

"…No, you mustn't… Because her lore is about the fake Demon King, Avos Dilhevia… This isn't… something you…" (Reno)

Reno said, as if to appeal to his reason.

"…Something you… can do… Because you're the Demon King's right-hand man… And I can't make you do that…" (Reno)

To Reno, who showed consideration for his feelings, Shin replied softly.

"Even so, the fact remains that she is the proof of love you gave me. Even if it was the aim of that god." (Shin)

"But…" (Reno)

"…I will not let her die. Even if I have to…" (Shin)

After pausing for a moment, Shin declared with firm resolution.

"Even if I have to go against My Lord for it, I will spread the rumors and legends about Avos Dilhevia, and ensure that they remain…" (Shin)

Reno's body was disappearing.

Translucent spring water, glowing purple, descended from the sky and covered the baby's body.

Shin ran his sword across the wooden cradle.

What he engraved on it was the name 'Misa'.

Then he spoke.

In a very, very gentle voice.

As if he were embracing love.

"Because she is my child. And the precious proof of love that you gave me." (Shin)

"Shi—" (Reno)

Without so much as a warning, Reno suddenly lost her voice.

Now that she had betrayed her own legend, her source was reaching its limit.

She couldn't tell him what she wanted to say. She was incapable of it.

Using ｢Thought Domain Liknos｣, I read Reno's mind.

Shin…

Why isn't my voice coming out?

I can't use ｢Thought Communucation Leaks｣ either.

Even though there's still something I want to tell him…

Even though this is something I just have to tell him…

I'm sorry, Shin.

I'm your wife, and yet…

I've done nothing but drag you down.

Always, always having you protect me…

I couldn't protect your pride.

Even though it was the thing you cherished more than anything…

"Things do not always work out, do they?" Shin muttered gently.

"I wanted to see your smile, but I do not know what to say for that." (Shin)

Tears spilled from Reno's eyes without stopping.

When Shin wiped them away, a single flower appeared in the palm of his hand.

"I am sorry for causing you this much grief in your last moments." (Shin)

I have to smile.

No matter how hard I try to, my tears just won't stop.

I can't cry when I'm sad. Because my tears turn into spirits.

When children are born, I should cry tears of joy.

That's what I always told myself, and yet…

My tears are falling to the ground and making so many sad flowers bloom, and I can't hold them back.

Even though I know that no matter how much I cry, no miracle will ever happen…

Hey, Shin. You know…

I know I can't convey it to you, but…

I have no regrets.

Because I got to marry you.

Thank you, Shin.

For protecting me.

I know we were only married for three days, but…

I was happier than anyone else.

Reno's body turned transparent, then she completely disappeared.

The spring of magic power that covered Misa swirled, and the wooden cradle was sucked into it.

Soon, the Space-Time Fountain Ezessei disappeared along with Misa.

Before I knew it, tear flowers blossomed from the tears Reno spilled.

Shin walked slowly to the center of that flower bed, and thrusted his iron sword into it.

As if to make it her tombstone.

"…I suppose I am what you could call a fool…" (Shin)

As if to pay his respects, Shin offered a single white flower to the iron sword.

"I wanted to make you happy." (Shin)

At that moment—

Shin's body turned silvery white.

And it wasn't only him.

The flower garden itself was dyed silver.

The next moment, a completely different scene took place.

As if the world had been turned inside out and put into fast forward, one scenery after another flowed through this place.

Then, as a crack appeared in this silvery white world, it shattered into pieces.

What emerged from behind it was the treasure room.

The ｢Time-Reversal Revalon｣ spell had worn off, and we were back in our original time period.

Next to me, Misha was in tears.

Sasha was crying. And so we're Eleonore and Zeshia.

Lay was gritting his teeth hard with a sad look on his face, and Rina looked despondent.

I walked one step at a time.

And the others slowly turned my way.

"This was the end of that tragedy from two thousand years ago." I declared, with all of them facing me.

"From now on, we're taking everything back." (Anos)