-1352- [ Edel ]

"————"

In that moment, it seemed as if all the sounds around them vanished.

In the whole world, only Rozen and Edelweiss remained, staring at each other.

Suddenly, they both seemed to see their past days.

Those were days that, although not easy, were definitely filled with joy.

At that time, they traveled together to various scenic spots around the world.

At that time, they dined together in various restaurants around the world.

At that time, they climbed mountains together.

At that time, they crossed oceans together.

In those eight years, wherever the boy in the luxurious black coat went, there was always a sacred and pure figure by his side.

People did not know about this.

Because, to hide their identities in such situations and blend into the crowd, Rozen used various jujutsu to change his appearance. Only when enemies found them did Rozen remove his disguise and face them alone, while Edelweiss either hid or stayed out of sight.

Therefore, only the top brass of the three major forces and those who had confronted them knew that Rozen and Edelweiss were always together.

Because of this, the world did not know that the legendary "Tenkai" and "Twin-Wings" had such a deep bond.

This bond was so deep that even after Rozen left for two years, Edelweiss kept searching for him tirelessly.

Now, after ten years, the two finally reunited.

Edelweiss gazed at the face of the boy standing before her, as if trying to engrave it deeply into her mind and heart.

She couldn't help it.

"Ten years... I finally see your true appearance."

Edelweiss spoke softly.

And it wasn't just his appearance.

"Rorelai Arneet."

Edelweiss said the name.

"Is this your true name?"

Edelweiss wanted to know this.

Although it seemed incredible, in the past ten years, and even during the eight years they spent together day and night, Edelweiss had never known Rozen's true appearance or real name. Instead, she had seen many of his disguised appearances and names.

Edelweiss had suspected whether Rozen's current appearance and name were still a disguise. But seeing Rozen's eyes, she was certain this was not a disguise.

And it was true.

"The way I look now is my real appearance, and the name is the one I've had since birth," Rozen said without hiding anything. "Although I have many other names, my true name is undoubtedly this one."

"Is that so?" Edelweiss nodded, then asked again, "How should I call you?"

"Call me Rozen," Rozen smiled slightly. "Everyone close to me calls me that."

This sentence made Edelweiss's eyes ripple slightly.

"Close... people..."

These words made Edelweiss feel like she had tasted the world's most delicious dessert, her body and soul immersed in this feeling.

If one had to describe this feeling, it could only be with one word.

———— Happiness.

Only this word could describe Edelweiss's current feelings.

Of course, Edelweiss herself did not realize her own emotions.

Edelweiss just wanted to confirm one thing.

"Will you leave again?"

Edelweiss finally asked the question she most wanted to know.

Only this question made Edelweiss feel very uneasy and anxious.

Although she did not show it on the surface, how could Rozen not see it?

People only knew Edelweiss as the world's strongest swordsman, capable of fighting an army of 300,000 on her own. But who knew that Edelweiss was actually just an ordinary girl.

She liked to eat desserts.

She would gain weight from eating too many desserts and care about her weight.

She practiced swordsmanship not for some noble reason but simply for exercise to lose weight.

She even cared about not being married at her age. That day at the family restaurant, when Misogi Utakata mentioned marriage, Rozen lost his composure, and Edelweiss reacted unusually. The reason was all this.

In the past, when Estonia joined the "League" and declared that they would abandon the area where Edelweiss lived, Rozen visited Edelweiss's home.

At that time, the smile Edelweiss showed was something Rozen would never forget.

It was so pure.

It was so genuine.

That was the real Edelweiss, a straightforward yet surprisingly ordinary woman.

Rozen decided to leave Edelweiss, perhaps not wanting her smile to disappear and to avoid dragging her into his conflicts and goals.

Therefore, if it were before, Rozen would certainly answer like this.

"If I say I will, what will you do?"

If Rozen said this, Edelweiss would definitely hide her sadness and declare.

"In that case, fight me and use your strength to make me stop."

Edelweiss would surely say that, right?

But even if Rozen really used his strength to stop Edelweiss, she would never give up.

Not for two years, not for twenty years, or even a lifetime, Edelweiss would keep searching.

That was the "Twin-Wings."

That was...

Edel.

In Rozen's heart, a thought emerged, one that would never have surfaced before.

This must be what Stella Vermillion meant.

In that case, Rozen decided to answer.

"I won't." Rozen made a promise. "I won't leave anymore."

As soon as he said this, Edelweiss was stunned.

"Re... really?"

At that moment, Edelweiss asked eagerly.

Given her understanding of Rozen, she definitely did not expect him to answer like this.

But Rozen still wanted to say.

"Someone told me not to be content with just being a smart person but to be a man who can be relied on."

Rozen showed a playful smile to Edelweiss and said.

"I wonder if I have the honor of being the man that 'Twin-Wings' relies on?"

Rozen joked.

Only his eyes were extremely serious.

Seeing this...

"...."

A crystal-clear drop of water fell to the ground, making a slight sound.

"Huh? Wh... what...?"

Edelweiss became a bit flustered.

Because that crystal-clear drop was something that overflowed from her eyes.

And it wouldn't stop.

"Wha... what's happening? I... I don't want this...!"

Edelweiss kept wiping her eyes but couldn't stop the tears.

Edelweiss cried.

This was also the first time Rozen saw Edelweiss cry in ten years.

So, Rozen stepped forward to hug Edelweiss.

"...!"

Edelweiss's body stiffened.

Then, she also extended her hands to hug Rozen.

Under the waterfall, the pair embraced each other.

As if forever.