That day, at Rozen's villa, everyone gathered for a secret farewell party.
The person they were bidding farewell to was, of course, Rozen.
After realizing that Rozen wouldn't change his mind, everyone, despite their complex feelings, ultimately decided to support him and let him leave without any worries.
Especially Freon and Mena, who believed that Rozen was genuinely preparing to venture into dangerous territory for the sake of his research. They did not say much but earnestly organized the farewell party, offering parting gifts to Rozen.
Thus, everyone went out to buy various ingredients, and they all busied themselves cooking and decorating the villa, trying to create a warm and cheerful atmosphere.
Even Misora, Lecty, and Rico, after some time of feeling down, eventually accepted the reality.
"Don't worry, we've learned how to get stronger on our own."
"We... we won't be the weakest anymore, bringing you shame...!"
"If you die on the surface, I'll take your title and become the hero of humanity—no, the goddess. So, you better watch out."
Misora, Lecty, and Rico each made their statements in their own styles. Some were determined, some tearful, and some arrogant, but all of them expressed their reluctance and support for Rozen's departure.
In the end, even Kanata, Chloe, and Yuri shared their thoughts.
"It seems this is the first time we've been apart since childhood, right?" Kanata nostalgically remarked.
"Remember, we'll be waiting for you. Be careful," Chloe gently advised, warming everyone's hearts like an angel.
As for Yuri, she had disappeared for a while, and when she returned, her eyes were swollen from crying, clearly having shed tears for quite some time.
But in the end, Yuri still resolutely spoke to Rozen.
"I will, as always, follow in your footsteps, no matter where you go, and I'll come to find you."
"So, please, make sure to return."
Yuri said this to Rozen and eventually couldn't hold back, throwing herself into his arms and crying uncontrollably.
Rozen could only hold this junior and student, who had always followed him everywhere, as he smiled wryly, then smiled softly at everyone, including Yuri.
"Don't worry, I will come back."
That was another promise from Rozen.
Once everything was truly settled, Rozen would return here.
However, by then, he wouldn't be alone; he would have many companions by his side.
In this world, Rozen had no regrets but carried deep attachments.
After all, this was the place he had lived for nearly eighteen years. It was impossible not to develop some attachment.
With that in mind, Rozen fully participated in the farewell party, without thinking about complicated matters or doing anything else, simply eating, drinking, laughing, and playing with everyone, making the entire villa resound with joy and laughter that did not subside for a long time.
In the end, under Kanata's instigation, everyone broke the school rules, including Freon and Mena, and drank alcohol, eventually getting completely drunk.
Naturally, under such circumstances, none of them could leave and had to stay at Rozen's villa, uncertain when they would wake up.
As for Rozen...
"Phew..."
Standing on the balcony of his room, gazing at the night sky, Rozen slowly exhaled a breath of alcohol.
"I really drank a lot..."
Rozen smiled wryly, though his face showed no sign of redness.
Despite everyone being drunk, only Rozen maintained a clear mind.
This wasn't because Rozen had excellent alcohol tolerance, but because he had Gyokuto protecting his mind from intoxication. He also had the Virtual Aether enhancing his brain, preventing unconsciousness, and Foreign Mana constantly flowing through his body, elevating him. Ordinary alcohol could no longer have much effect on him.
So, unless it was some divine liquor from mythology, capable of making even gods drunk, Rozen was unlikely to get intoxicated.
Thanks to this, Rozen was able to carry all his drunk companions into the rooms of the villa, allowing them to sleep comfortably.
Not only that, but Rozen also cleaned up and tidied the mess in the hall, leaving a spotless villa.
"This can be considered a little ceremony before leaving."
Rozen murmured to himself and took one last look at the sky of this world.
Ever since arriving in this world, Rozen had lived in this sky domain, never setting foot on the ground.
As a Sky Wizard, Rozen had developed a special sense of belonging to the sky.
"I hope that when I return, I can soar through this sky again with everyone."
It was a small yet beautiful wish.
Of course, it was a wish that would come true.
As long as Rozen didn't fall along the way, he would return to this world eventually.
"Anyway, for them, it shouldn't take too long."
Saying this, Rozen fiddled with the golden ring on his finger.
Though Rozen had yet to fully refine Foreign Mana and master the power of the "Miracle," he was surprised to discover that, by utilizing his high-grade mana compressed to the extreme, he could control some of the effects of the Miracle.
One of these effects was that when traversing different worlds and entering the flow of time, if it was a world he had been to before, Rozen could descend directly through the Miracle's guidance.
The advantage of this was that he could arrive at the point in time when he had left the world.
Even if the time flows of the two worlds gradually synchronized after Rozen opened the door between them, with the Miracle's power, Rozen could rewind that time and link it to the moment he had left.
However, there were two limitations.
One was that he couldn't arrive at a point before he had left, or else it would cause existence verification problems, similar to Chaldea's Spiritron Transfer, leading to a concept distortion of his existence.
The second was that the Miracle could only guide him; Rozen had to plunge into the flow of time himself, which would inevitably cause some deviation in the timing.
In other words, Rozen might arrive one second after he had left the world or several months or even years later.
But with the Miracle's guidance and the power of the Mind's Eye, Rozen believed he wouldn't end up at a point too far off.
From now on, when returning to worlds he had been to, he no longer needed to worry about the flow of time.
"This is the Miracle's power, capable of even controlling time."
Rozen marveled.
Then he turned his head and took one last deep look at the villa.
"Zing—!"
In the next second, a tunnel of light appeared.
And just like that, Rozen left this world, heading for the ones where he had left regrets and attachments behind.
////Finally done! There will be no new world from this point on, just returning to old worlds. The next would be SAO and after that it's gonna be Camelot (fgo).////