Chapter 250: Pure Garden

***Final Arc, One Who Obtain Happiness, 250 Pure Garden***

Five main roads stretching across the grassland――beside them, steel rails etched into the earth.

Clutched within what was known as the 'The King's 5 Fingers.

There was a white city that ruled over the vast plain.

Albeneria, the capital of the Alberan Kingdom.

This city, built entirely of gray transmuted rock, sparkling white in the sunlight, its appearance floating in the grassland had a majestic appearance befitting one to rule a continent.

Like the sword depicted in the crest, vast magical power radiated from the towers towering towards the sky, distorting the atmosphere.

It was said to be the path leading to the heavens for governance――the King's sixth finger.

The beginning of the world.

It drew inexhaustible magical power from the enormous energy called 'Origin' and circulated it into the atmosphere.

Several decades have passed since its creation, and obvious changes have begun to occur in the world.

An increase in the number of magical beasts, an increase in the percentage of people with magical power and continued abundant harvests.

Deep in remote forests and mountains――the number of magical beasts that were said to be born in such places was clearly increasing, and it was even affecting livestock in human settlements.

For the past decade, creatures such as sheep for meat, pet cats and dogs, and horses had begun to possess strong magical powers.

And so did humans.

Even among commoners with no magical power in their bloodline, magic possessors would suddenly begin to appear.

Although the latter has not caused as much fuss as the former, many researchers were already saying that it was a definite phenomenon.

What purpose that tower called the Heavenly Zenith was built for? Even though no one knew the true intentions of the Queen or Alberinea, they understood that it was something that would affect the world itself.

And this applies not only to researchers but also to nobles.

A great and flawless queen.

An existence akin to a fairy tale without a hint of human frailty.

The masses simply praised her without reservation, but those who had direct dealings with her, felt an indescribable unease at her overly perfect demeanor.

The faint records of past purges, carried out by a mad genius named Alberinea.

Perhaps because their interaction with Kreschenta was too perfect.

Several decades have passed since the unification of the continent, and the world has rapidly become more stable.

It was more apt to call it the work of God, and they began to doubt whether the unageing her was truly the same human as them

In fact, the people's belief in the Queen was almost like a religious belief――and her extraordinary degree of perfection was what made them uneasy.

Never aging, without flaws, without a husband or children.

Everything about her seemed self-contained, making it inevitable to imagine eternity upon seeing her.

An eternal country, like a dream.

Ruled by God.

And if the impossible end were to come, what would that be like?

A world where everything was entrusted to one person, and where everything could fall apart at the whim of one person.

As they recognized it correctly, this seemingly perfect stability seemed to be built on thin ice, so they turned away from it and didn't question it.

But beyond their gaze stood the tower piercing the heavens, further stroking their fears.

It was like a wedge being driven into this stagnation called stability.

And at the castle town of the royal capital.

"That's why Krische came to ask for the answer. What about Kalua and the others?"

The voice of a girl, like the ringing of a bell, overlapped slightly with the voices of boys practicing swordsmanship

――It was a voice from a dojo named Black Flag Swordsmanship Instruction.

The Black Flag Special Forces Company was once hailed as the strongest in the kingdom.

This dojo, where its members personally teach swordsmanship, prospered and became one of the leading dojos in the capital, but the instructors gradually changed as they aged.

Nowadays, the majority of them were former disciples who had never experienced the battlefield.

Listening to the voice from the dojo that had been reborn,

"Fufu, Usa-chan hasn't changed."

The old woman who ran the dojo sat up on the bed and said that with a wry smile.

There is still some trace of her beautiful black hair, but most of it had turned white.

Even after several decades, still beautiful――she gazed at the silver-haired girl as if seeing a dazzling sight, then looked at her own palm and closed her eyes.

Even in her old age, her profile was beautiful.

"Last time Krische asked, Kalua told Krische to ask before you die."

There were three elderly women in the room.

A woman with black hair like hers and a woman with chestnut hair. Both had graying hair, aging gracefully.

Among them, only the girl with a clear, bell-ringing voice had not aged, and she stood there as dainty as a small animal.

She was wearing an apron dress as usual.

"It was quite a while ago indeed,"

"Selene told Krische not to force it, so it's not absolutely...but Krische thinks it'll be very happy if it stays like this forever. Kalua is always together with Mia and Elvena, peacefully. There's nothing to worry about anymore."

"That's why Krische wants you to come," Krische said with a smile.

It was a modest smile that had not changed for several decades.

A smile that had no doubts, no calculations, and simply believed in happiness.

Kalua was sure this would never change.

Kahlua was strangely convinced, as if she had seen the future.

"Usa-chan"

When Kahlua beckons, Cliché mysteriously approaches her and sits on the bed, where Kalua pat her on the head.

Her silky hair had a youthfulness that had long since disappeared from Kalua.

"I still don't really know how to explain it to Usa-chan."

"...?"

"Mia, you say it."

"You know I'm not good at that kind of thing."

The old woman with long chestnut hair said while glaring at her.

Even though they had gotten older, their relationship remained unchanged.

As usual, Mia looked dissatisfied, looking at Kalua with an exasperated expression.

Kalua chuckled and gently hugged the little girl.

"I don't mean I'm tired of living, or that I don't have anything else I want to do, or that I don't want to have fun... But, you know, right now, I'm pretty satisfied."

Krische took Kalua's arm, which embraced herself.

Her arms grew thinner year by year, with wrinkles on the hands.

"...Satisfied."

"Yes, I feel like if there's ever a time to stop in life, it would be now. ...If I continue on with Usa-chan, I might be able to enjoy it quite a bit...But Onee-chan thinks I'll never have the chance to end my life as comfortably as I'm now."

"...I don't think you're an Onee-chan anymore, but rather an Obaa-chan."

"Mia, don't interrupt the conversation."

Kalua laughed and continued.

"As Kahlua, I met Usa-chan, fought together, found Elvena, and was saved... and now I've opened a dojo like this, and I've found many of her successors who can take over after me. ...If I were to conclude the story of Kahlua Bellus, I think it would be beautiful to leave it to nature as it is.''

While lovingly embracing the delicate and petite body.

"Of course, there's still more I can do, and if Usa-chan needs me from now on, then I'm fine with that. I plan on following Usa-chan forever, but...That's probably not why Usa-chan is asking me, right?"

Krische nodded silently.

It was not like war had completely disappeared.

However, the battlefield was dominated by giant iron soldiers and magic weapons, and the Black Flag Special Force had long since been disbanded.

Krische no longer stands on the battlefield herself, and she lives a peaceful life far away from the battlefield, and even though she sometimes visited, she was never asked for anything in particular.

Was it necessary or not?――At the very least, it was not necessary.

'If necessary, I will spend eternity as Krische-sama's sword. ...However, Krische-sama is no longer looking for Bald Eagle who was a soldier.'

She only spoke to a very small number of people, but the words she got back were all similar.

Everyone responded to Krische with similar words to Kalua.

Each time, she recalled Gallen's and Eluga's smile.

"...Kahlua, is it necessary for it to end?"

"Well, I don't know. Maybe we have a different way of thinking."

Kalua said with a chuckle.

"For quite some time now, I've seen living as dying."

"...To die?"

"That's right. In order to have a better way to die and a better ending, I will live my life to the fullest. ...The end will come someday, so enjoy everything I've been through to the fullest, and that's why I've gotten to where I am now. Having enjoyed life enough as something that will eventually end, there's no further attraction or regret... Well, something like that."

Krische furrowed her brow and groaned.

Kalua chuckled.

"It's a different perspective. Usa-chan's purpose is probably to live in the present."

"...Is Kalua treating Krische like an idiot again?"

"I'm not, I'm not. I've known for a long time that Usa-chan is very smart."

"...Krische still feels like Krische is being treated like an idiot."

Krische pouted her lips and puffed out her cheeks.

Seeing her like that, Kalua laughed joyfully, causing wrinkles to form on her elegant face.

Watching them, Mia spoke.

"It's true. It's not a story that doesn't appeal to me...The paradise that Cliché-sama talks about seems like it would be fun. But when I think this is the end, I thought it was also fine. ...I feel the same way as Kahlua."

Her eyes narrowed and she looked towards the dojo.

The voices of children and instructors, and the hard sound of wooden swords echoed.

"I feel like I want to keep looking at what lies ahead, and I also feel like I don't have to look at it....If I'm going to be reborn from scratch after I die, I think it's good to sleep imagining that."

'Right', she said with a smile on her wrinkled face.

"It's like how you naturally want to sleep at night. ... I want the fun days to last forever, but no matter how fun the day is, at some point you'll want to take a break."

Mia also sat down and cuddled up to Kalua.

"...There is nothing happier than when you go to sleep thinking about what tomorrow will be like. Imagining what kind of life I would lead if I were reincarnated...I'm quite happy with that."

Krische looked at her, thought for a moment, and nodded.

"...If Kalua and Mia say that then Krische won't say anything more. What do you want to do, Elvena?"

Then she looked at Elvena.

Elvena, who was silently watching her progress, stared at the two of them, and shook her head as she smiled a little sadly.

"As I said, to Krische-sama...If I can, I would like to meet Bery-sama again..."

Hearing Elvena's words, Kalua turned to her.

Seeing her gaze, Elvena returned her gaze and smiled.

As they get older, they look even more like each other――but perhaps it was their temperament or the difference they've accumulated.

There was a difference in the atmosphere between the two.

"I guess you could say I'm on Krische-sama's side, too. I'd like to spend a peaceful time without the sun setting. There's so much to learn and think about that no matter how much time I have, I'll never have enough."

Kalua carefully examined her sister's words.

She then nodded.

"If Elvena decides that's okay, I won't say anything more."

"Yes"

Elvena also nodded and bowed her head.

Kalua turned to Krische

"...If there's time, I'd like to eat Usa-chan's cooking for the first time in a while."

"Ehehe, yes. What do you want?"

"Maybe something easy to eat, like pumpkin soup..."

"...Kalua is probably the only one who can say that to Krische-sama."

Mia said exasperated, and Kalua laughed.

There, time simply passed peacefully.

In the carriage on the way back after lunch.

Krische, who was sitting on Elvena's lap, let out a small groan.

"Krische, really is weird after all?"

"Fufu, yes, Krische-sama may be quite an eccentric person."

Elvena smiled happily and nodded, embracing her small body with both hands.

With a face marked by wrinkles, she looked at the girl with endless tenderness.

"Unlike Krische-sama, everyone spends their lives thinking they will live and die for at most 100 years. Maybe what Mia-san said was the normal one."

"...Is that how it is?"

Krische pouted her lips a little in dissatisfaction, and Elvena chuckled when she saw that.

Looking up at her like that, Krische asked.

"Why does Elvena come with Krische?"

"...If Krische-sama asks me why, it's a little difficult."

She paused a little, as if thinking about it.

After that she narrowed her eyes as she looked into the distance.

"It might be what you'd call stubbornness."

"...Stubborn?"

"Just like Krische-sama, I want to prove that there is eternal love."

'It sounds childish, doesn't it?' she said, smiling wryly.

To the girl who is still a child.

"The vow to love forever is just words. I want to prove that my love is true and remains unchanged, just as I say... maybe."

Elvena said and at Krische's chest.

She stroked the magic crystal that was hanging there.

"...If some mistake were made and Krische couldn't meet Bery-sama for hundreds or thousands of years in the future――or perhaps even forever, would Krische-sama surely still be able to offer unwavering love to Bery-sama?"

"......? yes"

"Fufu, that's what I mean. But even if it's something simple that Krische-sama can declare without thinking, it's quite difficult for someone like me."

'Maybe that's why', Elvena said.

When I say it out loud like this, it's just stubbornness after all. However, well..."

She laughed while combing through Krische's hair with her hand.

"...Tea is something I never get tired of, no matter how many times I drink it. An unexpectedly big reason is that I want to spend more of my normal, peaceful daily life with Krische-sama and the others."

"...Ehehe"

Krische reached her hands behind her head and played with Elvena's hair.

There was a slight curl in her shoulder-length hair.

Her fingers, mingled with strands of white, gently tickled the scalp.

"It's kind of difficult, but Krische is relieved to hear that for now. Krische thought maybe Elvena was still worried about not being able to repay the help."

She said, looking up at Elvena, leaning on her back and holding up her finger with a serious look to her face.

"Despite the strict collection, Elvena managed to repay the debt properly. That matter is already settled, so please don't worry about it."

"...My. Fufu, it's certainly one of the reasons."

Elvena smiled gracefully.

"To Krische-sama it was probably a loan that was already repaid a long time ago. However, the freedom and happiness that I gained because of it are still here."

And Elvena put her hand on her own chest.

"So please don't worry about it. It's not about owing or borrowing... Gratitude for the kindness shown to me is something that brings happiness just by remembering it."

"Well... If Elvena says so, then it's okay."

She giggled and stroked her forehead as she laughed quietly and let her hair flow.

"Anyway... What Did Krische-sama do to Kalua and Mia?"

Elvena asked to change the subject.

'...Thank you for the meal. I feel like I have no regrets now.'

'Don't say that. ...Thank you for the meal, Krische-sama.'

'Ehehe, Krische was worried when Krische heard that you had collapsed, but Krische was relieved that Kalua and Mia seemed to be doing well. ......Right"

Just as she was about to leave, Krische pressed her fingertips against their chests.

A thin blue light drew an arc.

'...?'

'In the Krische's village, a couple who are close to each other prays so that they can be together in the next life. ...Krische doesn't know if it's effective, but guess that's what it's like.'

'Fufu, a charm huh. Mia. It's not cute when old people get embarrassed.'

'Kahlua, shut up'

A little thing before parting.

That was what Elvena asked.

"Kahlua and Mia seem to be having fun together for a long time, and Krische hopes that will be the case in the next life as well. However, Krische doesn't really understand how reincarnation works, so it's just a small spell."

"...I see. Fufu, if I live long enough, I might be able to meet the two of them who have been reborn."

"yes"

Elvena smiled bitterly, and she lifted up Krische's body and hugged her, pressing her against her chest.

"...sad?"

"Just a little bit...Krische still can't get used to it."

Krische answered quietly and pressed her face against hers.

Like an eternal child, in a quiet voice as if holding it back.

Kalua was already unable to handle her magic power properly.

For magic possessors, it was a sign that their lifespan was nearing.

Although she appeared lively, it was just a facade.

That was the kind of person Kalua was, and Krische knew it well.

"Me too. ...But I'm sure it would be better to have a smile on your face than a sad face when we parted ways. Nee-san was very happy."

"......yes"

Even though that was what she wanted, eternity was a kind and cruel word.

This innocent child would continue to watch as each person faded away with time

"That's why, it's fine."

Not many people desire the paradise she desired.

Paradise was a cage, and bonds were chains.

People change, and endless eternity was as frightening as it was beautiful.

Perhaps everyone didn't want to cloud her.

That was why they refused, so as not to hurt her.

Rather, the word of refusal was rather a form of love.

Her vows were stronger than those of a married couple, and there was no one who could believe in such purity within themselves.

Therefore, they hoped they could at least help remove the cloud that hung over this beautiful child.

Now and forevermore——may she continue to gaze upon the brilliance of the world she gave them.

Hesitation and emotions mixed inside Elvena.

That was one the many conclusions emerged from them, she cherished and lovingly――silently tracing the silver in her arms with her fingers.