Chapter 224: Really Really!Although the sadness of losing someone should not be forgotten, it shouldn’t become the thing that was holding you back either.
Following the funeral for everyone in Graypond, that was held over a span of three days, today was dedicated to allowing the living to carry on with their lives and assuring the departed that they could rest in peace.
“Gyaaaaahhhh!”
The Royal Family had designated today as a day to commemorate that, and a festival was held.
Findenai, who raised her glass high, exclaimed roughly.
The beer provided by the Royal Family boasted a taste that was incomparable to ordinary beer, as if implying that it wasn’t supplied to the Royal Family for no reason.
As the taste of chilled alcohol entered her tongue, she couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Hey, take it easy. Don’t unnecessarily cause trouble for others.”
Deia warned Findenai, who was gulping down her drink from the start, but she paid no heed to it.
“I heard that you vowed to never drink again.”
Seeing that, Erica added a comment from the side, but Findenai just snorted.
“Tch! What kind of old news is this young lady talking about, huh?!”
Findenai had already given up on abstaining from drinking. After all, in the first place, she would not get drunk unless she drank a significant amount.
It is a bit strange, though.
Actually, ever since they managed to reclaim freedom in the Clark Republic, she began wondering if she wasn’t good at drinking.
In the past, she could still think clearly even if she drank a crate of beer. However, now that her heart was at ease, she got drunk rather easily.
“Well, not bad.”
Yet she didn’t find it unpleasant. Instead, she felt like she finally was living as a woman named Findenai and not as the Chief of the Resistance.
“Gyaaaah! Griffin is really good at brewing beer!”
Findenai exclaimed again as she drank the beer.
“But where is Master Bastard?”
With her cheeks bulging from the skewers she was munching on, Deia turned her head at the question. Everything, from the alcohol to the food, was provided by the Palace, so even simple skewers were top-notch.
They even skewered the appetizers so they could be eaten while walking; a consideration from the Royal Family.
“He’s working.”
“Work?”
“If you’re a maid, shouldn’t you know where your Master is?”
“Master Bastard often appears and disappears as he pleases. Anyway, that man really has no day off.”
Even though she said that, Findenai clicked her tongue regretfully as she took another sip of her beer.
The sweet taste of the beer had turned somewhat bitter for some reason.
***Graypond, where the festival was taking place, bore an air that evoked various emotions.
As to deceive themselves, many people were drinking alcohol to forget their sorrows and move on.
Because they would be unable to bear the sadness if they didn’t.
I understood those emotions.
“In the end, only time can solve it.”
Standing atop the city wall, I glanced down at downtown with my hands folded behind my back.
“So, do you feel relieved enough now so that you can rest peacefully?”
When I asked the several souls besides me who had not yet entered rest, they hesitated before replying.
[Can I... see them a little more?]
[I want to see my father’s smile one last time.]
[That fool, he said he’d stopped drinking, but he’s on a binge right now.]
It was not only the living who felt worry and sadness in parting.
Therefore, I gave those who still had lingering regrets a little more time.
“...”
I knew that they didn’t want to part with the living.
Due to their lingering regrets, they ended up staying to watch over the survivors like this.
“Because I won’t entrust anything besides the responsibilities as a hero to Professor.”
“...”
“Fufu! The life as Student Aria Rias that you’ve returned to me—this life is mine because I am in control. It belongs to me.”
Back when she was under the influence of Capgras Syndrome in the past, I forcibly awakened Aria and took over her destiny as a hero.
As a result, Aria had reached her ending and was now living as an ordinary girl.
However, if there was one flaw, it was that Aria had become passive.
She didn’t achieve it herself; she resolved it with help from someone like me.
It was understandable, considering that she was still a student.
She obviously needed to receive help from adults as she was still young.
Therefore, I thought there would be no problems, but the Romuleus incident made me realize that it was not enough.
In the end, Aria was the sole owner of her life.
The girl who gained freedom through others would not have the power to maintain it.
Hence, a few words from Romuleus would have made her waver and caused her to tremble with fear.
However, it was different now.
Aria defeated the fallen god, severed her destiny, and escaped from it all by herself.
Perhaps even if someone else came looking for her in the future, she would still walk her own path without any hesitation.
“How am I doing now?”
I couldn’t help but smile as she leaned forward, asking if it was the right answer. I nodded without looking at her.
“You’re doing great.”
“Hihi!”
She appeared to be very happy.
It looked like she was truly anticipating the future life she would lead.
Instead of gazing at the stars in the sky, the girl stared at Graypond, which was still shining brightly, and shouted,
“Aaaaahhhh! It’s beautiful!”
She spread her arms wide.
“It’s really beautiful!”
She was like a girl shouting ‘Yahoo!’ after she managed to climb to the top of a mountain.
“I’m so excited and nervous about the future that will unfold! My future! In this beautiful world!”
Although she was no longer the protagonist, she would surely live a life brighter than anyone else.
Like the Saintess, known as the Sun of the Continent, she would shine in her own way.
Everyone would follow in her footsteps, admire her, and want to accompany her.
And while looking at her bright smile, I, too, fluttered with anticipation.
What kind of life will this girl live in the future?
She would probably live a beautiful life.
Splendidly.
Brilliantly.
“Woooooooooow!”
As if emptying everything inside, Aria shouted towards the city and wriggled with excitement.
“Also!”
Feeling refreshed by the cool breeze blowing, the excited girl clenched her fists tightly and shouted again.
“I love you so, so much!”
And the one who would occupy a significant part of her unfolding life in the future...
“I really, really love you the most in the world! Professor!”
Her first love.