“Whew…”

Freya sat down weakly right beneath the World Tree. Due to the aftermath of unleashing all the ‘golden weapons’ stored within the [Wheel of Eternity] at once, a wave of fatigue quickly washed over her.

Drip—

Suddenly, she felt warmth under her nose.
It seemed like she was experiencing the backlash from extracting all her ether at once.

‘If that rascal finds out about this, she’ll definitely tease me about it…’

After advising Clara not to overextend herself over [Destiny], the fact that she had pushed herself to transcend [Destiny] would surely lead to teasing for quite some time.

If that happens,
She’ll counter by subtly mentioning Brynhild to Clara.

Twitch

Freya’s purple cat ears playfully twitched. She thought of the pair who seemed to have shared countless intimate moments in one night. It was enough to make anyone watching feel annoyed.

‘Anyone can see that those two have feelings for each other… What exactly are they hesitating about? Especially that rascal, being so blatant about it… Hmph. They’re such fools.’

Well…

‘…That’s something for those yuri maniacs to figure out themselves.’

Anyone who intrudes on yuri is unforgivable.
It’s a universal truth recognized even by the beast gods and the World Tree.

…Probably.

Rustle, rustle—

With that thought,
Freya wiped her nosebleed with her dusty sleeve.

Her once pristine white uniform sleeves were now a mess, covered in dust and blood. The beautifully crafted fabric was torn and tattered, losing its elegance.

"…"

It was as if she had almost ruined everything with unbefitting vanity… much like her alma mater, the <Public Barna Boarding School>. From now on, a reality different from the past would greet those left behind.

‘The beginning of the beast folk was not as golden aristocrats, but as curious dwellers in caves. Perhaps this is the right direction.’

Freya muttered with a frustrated heart.

“Whew… All the research data and books have burned… The school buildings are ruined… The aristocratic faction has collapsed… Everything has become a mess…”

Even as she said this,
Ultimately, she could no longer turn a blind eye.
That’s why she let go of all regrets.

"…"

Research would start anew based on new magic.
The school would be restructured to fit the new circumstances of this city.

After all… the Exploration Faction, including herself, would be at the center of it.

"…"

Freya leaned completely against the trunk of the World Tree, considering the cleanup.

The trunk of the World Tree was filled with a soft white light.
A sacred place that should originally be protected by several layers of barriers. Now, the only remaining barrier was the building of the <United Student Council> in the deepest part.

In truth, it wasn’t a place where she could leisurely rest.

‘Who cares… I’m so damn tired that I can’t even lift a finger…’

But due to her exhaustion, none of that mattered anymore. She simply leaned against the giant trunk of the World Tree that still stood majestically, feeling its subtle warmth against her back.

A momentary rest.

…

"...?"

But why aren’t they coming down?
Could it be they’re up there doing something crazy, like a yuri act?
Do they seriously intend to set the World Tree on fire?

‘Surely not…’

Freya raised her head slightly.

“…Surely, they’re not really up there messing around… No, they wouldn’t. That’s truly insane. Doing it on the corpse of a defeated enemy… seriously…”

When she looked up,
She saw the form of the [Serpent of Wisdom and Cycle] gradually disappearing from the top down. The giant serpent that seemed like it would swallow even the World Tree was fading into the twilight.

Crackle, crackle—

A nightmare of a single night vanishing.
The remains of the massive ancient god, which could have destroyed the academy city, were turning to ash and scattering. The sunlight streamed through. The clouds that had lifted simultaneously with the powerful lightning were allowing the evening glow to pour down.

The warm glow of dusk tickled Freya’s face.

"..."

But a new presence entered this place.

Rustle—!

"...!"

Freya turned her head towards the sound.

There stood Frau, looking as much of a mess as she was.

“…Frau.”
“…Freya.”

The fox-eared girl, Frau, was also bleeding from her nose. Along with the slowly fading serpent tattoo, she wobbled, losing strength. The ether on her slender shoulders was gradually dispersing.

Ssshhh…

Unlike herself, who merely expended all her strength,
Frau was genuinely losing all her ether.

‘…She probably won’t be able to use as much power as she once did.’

Once today passes.
She would weaken to the point where she could no longer live in this academy city. She would become an ordinary human like the people outside the city.

‘…Due to the [Destiny] she was robbed of, even her life ahead will be empty.’

Freya spoke in a bitter voice.

“Why… did you make such a choice?”
“…”

Frau looked at Freya with empty eyes. Beyond those eyes lay resignation, surpassing mere inferiority.

“I wanted to be a shining magician like the [Golden Witch]… and like you. Among the so-called Golden Generation, there were many geniuses, but… at least I… wanted to surpass you. I wanted to beat even the [Blue and White Thunder Spear] and show you.”

To prove I’m a better magician than you.
To show that our aristocratic faction can achieve as great accomplishments as the [Golden Witch].

"..."

Freya was baffled to realize that the endless arrow of inferiority wasn’t aimed at the strongest in the academy city but at herself.

“…I-I’m just… a humble student.”

The Sage of Ignorance.
The ordinary girl who came in.

Even though she awakened her [Innate Ether], wasn’t her [Destiny] just that? No matter how inadequate Frau might have been as a magician, to say she shone more brightly than the leader of the aristocratic faction herself…

Well, she couldn’t agree with that.

‘Truly, it was another student who inherited the first magic book and the magic left by the [Golden Witch]…’

Contrary to Freya’s thoughts,
Frau spoke in a voice so hollow it seemed as if it might break.

“I too… wanted to be someone who could navigate the unknown darkness alone, like you…!”
"..." “Now… I have neither [Destiny] nor… honor left…”
"..." “In that case… what’s left for me now is…!”
"..."

Frau raised her wand and aimed it at Freya.

"…"

Frau’s irrational final outburst.
Freya didn’t have the energy left to dodge it and quietly accepted her fate. There was nothing she could do with a body that seemed on the verge of collapse.

‘Is this… my [Destiny]? Well, I’ve been overreaching far too much yesterday and today.’

In her slowly darkening vision,
Freya inwardly offered a last prayer for her juniors.

‘Orange ears, Mila, and everyone… Keep moving forward. Don’t be afraid of the unknown, as I was.’

Gathering the last of her ether.
The moment a dagger was about to launch toward Freya’s neck…

The sound of an arrow being shot was heard.

Whoosh──!!

The scream came from the opposite side.

"...!"

A dark green ether arrow was lodged at Frau’s feet.

“Grrr…?!”

Frau was trapped by the vines extending from the green ether arrow and couldn’t move. After struggling for a while, she soon went limp as if exhausted.

“Oh my…! What the hell is going on here?!”

From a distance, a tall elf girl strode over. She spoke with an elegant voice, as if jade beads were rolling.

“The spirit of the sword was so restless, I hurried over while tilling the field, but the golden streets were wrecked…! Why are you two fighting in front of the World Tree with your noses bleeding…? I don’t understand… If you enjoy physical activity that much, why didn’t you come to our school and dig up potatoes?”

"…"

Freya looked forward, calling out the archer’s name in a trembling voice.

“…[Grand Bow of Verdant Green], Anna.”
“Yeah, yeah.”

[Grand Bow of Verdant Green], Anna.
An elf student with dazzlingly beautiful golden hair tied in a single braid. She held a giant bow as tall as herself. Dressed as if she had just been working in the fields, wearing loose trousers and a sagging shirt.

The strongest at <Sacred Albenheim High School> scratched her head as she spoke.

“So, what’s going on? Why the commotion beneath the World Tree? What’s that big serpent head? I need to get back to tilling the field, so hurry up and explain.”

“Wo-World Tree…”
“…Hm?”

In her gradually fading consciousness, Freya spoke.

“The- the World Tree is just a big tree… Why do the white-eared folks use honorifics for it… I’ve never really understood…”

“Is this crazy girl insane──!!!”

Freya, having exhausted all her strength, fainted on the spot.

Slowly disappearing atop the remains of the ‘serpent’.
The site where all enemies vanished within the giant white lightning.

Hilde and I quietly held hands, watching the sunset over the academy city. The faint pulsing throb from the intertwined palms.

"..."
"..."

The scenery of the city we protected unfolded below. But… as exhilarating as the view was, the traces of destruction wrought by <Ratatoskr> were equally evident.

"..."
"..."

There was certainly much to do,
And much to prepare for the future.

But…
I wanted to ponder what I realized within the connected hearts once more.

Our joined hands.
A realm beyond limits.
The moment when souls resonated.

The emotions that flashed through our hearts.

"..."
"..."

I cautiously opened my mouth.
As I did, the joined hand seemed to tremble, as if in response… surely, it wasn’t just my imagination.

“…Back then.”
"..."

“You said there was something you wanted to say─☆”
“Yes, that is…”

Hilde nodded and tried to speak without hesitation. The warmth felt in her eyes proved that it was the content I was anticipating.

But.
I stopped Hilde from speaking.

“…Wait a moment.”
“…Lara?”

Hilde looked at me with puzzled eyes.

She probably thought there was nothing to hold her back, having vaguely realized the emotions felt at the moment we were connected.

However… even so.

Just knowing each other's hearts was not enough for me to want to lean on her recklessly. I didn’t want to decide precious feelings so rashly.

A girl’s affectionate consideration for a friend.
A man’s final pride in loving a woman.

A complex mix of emotions.

So…

“I’ll tell you all of my stories, to you, who has loved me.”
“…Lara?”
“My wavering emotions, the things I’ve witnessed, and the secrets I haven’t shared with others… I’ll tell you everything.”

"..."
“After hearing all of it… if you still have the courage to say it, will you tell me─☆”

“…Yes.”

Hilde spoke with a radiant smile. Somehow… it seemed that the smile contained nothing but a single certainty.

“Of course. I will… always.”

I’ll wait for you.

"…"

…

Where does this certainty come from?
In my previous life and this life, have I ever been loved like this?
Is it right to make this girl wait even longer?

Countless thoughts passed by.

"…"

The only thing I could do was… promise.

I grasped Hilde’s hand and spoke.

“I will definitely… definitely… love you.”
“Yes. I’ll wait.”
“I’ll surely become someone who can reach where you are.”
“You already… have.”

I shook my head.

“Not yet… not yet.”
"..."

And I gave the most familiar expression of gratitude to the one who waited for me.

Towards the girl who was a bit taller than me, now that I had become a woman, I lifted my heels slightly and kissed her cheek.

Smooch─

“…Hehe, 10 points for waiting for me… loving Hilde…☆”
"..."

Rumble──

For some reason, the sound of thunder felt faintly lingering.

I turned to look forward again…

“No.”
“Hm?”
“Not enough.”

Hilde cupped my cheeks and leaned in.

"...!"

What I saw was a silver wave.
What I felt was the softness of lips.

Hilde became a silver wave and seeped into me.

"..."
"..."

Clumsy gestures.
The hardness of teeth.
The warmth of touching cheeks…

"..."
"..."

I quietly wrapped my arms around Hilde’s back.

And so, amidst the silver waves bathed in the sunset…

『You two are quite close.』

A golden cat was watching us.

We hurriedly pulled away, screaming.

“Whaaa?!”
“Aaaaah─☆”