SWNOVELXO Chapter 45
**Chapter 36**
The final story in the Empire begins to sing.
The Hero and the Holy Girl depart the Empire after the departure ceremony, continuing the protagonist’s journey.
The light of the Empire, from which the two who bind the beginning and end of the story have left, goes out one by one with a soft sound, thump-thump.
There were still a few lights illuminating the beautifully arranged stage props, but the stage, where the protagonist had disappeared, gradually became shabby.
However, the light of the stage known as the Empire did not completely extinguish, perhaps because there was a gray-tinged Witch.
As a consumable for the story, as a source of entertainment for the people.
A poor woman who should have died for the heroes’ narrative remained in the shabby alley of the Empire.
However.
Looking back now, although the story did not continue in that direction, at some point, even that light has flickered and gone out, revealing an even darker landscape.
That was a twisted story.
It was a landscape created by a little boy who carelessly altered the story that should have been filled with sorrow and pain, curses and anger.
The gray Witch grew up receiving affection.
Eating ordinary meals and wrapping herself in clean bandages.
Living in a shabby house and taking awkward baths.
All of it was affection she would not have received otherwise, so the story of the gray girl takes a different direction.
As the stage darkened further with the flickering lights.
The girl was saved, became a woman, and began to live an ordinary life as such a beautiful woman.
With a final flicker of the light, the light illuminating the Empire was reduced to just one.
And that light shines on an ordinary background character who under normal circumstances wouldn’t have stood under the light.
He was a tiny child, a small boy.
An extra living a life that was nothing extraordinary, with no assigned role to play.
Thus, he was a strange person who began to give himself a role and run.
The instigator who twisted the story to rebel against his own fate.
However, perhaps because he was such a person, the last remaining light of the Empire shone brightly upon him.
Time flows.
Just then, even the last light begins to flicker.
The extra who was merely a background character has grown and is now preparing to step outside the stage.
As he finishes preparing to advance to the next stage, he senses the end of the stage approaches.
So when that moment finally arrives, when that day has come at last.
Go forth.
Go forth and sing a new story.
The last light that shone upon him will whisper, then tick-tock, as it extinguishes.
Thus.
The final story of the Empire becomes the first story that follows.
********
The following day.
I wanted to visit each relationship I had formed thus far one by one to say my farewells.
And the first was the citizen’s library, the closest place to my home.
“Oh, today is your departure day, huh? I had no idea.”
“…I clearly told you it was today last time, didn’t I?”
She spoke carelessly, burying her face in a pile of papers, seemingly indifferent to the fact that I was leaving.
“I’m sorry, but Ain, your departure day isn’t worth remembering.”
“…”
Even so, I had hoped she would at least lift her head when someone came to say goodbye, but this librarian was always the same.
“Oh, I just realized it is worth something. If you encounter a new shade of gray during your travels or discover new books or legends about it, please send them here to the citizen’s library.”
“I’d rather not.”
Always emphasizing the same efficient methods and only caring about gray.
“If you’d rather not, it might slow down helping Asha a bit, but what can we do? Then the value of your journey is gone again.”
“…You are so unreasonable.”
“You’re narrow-minded. If you won’t send those things while traveling, then you can just go.”
She then slightly lifted her head to briefly glance at my face while nodding her head as she said goodbye.
“…You could just send them.”
“Thank you. Well then, I wish you well, and here, this is a book that could be helpful for your journey, so take it with you.”
“…”
I hadn’t been expecting anything, yet.
Contrary to her claim that she knew nothing of my travels, she shyly handed me something that could indeed help, as she awkwardly buried her face back into the pile of papers.
In a way, it seemed I had inadvertently entered Ildrin’s boundaries as well.
Next, I visited the training gym.
“Hmph, even until the moment you depart, you haven’t become a muscle-bound specimen, you failure.”
“…”
“I’m disappointed in you. How can you talk about going on a journey with a body that’s still so soft?”
However, looking up at the figure of the muscular bald man scowling down at me, I felt a bit of regret.
“…From the start, I’m pretty sure I said I had no intention of developing muscles that squirmed grotesquely like Rini’s.”
“That’s not my concern. I taught you under the conviction that everyone should become muscular.”
“Isn’t it just a loss for you with one less member, meaning less money?”
“If you know, then pay the membership fee and leave.”
Damn it.
I should have just left without saying goodbye.
Thinking that, I placed a thick pouch of money on the counter.
“…It’s two years’ worth of membership for Asha, so please don’t take the money from her.”
“Hmm, even lacking muscles, you’re a generous young man. Once you return, you’ll have to register again, so take care during your travels.”
“…”
Even after knowing him for years, this person still remained an oddly unadaptable human.
As I finished my farewells and stepped out of the gym, he came out carrying something bulky and began handing it to me, one by one.
“This is protein. Be sure to eat it during your journey.”
“…”
Two boxes of protein.
“This is a 40kg dumbbell. Hold it until the moment you sleep.”
“…”
Two 40kg dumbbells.
“This is a 20kg sandbag. Always strap it to your wrists and ankles.”
“…No.”
Four 20kg sandbags.
“This is a waist belt, running shoes, and wrist protectors. I filled them with a light 10kg each, so wear them at all times.”
“No, stop it already.”
I couldn’t tell if he was sending me off on a journey or telling me to do home training.
However.
Ignoring my words, he continued to hand over more items and spoke.
“Kid, don’t use such strong words. You look weak.”
“…Damn it.”
“Once again, uttering curses only makes you look as small as those petty muscles. So work hard and exercise, young man.”
“…”
I shot a glare at him and accepted what he’d handed over as I headed to my next location.
I knew this was his way of showing concern and affection.
But honestly, it felt overwhelmingly heavy.
Ah.
This is really heavy.
Having arrived at my next destination.
“…Are you going on a fitness journey or something?”
“Yansen, the gym owner you introduced me gave these as farewell gifts.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Still, he’s not a bad person, so you should understand.”
I went to the adventurer’s shop to meet Yansen.
“You know I’m leaving today, right?”
“Would I not? You’ve worked hard. When you first came, you were just a tiny little rascal. But you should be fine enough not to get killed anywhere you go.”
He was definitely normal, so unlike the two insane ones, our conversation flowed somewhat typically.
“Then do you not have a valuable farewell gift that could eliminate a slight chance of dying?”
“…Why does it seem like you try to squeeze something out of me every time? You should pay for what you take, you little brat.”
“Well, you have cared for me, so you could at least give me a gift out of concern.”
In fact, standing in this scene, I started to feel like I was the less normal person.
“Does concern bring money?”
“I thought it did.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh, come on. Just give it to me. You were going to anyway.”
So we continued our usual side banter for quite some time.
“No, you little rascal. I’ve repeatedly said if you’re going to ask, do it politely.”
“Please grant me your precious goodwill, Elder Yansen.”
“I don’t want to.”
As we exchanged smiles and continued talking, I shamelessly extended both hands politely.
“Look, you do this all the time, so what politeness is there? I’m busy, so hurry up and give it to me.”
“Damn it, take this and scram, you brat.”
“Ho, thank you, Yansen.”
More so, despite his words, he slyly smiled while tossing me some quite valuable items like daggers and armor, claiming they were gifts.
His first impression had clearly been that of a money-obsessed spirit, but he had turned into someone awkwardly generous.
The carriage, various tools, and equipment I bought from him.
In truth, I knew that he had given me items even better than what I had paid.
“Just a precaution, but don’t recklessly enter random places out of youthful impulse, Ain.”
“Yes, I’ll take care of that. I need to stay alive to squeeze more out of you, Yansen.”
“You certainly have a way with words.”
We exchanged cheeky smiles while saying our goodbyes.
Lastly, I stopped by the grocery store.
“Are you leaving? Safe travels.”
“Is that all?”
The old man greeted me nonchalantly as I entered carrying a ton of luggage.
“Then what more is there to say? We’ve spent over eight years together, I’ve said everything that needs to be said, you rascal.”
“Well, that’s true, but let me have some long-lasting groceries.”
And that was the hidden feeling of the old man who had been pouting at me for days.
A kind-hearted person who pretended to be indifferent, turning his head away to conceal the emotions of sadness and longing he felt.
After eight years of seeing each other, I could tell.
So.
We acted and spoke like we usually did.
“Have you prepared it?”
“Since you’re giving it to me anyway.”
“When did you ever prepare anything? Asha, do you know?”
“It’s Ain. Just let it be.”
“Well, there’s no helping that. Eat well and take care, Ain.”
Prepared like a prewritten script, the old man tossed me a hefty bag of groceries he had prepped and I nodded in thanks.
But aside from that, did Asha know that the response “It’s Ain” could be a bit hurtful?
That reply sounded like it had actually slipped out rather than being scripted.
Anyway, I exchanged my final words with him.
“Thank you, Old Man.”
“Yeah, now hurry up and go.”
“Yes, please stay healthy until I return. If possible, try making a fifth child.”
“Hey, you rascal! I already have two daughters, so I’m not making any more kids!”
The old man shouted heartily at my words, placing a gentle hand on Asha’s shoulder.
Asha, now accustomed to such gestures, smiled ordinarily and nodded.
“I’m really leaving now.”
“Yeah, hurry up and go. And Asha, see off this scatterbrained kid for me.”
So we smiled at each other then turned our heads away.
And.
The footsteps of the two people exiting the grocery store continued slowly.
Thud—
Tap—
Even as the two shoe sounds echoed through the streets, no conversation continued.
Only the bustle of the noisy market street filled the surroundings.
So, while trying to match my steps with hers, I secretly turned my head to glance at her.
Her gaze, which always looked exclusively at me, was now focused straight ahead. Surely she was aware of my gaze, yet her head stubbornly faced forward.
Unlike a few days ago when she smiled filled with emotion and looked up at me with longing, her current demeanor was calm and serene.
“…”
“…”
However, it was clear that didn’t mean she was completely unaffected.
It was incredibly foolish to think I felt reassured, knowing she seemed fine; the woman trying to pretend to go on just fine only made me glance back at her repeatedly.
Compelled to be concerned, I kept pace, whose words were silent, merely following her behind.
So we walked in silence until we reached where the carriage was.
And.
As I tossed my belongings into the carriage’s cargo space and climbed onto the driver’s seat in front, I noticed her still staring down blankly.
“Asha.”
I was the first to speak towards her.
“Yeah, Ain.”
And her reply came promptly.
That voice held no tremor, and even in our finally meeting gaze, there was no sorrow hidden there.
The woman awkwardly waved goodbye, pretending to be unconcerned.
“Hurry and go, Ain. You’re already late, so you should depart quickly.”
Instead, she urged me to leave as if implying there was nothing to be sad about.
Yet there was one thing mixed strangely in that seemingly uniform scenery.
“I’m okay. Just have a safe trip.”
“…”
The formality she had stubbornly upheld was gone.
Unaware of it herself, she mechanically waved her hand to see me off.
So I gazed softly at that scene.
“Be sure to listen to the old man.”
“Yeah.”
As she spoke with a false sense of ease, I also began to say my farewells, trying to appear unfazed.
“…Eat well, sleep soundly.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Could she really eat well and sleep soundly?
“Be sure to keep going to the gym, and you don’t need to fulfill all of Ildrin’s requests.”
“Of course not.”
Could she handle it all alone without collapsing?
“If something comes up that requires help, the old man has your back, and if he’s not enough, you can also go to my mom.”
“I’ll do that.”
What should she do when the trials exceed the protection of those around her?
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Yeah, I’ll be waiting.”
Even though we were filled with such worries inwardly.
It felt like a typical conversation in an ordinary scenery, as we spoke to each other.
“…”
“…”
And just as we were about to leave with only those words exchanged.
Logically, I thought it would certainly be a good farewell for both of us.
The woman before me even nodded as if to agree.
However.
Just by looking at each other, I eventually found myself pondering.
Not wanting to keep seeing that forced smile.
Feeling pity for the mechanically waving hand.
Realizing that farewells don’t necessarily need to be ordinary.
In the end, I couldn’t suppress the discomfort within me.
Thinking I should say what I had been holding back.
So I said.
“If naturally, the bracelet were to break…”
“…”
That was a thought inspired by her earlier desire when she reflected upon having received the bracelet and expressed her wish for it to bring her desires to fruition.
“Then at that moment, you can do what you want.”
“…Ah.”
The image of the woman smiling brightly was truly beautiful, wishing desperately for it to be so.
And with those words, the tranquil expression of the woman distorted in an instant.
Unable to contain the feelings, they began to trickle down, slowly, yet surely.
What scraps of ashes began to scatter faintly.
With an expression full of mixed emotions approaching, her face eventually buried in my thighs.
“If I don’t come back by then, do whatever you want. It’s okay.”
“Y-you mean it’s really okay…?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
Of course, that was a slightly cowardly promise.
Since a bracelet means it could take years to break, it would never simply snap off all at once.
Yet.
Despite that, I felt that would give me enough time to reach at least the endpoint of the goals I had set.
Even as a child, and even now, I always ended up making cowardly decisions at decisive moments.
And.
The woman buried her face against my thigh, then eventually lifted her head to look up at me.
“It’s a promise, Ain.”
“Yeah.”
Before long, she reverted to speaking in formalities again.
“If the bracelet breaks, I really will do what I want.”
“Okay.”
The floating ash vanished without a trace, leaving only her smile.
“Don’t regret it when the time comes. I already warned you.”
“No regrets.”
Then she pulled me down from the driver’s seat, hugging me tightly and delivering her final farewell.
“Take care, Ain. I will wait faithfully and quietly.”
“Yeah. I’ll go and come back, Asha.”
So.
This is just an ordinary farewell.
A beautiful woman waving goodbye, and an unremarkable man riding away in a carriage.
An ordinary scenery.
Thus.
The last remaining light ticks and then goes out.
The stage known as the Empire recedes into the background.
Ain and Asha.
The thread of a story that always intertwined has abruptly snapped.
Though headed in the same direction, they connect two parallel lines.
And amid this, the rattling of the carriage causes two beads in my pocket to clink together with a sound.
Two colorful beads reside in my possession.
I see the bracelet encircling my wrist.
Thinking of those, I smiled faintly.
********
Thus, the story begins.
The narrative of a character who could not even make an appearance finally awakens, intending to break away from the Empire into a wider world.
It is a cog that had been stopped as it defied the will of the divine.
One of the little fragments that altered the flow of the story just a bit.
Finally, the moment he takes a step, it will not stop again.
The observer of the gray Witch.
The first role he planned to leave behind will never let him go.
A traveler wandering the world.
Thus, he must be endowed with that new role and advance forth.
From the moment this was wished for, the option of stopping is eliminated.
So.
Advance and keep advancing.
Reach your conclusion.
Become the protagonist of the new story being written.
That is the fate you must bear as someone who yearned to shed the ordinary.