416 413. Postscript.txt





 Maintaining the magic "Tales from My World (Tales Last Tiara)" means believing.
 At the same time, it also means to 'dream'

 --So, until the last page of the two reached the end of the line, Aikawa Uzumi (me) had been having a "dream".

 It was a very nostalgic dream.
 It was even more than a thousand years ago.
 It was the original landscape in the original world.
 The high-rise apartment where I spent my childhood.
 Rustyala and I were playing in our room in the Aikawa household.
 Thanks to a new electric light in the ceiling, it was very bright in the room. In front of a screen that plays noisy video game music, a man and woman dressed in unsuitable attire for modern Japan stand shoulder to shoulder in front of it.

 It's a surreal combination that ignores the timeline inherent in "Dreams".
 Even if you know it is impossible, you cannot notice it while you are having a dream.
 So when my sister Youtaki and Tiara suddenly appeared and joined me in the "dream", I easily believed it.

 They started to fuss about wanting to play the game we were playing, so I had no choice but to give up the controller and take over. Then me and Rustyala chuckled and sat down on the couch in the corner of the room to catch our breath.
 I watch from behind me as Yotaki and Tiara play along with each other.

 Really, it's an impossible sight.
 But while I was having a 'dream', I could believe in that gentle time with all my heart.
 I kept believing in that scene, not only for the sake of maintaining the magic of Tales of My World (Tales Last Tiara), but also for my own sake and Rastiara's sake, and watched quietly - gradually, the sound of a rushing river could be heard from a distance.

 A very quiet sound.
 A gentle melody that washes away the darkness of anxiety and fear in the depths of my ears and washes them clean.

 It's a signal that something that has been stuck in place for so long has begun to flow.
 At the same time, it was also a notice that I couldn't stay here forever.

...... ah.

 I bite my lip, realizing what it means.
 My eyes harden and my throat becomes bitter, and I grip the edge of the sofa cover so tightly that I feel like I'm about to tear it open.

 In contrast to me, Rustyala next to me smiles serenely.
 Even before she told me, I already knew it was me.

 Rastiara would definitely say, "Kanami, just let's go! She would cheerfully send me off.
 She's such a cheerful, fun-loving person, and that's why she's my 'one and only destiny'.
 So I sit on the sofa and meditate.

 I meditate hard and strongly and open my eyes.


 --I wake up.


 The destination of the dream is not the empty space in the example.
 There is no going back to that "line" anymore.
 As my consciousness awakens, I return to the "reality".

 Of course, that reality is not the Wintry Dimension, nor is it the original world with its high-rise apartments.
 It is the year 1015 in the New Year of the Otherworld.
 The cathedral of the Hooziyaz State in the north of the Confederacy, in the year 1015 of the Otherworld.
 I was lying on the cracked stone pavement in the middle of its garden.
 I felt a coldness on my cheeks - but I realized it wasn't freezing cold air, and I slowly raised myself up.

 The first thing that jumped into my eyes was the courtyard of Hoosier's, devastated by a fierce battle.
 The time was night. However, tonight, the stars and the moon were very bright, very bright. Thanks to that, he could see his surroundings. No more blizzards that blocked my view, no more snowfall that covered the ground.
 Every symbol of winter had melted away and a shallow river was flowing in its place.
 From the flooded garden, I could sense the season of spring.

 I felt the "end" of the season from the scene, and I checked my body.
 My body is empty of magic and strength, and my whole body is languid as if my blood had been drained. The robes constructed with magic power are still intact, but the masks seem to have been unbuilt during the course of the battle and returned to the body. The tips of his hair, which had grown out over the past year, were wet from the water, and as he tried to wipe it with the sleeve of his robe - his hand, he sees that the Only One Fated One has not let go.

 In his left hand, the book is held.
 In his right hand, which is clenched even tighter, there is nothing. There's nothing, but I'm relieved to confirm that that 'white rainbow colored magic stone' is deeper than in my hand - in my soul.

 Wiping my wet bangs, I slowly stand up.
 My newborn fawn-like feet make my equilibrium a bit of a challenge.
 The weight of the book in my left hand swings me around and I feel like I'm going to fall.
 But I manage to keep my feet on the ground and keep moving forward.

 I step through the shallow water with a pitter-patter and tug at the hem of my robe to get closer to her.

 Her black eyes, matching mine, turned to the bright starry sky, and she let out a deep breath.
 Particles of magic power are flying from her limbs, and she is about to melt and disappear little by little, along with the Wintry Dimension that enveloped this "other world".

 I can't find Tiara, who was fighting with me until just a few moments ago.
 However, she is definitely there. Now I can see that Tiara has fulfilled her 'promise' and is about to share her fate with Yotaki.

'...... Yotaki. ...... Tiara has won, hasn't she?

 The words came out easily, because I believed Tiara would win.
 And as if to prove it, my sister turned to me and gave a soft reply.

'...... yes. Thanks to all of you for tuning in.

 He told me why he lost.
 I can understand the meaning of that now.
 In this last battle, all the performers on the stage were really in sync with each other (・・・・・). Not only Rastiara and "The One Who Stole Rui" and the others, but also Yotaki, the enemy.

 So they went far beyond what the scriptwriters had in mind and pulled together the best story possible.

 Thanks to that, I wonder if I'll still have time to talk to Yotaki when the "end" comes. If this was a book, I felt that if this was a book, I would have time left to leave a little postcard word.

'Brother--'

 Yotaki used that time to call out to me and say.

 Thanks to the fact that there was no longer a black tent between me and my sister, I could easily guess the feelings.
 I was trying to redeem everything she had done to me so far - but I knew I didn't deserve it, and I retracted my words many times.
 It was the same for me.
 There are so many things I want to apologize to my sister for - but I realize it's too late to say anything about it, so I can't say anything.

'............'
............

 We are troubled and let our gaze wander.
 Then we look at the cover of the book to our left.

 We associate it with Rustyala, who is smiling her usual smile and spouting her optimistic lines.
 If she were here, I would certainly say this. I'd blow off all this frustration and say, "I'm glad we made up at last! It's a win for all of us! And decide on a peace sign.

 Because I can easily picture that .......
 Because that cheerfulness has always saved me .......
 I borrow a bit of her style and smile thinly.

'Thank you, Yotaki, thank you ....... Thanks to you, I got to meet Rustyala.

 At those words, Yotaki opened her mouth with a pout. However, she immediately sensed Rastiara's presence inside me and smiled as she too embraced the presence inside her.

'Thank you too, brother ....... Thanks to you, brother, I was able to meet Tiara.

 I stared at the book in my hand.
 Yotaki stared at the blood on his hand.
 We spoke words of thanks to each other.

 Thinking that we are similar siblings, I speak for Rustyala's words.

'Oh ....... I'm so glad we've come this far. It is thanks to Yotaki and Tiara that Rustyala and I were able to find 'the one and only person of destiny'. Finally, me and Rustyala have a 'real' ...... that we can believe in wholeheartedly, and we ourselves have finally become 'real' ....... So--

 The words of the girl who wished to "save" her will be nothing more than a stopgap to the current Yotaki. That's why I'm going to continue and erase her 'unfinished business' without mercy.

That's why I'm grateful. You don't have to worry about the rest. ...... I'll take care of the rest of my family's mistakes. I'm sure this 'other world' and the 'original world' will be back to normal soon with everyone's help, so feel free to go ...... to relax.

 The reason why Yangtaki took the wrong turn is largely due to the bad luck of 'innate differences'.
 However, if you ask me if I had anything to do with it at all, I can't shake my head. I've made a promise that I didn't intend to keep, and I'm also responsible for it.
 I'd like to keep that responsibility as a 'connection' with my sister, not to be discarded, but to be kept in mind.

 ...... And, by the way, the two idiots, Tiara and Lagune, too.
 It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

 --I'm not going to give up my connection with my family.

 That is my 'answer' after all.
 There is a part of me that is a liar and a liar, as well as my original selfish nature. However, I thought this was the sum total of all the things I had built up to this point.

From now on, I'm going to help as many people as I can reach ....... Of course, I won't be overwhelmed. I'm not going to be alone, I'm not going to hold it in my arms. I'm going to go ahead and do it with everyone else. ......

 I took those words as a hand from my brother to "Tiara and her sister who go alone".
 I was pleased with my 'writing' talent, that I was able to write an unexpectedly pleasant afterword.
 However, Yotaki's reaction, who was listening to it up close and personal, was--

'Ni, brother ....... No more brother's hands .......

 Yotaki was looking up.
 Looking at me, she thought about it (・・・・) and was about to start moving - but was interrupted.


''--Yotaki sister, believe in 'magic'.'''


 The blood smeared on her palm leaves the last word in the magic of vibration.

'...... Master has those girls in his master. They're all around us, too. I hope that 'we' who won against Sister Yangtaki will believe in Sister Yangtaki this time.''

 That magic 《Tiara》 is the only thing Yotaki can't beat.
 The body that was about to move towards me slowly returns and accepts the body that was about to move towards me, and then it becomes a particle of light and disappears.

'...... Yeah, I believe it. I believe it too, Tiara.

 I envied him a little bit for his childish reply, thinking that they were close.
 After all, Yotaki didn't dismiss me, his older brother, with a single respectful word.

 --It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

 But that is the truth of The Story of the Aikawa Siblings, and the last page.

'We believe, too, and we will go ....... Brother, please hear me out at the end. This is our last 'chant' .......
...... Oh, I'll never forget it.

 After accepting that last page and vowing that the 'Chanting' would be etched into my soul, I took a step forward.
 In response, Yotaki also approached me, holding the tiara in his hand.

 I listen to the last poem, with the image of my sister disappearing in the same way as the 'one who steals the reason' of the past, burned into her eyes.


"'--'The last one never dreams', 'The last one never dreams', 'The fear of eternity keeps me frozen' ....... But at last the sun has come out. 'Man does not live alone, he lives with you, his heart on top of yours.'" ....... As long as 'someone who shares your soul' does not disappear, we can continue to sleep. ......


 As the poem goes on, the distance between them closes.
 The gap between brother and sister that had been vacant for so long is completely filled in.
 I reach out my right hand and Yotaki reaches out with his left.
 Finally, in the true sense of the word, our hands reach out, touch each other, and overlap.
 In that moment--

" -- we can keep falling in love with the same people, keep believing in the same dreams, keep holding the same thoughts. So--
"Goodbye, master.
Goodbye, brother.

 Goodbye is coming.

Goodbye .......

 That's what I said to him at the end.

 The two of them disappeared from the "world" - no, they disappeared from the story.
 I'm not different from the other "reason-stealers" in any way, they became shining magic particles and returned to the starry night sky.

 I watch and "gaze" at my palm.
 A magical stone had been entrusted to me.
 The blue magic stone, beautiful as a sapphire, was lit by a faint white rainbow light.


[Guardian's Magical Stone]
 The magical crystals of the guardian Hitaki and the guardian Tiara


 There are two souls that dwell in it.
 The consequences that the two who left would have believed were engraved on the 'display' of that magic stone.
 Immediately, I let it sink into my body, just like everyone else's magic stones.
 And I also read the text that sticks to my retina.


[The title 'The Deepest Castaway' has been acquired.
 Water Magic +0.50 correction to water magic


 Now, one otherworldly exile tale has ended.
 The invaders from another world were defeated by an ordinary girl who was born in another world.
 And not only was she defeated, but she was also defeated by her hand and it was a happy ending.
 I let out a breath of admiration at that perfect ending and start walking again. I find a couch with few deficiencies nearby and sit down before looking around.

 There are no more 'threads' rising in the sky.
 Although the ground has been distorted by the effects of the battle, all kinds of magic has been lifted.
 By now, people would be waking up from the Otherworldly Winter (Wintry Dimension) that had frozen the continent. While they are baffled by the dreams they have been having for a long time, they should be slowly returning to real life.

 That's right.
 Gradually, the world will return to normal.
 Since Yangtaki's freezing magic is only 'still', once the magic is broken, it will simply return to the front of 'still'. It's really a gentle magic.

 Of course, it would take hundreds of years to completely wipe out the influence of Youtaki and Tiara.
 But I'm sure it's not all bad.
 From what I hear, the South and North have ended their conflict and formed a 'North-South Alliance' to counter the world's enemy, Yotaki. The fact that the history of the unity of all the countries, even if only for a short time, is an important turning point for this different world.
 It may be possible that today is the starting point for the maintenance of peace for hundreds of years to come, given the unique nature of the current North-South Alliance and the balance of power in its upper echelons.

Ha, ha. ...... You're thinking about something that doesn't fit.

 I chuckle to myself as I even begin to think about what happens after the world goes back to normal.

 I know what caused it.
 My biggest goal in life is gone and I have too much room to spare.

 I am no longer in a hurry to protect the 'most important thing' in my life, my sister.
 There is no need to return to the "original world" or worry about an incurable disease.
 It means you don't have to go to the 'deepest' and you don't have to fight anyone.

 There's really nothing to do anymore, so you'll be looking for something to fill the gaping hole in your chest.

 It's the same state of mind as the one in Ragne. I've finally reached my destination of 'the summit', but my heart is empty, dare not, and cold.

'Yeah, I'm done with everything ....... But thanks to that guy, it's a little different .......

 The difference between me and Ragne is held in my right hand.
 I flipped through the book randomly and looked at the pages written on it.

 The book contains memories of me written by Rustyala.
 The content was mostly about exploring the labyrinth.
 Nowadays, I don't feel nervous because I know I'm the creator, but back then the labyrinth was really scary and unsettling ...... but I think it was exciting and fun every day.

 I miss it.
 Every page of this book is proof that we are 'real'.
 I'm going to read through those memories and finally - I'm going to read about it.

"--I love you.
 I will die holding that one sentence in my arms.
 Here and forever, the Rustyala Hoosiers will continue to 'dream' --

 I read with my inherited skill of 'reading' and even included that 'between the lines' and thoughtfully thought about it.
 And then the next page.
 Tracing a finger across the blank page, we read it now, too.

 I've mastered the skill I inherited, 'writing', and used my magic power to carve the letters.
 If I had to give it a magic name, it would be around magic 《Magic Writer》.

"--And at the cost of Rastiara Fuzzyaz's death, Aikawa Kanami ended all the battles.
 What left his chest was an emptiness. There was a void that stretched on forever.
 But he would never stop in that sea of emptiness.
 The boy the girl loved keeps moving forward. He will not waste the accumulation of his life so far, and he will not forget or fail, but he will move forward, forward and forward--

 And I wrote lightly.
 A continuation of the story, which is still less than a page long.

There are still a lot of blank pages at ......

 It remains.
 And the rest of Rastiara's story.
 And the rest of my story.


" "


 That blank sheet of paper was so crystal clear. A bunch of pages where you can freely write down the future without being guided or controlled by anyone else.
 It's proof that you can live your life as you please.

'From now on, you can write whatever you want: ....... Haha.

 Write your own path, write yourself.
 It was the most liberating feeling ever to do just that.
 For the first time, I knew that freedom was such a happy, joyful and pleasant thing.

Haha .......

 After laughing to the hilt, I sighed and stood up.
 It's about time I got the strength back in my legs.
 I may not be able to fight, but I'll be able to at least walk around.

 I want to meet up with my friends first.
 The closest one from here would be Ryner or Reaper.
 Certainly, Dia, Maria, and Snow shouldn't be too far away, either.
 I'll wake everyone up and then--


 -- and as I pondered, my skin felt the swell of magic.


 It was sudden.
 But I wasn't surprised or impatient.

 It's true that I'm in no condition to fight right now. But to begin with, since Tiara and Yotaki disappeared from the story - there is no more opponent to fight (・・・・・・・) with me (・・・・・) in this (...) 'other world' (・・・・).
 But because I'm used to losing, my heart is calm and I watched his sudden arrival.

 With the swell of magical power, a "break" enters the empty space in front of me.
 Then, when it expanded to a size that could be called a gate, an old man appeared from behind it on foot.

 It was a familiar face for the first time in a thousand years.
 The old man, who looks familiar, appears the same as before - not in the same way as before, but with the features of a "tree man" (Doriad) protruding from the hem of his loose robe.
 Though his racial characteristics have mutated, there is no doubt about it.
 No matter how much its appearance changes, I can now tell the color of its soul from the color of its body.

 That's the last 'Apostle', Di Prakula-san.
 The appearance of the most trusted person in the "Apostle" makes me feel relieved, and I greet him.

'It's been a long time, Mr. Di Prakula,'
............!

 Mr. Diprakra was a little surprised when he got ahead of the conversation. However, he immediately gives a light cough and throws back a friendly greeting.

'Hmm. Long time no see, really .......
'Yeah, I miss it so much ....... But it's kind of a weird feeling.

 It's been a thousand years since I've had amnesia twice in between, and it's the first time in a thousand years.
 However, since I was repeating my 'past vision' just a few minutes ago, I don't feel like it's been a long time since I've been able to see it from the heart.
 I talk to Diprakra-san as if I were talking to a relative's uncle.

'Put that in (・・・・・・) and you've only changed your mood a bit or ....... The quintessential 'star-stealer'.

 I tried to be the same as I was a thousand years ago.
 But it seems that Mr. Di Prakula's side can't maintain the "same relationship as before".

 -- the way he looked at me was different than it was a thousand years ago.

 His mouth is on the verge of slackening.
 The heat of anticipation is in his gaze.
 I'm suppressing the urge to go down on one knee at any moment.
 From the difference in his demeanor, I could read the reason for his appearance now.

'It's Kanami, ....... Do you mind if I talk to you?

 Cutting it out after everything was over, he must have been looking for an opportunity (timing) all along. As I recall, the Lord of the Apostles had a hard time with Yotaki and Tiara. There's only one story about leaving those two out of the fold.

''Sure, fine. I'd love to ...... talk to you.

 There was no reason to refuse.
 Rather, I welcomed it.

 I like stories.
 Especially the story of the "World of Swords and Magic" where this Rastiara and I had our "adventure" - because I really love the story of this "other world" - and I want to live my life as I please from now on (・・・・・・・).

 Following that original desire, with the book in hand open, I look forward to the continuation of "The Adventure". While flipping through the pages and savoring the feel of my fingertips, I prepare for the skill 'writing' and suggest it to Diprakra-san.

'So, let's continue with the 'we' story,'

 That "we" is me and Rustyala.
 As long as I, the protagonist of Rastiara, continue my adventures, the story of her, the heroine of Aikawa Uzumi, will never end. 
 The Story of the World of Rastiara" will never end. It will never end.

 --I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

 Even though our bodies may be apart, our souls will be together.
 The continuation of that will be a happy one, that's for sure.
 Never again will I let go of my "Only One Destiny".
 That's the only way that is worthy of the continuation that everyone has entrusted to me - that's the only way that I am determined to be worthy of the continuation that everyone else has entrusted to me, Di Prakula-san must have felt my determination. With a hardened face and a slight tremble in his voice, he proceeds to speak solemnly.

'Ah, ah, ....... It's going on. Even though it is now just the two of us, the plan that we started that day is still--

 Mr. Diprakra nodded widely and then looked away from me.

 I squinted at the rundown hoozeyards around me.
 What lies beyond that gaze is probably not the 'now' but the 'past'. As I remember the Hoosier's garden from a thousand years ago, I realize that I've spent the same time here.

 This is the cathedral of the Confederate Hoosiers of the 'frontier', but at the same time it is the same place as the Hoosiers' castle that perished a thousand years ago.

The story continues.

 Hearing that declaration, I, like Mr. Diprakra, narrowed my eyes.

 The place that had once been the beginning had become the place of the end.
 This is where "The Story of the Aikawa Brothers and Sisters" started over, and the last page of the book began.
 The Story of the Starry Skies" began here, and the last page of "The Story of the Starry Skies" has reached its final page.
 That's why I would like to start 'A New Story' from scratch.


'Yes. I won't let it end (・・・・・・・)--


 The next one will be a story that will be spun by itself rather than someone else's script.
 Our Heroic Tale is both new and a continuation of the story.
 This is finally the real Aikawa Uzumi's story.

 I have now begun to write "Rastiara's Wish to Continue" on the blank page.