On the morning of my departure, I was standing in front of the statue of the goddess in the chapel.

(To this day, I'm grateful for their help.)

　He makes a bowl with both hands and takes the glowing water that spills from the goddess statue's hands - the 'healing spirit water' - and brings it to his mouth.

　The last breakfast here.

　Gulp.

"...Pfft...

　Until the very end, this magical water was sweet and delicious.

　If it wasn't for this, my reincarnation would have died sooner or later from hunger and dehydration.

　I bit down firmly on the sweetness that lingered in my mouth, and I was grateful for the miracle of it.

　After finishing my breakfast, I looked up at the statue of the goddess.

　I clasped my hands together in front of my chest and bowed deeply.

Thank you very much. Well then, I'm off!

　The goddess statue that had been watching over me all this morning had nothing to say to me, she just kept looking at me with her quiet eyes.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　We climbed up the spiral staircase and stepped out of the crack in the tower.

　The sky is cloudy, unfortunately.

(Ugh ... cold wind)

　It's a little chilly, perhaps because the sun is hiding in the clouds.

　Is it because of my state of mind as I'm leaving that the tranquil and peaceful forest landscape seems somehow chilly this morning?

　Suddenly, I remember, and touch the hilt of the single-bladed dagger that I have secured behind my waistband.

　My fangs are here.

Yeah, it's okay. It's all right.

　Okay - I strengthen my heart and look up.

　I look down and see Illtimina-san standing on a grassy hill beyond the rubble.

　A beautiful adventurer holding a white spear in her hand.

　On her back was a large backpack that also carried the fangs of a red fang dragon.

(............)

　I quickly made my way over there.

　When Illtimina-san noticed me, she looked back at me and smiled gently.

　Then she says.

Are you ready to start your journey?

　And.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Eventually, we held hands and started down the hill towards the forest.

　Maybe it was the weather, but the forest landscape felt colder than usual.

　Perhaps because of the weather, the forest landscape feels colder than usual, and I could sense a hint of unease in our joined hands, or maybe because Illtimina suddenly said something like this

''It's a nice day to start your journey.

(...what?)

　I look up at her and she laughs and replies.

'A sunny day can be strange and good, and it can make you leery. On a rainy day, it makes you gloomy and fearful for no reason. -- on today, which is neither, you will be able to accept all events with a moderate heart and a calm mind.
..........
Merle is a lucky man.

　I don't know if she really felt that way or if she cared about me.

　But either way, I was glad to see her kind heart.

'Well, shall we hurry up now?'

　As we descend the hill and enter the forest, Illtimina picks me up as a small child.

'Hmm.'

　I was embarrassed, but I was mature and accepted the act.

　I blush a little, and she smiles at me.

I'm coming, sir.

　bang

　As those legs kicked the earth forcefully, the scenery around me began to flow at once.

　Putting my arms around Illtimina-san's neck and balancing myself so I wouldn't fall off, I suddenly looked back.

　I could see the tower in the distance.

　It was the home I lived in to this day, the place that protected me as if wrapped in my mother's womb.

　I wouldn't be coming back.

(Goodbye............. Goodbye.)

　I stare at it for a moment, then I turn from myself to the front before it disappears into the shadows of the forest.

　I don't look back anymore.

　That day, from the tower of the forest where I was reincarnated, I - Marle - left for a new future.