Perhaps because the answer was reluctant, his face looked sullen. Seeing Xenon like that, I chuckled and turned my gaze to the stone coffin.
The coffin lid, which had been shaking upward, slowly pushed backward. Stone powder crumbled and dust rose with the movement.
"Dear me."
Xenon's sigh was heard from beside me.
"I steeled myself since we opened the coffin lid, but I never expected to see something like this... Lady Aneli?"
As I approached the open coffin, I could see more clearly. A corpse that should have been sleeping for an impossibly long time, yet still maintained its form.
Surprisingly, the corpse had no head.
"Lady Aneli, it's dangerous, so wouldn't it be better to step back a little?"
Despite Xenon's advice, I drew even closer to the coffin.
The corpse lay in proper posture with both arms neatly gathered at its chest. Light was emanating from between the two hands gathered at the chest.
[Ah, so this is where it was.]
Minthe in the form of a cat leaped onto the coffin.
[Dearis, the unredeemed soul.]
"...You know this person?"
Bitter emotion seeped through Minthe's yellow eyes.
[It is the second knight of the Round Table who was slain.]
The first emperor was a knight of the Round Table? And a betrayed knight at that?
[Because of his death, the Captain's power could not be completed, and everyone fell asleep with half-formed bodies. However, no matter whose plight is taken, it will be better than Dearis's.]
Minthe, who had been gazing bitterly at the corpse, descended from the coffin. I quietly watched the back of the black cat as it turned away dejectedly, then reached my hand toward the corpse's chest.
"Lady Aneli, suddenly touching it is dangerous...!"
Flash!
Before the startled Xenon could stop me, light burst forth and enveloped my body in an instant.
Before I could respond, my vision was dyed white. It was a sudden reaction similar to what happened at the monastery.
However, since I had roughly expected something to happen, I wasn't too surprised. I had squeezed my eyes shut, then slowly raised my eyelids.
The surroundings, which had been filled with the chilly stone walls of the underground tomb just a moment ago, had changed into a blue meadow and a clear sky.
I could see white cumulus clouds comfortably settled in the high sky. As I stared blankly at them, the sound of grass being stepped on came from behind me.
When I turned around, an old man with mostly white hair was standing there. Stroking his long beard, he smiled deeply, showing his wrinkles when our eyes met.
'Who is this?'
[I greet you. I am Dearis, the last trace of the extinguished soul. I hope you do not find my sudden invitation unpleasant.]
'It's not unpleasant. But are you... the first emperor of the Empire?'
[If we are to be precise, yes. I was the one who spread the Hand of Rest far and wide. For that purpose, I built the Black Tower and liberated countless toys of the gods. This place was the first site of liberation.]
Now I learned the origin of the Empire, in addition to the sources of magical power and divine power.
So strictly speaking, the Empire came into existence thanks to me. I wonder if I should request a share in the Empire.
'I came to find the key.'
[I have been waiting. I am glad that I can finally fulfill my unfinished duty in this manner.]
'The other knights are Dullahans and are with me. You... cannot do that, can you?'
[I exist yet do not exist, I remember yet cannot remember. The moment the Captain returns to reality, even the last trace that dwelled in the flesh will become dust and scatter.]
'Then were you guarding the key?'
[I was guarding the scenery.]
'Scenery?'
At his incomprehensible answer, the moment I frowned, a familiar voice was heard from behind. When I reflexively turned around, I saw a black-haired man.
Though he was not dressed as I remembered, I could clearly recognize his face.
"You were here."
...Samuel?
I was about to ask how the knight could be here, but my mouth spoke on its own accord.
"You certainly seem to find me well. How did you know I was here?"
"After exercising your power, you always spend time here."
He was Samuel, but not the Samuel I knew. He approached me with large strides and looked out at the vast plain spread before us. I also turned my gaze to the surroundings.
None of it was my will. This was.
This wasn't me, but the 'Captain' from the distant past.
"How did they look?"
"They looked at peace."
At Samuel's words, I lowered my head. I felt despondency rising. Noticing this, Samuel comforted me in a low voice.
"Toys are destined to be discarded in the end. You are giving life to such things."
"By gifting death, that is."
"It is better than being bound by threads of fate and walking a predetermined path forever. Look at the twelve knights of the Round Table who were nothing but discarded toys. They were saved through you, Captain, and finally realized the true meaning of life."
When I thought of the knights, a smile came to my lips. The knights were the first twelve lives I saved.
The first twelve beings to escape the future determined by the gods and to think and live on their own.
Though I saved countless lives from the gods' grasp, none could be as special as the first twelve knights. When I thought of them, my unstable, shaking heart quickly calmed.
I worked my lips and murmured quietly.
"Someday when all duties end... I want to travel this world. Ordinarily, without worrying about anything."
"I will accompany you."
When I raised my head, I saw gray eyes looking down at me. My heart naturally warmed at the gaze that looked at me straight and true.
Enough to be momentarily deceived even knowing it was an unfulfillable wish.
This person would never betray me. Such a thought naturally occurred to me. I smiled gently.
"Thank you, my first knight."
The first knight I saved. Just as he was about to say something to me, he suddenly disappeared like smoke.
The scenery suddenly changed. Flames shot up from all directions, and dark clouds filled the sky. Through the black smoke rising up, I saw Dearis staggering.
"What is the meaning of this! Why are you!"
"Dearis, do not forgive me."
The one pointing a sword at Dearis was Samuel in pure white armor. Dearis, who was gasping for breath, spoke in a devastated tone.
"You are committing a sin against Him. Do you know how much effort He put into completing the final power..."
At those words, Samuel's brow twitched and narrowed.
"Do you know how the final power manifests?"
The low voice was cold and hard.
"The final power is realized with His soul as the sacrifice."
Dearis opened his eyes wide in surprise. Samuel let out a hollow laugh as if he had expected this and continued.
"Death is merciful to all, but to one person alone it is incomparably cruel."
"You..."
"I'm sorry, Dearis. I cannot lose Him."
Samuel's sword swept horizontally. Blood splattered, and amidst the swirling flames, Samuel's armor became stained red and black.
"To make Him into a human soul, this is the only way."
Samuel's expression as he looked down at Dearis collapsed on the ground was bitter, but there was no mercy in his hand.
I watched the scene dumbfounded, when Dearis, who had appeared unnoticed, stood beside me with a bitter smile.
[The God of Morning perceived his distress and whispered in his ear. If he ruined the final power, He would weave the threads of fate so that he and his beloved could be happy forever.]
'But in the end, it was not fulfilled.'
[Yes, because the Captain fell into deep despair.]
The flames and black smoke vanished in an instant. The surrounding scenery had returned to the sparkling plain from the beginning.
[Death gave the betrayer a chance. And so, the Captain received his guidance.]
Dearis smiled kindly and extended his hand. In his hand was a green gem that hadn't been there before.
After hesitating briefly, I cautiously extended my hand. The gem, the moment it touched my palm, was absorbed as if melting.
[Go and perform the unfinished final power. The time of Beladia, which had been sealed for a long time to avoid the Eye of Birth, will flow according to the Captain's power.]
I gazed blankly at the palm where the gem had been absorbed, then parted my lips.
'I have something I'm curious about.'
[Please speak.]
'I heard that when the final power is performed, everyone obtains rest.'
[Yes, that is correct.]
'Does that mean everyone dies?'
[That varies for each person. Those who wandered without a destination will obtain the rest they each desire, and for some, that may be death.]
So that means not everyone might die. Even if I complete this power and give rest to the Dullahans. If the Dullahans do not desire it, they won't die.
Before I knew it, I was feeling relieved, when Dearis quietly called me.
[Captain.]
After calling me that, he gazed at me for a long while before opening his mouth calmly.
[The same applies to you, Captain. If you regard death as rest, you will achieve it at the end of this journey.]
I felt bewildered by the unexpected information.
I could die?
[Ah, it seems my allotted time has come this far.]
Dearis's gaze turned somewhere. From the empty void where there was nothing, something was sparking.
At first it was so faint it could barely be noticed, but it grew increasingly severe until the flashing light could be clearly recognized.
And finally, that light tore through the void.
The peaceful scene cracked into pieces. Amidst the collapsing scenery, Dearis also faded into translucence.
Just before the white light filled my vision, Dearis's voice remained at my ear.
[May you find the rest you desire.]