Episode 78
"Clana."
"Even if only in my dreams, I wanted to beg for your forgiveness, but not once did you ever appear in my dreams. So I thought I would never be able to receive forgiveness, nor even apologize until the very end..."
"Clana, please calm down."
As Frey, who had been watching Clana with a pitying gaze as she wore a soulless expression, interrupted her words, Clana—who had been desperately trying to continue her story—quickly fell silent and began watching Frey's expression.
"Haa... This is just a trial anyway, and once it ends, everything will return to the way it was..."
Her haughty and dignified appearance had vanished somewhere, and seeing her who had been broken for a long time due to excessive stress and trauma, Frey sighed deeply and muttered. However.
"Yes? Y-yes? What did you say?"
For some reason, his words just now had not reached Clana.
"It's nothing. By the way..."
However, Frey paid no mind to such strange phenomena and looked at Clana as he spoke.
"...What is going on with that hand?"
"Ah, aaah..."
Then, Clana began to speak with a terrified expression.
"W-when I was rummaging through your corpse... when I was stabbing your heart... the sensation from that time when Lady Serena went limp in my arms... it won't go away..."
"...I see."
"Hieek! I-I'm s-sorry... I'm sorry."
As he reached out his hand to her, Clana recoiled in fright and wrapped her arms around herself.
"Ah, aaah... I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Soon she began bowing her head frantically in apology, and not wanting to repeat such a vicious cycle any longer, I quickly grabbed her hand.
"Hik!?"
As warm heat was felt on her hand, Clana's body began to flinch, and Frey looked at her and began to speak.
"Though I cannot touch you... I can use the mana of stars to some extent, so I'm glad I can at least give you warmth like this."
"Y-you..."
"So, have you calmed down a bit? Your Highness the Princess?"
"You are... really Frey..."
Only after realizing that the star mana she used to feel from Aria was wrapping around her hand could Clana know that the person before her was the real Frey.
"H-how did you appear again...? Have you been resurrected...? Is it ancient magic...? Or are you really a ghost..."
"...I cannot tell you that. Even if I wanted to, it doesn't seem to reach you."
Frey, who answered Clana in a low voice, soon wore a serious expression and began to speak.
"However, what is certain is that I am the real Frey... and that I have appeared before you like this, even if for a limited time."
"Ah..."
Clana, who heard those words, spoke with a trembling voice.
"Come to think of it, others said that recently... that you appeared for a short time as an illusion or a dream..."
"I explained it that way to most people... but I thought that deceiving someone consumed by guilt like you might actually have a negative effect."
"Aah..."
Clana's eyes began to tremble at those words.
"Does that mean... in the end, you will disappear before long?"
".........."
She asked, but Frey only stared blankly at Clana and maintained his silence.
"Frey... I... I..."
But Clana knew the answer to the question she had asked.
"I'm sorry... ugh."
So Clana tried to do what she had longed for even in her dreams, what she had wanted so desperately. However.
"Uuuugh..."
When her mouth wouldn't open, she only made ugly groaning sounds.
She didn't know what had happened, but even though it was her last chance to apologize to the real Frey who had appeared before her eyes.
And even though it was her last chance to receive forgiveness from him.
The guilt and pangs of conscience—whether she even had the right to apologize, whether she had the right to ask for forgiveness after ruining the world, after ruining everything—grabbed her ankles with such powerful force.
"I'm... I'm sorry...!"
But if she couldn't apologize here, she, who would go to hell, would never be able to apologize to Frey who would be in heaven.
So Clana tried with all her might to convey her apology to Frey, but...
"...It is not your fault."
Frey's words, warmer than the heat that had been transmitted to her hand, enveloped her.
"The words you said when you found me collapsed after getting lost in the forest and cried your eyes out, and the words you wrote in the last part of your will as well."
"Aah... ah..."
"But judging by what you're doing now, it seems you've forgotten those words."
Saying that, Frey increased the output of star mana and calmed Clana's hand, which had started to flinch again.
"No... Frey..."
Clana, who had been wearing a dazed expression at Frey's consideration, soon shook her head and spoke.
"This is no one else's fault but mine... it's my fault... I killed you... and Lady Serena died because of me. Because I was lacking in ability, I lost to the Demon King's army, and because my leadership was insufficient..."
"Please listen carefully to what I'm about to say. Your Highness the Princess."
As Clana was about to fall into panic again, Frey interrupted her words and began to speak in a gentle voice.
"In the previous timeline, I was the one who killed you, I was the one who ruined the world, and I was the one who deceived you in this timeline."
"........."
"The world is unreasonable, it's not that you were bad. So..."
"...After you died, many things happened."
Clana interrupted Frey's words and began to speak, so Frey stopped what he was saying and quietly began to listen to her.
Based on his experience so far, he knew that in such situations, quietly listening was the best course of action.
"The Demon King's sneers and declaration of war were broadcast throughout the entire empire through amplification magic. Because of that, within a few days, all imperial citizens learned the truth."
As she said, all imperial citizens had been in great shock for a while.
Because they realized that Frey, whom they had so hated and detested, was actually the only hero who could protect the world, and had continued to sacrifice himself for the sake of the world.
The Demon King, who had mocked such a Frey as a foolish and stupid idiot while cackling with laughter, even showed the generosity of giving the empire a one-month preparation period.
However, the Sunrise Empire accepted even such humiliating treatment with gratitude.
Because there were still three people left who had memories of the previous timeline.
Because the Emperor and Empress who had not only ruined the empire but also been deceived by the Demon King, and their children, had all died the moment the Demon King's power fully awakened.
And because there were three people remaining who had memories of the previous timeline, they thought that if they prepared sufficiently, there would be a chance of victory.
However, reality was not so easy.
"At first, we achieved victory several times... Kania, Irina, and I had experienced the previous timeline. Naturally, we knew the Demon King's army's strategies and tactics, and information."
"I see."
"But... when the sun went out, everything started to change."
When the sun, which they thought would always shine brilliantly, went out powerlessly, people fell into shock.
And when the moonlight and starlight that they thought would comfort them that night disappeared, people despaired.
The moon that shines by receiving sunlight was one thing, but they had thought that starlight at least would illuminate them.
But just as the Hero of the Stars could not come back to life, starlight too never came back to life, and thus the empire was plunged into darkness.
"When the sun disappeared, severe cold swept across the entire continent. Weapons froze, and people began to tire."
"....Hmm."
"And on the day my sun mana disappeared, I realized. The empire... has reached its end."
When Clana's sun mana disappeared, people took it as a sign of the empire's fall.
Thanks to that, the number of people who trusted the imperial family gradually decreased, and the same was true for the military.
"Eventually, the Demon King led his army and stormed into the capital, and I gave up on protecting the entire empire. The imperial citizens are probably waiting for the next ship at the harbor right now."
Having said that far, Clana paused to catch her breath, then spoke with tears falling drop by drop.
"I'm sorry, Frey."
"So there's no need to be sorry..."
"I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry."
Frey, who was about to say there was no need to be sorry, stopped his words and quietly closed his eyes upon hearing Clana's voice filled with deep sorrow and sincerity.
"When the Demon King's sneering voice echoed throughout the empire for days, when the sun went out powerlessly, and... when the Demon King's army stormed into the capital, there was something I really wanted to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry for not knowing. I'm truly sorry for not recognizing your sacrifice and pure heart."
Having finally succeeded in conveying the apology she had only dreamed of, the apology she thought she couldn't make even in death, Clana still only continued to shed tears.
"When day comes... I will go to stop the Demon King's army with the remaining imperial knights."
"...The Demon King's army?"
"Yes, the imperial citizens are still at the harbor. If I can hold out for even a few hours, no, even a few minutes longer... of course that's what I should do."
"Haa..."
Frey, who heard those words, let out a deep sigh.
"Please get up."
"Yes?"
"There's somewhere we need to go."
Saying that, Frey, who had even thrown his robe, slowly rose from his seat.
"W-where are you going...?"
"Just follow me."
"I need to join the army. If we go too far..."
"We'll arrive quickly, so just follow me."
Clana, who had been wearing a bewildered expression, immediately bowed her head and answered at Frey's firm voice.
"Yes. If that's what you want... I'll do anything."
The hands of Clana saying that were trembling intermittently.
"When did that hand trembling start?"
"S-since that day... since the day I learned all the truth..."
Frey, who had been looking at her hands with a pitying expression, urgently reached out to her when Clana was about to have another episode.
"Ah, ugh..."
Soon, star mana with increased intensity seeped into her hand, and Clana let out a small moan and stopped trembling.
"...I'll hold your hand."
Frey, who looked at Clana with pity, gently took her hand.
Of course, being in a soul state, Frey's hand could not touch Clana.
But for some reason, since Frey had wrapped the star mana he could use even in the trial around her hand, Clana could feel as if she were holding hands with Frey.
"Since you're holding my hand, please don't act like you did earlier."
"...I understand."
Clana, who answered so, carefully rose from her seat.
"Goodbye."
"...?"
Before leaving the shop, Clana greeted the shop owner who had let her in.
Although he was probably sleeping on the second floor, and it seemed certain that he would soon lose his life like herself.
Even so, Clana bowed politely and placed gold coins from her pocket.
"...Let's go."
And Clana, who had been looking around the shop blankly, discovered something behind the counter, wore a sad expression, and stepped outside.
What was there was a broken family photo.
.
- Shuuu...!
"Ugh..."
Cold wind that cut through her skin strikes Clana.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, y-yes... I'm fine."
But even so, Clana gritted her teeth and moved her feet.
- Sharlr...
"...Ah."
Frey, who was watching that sight, quietly moved his hand and wrapped Clana with star magic. Then, warm heat began to envelop Clana.
"How is it? Is it a bit better?"
As Clana looked at Frey with slightly puzzled eyes, he asked with a gentle smile.
"Ah..."
That one question from Frey, worrying about her, began to awaken Clana's guilt that she had tried to suppress.
"You... can't feel cold or warmth. But..."
Frey, who chuckled at those words, gently placed his hand on Clana's head and spoke.
"But you can feel both cold and warmth, can't you?"
Saying that, as Frey cast star magic once more, warm star glimmers began to swirl around her body.
"W-why are you doing this...?"
"Pardon?"
Thanks to that, Clana, who felt warmth in both body and mind for the first time in a truly long while, lowered her head deeply and asked.
"Why are you being so kind to me..."
Even if she didn't know, even if it was unavoidable, Clana had already become accustomed to the cold and resentful gazes that were secretly cast upon her.
That was why she couldn't understand the warmth that Frey, who more than anyone else had the right to cast such gazes at her, was giving her.
"Stop saying silly things and just follow me. We're almost there."
Frey, who chuckled at such Clana, led her and continued forward.
"...Huh?"
Only then did Clana, who realized where she was heading, opened her mouth with trembling eyes.
"This place... this is..."
"That's right, the forest where I got lost while looking for star-greeting flowers."
Frey, who spoke gently to such Clana, smiled and proceeded into the forest.
"Did you know? They say this is where the hero from a thousand years ago made a pact with the princess of that time and the young lady of the Moonlight family."
"A... pact..."
"Yes, the ancient promise that has bound the three families for a thousand years."
Saying that, Frey created a small sphere from his hand and continued speaking.
"And since that day, rare flowers bloom once a year in this forest."
After a while, when a sphere of twinkling starlight rose from his hand, Frey sent it forward and smiled.
"You know what those are, don't you?"
"M-moon-greeting flowers... star-greeting flowers... and..."
"...sun-greeting flowers."
Where the sphere of starlight that flew forward was illuminating, there were sun-greeting flowers that had bloomed by piercing through the thick snow.
"H-how is that..."
"A gift. A gift for you who gave me star-greeting flowers, and moon-greeting flowers to Serena."
"Aah..."
The fact that they had arrived at the forest within minutes of starting to walk from the shop didn't matter.
Why sun-greeting flowers, which were supposed to bloom only when they see the sun, had bloomed piercing through thick snow also didn't matter.
Clana only quietly took in the sun-greeting flowers blooming lonely before her eyes and shed tears.
"They say the flowers created by the influence of the pact made by the three families have special power."
Frey, who had been staring blankly at her before leading Clana toward the flowers, began to speak in a gentle voice.
"So many people targeted the flowers, but for some reason, no one could possess that power."
Saying that, as Frey stopped, Clana, who had been wearing a dazed expression, unknowingly began to reach her hand toward the sun-greeting flowers.
"Of course. Those flowers are arrangements our ancestors left for us for the future."
"Aah...!"
Soon, when her hand touched the sun-greeting flowers, brilliant light began to swirl around her.
It was the sunlight that Clana had wanted and longed for so much.
- Pazizizi...!
"Huk, sob... huu..."
Clana, with an expression of disbelief, put strength in her hand, and when sun mana rippled from her hand, she burst into tears without realizing it.
"It will only last for about a day, but that should be enough to help when fighting the Demon King's army."
"Th-thank you... thank... huk..."
Clana could no longer think rationally.
Because the sadness, pain, guilt, and despair she had buried in her heart over the past few years were all mixed together and burst forth at once.
"Thank you... truly, truly thank... thank you..."
She no longer cared about her dignity.
She didn't try to suppress her feelings either.
She just burst with the emotions she had kept bottled up, and only spoke her sincerity to Frey before her eyes.
"I need you... Frey... I, I... I need you so much..."
"Your Highness the Princess."
"It was only after you disappeared that I knew... that what the empire needed was not me but you, and that it was Lady Serena..."
Bursting into tears incomparably more than before, Clana spoke in anguish.
"Is there really... really no way to bring you back to life...? Please... I'll give my life... if needed, I'll even sell my soul to demons... I'll suffer in hell for eternity, so please, if there's a way, please tell me..."
"..........."
But even so, Frey only looked at Clana quietly.
".........Thank you, Frey."
Clana, who had been crying for a while, suddenly stopped crying and opened her mouth.
"For giving me the gift I needed more than anything."
She had realized.
"With the power you gifted me, I'll save even one more person."
That the time of parting had come.
"So........"
- Seureureu...
Clana looked at Frey, who was disappearing with a satisfied smile, and spoke.
"......Goodbye, my first vassal."
The moment those words ended, Frey began to scatter as fragments of starlight.
"...........Ah?"
Clana, who had unconsciously reached out her hand toward the star fragments he left behind, who until just now had been smiling at her,
"This is.....?"
Soon realized that she was lying on a bed.
"F, Frey...! Where is Frey?"
And realizing that warm sunlight was streaming in from the window next to her, Clana began to shout in an urgent voice.
"What is the matter? Your Highness the Princess?"
"Frey...! Frey is..."
Clana, who had gotten up in her pajamas with a pale face, was about to say something to the servant who was wearing a puzzled expression, but...
"...Huh?"
"Your Highness the Princess?"
"Hmm... well..."
Soon wore a dazed expression and began to tilt her head in confusion.
"Did you have a nightmare, perhaps?"
"Ah... it seems so."
When the servant asked worriedly, Clana, who was quietly nodding her head, suddenly muttered inwardly.
'.....Did I have a nightmare about Frey?'
Warm morning sunlight was shining on her.