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I have only lived for about twenty years, yet there is one thing I have come to understand.
There is no such thing as a life without regrets.
Even if you believe you made the best possible choice, failure is inevitable.
At the same time, however, that choice will surely bring many things worth having.
That is why, when faced with a difficult decision, it is far more constructive to think about what you will gain by choosing one path over the other.
And what truly matters is giving everything you have to the path you have chosen.
To obtain as much as possible and continue striving until you can feel satisfied, to the point where you no longer need to imagine the future you did not pick.
…Even so, if I were ever given the chance to do it all over again, I would—resist that injustice.
Grandpa had staked his life to give me another chance.
To repay his feelings, and above all, to make sure I never have to experience anything like that again.
I swear it once more.
No matter what kind of injustice awaits me from here on out, I will not stop moving forward.
I will pour my entire heart and soul into making sure the things I hold dear never slip through my fingers again. I will never lose them a second time!
After seeing August-san off, now alone with Shion in the netherworld, I etched that renewed vow deeply into my heart.
"All right, shall we go, Orun?"
Shion turned to me with a bright smile and spoke in a cheerful voice.
Our time together had begun moving forward once again.
—'I think the "outside world" has scenery just as beautiful as this, maybe even more.'
—'Are you going to the outside world, Orun…?'
—'Yeah. I know there are a lot of problems. But I want to solve those problems and then travel around seeing the outside world. …So, Shion. Want to go see all kinds of scenery together?'
—'Eh, I'm allowed to come too?'
—'Of course! Why would you think you couldn't? Traveling alone would be lonely, and I'd be really happy if you came with me.'
—'Then… I want to go with you too!'
—'All right! Then it's a promise! Let's go see the outside world together!'
—'Yeah!'
Whenever I remembered the promise we had made that day inside the silver world of frost that Shion had shown me, my heart grew warm.
At the same time, however, the guilt over having forgotten that promise for nearly ten years and making Shion suffer weighed heavily on me.
That is why everything starts here.
Everything begins again from this moment.
"—Yeah. Let's go destroy the world, Shion."
With a refreshed heart, I began walking forward once more.
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"It's heavy…"
The day after the incident that began with Sophie's engagement uproar, the battle against the Cyclamen Order executive known as the [Doctor], and the condemnation of former Count Claudel.
That morning started with the sensation of something heavy resting on my abdomen.
(...Ah, that's right. —So it begins here.)
I was fully aware that today was the day we would leave Daruane.
At the same time, I clearly remembered everything that was about to happen and everything that had taken place in the netherworld.
It felt a little strange, but the strong sense of relief that I hadn't forgotten a single thing outweighed everything else.
As I thought about that and sat up, sure enough, there was Fuuka sprawled across me, sleeping soundly with a content expression.
"Nn… mmm…"
While I watched her with a fond smile, Fuuka stirred and slowly sat up.
"...Orun, good morning."
"Good morning, Fuuka. …I see. So the reason you were here is because you knew with [Future Sight] that this was a turning point."
The moment I said the word "turning point," Fuuka's eyes widened.
Then her expression shifted into something more serious than I had ever seen before.
"—Orun, how do you feel?"
It was the same question she had asked back then.
"Yeah. I'm in perfect condition."
When I answered, Fuuka nodded with a satisfied look.
"I see. You've come back…"
"Yeah. I've regained my memories and my ability, and I'm back."
"I'm glad. Welcome home, Orun."
"I'm home. —Right away, though, I need you to lend me your strength."
Fuuka nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. I am Orun's sword."
(My sword, huh. Hahaha. That description fits perfectly.)
I had heard the phrase several times before, but back then it had meant nothing to me.
Now, however, I understood its meaning completely.
She was someone who would fight alongside me.
And—she was someone who would never let me run away from battle.
After finishing my morning preparations and leaving the room, I met up with Fuuka, who had been waiting outside.
"Orun, what are we doing now?"
As we walked down the corridor of the mansion, Fuuka asked.
"There are a lot of things I want to prepare, but our top priority is the complete extermination of [Rakshasa] and [Battle Ogre]. Fuuka, next time don't hold back any of your ability or youki. Use everything you have to cut down the [Battle Ogre]."
The two people who had ravaged Tsutrail—there would be no mercy for those executors.
"I'm good at that. Leave it to me."
By the time our conversation ended, we had reached the dining hall.
"Ah, Orun-san, good morning!"
"Master, good morning!"
"Mornin'~, Master!"
The moment the disciples noticed me, they greeted me with bright smiles. Luna and Selma-san followed right after with their own greetings.
Hearing their voices and seeing their smiles made my vision blur just a little.
(I really have come back to this day…!)
The precious things that had once slipped through my fingers were now spread out right before my eyes.
Every single one of them was someone dear to me, someone who warmed my heart.
—That is exactly why I never want to lose any of them again.
Even if I can no longer stay by everyone's side… I want them all to keep living as their true selves.
There is nothing more precious than knowing they are living freely and authentically.
"...Yeah, good morning."
"Hm~? What's wrong, Master? Did you have a scary dream or something~?"
"It's unusual for you to wake up so late, Orun-san. Are you feeling unwell? If so, we can delay our departure for Tsutrail…"
Carol and Luna, who had known me the longest, were the first to notice the subtle change in my mood and looked at me with concern.
"Yeah. I had a bit of a scary dream. But seeing all of you made the fear disappear, so I'm fine. My health is okay too."
"If it was a dream scary enough to frighten even Orun, I'm curious what it was about."
Selma-san jumped into the conversation with a teasing tone to keep the atmosphere from growing too heavy.
"Ahaha… I'll tell you about it sometime. Even though the dream was scary… it's something I must never forget."
I had once regretted choosing to join [Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky].
But because I had made that choice, I was able to meet my disciples, Selma-san, and so many other irreplaceable comrades. I was also able to spend time with Luna again.
There were many things I had gained by walking down this path.
The Order was trying to steal those precious things from me for utterly unreasonable reasons.
That was something I could never allow.
By a strange twist of fate, the end result that the Order and I sought was the same.
But the process, and what that result would bring, were completely different.
That is why I will crush the Cyclamen Order!
So that I will never have my precious things taken away again.
With that firm resolve, I stepped forward onto a new path.
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