Chapter 70: Wishing Upon a Star――A Star's Wish―――〈Part Three〉

In the vast, boundless universe, there is a planet called Earth.

A beautiful blue-and-green planet. A “normal” world without magic.

Perhaps that is why the creatures known as humans who live upon it have so often found themselves dreaming of “other worlds.” Throughout history, across every corner of the globe, countless people have done so.

『　』 does not consider that a bad thing. The power to imagine, the yearning for the unknown, the eternal desire for self-improvement... These are defining traits of humanity, and the very reasons humans came to dominate the world. They were the driving forces that allowed humanity to conquer the seas, travel through the skies, and eventually reach out into space itself.

And therefore...

It is by no means a bad thing. Quite the opposite. It is something wonderful.

It's just that...

Just a little...

It makes my heart ache.

I held the great sword before me, its tip aimed straight at the enormous serpent.

Suddenly, I remembered something “Human” had once said.

――Chanting spells is a man's romantic ideal! It's definitely way cooler if you have an incantation!

...Or so he'd said.

To be honest, I still don't quite understand human standards of what is or isn't cool. Nor do I really understand the concept of incantations. After all, magic doesn't exist on Earth.

But “songs” are different. The sound of babbling streams, the rustling of leaves, or the roar of a storm. Humans have transformed the sounds of nature into music, and, in turn, offered music back to nature. Having learned of this practice, I can say I have at least some understanding of songs.

And so, I shall sing.

If all I wanted was to unleash an attack, this would be utterly meaningless.

And yet, as “Tierra As,” I'm certain this is the right thing to do.

Du läßt mich lang allein

――Loneliness endures for so long.

Ich suche Ruhe für mein einsam Herz

――I journey onward, seeking peace for my lonely heart.

Ich wandle nach der Heimat, meiner Stätte

――Toward my homeland, toward the place where I belong.

Ich werde niemals in die Ferne schweifen

――I need wander no farther.

Still ist mein Herz und harret seiner Stunde

――With a tranquil heart, I await the hour of parting.

ist mehr wert als alle Reiche dieser Erde

――It is worth more than all the worlds gathered in Chaos.

Das Firmament blaut ewig, und die Erde wird lange fest steh’n

――The heavens shall remain eternally blue, and the earth shall stand firm for ages.

bis der Mond erglänzt am schwarzen Firmament

"Shine upon Chaos――"

I raised my sword.

ewig blauen licht die Fernen

"――O blue light of the distant beyond."

I brought it down.

A dazzling aurora of countless colors burst forth from the descending blade.

Like lightning crawling across the ground. Or perhaps like curtains swaying in a fickle breeze. A band of light on the scale of a mountain range cleaved the land of Chaos apart.

The serpent swallowed by that light was split back into its original components: machinery and trees. It wasn't even granted the chance to let out a death cry. As though nothing had ever happened in the first place, everything was over with a single swing.

The people of “Chaos” watching in stunned silence had no way of knowing this, but...

The light that could easily have been mistaken for magic closely resembled a natural phenomenon known as the aurora.

That phenomenon occurs near the poles of a certain planet――a miracle, and nothing less.

――Well then. As expected, it was impossible after all.

The will of a planet was an inherently vague and ephemeral thing. Simply maintaining this personality for so long had been nothing short of a miracle.

Even so, it only meant that the inevitable parting had arrived a little sooner than expected.

Rather than vanish without accomplishing anything, I had managed to leave behind a “moment in the spotlight” before the end. That was more than enough.

I could believe that “Human” and “Spirit” would surely fulfill their long-cherished wish.

I had no regrets. I was simply returning to my original state.

As though foreshadowing the fate of this personality, the great sword shattered first.

The unnecessary parts dissolved into blue and vermilion particles, leaving the original twin swords to fall to the ground.

"............"

If I were to prioritize the Star's original role...

I should once again ask “Kizuna” whether he wished to “go home.”

Alternatively, I could gather the little strength I had left and sever that head, returning it to the proper cycle of reincarnation.

And therefore――

"To think we're speaking directly like this... Would this be the second time? No, never mind. There's no point getting hung up on such details. It would only be troublesome. After all, this is the end. Better to leave nothing unresolved."

――Even 『　』 understood that making such a choice would be wrong.

In the Spirit's words, would that be “KY”...?

It was true that the target was unable to move, and there was no one around to interfere. I could do it.

And yet, doing so would deny the path that “Human” and “Spirit” had chosen to walk. It would be utterly tasteless.

"Those who resist, do not stop walking. Keep moving forward. Keep resisting.――May your journey be blessed with good fortune."

Then, at the very least...

Taking advantage of the fact that Kizuna and the others couldn't speak, I would say what I had to say, even if it was only a one-sided conversation.

"And also, well... How should I put this? This may be presumptuous of me, but please look after Tierra As. She has a tendency to be far too decisive when it matters most. If you take your eyes off her, she might just charge headlong toward her own ruin."

If I said something like that, perhaps it would lead to more interactions, more appearances, and more lines.

...Well then. I don't have much time left. This is all 『　』 can do.

"――Kizuna. I entrust Tierra to you. Don't let go of the hand you've taken."

From his perspective, this must have been a sudden and incomprehensible situation.

He couldn't nod or speak. His body had long since exceeded its physical limits.

And yet, the boy looked back at me with unmistakable determination.

In those black eyes was an affirmation that seemed to say, “Of course.”

I burned that gaze into my memory, and 『　』――――vanished.

"...Oh? So you've come to see me off. How considerate of you."

"Don't get the wrong idea. “I” am not sad in the slightest, you hear? Don't get too full of yourself."

"I never asked you that, did I?"

"I'm glad that troublesome Star is finally gone. Now Kizuna-kun and “Me” belong entirely to “Me.” All mine. One in each hand. Aren't you jealous?"

"That remark is a perfect demonstration of your reputation as a lascivious, pleasure-mad Spirit."

"Wha!? L-L-Lascivious!? What's that supposed to mean!? It sounds even naughtier than calling me a slut!"

"...And? May I mention that you've been bawling your eyes out this entire time, and your face is an absolute mess?"

"GRAAAH! THAT'S THE KIND OF THING YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO! PRETEND NOT TO NOTICE!"

"Heh heh."

"You're laughing, aren't you!? Even “I” have reached the end of my patience! I won't let you get away with this today!"

"I'm about to disappear anyway."

"Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!"

"So you've finally broken down. That ugly crying face of yours is as unbearable to look at as ever."

"You're crying too, O Star!"

"I'm not crying."

"You're definitely crying!"

"I'm not crying."

"You are!"

"What? Do you want me to kill you?"

(Meanwhile...)

"Farewell, Spirit of Thought. ...Please take care of “Tierra As.”"

"Thank you for everything, Spirit of the Star... No, “Tierra As.” Leave the rest to me."

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I still have consciousness... I still have a personality?

Wait.

This entirely white space... Surely, this is...

"All right, sit properly. You know why I'm angry, don't you?"

"I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea."