You Said, a Long, Long Time Ago

"...Are you leaving?"

The girl's voice trembled slightly, tinged with reluctance and longing.

A man and a girl stood together in the dark, silent alley, utterly out of place with the atmosphere outside.

"...Yeah. Looks like I was right before. The time really has come..."

"But the goddess has already been very generous. She gave me all these years."

The man's figure suddenly began to fade, growing insubstantial like a bubble.

He stood before the girl and spread his arms, as though embracing the whole world.

A broad smile seemed to appear on his face, most of which had already vanished.

He was not particularly tall, but in the girl's eyes, he was the only person she could rely on all these years.

No matter what danger they faced or what situation they were in, the man could always bring her safely through it.

"Where should I go to find you afterward?"

Seemingly realizing that what had already happened could not be changed, the girl clenched her fists as tears rolled down her cheeks.

They were like the Half-Century Meteor Shower the two of them had watched that night, brilliant and dazzling as they streaked across the entire sky.

The sight broke the man's heart.

He knew that for the next few decades, the girl, who had only just learned what "love" was, would have to endure this loneliness alone...

"Don't cry, silly... It's not like we'll never see each other again."

"Mm..."

Apparently unhappy at being called silly, the girl rubbed her eyes and, with a playful pout, raised a delicate fist to punch him in the chest.

Her fist came down gently, but it passed straight through his body and hung in midair, as though she had struck empty space, leaving her frozen on the spot.

He was standing right in front of her, yet she could no longer touch him.

Seeing her like that made the man's heart clench.

But as his figure grew ever more insubstantial, he had no choice but to speak faster.

"Go south, to a fortress city called Rogley."

"Hmm... But if you went now, I probably wouldn't even have been born yet... Sorry, you'll have to wait a few years..."

"It's only a few decades... They'll pass quickly..."

"...Are you crying?"

"...Just a little."

The girl's long golden hair concealed her lowered face, keeping the man from seeing whether it really was just a little, as she claimed.

But when he saw the earth at her feet gradually growing wet with droplets, he sighed inwardly.

She really is lying...

"But if you meet me then, whatever you do, don't mention anything you've been through over the years, and don't reveal anything about what might happen in the future."

"...After all, I don't know what terrible things might happen in a situation that defies logic like that."

Out in the street, children waved toy Hero's Swords as they ran laughing past the mouth of the alley.

Adults clinked their glasses together, eagerly discussing the great deeds of Himmel the Hero's party and their hopes for the future.

A celebratory atmosphere spread throughout the city.

"Mm... Will we really see each other again when I get there?..."

The girl felt a little lost, still worried that this would be the last time they saw each other.

"...Our meeting is inevitable. It's fate."

"Or rather, it's precisely because we'll meet in the future that I was able to find you here..."

"And... take good care of yourself while I'm gone..."

The man's voice grew weaker and weaker, and he seemed exhausted.

His voice sounded ethereal, as though it came from a distant time and place.

"It's time... How about a hug at the very end—as a farewell gift?"

"...That's not funny at all..."

The man gave a wry laugh and scratched his head, apparently feeling that what he had said was poorly timed too.

But then, under his gaze, the girl spread her arms and actually lunged forward, trying to embrace his fading form.

"That's a tight hug... Yeah, if you could actually hold me, I think you'd squeeze me till it hurt."

"Not funny..."

"Don't forget me... The next time we meet, hold me tight like this again..."

"Mm..."

"But maybe don't be so forward right at the start. I'm afraid you'll scare me..."

"Mm..."

"...I'm going..."

"...Mm."

Before his insubstantial hand could stroke the top of the girl's head, it vanished into the air like a bubble.

The girl slowly lowered her arms. Now, nothing but empty space remained before her.

The man who had been speaking to her moments ago had vanished into thin air, as though he had never been there.

Had he heard her final answer?

At least for now, there was no way to find out.

Under the moonlight, the city's crowds roared with excitement.

After lingering a long while, the girl stepped out of the alley and disappeared into the throngs of people cheering and celebrating.

News that Himmel the Hero's party had successfully defeated the Demon King had reached this place.

The revelry celebrating the arrival of an era of peace would continue for a long, long time.

People sang and danced, praising the heroes' deeds and legends.

"...You told me to pretend I didn't know you..."

"But when the time comes... you'll be the one who forgets—silly..."

Brilliant fireworks blossomed across the sky.

The night sky was painted in a riot of colors, and the bright flashes illuminated the golden-haired girl's tear-streaked face.

"Finally awake?"

Glenn smiled when he saw the man push the door open and enter.

"Your wine."

Galan tossed the dark green bottle in his hand to Glenn.

Although Glenn still couldn't move his legs and was still wrapped in bandages,

he caught the bottle as smoothly and deftly as ever.

He was like a lone wandering swordsman sitting outside an inn, calling, "Waiter, bring me wine!" Then, picking up the bowl of wine brought to him and gulping it down, he felt as though he were in a martial world of love and hatred, clashing blades and flashing swords.

"...You really can't have fun without a drink, can you... Oh! I knew you'd bring me wine from that place."

Glenn pried off the cap, carefully sniffed the aroma that wafted out, and immediately looked delighted.

Because he was still being treated, Teresia and Reno wouldn't let him drink when they came to visit, worried that it would harm his body.

Seeing the two of them running around taking care of him, he was too embarrassed to drink in front of them.

So he had been feeling terribly cooped up these past two days.

The golden liquor flowed down his throat, surging through him like a raging flood or a wild beast.

"I heard that somewhere, someone buried an exquisite wine called Emperor's Wine underground..."

After taking a great swig to satisfy his craving, Glenn lay in bed, turning the bottle over in his hand and examining it.

"...If I could have a taste in this lifetime, it would all be worth it."

As he spoke, his eyes shone with longing, as though he were in heaven.

Has this guy gone even further down the path of a drunkard...?

"The taste might disappoint you. It'll be awful..."

"You make it sound like you've tried it."

Glenn turned his head and gave Galan a look of utter disdain.

"According to the legend, it's been underground for so many years. Surely it's gone bad by now."

Galan brought a chair over, set it beside the bed, and plopped down comfortably.

He pried open his own bottle and took several swigs, as though trying to drown some trouble.