Chapter 606

Just as Romani was thinking this, a calm voice rang out behind him without warning.

"Wa..."

Romani jumped back like a startled cat, and when he turned around, he saw that familiar face.

Novia was suspended there silently, as if it had been there from the very beginning.

"No, no, no, Novia, the Consultant!? What are you doing here!?"

Romani's brain completely shut down.

This is a space of "nothingness"!

It is an end that even the Throne of Heroes cannot interfere with; all existence will eventually return to nothingness!

But soon, Romani's Wisdom, which belonged to King Solomon, helped him understand the situation.

It can still appear so easily under these circumstances...

"... I understand. You really are the Pope Novia himself."

He guessed right.

Although the process was bizarre, the result was correct.

In fact, Novia's arrival here was not entirely due to brute force breaking the rules.

This place is "nothing".

According to Eastern concepts, only those who have reached the other shore and are considered "Savior" can reach this place.

Romani arrived here by chance and in one go, in a way that involved "abandoning everything".

Novia, as the Dipankara and as Maitreya, came here, which in a sense is actually "following the rules".

"I'm just here to say goodbye," Novia said casually.

And so, in this absolutely empty space, the two engaged in a meaningless exchange of everyday trivia—about the flavors of the Chaldea Coffee machine and the latest single from their Internet Idol.

It was as if it weren't at the end of existence, but rather in a lounge somewhere in Chaldea.

This conversation somewhat alleviated the immense loneliness that Romani felt after their parting.

"Well then, I should go."

After a brief conversation, Novia spoke.

"Ah... um."

Romani nodded, a sense of loss welling up inside him.

He watched Novia's retreating figure, wanting to say something but holding back.

There's so much I want to say.

Thanks, questions, and that unspoken inquiry.

In the end, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

Just as Novia was about to disappear, she seemed to remember something and turned around.

"Oh, right."

A mysterious smile appeared on his face.

"You must be lonely here all by yourself. So I found you some 'people'."

"Afterwards, if you wish, you can try to 'go out.' Go to other worlds and continue what you've been thinking about, using your own eyes to see the human world."

Novia's smile became somewhat... sly.

"Of course, that's assuming you still have the capacity."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Novia vanished completely.

"... Why?"

Romani scratched his head, completely baffled by what the other person meant.

What does it mean to have "found some people"? What does it mean to "go out"? And what does "remaining capacity" refer to...?

He lay there bewildered in the void, at a loss for what to do.

Then.

A voice so familiar it made Romani's heart skip a beat rang out.

"Hi, I've arrived! People call me the Queen who rules Sheba. Please—"

Romani's body froze.

He turned around slowly, almost instinctively.

What catches the eye are those signature fluffy ears, that luxurious and familiar attire, that slightly tanned, healthy skin, and those beautiful eyes that are now sparkling with endless brilliance—

Queen of Sheba.

The two looked at each other.

In just a second, Romani lowered his gaze somewhat embarrassed.

An indescribable bitterness welled up in my heart.

The man she loved was the all-knowing King Solomon.

Instead of Romani Archimonde, who had nothing and even abandoned his existence.

But.

"I'm so happy!... Hehehe."

The expected questions and disappointment did not materialize.

Instead, there was laughter tinged with tears, yet filled with joy.

The next second, Romani was tightly embraced by a warm and soft body.

The Queen of Sheba, like a child, buried her face in his chest, weeping with joy.

"I... I... I have something to say!" Sheba stammered excitedly, her voice thick with emotion. "I want to... I want to raise camels with you! Camels are so cute, aren't they, darling?"

Once upon a time, in the distant past.

The camel kept moving forward, treading the road to the Holy City.

Not in a hurry, nor slow at all.

Scorching hot sand dunes, bathed in the cold moonlight.

The fragrance of Sandalwood, the intricate mother-of-pearl carvings, the star-like speckles of expensive agate. The seven treasures offered to King Solomon, once carried on the backs of camels.

The true gift is the Queen's heart.

There is no wealth beyond love, no memory beyond separation.

Life is like the stars, never to meet, always moving like the constellations of Orion and Scorpio.

But how wonderful this evening is, now, to be with you under the silver candlelight, my love—

"Um, Sheba?"

Romani was taken aback by this overly direct expression, and his cheeks burned.

Just then, another gentle female voice, tinged with uncertainty, rang out.

"... My benefactor?"

Romani looked in the direction of the sound and saw an elegant red-haired woman.

Cranes in folk legends.

"As expected... I, our collective 'proof,' have been properly presented."

Once upon a time... I was exhausted, and my Od was completely depleted.

It's probably too late now.

That's enough, isn't it?

However, fate had other plans; they would inevitably encounter a savior in their predicament and hear a gentle voice.

Upon closer inspection, he was a handsome man who appeared gentle and exuded a relaxed, unhurried aura.

He gently protected me.

Therefore, this time I will protect him gently.

Ah, this place... reminds me of when I rented a place in Paris. So, please allow me to rest here for a moment, my benefactor.

Miss Klein smiled and naturally moved to stand on the other side of Romani.

"Watch your manners, darling." Sheba immediately lifted her head from Romani's arms, puffed out her cheeks, and looked at Miss Klein warily. "And this is...? Could it be... your girlfriend whom you're secretly seeing behind my back?"

"Why does my benefactor have such a puzzled smile?" Klein tilted his head and replied elegantly, "It's clear that this unknown lady beside you is quite a remarkable person."

I was sandwiched between two women, listening to their seemingly harmless but actually barbed conversation.

Romani Archim, the man who had just given up everything, wore a smile that was more like a grimace, one of utter distress.

He seemed to understand a little better what Novia meant by "provided you still have the capacity."

In a certain crevice beyond "nothingness," the Savior watched this scene and smiled silently.

For those who have reached "nothingness," it seems they have truly reached "nothingness," yet they have not truly reached "nothingness."

That's good.

At the same time, at the Temple of Time.

Having lost his immortality, Goetia's body is constantly collapsing.

But he did not fall.

The moment the concept of "lifespan" was acquired, and the moment the end point of "death" was realized, the lofty perspective, for the first time, shifted to the perspective of "humanity".

I finally understand.

I now understand why Solomon was willing to give up everything.

Having understood Novia's past, I understand why she sided with Chaldea.

I understand now—the "joy" contained within that short life that he had scorned.

Goetia did not harbor Wrath towards Ritsuka Fujimaru, who had caused her defeat.

Even if Ritsuka were killed now, it would not be enough to reverse their own destruction and defeat.

In the end, the reason for still standing in front is nothing more than... "the last bit of courage that those who have come this far have left."

In terms of both his mindset and his acting skills, at this moment, he is less like the final boss and more like a protagonist facing the final outcome.

Goetia waved his arms, manipulating the only remaining Ring that belonged to King Solomon.

The body was constantly breaking down during the battle, but no Sorrow or regret was detected in it.

All it is is a cold, hard reality of "Is this life? Is this what life is?"

In the half-destroyed Goetia, Ritsuka Fujimaru and the collapsing Temple of Time engaged in their final, and most primal, battle.

After using the power of the tenth Ring to repel Ritsuka Fujimaru, Goetia's body finally reached its limit.

He destroyed himself.

On one hand, he swallowed the emptiness of losing everything, and on the other hand, he offered his respect to the formidable enemy before him, who had fought to the very last moment.

This was the greatest and only reward that Goetia received for accomplishing its great achievements over three thousand years.

In the moments before her body completely dissipated into particles of light, Ritsuka Fujimaru saw that although Goetia's gaze was fixed on her, its focus seemed to pierce through her, looking towards a distant place unseen by her—

Master, the joy of life.

God,

I hope you can witness this.

This brief period of time is a story bestowed upon me.