Chapter 87

Ciel expressed his agreement, and just as Kihara a sigh of relief, the Blue-Haired Girl continued in a serious tone:

"But even so, you still have to go to school, and school days are very happy."

"If you help me get a day off, I'll treat you to curry rice tonight, how about that?"

"..." The Blue-Haired Girl swallowed hard, then poured herself a glass of water and took a small sip. "No, I don't like a lazy life."

Kihara felt like he'd run into a rock with this stubborn and unyielding Ciel, who, having lost the Holy Scripture and unable to use his power, was now completely helpless. And what's more, it was his former subordinate, the disciple of Bei Zhe, who had become the Dead Apostle Ancestor. Truly, life is unpredictable.

The Savior girl, who didn't want to go to school but had no choice but to, couldn't help but sigh like this.

However, upon learning of Ciel's past Kihara, he also felt remorse for the significant losses he had caused to the Church.

As survivors of the French Incident, those who had seen the Dead Apostle Ancestor had no hope of living a normal life. Having seen the forefather, they were directly regarded as 'contaminated' by the Church, and only Executor were allowed to leave the Monastery.

Kihara also knew that the Church's lower-level Executor were suffering heavy losses, with most not lasting more than two years. Even those who survived were mentally distorted. So, this was essentially using the victims as cannon fodder...

Moreover, it's truly despicable that the current high-ranking members of the Church are actually making deals with the Dead Apostle to obtain secret techniques for prolonging their lives, especially that Cardinal Mario.

Kihara felt that the best thing he had done for the Church in the past two years was to stop some of the Church's higher-ups from plotting to use Ciel to eliminate Bei Zhe and obtain his weapons. After all, Bei Zhe was a person of high Faith character, and he couldn't let these guys kill him.

If it had happened when she was in control of the Church, would the French Incident have occurred?

Those Dead Apostle are here to stay.

Killing all the Dead Apostle Ancestor, all the True Ancestor, and all the Phantasmal Species remaining in the Present World would be a piece of cake...

Oh no, no, we can't think like that now. We need peace. Everyone living in this world is someone that I and the adults recognize as 'human,' and we need to protect them. The same goes for Vampire Species.

"So, if I had continued like this... maybe you wouldn't have gone through all this, and you people would have lived a peaceful and uneventful life."

As she reached the door, the Black-Haired Girl, who was about to go to school, murmured in a low voice. Then, as if sensing something, she turned her head to look in the direction of United States.

... That filthy, disgusting bug wasn't quite dead yet. They really fooled me well back then, huh...

"What's wrong?"

Noticing what she was looking at, Ciel asked.

"Ignorance is no crime, nor is knowing without power. However, having power but doing nothing is an undeniable Sin."

The Savior girl answered in this way, and this was the first time that Ciel had seen a smile in this child that was comparable to the glory of God.

"There's this guy who should have Hell long ago, and he's still alive! I actually caught him. This time, I'll make you wish you were dead."

"What Hell? Get to school!"

"... yes."

167: Words to You

A gentle breeze was blowing around Mount Etna.

It was a wind blowing from the nearby port, carrying a faint scent of dampness.

Thousands of years later, this area is now home to approximately 700,000 people. The fertile soil formed by volcanic ash deposited by volcanic eruptions has made this region densely populated and economically prosperous.

The scorching winds blowing from afar echoed from the endless volcanoes, stirring up sounds that resembled mournful cries.

Under the intense sunlight, many travelers camping on the volcano saw two people slowly approaching from below.

A man holding hands with a young girl walked slowly down the mountain. Right in the middle of the camping group, the camp leader came out of his tent and handed out full water bottles to the unknown travelers who had come to this place just like them.

"You must be a little tired. Please take care of this, both of you."

"Thanks."

The travel-worn man wasn't shy at all. After politely thanking him, he began to drink heartily, finishing the entire two-liter water jug in one go, as did the young woman with him.

The two men's spirit was like that of someone who had drunk strong liquor, leaving the people resting at the camp speechless.

Moreover, right next to the beautiful young woman, the man seemed to see the surging sunlight transform into soft moonlight, bathing his snow-white hair in its gentle glow.

Regardless of Magecraft or mystery, simply standing there naturally brought a heartfelt warmth to everyone present.

Therefore, everyone in the camp, regardless of gender, had a premonition that they would get along very well with him, to the point that they completely ignored the girl.

"Are you two also here for travel?"

"Yeah, I guess so. We're mainly here to pick someone up."

Are you a friend I team up with?

"It's my lover," the man said. "Thank you for your help. We've rested enough and are ready to move on."

"Yes, yes, that's right."

The girl nodded, and upon hearing his last words, a soft, warm feeling filled her heart.

"Haha, I see. Well then, I won't bother you any longer."

The captain of the expedition burst into laughter; he, too, had developed a fondness for the unknown man.

He waved and said, "Good luck, goodbye both of you, wishing you happiness."

Novia Melusine continued their journey across the vast, scorching lands, their presence concealed by Magecraft, making them impossible to detect by modern technology.

As dusk began to fall, the outline of the volcano's summit came into view, like an inextinguishable flame illuminating everything.

"Hey, Novia, are you going to jump right in from here?"

Although Melusine wasn't worried about the temperature at all, she was mainly concerned that it might cause some damage to Novia beside her.

Novia nodded slightly, watching as the molten lava relentlessly pounded against the crimson sea of fire, carrying a timeless rhythm that had never ceased since that day.

For some reason, unlike thousands of years ago, the volcano, which originally had several passages, is now sealed off, leaving only the very top...

This was probably something Typhon did later on.

"I'll have to trouble you to stop the volcano from erupting in a moment. Please make sure there are no casualties, Melusine."

Since Novia arrived at Mount Etna, she has learned from Melusine that one of the world's most active volcanoes has become active again because of her arrival. Perhaps Typhon sensed Albion's presence and issued a warning out of some kind of territorial instinct.

Indeed, upon arriving here, Novia felt the same vibrant energy as it had a thousand years ago.

"Okay, that's perfectly fine!"

Then, the Primordial Runes appeared beside Novia, and she jumped directly into the crater.

At first, after quickly crossing the orange-red lava, he arrived at the location of the blood-red lava. The blood-red lava was rolling and flowing like liquid flames, emitting a dazzling light.

At first, there was only a faint, almost imperceptible light. Then, in the crimson molten lava, bubbles rose and burst, emitting a soft hissing sound. At the same time, the sound of the lava boiling could be heard, a deep and powerful roar that sounded like the fury of some creature.

"Get out of here, Albion!"

Accompanied by a savage roar, and amidst a tremor that seemed to shake the heavens and earth, endless bolts of lightning erupted from it.

Did they think I was Albion's Incarnation?

Just as Novia was thinking this, the endless bolts of lightning vanished the moment they touched Rune, and the volcano, which was about to erupt, returned to calm.

So, finally, he saw her.

Deep within the volcano, in the secret realm of lava, she stood there, her entire body covered in black that looked like countless black snakes writhing.

Red hair scattered in the crimson lava, and eyes, one gold and one black, seemed to contain both light and darkness.

Just like when we first met.

"You... it really is you..."

Typhon looked down at the crimson lava, and at his and Novia's reflections within it.

"Yes, I'm here, Typhon."

The girl raised her head and met those unchanging eyes, the depth of which made her heart skip a beat.

The unease or fear swirling in my mind gradually disappeared like an illusion.

Because if you say it, it will definitely come true, no matter how impossible it seems at first glance, it will surely come true miraculously.

Typhon believed this wholeheartedly, and sincerely thought it to be so, as if it were a self-evident truth.

There are no miracles in this world, only inevitability and chance, and how the speaker acts. Sometimes actions become inevitable, and then overlap with chance, making dreams come true. One thing is certain—nothing will happen without desire.

She took a breath naturally, and unconsciously raised her hands, clasping them tightly in front of her chest.

Then, Novia and Typhon silently began to look at each other.

After all, it's been a thousand years since we last met, so there must be a lot to say.

However, the two of them simply gazed at each other silently.

However, this is actually sufficient.

There's no need to do anything deliberately.

For Typhon, being able to stay with Avia like this brings him peace of mind.

That's the same as before... That being said, that being said...

Since that day Issei parted, the world has continued on as before, just as if nothing had ever changed.

In the beginning, Typhon would stand atop the volcano, basking in the warm sunshine, reminiscing about the past, accepting everything, and preparing himself... crying and laughing, accompanied by the quiet cycle of the seasons.

The days of waiting passed by so serenely, almost imperceptibly, bathed in the tranquil sound of the tide and the dazzling sunlight.

Beyond that distant memory, forever and ever.

Suddenly, I realized that when I looked up at the sky without thinking, the vast, blue expanse of the eternally unchanging sky, though not so far away, sometimes stirred up melancholy thoughts. When will I be able to meet it again...?

The scent of the Sun and the tide carried an indescribable warmth, reminding me how long that day had quietly passed.

Another day has passed since you left, and my longing for you only grows stronger.

When Typhon deeply sensed this, he would curl up helplessly and begin to weep.

I'm getting no response anymore, so it's painful.

I wanted to do so much more, to help so much more, I wanted to do everything properly, and I hadn't even had a chance to start yet.

Even though the red-haired girl knew she was completely free and the volcano that had sealed her away had lost its effect, she still refused to leave. She flew towards a place that was vast and distant, wanting to stay there.

Because I can go anywhere, which also means there's nowhere to stay, nowhere I want to go, and nowhere to go back to...

Although I don't know when I'll be able to see you again, I still want to see you together again. If possible, please don't leave me alone again.

Just as Typhon was about to say these words-

" —Typhon Ephimilous."

His call made Typhon swallow her words. She took a breath, her breath held, and clasped her hands tightly to her chest, pressing her lips together as she waited.

For some reason, Typhon knew that Avia was about to say something very unusual.

Novia still had something to do.

Having kept Typhon waiting for so long, I still have some things to say.

"You know what, Typhon? I'm not only good at pursuing people, but I'm also good at finding them."

The silver-haired youth slowly took a step forward, and beneath his feet, only the red lava rippled as he moved forward.

"That's why--"

Novia looked into the red-haired girl's golden and dark eyes, showing no distance or disgust, and continued to smile, "I've come."

"I've come to find you, to take you away. I want you by my side, to spend the rest of my life with me, forever."

The red-haired girl said nothing, only staring wide-open her golden and dark eyes.

She couldn't express it in words, she couldn't describe her feelings.

Because I feel the same way, I also hope to be with you forever... always.

Even though we received a response a thousand years ago, we are still overjoyed.

So, as if driven by this emotion, the red-haired girl moved before she could even speak or think.

Now, the two sides are separated by less than a step. Typhon steps into that distance and reduces it to zero.

Typhon reached out and grabbed Novia's shoulder, as if to prevent him from escaping, and stood on tiptoe, aiming at the location of those lips—