Uesugi Tetsu and Imagawa Yoshimoto witnessed the final sunset of her life together.
When he turned his head again, the glimmer in Imagawa Yoshimoto's black eyes had already vanished.
Vanished forever.
Her departure was the exact opposite of her arrival—silent and soundless.
Imagawa Yoshimoto's hands still rested lightly on the dusty stone bricks, motionless. Even the faintly blowing cold wind could still lift the tips of her hair.
The young girl's face retained a faintly unsatisfied smile and a trace of regret, perhaps along with something else. Uesugi Tetsu hadn't looked closely.
He only knew that there wasn't the slightest trace of fear or terror on that face—not even though Imagawa Yoshimoto had kept saying how frightening it was.
She hadn't feared it. Instead, she had embraced death.
Uesugi Tetsu had witnessed her become one of the World's People, and he had also witnessed the death of the first such person in this chaotic age.
"She abandoned the last shred of hope for life, all for this fleeting moment as one of the World's People."
Uesugi Tetsu didn't ask whether it had been worth it. He merely sighed slowly.
"Imagawa Yoshimoto, you really are... unchanged from beginning to end."
Spiritual Power surged from within Uesugi Tetsu, slightly distorting the surrounding light and blocking the countless gazes directed at them from every side.
He drew the girl's body, still retaining its warmth, into his arms. With one hand, he brushed aside her hair and lowered his head to gently kiss her forehead. Then he pressed his forehead against hers and closed her eyes.
"I was lucky to have witnessed you."
Uesugi Tetsu could vaguely sense that, beginning at that instant, some indescribable change had occurred in his Heart Embryo.
Had it become perfect, or had it simply been completed? Or had