“......”

Velkat couldn’t answer.

The boy didn’t know who he was. Not even that he had been the one trying to destroy the forest just moments ago.

Of course he wouldn’t.

The villain who had tried to destroy the forest had been a devil in black armor.

But standing here now was a disheveled, middle-aged man on the brink of collapse, with hair half-turned white.

Tattered and broken.

Now incapable of doing anything.

Just a man.

Velkat spoke with a mixture of sorrow and joy on his face—an expression that seemed like a smile and a cry at the same time.

“This man... is someone who wants to help you.”

“You want to help me?”

“Yes. Tell me anything you want.”

The child asked cautiously.

“Then... can you find my friend?”

“Your friend, you say?”

“Yes. A friend I really want to meet, but I can’t.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“Where there are lots of people. I always watched them. But that’s all I could ever do.”

The boy said he had been waiting here all this time—for his friend.

Hoping that one day they’d meet again.

“I see. That must’ve been hard.”

Velkat smiled gently, a softness never usually seen on his face.

“I’ll help you. I’ll bring your friend.”

“Really? I’ll get to see them?”

“Of course. Could you wait for me near that white wall for a little while? I’ll bring them to you soon.”

“Promise?”

The boy stared at him with those pure, waterdrop-like eyes.

Velkat couldn’t meet that gaze.

He turned his eyes away, weighed down by guilt and anguish.

“This man always keeps his promises.”

Whoosh—

The boy’s face lit up at those words.

Following Velkat’s instructions, he ran off toward the mist wall—his small steps tapping lightly over the earth.

And as he ran, he turned back to shout toward Velkat.

“I’ll wait! Promise!”

“...Yes. Promise.”

Velkat waved once toward the boy, then turned slowly toward the direction of the forward base.

“It won’t take long.”

The sensation in his limbs was starting to fade.

It was a sign.

A warning that life was coming to an end.

A cry that he could stall no further.

It’s easier to walk this way, I suppose.

But Velkat didn’t care.

Now that the pain enveloping his entire body was gone, walking had become easier.

He walked through the silent forest path.

The rustling of fallen leaves beneath his feet sounded strangely familiar.

The forest of the Kasarr Basin was strange.

At first glance, it looked like no other forest on the continent—but the longer one looked, the more it gave a sense of déjà vu.

Even now, it was the same.

Velkat was walking through the woods he used to run through with his childhood friends.

Was he walking through the present—

Or through memories of the past?

Was this an illusion born of guilt?

Or the flashing visions of life before death?

Whatever it was, it didn’t matter.

He would give this life away without hesitation.

But just a little longer. Just a little more time.

Time for his dearest friends to be saved.

—Ahaha!

—Wait for me!

The echoes of children passed by Velkat’s side.

He looked at their backs with eyes full of memory.

Three children, all familiar.

The bright blonde girl running ahead—Isabella.

The brown-haired boy at her side—Lesley.

And trailing behind them—a boy who was himself in childhood.

—Velkat’s last again!

Isabella reached out and slapped the trunk of a towering tree as she shouted.

—You two are just too fast.

Velkat brushed past the illusion beneath the tree.

The forest’s mystery gave him a strange experience.

The vision melted away like watercolor touched by water, fading into a new scene.

He was eleven.

The three of them were learning magic together.

Isabella, always the first to break into a sweat, managed to summon a sphere of mana into her palm.

Lesley succeeded shortly after.

The two of them celebrated, then turned to watch Velkat with nervous anticipation.

Velkat, responding to their expectations, focused deeply and finally conjured mana.

When he succeeded at last, Isabella and Lesley jumped for joy on the spot.

—Wow! You did it!

—Congrats, Velkat! But you were still the last again!

Young Velkat gave a sheepish smile at Isabella’s teasing grin.

The old Velkat now passed by that memory with a faint, self-mocking smile.

The past shown by the forest was vivid—far too vivid.

Even the smallest details, ones hard to recall, were perfectly re-created.

But Velkat wasn’t surprised by it.

Because he remembered everything from that moment. The forest didn’t need to remind him.

To Velkat, Lesley and Isabella were dear friends.

No—at some point, it had become more than that.

Though the three had always been together, Velkat had quietly harbored feelings for Isabella.

He’d once told himself that when he became someone he could be proud of, he would confess.

The scenery shifted again.

In the backyard of a building, the adult Velkat stood stiffly, nerves visible on his face.

In his hand was a letter from Isabella.

She had asked to meet him privately—what did she want to say?

He tried not to think too much, but a small hope flickered—Could she...?

He ran through what to say.

Should I tell her I’ve liked her for a long time? No, too cliché. Maybe it’s better not to make it obvious? But what if she’s disappointed?

—Lesley. You waited?

—Isabella.

Then she arrived—and delivered a truth that struck like a blow.

—Hey. Lesley confessed to me.

“......”

Velkat fell silent.

He had known, deep down, that Lesley had feelings for her too.

But he hadn’t expected that dense fool to confess first.

Even more shocking was Isabella’s reaction.

She looked embarrassed—but couldn’t hide her joyful smile.

Velkat felt like his chest had been torn apart.

—Why... tell me this...?

—Because we’re friends. But if Lesley and I become more than that... I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to stay the same.

Velkat felt his body go cold.

Like an anchor sinking into the depths, he felt himself being dragged under.

Why are you telling me this?

Why him—not me?

I’ve liked you all this time...

—That’s ridiculous. What are you talking about?

And then, as if on instinct, he said something completely at odds with his heart.

—That’s great news. Really.

—Really?

—Of course. Isabella, did you think something like that would ruin our friendship? I’m disappointed in you.

—Hehe... Sorry. I just thought maybe you...

—I’m fine. In fact, I’m glad. You two have always looked great together. Congratulations.

—Really?!

Naive, pure Isabella had taken those words at face value.

—Thank you, Velkat! You’re the best friend!

Even after she left, Velkat stood rooted to the spot, unable to move.

That had been his first—and last—heartbreak.

Now, as an older man, Velkat looked back at that memory and smiled bitterly.

“...Yeah. I was always late.”

Always.

No courage, no resolve. Just too damn slow.

—And yet, you waited for me.

You waited.

You cheered me on.

You held my hand and led me.

A debt too great to ever repay.

“That’s why... now it’s my turn to lead.”

Rustle.

Velkat raised his blurred gaze forward.

There stood a man.

The man he had just been fighting to the death.

“John Doe.”

Velkat gave a pale, bitter smile.

“No... Ludger Cherish, is it?”

“......”

“Congratulations on your victory. If you made it all the way here alone... you must’ve come to finish me off.”

Velkat steadied his breath, ragged and trembling.

“But I’m already dying. You don’t need to waste the effort.”

No use pretending to be strong.

He was wrecked, broken. Unable to use any magic.

The fact that he was even still alive was a miracle in itself.

“That’s why I ask you—step aside. I still have something left to do.”

“...Is it for a greater cause—or is it something deeply personal?”

Velkat didn’t ask why Ludger posed the question.

Instead, he closed his eyes and answered.

“...It’s something deeply personal. And selfish.”

His tone made it clear he was prepared to accept it if the man in front of him lashed out or cursed him for committing such madness for personal reasons.

“I see.”

But Ludger showed no such reaction.

He simply nodded, as if he understood, then quietly stepped aside.

Velkat was briefly confused by the gesture—until he saw the child who had been standing behind Ludger’s back.

“...Isabella.”

A small girl with golden-blonde hair.

The same girl who had once run through the forest with him was standing before his eyes again.

Young Isabella looked up at Ludger with a wary gaze.

It was as if she were silently asking, Do I really follow this man?

Ludger simply gave her a nod.

With careful steps, Isabella approached Velkat and opened her tiny mouth.

“Mister... That man said... you could help me find my friend.”

Velkat spoke in a trembling voice.

“That’s right. In fact, I was just on my way to find you... because your friend asked me to.”

“Really? My friend is...?”

“Lesley.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t even said the name.

“He’s waiting over there.”

Velkat slowly raised his hand, pointing back along the path he had come.

“Shall we go... together?”

Isabella nodded without a word.

Velkat carefully reached out his hand toward her.

A calloused, battered hand.

And atop it, a small, pale-white hand gently came to rest.

Velkat held onto Isabella’s hand and guided her forward.

He walked silently, retracing his steps exactly.

Toward the mist barrier visible not far ahead.

There was so much he wanted to say.

That he was sorry. That he had loved her.

He wanted to pour everything out through tears.

But he couldn’t.

The man Isabella and Lesley remembered no longer existed.

What stood here now was a high-ranking officer of a secret organization. A mass murderer. A criminal deserving of scorn.

And soon, just a fading villain whose life was about to be extinguished.

So he said nothing, walking quietly, determined only to bring Isabella to her destination.

Now and then, Isabella looked up at Velkat and seemed to want to speak.

But when she saw the resolute look on his face, she could sense the weight behind it—and said nothing.

At last, the two arrived.

Seated on a small stump, the young Lesley spotted them and smiled brightly.

“Isabella!”

“Lesley!”

Isabella let go of Velkat’s hand and ran toward Lesley.

The two children grasped each other’s hands and spun in circles, laughing in joy.

Beyond them, the hole in the mist barrier was slowly beginning to close.

“Kids. There’s not much time.”

Velkat stepped closer and spoke to his old friends.

“If you stay here any longer... you won’t be able to leave again. This is your chance. See that path? Go through there now.”

The children looked up at him, stunned.

Then they bowed their heads.

“Thank you.”

“......”

“It’s thanks to you we could finally meet again.”

“...Yes. That makes me very happy. Now go. If you stay... something bad will happen.”

“Mister, can I ask one more thing?”

“What is it?”

“We have another friend. His name is Velkat. We can’t leave without him.”

“......”

Velkat’s lips began to tremble.

But the children didn’t notice his reaction.

“Can you find him too?”

“...That friend... isn’t here.”

“No. We know he is. Velkat’s here, with us.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because he’s our friend.”

Friend.

Velkat opened his mouth, then shut it. Again. And again.

Eventually, he steeled himself and replied.

“That friend... he won’t come for you. He wants you to leave. Because he’s a bad person now.”

“No, he’s not! Velkat is a good friend!”

Isabella suddenly shouted, indignant.

Like a child throwing a tantrum.

“He’s definitely waiting for us too!”

“No. I know he’s not. That boy... he’s already forgotten you. He’s forgotten, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) I tell you.”

“Liar! How would you know that?!”

“Because...”

Because the friend you’re looking for is standing right in front of you.

Because I’m that boy.

Velkat felt his chest tighten. He thought his eyes had dried long ago—but now they welled with tears.

But no. He couldn’t let that happen.

The Velkat they were looking for was not this man.

“...There’s no time for this. Go—before the door closes.”

“No! Not without our friend!”

“......”

Velkat bit down on his lip.

He spoke in a voice that was nearly a sob.

“Go... If you wait any longer, you’ll be trapped here. Forever...”

“Still no! Not without Velkat!”

“I said—GO!”

His sudden shout made both Isabella and Lesley flinch.

Tears welled in their eyes.

Velkat twisted his face, guilt and sorrow eating away at him.

Then he drew in a long breath—and forced a gentle smile onto his face.

To ease their fear.

“...I’m sorry I yelled.”

“You’re mean.”

“I’m sorry. I was just in a hurry. Then let’s do this—let’s make a promise.”

“A promise?”

“Yes. A promise. I’ll bring your friend. I promise. So please, go through that door first and wait for me.”

“......”

Isabella and Lesley didn’t answer right away.

Velkat kept his tone calm and his smile warm.

“I promise.”

Yes. A promise.

No matter where you go.

No matter how far away that place may be.

I’ll find you again.

“Can you grant this man’s last request?”