CHAPTER 517: SIDE STORY - THE END (2)

0% “Komerun Philliard.”

“Y-you...”

“You have lost.”

“...”

As Frey emerged from the portal and firmly declared those words, a look of resignation crossed the Magic Tower Master’s face.

“...I sense something extraordinary from you. Not the hollow divinity preached by the Church, but something far more transcendent.”

“Looks like you’ve seen correctly.”

“So this was why Glare was stalling for time...?”

Realizing at last the true reason behind Glare’s delays, the Magic Tower Master let out a deep sigh.

No matter how great an Archmage she was, she could not grasp the workings of a power that transcended the limits of understanding.

“The gods who once ruled this world are long gone.”

“...”

“Are you planning to take their place?”

“That’s not the issue at hand right now, is it?”

The Magic Tower Master’s voice, tinged with enlightenment, faltered at Frey’s unwavering tone.

Outwardly, he appeared the same as before.

But the silver-haired boy standing before her, the portal at his back, radiated an aura of arcane, authority, and even reverence.

“...Hmph.”

Her expression contorted as she began rapidly calculating.

If she refused to accept defeat and poured all her power into resistance...

Could she win?

Not a chance.

The answer was clear—impossible.

With the third world now in a deadlock, completely seizing control was no longer feasible.

Even dealing with the World’s Law—which stood in the distance, watching with a faint smile—was already overwhelming.

Trying to fight Frey, who had awakened divinity in her incomplete state?

Absurd.

Even so... I have no choice but to try.

But the Magic Tower Master was long past the point of turning back.

She had always challenged the impossible, driven by a single, unwavering desire—to see him again.

“Komerun.”

“...”

As she steeled herself for one final battle, preparing to burn every last ounce of her power—

“I have a proposal for you.”

“...What?”

Frey’s calm voice made her pause, the power she had been gathering dissipating in an instant.

“Relinquish all of your power and restore the world to its original state. Then, surrender yourself to hell.”

“...What nonsense—“

But before she could dismiss his words, Frey added,

“In return, I will grant your wish.”

“...!”

An offer she could never refuse.

“I will remind you of what you have forgotten.”

At some point, an old, tattered journal had appeared in Frey’s hands.

A journal with the Magic Tower Master’s real name written on it—one she had discarded long ago.

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“Why did you show mercy?”

“...What?”

In the darkened space where the Magic Tower Master had vanished, only Frey and the World’s Law remained.

“The moment you arrived here, her defeat was inevitable. And yet, you granted her mercy under the guise of a deal.”

Frey turned to look at the World’s Law, who was staring at the spot where the Magic Tower Master had disappeared.

“She was a being who could have collapsed everything.”

“That’s true.”

“Then why did you make that choice?”

A small smile formed on Frey’s lips as he slowly took a step forward.

“From the moment the Star God visited me the day before the coronation, nothing in this world had truly gone wrong.”

“But...”

“Or perhaps... were you intentionally leading things toward this outcome, afraid I might reject divinity?”

“...That’s...”

Hearing those words, the World’s Law hesitated and cast an apologetic gaze toward Frey.

“I didn’t plan this situation, but... in the end, that’s how things turned out.”

“Mm.”

“If you dislike it, I can take it back. You have earned the right to rest.”

Frey gazed at her for a moment before shaking his head.

“No. I need this power.”

“...That’s unexpected. You’ve always talked about wanting to live a peaceful life.”

“Haha.”

Frey chuckled awkwardly, then added with a complicated smile.

“There are too many people I need to protect now.”

“...”

“If I don’t at least become this dimension’s Main God, I won’t feel at ease.”

The World’s Law averted her gaze, murmuring softly.

“...Not just this dimension, I imagine.”

“...What?”

“Never mind.”

She quickly closed her mouth as if she hadn’t spoken at all.

Frey scratched his head and continued walking.

“Well, in any case... it’s true that I showed the Magic Tower Master mercy.”

“I see.”

“After all, with my newfound omniscience, I happened to catch a glimpse of her past.”

He stopped just before stepping through the portal.

“To forget someone... is one of the greatest misfortunes.”

“...”

“She has been sent to hell for her crimes. That is punishment enough.”

“Considering what you secretly arranged for her, I’d say that’s rather generous...”

The World’s Law smiled faintly as she spoke.

“...But I suppose, in its own way, that too is another form of punishment. I’ll overlook it this time.”

Hearing this, Frey returned a quiet smile and turned toward the portal.

“...Huh?”

“This is... the coronation?”

“It seems we’ve returned to the original world.”

As Kania murmured in a dazed voice, the world had already restored itself.

“Kyaa!?”

“S-someone has collapsed...!”

“Th-the Magic Tower Master... and... who’s that demon?”

With bewildered expressions, the heroines rubbed their temples, adjusting to reality.

Next to them, the lifeless bodies of Rifael and the Magic Tower Master lay motionless, their souls having already faded away.

“This is going to be a headache to clean up.”

Half-relieved, half-exhausted, Frey watched the scene unfold before stepping toward the portal—only to pause and turn back.

“...Then, farewell.”

The World’s Law, still wearing Glare’s form, gave him a gentle, wistful smile and waved.

“Why the sudden sentimentality?”

“Well, I have been with you since the first cycle until just recently.”

“...”

“Would it be alright if I stopped by from time to time?”

Frey winced, suddenly recalling the system that had hovered around him for countless lifetimes, constantly popping up with penalty notifications.

He quickly waved his hands in refusal.

“My wives are... incredibly jealous.”

“...”

“I barely got my... ahem, divinity back and finally secured peace. Now, I need to protect it.”

Frey had nearly let his true thoughts slip but stopped himself just in time.

As she watched him disappear into the portal, the World’s Law swallowed the words she had intended to say.

I’m sorry, but...

The owner of the body she was currently borrowing—the only existence equal to Frey at this moment—

...That isn’t something you can simply protect.

There were eyes watching, waiting for the moment she finally reached adulthood.

“...I should at least place some divine protection on him.”

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- Bubble, bubble...

“...”

Thick smoke filled the air, and the acrid stench of sulfur burned her nostrils.

“How dreadful.”

The Magic Tower Master, having just set foot in hell, muttered to herself. Indeed, hell was as wretched a place as one could imagine.

“Save me...”

“Please, just stop...”

“F-forgive me...”

Surrounded by the agonized cries and tortured moans of the damned, the Magic Tower Master walked forward with vacant eyes.

- Swish...

In her grasp was a small journal.

At first glance, it seemed small and ordinary, but the spatial expansion magic embedded within it was incredibly intricate.

A journal truly worthy of a great Archmage.

“Finally... I can...”

On the day she had lost her memories, the front pages of her journal had turned to dust.

But the journal that Frey had given her was intact—without a single damaged page.

Which meant that all the memories she had lost were still perfectly preserved inside.

Even though her soul had fallen into hell, the Magic Tower Master wore an excited expression as she opened the precious relic from her past.

Raikon Year 23, May 7th

I’ve finally found a suitable vessel. A subject capable of executing the magic I seek.

“Huh?”

But soon, she furrowed her brows in confusion.

This time, I must complete the spell before I grow attached.

“That’s strange.”

The content itself wasn’t unusual.

The handwriting was hers.

The use of the old imperial calendar instead of modern dating was also her habit.

And more importantly—she remembered writing this.

“...Why am I seeing the most recent page first?”

The Magic Tower Master, realizing that she was reading the entry from the day she found Glare, suddenly noticed that she had opened the last page of the journal instead of the first.

She had meant to start at the beginning—to find the memories she had lost.

And yet, for some reason, she had skipped straight to the final entry.

- Swish...

“...”

Frowning, she reached toward the first page again— Only to find herself flipping just a few pages ahead.

Raikon Year 9, June 7th

I found something incredible in the Ashen Forest. Could it be a dragon? Unbelievable. I thought all dragons in the empire had been wiped out. Then... could this little one have come from the Western Continent?

At first, she scowled in frustration. But as she read, a small chuckle escaped her lips.

...Perhaps, if I use this creature as a material...

“What nonsense.”

A baby dragon, weakened and whimpering, perhaps attacked by other flying beasts.

At first, she had only seen it as a test subject, a means to achieve her ultimate spell.

But as always, attachment had become a problem.

June 7th

The subject spoke for the first time today. Not particularly cute.

June 12th

The subject refused to eat today. Does this dragon want to starve to death? I am raising a test subject, not raising a child. If it remains uncooperative, I will have to use force.

June 26th

The subject finally ate today. I considered forcing it to comply over the past two weeks,  but I decided to take this chance to study what baby dragons prefer instead. After testing dozens, maybe hundreds of options, I found that—  It really likes bread and milk. What a ridiculous dragon.

Seeing her early efforts to avoid forming an emotional attachment so clearly written in her own handwriting, the Magic Tower Master sighed deeply.

“I should’ve just boiled and eaten her back then.”

Raikon Year 11, March 7th

Today, the subject smiled at me. ...No.  That must have been my imagination. A dragon wouldn’t show affection toward a human.

Raikon Year 11, May 3rd

Lately, the subject keeps following me around. I’ve tried to lose it multiple times, but it even used magic to find me. It’s becoming very annoying.

Raikon Year 11, September 27th

That child keeps climbing onto my back. It’s starting to get on my nerves.

The Magic Tower Master noticed how the journal’s language gradually changed.

At some point, she had stopped calling it a “test subject” and simply referred to it as “that child.”

A bitter expression crossed her face as she turned another page.

Raikon Year 12, November 4th

The child called me Mother today.

Unlike the usual, composed handwriting, this entry was shaky and uneven.

Raikon Year 13, January 2nd

She successfully polymorphed into a human today. But as a result, she lost all memories of being a dragon. I... don’t feel right about this. Losing memories...  I’m sick of it. Even if it’s not me losing them this time.

The shaky handwriting grew worse over the next few entries.

Raikon Year 13, June 1st

Before I grow any more attached, I should send her away. Even as a young girl, she is half-dragon. She’ll survive on her own.

Raikon Year 13, June 6th

I was preparing to send her away, but then—  She asked me for her name. Without thinking, I blurted out a name I’d idly considered for her: Irina. And before I knew it...  I even gave her my long-forgotten surname, Philliard. ...Why did I do that? I must be going mad. I need to say goodbye before I lose myself completely.

By the time the handwriting had become almost unreadable, the Magic Tower Master clicked her tongue and snapped the journal shut.

“...I must’ve been senile.”

Because only a few years later, when Irina returned to the Magic Tower, empty-handed and penniless— She couldn’t bring herself to turn her away.

She told herself over and over that it was only because she needed a test subject.  But in the end, she never laid a hand on her.

Not even when Irina uncovered the truth and abandoned her.

“If I’d known I was going to end up in hell, I should’ve just used her as material.”

She let out a self-deprecating laugh and reopened the journal.

“...”

But soon, her expression hardened.

Rimuel Year 7, May 14th

Two troublesome students have been making a mess at the academy lately. I’m busy with both my research and finding a way to bring him back—I don’t have time for this.

A suffocating sense of dread filled her mind. She felt a powerful urge to slam the journal shut.

Their names were Abraham and Floria, I think. If I leave them alone, this will only become my problem later. I should deal with them before things escalate.

“Ugh...”

Rimuel Year 7, May 15th

I made an unexpected discovery. The boy was a martial artist and of no value, but the girl... She was a miracle. A true Stellar Mage.

Even as her mind screamed for her to stop—

She couldn’t close the journal.

Frey... was this your doing?

And so, she was forced to read on, reliving the mistakes she had long since wished to forget.

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Rimuel Year 11, May 15th

Those two brats are getting married. They’re both a damn nuisance.

Rimuel Year 13, May 19th

Floria is pregnant. So I have no choice but to give her an extended leave.

Rimuel Year 13, September 7th

Floria asked me to be her child’s godmother. Of course, I refused outright. I know better than anyone that I am not worthy of such a role.

Rimuel Year 13, September 8th

Floria sent me the expected due date. Why does she keep bothering me like this? Do assistants normally cling to their professors this much?

The Magic Tower Master’s resolve to use Floria as an experimental subject had gradually weakened over the years.

And it wasn’t long before her research began to falter.

She had deliberately turned her gaze away from Floria—the most promising medium she had ever found.

Instead, she started looking elsewhere.

Her hands began to reach into the underworld.

She started experimenting on violent criminals and death row prisoners.

At first, she told herself it was morally unacceptable to use a valuable medium like Floria.

But the dark experiments she had hoped to finish in a single attempt soon became routine.

Rimuel Year 17, December 8th

I need more subjects. More mediums. More resources.

By then, she had already begun justifying herself.

Yes, she had crossed a forbidden line—a realm that no mage should ever touch.

But at least she was only experimenting on criminals and the condemned.

It was a flimsy excuse, but it allowed her to continue her research.

Rimuel Year 18, February 3rd

Two warlocks visited my chambers unannounced. They made me an offer in secret. If I agreed to share some of my research, they would ensure a steady supply of criminals and death row inmates. Their words were casual, but in truth, they were offering to fund my research. It took me far too long to realize how skilled they were. They even showed me the seal of House Justiano—  meaning they had solid backing. I need to consider this carefully.

Rimuel Year 18, February 5th

I accepted their offer. It’s done. This means I can finally abandon the idea of using Floria. I made up my mind the moment I saw the son she gave birth to today. His name was Frey, I believe. In the end, quantity over quality. I should consider using multiple mediums at once instead of just one.

And when she chose to expand her supply of criminals instead of experimenting on Floria— It was already too late.

No. No, no, no, no—

This must be a dream. It has to be a dream. Please...

I didn’t mean for this to happen. I swear. I never intended—

Torn pages, filled only with frantic, illegible scribbles, appeared before her.

Cold sweat trickled down the Magic Tower Master’s forehead.

My research killed her. The first apprentice who ever made me doubt my work. The one who never lost her smile, the one who was the light to everyone around her. Because of my arrogant decision to pursue research in her name.  Because of the wretched justification I clung to. She died in such a horrifying way. I don’t even have the strength to hold my pen anymore. It’s time for me to erase the most disgusting creature in the world—myself.

The pages reeked of regret, and she clenched her eyes shut.

...Abraham just contacted me. The magic circle he sent is too complex for me to understand. But I should be able to copy it into a scroll, like transcription magic. Delivering this to him...  will be my final task.

As soon as she reached the last page, the compulsion spell was lifted.

Shutting her eyes tight, the Magic Tower Master muttered in a trembling voice.

“...So this was it.”

After giving Abraham that unknown scroll, she had been the first to have her memories rewritten by Frey.

“Frey, you...”

Her body shook violently as she gritted her teeth.

“...You knew everything I did... and still forgave me?”

Along with the scroll, she had given Abraham a letter containing the truth behind it all.

And yet, Frey and Abraham had simply erased her memories rather than making her pay for it.

“...”

She didn’t even have the strength to speak anymore.

With clenched teeth, the Magic Tower Master staggered forward.

“For what, exactly, did I...”

She had been ready to upend the world just to see him again. But never had she felt such a hollow sense of self-loathing as she did now.

“...Floria.”

Had Floria not been brought back to life, the Magic Tower Master might have torn the journal to shreds right then and there.

“I’m... sorry...”

Her own self-justifications disgusted her.

Collapsing in misery, she groaned.

“...Ugh...”

Her legs carried her toward the deepest part of hell.

A place where the worst sinners— those who committed the gravest atrocities— were sent to suffer for eternity.

And before she knew it, the entrance was right before her eyes.

“I will atone... I swear it.”

Muttering through gritted teeth, she forced herself to stand.

- Crackle...

No—she wasn’t forcing herself.

The journal in her hand... was forcing her forward.

- Swish...

“...Even now, I have no choice in the matter?”

Her body moved against her will as she flipped another page.

“...!”

The exhausted Magic Tower Master looked down at herself.

And her eyes went wide.

“W-what...?”

Her aged, frail body—

Had returned to its twenty-year-old self.

“...What... is this?”

Weighed down by the sinister energy of hell, her body ached— But her confusion at what was happening to her body was greater.

Richard Year 3, April 12th

Today, I found a child in the forest. What a strange coincidence, that I would find someone like this on the very day I decided to keep a journal.

And as she read, she realized— she had flipped to the very first page.

His name is Hank Dimer. What an awfully rustic name.

A hundred years ago— When she had still used magic to maintain her youth.

Back when she was not yet a revered Archmage,

But a witch, hunted by the empire.

As the Magic Tower Master’s memories flooded back, her vision swam with the distant past.