14. Epilogue

‘Yes.’

Kana bit her lip. They only had one chance. The situation required perfect coordination between a skilled spirit summoner and mage working as one—they had to leave it to luck.

Instead of dodging like in the previous round, they decided to stand their ground and face it, which meant they could die entangled with the magic dragon if they failed. In a way, they were burning their bridges.

‘……I’ll have to trust Kiriel, myself, and the spirits.’

She manipulated wind spirit arts to gather the rising smoke and prevent it from spreading.

Her brown hair fluttered in the fierce whirling wind while the hem of her long skirt billowed.

As all the smoke finished leaving Elina’s body, Kana shouted to Kyle.

“Duke Dekrom, move back now!”

“……Alright.”

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Kyle followed her instructions without argument. As he swiftly retreated while carrying Elina, his knight escorts moved with him.

After confirming their movement, Kana stomped her foot hard. Earth walls rose slightly like a fence surrounding the protagonists, and the stone path under the gathered smoke turned to soft soil.

Kiriel seized the opportunity to cast fixing magic and enhancement magic. The mana flowing from his fingertips carved magic circles into the soft ground.

[Yap!]

Celia, with her cheeks fully puffed up, exhaled forcefully. The spirit’s wind disturbed the energy contained in the smoke, preventing it from taking form.

As the wind-trapped smoke condensed into a sphere, Kiriel raised his hand holding the monster-sealing magic tool.

“Kana, I’m throwing it now.”

“Yes!”

Kana put more power into her spirit arts. The translucent gray cube that left his hand traced a parabola and touched the condensed smoke. The cube split in half and opened, sucking in the smoke.

‘Please succeed!’

She stared intently at the cube with sweaty palms.

When the smoke completely disappeared, the closed cube dropped to the ground with a thud. Black smoke rippled inside the translucent gray cube.

While Kana caught her breath, Kiriel picked up the cube and muttered dazedly.

“……This actually worked?”

“Fortunately we succeeded. It was possible because our coordination was good.”

Kana’s outstretched hands slowly lowered. Kiriel approached her while holding the cube.

“Yeah, you really did well.”

“You too. Oh right, we sealed it but how should we handle this cube?”

“It’s too risky to just destroy it. That ‘thing’ we sealed might break free again.”

While they put their heads together to think, suddenly navy clouds and a notification text appeared in the sky.

〈Please throw the sealed being into the gap in the sky.〉

Celia, who noticed the phenomenon first, alerted her contractor.

[Kana, look at the sky.]

Kana immediately turned her eyes skyward upon hearing the spirit’s voice. Kiriel’s gaze followed hers. She pointed at the sky with her finger.

“Kiriel, those navy clouds seem to be the gap in the sky mentioned in the text.”

“Yeah, looks like we have to throw it there.”

Kiriel aimed at the navy clouds and threw the cube with all his might. The navy clouds swallowed the magic tool containing the smoke-form magic dragon and vanished. The floating text disappeared along with it.

At the same time, the collapsed Elina opened her eyes. Kyle let out a relieved sigh.

“Elina, you’re awake.”

“……Kyle? Just a moment.”

Startled, Elina broke free from Kyle’s arms and staggered toward her neighbor couple.

“Miss Kana, Mr. Kiriel!”

“Miss Elina, you’re awake.”

Kana’s voice turned gentle. Elina nodded slowly and carefully asked while reading their expressions.

“Yes. Has everything been resolved now?”

“That’s right. Fortunately we succeeded without returning to the initial state. You didn’t hear any strange voices when you woke up like before, right?”

“……No.”

Elina slowly nodded. The loud, muffled screaming that always accompanied her revival from death wasn’t there this time.

Kana gently patted the back of the dazed-looking female protagonist.

“We all escaped safely together.”

“……Yes, thank you.”

Elina reflexively bowed her head and unexpectedly began to sob. It was understandable given how much she had been through.

Kana placed her hand on her shaking shoulders and whispered kindly.

“Miss Elina, you’ve been through so much.”

“No, you two went through more than me.”

Elina wiped her tears with her sleeve and smiled hazily. Kyle and his knight escorts could only stand awkwardly watching, unable to interrupt their bond.

At that moment, a pitch-black door appeared slightly apart from them, followed by white text.

〈Would you like to exit the novel?

Yes/No〉

This time it was complete text without being cut off.

When Kana and Kiriel’s gazes fixed on the suddenly appearing door, Elina, sensing their farewell, asked in a slightly trembling voice.

“……Are you leaving now?”

“Ah, does it look that way?”

Perhaps it was this world’s consideration to allow final goodbyes. Elina was still moving in the frozen time and space. Though the situation was different, it was similar to Kiriel’s case. Her eyes narrowed as the female protagonist carefully nodded.

“Yes.”

“Good intuition.”

Kiriel shrugged. At the answer that was as good as confirmation, Elina slowly caught her breath and gazed steadily at the two.

After her lips quivered for a while, words finally flowed out.

“……Thank you for helping me escape the repeating cycle.”

“Not at all. Now that the situation is resolved, I hope only happiness lies ahead for you, Miss Elina.”

Kana sincerely wished for the female protagonist’s happiness. Elina responded with a smile so bright it was dazzling.

“You two must always stay healthy and happy too.”

“Yes.”

As they finished talking and were about to turn around, the female protagonist hesitantly asked a question.

“Um, what choice do you think I should make?”

“Follow your heart, but choose what you’ll regret least.”

Kana advised Elina toward the better direction without hesitation. There was no need to force the protagonists together, and the mission was already complete.

Elina smiled softly at her neighbor who helped kindly until the very end.

“……Thank you for the advice. Then goodbye.”

“Yes.”

After responding to the female protagonist, Kana looked at Kiriel. He nodded after waiting for the women’s conversation to finish.

The two chose ‘Yes’ simultaneously and stepped through the pitch-black door while holding hands firmly.

They and the door vanished from the spot, enveloped in pure white light.

* * *

The scenery changed in an instant. To a bright full moon night, in front of the fountain in the central plaza of the Aidel Empire’s capital.

Everything was still frozen. Kiriel spoke while looking around.

“Seems we’re back in our original world for now……”

“Somehow it doesn’t feel like the situation is completely resolved.”

“Yeah.”

Kiriel furrowed his brows. As they wandered around the fountain feeling vaguely uneasy, a familiar voice struck their backs.

“It’s been a while. You must have worked hard resolving the trial.”

The two turned around reflexively. A gray cloth doll that had appeared unnoticed was floating in the air giggling. Kana’s eyes narrowed.

“……Head Librarian?”

“Correct.”

The Head Librarian’s voice was bright and crisp as always. Kiriel stood askew and held out his hand.

“As you can see, we completed the mission, so when do we get the reward?”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll settle it now. First, Kiriel’s existence will be maintained. And Round…… no, Kana will be arranged to settle in this world with her contracted spirits.”

When the gray cloth doll’s hand fluttered, a translucent yellow star rating window appeared before Kana’s eyes. The star rating number rose steadily from 120,000 to 160,000 points before the window shattered.

She had heard this phenomenon occurs when breaking free from being a supporting character to settle in a specific world. What she had long yearned for was becoming reality before her eyes. She teared up from overwhelming emotion.

“Ah, finally……”

[Kana, sincere congratulations on being freed from being a supporting character.]

‘Thanks.’

[Now we can all stay together forever. I’m so happy.]

‘Me too.’

Kana hugged the spirits and jumped up and down crying. The Head Librarian quietly disappeared from the spot, leaving the two people and spirits.

When Kana stopped jumping and slowly caught her breath, Kiriel came close with a handkerchief and gently wiped her eyes.

“Things worked out well, why are you crying.”

“……Because I’m too happy. I can hardly believe this situation. Is this really reality?”

Kana blinked while gently caressing his face with both hands. A soft smile spread across his handsome face bathed in moonlight.

“Of course.”

“Thank you for staying with me until the end of this difficult journey.”

“I was able to endure in ‘Flower of Aidel’ because of you too, Kana.”

Kiriel tucked her hair behind her ear and naturally caressed her cheek. Her heart ached at his words and she unconsciously let words slip out.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Kiriel embraced her. Kana murmured in a small voice in his firm yet cozy arms.

“We can stay together from now on.”

“Of course. Even if you try to leave, I’ll never let you go.”

Kiriel whispered softly in her ear. Kana burst into clear laughter at his cute threat.

“Oh my, I’ll have to be careful.”

“And remember that I’m yours too.”

Kiriel retorted playfully. They released their embrace and faced each other. As he naturally bent down, Kana closed her eyes and loosely wrapped her arms around his neck.

Kiriel kissed her forehead, the bridge of her nose, and lips in order. Behind them as they spent their sweet time together, the frozen fountain’s water streams fell and rose again.

The frozen time and space regained vitality. It was a fantastic night.