Chapter 386 - Side Story 34

Academy Survival Guide – Side Story 34: Chasing Butterflies (11)

"You were alive."

That was the first thing Yennekar Palerover said as she stood from the altar.

Lucy Mayreel, who was said to have died, had survived. She was simply acknowledging that fact.

However, the Yennekar Palerover that Lucy Mayreel knew would have acted more surprised, asked about what happened, or even said something of concern.

Now, she was simply acknowledging the fact that Lucy was alive.

The Yennekar Palerover standing before Lucy Mayreel was not the same one she knew. That much was obvious from her appearance alone. The coldness in her emotionless voice felt like a sharpened blade.

The cold gaze she had as she looked down at Lucy from the altar didn't feel like her usual fairytale-like warmth and comfort. After surviving in that cold and brutal reality for a long time, the warmth from before had been lost.

Acken Island had completely fallen under her grasp, and she reigned as queen of that hell.

She had long white hair that fell loose down her back. Underneath her hair, Lucy could see a dark red wand. It was worn out, as if it had been used for some time. It was the same wand Ed Rothstaylor had used when he was alive.

Even the way Yennekar held that keepsake, which must have been her most precious treasure, felt strangely different.

"…I wondered if you were alive."

Yennekar stood up as she spoke coldly. Lucy didn't expect her to say that. The Lucy Mayreel of that world had died. Lortel had told her that. However, Yennekar had remained suspicious about whether Lucy had truly died.

"After I decided to turn Acken Island into a sanctuary, I couldn't find Ed's body despite searching every corner of the island."

Ed Rothstaylor had been executed by Prince Lindon's forces in Silvenia Academy's square. That meant his body had to be somewhere on the island.

But Yennekar Palerover couldn't find it.

"You took Ed's body, didn't you?" Lucy looked up at Yennekar with blank eyes, just like usual. "The fact that you're alive proves all of my suspicions. The number of people that can hide on this island for so long without being caught…there aren't many."

"I…don't know anything."

Only then did Yennekar Palerover feel as if something was strange. There wasn't a single speck of sadness in Lucy's eyes. She simply looked up at her like usual, with those drowsy, blank eyes.

"Give me Ed. This altar…will become his final resting place."

"I told you. I don't know anything."

"Why are you lying?"

"I'm not." Lucy calmly told the truth. Whether or not Yennekar would believe her was another matter. "I'm…not even from this world. I happened to be dragged here."

Yennekar was silent.

"I want to go back to my original world, but I need the power of the altar to do that. I can't go back unless I can recover my magic power." From Lucy's point of view, it was hard to say such things. However, she continued calmly, "Get out of the way."

Yennekar glared at Lucy quietly. Ed Rothstaylor's death changed many things in that world. Yennekar would know as well, since she was close to them—she knew just how much Ed Rothstaylor meant to Lucy Mayreel.

Nevertheless, she continued to talk to Yennekar in a calm and casual manner. The girl had never lost Ed Rothstaylor. Intuitively realizing that fact, Yennekar titled her head. Maybe what Lucy was saying was true. Otherwise, there's no way she could act as if nothing had happened.

Lucy had nothing more to say as she looked back at Yennekar. Yennekar looked devastated. Ed had been taken from her, and with him, all meaning in her world—yet the Lucy standing before her had never lost him.

How did Yennekar feel? Was it jealousy, sadness, or perhaps anger?

Yennekar lifted her head. There was a strange feeling around her for some reason… But her response was brief.

"…I see."

Lucy assumed the worst and thought that a battle would take place. Unexpectedly, when Lucy said she wanted to go back, Yennekar only trembled.

Lucy didn't want that situation.

Just looking at Yennekar, she could tell that something was wrong. She knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to lower her guard, no matter what…

"Tell me one thing."

Yennekar stepped down from the altar, quietly speaking. The wind blew by, scattering the ash in the air.

Yennekar had a depressed expression on her face as she asked, "Where you're from. Is Ed happy there?"

It was simple question, one filled with emotion. Lucy couldn't hastily answer her. After thinking about what to say in response, she concluded that there was no way to answer her perfectly.

Lucy just nodded her head a few times.

Yennekar closed her eyes slowly. She was saying that it was okay to pass her by. Lucy pressed on her hat as she walked toward the altar. The strong wind at the top of the mountain made her hair and torn clothes flutter.

However, she continued to trudge her petite body forward.

That was it. From Lucy's point of view, everything worked out well. She just needed to go past Yennekar, who wasn't stopping her, then use the remains of Tyrcalaques at the altar to observe the other worlds and call for help. Yennekar wouldn't stop Lucy. She had said it herself.

Walking past Yennekar, Lucy looked back for a moment.

The gloomy sky was filled with layers of a magic circle made by the grief-stricken Yennekar. She had summoned Friede alongside countless other spirits, trying to erase all of the remaining life on the island.

Yennekar stood alone on the mountain, but none of this mattered. It was a story of a different world.

Lucy took out the remains of Tyrcalaques from her pocket. Magic power soon began to slowly flow from the small, marble-shaped artifact. She closed her eyes gently as she felt the magic power assimilating with her.

A normal magician wouldn't have been able to handle such magic power, but Lucy had always been capable of using a large amount of magic power without difficulty.

The Substitute Altar wasn't able to fully process all of the magic power in the remains, but there was enough for Lucy to absorb. As she felt the magic power enter her body, Lucy slowly turned her head.

Behind her, Yennekar looked the same as before.

"I envy you."

Did she have eyes on the back of her head?

While looking out at Acken Island, which was nearing its end, Yennekar spoke to Lucy quietly.

"Ed is waiting for you in your world. But I have my own work to do here."

Lucy tried to say something in response but stopped. She simply closed her eyes. In order for Lucy to get to the altar, many had to be sacrificed.

Lucy was their last hope. She was the last person who could somehow recover Yennekar, who had been consumed by grief and darkness.

But in the end, even if it was coldhearted, it had nothing to do with Lucy. It was only right to leave things as they were.

Lucy continued to tell herself that it was right. The correct and rational answer was to leave things as they were.

Lucy had a place to go back to. A place where the person who meant the world to her was still alive.

And that boy had lived as difficult a life as Lucy had.

He was abandoned by his house, yet he had a determined expression on his face as he overcame any hardship or trial that came his way, no matter how painful it was.

He accepted Lucy, who was always lying around lazily,

He was never jealous of her talent and blessings, nor did he ever wish for anything more than necessary. He simply stayed by Lucy's side without any ill intent, focused on his own goals.

Whenever she missed him, she closed her eyes and remembered sitting next to him at the camp late at night in front of the campfire. Like always, he was cleaning the equipment he needed to survive another day.

What Lucy had learned from him was the desire to survive. A tenacity and drive to never give up on surviving—no matter what.

Lucy loved his mindset and attitude.

He was like the opposite of Lucy, who ran away from everything and tried to live as futile and empty a life as she could.

Lucy may have not realized it herself…but her values had changed over time. Solitude and emptiness, which she had been living with her entire life, had been replaced with something more important.

"I don't understand you. Just like you don't understand me." Lucy's voice became more powerful.

Yennekar also quickly noticed how Lucy's voice had changed. There was now a sense of determination in her tone. Yennekar made way for Lucy Mayreel because, ironically, she understood Lucy better than anyone else.

Lucy would naturally want to return home to Ed. More than anything else, the most important thing for Lucy was to regain her magic power and go back to Ed. There was no way she would use her limited magic power for something else.

Lucy couldn't afford to stand in the way of Yennekar, either. Yennekar was well aware of how much Ed meant to Lucy, and she knew that Lucy would never give him up.

Yet the first thing she did when she recovered her magic power was send all of the nearby spirits flying away.

Booom!

Fwoosh!

The Ultimate Electric Magic, Divine Judgment.

After Lucy had recovered her magic power, she cast a powerful lightning bolt that obliterated the nearby spirits into nothing. Gathering more magic power, she jumped down from the altar. She stood up tall, right in front of Yennekar.

Instead of going home, she stepped back. That was Lucy's choice.

"You…"

The strong wind passed as Lucy looked up, fixing her dirty and worn-out clothes.

"I can tell just by looking at you, Lucy. You're not in a state where you can waste magic power like that. Right now…do you actually think you can stop me?"

"That's for me to worry about."

"Why would you do this?"

Yennekar's face was stained with pain. Letting Lucy pass tore Yennekar's heart to pieces. Despite feeling a storm of emotions while looking at Lucy, who hadn't lost Ed, she chose what was right and let her pass.

What was lost was lost forever.

The Ed of that world was waiting for one thing—Lucy Mayreel.

Knowing that fact, she overcame her emotions and let Lucy pass. She only had one job to do herself.

However, after Lucy recovered her magic power… She didn't go back. Instead, she stood in Yennekar's way.

"Magic power is something that I'll somehow manage to eventually recover."

Even if she ran out of magic power, she could still recover it one day. The side effects of the Phoenix Ring wouldn't last forever. Even if it took years… She would eventually come up with some way to go back home.

Ed wouldn't give up on Lucy after just a few years either. Because of that faith in him, she was able to do what she felt was right.

Yennekar simply couldn't comprehend Lucy's decision. For Lucy, the world must have felt like a terrible hell. She would want to leave as soon as possible. Nevertheless, she continued to get in Yennekar's way despite her injuries and lack of magic power.

"Running away here, as if I don't know anything, would be an insult to the man who gave me life."

The world was full of people struggling to survive. There were also many people who helped Lucy get there, despite risking their own lives.

All of them had only one purpose.

Survival.

As the wind passed by, Lucy pressed down on her hat as she lowered her head. Just like the way Yennekar was different from what Lucy knew…

Lucy was different from what Yennekar knew.

You couldn't tell from a glance, but after all the time they spent together… Yennekar could clearly tell.

"Everyone who tries their best to survive deserves respect."

"You…"

The wind continued to pick up as her eyes glowed. The girl who was once empty—who was the one who gave her such new, profound values?

The way she stood there resolute, despite the strong winds, made her look like someone else in Yennekar's memory…

Was she mistaken because she longed for him?

That girl was given a lot. She was given a life, a reason to live, and a newfound value to live by.

And to live by that value, she had to become a hero.

A whirlwind of magic power began to form.

Due to the strength of the whirlwind, the ash covering Right Mountain began to rise high into the night sky.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 35: Chasing Butterflies (12)

"Lucy, if you want to leave the mansion, you can be honest with me."

She suddenly remembered the sight of that man sitting on the mansion roof and looking up at the starry sky. It was the day Lucy had run away from the maids and been found asleep there.

Such strange timing. Why did that have to come to Lucy's mind right then, of all times? As soon as Lucy gathered magic power in her hands, Yennekar quickly grabbed her wand and gathered her own magic power.

Lucy and Yennekar both knew each other's fighting styles well. If you fought Yennekar, you could never afford to turn it into a battle of attrition. And Lucy was already limited in how much magic power she could use.

Meanwhile, Yennekar had already unleashed her spirit army with Velbrok's heart in her grasp. If she couldn't defeat Yennekar, who was summoning those spirits, it would be Lucy's loss. Lucy was well aware of that fact.

And Yennekar, who was familiar with Lucy, recognized that as well.

"Sometimes I have this thought. Even though it's for the sake of protecting you here at this mansion because you lost your magic power, I wonder if you are too tied down. Thinking about it, you've always been a girl who flies across the world and jumps on roofs rather than ever being tied down to one place."

The advanced explosion spell Destruction shot from Lucy's hand toward Yennekar. The blast thundered through the area as smoke rose everywhere, but Yennekar swept it all away with a single swing of her wand.

The mid-rank wind spirit Ludex, which had a strangely twisted appearance, spread its large wings. Yennekar stood tall on top of that massive pterodactyl-shaped spirit, looking like a powerful queen.

Ed's wand was the 'thousand-year-old wooden wand struck by lightning.' It was the same wand that Yennekar used. However, the minor modifications, alterations, and spiritual skills attached to it were completely different. That was because the Spiritual Skills that Ed and Yennekar primarily used were very different.

However, Yennekar was a genius who was capable of properly utilizing any type of spiritual skill. As long as it's a spiritual skill of an Elementalist, Yennekar would be able to use its power. That was why, even though it was a wand modified for Ed, it wasn't hard for Yennekar to use.

As soon as Lucy gathered magic power for her next spell, a reddish magic power spread out above Yennekar's hair as another pair of wings unfolded.

Spiritual Skill, Explosion.

It was an explosion triggered by a pre-imbued spiritual skill. The real problem was its power. Borrowing Yennekar's strength, the blast was almost equivalent to advanced explosion magic.

The explosion erupted at Lucy's feet. Lucy's small body was sent flying by the rising heat and loud noise.

"I was just thinking that maybe I've been a little too self-centered. Sometimes I think back to the past. I don't know if I'm mistaken, but Lucy… It doesn't feel like you're tied to life. It's just that, it wouldn't seem strange if you were to suddenly disappear one day."

Lucy successfully cast defensive magic, but she ended up using too much magic power. If she used too much magic power, she wouldn't have enough to return to her original world.

The pressure weighed down on her chest, but Yennekar had no plans to stop attacking. As Lucy leaned against the altar, she suddenly realized something strange.

Water. There was water that reached her ankles even though they were at the top of a mountain. At that moment, a new magic power began to gather behind Lucy.

Spiritual Skill, Manifestation of a Water Source.

The mid-ranking water spirit Lacia jumped out from the water, opening her mouth wide and biting Lucy's right arm.

Lucy quickly reacted, casting several Ice Spears into Lacia. She then cast wind magic to create space from her, followed by the advanced light magic Sword Grip of Light. Several swords fell down from the sky as they stabbed through Lacia, completely defeating her.

It all took place in just a few seconds. However, those few seconds were enough for Yennekar to make her next move.

High above, a giant whale covered the sky over Acken Island. While Lucy was fighting off a mid-ranking spirit, the massive whale had completely made its way to Right Mountain. The ultimate water spirit, Friede. It let out a loud vibration once more as it looked towards the top of Right Mountain.

Fwoosh!

Then, the ceremonial dagger that had caused the Explosion from before flew through the air into the hands of Yennekar.

A wand in one hand and a dagger in the other. She stood tall in her old, worn robe, as if looking down on the world. Then, the massive whale—which looked as if it could devour the entire world—looked down at Lucy.

It was impossible to face that ultimate-rank spirit while trying to save her magic power. No matter how strong Lucy might have been, to face an enemy of that size, she would need to fight seriously. But if she did that…it would be at least a few more years before she could return to her original world.

In a hellish world without Ed, she would have to exist in solitude for years and years to come, searching for a way to go back. Could she confidently say she wouldn't regret her decision? Lucy couldn't say for sure.

But back then, Ed had told Lucy something important.

"Aside from me, there are going to be a lot more reasons for you to keep on living. That's how life is. So, just tell me if you're having a hard time. Just like you helped me, I will do my best to help you, too."

Lucy clenched her teeth. She gathered all of the magic power she could, covering her body with it. Even if years passed, he would continue to look for Lucy. Certain of that fact, she continued to gather her magic power.

Lucy's Magic Power, which slowly covered the sky, was comparable to her prime. Lucy's massive amount of magic power used to be well respected by the highest faculty in Silvenia Academy. It was enough to rule the world. In terms of pure magic power, no one could match Lucy aside from the legendary Great Sage Silvenia.

Fwooosh!

The Ultimate Explosive Magic, Moment of Genesis.

It was the same explosive magic that even made the Evil God Mebula retreat. The massive magic circle that covered the sky was unbelievable. Even someone unfamiliar with magic could recognize its strength.

Still standing on the spirit's head, Yennekar looked up at the sky. She then slowly closed her eyes. She had witnessed Lucy's determination.

"You… You're very different from the Lucy Mayreel I used to know." Her lips trembled as she struggled to say those words, as if she were enduring an unforgettable pain.

"You must have been influenced by many different things."

After saying that, the entire world was covered with massive flashes of light.

* * *

Boom! Booom!

Fwooosh!

The massive explosion that covered the sky over Acken Island succeeded in temporarily subduing Friede. Even for an ultimate-rank spirit, if Lucy was attacking seriously, it was impossible to come out of it unscathed.

Nevertheless, Friede covered Acken Island with Magic Power despite getting injured. The waters all around the island began to swirl, shooting into the skies… The thousands of spirits that followed Friede began to take control of the sky like a military air force.

Nevertheless, Lucy never let go of the magic power in her control. She continued to destroy the countess spirits that came her way, quickly chasing after Yennekar through the air.

But Yennekar continued to distance herself from Lucy while riding on top of a spirit. The most effective way to defeat an Elementalist was to attack them, not their spirits. That fact would never change. But to avoid Lucy's range, Yennekar constantly made sure to widen the distance and turn it into a battle of attrition.

Lucy continued to defeat thousands of spirits in her way…and before she knew it, the battlefield had moved from the top of Right Mountain all the way over to the Eastern Side of the island where Silvenia Academy was located.

Lucy continued to gather magic power, constantly chasing after Yennekar. The aftermath of their battle… It could be clearly seen from across Acken Island. Clevius, who lay in a bloody mess in the middle of the forest. Elvira, who had collapsed by the cliffside with no energy to spare. They could both watch the ongoing fight.

At the entrance of Soul Library, Lortel looked up at the sky. She closed her eyes gently, heading back inside. She held the hands of the remaining survivors, praying.

Please, I pray that you will survive.

Those prayers and faith put into Lucy were her reason to continue to fight.

Booom! Fwooosh!

Lucy finally caught up to the spirit Yennekar was riding on, piercing it with an Ice Spear. The spirit screamed as it fell through the night sky, plunging toward the commercial district of the ruined Silvenia Academy.

Boom! Crash!

Yennekar quickly gathered her magic power to help break her fall as she crashed into the dirt floor, rolling on the ground. The commercial district's square was filled with destroyed buildings and weeds poking through the cracked marble floors. The huge fountain in the center was in pieces. The depressing appearance only added to the eerie atmosphere of the empty square.

Yennekar quickly pulled herself up trying to grab ahold of her wand. Before she could do that, Lucy quickly cast the Celestial Magic Space Leap. Lucy suddenly appeared in front of the wand, kicking it away. She gathered her magic power, quickly reaching her hand out towards Yennekar.

But Yennekar just sat there on the floor, looking up at Lucy quietly. Lucy was already exhausted, struggling to hold herself together. She had even been struck by several of Yennekar's attacks. Nevertheless, Lucy was able to continue to push forward with the determination to stop Yennekar.

Yennekar had her head lowered for some time as she quietly asked Lucy, who stood still, "Why aren't you finishing me off?"

Lucy was in a state of disarray. She couldn't bring herself to finish Yennekar. That was because of Yennekar's feelings… She completely understood them. Because of that, how could she ever persuade her?

Lucy Mayreel hadn't lost Ed, unlike Yennekar Palerover. So whatever she said, it would never reach her heart. She could spout clichés, saying Ed wouldn't want it, but there was no point in saying such things. No matter what she said… What was the point?

After all, when Lucy herself had thought that she lost Ed, didn't she also completely wreak havoc on Silvenia Academy as well? She fully understood the pain and sadness Yennekar felt. So how could Lucy ever persuade Yennekar otherwise?

In the end, to stop Yennekar Palerover, the only choice was to defeat her…but Lucy couldn't finish her off.

"…Lucy, I can continue to fight." As if recognizing Lucy's feelings, Yennekar quietly spoke. "Velbrok's heart continues to fill me with magic power. If I gather its power once more, I will be able to call on another ultimate-spirit, again and again…"

Lucy remained silent.

"But with my wand out of my reach right now, this is your last and only chance. You're also nearly out of magic power, right?"

Why would she let Lucy know that? But the moment she looked at Yennekar's eyes, Lucy understood the reason. Tears were streaming down Yennekar's cheeks, dripping from her face. For Yennekar right now, seeing Lucy here was an indescribable pain.

"I…I miss Ed…" Yennekar said.

She couldn't say anything in response. Even if Yennekar was able to overcome her grief, she no longer had the will to do anything left in this world. Everything had become meaningless to her… She had nothing left.

Words would never be able to convince Yennekar otherwise. Thus, the only way to stop her way was through force.

Which also meant Yennekar's death.

Lucy bit her lower hip. She closed her eyes as she gathered her Celestial Magic Power.

"Still…" Lucy gathered all the strength she had left, forcing herself to open her mouth. "We still have to survive."

No matter how meaningless and worthless your life may seem, you could never take it. That was the value Lucy had learned from that boy. Lucy slowly covered Yennekar in her Celestial Magic Power. Yennekar looked up at the sky as she slowly closed her eyes.

Celestial Magic, Time Prison.

In a way, it may be nothing more than the postponement of her death… but for Lucy, it was the best option she could come up with. As she slowly watched Yennekar's time come to a stop, she continued to pour out her remaining magic power.

At least that way, the girl's death could be delayed as long as possible. At the very least, it could give her a few years of rest. Like that…Yennekar quietly closed her eyes.

Thud.

Lucy fell down onto the ground, exhausted. The square in the commercial district was silent. She looked up at the moon high in the sky that looked down on Yennekar, who had fallen into a long sleep.

"When you open your eyes…" Lucy whispered to Yennekar, "…I hope there is at least some reason, no matter how small, for you to live."

Lucy stood back up. The fleeting wind brushed against her body. She no longer had magic power. In that gray and dark world, the only thing she could do now was wait, for a long, long time.

Someday…just until the recoil of the phoenix ring passed, and her magic power was restored. Only then would she be able to send a rescue signal to Ed.

Continuing to pray that Ed will never give up on looking for her… That was the only thing Lucy could now do.

It was then that another flow of Magic Power slowly spread across the floor of the square. In the empty and ruined square under the moonlight… It was like a small vision of a person appeared.

There was a figure of a girl standing on top of the fountain, moving as if she were an agile and swift cat. It was as if she was waiting for Yennekar to be defeated… As the image of her slowly took shape, her face was familiar.

Lucy's eyes widened as she looked up at the top of the fountain. The girl's skirt fluttered in the gentle night breeze. She had a small body and a large witch hat. She looked up at the moon with her back turned towards Lucy.

She continued to look up at the sky for some time as if she were reminiscing on a memory… She then quietly turned her head towards Lucy. Of course, she looked familiar.

A worn-out uniform. A large witch hat. White hair that glowed softly under the starlight. Bluish eyes.

And a blank expression. The girl looked much too similar to herself. Lucy was left speechless.

"Magic Power must have an innate reaction with something else. So, given the fact that there shouldn't be anything in that world that can react with our world's magic power, nothing can occur."

That was what Zellan had said. She said it was theoretically impossible for two worlds to connect due to the innate nature of Magic Power. The only way for one to move to another world is if there was another person, from another world, who went to observe your own. That way, the magic power between the two worlds would be able to react to each other.

But for that to happen, it would require not only an incredible amount of magic power but also a fundamental understanding of Celestial Magic Power. Such a person…there were barely any in the world that existed.

But now, it was clear who had brought Lucy to this world. The girl who stood at the top of the fountain with her back against the moon slowly opened her mouth.

"Now, it's all over."

Of course, it was a familiar voice.

* * *

She couldn't figure out why the Lucy of this world had brought her here, and what she was thinking. Or how things would turn out from there… She couldn't figure out a single thing.

The situation… Lucy was completely out of magic power and was unable to do anything given the state of her body. Whatever the other Lucy tried to do to her…she couldn't fight back.

However, her opponent was still herself. Because of that fact, she could still roughly predict what she was thinking about or what she might try and do. She just had to think about what she would do herself.

Despite that, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't figure it out. Ed was an absolutely indispensable aspect of Lucy's life. She could never imagine a world without him. So the fact that Lucy had lost Ed… She couldn't fathom what she might be thinking.

Why did she hide the fact she was alive, and what had she been doing on Acken Island? More than anything, why did she bring her here from a faraway world? What was she trying to accomplish… She didn't have any idea.

Fwooosh!

Watching the other Lucy jump from the fountain onto the ground, Lucy continued to think it over. She couldn't even figure out if she should be on guard or not. But… What was even the point of trying to find that out?

Either way, she was at a point where she could no longer fight back. She had no choice but to watch and follow along with whatever happened. Watching the other Lucy trudge towards her, Lucy slowly lowered her gaze.

The girl that stood in front of her continued to have an expressionless look on her face. She stood there looking down at her for a while as if she was going to say something. Even though they were both Lucy… They were extremely different from each other.

The Lucy who hadn't lost Ed was injured and completely out of magic power, yet she still had the will to survive. She wondered if that desire to survive was also in the eyes of the Lucy in that world…

Then, The other Lucy slowly opened her mouth, saying "Yeah. I see."

She made eye contact with her one more time…and that was when Lucy realized. Those eyes, Lucy had seen them somewhere before.

Before she came to that world, she had seen that empty look in someone else. A magician who wanted to observe another world where she had never slaughtered the non-humans.

Amputator Zellan.

Like a butterfly flying high in the sky, she wanted to grab something that was always going to be out of her reach. Even if she could never reach such a future… Just being able to confirm that it existed. That would be enough to make her feel as if her life had been saved.

Just the possibility of what could have been…the possibility that a version of you was out there in another world, smiling… The eyes of a magician who finally found comfort in the reality they live in. It overlapped with that world's Lucy…

Neither of them said a word. Just seeing a version of herself that had an overwhelming will to survive, there was no need for further explanation… She slowly fell into Lucy's arms.

And then, the girl slowly began to cry tears that came from the solitude and hardships of the life she experienced.

As for Lucy, all she could do was hug her.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 36: Chasing Butterflies (13)

One can never fully understand another. In the end, the only one able to fully understand you was yourself. You were only able to imagine what it was like because it was you.

It was not difficult for her to imagine what kind of life Lucy Mayreel had lived after Ed passed away. That was why she could roughly guess what kind of life the Lucy of that world had endured.

She imagined it. A world where Ed Rothstaylor died but she survived. Given how her life was entirely for the sake of keeping that man alive, what purpose could she find after he died?

She could ask Lucy, who was crying in her arms, that question. However, it was something she could tell without asking. She hugged Lucy, who was grieving and sniffling. She always had an expressionless look on her face, but seeing heartbreak replace it made her chest sting.

The Lucy of that world had survived, but she never told anyone. Acken Island had slowly turned into hell while she lived in seclusion, never appearing before anyone else. There must have been a good reason. A much more important reason than stopping Yennekar, who was devoured by her grief, and saving those who remain on the island.

Closing her eyes, she thought it over. After all, this was another version of herself. There were enough clues to piece the puzzle together.

"After I decided to turn Acken Island into a sanctuary, I couldn't find Ed's body despite searching every corner of the island."

"You took Ed's body, didn't you?"

Yennekar speculated that the Lucy of that world had taken Ed Rothstaylor's body. It was reasonable as Lucy herself felt that she would have done the same. If she had lost Ed, she would try to get him back.

That was because, even though she knew what was lost was lost, she couldn't simply dismiss the long relationship she had with him. She may have been able to let Glockt go before, but she couldn't do that with Ed.

The difference between a mentor-and-student relationship and that of close companions who had lived together… might seem small on the surface, but in truth the two were completely different. Only then did she realize just how much more Ed had come to mean to her than she had thought.

The whole time, the Lucy of that world must have been researching Celestial Magic while preserving Ed's body. It wasn't a meaningless goal, either. After all, she already knew someone who had studied Celestial Magic his entire life, who had actually successfully created a resurrection spell.

Professor Glast, who had long since left this world. Lucy had never used that Celestial Magic to save Glockt because he was someone who deeply believed such magic was a sin. Seeing a man like him live so firmly by his ideals, only to violate them by bringing him back, would have been an insult to his name.

However, Ed was different. Without even realizing it, at some point, Ed had become someone who meant more to her than even Glockt did. He didn't have qualms about such forbidden magic as Glockt did either. He was simply a close companion of Lucy's who always tried his best to survive. That was why it wasn't hard to imagine that the Lucy of that world was willing to do whatever it took to bring him back alive.

However, Professor Glast was gone. All of his academic records had burned. Even though Lucy may be a genius in magic, her academic understanding and research of Celestial Magic were no match to that of a professor. So, she must have had to study Celestial Magic from the bottom.

Not only that, but it was also resurrection magic, which was considered taboo. She couldn't ask anyone for help. It went without saying that researching such magic was a punishable sin. The more people that got involved, the bigger the consequences would become.

That was why Lucy Mayreel would have needed a space where she could study Celestial Magic without being interfered with by anyone else for a long time. Of all the places Yennekar could have made an isolated sanctuary, Acken Island would have been the most ideal location with how isolated it was from the rest of the world.

Lucy closed her eyes as she thought about it. The location… The cave on the west coast, where Glockt's grave was located, would have been suitable. It was a space that only Lucy and Ed knew. Compared to the actual facilities on campus, there was very little chance she would ever get caught.

There, she would take care of Ed's body while gathering research materials under the rubble of the destroyed Silvenia Academy. All for the sake of studying Celestial Magic. If she somehow succeeded in reviving Ed, she might go down in history as a forbidden magician and an enemy of the magic world. She might have to hide in the shadows like Zellan for the rest of her life.

But none of that mattered to her.

She was going to take on that burden alone. Writing down the theory of Celestial Magic on hundreds of thousands of sheets of paper, she was willing to accept a future that was purely dedicated to research.

Professor Glast had to spend his entire life to succeed in his Resurrection of the Dead spell. However, Lucy was a genius when it came to understanding magic power, and the speed at which she learned magic theory was also impressive. Even though Glockt was a scholar, there was a chance that Lucy would have succeeded much faster than he was able to.

Regardless… It was clear she would have to dedicate a lot of time. It might just be five or maybe ten years. Of course, the suffering she's going through would make it feel much longer. Despite Acken Island turning into a living hell as the few people left behind slowly die, she would remain, sitting in that dark cave by the coast with a pencil in hand as she wrote down and developed new theories of Celestial Magic.

The number of papers filled with theories soon began to fill the entire cave. She soon forgot the passage of time…when she suddenly stopped her hand, lowering her head.

She was tired. Lonely. Depressed. In pain. All those years, she focused on the one goal of bringing him back. At some point, all of those emotions built up past her limit. Her emotions overwhelmed her as she felt her tightened fist slowly losing strength… She couldn't stop the tears that ran down her face.

All those emotions finally exploded one fateful day. Lucy began to understand why she saw something of Zellan in that girl's sorrowful expression. Amputator Zellan… she looked just like the Lucy who had lost Ed. If she had lost him, she would have been no different from that magician wandering the world with nothing but emptiness inside.

As if intuitively recognizing that, Lucy was afraid to get near Zellan.

She patted her on the back as tears fell down from her eyes, saying, "It must have been hard."

She couldn't comfort the Lucy that was in front of her. What she must have gone through in that immeasurable sadness…the only thing Lucy could do was try and sympathize with her pain.

The Lucy of that world was very different from herself. She looked more haggard. All kinds of research scrolls and small books tied with strings were all over her body. Just looking at that, Lucy knew that if she had lost Ed in her own world, it wouldn't have been much different.

But it must have been much too painful…too much to bear. The Lucy of that world slowly opened her mouth.

She then began to speak in a voice that struggled to gather any strength, saying, "You are who I wanted to be."

Even if it was nothing more than a hopeless and distant goal. Even if it felt like something that she could never reach… She just wanted to confirm the possibility that it existed. A life where she wasn't empty on the inside.

Everyone who struggled to survive deserved respect. Life was full of value, which could make every day you survived shine. The Lucy of that world was able to confirm that such a version of her existed out there in the vast world of possibilities.

And there was no saying that she couldn't achieve that.

Lucy nodded, holding her close. There was no need to say much.

"Yeah."

One day, all the sadness will come to an end. Even if it seemed much too far away, it would eventually arrive as long as you didn't stop moving forward. Just like how you chased a butterfly, not worrying about what would happen next, one day that beautiful butterfly would sit right there in both your hands.

Closing her eyes, she imagined it. A day when Ed finally opened his eyes thanks to Lucy's efforts in researching Celestial Magic. When Ed woke up and saw Lucy, the smile that would be on his face… Lucy would then cry, hugging Ed with tears streaming down her face.

But there was still a lot to do. She still had a long way to go. They would have to release Yennekar from the Time Prison, calm the vengeful Lortel, and find where Velbrok went into hiding to finish it. Since they had already cut off a decent section of his heart, it shouldn't be too difficult to finish him off. Still, a long and arduous adventure awaited them. However, the two of them would certainly overcome all those hardships ahead of them.

After doing all of that, they could finally leave in search of a new home. Ed, who was officially dead, and Lucy, who committed a taboo. Neither of them would be able to go back to the life they once lived, but none of that mattered.

It didn't matter whether they went to live together in the Lamelin Mountain Range or off by the Clem Coastline next to the sea. For the two of them, where they lived wasn't important.

"When that time comes, you will also be able to see just how valuable and worthwhile our life is," said Lucy, reaffirming her thoughts.

The Lucy of that world might think that such a future was too far away, but one day, she would surely be able to look back at the hardships she endured to realize just how grateful she was to have survived and never given up.

Lucy held her tightly in her arms as she sniffled, " …It's time for you to go back."

The Lucy of that world she wiped away her tears. However, Lucy didn't have the magic power to go back even though she wanted to. She had spent it all defeating Yennekar. It would take at least a few more years to recover.

However, the Lucy of that world stayed silent as she slowly took out the Phoenix Ring from her pocket.

"Th-that's…"

Glast's Golden Phoenix Ring was destroyed when Lucy borrowed more magic power than it could handle to defeat the Great Sage Silvenia. However, in that world, the phoenix ring remained intact. It was only then that Lucy remembered that Silvenia had never intervened in that world. That meant nothing had happened to the ring. It was simply a keepsake of Ed's.

The magic power that exuded from the Phoenix Ring… Gathering an enormous amount of Celestial Magic Power, the Lucy of that world slowly passed it onto Lucy. Lucy was in disbelief… She looked up as she carefully listened.

"There isn't enough magic power. If you don't concentrate…you might not be able to return to the world you want. Which is why…you can't get distracted now."

"…What?"

"I'm happy I was able to meet you. I feel relieved knowing that you exist. Being able to confirm that there is a possibility where I can live such a life…" The Lucy of this world wiped away her tears as she spoke with her teeth clenched. "Now, you must go back to where Ed is looking for you."

The Lucy of that world had a determined look on her face as she continued to explain, saying "When you return to the flow of different worlds and possibilities, concentrate on finding Ed Rothstaylor's Magic Power."

In a space where hundreds of thousands of different possibilities branched out, Ed was still wandering, searching for her. Lucy needed to grab his hand no matter what.

"He is still searching for you, so you have to leave before it's too late."

"What about you?"

"I have a lot I need to do. I'm going to be busy."

The Lucy of this world spoke with a smile on her face. Lucy was someone who rarely ever smiled. Seeing her smile in front of herself was strange.

"Thank you for staying alive."

After saying that, Lucy's body felt as if it was floating. The Celestial Magic Power that wrapped around her body was much more powerful than she knew.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 37: Chasing Butterflies (14)

There was probably a man looking for her out there in some distant world. She had been dragged to a faraway world, but it was finally time to go back to the world she came from with that man.

When she opened her eyes, in front of her was a massive flow of different worlds stretching out into hundreds and thousands of branches. It was the numerous possibilities and worlds she had observed with Ed before.

She felt as if she were swimming in outer space. In that massive flow of different possibilities, Lucy had to find Ed. Somewhere, Ed was also searching for any sign of Lucy he could. He was surely worried about Lucy, who had been dragged away, and searching nonstop for her. He would be trying to look as far as he could to bring Lucy back, even if it was a distance that put his own life at risk.

That was why Lucy couldn't wait any longer. There was a limit to the magic power she was given, but as long as she clenched her teeth and never gave up, she should be able to return to her original world.

Somewhere out there was Ed's magic power.

Here. You need to come back here. He would surely try and create a sign to inform Lucy of where she needed to go.

But if Lucy wasn't able to find it, she would end up drifting off into another world again. She might end up in the future, or even the past. She might fall into a massive ocean or in the middle of a foreign city. Even with all those risks in the way, she needed to concentrate and continue to find any signal that Ed sent.

And so… for a while longer, she continued focusing on finding the right current of magic power. Then, somewhere in a far-off world, she felt a familiar presence. That magic power… was something she could never forget. To Lucy, it felt like warm sunlight.

Even though it was so far away, she was able to recognize it at once. Lucy couldn't wait any longer. She gathered all of the magic power left in her body as she quickly traveled to that distant world. Following Ed Rothstaylor's trail of Magic Power, she continued to pass by the countless worlds and possibilities.

Her entire body screamed in pain, but she still had a long way to go. Now that she had found Ed's magic power, she had to keep moving toward it, even as it felt like her whole body was being torn apart and her magic power was running dry.

Lucy continued to use her magic power to push her body along, but she wasn't quite there. She finally reached a point where she could enter the same world, but the right space and time were still far from reach. She needed to go further. If she wanted to end up in the same time period Ed was in, she would have to use even more magic power to drag her body just a little further.

Her body cried out in pain. It felt as though her magic power had already gone far beyond its limit and could not carry her any farther… but she was so close. She may have found the right world, but she still could not give up.

"K-Keuk."

She coughed up blood. She hadn't felt such a burden on the body since the time she fought against the Great Sage Silvenia. However, it wasn't the time to have such thoughts. Even if she succeeded in entering the right world, what did it matter if it wasn't the right time? She needed to live alongside him.

Lucy's body was losing strength. The flow of magic power was slowly fading. Even though it was only a little further ahead of her, she didn't have the strength to move. Little by little…she felt herself falling down into the world… Lucy closed her eyes tightly.

Crash!

The sound of a wooden cabinet falling over. An underground space with no sunlight. She didn't know where she was. Yet the place she had fallen into…for some reason, it felt familiar.

Thud!

"Huff, Huff…"

Lucy rolled her small body across the floor as she managed to sit up. It was a warehouse full of all sorts of research materials and magic engineering devices. Lucy tried to stand up, but her body was in too much pain. It refused to listen to her.

"K-keuk…"

In the end, she never managed to reach Ed Rothstaylor's magic power. Although she had returned to the world she came from, the time and place were completely wrong. She did not even know what country she was in. It might have been a different continent altogether.

She didn't know what time it was, either. Maybe she was ten years in the past. Maybe a hundred… There was no way to even guess. In history, there were only a couple of people who were capable of such a level of Celestial Magic.

"H-huff…"

Lucy felt tears welling up in her eyes. She missed Ed Rothstaylor. She did her best to push her injured body as far as it could go, but it wasn't enough. Now, there was no saying when she could see him.

It would not have been a matter of being a few minutes or hours apart from where Ed was. At the very least, they might have been separated by decades. And aside from no longer having the magic power to return, she would still need to spend years researching Celestial Magic to move through time.

At least for a few years, or maybe until she died, she wouldn't be able to see Ed Rothstaylor. Knowing that fact…she couldn't stop the tears rolling down her eyes.

"…That was quite an entrance."

At that moment, Lucy heard a familiar voice. Even though it had been so long since she last heard it…she could never forget it.

"I figured you would appear sometime now, but I never imagined it would be like this."

She suddenly had a memory of a hand covered in wrinkles patting her. A small cellar that was filled with old research papers and workbenches. The Archmage Glockt stood there, covered in ash and patting his clothes with a smile on his face.

Only then did she realize why the place seemed familiar. It was…the secret lab in the basement of Glockt's cabin. It was the same place where Zellan and Ed were investigating before she had jumped through worlds.

* * *

Lucy tried to say something, but nothing but air came out of her mouth. She clearly remembered seeing Glockt covered in ash, patting himself like he was doing in front of her.

"Thanks to you, I've come to my senses. But I thought I told you to be careful when practicing magic power in the cabin…"

"We'll have to find something to brush off the ashes first."

It was a memory of the day he had given Lucy her hat. While she was playing around, she accidentally flipped over the container that held the ashes, making the entire cabin a mess.

The same day that Glockt, who had gone to the basement for a while before coming back out, gave Lucy her hat. Instead of scolding her, he consoled her.

"I-I…"

"There isn't much time. There's no need to explain everything." Glockt was a teacher, who was also like Lucy's father. His warm voice was the same as she had remembered as he said, "You must have been through a lot. I'm sure it's difficult to explain it all. Unlike my teacher Silvenia, I am only able to see pieces of the future, so I don't know in detail what kind of life you have lived."

After all, only the Great Sage Silvenia was capable of observing every world and possibility. However, Glockt was talented enough to be able to briefly observe the future as well with his own Celestial Magic. That was how Glockt knew that around that time, Lucy—who was trying to jump through worlds—would end up drifting away and falling into the basement.

It was impossible to be sure of the exact time and place, but he was still able to prepare to some extent.

"Still, I'm sure you were able to live a worthwhile and precious life," Glockt whispered warmly.

Lucy held back her tears as she tried to respond, uttering, "G-Grandpa…I…"

"Yes, there is a place you need to return to. But the world of possibilities is constantly changing and moving further apart even in this very moment. You need to hurry up, or things will become much more complicated."

Glockt spoke as he took out a large crystal ball, a magically engineered device from the lab. He knew that Lucy would one day end up falling there, so he had made it in advance.

A Timeline Regulator. The magic engineering device that Zellan and Ed found in the cabin. The one that seemed to have been used only once.

"The Archmage Glock that I knew was a man who hated doing anything forbidden. He was a magician who always respected magic and the world's provinces. As well as one's destiny.

"Lucy Mayreel. This might be a bit of a shock to you, but… It seems that the Archmage Glockt…actually studied what is considered taboo in the later years of his life."

"Given the situation we see here, It's safe to say that at some point in his lifetime…Glockt Elderbane had messed with time. In other words, he committed the taboo of traveling through time."

It felt like the pieces of the puzzle were finally coming together. The reason why Glockt Elderbane, an incredible magician who lived his life dedicated to magic, suddenly violated a taboo in the later years of his life to travel through time. The reason why he suddenly went against his own values as he neared the end of his life.

"Grandpa…this is…"

"There is no time to waste. I'll do the work, so just concentrate on feeling the magic power."

Lucy wiped her tears with her battered closed as she bit her lower lip, murmuring, "Grandpa…"

As Glockt gathered magic power in his hands, Lucy looked up at the stairs that led upstairs. Beyond that tightly closed wooden door, was she sitting there nervous and upset after having knocked over that container?

Much of her life had been empty. For a while, she lived unable to find any meaning in her life. But one of the few reasons why she was able to survive was thanks to Glockt. That was why she was certain that it was really him in front of her.

Glockt's cabin was like a cradle for Lucy. She was just an empty girl who could have met her death at any given moment. It was none other than that old man who grabbed ahold of that girl, helping her realize the meaning of life.

She received so much from him. However, it eventually became time to leave the cradle. When she could finally stand up on her own two feet, it was time to leave that cradle behind.

But life was a long journey. If you were going on a long journey, you couldn't help but leave things behind. That was because people were creatures that looked ahead, not behind them.

"You know, Grandpa."

Lucy spoke quietly. Just being able to talk to Glockt after such a long time filled her with emotions.

She exhaled quietly as she said, with a smile on her face, "This is awkward to say, but…you are no longer the most important person to me."

Glockt, who was operating the machine, opened his eyes wide as he heard that. He stayed quiet for a while with a smile on his face before saying, "That's…great news."

Glockt couldn't even guess what type of life Lucy lived. The journey of life was full of unpredictability. Pushing her way through and holding out no matter how hard… That girl, who used to be empty inside, was finally able to smile.

That young child, who used to only care for her teacher, was finally able to create many new cherished relationships and memories with others. She wouldn't think of Glockt as the most important person to her forever. She needed to continue to move forward.

The past was the past, and you need to leave what was behind you behind. Lucy, who used to be so anxious and depressed, was finally taking a new step in her life without him. That was the happiest thing for Glockt. The old magician smiled as the wrinkles on his face creased.

Lucy took off the witch hat Glockt had given her before as a gift, saying, "I'll leave this behind."

Glockt picked up the hat as he curiously asked, "What's with this hat?"

Hearing that, Lucy opened her eyes wide. She then laughed out loud.

"It's what I cherished the most… But the reason why is a secret."

Glockt nodded as he quietly put the hat aside. The magically engineered device Glockt was using began to activate. The entire world was becoming engulfed in light. A warm energy gently embraced Lucy.

Before she left, Glockt said, his eyes closed, "Thanks, Lucy."

What was he thankful for? Lucy had only received things from him. But what Glockt said at the end struck Lucy's heart.

"I lived a hectic life full of ups and downs, but… In the end, you were the meaning of my life. Thank you for making my life meaningful."

The light continued to fill the world as Lucy looked at his smile one last time. Lucy couldn't hold back her tears.

* * *

In a world filled with darkness, light was shining down. When she opened her eyes, the location hadn't changed at all. It was still Glockt's cabin. However, time must have passed. The once-clean research lab was dusty and old. It was clear quite some time had passed.

A beam of light came from the stairs leading upstairs. The wooden door, which had been tightly closed, was now slightly open.

The girl stood up, with her body in an injured state. She stumbled, struggling to remain standing as she ran forward. Exiting the door, she saw a familiar view of the cabin. She walked across the room, exiting the front door of the cabin.

The sun was high in the sky. In front of her was Ed, using his magic power on the device to find Lucy who was lost. Behind him, she could see Zellan and her secretary Wilhelm, who were giving him magic power with anxious expressions on their faces.

Lucy ran forward into Ed's arms. Ed fell back in complete shock, but Lucy continued to climb on top of him, burying her head into his chest. As tears fell down her face, Lucy continued to hold Ed tightly, never letting go.

* * *

Crackle.

The firewood was burning in the fireplace. Every time the flames of the fireplace rose, the shadows across the cabin shook with it. A scared, white-haired girl stood in front of it with ash all over her body.

An old magician came out of the basement with a witch hat in hand. He then gently put it on top of the girl's head. Patting her shoulder, the old magician had a gentle smile on his face.

"I'm giving this to you now," he said.

"This is…"

"Cherish it. One day, this hat will be your most precious item."

"…Why…?"

Life was unpredictable. Even a girl who thought she would continue to be empty forever one day ended up appreciating and finding value in her life.

"…Well, you'll find out one day."

That was the beauty of life.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 38: Chasing Butterflies (15)

"You look like you've just seen hell. Since you're still a kid, I better give you a lot."

On the night Lucy returned, Zellan's assistant Wilhelm filled the table in the rundown cabin with a feast. While Zellan and I were busy researching magic engineering, Wilhelm must have been running all over outside gathering ingredients. I could not help thinking he must have gone through quite a bit to prepare that dinner, much like I once had while attending Silvenia Academy.

Regardless, he made sure to fill the table with a feast to celebrate Lucy's return without making any complaints. I wondered who the man was, exactly, but it wasn't the time to have such thoughts.

Lucy, who had been cast out of our timeline, had finally returned. She clung to me so tightly that I could not push her away. For the entire day, she cried in my arms, hugging me as if trying to make sure we would never be separated again, rubbing her face against me.

She was usually a detached girl, always stretching and yawning as though nothing could bother her. Seeing her act so differently was a shock. I could not even begin to imagine what she had witnessed in the other timeline she had fallen into.

"Let's eat, Lucy," I said.

"…Okay," she replied.

After Lucy had calmed down to some extent, her eyes red from her tears, she reached out to grab some of the meat Wilhelm had prepared. She would take a bite, swallow, and then bury her face back into my chest. Then she would take another bite, swallow, and bury her face back into my chest.

She no longer looked like the calm and quiet stray cat she once was. However, I couldn't bring myself to ask her about what she had experienced. Regardless, Lucy has safely returned. That was the most important thing.

I smiled as I gently patted Lucy on her head. As Lucy felt my touch, she lowered her head slightly, as if she were feeling a sense of comfort.

* * *

"Where did you leave your hat?" I asked.

"I gave it back," Lucy replied.

"Gave it back…to whom?"

"Grandpa Glockt."

After she said that, everyone's expression hardened.

"You met Glockt?" Zellan asked.

"Yes. It seemed that he knew I would fall away from our original timeline while observing others," Lucy replied.

Zellan couldn't help but tremble. She tried to bring her fork with a piece of vegetable attached to it to her mouth, but before she could fully lift it, she dropped it down again with a hardened expression.

Lucy continued, "The reason he committed a taboo and studied Celestial Magic before he died was to bring me back to this point in time."

The reason he broke one of the three taboos of a magician—traveling through time—wasn't for himself. Rather, it was for Lucy's sake.

That old archmage only thought of Lucy until the moment he died. In the basement of a cabin located in the middle of the Lamelin Mountain Range, all of the pieces of research on Celestial Magic that were left behind were proof of his efforts for Lucy's sake.

Lucy Mayreel, the rare genius magician who grew up favored by the Archmage. At that point, everyone was well aware of the fact that the Archmage cared for Lucy more than we had imagined. The cabin was full of evidence of that fact.

The evidence lay not only in the traces of Celestial Magic research, but also in the rocking chair that was too small for him to use, the blanket clearly made for a young girl, and the shelves that seemed built for someone much smaller… the entire cabin had been a cradle for Lucy before she stepped out into the wider world.

"I see," Zellan said.

Amputator Zellan may have the body of a young girl with a smaller stature, but on the inside, she was an elder who lived for a long time. What did she feel when she looked at the evidence of Glockt caring and thinking about Lucy until his very end?

Zellan closed her eyes slowly, becoming lost in her thoughts. After a while, she despondently sighed.

She said, "Even the Archmage who lived his entire life filled with pride, never thinking about committing a taboo… For him to throw it all away for a disciple that was like his own daughter…"

"…There are people like that," Wilhelm said quietly as he cleared some plates.

She imagined that old Archmage, secretly studying Celestial Magic down in his cold basement. Perhaps he smiled as he did so. She didn't know what kind of personality he had, but she could at least tell that he didn't feel any remorse. It was the heart of a parent that let you commit a taboo for your beloved child.

"Perhaps so…" Zellan mused.

Zellan, who had lived her life as if she were chasing a butterfly that was always just out of her reach, sat quietly as she stared out the window at the starry sky. She sat there looking out of the window, remembering her old comrade Glast, who had died a tragic death while being tied to the past.

Zellan then let out a small smile as she said, her head down, "Yes. I guess that's how people are."

Zellan quietly pushed the vegetables on her fork into her mouth as she watched Lucy. She had to fill her stomach. After all, she needed to survive another day.

* * *

Another morning arrived at the Lamelin Mountain Range. It was as if a river of clouds that gently flowed down the mountain range were gently falling onto the world. It was difficult to experience the pleasantries of such fresh morning air unless you were deep in the mountain range.

Upon taking a deep breath, it was as if the pleasant fog that covered the world would briefly fade away. Pretty soon, the sun would stick out its head. Mornings in the mountain range passed by quickly.

As I stood up to smoke, Lucy quickly grabbed ahold of my arms while still wearing her pajamas and said, "Let's go together."

"…Alright," I replied.

I walked out of the cabin with Lucy as I looked down at the mountain range, enjoying the early morning air. Instead of standing on the grass in a daze, we decided to climb up to the roof of the cabin together.

Sitting at the top of the cabin together while looking down at the scenery…even if I were to spend the rest of my life comfortably like that, I wouldn't mind. For a while, we sat there not saying a word. We simply sat there enjoying each other's warmth.

Then Lucy suddenly whispered, without any warning, "The world I went to was one where you died."

That's how Lucy ended up calmly telling me about the world she had witnessed.

"I thought so," I admitted.

To be honest, I thought to myself that my comment was a little self-centric. However, it was true. After all, for Lucy to be in a situation where she was so terrified and lost…

Even when an Evil God tried to burn this world down, she was someone who calmly maintained her composure. The only time she ever lost control of her emotions was when she had lost someone. With that in mind, Lucy must have gone to a world where she had lost me.

Lucy scrunched her nose as she took in the early morning air. Then she approached, sitting down on my lap, and began to tell me about everything she had seen.

The story of how Yennekar had become an undertaker, protecting the island.

The story of Lortel protected the survivors.

And her own story of losing me.

She told me quite a few different stories that were both terribly sad and sometimes even frightening. It was rare to hear Lucy talking so much, as she normally spent her time quietly. I quietly listened to her in the early dawn's air in the mountains, as I occasionally nodded my head or scratched my chin.

"That's how I managed to come back. Seeing myself wander into eternity to find a way to save you… It was just…an unbearable sadness," Lucy concluded, finishing by saying, "That's everything. That's the reason why I cried."

Lucy occasionally sniffed and shook her head, She stood up to look at the vast mountain range from the roof of the cabin.

Then she said, "But that was another world. A world that doesn't mean anything anymore. Yeah."

Lucy's hair began to flutter in the passing wind. I looked at Lucy's back as she spoke. I then leaned back against the roof of the cabin.

I said, "There's something you haven't told me yet, Lucy."

"Hm?" Lucy asked.

"Yennekar's story, Lortel's story, even your own. They were all shocking to hear, but…you haven't told me about what the me of that world must have thought."

"What do you mean by that?"

A world where the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok couldn't be killed. A world where I ended up being executed by Prince Lindon's faction. When I closed my eyes and thought about it, it was not difficult to imagine how hellish it must have been.

However, I wondered what the me of the world Lucy spoke of was thinking. In a situation where it was almost certain that I would be executed by Lindon's faction, what measures did I try and come up with?

If death was inevitable, one just had to find a way to overcome it.

In a situation where I couldn't even leave a will behind, there was definitely no way for me to research Celestial Magic and find a way to come back from the dead. So, I must have left everything behind to someone who could accomplish it for me.

In a situation where I couldn't explain anything, a situation where I could no longer stay alive…I still needed to survive. No matter how the world was, one needed to endure it and survive. As long as a person never gave up and endured to the end, there would surely come a moment when they felt lucky to be alive.

"The Lucy of that world survived. She never gave up and continued to study Celestial Magic despite the world turning into a living hell," I said.

I closed my eyes and began to remember the distant past. I thought back to when I was working my hardest every day to survive at Silvenia Academy. Avoiding the countless bad endings in Silvenia's Failed Swordmaster, I managed to survive and make it to that very roof. I clearly remembered one of those bad endings.

The route where Lucy ended up joining Glast.

Lucy Mayreel, a rare genius magician, fell for Professor Glast's words that claimed that she could bring back the archmage Glockt. In the end, she defeated the protagonist, Taylee, and accepted the Celestial Magic. After that…the Resurrection of the Dead magic that Professor Glast spent his life researching—she was able to reach it after only a few months of independent research.

Knowing that fact, I know just how incredible Lucy's knowledge and growth in Celestial Magic was. The me of that world would have also been well aware of Lucy's capabilities from that bad ending. No matter how poor her environment was, and no matter how desperate her situation was, Lucy Mayreel would surely continue to study Celestial Magic and eventually reach a level similar to Professor Glast's.

With a proper environment, it would only take her a few months… But in a place that was no different than hell, it might end up taking a few years. Still…within three years at the most, she would have certainly saved me.

Of course, it wouldn't all end up a happy ending.

She would most likely be on the run for the rest of her life after breaking one of the taboos of a magician. She would also have to go out on another adventure to kill Velbrok. She would have to deal with the Lindon faction and would always be known as a dangerous fugitive of the empire.

It was impossible to predict all the details, though…

"Let's say two years…no, maybe three at most. I am sure that you would have saved me," I stated.

"…What? Really?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

Lucy, who had no knowledge of Silvenia's Failed Swordmaster, would naturally never have been able to guess that she could do it. However, I was certain of it. Lucy would definitely endure it all until she could save me. Once I was able to faintly open my eyes once more, she would be there holding onto me.

Three years after Ed Rothstaylor's death.

The people left in that world would have surely gone through a hard time, but they would have all somehow survived. There might have been a few who became twisted, and others still who gave up all hope for their lives.

However, as long as I was able to open my eyes once more, I would surely run all over the world doing whatever I could. Even Yennekar, who had become deranged, or Lortel, who was trapped… I would still somehow save them all.

That was why Lucy didn't have to worry. I was stronger than she thought. The people she saw might have been struggling in pain at the moment, but they wouldn't be in tears, trapped in the dark for the rest of their lives.

Just like the way the sun felt brighter after a long and dark night, there would surely be many days of laughter and smiles to come. They just had to endure. That was just the way the world worked.

Of course, things might feel unfair and miserable in the moment. However, in the end, things would surely be better. They just had to remember that what they had in their hands was a blessing.

They couldn't take for granted the happiness that they had in the present. They had to live a fruitful life while always thinking positively.

"…Yeah," Lucy said.

Lucy looked out at the vast view of the world. It was time for the girl to leave her cradle and depart into that vast landscape.

It was unsure whether her journey in Silvenia was over, but her journey as an Archmage who commanded the world had just begun. It was time for her to put down the witch's hat that was larger than she was and escape from the cradle that had always comforted her warmly…and depart into this vast world.

As the refreshing wind swept past the mountain range, the girl thought to herself, Why am I no longer afraid of that journey?

The answer to that was that she was not alone.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 39: A Proud Maid (1)

Bell Maya was a young woman who was currently serving as the head maid for Duke Rothstaylor. She was a maid who went above and beyond her duties, being a model maid whom fellow maids followed and praised.

She was also an illegitimate daughter of Baron Flanchel.

When she was young, she almost became a scapegoat in a power struggle between two aristocratic families. However, thanks to her father Dalvern Flanchel's quick thinking, the abbess of Cledric Monastery's assistance, and the help of Elris—the former head maid of Ophelis Hall, Silvenia Academy's highest-rated dormitory—she was able to gain her freedom.

Later, she continued to train as a senior maid of Ophelis Hall for a long period of time. Aside from being skilled at cleaning, she had a good eye for knowing what aristocrats were thinking or wanted, was capable of using intermediate magic, possessed excellent rapier skills, and even had the ability to oversee personnel and finances… No matter where you searched, she was the perfect, most ideal maid you could find.

While other women of her age were getting married or were still dreaming of Prince Charming sweeping them off their feet while riding a white horse, she had already accumulated enough wealth to buy hundreds of such white horses. As she was considered one of the continent's most talented and competent individuals, countless aristocrats were drooling and trying to scout her.

Of course, with her talents, the concept of supply and demand existed. The more people who wanted to hire her, the more expensive her salary became. Tanya Rothstaylor, the head of House Rothstaylor, was the one who paid that large salary.

That was how a one-of-a-kind maid came to possess assets great enough to leave even average aristocrats in shock. And that incredibly capable maid, famous across the continent, was now…

"If anyone does anything stupid, I can't guarantee the safety of Young Master Ed. Everyone, please stay away."

On the roof of the Rothstaylor mansion, owned by the most powerful duchess and duke on the continent, Bell was tying up Ed Rothstaylor while staging a sit-in.

Yennekar Palerover, who was put in charge, looked up at the rooftop from the garden while sweating. Not only the other maids, but even the vassals of the house were in a cold sweat.

Bell Maya was staging a mutiny. To understand why she was acting this way, you first had to go back a little…

* * *

In an office at Rothstaylor Mansion, the owner of said mansion was sitting at a desk much larger than herself. All around her were visibly expensive art pieces. Her blonde hair fell across her shoulders like wings.

She looked up at the artwork on the walls and said, "I'll have to raise Bell's salary even more this time."

As the legitimate successor to the previous head of the house, Duke Krepin Rothstaylor, Tanya Rothstaylor held and protected all of the authority and power of the Rothstaylor name. However, compared to the incredible authority she held, Tanya could not help worrying that her small frame made her seem less dignified than her status demanded. After all, she was still too young to wear such overwhelming power with complete ease.

That young and powerful woman quickly flipped through the papers on her desk as she spoke to her most loyal servant, the head maid.

"Are you talking about my salary? I'm already getting enough," Bell Maya asked.

"That may be true, but… It seems that Margrave Bellefros and Marquis Antel are eyeing you again," Tanya said.

"Even if they offered to pay me a little more, I wouldn't move to another estate so easily. After all, House Rothstaylor treats me well."

"Hmm… This is a problem that goes just beyond how you feel, Bell."

Duchess Tanya has attended several central meetings of the Empire as a representative of House Rothstaylor. Every time she did, a few other lords of various estates would approach her with offers, their eyes always on Bell.

Although it was rude to openly covet a servant of another estate, they would still approach her and try to formally negotiate a job change. The offers were often so impressive that it was difficult for Tanya to simply deny them on the spot. Because of that, Tanya felt that she needed to be more careful and considerate to keep a hold of Bell.

Even though Bell continued to serve Tanya faithfully without asking for a higher salary, if Tanya kept underpaying someone as famous and talented as her, it would reflect badly on House Rothstaylor. If you wanted to hold on to someone valuable, you had to treat them well. Otherwise, the image and authority of the master would suffer. Regardless of Bell's refusal to accept a higher salary, Tanya still needed to pay her a proper minimum.

House Rothstaylor had experienced a rough few years after the horrendous acts of the previous head of the house, Krepin Rothstaylor. Though they managed to regain some of that lost prestige recently, if Tanya let her guard down, there was no telling when it might all come crumbling down again.

Ed Rothstaylor had been traveling across the continent playing with girls… No, he had been networking with them. Because of that, there were many people backing the family. They included the imperial princess, the saint of the Holy Father Building, and the head of Oldek's Business Association.

Thanks to that, the House's past glory had nearly all been restored. However, that didn't mean that everything about the authority of the house had returned to what it once was.

"…Hmm… This is a headache…" Tanya mused.

Being a duke and duchess of the empire required spending a lot of money. If one lost their authority, they lost everything. After all, an aristocrat lived and died by their authority. That was why they needed to build massive mansions, decorate them with countless expensive and famous pieces of artwork, and acquire a large number of vassals. Otherwise, the house would lose all of its authority and its voice at the Imperial Central Conference.

Losing that voice was no different than death for an aristocrat.

"…Is there anything I can help you with?" Bell Maya asked.

"It's alright, Bell. I'll just have a cup of tea before I begin my afternoon plans. Can you bring me some?" Tanya replied.

"Yes, of course."

Bell Maya was a perfect maid, but the resources to hire her were much too great. She was someone who had the salary of dozens of high-level maids combined. Of course, she did enough work to make up for it, but her salary continued to increase greatly.

It's already past the point where we can justify such a salary for a single maid. However, looking at how people are acting, it seems that they'll continue to try and raise their offers even higher at the next central meeting as well… Tanya scratched her chin as she was lost in thought.

It seemed that she would need to change Bell Maya's position if she wanted to continue keeping her at Rothstaylor Mansion.

Thud!

"Hmm…"

Bell Maya closed the door of the office as she was lost in her thoughts.

'Let's not worry about such worldly interests as gold and wealth. Let's just do our best to live a fruitful life under House Rothstaylor as the head maid.'

Although she was someone with such a mindset, her existence itself had begun to become a burden for her master. Something needed to be done.

"…Is there any way to legally lower my salary…" Bell mused.

It was a thought that would leave hard-working workers completely dumbfounded to hear. There was a degree to being loyal.

* * *

"Ed is coming back to the mansion next week! So, I went to look for some delicious types of tea!" Baroness Yennekar Palerover, who had come to visit the duke's residence, was sitting at a tea table in the garden, laughing as she spoke.

Impressively skilled maids quickly appeared as they brought over tea sets. They also brought over a three-tier tray of refreshments, which was full of cakes and sweet fruits decorated with pretty chocolate flowers.

Yennekar Palerover smiled as she brought a cup of black tea to her mouth. She was begging to look more like an aristocrat. It took a long time for her to adapt to aristocratic culture, as she was a commoner and grew up in a poorer environment. The only reason she was able to act like a noble was probably all thanks to her maid's efforts.

"Yes. We've also received word he will soon return. We are currently in a hurry trying to clean around his warehouse as well before he comes back, so please forgive the rather rambunctious atmosphere," Bell Maya replied.

"Yes, of course! Don't worry! I told you I don't mind things like that!"

"Thank you for being so understanding."

However, the uniquely bright and energetic tone of a commoner that popped out once in a while was indistinguishable because of her innate nature. Even when her beautifully braided hair was decorated with expensive flower-hairpins, Yennekar was still Yennekar. Rather, there were many servants who actually preferred her uniquely comfortable and cozy atmosphere. In its own way, it acted as a sense of leadership.

Ed and Tanya Rothstaylor were individuals who were extremely cold-hearted when necessary. So, it was nice to have Yennekar to at least be that one bright individual in your confidence. Bell Maya was well aware of that fact. She knew just how important Yennekar was to House Rothstaylor.

Bell said, "Lucy is coming back with him. I think it's time for me to go back to my duties of holding her to her responsibilities, which I haven't done for a long time."

"Haha… Bell, you're always so strict with Lucy," Yennekar replied.

"I pray that she hasn't caused Young Master Ed any trouble…"

Even though Bell was the one who spoke in a worried tone, Lucy would have probably been the one worried upon hearing what Bell was saying. In fact, there were only a few people in the entire Rothstaylor Mansion who were not afraid of Bell Maya.

The Rothstaylors had two swords. One was the genius elementalist, Yennekar Palerover. The other was the genius magician, Lucy Mayreel. As long as those two were a part of House Rothstaylor, it would be difficult for anyone to present any real danger or put any real pressure on them—no matter how many soldiers they may have.

Besides them, there is also the head of Oldek's Business Association, the princess of the Kroel Empire, and the saint of the Holy Father Building… Every individual who was close to House Rothstaylor was extremely influential. Each and every one of them held tremendous power that was difficult to control.

However, someone had to hold the balance between all of those powerhouses—a person within House Rothstaylor that could take care of them. It was necessary to have an aide who was capable of taking care of private matters and fulfilling their duties. In their world, few people could accomplish such a task in front of such powerful individuals.

On the outside, Bell was just a servant of House Rothstaylor. However, it wouldn't be strange to think of her as one of the leaders on the inside.

"You look like you have a lot on your mind, Bell," Yennekar pointed out.

"…What?" Bell Maya asked.

"Even if others don't see it, I can tell at a glance. After all, we've known each other since you worked at Ophelis Hall."

"…I'm sorry."

"Huh? Wh-why are you apologizing?! Everyone knows how much is on your plate, so it's no wonder that you would be full of worries."

It was a novice mistake for a maid to show their inner feelings on their face. Bell Maya lamented quietly as she quickly went back to being expressionless, hiding her emotions.

Yennekar was a bright and cheerful girl who had a strange atmosphere around her that would draw out the sincerity of others. If Bell let her guard down for even a moment, even she was vulnerable to making such a mistake. After being with Yennekar for such a long time, she must have gotten careless after becoming so comfortable with her.

Yennekar was excited to be able to see Ed after such a long time. Even when she was standing still, you could see it all across her expression. Looking at Yennekar's bright expression, Bell Maya let out a quiet sigh on the inside.

She said, "To be honest, I had the thought that I might be extra baggage for House Rothstaylor."

Yennekar exclaimed, "What? You? But no one does their job as well as you! Ed and Tanya aren't the type to praise people easily, yet they always talk about how important you are to the house. No one else even comes close to you."

"I am grateful for how highly they think of me, but…I'm worried that because of it, it has caused an issue…"

"Hmm…" Yennekar then said, with a bright smile that made it seem as if she were a blossoming flower, "Well, I don't think this is something for you to worry about. I don't really understand these types of things, but I'm certain that Ed and Tanya are also taking care of your worries."

Even though they seemed like empty words of comfort, surprisingly, they hit the nail on the head. A maid only needed to do a maid's job. It might have seemed like an obvious truth, but when Yennekar said it, the meaning felt completely different.

Looking at Yennekar's bright expression, a new idea flashed in Bell's head.

* * *

Late at night, Bell sat at her desk in her room, deep in thought.

The surest way to lower her salary would be to make a major mistake, one that was hard to make up. However, if she did something too big, she might end up getting kicked out of the house or being punished. That would make it difficult to continue working for House Rothstaylor.

She would need to make a mistake that would cause a scandal, but not make her lose her place. If possible, a mistake that wouldn't reflect poorly on the house—something that Ed and Tanya could take care of.

However, if news of her mistake didn't spread, it wouldn't affect her salary at all. So, it was important to do something that others would surely hear about.

In particular, she had to be careful when figuring out her motive. If rumors spread that she was after power or wealth, she wouldn't be able to work as a maid again. So, she couldn't have that type of scandal being spread around… But if it were due to something emotional, that could be more easily forgiven.

"Hmm… I have a rough idea," Bell mused to herself, alone in the dark.

"Hmm…"

After coming up with a plan to some extent, she was left with perhaps the most difficult part.

Getting her master's permission.

Although she was doing it for their sake, she couldn't dare do such a thing without permission. That was what it meant to be a maid.

* * *

The next day, Bell Maya approached Ed Rothstaylor with her idea.

"How about we act as if I have a crush on you, Young Master Ed? Unable to control my feelings any longer, I end up kidnapping you. I think that would be the easiest plan of action," Bell stated.

Ed, who was listening to Bell's report, had no choice but to put down the tea he was drinking lest he choke. It was a miracle that he didn't spill it. They sat in silence for a long while.

"…Please sign off on my plan," Bell said.

The first report he received after returning to Rothstaylor Mansion after a long time away…was a report by the head maid Bell Maya on a plan for a revolt. It was the first time he had ever seen someone get permission to act as the antagonist.