The epilogue of the Narzissenkreuz Ordo was also approaching its end here.
Upon learning that An was going to the outside world,
Rene couldn't help but complain that a large part of current Fontaine was being propped up by the Guillotin family.
So it probably wasn't that great.
"But if you can like it, then that's better than anything."
"An, Rene, let's travel together, okay?"
An agreed immediately.
Her role and personality had been created based on a brave hero.
She definitely wouldn't refuse "her own" suggestion.
However, Rene could not agree.
"Although it's regrettable, please allow me to refuse. I still have things I need to do."
"Mary-Ann" was indeed very regretful.
"Alright… can't be helped. Then remember to leave me an address. I want to write letters to you and tell you about the things An and I see during our travels."
"Just like before, when you and Jakob told me about the things you saw in Sumeru."
Before setting off, An still wanted to see Seymour and Caterpillar.
Caterpillar was straightforward. He knew Rene only had one last breath left.
Returning to the Land of the Sleeping was probably something Mu Yang or Lumine had agreed to bring back.
Master Rene shared his feelings over the past five hundred years.
"Dreams, magic, memories, mystic philosophy… the things I once treasured now seem like worthless scraps to me at this moment."
"In the first ten years, I used all my strength to prevent my will from dissipating."
"In the following years, I constructed a universe within my body with a strong will. I resisted the fate that came for me and persisted like this."
Rene looked around at the small flower garden in the Land of the Sleeping.
This was something "Mary-Ann" had restored based on the Narzissenkreuz Institute.
"It's the same for you all, right? Building such a beautiful dream in the ruins of our former home. That is truly remarkable."
"Mary-Ann was right. It's very warm here."
An nodded, indicating that she understood.
"Now I'm tired, An. Please let me stay here."
"Goodbye."
From beginning to end, Rene referred to himself as Narzissenkreuz.
As for his intention… probably only he himself knew.
Rene sat on the long bench in the flower garden and fell asleep…
Perhaps life is just a dream?
[Why does the final boss feel a bit tragic?]
[It's just a difference in positions. He really wanted to save the world.]
[The only true villain is the big whale.]
[This is the downside of not being able to speak. You can't even shift the blame.]
[The whale says: I just wanted to eat.]
When An and Caterpillar returned to the pavilion,
"Mary-Ann" was sharing her creative inspirations with Mu Yang and the others.
About An's birth, An's adventures…
"Where's Rene?"
"He…"
"…He was a bit tired, so he went to rest." At times like this, Caterpillar was more skilled at handling it.
Finally, it was Seymour's turn.
"Miss Mary-Ann… your new hair color and eye color are truly radiant."
"Hmph, you stupid dog. Is that all you can say?"
"My language center is unable to express the logic and information currently being processed."
"Mary-Ann" smiled, tears flowing from her eyes. "I know… I'm sorry. I missed you so much…"
Afterward, everyone shared the things they had encountered along the way.
Finally, Seymour sought the next instruction from its master.
"Mary-Ann" asked in return, "Seymour, what do you want to do?"
"My primary directive is to accompany Miss in place of Alain Guillotin and protect Miss."
"You idiot. That was my brother… that was Alain's instruction. What I'm asking is, what do you want to do?"
[Seymour: I don't know?]
[AI crisis incoming]
[Anti-organic equation, activate!]
Seymour calculated for a moment. "…I once promised Miss Mamere that after finding the master, I would return to her previous spatial coordinates and express my gratitude to her."
"Mary-Ann" patted the dog's head. "Mhm, you did very well, good doggy."
"?" Seymour completely failed to understand the situation.
"Seymour, I hope you become the master of your own destiny. In the time to come, do what you want to do. Do what you believe is right."
"Miss Mary-Ann… should I understand it this way: all the instructions I previously accepted have now been completely lifted?"
"Mary-Ann" nodded in satisfaction. "Yes. Now please answer me once more, Seymour. What do you want to do?"
Seymour expressed with its mechanical voice that it wanted everything…
"I want to continue accompanying you, Miss Mary-Ann. But I also want to accompany Miss Mamere. I judge that these two are difficult to reconcile under real physical spacetime conditions."
[Future Fontaine people: Let me see what the first mechanical dog to evolve intelligence is thinking about — I want everything]
[It really is "I want everything"]
[Seymour, you're the dog who silently does big things]
Mu Yang suggested that Mamere had always wanted to go out and see the world outside the village.
She wanted to paint all those things.
If they could add her to this journey, it should be pretty good.
"Certainly. I believe your suggestion is very reasonable. However, we still need to ask Miss Mamere's opinion."
Upon hearing this, "Mary-Ann" became extremely excited. "Of course! Let's meet at this spot then."
"Let our journeys intersect with each other. Let us leave footprints in the desert, in the forest, in the snowfield, in the lost ancient city of Arcadia, and in the golden Hyperborea!"
As she spoke, she entered the coordinates.
Mu Yang and the others bid farewell to "Mary-Ann."
The group soon returned to the House of the Hearth—no, to Mamere's home in the Seafoam Village.
"Ah, it's Mu Yang, and Seymour. These two must be Lumine and Paimon who visited the village before. The villagers often talk about you."
"Hello, Mamere."
Mamere was much more cheerful now.
She said she was developing a new way of painting.
Even the friends in Seafoam Village could understand it now.
[Little cutie, finally don't have to worry about you anymore]
[All good endings, except…]
[You upstairs!]
When Mamere had talked enough, Seymour finally brought up the matter of the journey.
Upon hearing there was such a good thing, Mamere said, "Let's start right away! An artistic creation journey around the continent!"
"Right now, immediately! I'm going to pack my painting tools and luggage. You just sit here and wait for me."
"Understood, Miss Mamere."
This was the first time Paimon had seen such a decisive Melusine.
Mamere, who was inside the house, heard his comment and said, "If you don't take action, dreams will forever remain just dreams, right?"
Outside the house, Seymour expressed its gratitude to everyone, including Caterpillar, through its own will.
Before departing, Mamere asked Mu Yang and Lumine for their addresses.
The great painter said that whenever she painted anything impressive, she would send it to them.
Lumine had no fixed residence, so she simply filled in the same as Mu Yang — [Three Bowls Won't Cross the Harbor].
"Then I wish you a safe journey." Mu Yang waved goodbye to the Melusine and the mechanical dog.
Outside Seafoam Village, Caterpillar was also about to leave.
He still owed Lanoire half a short story.
It was one he had told halfway before.
However, the time to learn the ending had not yet come.
[Hinting at more side stories, huh]
[Nice!]
"Goodbye. Meeting all of you might be one of the luckiest things in this [life] of mine."
"Goodbye, Caterpillar."
"Take care."
"Be careful not to let your true identity be discovered by others. It'll be very troublesome!"
The Hilichurl smiled, turned around, and left.