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In the Withering Garden, the giant Might of An-Utu shimmered with gold-red light. Yet not a trace of heat escaped—every bit was sealed perfectly within, waiting only to be deployed when needed.
With the sword's energy output and its ultra-high-performance computational system, it could easily cover all of New Eridu.
Unless someone had truly terrible luck, anyone granted authorization was basically impossible to kill.
Sol examined it with satisfaction, then turned to the Hollow Special Operations Section Six members. "All right. The final arrangement is complete. Now I can rest easy."
"You're leaving?"
Miyabi's expression remained calm, yet her voice carried a faint reluctance.
He was both her teacher and her lover, and had just demonstrated exquisite swordsmanship for her.
If possible, she had many things she wanted to say.
"Yes, I'm leaving." Sol nodded lightly and said leisurely, "If I don't go now, I might start finding it hard to leave."
"Should we drive you somewhere?"
Yanagi smiled gently. "The Sixth Division's vehicle is always ready. You solved such a huge problem for us—sending you off is the least we can do."
"No need. Let's say our farewells here."
Sol smiled faintly. Where he was going… a car could hardly take him.
Perhaps a spaceship could?
"Then… this really is goodbye."
Yanagi didn't push further, sighing softly.
It felt like he was going somewhere far—too far—and New Eridu was losing a trustworthy friend.
Soukaku waved vigorously, reluctant. "Goodbye, Big Brother Sol!"
Miyabi floundered a little, suddenly unsure what to say. She only murmured, "Goodbye."
"Come back early. I want my authorization level raised next time—at least higher than Soukaku."
Harumasa narrowed his eyes, completely ignoring Soukaku's puffed cheeks.
No matter the reason, anyone who handed him life-saving authorization deserved deep gratitude!
"Goodbye."
Sol looked at them, his thoughts drifting to other friends as well.
He had only been in New Eridu for a few short months, but the events he'd lived through were more exciting than the previous twenty-two years combined.
And the friends he'd made… were the kind worth keeping for life. In world-hopping, people like this surely existed—but they didn't walk around with I am a good person written on their foreheads.
While his mind wandered, he reached into his system inventory and retrieved the [Sea of Trees Shuttle].
It looked like a silver-white rectangular box, palm-sized—giving no hint of the world-crossing power it held.
From the many items he'd drawn from cards, he chose the [Swordsmanship Notes of the Cloud Knights] as the anchor for traversal.
The thin booklet merged into the silver box, rippling slightly.
Once fully absorbed, the box glowed and projected a beam of silver light forward.
The beam expanded into a swirling, mysterious portal.
On the other side stretched a vast sea of stars—countless suns glittering in eternal darkness.
"What… is that?"
Soukaku stared dumbly, completely transfixed.
Her eyes were filled with starlight, her tiny heart expanding instantly to infinity.
Yanagi, Miyabi, and Harumasa said nothing—they too were overwhelmed.
The door seemed to connect to an entirely different, far wider world.
Only now did they begin to understand: when Sol said he was going on a long trip… he truly meant long.
Sol paused before the star-sea portal, then abruptly turned toward Miyabi. "Miyabi, although the Might of An-Utu has a precise control system, having a sword-keeper would be even safer."
"This person should excel at swordsmanship and have experience wielding the cursed blade [Tailless]. Who do you think that could be?"
His tone drifted, tinged with playfulness.
Miyabi counted the conditions one by one—it sounded tailor-made for her. Uncertain, she asked, "Me?"
"Yes… and no."
Sol's lips curved mysteriously.
"?"
Miyabi tilted her head, her ruby-red eyes puzzled.
Sol didn't explain. Instead, he snapped his fingers and walked toward the starry expanse with a smile. "Parting gifts—catch them."
The portal to the star-sea slowly closed, and his figure vanished completely.
At the same moment, a large bag of red bean buns fell into Yanagi's arms, a huge bag of snacks into Soukaku's arms, and a clear crystalline injector into Harumasa's hand.
But none of them bothered checking their gifts. Their gazes converged on Miyabi.
A mature, gentle woman appeared beside her—wearing a cream-colored long dress, her features soft and exquisite. Looking closely, she resembled Miyabi by half.
"Mom?"
Hoshimi Miyabi's eyes blurred as she instinctively opened her arms.
The deeply cherished heirloom blade [Tailless] fell to the ground, but she didn't care at all.
"My little Miyabi… you really made an extraordinary friend."
The gentle woman embraced her, softly patting her back—this girl she treasured most.
She herself had been shocked upon revival, but a surge of information had poured into her mind, letting her understand everything.
Because of Miyabi, she had been chosen by a god and returned from the domain of death—reborn as the divine sword's attendant.
"Mom…"
Miyabi held her tightly, not daring to loosen her grip even a little.
She was terrified that if she let go, her mother would once again vanish in the flames.
"Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. From now on, I'll always be with you."
The woman's face overflowed with warmth and tenderness.
She could easily imagine the wound Miyabi carried from witnessing such a cruel death… and how much hardship she endured to grow into the young woman she was.
"Mm."
Miyabi held her quietly, her grip relaxing slightly.
Feeling her mother's warmth, she looked toward the space where Sol had disappeared.
Once, Sol's arms had felt as comforting as her mother's.
Now, from her mother's embrace, she felt Sol's gentleness once more.
How fortunate she was—to be blessed by the divine.
It felt unreal—like a dream.
"A life resurrected… Sol's miracles are unbelievable."
Asaba Harumasa stared blankly, his entire worldview cracking apart.
Well, admittedly, it had already cracked once when the Might of An-Utu manifested.
He knew the Chief's mother had died in the Fall of the Old Capital. He'd seen her photos on his visits.
For the dead to return—this was a miracle.
Harumasa looked at the thick injector in his hand. There was no label—no branding. A true unregulated product.
Yet he hesitated not at all. He jabbed it into his left arm and pushed the liquid into his vein.
He needed to calm himself down. He was also afraid the gift would degrade in the Hollow… or worse, that the shameless officials might confiscate it for research.
Everything felt like a dream.