Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 608

Side Story 15

“I turned back time for your body. No need to thank me; give your thanks to El. If you weren’t El’s contractor, I would have just left you.”

“Still, thank you so much! I’m truly moved! I’ll consider you my benefactor for life!”

“I said it’s not necessary. Rather than talking about a lifetime, you should research how to live longer first.”

“Pardon?”

“The entangled energies are numerous. A curse so deeply rooted in resentment that I can’t even decipher it. If you don’t resolve it soon, you won’t die in one piece.”

The elf’s expression didn’t change much. He seemed aware of his condition. Ellyuen narrowed his eyes and looked at him. He had felt a strange sense of unease since earlier. Come to think of it, this impudent elf hadn’t even asked his savior what his identity was. If he had any sense, he would have realized that turning back time to heal wasn’t ordinary.

He didn’t even seem curious about his relationship with El. It wasn’t that he wasn’t interested, but he clearly suspected who he was. Besides, wasn’t this frivolous personality familiar?

“You…”

Ellyuen opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come out. He had a very bad feeling. Of course, personalities could overlap. Just because his condition was like that didn’t mean he could jump to conclusions. But that’s why he had to confirm it.

“Yes? What is it?”

“I truly, sincerely hope this isn’t the case, but…”

“Yes, go on.”

“…Are you perhaps Kanos?”

For a brief moment, the elf’s eyes wavered. Of course, the perceptive Ellyuen didn’t miss it.

“You…”

“Ahahaha! I’m not sure who you’re talking about… Who is that? My name is Noel.”

“Noel?”

“Yes! As you can see, I’m Noel of the ordinary High Elf clan. You’re the God of Punishment, Ellyuen, right? I’ve heard a lot about you from El. I recognized you at first glance! I never thought I’d meet you in person, so it’s a great honor!”

Ellyuen quietly furrowed his brow at the glib answer. He was bothered by how he was explaining as if he had seen through him, but it was also a plausible excuse. But it was also true that he had reacted to the name Kanos earlier, so it was hard to dismiss it as a misjudgment.

“Um, Lord Ellyuen?”

Ellyuen stopped his thoughts as he looked at the bewildered face of the innocent elf. No way Kanos could have become an elf. Even if he did, he wouldn’t even think about summoning El and making a contract. If that guy had any conscience.

“Father!”

At that moment, the air currents suddenly twisted, and a boy with blue hair popped out. It was El, who had rushed over, knowing that Ellyuen was here.

“El, you…”

“No, Father! Kanos didn’t do anything wrong! I was the one who wanted to make a contract! So don’t kill him!”

“…”

A brief silence swept between them. It was an air so chillingly cold and eerily still.

“…Oh, uh?”

El closed his mouth at the suddenly changed atmosphere. He naturally thought that Ellyuen would recognize and kill Noel as soon as he met him. So, to prevent the worst-case scenario, he had rushed over, despite his body not fully recovered.

However, the moment he shouted, he noticed something was wrong when he saw Ellyuen’s expression suddenly turn grim. When he glanced over, he saw Noel holding his forehead with a troubled face. Only then did he realize that things had gone wrong, but it was already too late.

“…Kanos?”

“Nyahaha, w-well… That, that’s to say, Ellyuen…”

The elf, Noel, who had taken a step back, smiled awkwardly and sweated profusely. Ellyuen stared at him silently, a brilliant smile appearing on his face. It was a truly sweet, heavenly smile that made people lose their minds.

“I’m going to kill you.”

Of course, the ending wasn’t sweet at all.

* * *

The result of a momentary mistake was devastating. El looked at Noel, who was crouching in the corner and crying (or rather, pretending to cry). His body, bruised in a short time, fortunately had no broken bones, but it was swollen and unsightly here and there.

“I’m sorry, Kanos. Are you okay?”

Noel only lifted his eyes from his face buried between his knees for a moment. Then, before he could say anything, he buried his face again and burst into a sorrowful cry.

“Sniff! Sniffle! Sniff sniff! Sniffle!”

“Ugh, I’m really sorry. I didn’t think things would turn out like this.”

“El, don’t worry about that damn guy and come here.”

A cold voice followed, directed at the flustered El. El glared at Ellyuen, who didn’t care about Noel at all.

“That’s too much, Father. Now that you’re not a god anymore, do you have to hit him that hard?”

“A guy like that needs to be hit to come to his senses.”

“Still, he’s just reached adulthood in human terms.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

The fierce eyes clearly showed that his anger hadn’t subsided. In fact, if El hadn’t stopped him, he wouldn’t have ended it at this level. Why is their relationship like this? El sighed heavily. He didn’t expect them to be happy to see each other, but he thought there would be some affectionate feelings, but it seemed like he hated him even more than before. Even now, the gaze towards Noel, who was crying, was only murderous.

“You sly bastard. If you were born an elf, you should have lived and died quietly. Why did you summon someone else’s precious son? Were you planning to drag El into your cursed life?”

“Ugh, don’t do that, Father. Why are you saying such things?”

“Don’t stop me, El. You can defend that guy because you don’t know how serious this situation is. The Adversary of the Main God is like a plague that gnaws at the world itself. No matter how much of a Spirit King you are, you can’t avoid the influence…”

“Adversary of the Main God?”

A sense of dismay flashed across Ellyuen’s face. He clicked his tongue slightly and averted his gaze.

“I know there’s something wrong with Kanos. Troel told me. That he’s in a state close to an evil god…”

“…”

“Tell me, Father. Why did Kanos become like that? Why is Kanos the Adversary of the Main God?”

“There’s a reason. It’s something you don’t need to know.”

“But…”

“Yes, that’s right. You don’t need to know, El.”

Noel, who had approached, slipped into the conversation. Ellyuen frowned, but he didn’t stop him from sitting down.

“Ugh~ That’s too much, Ellyuen. You could have hit me a little softer. It really hurt.”

“Shut up. I held back from hitting you more.”

“Yes, I’m just grateful that you didn’t kill me.”

The face that answered with a straight face showed no signs of crying at all. But it was true that he was hurt, and ugly wounds were plastered all over him.

“Shouldn’t you get treated?”

“Huh? Ah, just leave it alone. If I use healing magic, we’ll only hurt each other.”

“…That’s because Kanos is the Adversary of the Main God, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Why did it become like that?”

“I told you, you don’t need to know.”

“No, I want to know. I need to know!”

“El.”

“No matter how I think about it, I don’t understand! Kanos is the one who sacrificed himself for us, so why is he like this? He should be blessed because he’s the biggest contributor, right?”

“It’s the opposite, El.”

“Yes?”

El’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer. Noel smiled bitterly and replied.

“I’ll tell you because you’re so curious. A god who sacrifices himself for the destruction of an evil god is not considered to be saving the world. Strictly speaking, he’s dying for the evil god.”

“What does that…”

“Let’s start with this. Why do you think an upper god is needed for the destruction of an evil god?”

El couldn’t answer easily to the following question. It was a part that he hadn’t thought about deeply, but until now, he had understood it as a kind of sacrifice. Just like a strong medicine is needed for a big disease, isn’t the upper god’s life the cure that can remove the evil god’s tumor? Noel nodded with an admirable face.

“That’s about right. To be exact, it’s closer to the role of a vessel.”

“A vessel?”

“Only an upper god has a strong enough vessel to hold all the power of the evil god.”

A hollow wind swept between them. El struggled to reorganize what he had heard a little while ago. He felt like he had heard something very strange.

“An awakened evil god can only be destroyed by the Main God. If we had purified it in the middle, there would have been a chance, but Karyuan had already passed that stage. At that point, there’s only one way we can stop it.”

“What is it?”

“Someone accepts his power and then disappears.”

The afterimage of a certain time flashed by, and his vision went dark for a moment. El forced himself to swallow his trembling breath.

“Accepting the power of an evil god means…”

“It’s just as it sounds. This side becomes the evil god.”

The surrounding air cooled rapidly. “Ah, of course, it’s okay now because it’s been destroyed. I’m just an ordinary elf.” Noel added with a smile, but no one who heard those words could laugh.

“The other kids didn’t know about that structure, but anyway, to put it simply, it’s like someone stepping up to pay off someone else’s debt. Responding to this becomes for the debtor. That’s why I said I’m dying for the evil god.”

“The Adversary of the Main God is also…”

“That’s right, it’s all the same principle.”

The voice answering was cheerful, but the content it contained was not. El unknowingly stared at Ellyuen. Only after seeing him nod did he accept that this absurd situation was real.

“…I understand. I honestly don’t understand, but let’s say that’s the case. But if it’s been destroyed, isn’t it all over? It’s been destroyed. But why even after being reincarnated…”

“It’s because he brought everything from the evil god. Not only his sins but also the Main God’s curse on the evil god. This remains in the soul, so it doesn’t disappear even if the divine being disappears. This can also be seen as part of the debt that must be repaid.”

Ha, El let out a moan that was neither a sigh nor anything else. The person who created the debt in the first place had completely disappeared, but another person was paying for his sins instead. Even now, Kanos’s figure smiling and disappearing was vivid in his mind. He had never imagined that even more despair would be waiting at the end of that miserable despair. His head was numb as if he had been hit in the back of the head.

“But that was unavoidable. In the first place, the Main God is asleep, so there was no other way to destroy it.”

“That’s right, it couldn’t be helped. But there’s also the responsibility for not stopping it before the situation got there.”

El distorted his face. Kanos said he had simulated it several times to stop him. But he couldn’t stop it. Even in this situation, he wanted to ask if he was failing to fulfill his responsibilities. But Noel’s next words blocked that question.

“It’s also true that I’m for that guy.”

It was a small murmur, but no one didn’t hear it. This time, El, who couldn’t find anything to say, lowered his head. Just as Ellyuen had thrown himself to protect his son, Kanos was also a father who cared for his children. He had known that from the beginning. But the result that came back was too painful.

“You pathetic bastard.”

Ellyuen snapped coldly.

“Oh, that’s too much, Ellyuen. I know I’m pathetic, but still.”

“Idiot.”

“How can you say that? Even I get hurt.”

“Shut up.”

The bickering reminded him of the peaceful days of the past, making El feel even more suffocated.

“Then… is there really no way for Kanos to become a god again?”

The two people who had stopped arguing turned to look at El. El, afraid that they would say there was no way and not to have vain dreams, clenched his clothes tightly. But an unexpected answer came back.

“There is a way.”

“Huh? Really?”

“This guy can become an evil god again.”

The flower of hope was nipped in the bud.

“As you know, if you kill pure children and drink their fresh blood, you become a god. Anyway, this guy won’t have any more curses to receive here, so if you commit it with the mentality of going all out, it’s definitely possible.”

“…Is that the only way?”

He would have preferred it if he had flatly stated that there was no way to become a god. El’s expression, unable to hide his disappointment, became sullen. Along with that, Ellyuen’s next words followed.

“Or, wake up the sleeping Main God.”

“…Huh?”

His head snapped up at the whispering voice. Only then did El discover that his lips were smiling.

“Wake up the Main God?”

Ellyuen shrugged lightly.

“As you said, this time it was unavoidable. If the Main God wakes up, he can undo everything. I can’t believe it, but since the Main God loved this guy the most, he’ll take such circumstances into consideration.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah. I don’t know why he cherishes a guy like this, but.”

“No, that’s not it… Is it really possible? To awaken the Main God?”

“It’s not impossible. We just need to find the place where he’s sleeping.”

“Where is that place?”

“Well, Kanos would know.”

“K-Kanos?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to one spot. Noel, wearing an awkward smile, scratched his head.

“Ellyuen, you…”

“What? Am I wrong? I heard that the Main God told only you the location before he fell asleep.”

“No, in a way, you’re not wrong… But it’s a bit strange for you to suddenly say this. Don’t tell me you want me to go back too?”

“Of course, I do.”

Such a straightforward affirmation was something no one had expected. Noel, who had been smiling, blinked in surprise.

“Ellyuen! I’m touched! I knew you loved me…”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Ellyuen clicked his tongue and pushed Noel’s face away with one hand. Noel, receiving the full force of the impact, collapsed onto the floor, his nose hitting hard. El fidgeted at the sound of his groans, but Ellyuen didn’t care in the slightest.

“I don’t want to admit it, but your absence is quite significant. Everyone is still wandering around, unable to find their footing. Thanks to you, the work of the entire God Realm isn’t functioning properly. It’s all because of you.”

“Ouch, that hurts. Was that it? But the new Archgod has already been chosen.”

Noel replied, singing, as he lay sprawled on the floor. Ellyuen’s gaze sharpened at his carefree attitude.

“Shut up. It’s not just a matter of jurisdictional area. In terms of diligence, you can’t even compare to Kroahen.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“Yes. I’m getting angry at myself for even trying to persuade you like this. But I can’t help it. You were like a proxy for the sleeping Main God.”

“…”

“So come back, Kanos. The God Realm needs you.”

El swallowed and watched Noel with a nervous expression. He was anxious about what kind of reaction he would show.

“Hmm, I don’t really feel like it.”

“Kanos!”

El cried out, becoming desperate. Ellyuen’s gaze also lowered further. Noel, ignoring all of that, stared blankly at the sky with an indifferent expression.

“But awakening the Main God isn’t as easy as it sounds. The method I know is just a way to find the key to reaching the Main God’s consciousness. More than anything, the Main God didn’t fall asleep for no reason, so forcibly waking him up won’t do any good. The backlash would be even greater. It’s not worth it for just me.”

“Why is Kanos… !”

“Why are you just?”

Ellyuen’s voice cut through El’s outburst. Noel blinked blankly, hearing words he hadn’t expected this time. El, sensing that it wasn’t his place to interfere, carefully stepped back, his hands clasped over his mouth.

“Huh? Uh?”

“I don’t know where you’ve been listening, but does the fact that the God Realm needs you not fit into that meager brain of yours?”

“Ah, well. Of course, there will be some chaos for a while. But those things all get better with time. There are other Supreme Gods who can act as proxies. Anyone will fill the role, even if it’s not me.”

“Then who will fill the void of a friend?”

“What?”

“As you said, someone else can fill the role of the Main God’s proxy. But it’s impossible to replace my friend’s absence. Shouldn’t you take responsibility for this?”

“…Are you talking to me?”

“Do I have another friend?”

Theirs eyes met. Noel’s eyes, which had been blank with bewilderment, curved with playfulness.

“Wow, Ellyuen. You’re saying amazing things so casually. What if you regret it later?”

“If it’s regret, I’ve been doing it since the moment I met you. From the beginning, our relationship was a bad one. Wasn’t it you who made me a god?”

“Ah…”

The face that had been blinking with rounded eyes now held an embarrassed smile.

“Got it?”

“Did you think I would have remained ignorant of it all this time?”

“No, well. I knew you’d find out someday.”

“If you know, then there’s even less to say. You’ve ruined all my plans, and now you’re going to live your own way? No way, don’t even dream about it. I won’t stand for it. So don’t make me say the same thing twice.”

Once again, their eyes met. This time, neither of them smiled.

“Come back.”

Noel didn’t say anything for a while. He stared blankly at the sky, then slowly closed his eyes. Soon, a faint smile appeared on his expressionless face.

Finally, Kanos rose from his seat. His face was carefree, as if he had shaken something off. The dazzling sunlight poured down on him as he stretched his arms and yawned.

“I can’t help it. If you want me that much, I guess I’ll go back.”

“Really, Kanos?”

“…You annoying brat.”

Ellyuen’s grim voice spread out next to El, whose face immediately brightened. Kanos quickly raised his hand as if surrendering.

“Don’t glare at me like that. It wasn’t an easy decision for me either. I told you, it’s a really difficult process. I’m not even sure if I’ll succeed in this life, and I don’t know how many times I’ll have to try. You know that, right?”

Ellyuen, who had loosened his stiff expression, lightly clicked his tongue. El watched the two of them, unable to hide his overwhelming feelings. Kanos had decided to return, and the person who had drawn out that decision was none other than Ellyuen. This whole process was so unbelievable that it felt like a dream.

“By the way, are you going to be okay, Ellyuen?”

“What do you mean?”

“You have to take responsibility for telling me to come back. I think I’m going to be relying on you quite a bit from now on. It’s probably going to be more annoying than ever before. Once we start, there’s no going back. Can you handle it?”

Noel’s face, smiling, contained the same playfulness as always. El looked back at Ellyuen with great anticipation. He couldn’t imagine him backing down from such a provocation. As expected, Ellyuen had a look on his face as if he had heard something obvious. A challenging smile appeared on his face, as if scolding him to mind his own business.

“As much as you want.”

El couldn’t help but laugh at that confident answer.

A new act was opening. It was clear that it would be an ending where everyone would be happy.

A child wearing a hood pulled low walked through the streets in a daze. Today was the Archgod’s annual birthday celebration. A large-scale festival held to commemorate the season before the world fully fell into darkness. The event, which had been prepared for months, was as splendid and beautiful as expected. The street parade of knights and priests on horseback, the gold paper and confetti scattered from time to time. The sight of colorful fireworks embroidered in the sky, decorating the red sky as if it were dyed in the sunset even though it was daytime, was truly spectacular. He didn’t even realize that he had lost his guardian at some point while following the procession with a dazed look.

“Emil! Look over there! It’s the Vatican procession!”

The child, who had been shouting excitedly, realized that there was no one next to him only after a long time had passed.

“Emil?”

The panicked child barely managed to get out of the crowd. The voice of the nanny, who had repeatedly told him not to be separated from the escort knight, echoed in his mind. But no matter how much he looked around, he couldn’t see Emil.

Remembering that he should stay in place and wait when he lost his companion, the child waited quietly. How long had it been? Suddenly, a piece of cloth covered his eyes, and someone gagged him from behind. He struggled with all his might, but he couldn’t overcome the force holding him. Rather, the child, who was lifted up as he was, began to be dragged somewhere.

When he finally stopped, there was a musty smell. Only then did the child, who had been released from the grip, look around in a clumsy, fallen state. He didn’t know where he was, but it was a secluded alley with no one around. This time, the child checked the side that had dragged him. There were five people in total. They were all wearing hoods, so their faces could not be seen. In comparison, the hood that the child was wearing had already been removed. Soft silver hair like cotton candy and splendid golden eyes like pieces of stars were clearly revealed.

“Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?”

The kidnappers whistled at the child’s calm question.

“He’s very calm for a kid. I guess he’s really from that bloodline.”

“Right. I don’t think we need to check.”

“Silver hair and golden eyes. His appearance alone is perfect.”

The conversation they were having was already unusual. The child swallowed hard. He wished it was just the work of delinquents who had accidentally found a lost child, but it seemed far from that. It must not have been a mere coincidence that he had been separated from his escort knight.

“Kid, you’re Lord Resolte from the Resolte family, right?”

The child’s face hardened as he realized that his guess was correct. The kidnappers, reading the answer from that expression, grinned.

“I’m sorry, but there’s someone who doesn’t want the young lord to become an adult. You’ll have to die here today. I don’t have a hobby of killing kids, but the money on your head is so huge. I’m sorry.”

“Who is it? Who ordered you?”

The child, who was born with a precious star, was also the eldest son of the Duke Resolte family, the leader of the pro-imperial faction, so he had many enemies everywhere. Not only rival families but also countries wary of the empire were trying to eliminate the child. So he had been under strict protection, but he never dreamed that such a problem would arise on an outing that he had barely managed to get permission for after begging and begging. The calculation that wearing ordinary clothes and having a small number of escorts would make him less noticeable was completely wrong.

“You don’t need to know that. I’ll finish it as soon as possible.”

The man who stepped forward drew his long sword. The child hesitated and stepped back. Knowing full well that it wouldn’t reach, he kept calling out the name of his escort knight in his heart.

The child was more intelligent than his peers and had outstanding natural talents. But he didn’t yet have the power to deal with adults.

“Then goodbye.”

The man raised his sword, and the child closed his eyes tightly. But after waiting for a long time, nothing happened. The child, flustered, opened his eyes and soon found someone standing in front of him. He was wearing a long cloak and a hood.

‘Emil?’

The child, whose face brightened as he thought it was his escort knight, realized that the other person was smaller than his knight. It seemed that someone had witnessed the situation while passing by and had intervened. The kidnappers were also hesitant, perhaps because they were embarrassed by the sudden appearance of the other person.

“Who are you?”

“That’s what I want to ask. Why are you trying to kill him?”

The voice that followed was as clear as a refreshing feeling. It was neither too low nor too high, so it was difficult to tell the gender from the voice alone.

“What did such a young child do wrong? You’re very bad people.”

“Die without interfering!”

The man with the sword immediately rushed in. It seemed that he intended to get rid of the witness as well. But rather, it was the one who rushed in who fell. He didn’t hold a sword or use magical abilities, but the man stiffened and fell to the floor. The man’s companions were all flustered by the unexpected situation and hesitated.

“Anyone else want to try?”

At the calm voice, they quickly exchanged glances. Then, without any particular signal, they immediately attacked. It was a moment that clearly revealed that they were trained warriors who were very familiar with this kind of thing. But the result was not very good. The child blankly watched them fall like leaves before they even reached him. It was like dreaming with his eyes open.

“Are you okay?”

So he couldn’t calmly answer the question from the person who had saved him. Only after a long time did the child slowly nod his head, realizing that he had helped him and that he had survived safely thanks to him.

“Th, thank you for saving me.”

“Oh my, you’re so polite. How admirable.”

The person whose identity was unknown couldn’t hide that he was fond of the child. Was that why? He was usually wary of strangers, but strangely, he didn’t feel wary of him. It was just tickling in his heart. It wasn’t just because he was the one who saved him. It was a familiar feeling, as if he had known him for a long time.

‘Why? I don’t know him.’

While the child was confused by the incomprehensible feeling, the other person carefully checked to see if the child was injured. Then, after tidying up his clothes and putting on his hood, he stood up. Soon, a white hand was extended to the child.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to your guardian.”

At that moment, his appearance, which had been hidden under the deeply pressed hood, was revealed. Hair of a bright aquamarine color, and eyes as blue as the sea were as beautiful as jewels. His face, with a soft smile, was full of longing. Without even knowing who that feeling was directed at, the child grabbed the hand he held out as if possessed.

He seemed to have been dragged for a long time when he was kidnapped, but it didn’t take long to return to the crowded street. The street, unaware of the misfortune that was about to happen to the child, was still excited about the festival procession. In the midst of it, the child soon heard a familiar voice.

“Lord!”

It was Emil, his escort knight. He was running over with a distraught face. It was when the child finally felt relieved to find a familiar face.

“Then goodbye, Isana. See you next time.”

“…How do you know my name?”

The child swallowed as he turned around. The person who had been next to him just a moment ago had disappeared.

“Oh, Lord! I’m so glad you’re safe! I was so surprised when you suddenly disappeared!”

The escort knight, who had come in the meantime, hugged the child and hurriedly examined him. While quietly accepting the familiar touch, the child looked around again.

“Lord? What’s wrong?”

“Emil, didn’t you see the person who was next to me just now?”

“Yes? Who are you talking about?”

“It was the person who saved me… He knew my middle name.”

It was a name given to him by the emperor at birth. He heard that it was the name of the greatest emperor in history. It was also an expression of the emperor’s desire to welcome the child as a member of the imperial family in order to strengthen the bond with the Resolte family. It was more than he deserved, but thanks to this, he also ended up stimulating his political enemies even more, so the child was secretly burdened by the name.

It was a name that was rarely called alone except when he was being scolded, but that person called the child Isana as if it were natural. And he somehow liked that. He was so curious about that person who seemed to know him well. But Emil focused more on other facts.

“Saved you? Are you saying that someone saved you just now? What on earth happened!”

“Ah…”

In a short moment, the child’s head turned quickly. Should he honestly tell everything and explore the identity of his benefactor together, or should he just pretend not to know? The conclusion was quickly reached. If it became known that he had been kidnapped while attending the festival, he would never be able to go out on the streets like this again.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

“Lord! Please tell me! Lord!”

The child walked, pretending not to hear the pleading voice. He intended to personally find out about the person who had saved him. Since he had rare blue hair, someone would know him. But even if he couldn’t find him, he didn’t think he would be too disappointed.

‘He said he’d see me again next time.’

So he’ll be able to meet him again. Whenever that is. He felt that conviction. He hoped he could meet him again soon. He wanted to muster up the courage to talk to him properly then. He also wanted to ask what his identity was and what his name was. Just thinking about it made his heart swell greatly.

It was so strange. He had been kidnapped and almost died, but instead of being scared or anxious, he just felt good. His head was full of that person’s smiling face. It was definitely a face he had never seen before, but he didn’t know why he felt so longing and happy. It was as if he had finally met someone he had wanted to see for a long time.

Side story end