The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 269

269. #14 The Archmage’s Epilogue

“Lady Kasena…”

I knew Kasena Page had graduated from the university and left her home to see the world, becoming a Platinum adventurer.

But to think she went to Frisvia’s side.

The dog tag around her neck was made of platinum. Kasena was currently ranked 11th among Platinum adventurers.

“Have you been well, Lady Kasena?”

It was a reunion after about seven years.

When I awkwardly greeted her, Kasena simply waved her hand in response. Our gazes lingered on different parts of the empty space.

The resentment from seven years ago was gone, but as the relationship had once crumbled due to that resentment, only awkwardness filled the gap now.

“Hmph.”

Then Frisvia rolled her eyes as if amused.

“Back then, you two were so close it seemed you’d never be apart for life. This is why humans lack rationality in their actions.”

“…”

“We came here for something serious, so I’ll stop teasing. If that foolish disciple of mine did that, he’d be crying like a pig for days. Come here.”

What Frisvia showed Rain was a massive test tube.

It seemed to be much better managed than the other test tubes, with bubbles regularly seeping out from the transparent liquid.

What was emitting those bubbles was an infant. A girl, embracing her knees, sleeping with a peaceful expression.

“Islaya.”

The one who answered Rain’s curious gaze was, surprisingly, Kasena.

“I named her Isla. In Dragon Language, it means ‘Preparation’.”

“Why did you give her such a meaning?”

“I gave it to her with the meaning of preparing the path for the light to come in the disaster that will begin someday. Do you know? Strictly speaking, Isla is Aki’s genetic sister.”

Sister?

Genetic sister?

“Hmph, it seems he’s too captivated by your beauty to see Isla properly. Look closely. Does she look like a normal person to you?”

Only then did the dark red horns sprouting from both sides of the girl Isla’s head come into view.

Those horns…

They were completely different from the evil-looking horns that demons commonly had. It couldn’t be helped. The ones exuding sacred majesty were dragon horns.

“How, how did this happen? Could it be that you’re at the stage where you can create dragons like Karenden?”

“Hmph, you saw right through it. This Frisvia has finally advanced the technology to that stage.”

“I can’t believe it. You’re amazing. Really, I’m speechless.”

Amazing, truly amazing.

If we could rebuild the Dragon Corps with this, then the final era that Aki, Nen, and Mir have to face wouldn’t come.

“Of course, I’m just kidding, hmph.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hmph.”

Seriously, this person…

I never thought she’d become so playful as to joke around.

“If what Master said is true, the technological prowess of the ‘Ones Who Came’ is at least a thousand years ahead. This was created through genetic combination.”

“Genetic combination, you say?”

“Hehe, that foolish disciple of mine is useful in places like this. I combined and synthesized Alakish’s cells, which I obtained in the past, with those of Kasena and my severed leg.”

“How… is that possible?”

“I didn’t do it with my own skills. Hmph, there was just such equipment in the battleship base that started running on Heukyangrin’s power.”

“…!”

“No one matched Alakish’s cells, so they kept failing, but it matched perfectly with that foolish disciple of mine. That’s how Isla was born.”

The Frisvia in my memory was always a person who hid her true feelings with a sly smile.

However, the gaze she now had as she placed her hand on the test tube and looked at Isla was as warm as a mother’s.

Perhaps because she had been a father first, I smiled, anticipating what kind of affection she had raised this child Isla with.

“Why are you grinning like that, hmph, is it safe?”

“It’s just that you’ve changed a lot. You were so fierce back then…”

“Fierce? Hmph, me, Frisvia, the most benevolent and kind adventurer in this world?”

“You speak the truth. Don’t expect much from the pathetic intelligence of humans.”

Eldevihg, who was passing by, chimed in.

Then Kasena chuckled, and eventually Frisvia laughed as well.

After a while, Frisvia pointed to Isla’s horns again.

“The young bodies of baby dragons bring out their horns when they are in dragon form, that is, when they are exposed to threats. Hmph, Isla didn’t have horns until last year.”

“Is that so? I don’t think Aki ever did that.”

“Of course, if the mother is nearby, or if they absolutely trust the mother’s protection, they don’t. This is from Karenden’s research, so my words are unconditionally correct, so shut your mouth, hmph.”

So Aki, Nen, and Mir absolutely trusted me… I felt inexplicably good.

“Hmph, anyway, this is me showing you evidence to prove what I said earlier.”

“Which?”

“Hehe, doesn’t it mean that something dangerous enough to make a being with true dragon cells instinctively bring out their horns has awakened?”

A cold chill swept through my mind, and I stood blankly for a moment. Kasena began to explain.

“Actually, Alakish’s sealed state is a bit strange. Should I say it’s shaking? It’s as if Shar’Kars [likely a powerful entity], trapped there, is resonating with something.”

“Hmph, Baekdoryeong [likely a title or name] is the third in the hierarchy of the Spider Lords, but he’s not in a position to receive orders from the top two. Do you know what this means?”

“Yes.”

I was afraid to say it out loud, but now that the threat had become a reality, what good would it do to hide it?

“The source of the plague was the Spider Lord. His seal is about to break.”

Beshanthidug [likely a name], as he said.

Then what I have to do now is…

“I’ll guide you.”

“You will, Lady Kasena?”

“Don’t even think about leaving me behind this time. I’ve become incredibly strong, you know.”

Then Frisvia chimed in.

“Hmph, this guy is foolish, but he knows the geography of Harbadonia [likely a location] inside and out. He followed me around so much, so it’s only natural.”

I was worried that things would become uncomfortable because of old feelings, but there was no need to say that a guide was needed.

After all, the reason I was able to escape from this place before was because Alakish guided me.

She likes adventurers, so she’ll get along well with Rem and Bart, but…

Kasena, who came to see me off to the front gate of the battleship base, said.

“Is Aki doing well?”

“She wanted to meet you, Lady Kasena. She doesn’t remember Trident Point, but she remembers you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“The days I spent with Aki were so much fun… right? Like when I taught her ‘sit’ and ‘stay’.”

“I think I’ll remember that even after I die. It was so funny.”

An awkward laugh escaped.

Back then, we were both fresh-faced boys and girls, but now we’ve grown up and are facing each other like this.

As the laughter faded from the conversation, Kasena quietly said.

“You know, what if… what if I had followed you to the ends of the earth, even if I had to force myself? Would the story have been a little different?”

There is no ‘what if’ in this world.

Knowing that better than anyone else in this world, could it be that Rain couldn’t help but give a bitter smile at that moment?

Perhaps it was because he had no choice but to dull the sharp truth with that uncomfortable smile.

“No.”

If I could have come to you 300 years ago, this story might have changed, but what came to me back then was…

“Is that so?”

Then Kasena gave a hearty smile.

“That’s a relief! Then I can finally shake off all my lingering feelings. I was worried for nothing.”

“Lady Kasena…”

“Go. You said you have to call your companions, right? I’ll be preparing too.”

Kasena slapped Rain on the back with a cheerful smile. That familiar pain reminded him of something he had forgotten.

“Ah, and Lady Kasena, about your leg. It can now be completely healed.”

“What?”

“Don’t be surprised.”

I tried to heal her leg, but Kasena stepped back with a wary gesture and shook her head.

“No, don’t.”

“Yes? Why?”

Because there are memories engraved here.

The magic circles and mathematical formulas engraved on her leg were proof that Rain had worked hard all night for her sake.

All the beautiful memories of her childhood started here. So I’m going to keep this forever.

“It’s really okay, so just go! If I ever have a wedding, come and fix it then. I don’t want to show it to my children.”

Rain left the battleship base as if being chased out.

As its outline faded over the horizon, transparent dew froze in Kasena’s eyes.

Frisvia, who came to Kasena’s side, said with a sigh.

“If you’re going to shed tears like that, you should just keep pushing until it works.”

“Then Rain will be uncomfortable. I hate that.”

“You’re going to prioritize that guy’s feelings over your own? Hmph, humans are really irrational creatures.”

Kasena brushed away her tears and turned her body towards the battleship base, smiling cheerfully as usual.

Can I stand up again?

I can stand up. I can walk. Because you showed me that it’s possible.

“I have to help Rain to protect Isla. So lend me some artifacts. Bad Master.”

* * *

A cold wind was blowing in the land of eternal death, .

Gradually, my body is aging.

Perhaps the age at which I can fight satisfactorily by my own standards is only a few years away.

Karenden said that I cannot stop the encroachment of the abyss. That I am just a tool to be passed on to the future.

But…

Even if I can’t stop the encroachment of the abyss, I wanted to buy Aki, Nen, and Mir a little more time to grow.

There is only one way.

To put the Spider Lord back to sleep.

More than ten years ago, I created a gap in the seal and awakened Baekdoryeong Shar’Kars, and awakened Gongan Gong Beshanthidug.

Now it is the Spider Lord who is preparing to wake up from his long slumber.

Frisvia said that it would take the battleship base a short time of 10 years to a long time of 50 years to calculate the concentration of the abyss…

– Hmph, if we wait until that happens, all the Obonwi [likely a group or type of being] will wake up one by one. The gates of hell will open.

The only opportunity is now, when not a single Obonwi has awakened.

If the Spider Lord is spreading the plague to the world in order to break the seal, I am going to break the seal from this side.

And again, I have no choice but to put him to sleep with the power of creation I received.

I won’t be able to use the power as skillfully as Karenden, so I don’t know how long that seal will last…

I have to.

I can’t guarantee how long this journey will take.

Therefore, I am leaving this journal so that you can know my whereabouts if I do not return.

Hoping that this journey will end before you return, so that I can welcome you, I close this diary.

I feel like I can only close my eyes comfortably when I reach old age, blessing your future, if I can finish this work.

Closing the diary and stepping outside into the chilly winter wind, my companions, who had already arrived at , were waiting for me.

“So, are you ready to leave on a rejuvenation trip, old man?”

Gungseong, Rem.

1st place Platinum-ranked adventurer before being selected as Gungseong [likely a title or position].

“I waited.”

Changseong, Bart.

The supreme adventurer before being selected as Changseong [likely a title or position], a Diamond-ranked adventurer.

“You still have a hobby of making people wait. Just because you became the Prime Minister of the Empire, do you think you’re anything special? Even Valencia, who was passing by, could do what the Prime Minister does.”

Valencia.

The current Prime Minister of the Solond Kingdom.

And…

“Pride lent me Pipi to wish you well on your last trip.”

Former Hero Miria.

And the sun parrot sitting on her shoulder.

“Pipi, Pipi, Pipi, the invincible sun parrot on a business trip.”

Looking back at my companions, who warmed my heart just by looking at them, Rain smiled.

“Lady Kasena has decided to be our guide. We’ll join up at the battleship base.”

The Archmage, Rin.

And the Dragon Incarnate, Rain Ludwig.

This is the last battle of these two lives, which have been coexisting, skipping over 300 years.

“So who is Kasena?”

Miria asked.

It seemed like there was a battle to be fought before the final battle.