Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

[Conditions have been met] [Special effect is activating] [Special effect: Same Trait Resonance] ... ... ... [Retrying] ... ... ... *** "...Lindal!" What awakened the man from his reverie was his companions' calls. Perhaps it had been repeated several times already, as there was clearly force in those voices. The man's head moved slightly. With just that movement, the man's gaze, which had originally been directed at empty space, now captured his companions. As if he had been looking at his companions from the beginning. "Hmm? Shuyen." "Hmm? That's not 'Shuyen'!" The fairy's expression as she looked at the man was soaked with great worry. All of his companions, including her, were the same. "Really- are you really sure there's absolutely no problem!?" The Hero Party. There would be no one who knew the Hero as well as they, his companions, did. Bonds that had continued since before he was praised as a Hero. They understood perfectly what kind of man Lindal was. He was- "Lately, it's become even harder for us to understand you, Hero." A man who was utterly incomprehensible. An incomprehensibility established through complete understanding. That was the impression that had settled within his companions who understood Lindal perfectly. This wasn't about his extraordinary abilities and personality. Would it feel like this to try to grasp a beam of light before your eyes in your hand? It feels so close that you reach out your hand- But then it feels like it's too far away. Even now it was the same. "Please tell us. Is there really no problem at all? Yes! I know. When we ask like this, Hero, you'll surely, surely-" "Grin with that blessed face of yours and say there's no problem at all." "...The expression is a bit much, but! Kudillak is right. No matter what we say, Hero, you always just say you're fine. Sometimes that's so reassuring- but sometimes it makes us so worried." "Please don't do that. When I say I'm fine, it's because I really am fine." "That may be the case for you, Hero! But what about us? If we can't feel that way- what should we do then?" "..." It was the same as always. The Hero looked directly at the other person with upright eyes while wearing a gentle smile. The kind of appearance that naturally brought reassurance just by looking at it. His companions were dissatisfied with that. They didn't want to feel relieved looking at him now. Rather, they wanted to persistently worry about him and hear an answer that he wasn't fine. "Hero..." The fairy stretched out her small arms toward the Hero with all her might. Desperately, as if trying to reach a place she would never be able to reach. "Are you really by our side right now?" His companions felt as if the Hero's existence was disappearing. What they had initially thought was just a feeling had become clearer over time- And by now it had reached the point of bringing distinct unease. It was strange. Because superficially, there was no problem with the Hero at all. His mind. His body. His aura. Everything was ideal as always. As if telling them the reason why he was the Hero. That's why the unease grew even greater. Then what on earth was the problem? His mind. His body. His aura. Everything was ideal as always- So why did it feel like his existence was gradually fading away? "..." It was then. Ripples appeared on the Hero's face, which had been like a calm lake. He murmured quietly. That's right. Am I really by your side? "Hero...?" An answer much more meaningful than expected. The heroes didn't know how to react, so they just stared at him blankly. "..." The Hero seemed to look at such companions seriously, then once again created his usual smile. Had his anguish ended in that brief moment? Or was it to reassure his companions? His companions had no way of knowing. "I will always be by your side. Until you can clearly feel that." They could only hope that his words were true. His companions gazed steadily at the Hero. At his figure that seemed to be looking at them, yet also seemed to be looking at somewhere more distant. Some time after that. The Hero disappeared without a trace. The countless subjugations of evil. The countless sealings of demons. It was right after the Hero Party had fulfilled their duty. Peace came to the continent through the Hero's existence. A peace of unknown duration. *** ... ... ... [Retrying] ... ... ... *** "...Tara!" "Hmm? Oh." What awakened the Saint from her reverie was the fairy's voice. "How can you do this? Having other thoughts when you have such a kind and precious guest in front of you." The fairy Shuyen irritably bit into something. It was 'modern' food procured from the present world at Saint Tara's request. After 'his' visit. Saint Tara Dollin's village had undergone various changes. Just like Saint Tara herself. The blurred boundary with the present world. The saved Saint. The Saint's village had come to hold much more vibrant energy than before. More souls enjoyed peace and rest under the Saint's embrace- And the Saint too spent her days caring for herself through her changed daily life. Tara took a big bite of the refreshments that Shuyen had brought. "How is it, the sinful taste that's the complete opposite of abstinence?" The alcohol aroma and sweetness filling the bread seemed to spread throughout her entire body through her tongue. At the stimulation that she had never once enjoyed in life as a Saint, Tara's face helplessly crumbled. "Hmph! Excellent answer. It was worth bringing it!" Shuyen also stuffed that refreshment into her mouth contentedly. "So, what was that just now?" And the sound leaking from her puffed-out cheeks. "On such a good day, with such a serious face like that, what were you thinking so deeply about?" "..." Tara Dollin's expression hardened as if she was about to put down her fork. However, that expression brightened again and her fork smoothly carried out its next action. "Suddenly, I thought of that guy?" "What? It's not past tense but present continuous? Are you trying to dodge to another topic?" "Risir." "Hmm. But that might be okay too?" Since the mentioned topic was quite stimulating and interesting, the fairy shrugged and allowed the Saint's diversion. "Why Risir all of a sudden? What, since we're having such a good time, something about that guy who made all this possible- this and that, is that the kind of story?" "That guy. Doesn't he resemble someone?" "Resemble!?" The fairy's eyes widened as she flew around the Saint. "Something like that exists in this world that resembles him?" At that boisterous reaction, a smile spread across the Saint's lips. "That's right. It's not common." "So. What exactly is that uncommon thing?" "..." Lindal. It was the name mentioned from the Saint's mouth, which had suddenly become serious. "Oh my." The fairy settled down gracefully on the table. "How sudden." Leaving the fairy who had become solemn in many ways behind- The Saint calmly continued her story. "Lindal. Do you remember the last conversation we had before parting with that guy?" "...He said he would always be by our side, yet suddenly disappeared." The fairy, pouting, timidly kicked the table. "Not that." "Hmm? Then what?" "..." Saint Tara Dollin gazed at a distant place. Just as the First Hero Lindal had done in the past. She slowly brought his words from past memories. -I'm always grateful that there are people like you. -I believe. -That I'll be able to meet people like you again next time. -Just as I did before. -So... -I will never lose this belief. Uncomfortable emotions arose on their faces. The Hero's invariably meaningful statement- stirred many thoughts in his companions. "Back then, I thought Lindal was talking about other companions besides us." "...Me too. So I was really hurt. I believed that we were everything to each other." The fairy spoke while tapping the innocent fork. "I thought the Hero-... no, that fool suddenly left our side because of that. That he had gone to other companions besides us-" The fairy recalling her past companion. The look of dissatisfaction on her face grew increasingly thick. "...Ah, I don't know! So, why did you suddenly bring this up?" "Risir." "Ah! Right! Risir! I get it, so what do you want me to do!? What are you trying to say!? You're talking like it's some kind of magic spell!?" Though she said that, the fairy was really acting as if she was under a magic spell. The fairy's expression, which had seemed like she was chewing bitter weeds just moments before, became full of vitality. Risir. The moment his name was mentioned, it felt like being immediately called from the past to reality. From precious but somehow gloomy and heavy past memories- "Ah! Little sis!!! Please throw that ball over there!" "...What!? Hey! You guys! I told you not to call me that!" "Hahahaha! Thank you!!!" "Little sis's magic is so amazingly cool every time we see it!?" To a reality that was simply bright. "..." Before she knew it, Tara's expression had a gentle smile. She watched the children for a while, resting her chin on her hand. The cool breeze blowing from somewhere was so vivid that it was impossible to tell if it really belonged to the world she had created. The Saint savored that happy reality for a while before speaking. "Those two people. Don't they seem similar somewhere?" "..." The Saint and the fairy looked at each other. The hero who suddenly disappeared one day. And the hero who suddenly appeared before them another day. "Don't tell me-" It happened almost simultaneously. (E/N: I wouldn't quite call it simultaneous) The Saint and the fairy both thought of something and their eyes widened at the same time. *** ... ... ... [Retrying] ... ... ... *** "What did you just say-" Risir looked at Ru-rach with wide eyes. Just before. He had definitely said that. "Lindal...? That First Hero-" Risir's gaze turned to the front again. At that unidentified man who had been waiting for them in this unknown place. -... The man smiled kindly without saying a word. The atmosphere of the place stirred. The First Hero- Or rather, everyone without exception showed disturbance at the appearance of a being claiming to be the First Hero. Not only Risir, but also the Sacred Swords and their creator. -...No. Then. Ru-rach shook his head. -You are not Lindal. Am I wrong? -That's a difficult question to answer. -What...? Lindal looked at Ru-rach. It was- In one way, it was a face rejoicing at reunion with an old friend. And- In another way, it was also a face encountering someone for the first time. -... Ru-rach. Clear disturbance seemed to appear on his featureless face. It was a terrifyingly unfamiliar experience. At this very moment. He was feeling overwhelmed by the other's existence. -What on earth are you... Lindal smiled as he looked at such a Ru-rach. -As you said, I am indeed Lindal. Known as the First Hero. However- Lindal. He turned his back and looked beyond the horizon. The endlessly sprawling meadow scenery had somehow been replaced with a scene atop high cliffs. Sshhhhhhh! Along with the sound of fierce waves climbing up the cliff, it spoke. -I am also an existence that should not be defined merely by that name. The tone that had been gentle like swaying meadow grass became rough like a sheer cliff. When it turned to face Risir's group again, it was no longer the First Hero Lindal. It quietly pronounced a new name. Risir did not know that name. The same was true for Ru-rach and the Sacred Swords. It couldn't be helped. That name belonged to an era that even history could not record. -Remember the seven heroes who closed the darkness. It muttered resolutely while looking down at its own fist. "Closing the darkness... Don't tell me...?" Risir was able to find meaning in that statement first. "Ri, Risir!? Do you have some idea!?" "...Every time I destroyed pieces of the Archdemons, I had such thoughts." Recently. It was thanks to the days spent repeatedly destroying 'pieces'. Risir spoke as if recalling his doubts from that time. "I wondered who on earth... divided the Archdemons into pieces like this and sealed them..." It was already in the form of pieces when first discovered. Traces of an era that even history could not record. Of course, Risir wasn't the first to question the existence of the pieces. Until now, there had been various people who had the same doubts as Risir- And their conclusions ultimately converged on one conclusion. That it was surely His grace and His trace- "God..." Someone muttered in bewilderment. Then. Risir was speaking to the man on the cliff. "Was it you...? Who sealed the Archdemons-" -... It slowly pondered Risir's words before opening its mouth. -Yes. "...!" Risir's group urgently looked to the left. Then to the right. And all around. The voice was coming from all those directions. From meadow to cliff From cliff to wasteland. The world that had changed once again. Countless people surrounded Risir's group. Ru-rach, who had been checking their faces, showed surprise. Among them. There were some faces that Ru-rach knew. They spoke with one voice. """""What you spoke of is surely what we have accomplished.""""" "We..." Someone approached Risir as he pondered the meaning of those words. It was the First Hero Lindal. -We have. We've been fighting against the darkness for a long time. From very, very long ago. Without cease. Through that, we- the Great Will has been inherited. "We..." -Yes. We. "...!" Risir's body trembled with a start. Lindal. No, the Great Will firmly grasped Risir's hand. """""Everything was. To reach this place.""""" "..." Risir could understand. That 'this place' he spoke of referred to himself. Ru-rach also reached the same conclusion. -A chain of existence through past lives... The inheritance of will and power carried out through that...! Urgently awakening from his thoughts, he questioned the Great Will. -Are you. Are you saying that!? That what you have reached by repeating eternal years and eternal fate is that very man...! Ru-rach's voice was trembling with excitement. Now everything was explained. That incomprehensible power that Risir possessed. Power that could never be achieved as an individual existence. If that power was something accumulated by multiple beings repeating their lives- All of it made sense. -... The thing with Lindal's face did not answer Ru-rach's question. It only smiled gently- gazing at the man before its eyes. -I express deep gratitude to you. For not losing the way. For properly following our traces. "Your traces... what are those...?" It grasped Risir's hand. His left hand that held the Sacred Sword- -There's no need for doubt. The fact that you are here proves everything. You have. You've inherited everything of ours. You are- There was no room for doubt. After all, if he hadn't been part of them, he wouldn't have been able to reach this place. It looked straight into Risir's eyes. For the conclusion of the Great Will. -You are... To be reborn as a complete one. *** [Conditions have been met] [Special effect is activating] [Special effect: Same Trait Resonance] ... ... ... [Retrying] ... ... ... [Retrying] ... ... ... [Failed] [That trait does not exist] [Trait: Miracle's Blessing] [Requirements met!] [New power dwells in the target!] [Target: Risir] [Trait: Miracle's Blessing] ... ... ... [Failure!] [The target's status is too high] *** -You are our-... The eyes that had contained firm will began to waver. -You are... That wavering grew even stronger- -...! It violently shook off Risir's hand that it had been grasping. As if being repelled by it. It looked down at its own hand. The hand that had sought to become one with the target had vanished without a trace. -You are... It looked at Risir with a bewildered face. -...Who are you? *** The Saint and the fairy burst into laughter simultaneously. "Ah well." "Right? As expected-" Actually, no. No matter how much they thought about it- Risir. He was far too different.