Chapter 73: Memories Etched Upon the World

...So how big is this little tree supposed to get later on?

Well, maybe it'll grow all the way past those clouds.

Wow, as expected of Oberon. Even your jokes are on a grand scale.

At this rate, it'd be faster for me to become the next Fairy Queen myself.

Its height and size don't matter. This child's true nature lies hidden underground.

A single forest whose Mana-filled roots stretch to the ends of the world, soaking every ley line... the tree of the world.

...The 「World Tree」. Yeah, that name ought to do.

Assuming it can live up to a name that grand.

Wanting to create a guardian that could protect the world even without Oberon.......

...Ugh, do you not trust me or something?

No, quite the opposite.

Because I believe you'd use this child's power the right way, and for the right purpose.

...Even if someday, you come to hate me.

.......

...Morgana? Are you alright?

Y-Yes... Huh!? Wh-What do you mean!?

You've seemed deep in thought lately. You've even been having nightmares during your naps.

Let me guess. You're trying to decide what's on the lunch menu.

Or maybe dinner. Either way, for her, it's a matter of life and death.

Sniff... It's all my fault. We fled in such a hurry that we couldn't even get proper meals.......

But please don't worry now! We're planning to get all the cooking tools and ingredients we need for the journey from Merlin!

Am I the only one who feels like we've had this chat 100 times already?

I was just sorting through everything that's happened so far.

The 「World Tree」... If Merlin's investigation is correct, then that tree is the final piece of the puzzle.

The final... piece?

That's right. And it's something the future of this world depends on, too.

My, you've all grown so reliable. Mm... You really do have that heroic world-saving air about you now.

Hello, Merlin. It's truly been a long time.

M-Me too! Is this the first time since Elizabeth returned to Britannia?

So why'd you call us all the way out here? Whatever it is, this is about something that can help treat Elizabeth, right?

You said it was urgent, so we came, but right now every minute, every second counts for us.

E-Ethan! You don't have to press her like that.......

No, for once, the pig's right.

It's not just Elizabeth. The World Tree doesn't have much time left either. In other words, neither side has any time to waste.

What...!? Th-The goddess is dying!? W-What do you mean all of a sudden!?

Where is the goddess of the World Tree? Please, let me see her at once!

The goddess is asleep right now.

She's also reeling from the truth we uncovered this time, and she needs to conserve her Mana.

The truth...?

Since we're on the subject, let's go over everything that's happened so far.

First, Oberon is the one behind the 'false Holy Sword prophecy' and the 'God of Destruction' that tried to destroy the world out of nowhere.

The primordial fairy, the first Fairy Queen... and my former master.

No way. A person she respects actually exists in this world?

Oh, shut it. I wasn't born great, you know.

Anyway, she devoted her entire life to stopping a certain catastrophe.

The world's destined destruction, where it exhausts its Mana and withers to death... the so-called 「Star Reincarnation」.

And what that plan needed was the false prophecy and the God of Destruction.

The Holy Sword Excalibur was, in truth, nothing more than a vessel meant to gather and contain human souls.

And the God of Destruction was meant to melt those souls down into pure energy, Mana.......

...In other words, into 「Arke」. A kind of solvent.

In the end, defeating the God of Destruction with Excalibur meant returning the souls contained in the Holy Sword to Arke.

For ages upon ages... countless heroes chosen by the Holy Sword...

Without ever realizing it, they were offering up the people of their own era as living sacrifices.

Vivien was the first to learn the truth. But in the end, even she couldn't find a way to stop the 「Star Reincarnation」.

So Vivien repurposed the system Oberon had created.

It still worked the same way: filling the Holy Sword with countless human souls, then melting them down with the power of the God of Destruction.......

But she altered it slightly... those souls were summoned from an Earth beyond this dimension rather than this world's.

So that Ethan's homeworld would become the living sacrifice instead of Britannia.

...Right. But this time, Ethan killed both the 'God of Destruction' and 'his own self as the Holy Sword' at the same time.

And with the vessel meant to hold the souls shattered, Vivien's plan fell apart too.

Could you not bring that memory back up? That hurt like hell.

Well, thanks for the recap, but what does any of that have to do with the World Tree?

Stop hounding me already. I never expected you to understand it right away anyway.

Melting the souls contained in the Holy Sword into Arke isn't easy, but distributing that Arke evenly throughout the world is a problem on an entirely different level.

...Unless, of course, there happened to be something like a tree with roots spread across the entire world.

Th-Then does that mean the World Tree and the goddess who protects it are...?

Supporting actors in the grand play Oberon devised... or perhaps you could call them puppets.

When the God of Destruction generates a massive amount of Arke, the World Tree's role is to scatter it throughout the world.

To think something carrying that much Mana was hidden away for so long...

...No, I suppose the reason it had to be hidden is the same.

If a wizard of Merlin's caliber investigated it, the truth would come out right away.

W-Wait a moment! Then doesn't that mean the only reason the World Tree could be sustained was because of the Holy Sword and the God of Destruction?

Oh, as expected of Britannia's Queen, equal to this reigning Fairy Queen. Unlike that pig, you catch on fast.

Yes. Since the Holy Sword could no longer fulfill its role, the supply of Arke the World Tree was meant to receive and spread was cut off as well.

That big thing probably won't suddenly wither away and die, but it won't be able to throw its power around like before.

Especially for an artificial Spirit pretending to be a "goddess"... that's impossible now.

N-No way...!!

Yes, that's right.

Everything I believed was justice and duty... even my right... has been revealed as nothing more than a play.

It means it's time for me to let go of this lingering attachment and step down from the stage.

My goddess... But... but-!

My child... and you heroes who severed the world's falsehoods.

I did not call you here to mourn me. Nor does this moment mean farewell.

Mana, Arke... there are many names for it, but in the end, the true nature of the power these roots gather and bestow is "memory."

And memory is the branch, the root, and the seed that binds person to person, generation to generation, and generation to age.

Hero who brought the tragedy of the Holy Sword to an end. It is no coincidence that you are worthy to become the seedbed where new seeds may grow.

...Huh? Hey, wait! Why are you reaching your roots toward me?!

Wah-! Waaaaah-?!

M-Merlin?! Morgana! The World Tree is dragging Ethan away!

My, our goddess is certainly impatient.

But this will be quicker to experience firsthand than to explain bit by bit. For Ethan's own sake, too.

Surely you weren't planning to survive this harsh world in the body of an ordinary pig?

Don't worry. Go on. You've earned that gift.

N-No... at least explain what's going on before you drag me off! What is this all of a sudden... mmph-!

Wow, the current Hero sure is full of energy.

For now, you pass the swordsmanship test. You pass on grit, too. Your stamina could use some work.

If you inherit our power as you are now, at least you won't end up dying in some ditch.

Hey... could you at least explain what's going on first?

Who are you, and where is this? Don't tell me this is, like, the World Tree's stomach.

Correct! A giant tree monster just swallowed you whole, and now you're going to be digested so thoroughly they won't even find your bones.

Sorry, but I'm really not in the mood for jokes.

My companion's life is on the line. Right now, every second counts.

You're my junior, but you're not nearly cute enough. Well, to be fair, the situation does call for it.

You got half of it right. This is a spiritual world created by the World Tree's power.

Your friends probably already explained this, but the World Tree can absorb and spread Arke... in other words, a vast amount of "memory."

You're smart, so that should be enough of an explanation, right?

So this is a world shaped by all the memories the World Tree absorbed.

And by that same logic, you're one of the beings within those memories.

Nice, you're quick on the uptake. Then while we're at it, how about introductions?

My name is Clarisse. I'm the hero who was chosen by the Holy Sword Excalibur before you.

Of course, the real Clarisse died a long time ago. What's standing before you now is basically a ghost made of memories.

Ooooooh... I am a ghost, doomed to wander the afterlife with lingering regrets!

Well? Scary, right?!

Yes, very scary, Ghost Senior.

It sounds like you already know all about this junior of yours, so can we get straight to the point?

Like I said, my companion's life is on the line.

Don't worry. Time in this world moves much slower than it does outside.

Of course, that doesn't mean we have all the time in the world either... So, to get straight to the point.

The World Tree intends to pass "our power" on to you.

Our? There's only you and me here.

A lot of the other "heroes" are from so long ago that even within the World Tree's memories, they've grown faint. And quite a few of them are just plain eccentric.

So I was chosen to guide you as the heroes' representative. Would it be easier if I said I'm your direct senior hero?

More or less? That's more organized than I expected.

Good. Then back to the main point.

You know, the more similar the lives people live, the more alike the shape of their souls becomes.

That's why all heroes of the Holy Sword can easily understand and accept each other's memories.

In other words, it means you can receive the "memories of the heroes" held by the World Tree.

That doesn't really feel real just hearing it out loud.

So if memory is the essence of Mana...

...then just learning about the lives of the heroes before me makes me stronger?

Similar, but not quite. If that were true, anyone could get stronger just by reading some heroic epic.

To explain it as simply as possible...

...it's more accurate to say our lives are engraved into your subconscious.

As if you'd lived those lives yourself.

Hmph, if it makes me stronger, I'm in. I didn't come all this way just to hold my companions back.

And since you called it a "trial"... that means I have to earn the recognition of the heroes before me, right?

Then bring it on. Whatever the trial is, I'll clear it in no time.

Heh... as expected of our last junior. You've got spirit.

Then you'd better brace yourself. My trial isn't something you can pass with strength alone!

What is this hellish scene from the depths of the mortal world?

Heh... yes. This is the battlefield where I fought my fiercest battles.

A bottomless pit where the dregs of humanity gather, and a trial ground where even a Holy Sword hero had no choice but to swallow the bitterness of defeat.

The biggest and worst 「Slime Race Track」 in the world!!!

Okay, I'm gonna go take a walk, so have fun by yourself.

That's so cruel! You're really going to ignore the regret I couldn't resolve in life?!

This is a trial! One for a junior Holy Sword hero to earn her senior's approval!

All right, I get that you're serious. And that dying didn't do anything to knock some sense into you.

So... what exactly am I supposed to do? Cheer from the sidelines?

No, lend me some money.

Uh... what?

This place is a perfect recreation of my memories.

Which means it's also recreated the fact that I had no money back then.

The information was solid... but the Slime I went all-in on happened to be in bad shape...!

Yeah, figures. You got scammed and cleaned out.

Yep, even the armor I'd put up as collateral.

.......

C-Could you not look at me like that? I've got a real shot this time!

Thanks to you, I've got my hands on the legendary racing Slime, 「Eclipse」!

This time, I'll finally win back my armor and my money.

I was wondering why a mere Slime was absurdly fast... and it had that kind of setting behind it?

What do you mean, "that kind of setting"?! Don't tell me the legend of 「Eclipse」 wasn't passed down in your era?

Once it passes through a forest, it leaves a road wide enough for three carriages. A soft and squishy behemoth said to pierce straight through even mountain ranges.

「Eclipse」 takes the lead, and nothing else matters. That's the sort of proverb it left behind for future generations!

Even if a monster Slime like that really exists, I don't think it's this little guy we caught.

Hey now! For a junior, you really don't have enough faith. Legends are always a little exaggerated.

Ugh, is it already time?

The next race is about to start! We've gotta place our bets, so hand over the money, junior!

Don't tell me you forgot? This is a trial to become a true Holy Sword hero!

You've got to be kidding me... Fine, fine. I guess it's okay since this is all a dream anyway.

Ahaha... the losers sure are chatty. This world was always ruthless.

All right, all right... now bring me all the money I won, and the armor I left as collateral too.

The odds were... 142 times, right?

U-Uh? Th-There's no way!

Oops... right, the currency from your time and the Britannia I live in must've been different too.

I see... so that's the blind spot of a world built from memory.

B-But money is money, so shouldn't it be fine?! H-Hurry up and bring the prize money to the winner!

Ugh... this can't be happening! The regret I wanted to settle even after death...!

So if even the money you and I are carrying gets recreated exactly...

...then that means those people trying to catch us will be recreated exactly too, right?

Uh... yeah, probably. I think.

Then why are you standing there?! We run, now! Move!

Aaaah-! No-!

At least let us keep our 「Eclipse」-!

Sob... Eclie...! Even if I die, I'll never forget you...!

Ah, right. I already died, didn't I? Well, can't be helped.

My esteemed senior Holy Sword hero. So... did I pass the test?

No, hang on. From what point, which part, and how exactly was any of that a test?

Ah... if you mean my test, you already passed it the moment we first met.

What you just took was the 'junior' test for a Holy Sword hero. So? Getting a feel for how to treat your senior now?

Ah... yes, of course. Should I lick your shoes next?

My. Most. Esteemed. Senior.

Ugh... gross. Guess juniors got treated pretty harshly back in your time.

As if that's true! I'm putting every ounce of effort I have into mocking this colossal waste of time!

Haa... anyway, that means I cleared round one, right? Hurry up and bring me the next senior.

...No, wait. To begin with, just how many Holy Sword heroes like you are ther-

Just as you say, boy! You are but a newborn fawn taking its very first steps!

Whoa-! You scared me!

Uh... huh? Whaaat?! What is this, seriously?! Why are you showing up here?!

Hmmmm...!!!

For someone with such developed back muscles, your shoulders are bent at a rather strange angle. Do you happen to read a lot?

Uh... ah, no...? It's probably from using a computer too much.......

Good grief! How many years have you gone without training? Haven't half your muscles forgotten their proper function?!

This is bad. Very bad. Extremely bad.

No, no! More importantly, why are you here?!

Shouldn't you be busy working yourself to the bone under Mordred right about now?

First, we must restore your stamina. A light three-hour run every day for a year should suffice. And rather than throwing you recklessly into real combat, you'll need to relearn swordsmanship suited to your current condition. Imperial Swordsmanship from my era should do nicely. Fortunately, you seem to have some sense, so.......

Hey, are you even listening to me? What have you been muttering so ominously this whole time?!

Ahaha... once the old man's like that, nothing anyone says gets through to him anymore.

He's the strongest 'swordsman' among us, and very firm in his philosophy. And his skill speaks for itself too.

I mean, he took down the Flame Emperor and the God of Destruction all by himself without even being able to properly control Mana. Isn't that incredible?!

That's not the point right now.

That face belongs to Urien! A knight of Britannia who's still alive and well right now!

Ah... so that's what the problem was. You really are picky over the smallest things.

It's not a small thing to me!

It is to us. That's just borrowing the appearance of someone suitable from your memories.

From my memories? Then that old man isn't really Urien?

I only died fairly recently, but that old man was the eldest among all of us.

And memories are bound to wear away someday. Enough that even we forget what we ourselves looked like.

Diet... yes, diet matters too. Meat, and more meat. As it happens, hunting is the ideal training method for building real combat stamina, so let's start with something light... slaying a Dragon. Along the way, we'll identify your bad habits and weak points. Besides, no one truly dies in dreams, so we may as well raise the bar as high as possible.......

...So that means that old man is a Holy Sword hero who died in the past too? He just looks like the Urien I know.

Of course, his personality will be different from the man you knew too.

Hmm... actually, he's different from most people in general. Even I find that old man a bit much.

Could you maybe just tell me what exactly I'm supposed to look forward to... and what I'm supposed to worry about?

I'm really not interested in getting dragged into this again without any time to brace mysel-

Wahahaha! I've kept you waiting, boy!

I've completed the perfect training schedule to forge you back into a battle-ready, combat-compressed hero!

Haa.......

I don't really get the whole battle-ready compression thing, but anyway, this is the test I need to pass to earn your approval, right?

Then fine. Let's do it.

...Hoh. You don't need to ask any questions?

A companion told me something before I got dragged in here.

That since Holy Sword heroes have lived similar lives, it'd be easy for them to understand each other.

I don't know what your esteemed seniors were like, but I've been through plenty myself.

At this point, it'd be a waste of all that hard-earned experience if I got scared over something as trivial as 'training.'

.......

...Ghhhhh-! Your spirit alone has already passed! Splendid, boy!

But reality is merciless! And so training must be just as merciless as real combat...!

You'd best prepare yourself. If you want to survive hell, the only way is to endure training worse than hell itself.

Paaaaaass ─ ! ! !

Splendid grit and splendid muscles, boy-!

Now that you've passed my test, you'll have nothing left to fear. At least when it comes to basic physical conditioning.

Huff... huff... huff... huff... huff.......

I-I'm... glad I passed... at least... but.......

...This is a dream world anyway, so does endurance training like this even mean anything?

.......

Ah.

Hey.

But don't be too disappointed, boy! What matters is not outward form, but what lies within-!

The grit that carried us through those trials alone shall remain in your heart forever.......

...W-Wait, who goes there?! Gkh-!

Uwaaa, you're so loud-! You damned sweaty old musclehead! Hic-!

Haaah... I was just getting nicely drunk... huh?! You dare kill my mood? Hey-!!

...Yeah, that's definitely not the Bedivere I know.

So going by the flow of things, that makes her another senior Holy Sword hero... right?

Uuuhmm?

Ah-! So it's yooou! The man our Clari's been after!

I-I never said that...!

Oh, come on... if a young girl dies without ever doing it with a man, of course she'd have regrets. Hic-!

Aaaaaaaah-! Please stop─!

If you keep hesitating like that... mmh?! Then this big sister's gonna gobble you right up first, got it?

Just so happens this body's been dead a long time too... hic-! So I've got nothing holding me back... Eheheh...!

Uh, um, so... Senior Holy Sword hero who looks like Bedivere?

What exactly do I need to do to earn your approval?

Hmm? Approval for what?

I told you before. He's the last junior who's going to inherit our power.

And not just that... he's the one who uncovered the truth of the Holy Sword and smashed the mastermind's whole plan!

.......

...Holy Sword? What's that?

Hey...!

Eheheh. Just kidding, just kidding. I remember aaaall of Clari's requests.

If you want my approval....... Hmm... yeah, if we're going with the mood here.......

Obviously she's gonna want a drinking buddy or some bar snacks.

Leave it to me. I'll show you the alcohol etiquette I honed through countless company dinners-

Come at me.

Sorry?

I said come at me. No more, no less... I'll kill you exactly 100 times.

It's not like you have to worry about really dying here anyway. Hic-!

So that means I get to have fun, and you get to have fun. And as a bonus, I get to test you too... hic-!

Don't worry. It's not like I have a hobby of torturing people.

S-Sorry I didn't warn you ahead of time. The truth is, even among us, this one is a famous battle maniac.

Still, it's not like you can really die in this world.......

...Yeah, you'll be fine. Probably.

.......

Uaaaaaaaaaaagh ─ ! ! !

Aalriiight! You paaaasssed!!

Urgh... it's been a while since I really used my strength... now I'm a little sleeeepy??

...Mmmnya, zzz.......

.......

I-It's over now, right? Right?!

This isn't one of those things where phase 2 starts now, is it-?!

Y-Yeah... good job.

I feel bad, honestly. I guess she was really bored.

Well, I didn't die, so that's something. Not that dying was even an option.

By the way, does everyone here take it easy like you two? This isn't even some actual afterlife.

No. The only reason we can keep our sense of self right now is thanks to the goddess of the World Tree.

Before the goddess's power runs completely dry, we have to pass our memories... and our power on to you.

.......

Aw, don't look so serious.

Most of us are already satisfied with what you've done for us.

Besides, there aren't many people left sane enough to still be that attached to life at this point.

...Hearing you say that just makes this feel even heavier.

Ahaha... now that you mention it, yeah. I guess I'm the odd one.

Well, since we're on the subject, should we go meet that old man next?

The hero who was the least sane among us, and the wisest and most foolish of all.

A tyrant of a great dynasty, and a wise king of a cursed age.

He's the one who learned the truth of the Holy Sword before his junior did.

.......

You are.......

I wonder what sort of figure I appear to be in your eyes.

A feeble king? Or a mighty warrior?

Or perhaps a benefactor one must never forget... or an enemy one can never forget.

...I was surprised, yeah. And you're definitely not someone I could forget.

This scene... it's your memory, isn't it?

War.

The Holy Sword, the God of Destruction... and Oberon.

The last war this era fought after learning what hope truly was.

Even after facing the truth of the Holy Sword, I said nothing. I chose silence, and to follow the false script.

But one foolish... no, perhaps wise knight, opened his mouth.

And the world split in two and went to war. To paint truth as falsehood, and falsehood as truth.

Even knowing Oberon's plan, you still tried to defeat the God of Destruction?

Even though the soul within the Holy Sword... and everyone who followed you would die?

...Yes. Because then, at least, there would be a "next."

.......

Look well. This battlefield is the foremost front of the end.

The rivers have run dry, and all things crumble before they can rot, across this ashen wilderness.

As the final sinner, I cut down my retainers, my people... and in the end, even my own child, to open the way.

And I myself became that 「witch」's puppet, offering this kingdom up as a sacrifice.

You said you wanted to test me.

You want to deny my choice? You think the world I was trying to protect would end up like this too?

...You think everyone will meet an ending like this because of me?

Hmph. If you were the sort to be shaken by such childish whining, I wouldn't have called you here in the first place.

Answer me this. Should I... be angry at you for denying my choice?

Or should you be angry at me?

That.......

I stood on the same battlefield again and again, repeating the same question over and over. But in the end, I could never answer it.

O final warrior of the Holy Sword, and heretic who made a different choice from ours.

Was I... wrong?

.......

...I was just lucky, that's all.

Learning the truth of the Holy Sword, and even being able to make that choice at the very end.

I owe all of it to my companions.

Even getting another chance like this only happened because Tiamat took interest in me.

That's why I can't deny you. And I can't recklessly judge another warrior of the Holy Sword, either.

Because when I'm faced with an absurd choice, I'm sure my time will come too... a moment when I can't make the choice I want.

.......

But no matter how long the road gets, or how much I lose my way in hesitation,

I think the best thing we can do is never give up until the very end.

Because none of us are perfect heroes.

There is no single right answer to life, and there shouldn't be.

.......

...I see. So that's your answer.

Yes, that's enough. That's... enough.

Thank you. You pass the test.

...Yeah. This is our life.

There are heroes, and there are villains. Ordinary people, and strange ones too.

Glory and emptiness, love and hatred.......

...All of it tangled together in an ugly story woven from lies.

Ahaha... Maybe you're a little disappointed after all? You were probably expecting some legendary tale of heroic deeds.

No, it's the opposite.

If anything, I'm relieved now that I've confirmed people are basically the same wherever you go.

A sweaty old musclehead, a battle-crazy drunk, a tyrant and wise ruler with depression.

Plain old scumbags, plain old idiots, and kids who were just plain pitiful.

And even a gambling warrior who still hasn't gotten her act together after dying.

Hey-!

I say this all the time, but I've never once thought of myself as a hero.

I just got lucky and met good friends, then got lucky and survived.

And then I got lucky enough to save the world, too.

That's all. I just did my best, and the road I walked happened to lead me here.

But you know, when you really peel it back, the lives of my seniors weren't all that different either.

No matter how long the road gets, or how much you lose your way in hesitation,

in the end, the best thing you can do is never give up until the very end.

Wow... that's so cheesy. I'd never say something like that with a straight face.

Oh, shut up. Even I get caught up in the moment sometimes.

So, is that the answer you found... no, your reply?

No. It's the answer my respected seniors found for me.

Oh? After acting cocky this whole time, now you're trying to butter me up?

Still... I don't mind being treated like a senior.

......Ghk-!?

...Well, looks like the World Tree is reaching its limit too.

Yeah, it's time for everyone to go back where they belong.

Like I said before, our memories are going to be engraved into your subconscious now.

We could just force the memories into you, but if we did that, your soul might end up mixing with ours.

Hey, this was that dangerous?!

Don't worry. I have no intention of ruining such an admirable junior.

Mm, still, it'd be a shame if you forgot me completely.......

...So maybe I should leave a scratch mark before we part?

Uh... what? What kind of mark?

Now then, this is the final bet of Clarisse, Hero of the Holy Sword.

I'm wagering everything I've built up, on every future you're going to carve out.

Take good care of the world... and my friends.

Leave it to me. If I saved the world once, who's to say I can't do it twice?

Wait, more importantly, friends? Who exactly are you talking about-

Th-This is bad...! Am I really at my limit now?!

Waaaaah-! The tree roots are dragging me away again! Whoa-! Waaaah-!

Oh? So the pig blessed by the World Tree is finally awake.

Well? Think you've finally become at least a little useful now?

Ugh... my head... feels like it's splitting open...!

Are you all right, Ethan!? Would you like me to stroke your head?

Elizabeth, I think that probably only works on me.

You'll need some time to adjust to the World Tree's power.

I did take measures to minimize the side effects, but countless Heroic lives were engraved onto the soul of an ordinary human.

And this is the "key" needed to draw out that power.

Is that... a sword?

......!! I can feel the World Tree's Mana from the sword! It's warm, just like sunlight.......

Fufu, go ahead and admire it all you like.

After all, it's a masterpiece forged through the combined power of this Fairy Queen, Britannia's Archwizard, and even the goddess of the World Tree.

We even made the sword's form exactly like the one Ethan used before.

It's a bit plain to call it a Holy Sword, but... yeah, I think it actually suits you better.

So this is my new sword. It feels strangely familiar.

It feels like I had a really... really long dream, but I can't remember any of it.

But at the same time, it also feels like I've known this sword for a very long time.

It's a weird feeling, but it's not all that bad.

If we'd poured all those memories into Ethan as they were, it would've broken him.

Feeling a sense of déjà vu like this is just right. Like how we forget our memories from childhood.

Yeah, that's exactly what it feels like.

Like I've forgotten it, but at the same time, the past I can never truly forget is what made me who I am now.

But there's one memory that's weirdly vivid. Is it just my imagination?

Huh? There's no way. You're just imagining things.

I don't even know how to put this.......

...I think I had a Slime race with some woman in a dream.

S-Slime racing...!?

No, Elizabeth. Last time you did that, you almost lost the Royal Family's Armor!

I don't remember whether I won or lost, or even why I was doing something like that.

But I think it was pretty fun. Fun enough that it's a shame I forgot it.

.......

Honestly... even in death, that idiot still couldn't get her act together.

Hm? What was that?

You don't need to know. There are burdens that only a supreme being like me can bear.

Well then, now that our pig's training is over, let's move on to the next matter.

Come on out, self-proclaimed goddess of the World Tree. You're still hanging in there, right?

.......

A-Are you all right, goddess?! You don't have to push yourself so hard...!

Child, time has no meaning to me now.

It's not that I've given in to despair. If anything, I feel more alive than ever.

After spending such a long, long time in helplessness, never even questioning it.

For the first time... I chose you of my own will alone.

......!!

The strength I have left now is like a dying ember.

But the roots that stretch to the ends of the world are still fulfilling their role.

So to the Hero of the Holy Sword, I leave the "Key Sword" that can awaken those roots.

And to my final daughter, I leave the trunk and branches, and the flower bud that will one day bloom.

Uh... sorry, but could you explain that again?

I get that you gave me this sword, but what's all that about trunks and branches?

Figures a self-proclaimed goddess would twist something simple into a needlessly complicated speech.

Since she's about to lose consciousness anyway, she means she'll pass the World Tree's remaining power on to Bedivere.

N-No - ! That means you're going to disappear, Goddess!

I... I still-!

Bedi, as sad as it is, we have no choice.

The Holy Sword and the God of Destruction... once that whole cycle came to an end, the World Tree's role ended too.

Creating a Spirit this powerful isn't easy either,

but keeping that Spirit able to act and think on its own is a whole different matter.

Which means we don't have much time left to chat like this.

Yes, in the end, the time has simply come.

Just as there's no need to weep when flowers bloom and fade, let it pass as naturally as any ordinary day.

.......

...Yes, you're all right. I can't keep crying forever either.

Goddess of the World Tree, thank you for watching over me all this time.

And please... help me keep fighting bravely from here on.

...So that in the end, this can become a story where everyone smiles!

We've got a very important problem.

Yes, we need to treat Elizabeth as soon as possi-

No...! That's obviously also a very, very urgent and important problem, but...

I just realized something that's important enough to come after Elizabeth.

You really don't need to worry about me that much. I'm still all right for now-

We need to name this new sword. A cool name worthy of the Holy Sword of the Hero of the Holy Sword.

Ah... yes.......

Of course that's important too... yes.......

Ah... I've already named that sword.

Did you forget already? I was one of the people who made it in the first place.

Huh? No, wait... you didn't even ask what I thought?!

What. If you've got a problem with it, you should've made it yourself.

I've even properly engraved it with Mana, so there shouldn't be any chance of it being mistaken for something else.

Ugh... it feels kinda disappointing, like someone else named my pet for me.

So, what's this guy's name? Don't tell me it's something like Chunchun-whatever or Chyom-whatever.

Fufu, just wait and see. I had to spend ages convincing Merlin and the goddess of the World Tree for this.

The Hero's Holy Sword, engraved with the memories of the world. And at the beginning of that legend stood the blessing of the great Fairy Queen, Morgan le Fay!

And thus, the name it was given is 「Morgancles」!

.......

...Morgan... what?

「Morgancles」. In ancient Fairy tongue, it means Morgan's glory!

Well? Doesn't it have that deep, resonant feel of a name straight out of a heroic epic?!

Oooh... I think it sounds really cool! It even feels like something I read in a fairy tale when I was little!

Ah, ahaha... Y-Yes, it's a very meaningful... no, profound name. Yes.......

.......

...So basically, you named my sword after yourself?

You should be honored! You get to wear the name of this great Fairy Queen at your side!

Yeah, "Glory of the Freeloader," right.

...Freelo... what?

You damn brat! Erase that Mana engraving already! Give me back my isekai fantasy!

You're saying every time I draw my sword, I have to praise you?! Who in their right mind would do that!?!?

.......

Haaahhhh─? ! ? !

You ungrateful pig-!! Do you even know how hard it is to earn the approval of the Fairy Queen─?!!

Apologize right now, this instant! At the same speed you start rambling fantasies every time you see a busty woman-!

Uwaaah... What do we do, Princess? They've both completely lost it!

It's okay, Bedi. It's not like I'm going to die right away just because I'm taking a moment to relax... Cough-!

Princess ─ ! ! !