Chapter 310

“Son, wake up.”
“Ugh… Ughhh…”
Ronan groaned as he lay there. His whole body was stiff as if he’d just come out of the water. When he finally managed to lift his eyelids, he saw his savior staring down at him with a heavy burden on his back.
“Ma’am, what a surprise—what is it?”
“What’s the matter, did you forget you were supposed to go on a picnic?”
Ronan grunted and pushed himself upright. He was lying on a rustic wooden bed. The scent of earth, grass, and wildflowers wafted in through the half-open window.
“Is this—?”
Ronan looked out the window and shook his head. The landscape of his hometown of Nimberton stretched out before him. Beyond the ramshackle walls stretched hills of grazing sheep.
“Why am I here? What was I doing?
On the winding river, village children were playing on rafts. Something important had happened, but I couldn’t remember what. The savior, seeing that his son was awake, suddenly turned his back.
“If you’re awake, let’s get going. I know how much Irene and your mother have been looking out for me–I don’t have much time left.”
“What?”
He left the room without replying. I didn’t understand why he said he didn’t have time, but then I realized it was the first time I had ever taken a walk with my father.
“Come on.”
Muttering to himself, Ronan pushed himself to his feet, unaware that he had shrunk by more than half his height.
She dressed quickly and walked out into the living room, where her mother and Irene were waiting for her. The dazzlingly beautiful mother and daughter were already ready to go out. Iriel, who must have been ten years old, waved and said hello.
“Ronan! Good morning!”
“Oh, my prince is up, and Daddy is waiting outside. Shall we go?”
“Well, okay.”
Ronan nodded dryly. Iriel, trotting over, grabbed his hand and led the way.
“Ronan, just follow your sister, we won’t get lost this time!”
“Yeah. Yeah—.”
As they left the house, the sun shone brightly. The Savior stood still, admiring the blue sky. He heard the door close and looked back at his family.
“I see you’re all out, so I’ll tell you where we’re going today. It is—.”
“Go far today, farther!”
“Hey, Iril. Daddy’s talking to you.”
Her mother laughed and tried to stop her, but it was impossible to restrain a girl in the throes of play. Looking at her daughter with warmth in her eyes, the Savior reached out her hand.
“Okay. So, shall we go up that hill today? It looks close, but it’s a long way up.”
His index finger pointed to a hill some distance away, with a large oak tree at the top, visible from a distance. Iril clapped his hands in delight.
“Wow, great!”
“Is Ronan okay?”
“I’m good with anything, anywhere.”
Ronan affirmed. In truth, he was happy wherever he went with his family. The Savior, still watching him, nodded.
“Yeah, me too.”
And so the short trip began. Ronan walked down the street with his family, enjoying the view of his hometown. They greeted each other along the way and asked how each other was doing. Ronan raised an eyebrow when he saw Asel with a backpack.
“Hey, Asel. Where are you going?”
“Eh, eh—my mom said I should try to learn magic properly—I’m going to the Islands.”
“Ohhh. Magic. Yeah, good luck with that.”
Ronan patted him on the back. Asell gave Ronan’s family a polite bow and headed for the carriage house. Thank God I’ve found something I want to do, I thought I’d be a coward for the rest of my life. Suddenly, a question popped into his head.
“But have I ever met her?
They hadn’t said hello in a while, apparently, and I couldn’t figure out what had happened. Ronan shrugged once and resumed walking. The path was lined with spring flowers.
“Ouch. Let’s roast these guys too.”
The savior, having succeeded in his fishing, held up four trout. They were still flopping around, looking very fresh, and they were having lunch by the river after packing Nimburton.
“Wow! Dad’s the best!”
Iril giggled and clung to the Savior’s neck, her mother covering her mouth as the sight made her laugh.
Ronan’s family had forgotten to pack a lunch with their freshly caught trout. The river was beautiful, colored the same indigo as the sky. Not long after they finished eating and set off, Iriel began to rub his eyes.
“Woof—I’m sleepy from eating.”
“Do you want to come up to me?”
“No, no, no, I can go!”
Iriel brushed Ronan’s hand away. From the way she was squirming, she didn’t think she’d last much longer, but she didn’t want to be indebted to him for being her sister.
“You can go–cool.”
“Ugh.”
Stubborn as ever, Iril was soon walking in his sleep. Drooling, but not stopping, he was still walking, if that’s possible.
“I knew it.”
Ronan, sighing heavily, was about to pick her up. The Savior in front of him froze in place.
“I’ll move it. Ugh.”
“I could really use a lift.”
Ronan said, but the idea was not adopted. The Savior, carrying Iril in one arm, began to climb the hill again. “What’s up,” the mother beside him asked playfully.
“Gee, can’t you hear me?”
“Do you think so?”
The words were barely out of his mouth when the Savior picked her up. The sight of him carrying her in his arms was quite impressive. She let out a short scream and slapped him on the shoulder.
“KYA! You too, come on. Everyone’s watching!”
“Whatever.”
The Savior blurted it out. She looked embarrassed, but not displeased. The Savior continued walking for a while longer.
We stopped and rested along the way, and by the time we reached our destination, the sun had already set. The wind was getting cooler and smelled like wool. The shadows of the village stretched out against the setting sun.
“Koooo—koooo—.”
“You really shouldn’t be here—.”
Iriel and his mother were fast asleep, leaning against an oak tree. Only Ronan and the Savior stood side by side, watching the blazing sky. The Savior looked back at them and smirked.
“She sleeps well. I’m sure she takes after your mom.”
“Yeah, except for the color of my hair.”
“So, how was your day, Ronan. Did you enjoy it?”
“Well–whatever.”
Ronan whimpered. After stroking his head a couple times, the Savior turned his attention back to the setting sun.
“That’s good.”
And there was silence for a long time. I always felt it, but when I was alone with my father, I didn’t have much to say. The sun was beginning to sink below the horizon.
“This was my wish.”
“What?”
“A day out with the family. No one would have guessed that this was the dream of the creator of the dreaded Nebula Clasier.”
Ronan arched an eyebrow at his sudden savior’s words. His eyes were wet with rainwater as he looked out at the setting sun. Nebula Clazier? What is that?
“Ronan. I owe you another apology.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was such a glutton for punishment. I wanted to show you more, to teach you more, like any father. Like any father.”
“So what’s that….”
“And even now, in the last time I was given, I couldn’t let go of my selfishness.”
Ronan didn’t answer. He couldn’t make out the words. The Savior spoke up.
“Since it was our last time, I originally wanted to take her somewhere more spectacular. There are so many things I’ve seen over the years that have left me speechless—that’s why I chose this place for my first and last outing.”
The Unearthly Savior tugged at the tail of his horse. He turned and locked eyes with Ronan. Ronan had suddenly grown a full foot taller than him.
“Well–I can’t think of a better place to be than where my family was all together for a while.”
The Savior spoke. A bolt of lightning struck Ronan’s brain. A long-forgotten memory returned at once.
Giants dissolving into particles. Ronan staggered for a moment, clutching his forehead, then looked back at the Savior.
“Wait—.”
Where am I? Why am I here? Suddenly, Iriel and his mother were nowhere to be seen. The landscape of his homeland was crumbling in the distance. Ronan’s bewilderment at the inexplicable phenomenon was palpable.
“Shit, what the hell happened?”
“It’s okay, we got through this crisis, and I’m sorry I wasn’t there for the end.”
“What kind of bullshit is that, Dad. The last time?”
Ronan asked excitedly. Hearing the word father, the Savior suddenly raised his hand and covered his face. A watery voice escaped his mouth as he sucked in a ragged breath.
“Father. Hahaha—.”
The Savior laughed. He muttered the word father, then removed his hand from his face. The tracks of water were clear beneath his reddened eyes.
Placing a hand on Ronan’s cheek, the Savior spoke.
“No matter when you hear it, it’s always a good thing.”
He wore the same benevolent smile as when they first met in the glass house. Ronan tried to say something more, but no voice came out. The fading landscape of his hometown was now a blank slate.
In his fading consciousness, Ronan chanted.
.
.
.
“Father?”
Ronan opened his eyes. After a moment of blackness, his vision cleared. He leapt to his feet, facing a sky that was white with water.
“Holy shit, what the—.”
Ronan’s brow furrowed as he surveyed his surroundings. It was a desolate world. The first thing he saw were the Allied soldiers lying and moaning, and the Savior’s crumbling defenses.
“Ugh—whoa, my eyes—!”
“Eh—.”
The people all had their eyes closed and were in agony. There didn’t seem to be any fatalities, but it didn’t look good by any means.
Beyond the shields, the landscape had turned into a barren wasteland. No lush forests, no mountain ranges, just a dusty wind blowing across the landscape.
[croak—croak—croak–!}
The dragons, including Navardoze, were moaning as they crashed to the ground. Intense burns covered their bodies. Unlike the humans, most of them had been flying. Ronan ran a hand through his bangs and muttered.
“—What happened?”
He had to get to the bottom of this. Out of the corner of his eye, Ronan caught a glimpse of a familiar figure behind him. The Savior stood in the same position he’d been in the last time he’d seen him. Arms raised to the sky, he stood tall and proud.
“Father.”
Ronan called out to him, but the Savior did not answer. Ronan staggered toward him and sucked in a breath. The Savior was frozen in that position, breathless.
“—Father?”
His eyes were open, so I knew he was still alive. But I could no longer feel warmth where I put my hand.
It was a death without question. Waves of indescribable emotion rose in Ronan’s chest. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from high in the sky.
“Finally. Dead.”