C 166
Lucilion closed my eyes tightly by reflex and walked forward, holding my hand firmly.
Like a person for whom blinding light is not an obstacle.
"It's strange..."
It wasn't terrifying.
Because I didn't think Lucilion would do anything strange to me.
But...
Yes, it's a bit embarrassing. If you believe there's any reason for this confrontation, it wasn't like this when I was young.
"We've arrived."
When I slowly opened my eyes at his words, the intense light that had been shining so brightly that it hurt my eyes had disappeared.
What I saw was a partially collapsed building in ruins.
To prove that the term "ancient temple" was not incorrect, there was a mural among the remnants of the collapsed building.
It was a mural that seemed to honor the sun.
"Is this the ancient temple?"
"Yes."
There were just scattered ruins everywhere, so it felt a bit stifling.
What's more, I couldn't see the entrance to the underground castle ruins. It even makes me think that somehow it didn't collapse further.
"Do you know the way?"
"No, Arma told me to take care of the rest."
"He just told you the location."
"Yes."
Lucilion said, slowly looking around.
"It must have been a day off at most, so I'm sorry to have caused you this trouble."
"There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm doing it because I want to."
"...Yes."
Do you know that I'm even more sorry for that?
"Is this something you're doing to drive away that star guardian?"
"It's not like that."
I don't know how to drive away the star guardian. Arma told me I just needed to be happy, so I believed him.
"The hostility from strangers has increased, but that's it..."
It may have been a forced favor at first, but it was definitely a connection I had built.
Looking at those who hadn't changed, I decided to believe that.
"I always wanted to be happy."
As I walked slowly through the ruined building, I cautiously opened my mouth.
"But it wasn't easy. I was someone who could find happiness even in the smallest and most trivial things..."
I was always looking for happiness.
Hoping to be able to smile genuinely, I desperately looked around and tried to find even a single clue to happiness.
"But even that was difficult. I felt that if I tried to be happy, someone forcefully stopped me."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes, but to think that everything was fate and was in someone's hands makes me feel a bit..."
I lightly rubbed my cheek with the back of my hand. Everything was empty, and everything lost its meaning.
But at the same time, there was also a place of refuge. It wasn't my fault that I was unhappy.
"So when I first came here, I was so happy... Everything seemed like a dream."
"Now."
"Yes?"
"Does all this situation seem like a dream to you?"
"Yes."
I smiled faintly and nodded at Lucilion's words.
It still feels like a dream.
I was happy, but in some corner, there was a part of me that didn't fully believe in that happiness.
"It feels like a dream."
"Well. I hope that someday all of Eirin's dreams come true."
My eyes opened wide at Lucilion's words.
"It has already come true."
"Is that so?"
"I was always dreaming. Everything I imagined and drew about the world was my dream. It was a desire to be like this."
As a result, I got the position. It's not that I don't feel sorry for Sharnae at all, but now I seemed much happier.
"I'm here."
"Yes."
"So my dream has already come true."
That means there's nothing more to wish for.
Wealth and fame? The wealth and fame that others desire? A life overflowing with money? I really didn't want that.
Winning the lottery has never been a dream for me. My dreams have always been things that naturally exist in reality.
"Reality?"
"Yes. I wanted a loving and homely father, kind siblings, delicious food, or going shopping or hanging out with friends hand in hand."
Those were the things.
But when I regained my senses, all those things were by my side.
I dare say I never thought of wanting everyone to love me.
"Now I'm happy."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, and it's true that I'm anxious. I'm afraid that this happiness that came in an instant will go away."
"It wasn't in an instant."
Lucilion stopped walking.
When I looked up, I saw a door among the collapsed rubble.
There was a stone statue that resembled a lion next to the door, and fortunately, it seemed that the building hadn't collapsed up to that point.
"This is the happiness achieved after a long period of hard work, Eirin."
"Lucy?"
"You shouldn't describe your past efforts as 'instantaneous.'"
Lucilion's words suddenly reminded me of my days as a young Cha Miso.
Those days when I cried constantly, constantly imagined things, and constantly created a world I didn't know.
And the countless sad moments that probably passed by without memories.
"Yes, I can't do that."
I obediently nodded. The moment you take it lightly, that time becomes truly light.
"That's right, I achieved this happiness with great difficulty."
"Yes."
Lucilion smiled sweetly as if he was finally satisfied.
"You're very kind, Eirin."
Lucilion extended his other hand and lightly caressed my cheek.
"For some reason, physical contact seems to have become more frequent."
It wasn't unpleasant because it was just a light touch before he pulled away.
"But the more I look at it, the more amazing his appearance becomes."
It truly felt like a dream to hear that a man with this appearance liked me.
No, I didn't even receive a confession, so what am I thinking?
"Is it here?"
I pressed my flushed cheek with my palm and quickly pointed to the door.
"Yes, it seems to be this place."
Lucilion smiled slightly and placed his hand on the securely closed door.
Pure white divine power flowed from Lucilion's fingertips, and the light soon covered the entire door.
At that moment, it started to sound as if part of the building was collapsing.
In a panic, I ran close to Lucilion and grabbed the hem of his clothes. If possible, I was going to flee even if it meant using dragon skills.
"Didn't you hear something collapsing a moment ago?"
"Yes, I did..."
*Dududududu-!*
Something collapsed. But it was closer than I thought.
"Oh?"
Lucilion squinted his eyes, stretched his arms, wrapped them around my waist, and took three steps back in an instant.
What was collapsing was a stone lion statue.
"Is the statue collapsing because it's too old?"
"No, this is..."
*Crrrrrrrrrrrrrrn-*
A low growl came from the statue.
It sent shivers down my spine. What is this, not a stone statue possessed by a ghost?
"Jajaja! You're finally here! I thought it was time for a generational change to occur!"
"...I guess he's the guardian."
The gray stones covering the statue crumbled in an instant, and bright yellow eyes gleamed.
It was a four-tailed lion.
"Somehow, it resembles a sphinx."
While thinking about that, the goosebumps that had risen up my spine decreased even more.
"Do you want to enter here?"
"Yes."
"I suppose you need the Verdant Mirror."
"Yes."
Lucilion replied simply.
Judging by the strength in the hand holding my waist, it was clear that he was nervous.
"Wow, this might be the first time I've seen Lucilion look nervous."
While marveling at his profile, my face inexplicably heated up.
I mean, he's really handsome.
Before, I didn't believe that there were people who would sell their country for a face, but now I think I can believe it a little.
"Then you must pass my test."
I'm sure the test is not like the Sphinx's riddle.
(N/T: It's a riddle that, according to Greek mythology, was presented by the Sphinx to Oedipus, who found the solution.)
Since it's a fantasy world, could it be a battle, a magic show, or something to demonstrate divine power?
"The test is to guess my riddle!"
"...What?"
A rebuttal emerged from me.
"So..."
Surely, you're not asking who has four feet in the morning, two feet at noon, and three feet in the evening.
"What being, having a single voice, walks on four feet in the morning, on two feet at noon, and finally on three feet in the evening? It's weaker and slower when it has more feet."
The fake Sphinx solemnly posed the question.
Holy crap...
"Holy crap, man..."
When I think about it, I created this world when I was young.
The thoughts a child might have weren't of such a high level.
"The world probably didn't know I would come here."
Since the examinee has arrived, the loser has been determined.
The lion's mouth opened at my response.
Its jaw seemed about to fall off and started trembling.
