Chapter 36: Extra 2: I Want
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
“What brought me here was not fate, but ‘I want.’”
In all the chaotic confusion and mistakes, the truth seemed harder and harder to see. He wanted to know the answer amid the lostness, but when he finally heard it, he clearly realized that his heart had already known.
— The Hero’s heart does not lie.
Removing all the misleading thoughts and other distractions, after the heart’s intentions matched reality, it seemed the truth had long been decided.
“…You already have your own thoughts, so what else do you need to ask me, Hero?” In that quiet acceptance, he filled the gaps of the past, searching for clues in day after day of memories, in the softness and tension that others barely remembered, declaring to himself the reason he took action that day. So he waited in the snow for a “then,” for that “later” that fit all the conditions perfectly, in the team of four plus one.
Then that “later” became a replay of the past: He was ambushed by the demon dragon and grabbed while rescuing Joshua, quickly thrown somewhere. When questioning Francis, the demon dragon caught him again and left him outside. Everything seemed to end in that one glance.
Snowflakes fell, mist blurred vision, unseen figures retreated into shadows, and in the demon dragon’s later movements, he was set down on the ground. “It’s enough.” Is it really enough?
After being taken back, he rested in a room waiting to heal. Outside, snowflakes drifted gently down, frost covering everything. Occasionally, sunlight appeared, but it was thin and sparse, unable to bring much warmth. Under his father’s instructions, he became who he was “supposed” to be.
After gradually losing his way, he was given tasks to make up for it in other ways. Optimistic, cheerful, righteous, kind—these were the demands of justice by the world, and also the reasons why a person easily received help. So he was supposed to become that.
“New year has started! Everyone, cheer up and welcome new hopes! Let’s go~”
He became that too. Time passed slowly. The negative feelings melted away like snow and ice, clear lake water was brought from outside, shining in the sunlight, wavering gently like hope growing in spring. All positivity flowed silently through his blood, becoming a habit in every aspect without him noticing, supporting him through all times.
“Only… I guess there are still some things I haven’t finished dealing with.”
After taking care of the rescued matters and everything seemingly settled back into place, he smiled and waved goodbye to the travelers he met on this journey. If fate exists, then let me walk to the place where fate should be.
When unsure of direction, he walked along the road, seeming as sunny and bright as before, finding ways to survive along the way, helping others or receiving help after meeting strangers. When he smiled, it was probably still as bright as before.
Then through repeated smiles, he waved farewell to neighbors he happened to see when he returned briefly, slowly preparing to handle what he needed to, and after he was ready, walked back to the very starting point—
The demonized rabbits he had lost there long ago, once restrained, were now growing naturally. Before he finished dealing with all the rabbits left untreated, he revisited the old place, thought of the past, and smiled softly at his palm, healing himself as he had once rehearsed.
Then unexpectedly, he heard stories from long ago—when this smile first appeared, there was a true “later”: To completely eliminate each other, so be together.
— Is it not over yet?
— Or, in this way of saying, is it a new beginning from another direction?
The sky was very blue, the clouds floated lightly in the blue he liked, and the one he liked stood among the drifting clouds, shaking his head at the question. So he nodded, and after confirmation, finally drew a complete circle on the story from long ago.
— If your heart has a direction it wants to walk, you will ultimately reach your destination. What brought me here was not a self-assumed fate, but: “I want.”
I hoped to come here, so I came here. With a direction in my heart, I can walk under that goal to arrive there. He answered warmly, smiling with clear, bright eyes, just like when he first rehearsed.
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