Chapter 132: Chapter 132

Chapter 132 - A Terrible Lie

Originally, after sending Yuna off, there was nothing more for me to do. It meant that all I had to do was wait.

Since the others, with their outstanding magic stats, were to provide magic support to Serene in case of an emergency, I was the only one whose role had completely ended. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noᴠelfire.net

Yes, this matter was definitely out of my hands. That's what I thought.

-You still have something left to do, don't you?

-Convincing Serene-ssi.

Just as Yuna had said, there was still something I had to do, something I could do, and something I must do.

I walked slowly, alone, along the train's passage. My pace was not particularly fast.

Serene had said it would take some time to absorb the magic stably, so there was no point in rushing.

I thought slowly. Why was Serene hesitating, and how should I convince her?

It was a rather difficult subject.

I sauntered over and arrived at the engine room of the power car where Serene was located, but she was still concentrating.

She seemed to be putting in a considerable amount of effort, so much so that I felt it would be wrong to disturb her.

It seemed she hadn't even noticed my arrival in the first place.

‘Should I sit for a bit?’

Therefore, instead of speaking to Serene, I chose to sit down behind her.

I'll talk to her when it's all over. That was my thought.

As I settled into my seat, a suffocating silence once again descended upon the engine room.

Silence. In the original work of , it was a symbol that represented Serene.

One might think, Serene was depicted as a perfectly good, perfectly strong, perfect hero, so how could her symbol be silence?

Considering her other symbol was light, it might be somewhat hard to understand.

However, her silence was one that came from solitude. A silence from within.

Because she was so perfect, no one could understand the hero. There were even descriptions saying it felt more like watching the second coming of a god than a person.

That silence, and that solitude… the Serene of was suffering from it.

Even though she had friends by her side, there was a fear that they would ultimately never understand her.

It was probably the same now.

I was lost in such thoughts when…….

A voice reached me. It was Serene’s familiar voice, one I heard every day.

Having been momentarily distracted, I turned my head back towards Serene.

Her gaze was still fixed on the engine, but her voice had clearly called out to me.

I calmly replied to Serene's words. However, a response from Serene did not immediately follow.

Again, a little silence.

“About what you said earlier… honestly, I still don’t know, Rain-ssi.”

Serene was speaking. She was saying she had no confidence that it would succeed.

But that was strange. The Serene I knew from was not someone who would say such ambiguous things.

She was the type of person who knew her own capabilities and limitations precisely, distinguishing clearly between what was possible and what was impossible.

This didn't mean Serene was an omniscient, god-like figure.

Serene, too, didn't know everything. But the girl was not the type to show her confusion to others.

She was just a human who was very close to perfect, but not perfect. However, she feigned perfection.

That was the hero named Serene El Stellia.

Yet, for such a girl to confide in me .

“……I’m a little scared.”

What had made Serene ? Was it because of the environment that had changed due to my intervention in 's scenario?

Or was it I myself, no. Was Rain Enlight himself the cause?

“……You’ve changed a lot recently, Rain-ssi. In a good way. Your skills, of course… and your judgment. Even your insight.”

“It’s a good thing, but sometimes I think. Haven’t you changed too much? There are times I even wonder if you know the future.”

Hearing those words, I felt a chill run down my spine.

I had used the knowledge I possessed to conveniently alter the story, but for her to grasp some key points, even if she was just saying it.

This was beyond simply being sharp.

“Still, still… you are you, Rain-ssi. I know that.”

“……That’s right, I am me.”

It was a cruel thing. Rain Enlight was no longer Rain Enlight, but the girl believed he was.

And the girl wanted an answer.

“Can we really succeed?”

I won't bother repeating how strange this was. Just by watching, I could tell how different she was from the original work.

“Just like last time when the academy was attacked, and when you were making plans with the princess… you seem to know everything, Rain-ssi. So, I wanted to ask.”

Could we really succeed?

Serene almost seemed like she was whining. Like a girl her age… no, even younger.

Why was she asking me? Why was she asking Rain Enlight?

To this girl, what was Rain Enlight?

-Because you were my idol, Rain-ssi.

As I pondered this, the words the girl had said to me when I was plagued by false rumors came to mind. It was right before we subjugated Judgment.

‘Light of Salvation’, that was Serene El Stellia's moniker. Did she, a hero of salvation, truly consider Rain Enlight, a mere failing student and a ruin, as her idol?

My mind grew complicated, but the time to think was not infinite. I had to answer.

How should I reply to Serene's almost pitiful question?

To be honest, I wasn't 100% confident of success either.

Many circumstances were different from the scene in Part 4 of the original work. Serene's level of growth was particularly different.

Nevertheless, there was one reason I strongly insisted on this plan.

‘There is a next time.’

If I failed, I could just regress and find another way. If that didn't work, I could regress, stop the train, and then find another way. But for Serene, it was different.

In such a situation, I had to convince Serene.

That it was definitely possible.

That was the best I could do.

“It will definitely, absolutely be possible. I firmly believe so.”

Wearing the skin of Rain Enlight, I chose to take advantage of it and deceive the girl.

I chose to throw the anxious girl into uncertainty.

Serene slowly turned her head towards me. Her face, which had been turned away, came into view.

“……Thank you, always.”

It was certainly a good thing. Even if we failed, if I regressed, it would be as if it never happened.

Yes, this was definitely not a bad thing. It was for the sake of doing what was right.

But I knew. This deceit could never be something to be proud of.

Lacking confidence myself, I had to promise confidence to the girl.

It was a truly terrible lie.

Time passed, and the moment of execution finally arrived.

Serene, having absorbed all the magic from the engine, spoke in front of everyone, excluding Yuna who had left with the detached train cars.

“I will destroy Car 5.”

There was still no wavering in Serene's eyes, and her voice held confidence. So it seemed.

No one voiced any objection. Such was the power of Serene's words.

Even Croban Trase, who was seeing Serene for the first time, was calmly convinced, which said it all.

However, Regina had a somewhat reluctant expression, but she too knew Serene well.

What she said was possible, was possible. Serene El Stellia was that kind of person.

Though I was now starting to doubt if that was truly the case.

“Then let's proceed with Plan B. We will connect everyone's magic circuits here to Serene-ssi and support her with magic.”

Everyone present expressed their agreement.

And so, more time passed. The sun had already set beyond the horizon, and the moon was slowly rising.

Rumble-rumble-rumble-

Serene was standing on the roof of the train. Her weapon, 『Gungnir』, in her grasp.

And I, too, had followed Serene up onto the roof.

You might wonder what help I could offer by following her, but there was a valid reason for it.

“……Will you stay by my side?”

Serene had asked me, as if it were nothing.

There was no reason to refuse, nor did I want to.

It was the minimum conscience, or self-satisfaction, I could show as a deceiver.

Darkness had fallen thickly upon the plain after exiting the canyon. It was a matter of time, but also a matter of the current situation.

Darkness has fallen upon the world. In that case, people inevitably wish for someone to dispel the darkness.

In other words, they wish for a hero.

The flawless hero of perfection, the light of salvation, the savior.

All those titles existed for Serene, and she was the very archetype of a hero.

But I knew. The girl was infinitely close to being a perfect hero, but she was not one.

The difference between 99 and 100. A small but distinctly different realm.

Within her, there was endless agony. Could she really do it?

I stood two steps behind Serene, watching her back.

I did not look away. Even if she failed, I would do the same.

Because that was the only thing I, who had pushed the girl's back with a terrible lie, could do.