LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 195
195. The One Who Has Lost Looks Down
“What do you mean by that?”
“Because, Mira-san, you taught Arx-san so many things and left them in this world.”
Noah smiled gently.
Her smile, so heartwarming just to look at, made Mira-san tilt her head in confusion.
“Mira-san, you’re such a good person. That’s why you care so deeply about your late disciple.”
“Stop it. I’m not someone so grand as that.”
“No, Mira-san, you’re a wonderful person. You can tell just by talking to you.”
With that, Noah hugged Mira-san.
The small body of Noah wrapped around Mira-san. Though surprised by the sudden action, Mira-san didn’t resist and instead put her hand gently on Noah’s back.
“… See? Mira-san, you’re so warm. I could stay like this forever.”
“… There’s nothing here, you know. Even this warmth will fade someday.”
“But the warmth I’ve felt from you will remain in my memories forever.”
Noah stepped back from Mira-san and held her hand.
“Mira-san, I believe living isn’t just about losing things. Living is about leaving something for others. You, who walk ahead, leave traces in the hearts of people like me and Arx-san, and life carries on in that way.”
“… Even so, doesn’t it become meaningless when you’re gone?”
“No. Because I don’t think your disciple was ever meaningless to you.”
Mira-san’s eyes widened in realization.
She understood the meaning behind Noah’s words. Living isn’t just about loss.
Mira-san had surely lost many things. But at the same time, she had given and left just as much for others.
Noah’s words were true. And those words melted the frozen time within Mira-san in an instant.
“… You’re amazing. You talk as if you’ve lived for hundreds of years.”
“No, I think I’ve only lived for about 20 years.”
“Hahaha! You’re funny. I like you more and more!”
Mira-san folded her arms as usual and laughed heartily before looking at Noah intently.
“Noah, Arx. I’m glad I met you two. Even though the me in this world is just a shadow, I’m happy I could share my feelings with you.”
At that moment, the gate Mira-san had been forming emitted a mysterious sound and took the shape of a ring.
It was complete. Passing through it would take them back to their original world.
“I wish I’d heard your words sooner. Then I wouldn’t have had to suffer for over a hundred years. It’s frustrating.”
“It’s okay. I’ll make sure to tell the Mira-san in the outside world.”
“No, it’s frustrating, so I’ll send the events of just now as a message to the me out there!”
“Can you even do that!?”
“Well, I’m me, after all. …It’ll take a bit of time, but it’s not impossible!”
Could this Mira-san, who exists only in imagination, actually affect the real Mira-san!? She’s as extraordinary as ever!
With a thumbs-up as if it were only natural, Mira-san began speaking again.
“One thing to note… Only Arx can pass through this gate.”
“Why’s that? Can’t Noah go through too?”
“All I can do is connect this Zain’s Mystic Eye World to the real world. But as for Noah, I don’t know where she came from, so it’s impossible.”
Once, I tried using a Warp Slime to bring Noah to the outside world.
But it didn’t work. The cause wasn’t clear. In the end, we concluded that something was interfering.
“It’s okay, Arx-san. We’ll find a way for me to get out together from now on.”
“That’s right. Once Arx leaves, this world will disappear, but Noah will just return to where she came from. Then, you can take your time figuring it out.”
With their encouragement, I decided to pass through the gate.
As I turned back one last time before the gate, the two were watching me off.
“Arx-san! Do your best out there!”
“Give my regards to the me out there~!”
I waved to them and stepped through the gate.
＊
“Ugh…?”
A sensation of consciousness awakening. The weight of my body.
When I opened my eyes, it was a familiar ceiling.
“… I made it back.”
It seemed Mira-san’s gate had worked correctly. I slowly sat up and stretched.
Mira-san had said she’d check on me in an hour, so not much time should have passed yet…
It’s reasonable to think I’d passed the trial and had some time to spare.
Even so, it was surprisingly easy to clear. Could it actually have been the first trial…? No way.
[Arx! Can you hear me?]
“Uh…?”
Just then, someone’s voice echoed in my head.
It was Mira-san’s voice. A voice transmitted in the same way as when leveling up left me bewildered.
“Mira-san!? Where are you speaking from!?”
[Calm down! This is a recording I set up to play when you woke up!]
So, it’s basically a message? What does she want?
[I’ll get straight to the point. The royal capital is under attack, so get over here now!]
“What!?”
The simplicity and impact of her words shocked me even further.