Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

Just as Roman was thinking this, a calm voice rang out behind him without warning.

"Wa ...

Roman jumped back like a startled cat, and when he turned around, he saw that familiar face.

Novia was floating there silently, as if it had been there from the beginning.

"No, no, no, Consultant Novia!? What are you doing here!?"

Romani's brain completely shut down.

This is a space of "nothingness"!

It is an end point where even the Throne of Heroes cannot interfere, and all existence will return to nothingness!

But soon, Roman's wisdom, which belonged to King Solomon, helped him understand the situation.

It can still appear so easily under these circumstances...

"...I understand. You really are the first Pope Novia himself."

He guessed correctly.

Although the process was bizarre, the result was correct.

In fact, Novia's arrival here was not entirely due to brute force breaking the rules.

This place is "nothing".

According to Eastern concepts, only those who have reached the other shore and are considered "enlightened beings" can reach this place.

Romani arrived here by chance and in one go, in a way that involved "abandoning everything".

Novia, as the lamp-bearer and as Maitreya, came here, which in a sense is actually "following the rules".

"I'm just here to say goodbye," Novia said casually.

And so, in this absolutely empty space, the two engaged in a meaningless exchange of everyday trivia about the flavors of the Chaldea coffee machine and the latest single from their online idol.

It was as if it wasn't at the end of existence, but in some lounge in Chaldea.

This conversation actually eased the immense loneliness that Romani felt after their parting.

"Well, I should go now."

After a brief conversation, Novia said.

"Ah... um."

Romani nodded, a sense of loss welling up inside him.

He watched Novia's retreating figure, wanting to say something but holding back.

There's so much I want to say.

Thanks, questions, and that unspoken inquiry.

In the end, he still couldn't bring himself to speak.

Just as Novia was about to disappear, she seemed to remember something and turned around.

"Ah, right."

A mysterious smile appeared on his face.

“You must be lonely here all by yourself. So I found some ‘people’ for you.”

"After that, if you want, you can try to 'go out'. Go to other worlds and continue to see the human world with your own eyes, just as you've always wanted to."

Novia's smile became somewhat... sly.

"Of course, that's on the premise that you still have the capacity."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Novia vanished completely.

"……Why?"

Romani scratched his head, completely baffled by what the other person meant.

What does it mean to have found some people? What does it mean to have gone out into the world? And what does "remaining capacity" refer to...?

He lay bewildered in the void, at a loss.

then.

A voice so familiar it made Roman's heart skip a beat rang out.

"Hi, I've arrived! People call me the Queen who rules Sheba. Please—"

Romani's body froze.

He turned around slowly, almost instinctively.

What catches the eye are those signature fluffy ears, that luxurious and familiar attire, that slightly tanned, healthy skin, and those beautiful eyes that are now sparkling with endless brilliance—

Queen of Sheba.

The two looked at each other.

In just a second, Roman lowered his gaze somewhat embarrassed.

An indescribable bitterness welled up in my heart.

The man she loved was the all-knowing King Solomon.

Instead of Romani Archimonio, who has nothing and has even given up his existence.

but.

"I'm so happy! ...Hehehe."

The expected questions and disappointment did not materialize.

Instead, there was joyful laughter tinged with sobs.

The next second, Roman was tightly embraced by a warm and soft body.

The Queen of Sheba, like a child, buried her face in his chest, weeping with joy.

"I...I...I have something to say!" Sheba stammered excitedly, her voice thick with emotion. "I want to...I want to raise camels with you! Camels are so cute, aren't they, darling?"

Once upon a time, in the distant past.

The camel kept moving forward, treading the road to the holy city.

Not in a hurry, nor slow at all.

Scorching hot sand dunes, bathed in the cold moonlight.

The fragrance of sandalwood, the intricate mother-of-pearl carvings, the star-like speckles of expensive agate. The seven treasures offered to King Solomon, once carried on the backs of camels.

The true gift is the Queen's heart.

There is no wealth beyond love. There is no memory beyond separation.

Life is like the stars, never to meet, always moving like the constellations of Orion and Scorpio.

But how wonderful this evening is, now, to be with you under the silver candlelight, my love—

"Um, Miss Sheba?"

Romani was taken aback by the overly direct expression, and his cheeks burned.

Just then, another gentle female voice, tinged with uncertainty, rang out.

"...My benefactor?"

Romani looked in the direction of the sound and saw an elegant red-haired woman.

Cranes in folk legends.

"As expected... I, our 'proof', have been properly given."

Once upon a time... I was exhausted, and my magic was completely depleted.

It's probably too late now.

That's enough, isn't it?

However, fate had other plans, and they were destined to encounter a savior in their predicament, hearing a gentle voice.

Upon closer inspection, he was a handsome man who appeared gentle and relaxed, exuding an air of nonchalance and non-tension.

He gently protected me.

Therefore, this time I will protect him gently.

Ah, this place... reminds me of when I rented a place in Paris. Now, please allow me to rest here for a moment, my benefactor.

Miss Klein smiled and naturally stood on the other side of Romani.

“Watch your manners, darling.” Sheba immediately lifted his head from Romani’s arms, puffed out his cheeks, and looked at Miss Klein warily. “And who is this…? Could it be, his girlfriend whom he’s been secretly seeing behind my back?”

"Why does my benefactor have such a puzzled smile?" Klein tilted his head and replied elegantly, "It's clear that this unknown lady beside you is quite a remarkable person."

I was sandwiched between two women, listening to their seemingly gentle but actually barbed conversation.

Romani Archim, the man who had just given up everything, wore a smile that was more like a grimace, one of utter distress.

He seemed to understand what Novia meant by "provided you still have the capacity."

In a certain crevice beyond "nothingness," the enlightened one watched this scene and smiled silently.

For those who have reached "nothingness," it seems they have truly reached "nothingness," yet they have not truly reached "nothingness."

That's it.

.......

At the same time, at the Temple of Time.

Having lost his immortality, Goetia's body is constantly collapsing.

But he did not fall.

The moment the concept of "lifespan" was acquired, and the moment the end point of "death" was realized, the lofty perspective, for the first time, shifted to the perspective of "humanity".

I finally understand.

I understand why Solomon gave up everything.

Having understood Novia's past, I understand why she stood on Chaldea's side.

I understand now—the "joy" contained within that short life that he once scorned.

Goetia did not harbor anger toward Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had caused her defeat.

Even if Ritsuka were killed now, it would not be enough to reverse his own destruction and defeat.

In the end, the reason for still standing in front is nothing more than... "the last bit of courage that those who have come this far have left."

In terms of both his spirit and his acting skills, at this moment, he is less like the final boss and more like a protagonist facing the final ending.

Goetia waved his arms, manipulating the only remaining ring that belonged to King Solomon.

The body was constantly breaking down during the battle, but no sadness or regret was felt from it.

All that remains is a cold sense of reality: "Is this life? Is this what life is?"

In the half-destroyed Goetia, Fujimaru Ritsuka and the collapsing Temple of Time engaged in their final, and most primal, battle.

After using the power of the tenth ring to repel Fujimaru Ritsuka, Goetia's body finally reached its limit.

He destroyed himself.

On one hand, he swallowed the emptiness of losing everything, and on the other hand, he offered his respect to the formidable enemy before him, who had fought to the very last moment.

This was the greatest and only reward that Goetia received for accomplishing its great achievements over three thousand years.

In the instant before her body completely dissipated into particles of light, Fujimaru Ritsuka saw that although Goetia's gaze was fixed on her, its focus seemed to pierce through her, looking towards a distant place unseen by her—

Master, the joy of life.

God,

I hope you can witness this.

This short time is the story given to me.