Final Episode: In the Sunny Spot
“…Yuma… Yuma.”
A voice can be heard from afar.
It’s faint, but it’s definitely calling me.
My body is heavy, as if my entire being has turned to Iron (Metal) and is sinking into the deep sea.
The voice from afar shakes my consciousness, which is about to fall asleep.
“…Yuma, where are you? …Yuma!”
Is that Akito’s voice? It feels closer than before.
“…Yuma… Answer me, Yuma.”
Rui. I’m here. Even if I try to shout that, my voice won’t come out as I want it to. I feel like my hands and feet are being grabbed in the dark, and I’m being dragged into a deep, deep darkness.
If I’m swallowed by this darkness, I’m sure I won’t be able to return.
Yuma desperately reaches out his hand. A faint light can be seen in the sky. He somehow reached out his hand towards that light.
But the light is gradually getting smaller. If that light disappears, I’ll be completely swallowed by the darkness.
Yuma shouted and desperately struggled. But no voice came out, and his body wouldn’t move. The light mercilessly grew smaller and smaller, and then disappeared completely.
The outstretched hand can’t grab anything.
The strength is leaving my body. My consciousness is fading. Is this the end… Am I going to end without being able to save Kaede?
The moment the outstretched hand falls—a loud voice was heard.
“Yuma!!”
Someone is holding my hand. Yuma slowly opened his eyelids. Light jumped into his eyes, and he squinted.
The blurred vision gradually becomes clear.
It was Rui who was holding my hand. Akito was behind him.
“Are you okay, Yuma!? Your face is pale.”
“Ah, yeah… I’m okay.”
When I turn my gaze to my own body, my whole body is covered in white ash. When I look closely, I see that white ash is piled up around me.
Is this the remains of the White King? My head is hazy, and I can’t put my thoughts together well.
Yuma borrows the strength of Rui and Akito and somehow stands up.
I can’t put strength into my body, and my feet are unsteady.
“You’re not okay at all. You don’t have any Magical Power left, do you?”
“Yeah, it’s all gone. Even so, we were able to defeat the 【White King】 properly, right?”
Yuma looks up at the sky. There was a faint smoke spreading there, but no more ash was falling.
I can’t see the afterglow of light, and I don’t feel any Magical Power.
“It’s okay. You defeated the 【White King】. No doubt about it.”
Akito, who is lending me his shoulder, grins. Rui, who is also holding my arm and supporting my body, also smiles.
“It would have been a disaster if a Monsters of that level rampaged on the ground. Yuma saved a lot of people. I’m proud of you.”
“Somehow… it’s ticklish to be told that so formally.”
Yuma somehow raises his right hand and scratches his cheek.
“Anyway. We have to take this wobbly guy to the hospital.”
“Sorry. Akito.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You fought it out all by yourself. Just rest up.”
“But, it seems like the damage is spreading to the city too… I have to go help.”
While walking, Yuma looks at the city far ahead. Smoke is rising from various places, and I can see that there is considerable damage.
“We’ll go there. Yuma, you rest.”
Rui stares straight ahead. Yuma honestly answers, “Ah, I understand,” and, supported by the two, starts walking towards the IDR headquarters.
◇◇◇
Once upon a time—there was a 【Calamity】 that caused enormous damage to the world.
Multiple huge Dungeons appeared in each country, and unknown creatures came out one after another. The creatures were called “Monsters” and attacked people.
The world lost about half of its population, and despair spread among the people.
In response, each country trained special warriors who used “magic,” called “Seekers.”
They defeated Monsters and used it as a means to protect people.
The Seekers eventually engaged in a fierce battle with the “King of Monsters.”
The Japanese Seekers defeated the 【Red King】, the Indian Seeker defeated the 【Green Lord】, and the English Seekers defeated the 【Blue King】.
In the United States, the 【Yellow King】, who boasted overwhelming strength, was raging, but the Seeker Clan “Prometheus,” led by the world’s strongest Seeker “Flame Emperor Albert,” buried him.
The last one remaining was the world’s largest Dungeon, 【Orpheus】, in Israel.
Israeli Seekers cooperated and defeated the strongest Monsters, the 【White King】.
This caused 【Orpheus】 to collapse. Finally, all five King of Monsters in various parts of the world were defeated.
The Monsters nesting in each country lost their momentum, and many returned to the Dungeon.
The world regained order once again.
It is said that three Japanese people played an active role in this Dungeon Conquest.
One is 【Godspeed Sword King】 Amasawa Rui, who later served as the first Director-General of the “International Dungeon Management Organization.” He controlled immense Flame Magic and cut down all Monsters with a single stroke. He is the Seeker who boasted the greatest speed.
One is 【Annihilation Thunder Emperor】 Tennoji Akito, who was appointed commander of the United Nations Army Special Magic Corps.
A legendary Seeker who is said to have used unimaginable Thunder Magic to slaughter hundreds of Monsters in an instant. His power was recognized, and he stood at the forefront of the extermination of Monsters remaining in the world.
And one more person. There was a person who never came out to the front until the end.
Together with Amasawa Rui and Tennoji Akito, he dived to the lowest level of 【Orpheus】 and contributed to the Dungeon Conquest while cooperating with other Seekers.
In the battle with the Monsters, he wore black armor and is said to have mowed down enemies with immense brute strength.
He was a person whose face and name were unknown, but people called him with respect.
—The 【Black Steel King】.
◇◇◇
Komatsugawa Park in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo. It is a vast park with five squares, and many families visit it.
There was a girl running through the park.
“Hey! You’ll fall if you run that fast.”
The girl turns around after being told by her mother. The girl returns to her mother with a full smile and clings to her leg.
“Hey, Mom. I want to go to ‘Freedom Square.’ I heard there’s a big slide there.”
“Okay, I understand. Let’s all go together.”
The mother looked back. There was a father slowly walking around, leisurely looking around.
“Hey, Yuma. Come on, it’s getting dark.”
“Huh? It’s a rare day off, so why don’t we take it easy?”
“Honestly, you’re so carefree… Momiji is like her mother, so she doesn’t like lazy fathers, right?”
The girl called Momiji nods and glares at her father.
“Daddy, hurry up! We’re going to Freedom Square.”
“Okay, okay, I understand.”
Yuma runs up and takes the girl’s small hand. The mother also takes the girl’s hand, smiles, and looks forward.
The three walked along, chatting in the pleasant sunny spot.
—The End—
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Thank you for reading to the end. This was the first time I had written such a long novel. I was able to continue writing for three years thanks to the readers who read and supported me.
I would like to express my gratitude again now that it is completed. Thank you very much.