Man is infinite, and his ambition is to slay the dragon

Edwards thought back to what happened three months ago. "Although I don't quite understand the specific principles, the reason you were able to exert such extraordinary power three months ago is probably because you briefly connected to the future and mastered the power that you will be able to master one day in the future, right?"

"At that time, I vaguely saw you in the future, and you said to me, 'Long time no see.' So I wondered if your request was related to this matter."

"Wait wait wait, wait a minute!"

Seeing that the topic was going in a direction that he and the others could not understand, Xijing Ningyin quickly patted the fan and said, "You two should stop talking about things that only you can understand. Explain the whole cause and effect first! What about your future self... What did this kid do in a place we don't know?"

"About this——"

Sieg briefly recounted his battle with Harima Tendo in space three months ago and what he had experienced.

Including the wordless conversation between myself and my [future self].

After listening to Zieg's explanation of the situation, everyone else understood the situation.

"——So, Sieg, you don't want to leave any regrets for yourself?"

"Ah."

Zieg nodded, agreeing with Dongtang Daohua's summary: "When [Future Me] left a year later, he didn't take anyone with him. And not only on this planet, but on every planet he visited afterwards, he didn't take anyone with him when he left."

"Whether it's my teacher, the people who love me, or my best friend... I won't have anyone around me in the future, not even Miss Tina."

[Anyway, we have the Clinshid, so we can always come back later.]

Zigg felt that his [future self] probably had this thought in mind every time he left.

Because the Crest can make interstellar jumps, even if they are separated for a while, they will definitely meet again later - thinking so, [Future Sieg] finally wants to go back to see his old friends, but what he sees are the tombstones of his long-dead friends.

It was not until that moment that [Future Sieg] suddenly realized that he had been traveling in the universe for a hundred years.

Everyone he had ever known was no longer alive.

Sieg didn't know how his future self would feel when he first saw the tombstones of his deceased loved ones, but for him now...

"I don't want you, teachers, to leave this world quietly without my knowledge."

Ziggy said seriously.

"My former self, like my future self, was planning to leave the things on this planet that I needed to worry about to my teacher or other trustworthy people, and then continue to fly into the universe and continue my journey."

"[I can come back anytime anyway, so it doesn't matter if we're apart for a while] - I had the same idea as my future self."

"But... I can't guarantee that I can come back while you are still alive. I can't come back in a few years, or even a dozen years. Maybe decades later I will remember that there are friends on this planet that I should come back to see, and teachers who shouldered the mission for me."

"Even - I might have died before that in some unknown corner of the universe."

The goodbye that you say casually now may become a permanent farewell to each other later.

[Future Zig] In the distant future, in front of the tombstones of his deceased relatives, he feels regretful, sorry and sad for his hasty decision in the past.

Therefore, he created the [Magic Sword Skill].

That was the only thing he had to remember his former friend by.

"I won't force you to come with me. I will try my best to come back while you are still alive, but like I said just now, I can't guarantee that I can do it."

"so--"

Zieg didn't say anything else, but everyone present understood what he meant.

[He left behind countless regrets in the future because of his carelessness in his youth]

[Now he wants to make up for those regrets because he knows them in advance]

After a brief silence, Shinguji Kurono lit up his second cigarette and said, "I don't think you plan to let me follow you, do you?"

"Eh? Well, of course not, Chairman. After all, you are married and have children."

"I think so - Ningyin, what do you think?"

"what?"

Xijing Ningyin looked at her best friend: "Xiaohei, you...you don't mean to let us follow this kid, do you? "

"Yeah, after all... it's about time you moved on, right?" Shinguji Kurono exhaled a puff of smoke, "We didn't completely decide the winner that summer, and I can't go back to that summer. The me you always wanted to defeat will never come back."

Shinguji Kurono is only one step away from becoming a demon, but since she already has a loved one and a family, she will definitely not become a demon.

The woman that Xijing Ningyin longed for would never come back.

Xijing Ningyin knew this herself, so no matter what kind of battle it was, she just did it perfunctorily and lost all her fighting spirit.

"I don't think this is suitable for you, Ning Yin. Don't always stick to someone like me who is stuck in the past. Just take the universe as your goal and rekindle your fighting spirit. The universe is so big, there must be an opponent who can rekindle your fighting spirit - in fact, isn't there one here?"

Shinguji Kurono glanced at Tina who was sitting next to Edelweiss: "The Yasha-hime I know is not someone who will always cling to the illusions of the past."

"Xiao Hei..."

Listening to the words of her lifelong best friend, Xijing Ningyin bit her lip and said, "...How can you belittle yourself like this? To me, you are the only one in the universe who can ignite my fighting spirit."

"Heh~~~Thank you for thinking so highly of me all these years - Sieg, you will leave in April next year, right?"

"um, yes."

"That means there are still sixteen full months left, Ning Yin, so you should think about it carefully. As your friend, I don't want to see you trapped by me for the rest of your life."

154. The last 16 months

Shinguji Kurono and Saikyo Nene left the meeting room.

The two have been friends for many years, and the feelings and ties between them are quite deep. Therefore, regarding the suggestion made by Shinguji Kurono, what decision the two of them will make in the end depends entirely on themselves.

After they left, there was a brief silence, and then Kurogane Ouma, who had been leaning against the wall from the beginning, said, "Take me with you, Sieg Feld."

"Ouma?"

Zig looked at him. "Have you made your decision yet? I'm not leaving until 16 months later."

"It doesn't matter." Kurogane Ouma said calmly, "For me, as long as I can move towards the peak, nothing else matters. Although I haven't reached the peak on this planet yet, since I know there is a more vast world outside this planet, there is no reason for me not to take a look at the scenery ahead."

"Besides, I have already given up all unnecessary emotions. There is no one on this planet who is worthy of my attention."

There is no doubt that this is what a man who only wants to become stronger would say.

Zigg nodded. "If you don't mind, I'll let you know before I leave in 16 months."

"Well, then I'm leaving."

After saying that, Kurotetsu Ouma left the meeting room directly.

He was originally called here by force. If he hadn't been with Edwards and Tina, he wouldn't have come this time. However, it was precisely because of this that he made such a decision.

In the boundless universe, look for ways to make yourself stronger and achieve the evolution that you cannot get on this planet.

"I don't need to express my opinion, right?"

Sarah raised her hands. "I'm yours anyway. I'll just follow you wherever you go. Besides, you haven't even become my nude model yet."

"Well, speaking of nude models, when we get back to the Crimsheed, you can just come to my room, or I can go to yours?"

"not now?"

"Look how many people are here!"

Agreeing to her request was already the result of Sieg's concession, but she actually wanted to strip him right now... Sieg could already imagine how tiring it would be to get along with Sarah in the future.

aside——

"If that's what you think, I'd be happy to be a passenger on your ship."

To Zieg's surprise, Edwards easily accepted his invitation.

"Is it okay, teacher?"

"Hmm. As for the reason... it's similar to Wang Ma's." Edwards smiled, "I don't know why I should swing my sword, and I'm still confused. If I can go to the universe, maybe somewhere in the sea of ​​stars, I can find the reason to swing my sword."

"Of course, I also want to see how you grow into who you will be in the future. Perhaps this is the desire that only comes from being a teacher. I want to watch my only student grow up with my own eyes."

(teacher......)

Zige was a little moved: "Thank you, teacher. Thank you for agreeing to my willful request."

"You're welcome, but before we leave, you have to take care of everything you need to do. Although a peace treaty has been signed, the world is not completely at peace. As the new tyrant, you have to work hard."

"Of course." Sieg nodded vigorously, then looked at the last two people, "Then... Stella, and the student council president, you two can give your answers after 16 months?"

Stella and Touhua Toudou.

Honestly speaking, even though he had thought about making up for his regrets, Sieg didn't think these two people would be willing to leave their hometown with him.

The former was a princess of a country, and her birth meant that she couldn't just leave easily, and the latter -

"That's true... "

Dongtang Daohua pursed his lips and said, "Leaving our home planet and heading for the unknown universe... Only classmate Zieg would make such a suggestion. This is indeed a suggestion that requires careful consideration before making a decision. I...I will think about it and I will try to give you an answer before graduation."

"Well, you don't have to rush. There are still 16 months anyway. Besides, student council president, you are different from us. You have many attachments to this planet. Maybe... it would be better if you don't go with me." Sieg could understand Dongtang Daohua's hesitation.

After all, once you leave, it might be a farewell forever.

As for Stella...

"If this is the request, then I have to go back to my country and discuss it with my family."

"I think so - but logically, you can't leave, right? You are the princess of a country after all, and you have many responsibilities to shoulder. I remember your dream was to protect your country? You can't protect it if you leave, right?"

Sieg's words made Stella look a little tangled: "Yeah...it's true..."

(For the sake of my country, for the sake of my family...I cannot leave this planet with Sieg.)

Stella knew this very well.

but--

(…My soul doesn’t seem to think so.)

Even though three months had passed, Stella still remembered the gesture that Sieg had shown.

She was supposed to be the only dragon in the entire world.

But now, a second dragon appeared on this planet - she wanted to be with this compatriot, wanted to fly in the sky with this compatriot, wanted to roar at the sky together, and even wanted to die with her compatriot.

Her soul thought so.

Her special ability made her unable to stop thinking so.

"Forget it! Let's not think about this now!"

Stella cheered herself up and said, "It will be 16 months later anyway. We still have a whole year to think and make a decision! Before that, I have more important things to do!"

"Hmm? What else do you want to do?"

"I'm only here to study for a year! I'm going back home next March! Although I came to Japan to become stronger, I also want to travel around Japan, but I've been busy with the trials and the Seven Stars Sword Festival in the first half of the year, and I haven't had a chance to go shopping—"

"Just in time! You're back today, and today is Saturday, so let's go shopping! The student council president will come too!"

Stella took Toudou Touka's hand.

"Also, Sieg, you caused us a lot of trouble by starting a war before, so all the expenses for the two girls today will be handed over to you! No objections are allowed!"

"...How dare you, a princess, ask a commoner to pay for it?"

Zigg rolled his eyes: "But... that's fine, teachers, do you guys want to come too?"

"No need, you three go ahead." Edwards shook his head. "These are your last 16 months. Enjoy your youth. After all, you didn't enjoy it well before, did you?"

(Youth?)

Sieg pondered the word for a moment, and then he and Toudou Daohua were grabbed by the arm by Stella and ran out of the meeting room.

"Let's go, let's go!"

"Stella, slow down!"

"Don't drag me away, you female Tyrannosaurus."

There was a noise in the corridor outside.

This was the beginning of Zig's final 52 months on Planet 16.