My youth story cannot be a knight war

He was not surprised by this truth; rather, he had already had a vague suspicion about it.

How could the injuries inflicted by Gadoru's attack be healed with ordinary means? That attack, a spiritual integration of the four elements, reached its peak. It wasn't just a physical attack; it also affected the mind.

Zaimokuza's body and soul were actually on the verge of collapse after enduring an attack of that energy level. It can basically be compared to a dead person whose brain and heart have died at the same time, but whose body still has residual warmth. It was only the strangeness of Yamadam that barely kept him alive.

But to revive him like that is basically as difficult as reversing life and death, and that is an area that even gods may not be willing to get involved in.

Therefore, if you want to save a life that is about to be buried in darkness, you will inevitably have to pay an extremely huge price.

The price is the girl's life.

One life for another, this is probably the fairest and cruelest rule in this world in a certain sense.

【"……Why???"】

[His lips trembled, Zaimokuza lowered his head deeply, and with his hands, he tightened his embrace around Miou in a passionate embrace.]

But it was of no use. The girl's body didn't stop disappearing because of his emotions. The light dust fragmented faster and faster, until Miou completely disappeared from her thighs downwards. This sight pierced Zaimokuza's heart like a long knife.

"Why—why are you doing this!!!"

Zaimokuza roared once more, his voice sounding like a puppy whimpering. Even his eyes began to flicker slightly, a huge sadness emanating from his pupils.

"Don't be sad, Zaimokuza-san..."

Miou's hand broke free from Zaimokuza's, caressing the side of his face. Her fingers gently brushed the corners of his eyes, and she spoke softly and comfortingly.

Her words became fluent again, but this caused Zaimokuza even more pain.

[Because he knew that this was—a last gasp of light.]

Even though she was about to disappear, Miou comforted Zaimokuza, placing her fingers at the corners of his eyes, repeatedly wiping away the flickering light.

[“This is my own choice, and…this is also what I hope for.”]

“I don’t belong to this era. This era doesn’t have anyone I’m familiar with, nor does it have anything I’m familiar with… I should have been buried under time and history along with my people.”

"And now, my mission is finally complete, so I'm just back where I belong. Don't cry~"

"Just like what you said to me, Zaimokuza-san, come on, smile..."

【“…”】

Zaimokuza pursed his lips, feeling the coldness of the hand on his cheek, and the contrasting warmth after the light dust floated up, unable to utter a word.

But after hearing the girl's words and seeing the smile she maintained despite her bruised face, Zaimokuza's mouth twitched, and he finally managed a shaky smile—it was even uglier than crying.

This is probably the expression Zaimokuza hates the most. He's smiling, but there's no joy on his face. There's only pain and sadness that almost tears at his inner emotions. It's so ugly that it might as well be crying.

But he didn't want to cry, and he couldn't cry. If he cried, Miou's last wish would be completely shattered.

【At least, say goodbye with a smile. 】

[At this moment, those white light patterns have spread to every inch of the space they are in. Faint yet dazzling white light is projected through those cracks, signaling that this world is about to shatter.]

"Actually, when I first met Zaimokuza-san... I was very happy."

[Touching Zaimokuza's face, Miou smiled and spoke, but a glimmer of light gradually flickered in her eyes.]

“At that time, I had been sleeping in the darkness, waiting for the preset moment to arrive, and then complete my mission... But at that time, I was suddenly awakened by a familiar force, and I thought I was dreaming like before.”

"But that power kept waking me up in the darkness, and I finally believed I wasn't dreaming... because it was Rick's power."

"That power belongs to the four elements. In ancient times, only Riku could grasp the true meaning of these four powers... And on the fourth time, I finally woke up completely, and then - I saw you, Mr. Zaimokuza."

“When I saw you, I was really happy, really…”

[Clear tears streamed down her cheeks, then turned into dust and dissipated before hitting the ground. Miou smiled, tears silently falling.]

"Because, in the future that Riku described to me... Mr. Zaimokuza didn't exist. This new Kuuga... shouldn't be you..."

【"……well?"】

[Although he was in great sorrow, Zaimokuza was still stunned after hearing what Miou said.]

"You... aren't the person Riku saw, not this Kuuga... But you became Kuuga, and... and you possess the same power as Riku once did... When I saw you, I was completely stunned."

"The future and fate Riku saw back then... were changed by you, Zaimokuza-san. I even thought... Riku had returned. I'm really... so happy."

A choking sob sounded from Miou's throat. The smile on Miou's face was a mixture of great sadness and joy, sometimes happy, sometimes painful, and her words were blurred by tears.

"Although you're not Rick, the moment I saw you, a thought occurred to me... Perhaps you are the hope we've been searching for, the hope that can change the fate of the world."

"And I've been watching everything you've done along the way, Zaimokuza-san. This has made me even more convinced. I believe your appearance... must be the world's answer to our prayers... Because just now, I, I also saw it..."

"Whether it's you, Mr. Zaimokuza, Mr. Kousaka, or...XU...you guys..."

"——!!!!!?"

The moment he heard the pronunciation of "XU", Xu Guoliang suddenly opened his eyes wide, raised his head, and looked at the girl who was about to disappear on the screen in disbelief.

"How is this possible? Could it be that..."

The unprecedented shock made him stand up from his chair. Xu Guoliang subconsciously took a few steps forward, then stopped.

"Could it be that those previous world line observations... How is this possible... Could it be that Miou saw through--!"

【“XU…?”】

A name he had never heard before rang out from Miou's mouth, and Zaimokuza's eyes, amidst the sadness and pain, showed a slight hint of doubt.

Who is that? Is it a person's name? Why does Miou mention this person alongside herself and Mr. Kosaka when she mentions this name?

[Could this person be their friend? ]

"I believe in you. You will definitely... become the hope of this world, especially you, Mr. Zaimokuza..."

[Seeing the confusion in Zaimokuza's eyes, Miou's eyes flashed with a hint of understanding... and at this moment, the speed at which the light dust dispersed suddenly increased.]

The scattered light fragments were like flying petals, enveloping the figures of Miou and Zaimokuza. The beauty of the dancing light fragments was breathtaking.

[“Gu!”]

[But Zaimokuza didn't find it beautiful at all. When he saw this scene, the forced smile on his face finally collapsed completely, and he clenched his teeth tightly.]

【“Miou…”】

"Don't cry, Zaimokuza-san. This is... you told me."

[He poked Zaimokuza's twitching mouth with two fingers and used his last bit of strength to pull his mouth open, creating a funny smile on his face.]

[Looking at the "smile" she had forced onto Zaimokuza's face, Miou's fingers drooped helplessly... She no longer had the strength to even raise her hands, and even her arms began to radiate a rain of light.]

"Miou!"

The scene Miou saw began to blur at this moment, gradually plunging into darkness. Only the voice that reached his ears remained as clear as ever.

Gradually, in that blurry vision, a face emerged before my eyes. The familiar, thin, black-haired boy still looked as if he was about to cry, his red eyes looking as if tears would fall at any moment.

Looking at the boy, the tears in Miou's eyes gradually stopped flowing, and a genuine smile appeared on her lips again, without a trace of sadness or pain, only joy and nostalgia.

"I have always believed... Mr. Zaimokuza, you will definitely be able to change this destined fate and save this world, just like Noah who once saved us humans."

"You will definitely be able to... become this time's 'Noah', and carve out an ark of salvation for the world and humanity in the darkness. You must be strong, so..."

"Don't cry anymore."

[Snap——]

A dazzling white light illuminated the shattered space, and also Zaimokuza's face, filled with pain and sorrow. The drifting white light brushed against his hair, carrying away the tears that were about to fall, and dissipated together, like a girl's hand gently brushing past.

【And his arms were empty.】

[The girl left, carrying longing and sadness with her, but finally said goodbye with a smile, and went to the eternal sleep she hoped for.]

【“…Hmm!”】

The last fragment of light in his arms, about to dissipate, was suddenly grasped tightly in his palm. Zaimokuza grasped his clenched fist with his left hand and brought it before his eyes. He rested his forehead against his fists, and his entire body trembled violently as he knelt.

All the suppressed emotions burst out at this moment, tearing Zaimokuza's heart apart. The grief and sobbing made it almost impossible for him to straighten his back.

It wasn't just his sorrow, it was also the sorrow of another person. From the depths of his soul came the pain of another person. At that moment, the double sorrow became the cruelest weapon in the world, bringing extreme pain - but there were no tears.

Because she said, don't cry anymore.

A roar as loud as an ancient bell resounded, and the world fell apart at that moment. A fierce white light pierced through the warm glow and engulfed everything.

[Including Zaimokuza's figure, and the warm rain of light that drifted around him, that person's last trace of existence in this world.]

[At the moment when the world was broken, a voice sounded again, calling the name of the lost girl.]

【“——Miou!!!!!!”】

46. ​​If There Is a New Life (6k)

"That sister...is dead."

Tian Zhongli looked at the girl on the light screen who shattered into light and disappeared in the light, muttering with a dull look in his eyes.

"Why is it—Mio!?"

The unnatural vibration beside her suddenly woke up Tian Zhongli. When she turned her head, she saw her friend curled up in a ball.

At this time, Akiyama Mio's young body curled up into a small ball, her hands tightly hugging her forehead, her whole body trembling violently, but her eyes were empty and lifeless.

"Hey! Mio! What's wrong with you!?"

This appearance was obviously abnormal and immediately frightened Tianzhong Ritsu. She hugged Akiyama Mio in panic, feeling her friend's body trembling without stopping, and her big eyes quickly filled with tears.

"Don't scare me! Mio! Mio!"

The crying voice of her childhood sweetheart was so far away that it seemed to come from somewhere else, making Akiyama Mio completely unable to hear it - because what filled her ears and even her mind was another voice.

There is a girl's voice echoing quietly in the depths of my heart. The voice is familiar and strange, but the sadness and longing are so unforgettable.

——If the dead in this world could be reborn, I hope to see that person again.

——Even if all the past disappears and nothing matters anymore, I still want to see you. No matter how many times, I will keep praying.

——This time, I will never leave you alone again.

It was as if another soul was attached to her body, and the strong longing drove Akiyama Mio to say a name she had never said before.

"elder brother……"

The warm white light illuminated Akiyama Mio's empty eyes, and also illuminated the tears flowing from her lifeless eyes. Tianzhong Ritsu, who was standing by, looked at the light and was completely stunned.

"This, this is..."

The white light that appeared out of thin air slowly faded away, and the jet-black magatama bracelet was strung on Akiyama Mio/Akiyama Mio (Mirai)'s right hand, carrying the warmth and longing left by someone.

……

In this world, can the dead be reborn?

Miou didn't know, but after hearing this story from the old grandmother in the tribe who took care of herself and her brother instead of her dead parents, she had always kept it in mind.

Because even though a long time has passed, she still remembers that when her grandmother held her young daughter in her arms and told her this story, there was a dazzling and unforgettable light flashing in her old and turbid eyes at that moment.

It is hope, longing, and an indelible sadness.

At that time, Miou only felt that the emotions in those eyes were very complicated, so complicated that she was too young to understand. All she remembered was the tears flowing from the corners of the old grandmother's eyes, and the warmth she felt with her fingers when she reached out to wipe them.

As time passed, she finally understood why her grandmother looked at her like that.

Because whether a person can be reborn is not important at all. What is really important is the meaning of this event.

Because that means that people will one day be able to reunite with those who have left them.

"……here it is?"

It felt like a dream. When I closed my eyes the previous second, all I could see was Zaimokuza Yoshiki's sad face and the light that filled the world. But when I opened my eyes the next second, all I could see was a deep, pitch-black darkness emitting a strange light.

Miou looked around in disbelief at the darkness that gave people a strange sense of peace, and felt a little at a loss.

She raised her hand, and the cracks of light that had originally covered her body disappeared without a trace, and her body returned to its original appearance, even her clothes were intact.

"Why? I remember I had given my life to..."

She reached out and touched her face, feeling the warm and soft touch from her fingers, and Miou couldn't help but open her eyes wide.

Miou remembered very clearly that in order to save Zaimokuza Yoshiteru who was on the verge of death, he chose to give his life to the other party, exchanging his death for the other party's new life.