Episode 599: Fragile (1)
The three of them, Ludger Line Freuden, were often together.
Ludger had nothing to do, so he played with Line, and Freuden also had nothing to do until he was repatriated to the family, so he stayed with Line.
Lineya, I was just happy to have an older brother and a friend.
Gariel also visited occasionally, but because Gariel had not yet fully mastered time magic, she often had to return to where her teacher was.
So Gariel mainly visited here only on weekends.
Gariel was initially relieved to find Ludger and Freuden present.
This is because he felt quite a bit sorry for Rine because he did not have enough time to play with her when the two of them were away.
Every time Gariel left, Rine felt sad, but now she no longer feels that loneliness.
Although it was fortunate for Gariel, it also felt regretful because it felt like Rine had been taken away.
Still, I thought that anything would matter as long as this peaceful daily life could be maintained.
However, there was something that Gariel had never expected: Liné’s mother was becoming more emaciated by the day.
I coughed frequently and frowned, perhaps because of the pain.
At first, she thought her condition was not good, but as time went by and the symptoms became more severe, Gariel began to feel something.
-Is it okay?
-What are you talking about?
-It hurts. It would be better to go to the hospital right now. For you and for Line.
-haha. It’s just a light body aches.
-You’re taking strong painkillers. That’s mild body aches?
-…I saw it.
She smiled awkwardly and scratched her cheek.
Gariel felt a sense of betrayal at that sight.
-Why didn’t you tell me? Was I not that trustworthy?
-That’s not it.
-Then why?
-It’s just that it’s a disease that doesn’t help even if you tell anyone.
As she said that, she seemed even more helpless than usual, perhaps because she was haggard from the pain.
A look of giving up on a face that was always smiling brightly and cheerfully.
For some reason, Gariel didn’t want to see that, so she turned her eyes away without realizing it.
-…I’ll do it for you. You can ask your teacher.
-That is not enough.
Instead, the person who answered was Grander, who entered the room at the right time.
-You…
Gariel knows now.
What a great wizard that blonde girl is.
It is not even a human being to begin with. A transcendent being who doesn’t even know how long he has been alive has been refining his magic for a long time.
The magical knowledge and power he has accumulated is something that even he, the wizard of time, would not dare to compare.
-What on earth do you mean? It’s not enough!
-The only thing I could do with my knowledge and solutions was to extend my lifespan. But that too is over now.
Gariel looked back at her, asking if that was true.
She nodded weakly with an expression of shame on her face.
-I’m sorry for hiding it until now.
-Since when? No, then how much could you live in the first place?
-When I was first diagnosed, my life expectancy was supposed to end around the age of 20.
-what? But now you…
-Yes. I lasted 5 more years.
As she said that, she stared at the window beyond the bed.
To the place where his daughter, who had taken Ludger and Freuden with him, was headed.
-But if I die, that child will be left alone with no one around.
-You…
-I wanted to hold on hard. So I asked Grander for help.
-I am indeed. I never thought there would be someone who came to see me in person, believing only in uncertain legends from old documents.
When Grander thought about his first meeting with her, he sighed as if he felt absurd.
However, no matter what he said, in the end, it was Grander himself who made it possible to extend his life by 5 years, which was originally impossible.
-So then there really is no way now? really?
Gariel asked Grandeur as if pleading.
-does not exist. There isn’t enough time to check my physical condition. In the first place, the magic I learn is for killing someone, not for saving someone’s life like this.
No matter how excellent a magician was, analyzing the sudden appearance of non-attribute magical power was a daunting task.
-He’s a great wizard, but why…
-Because it was magic I didn’t need.
Grander is an ancient true vampire who does not die even if he dies.
Wizards basically learn many different types of magic, but Grandeur didn’t need to do that.
Even lightly learning magic by just looking over your shoulder was enough.
Because her magical talent made it possible.
However, when digging deep for a long time like now, even Grander was not a good choice.
-There is a way that can be said to be unique.
-What is that?
-I am giving you my blood.
-Blood?
-okay. If you become my descendant, you will not die. But this is not a recommended method.
-Why on earth! It would be better than dying.
Grander snorted at those words.
-Sweetheart. Sometimes it is better to die.
-What is that…
-As a human, you don’t know. Because you haven’t experienced it. Sometimes death is the most sincere blessing.
Grander’s voice as he said that was grave and subdued, unlike usual.
Gariel felt speechless.
-More than anything, even if I make you one of my descendants, I cannot solve the fundamental cause of your pain. This means that not only will you not die, but you will have to continue to feel the pain of your body being split and torn from the inside. Are you willing to live in eternal suffering?
-Then, how long will the remaining lifespan be…
-Well, that’s right. You probably know better than me.
Gariel looked back at her with a look on his face that said, “Please, it’s not what I think.”
She let out a shallow smile, as if mocking herself that the situation had ended up like this.
-Now, at best, there’s less than a week left.
-…one week? A week?
-I’m sorry for hiding it. But I couldn’t help it either.
Gariel’s lips trembled.
Your loved one has only one week left to live.
Gariel has never felt this much resentment toward herself for not knowing anything and just being okay with it.
Even if she didn’t say it, they had to notice it on their own.
Was I so stupid that I couldn’t even check on my loved one’s condition?
Gariel clenched her fists.
-…I’ll find a way.
-Gariel. I appreciate your heart, but this is impossible.
-Then just watch in silence like this?!
Gariel screamed.
When she saw that Gariel, who had always treated her rudely with a smile on her face, got really angry, she widened her eyes and averted her gaze.
-…Sorry. Still, I can’t help it.
-I came all this way for something like this….
The moment Gariel was about to say more, Grander calmed the situation.
-The children are coming.
Gariel bit her lip in response to the unspoken pressure not to talk any more.
-…I’ll go see it.
-Gariel.
Gariel, who was about to go out, stopped when she heard a voice calling from behind.
But I didn’t look back.
-don’t worry. I’ll find a way and come back soon.
With those words, Gariel disappeared from the scene.
He used to use time magic even though he used to save even magic, saying time was a waste.
For Gariel, every minute and second of the remaining week was disappointing.
-You went away in the end.
-yes. Yes.
-It looks like he took the log of your physical condition that you diligently recorded. He’s got some nasty hand habits.
-I guess it’s because they think so much about me. This is why I wanted to hide it until the end.
-Did you know?
When asked if she knew that Gariel liked her, she nodded with a faint smile.
-It’s so blatant, how can I not understand?
-But the reason you don’t accept his feelings until the end is probably due to your physical condition, right?
-It was definitely like that in the past.
Seeing that meaningful smile, Grander raised one eyebrow.
-You too…
-Shh. Please don’t say any more than that. Because the kids are coming soon.
-….
Grander turned his head away as if he had no intention of speaking anyway.
-A vampire wants to die and a human wants to live. What a strange fate.
She nodded as if she agreed with what Grander had hinted at.
-That’s right.
* * *
After returning to the distant workshop, Gariel immediately devoted himself to research.
There are only 7 days left.
It was not enough time to save someone, but Gariel could not give up.
-You must survive.
She was the blessing that made him endure the difficult times.
Even if he suddenly disappeared one day and was with Rine when they met again, his love for her did not change.
So save it.
Let’s save her even if it means using up all the time we have.
With that in mind, Gariel stayed up all night for days and days, thinking of a way to save her.
But no matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t think of a suitable solution.
Gariel searched through old books in Master’s room and finally found one document.
-Time freeze?
Contrary to its grandiose name, the magic of time cannot be fast-forwarded or reversed.
All it can do is stop time for everything around it except the user.
But Gariel suddenly felt such regret.
If we could stop everything in the world, wouldn’t we be able to pinpoint and stop just one being?
Since Gariel didn’t know how it was applied, she had no choice but to simply imagine it.
But now Gariel discovered the clue right before her eyes.
– My disciple. What are you doing now?
-Master?
Gariel asked her teacher, who looked like an old man, in a questioning tone.
-This magic. Really? This time freeze! Was magic really possible?
-That’s…
-Why didn’t you tell me anything! Why on earth were you hiding such incredible magic?
-It’s magic you don’t need. No, none of us need it.
-What do you mean? Is there any magic we need more than this!
-Do you know what it means to stop someone else’s time?
– Is it that important?
-Not important! Who will make the frozen time flow?
-Of course I…
-Even if you die the moment you use it?
-….
Gariel widened her eyes as if she was shocked.
-That magic isn’t just about stopping time for others. All the time you have is applied to others. By offering one person’s time as a sacrifice, one person’s time is stopped.
-So, the moment I use this magic, will I waste all my remaining time and die?
-okay. Time freeze magic is a magic that costs the life of a time wizard. And once a spell is cast, it will never be removed unless the user releases it again.
Anyone who can free it will die the moment this freeze is applied.
In other words, you are cursed from never being able to wake up.
Without eating, sleeping, closing my eyes, or breathing.
Trapped in the wax of frozen time, the moment is preserved and fixed for eternity.
Can it really be said to be alive?
-Using that on people? In the end, it goes beyond throwing away your life and is no different from killing that person. I taught you to use this magic to help people and save them, not to teach you to commit suicide!
-Then what are you telling me to do?
Gariel screamed at her teacher.
The teacher’s eyes widened at those words.
-This guy….
-Wasn’t it Master who told you to save people with this magic! That’s how you taught me! But what good is time magic if you can’t even save your loved ones?
-….
He was a student who was always tickling towards him, but this was the first time he had vented his anger like this.
Gariel’s teacher Maurice looked at his student with complicated eyes.
– My disciple. This power exists to help people, but that doesn’t mean we can help everyone.
-….
-This is unavoidable… Yes, it is truly unavoidable. There is something like that in the world. There is something invisible that is difficult to escape no matter how hard you struggle.
-So you’re telling me to stay still?
-You have to keep struggling. But I want to tell you that the method should not be this wrong.
Gariel’s clenched fists were shaking.
However, I was unable to make any objection to the teacher’s words.
I couldn’t even remember the last time I had felt such desperate helplessness.
-The only advice I can give is to at least spend the remaining time with that precious person.
Maurice said that and stared at Gariel.
Gariel took a bite of his teeth and disappeared from the scene.
At that sight, Maurice turned his back and raised his head.
-Was he that important of a person?
Maurice muttered bitterly at the fact that this was the only advice he could give as a teacher.
-I feel sorry for this teacher because this is all I have to say to you.
Gariel ran in a world that had stopped.
I didn’t stop walking as I panted and caught my breath several times.
I had to go.
To where she is.
To the place where everyone waits.
Master’s words were cruel, but they were also reality.
There was nothing he could do right now.
In a world that stopped, Gariel shed tears.
Tears flowed down as he passed, and instead of falling in the stopped world, they were fixed in the air.
Her house can be seen in the distance.
A small cabin on a hill with picturesque meadows and forests and a cool breeze blowing.
I once said that if I were to marry her someday, I would like to live in a place like that.
It was the house she had dreamed of, but Gariel did not want to see it.
When I opened the door and entered the house, I saw no one inside.
It’s the middle of the night. Did I go anywhere?
Gariel immediately looked around and headed to the nearby forest.
I don’t know why, but I had a gut feeling that someone was there.
As Gariel was heading inside through the bushes, he found a small, familiar figure behind him.
A girl with short ash gray hair.
It was Line.
At Liné’s side was a little boy named Freuden, who seemed to have led her.
Why are you here?
-Rather, what on earth are you looking at?…
Gariel turned her gaze in the direction the two children were looking.
There she was.
The woman he loved so much was lying with her eyes closed with a relaxed face.
and.
Ludger Cellisi was stabbing her heart with a dagger.
