Chapter 116

The pillar of light swirls slowly, then unravels and vanishes. Only particles of light flit through that space; all the figures are gone. Softly, Claude puts an arm around Aileen’s shoulders, pulling her to him. “…It’s over.” “No, it hasn’t even begun yet. We must save the future.” Claude’s eyes widen, and then he smiles wryly. “You’re as valiant as ever. Still, I see what you mean. Yes, you’re right. We’re just getting started.” “Exactly! It’s not over yet!” Baal has been silent all this time, but now he starts shouting, as if he can’t take it anymore. “Look, boy, how long do you intend to embrace Estella?!” “I—I wasn’t— This isn’t a hug, it’s—!” “You are clearly holding her close! Don’t toy with us! That’s our daughter, and she hasn’t even been born yet!” “She’s fainted!” Charles shouts, and everyone else looks stunned. With all eyes abruptly on him, he blushes bright red in a boyish way and goes on, mumbling, “She, um…noticed how I looked…” Silence falls. Oh, of course. It all makes sense to Aileen. Claude sighs, slips off his ragged cloak, and takes it to Charles. Belatedly, the sound of Baal bursting a blood vessel rings out. “Like father, like son, hmm?!” His son’s surroundings are as lively as ever. As Luciel gazes at them with a smile, Grace surprisingly decides to lean against his chest. “The issue got resolved before I could discuss it with Aileen. Thanks, Luciel.” He’s scared of the day when he’ll lose this voice, this shape. It terrifies him so much that he’d curse the world. As a matter of fact, Luciel had cursed everything once and was slain by Amelia’s sacred sword. “Yes, leave it to me. It’ll be fine.” At this point, though, he believes that. “Really? When I’m reborn, I might not remember you.” “Even so, I won’t lose. I love you, and I like Amelia a whole lot, too.” He’s sure that will still be true a thousand years from now.