“I’m sorry.”
I’m tired of hearing that.
I clicked my tongue and kept my eyes on the Director.
“I can guess roughly. He told you there’s a way to save Dorado, right? That way must be connected to the problem you mentioned. That’s why El Cid headed to Server 1, isn’t it?”
Well, in any case, it’s simple.
He went to Server 1 to save Dorado.
“Going to Server 1...”
The Director coughed again.
“It’s not El Cid.”
“...?”
What is he talking about?
“As you saw in the viewing room earlier, El Cid used most of his seven-star power in Dorado’s final stage. To the point where it was consuming his life.”
“...”
“From the moment he cleared Floor 90, he was living on borrowed time.”
I put my hand to my head.
I needed time to think.
El Cid used almost all his influence on Floor 90.
So, the power he displayed during the raid wasn’t his full strength.
But that’s not the issue.
“He didn’t have time left. It’s unfortunate, really.”
“Then Server 1 is...”
“El Cid’s goal... wasn’t Server 1.”
The Director continued.
“...It was Server 2.”
“Server 2? That doesn’t make sense. There’s nothing there...”
No.
It’s not that there’s nothing there.
I remembered El Cid’s final moments.
He refused to return to Earth, no matter how much I tried to persuade him.
Instead, it was as if he was asking me to kill him...
‘...’
The headache gradually worsened.
“Loki...”
“...”
“In your Book of Reversal... there is a master key that can unlock Server 1...”
“In other words.”
I continued.
“El Cid came to Niflheimr not to fight me, but to die by my hands?”
“...Yes.”
“So it was all an act?”
“...It could be seen that way.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
Yeah, that makes sense.
For the first time, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest.
“He passed a troublesome burden onto me. He knew he was going to die soon, so he wanted me to go to Server 1 and solve the problem instead.”
I crossed my legs on the chair.
“Who said I would?”
“...”
“Is your reason for bringing me here and saying all this also [N O V E L I G H T] part of the contract with El Cid?”
You tricked me—thoroughly.
It left a foul taste in my mouth.
I felt like spitting.
“Master Loki.”
Cizel spoke with an expressionless face.
“Whether you go to Server 1 or not is entirely up to you. We will never force you. The Director even said it would be fine if you threw away the Book of Reversal.”
“....”
“Let me add one more thing. Even though it’s incomplete, clearing the game is clearing the game. If you complete the Townia mission, and if you are willing, we will use all our resources to send you back to Earth. Of course, as promised, with a large reward and a share of Mobius.”
I glared at Cizel.
She continued with a calm demeanor.
“We are offering you a choice. To finish the mission and return to Earth to live a peaceful life. Or to stay here, face all the truths and destinies of Mobius, and continue another struggle. The choice is yours, Master Loki.”
“...”
“If you choose the latter, El Cid’s Golden Legacy will be a great help.”
The Golden Legacy.
I thought of El Cid’s mementos hidden in my room.
The Book of Reversal, the wolf-fur cloak he wore, and El Cid’s twin swords, Colada and Tizona.
All were invaluable items.
“What if I leave?”
“That’s fine. As long as you complete the mission. We will keep our promise.”
“What happens to Townia then?”
“I don’t think I need to explain that to you.”
I thought of my contract with the Black Dragon.
The condition was to clear the Townia mission to the end.
As long as I completed the mission, leaving for Earth wouldn’t break the contract.
“You’re offering a pretty messed-up choice.”
“I’m honored.”
I closed my eyes.
Since I fell into this place, I had only one goal.
To return safely to Earth. Whether Townia fell or thrived was none of my concern.
But could I still say that now?
‘I am...’
Earth is the place where I was born and lived.
That fact hasn’t changed.
But...
I thought of Pria’s face.
I also remembered the corpse of Eloka disappearing into the deep sea, and Edis, who died in the explosion of the airship.
And the countless other sacrifices...
‘How foolish.’
I couldn’t make a decision right away.
I couldn’t just say I didn’t care about this damned world and insist on going home.
“Take your time to think. I understand.”
“...”
“El Cid’s insight was right. You’re a warmer person than you realize, Master Loki.”
“Se, Seris-chan...”
“The effects are wearing off.”
Cizel smiled softly and grabbed the handles of the Director’s wheelchair.
I looked back.
At the corner of the office, a dimensional vortex was swirling.
“It’s the exit.”
“...”
“Our contract with El Cid is complete, so we are returning to Server 1. I hope we can meet again someday.”
My head hurt.
There was plenty of time to think, so I needed to let my heated mind cool off and think slowly.
Standing at the threshold of the dimensional gate, I glanced back.
The office, once filled with machines and computers, had turned into a completely different space.
Boundless darkness.
Red lightning crackled through the black mist in various places.
In that darkness, a man and a woman walked with a wheelchair.
The woman pushing the wheelchair turned to look at me.
Her body was hidden in the mist, but I could clearly see the pair of glowing red eyes.
Above them, a name tag slowly appeared.
[73＠313§Ac靑⊙┌8≤9 Lv.999]
‘As expected...’
She wasn’t an ordinary being.
「See you in Server 1.」
The voice echoed from within me.
A deep voice that seemed to drain my mental energy just by hearing it.
「Samsara... Seris-chan...」
「Indeed, from the seat of Samsara. Heh heh heh...」
The two disappeared into the darkness.
‘...El Cid.’
So, you placed your trust in me.
That I would solve the problem.
A sword to conquer fate?
Conquer, my foot. You just dumped the burden on me.
‘You should have said something that made more sense.’
I let out a deep sigh and stepped into the dimensional gate.