Templar Bahamut was a hero and a loyal follower of Lucifer in the distant past, and he had lived a life following the light.

His faith was both his life and his goal.

He was a man who had devoted his entire life to eradicating evil and enforcing justice.

He never cowered for the sake of protecting the continent and the people beloved by the light. He thought the power he had was a gift from the Goddess. He was neither arrogant nor conceited.

He was a hero who genuinely believed in his faith, and his faith had never wavered.

The hero of ancient times was now at the crossroads of life and death.

[

Heuk… heuuuk…

]

I could not stop crying. I knew his life better than anyone, so I couldn’t help but find him pitiful. I wanted to support his decision, but as his friend and someone who understood him the most, I just couldn’t accept this ending.

"..."

[

Ack… heuuuk…

]

He was forced to make that mistake, but he couldn't stop regretting it. He understood better than anyone that what he did was unforgivable. Once known as a warrior of the goddess, he sold his soul to a demon and abandoned his life as a human.

Instead of embracing his glorious faith, he embraced the nauseating darkness, and he ended up hating himself for it. The glimmer in his eyes faded, and he could no longer see the world objectively. His wise nature became twisted, losing its light, and in the end, he became a beast who only relied on his instincts.

The red blood that the goddess had gifted to him had become pitch-black. He became so drunk on that blood that he did horrible things that I couldn't even talk about.

‘You’d be a real psychopath if you try to survive this…’

Bahamut finally regained consciousness, but he probably felt like all of this was too much to bear.

Naturally, he felt like he needed to take responsibility for all of this and that he had to be the one to do it.

"D-Don’t cry, Priest of Prophecy…"

[

Heuk… heuuuk…

]

'Idiot.'

"Please don’t cry…"

[

Heuuk… heuung… heuk…

]

"You don’t… need to be sad. It’s a sin. I committed… a sin."

[...]

"You know very well… that the sin I committed cannot be forgiven no matter what I do…"

[N-No…

Heuk…

Bahamut… this isn’t your fault.]

"..."

[Even if it’s your fault, I don’t care. If you did commit a sin, I’ll carry that sin for you. We’ll… We’ll face it together… and bear it. S-So please… get up. P-Please don’t give up.]

"Y-You’ve always… been kind… Father."

[...]

"You’re so… kind. The moment I met you, I instantly knew that… you're kind…"

[...]

"I-I remember that day. I still clearly remember the first time we met."

[Me, too… Bahamut. I remember it clearly as well.]

"I was pretty rude… though. I was aggressive and the first thing I asked was… who you were… Thinking about it now makes me laugh."

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

[No, you were…]

"It was only for a moment… It was really only for a moment… but during that time… it felt like I got a glimpse of your life, Priest of Prophecy… I mean, Angel of Sacrifice…" ṟ�

[...]

"With your pure white wings spread wide… and your glowing golden eye… I saw you looking at me."

[Bahamut…]

"For a moment, I thought I was imagining things… but I knew… that I wasn’t seeing things…"

Bahamut was gasping for air.

I wasn’t sure whether his regenerative ability was active or not, but it seemed like his body was no longer regenerating. The pitch-black blood, which looked like it had a mind of its own, became quiet, making me feel even more relieved.

[Bahamut.]

My job was to sympathize with him. I hid my gloomy expression, but as always, I was armed with courage and perseverance.

I needed to be positive while hiding my sadness.

I had to be an optimist who believed that Bahamut wasn’t going to die. I had to believe that he was going to get up and go back to his original self and that everything was going to be fine.

I smiled like a fool to help him feel less nervous. Anyone could see that I was denying reality.

I was praying like a fool as well, hoping that the worst-case scenario wouldn’t come.

"Do you remember, Father…?"

Of course, Bahamut knew this as well. How could he not know that I was trying my best to deny reality? However, he didn’t show it. It was probably because he wanted to spend his final moments with me.

[Yes, I remember, Bahamut. Of course I remember… Even though a lot of time passed, I still clearly remember it and the things you said.]

"M-Me, too."

[I remember our stroll…

Ah!

I also remember the deep conversations you and I had.]

It was such a long time that it felt like an eternity. It was difficult for the human memory to remember exactly what happened a few years ago, but for some reason, the time I spent with Bahamut… was still clear in my mind as if it happened just a few days ago.

[T-There was also that time when I almost tripped.]

"

Ha… haha…

you’re right. I was so shocked back then. You seemed like a perfectionist, so that was my first time seeing your… clumsy side…"

[B-Back then…]

"I-It happened… a few times. If I didn’t catch you…"

[You have a great memory. I-It… would’ve been nice if you forgot memories like that…]

"How could I? On top of that, there was sword training…

Ke… keke…

"

‘Your sword techniques were dangerous. Was it that funny seeing me struggle?’

"Seeing you struggle with a sword…

Ha… haha…

"

[I was… actually… doing my best… I-I remember you telling me… I could improve if I do my best…]

"

Ha… haha… kek… haha…

"

[You… lied!]

"I’m… sorry.

Ha… haha…

"

[How could you! Lie to me about that…]

"You just looked… so serious… I-I couldn’t tell you the truth."

[You’re so mean.]

"Also…"

[Yes?]

"It was a great excuse to make so I could spend more time with you."

[...]

"It was my first time."

[...]

It was my first time laughing like that in the Underground Temple, and it was the first time I reflected on myself. I’ve never talked to anyone that long before. It's probably because…

Ugh

… I never had the chance… to look back… b-but it felt like… I was saved. I’m sure that’s what it felt like.

[That’s…]

"Talking to you…"

[...]

[And laughing while walking with you in the Underground Temple…]

[...]

"Talking about trivial things…"

"Enjoying the social gathering… they were all a first for me. Do you—

haha

… remember it all?"

‘Why do you keep asking if I can still remember those times?’

I was sure he wanted to talk about many things because it had been a while since we saw each other, but the problem was that they were too detailed. The longer our conversation, the more uncomfortable I felt.

I was trying to focus, but many thoughts popped into my head.

‘I hope this jerk doesn’t get up all of a sudden saying that he doesn’t want to die.’

It wasn't likely, but I couldn’t deny the fact that I was anxious.

‘Come on, let’s move on.’

[You mean when we ran to the terrace to avoid the boring priests?]

"Yes."

[Of course I remember, Bahamut. I think it’s more like I was helping you get away… I could tell you really wanted to get out.]

"So I’ve been caught red-handed."

[I remember… every single detail, including the moment we were together. Of course… our final moments… as well…]

[...]

[I remember our last moment as well.]

I was trying my best to move on to the last part of the story.

The natural build-up made Bahamut go silent.

Moments later, I heard his soft voice. He seemed to be cautious of his words. I was sure there was a lot he wanted to say, but he couldn’t say them all. He was too ashamed to talk to me about the fact that he had accepted the demon’s seed and got into a contract with a demon.

"I’m sorry for letting you see me like this… Despite remembering… your warning… I…"

[No, I know… I know you had no choice. I-I don’t care what you look like, Bahamut. Just because you turned your back on the light… and became like this doesn’t mean you’re not Bahamut.]

"..."

'So…'

[I’m sure a lot of things happened and I know it was hard to endure. I know you had no other choice… and it was something that was bound to happen… I know it all. If there’s one thing I can say… y-you’re still kind… and caring.]

"But…"

[That’s not who you are. It was something that wore a mask that resembled you… so…]

"Thank you for saying that, Father…"

[...]

"Thank you… very much for saying that. Thank you for comforting… an idiot like me who does not deserve forgiveness."

Bahamut didn’t move, but I could feel him crying.

Was he regretting his decision? No, he didn’t regret it because in the end, he defeated the orange demon and got the ending that he wanted.

The Angel of Sacrifice was freed from the demon, and he found peace again.

Although it took a long time and the method was not exactly right, he still overcame the orange demon. In exchange, he had to sacrifice many things.

I was sure… he wasn’t regretting it, and perhaps it was just me, but…

‘He looks like he just wants to be comforted.’

He couldn’t be forgiven by everyone… but he wanted to receive the forgiveness of a certain individual.

"..."

[...]

There was a moment of silence, and Bahamut realized that the end was near.

Of course, the naive Priest of Prophecy was busy talking to Bahamut because it was fun. The fact that I could talk to him like this made me feel happy. I felt like this moment was going to last forever.

"Come to think of it… I remember the story… you told me…"

[What?]

"You said you couldn’t see the sky from here…"

[

Ah

, I do remember… saying something like that. You have… a really good memory.]

"You said when you were in the Land of Nejesca, you always looked up at the sky whenever you were done with your work. You said seeing the starry night sky would relieve you of your exhaustion… and doing that became a habit. You said you'd instinctively look at the sky."

[Do you really remember everything?]

"You said… that black ceiling resembled the sky you saw a long time ago."

[Bahamut…]

"Father, what does the sky look like right now?"

'Is that what he wanted?'

I talked slowly, describing what I was seeing.

"I… I'm seeing a dark sky."

It was actually an orange sky.

"I see…"

[I'm seeing a really beautiful sky.]

"Is that… right? I see. So it’s beautiful."

[It’d be really nice if you could see it with me.]

"

Haha… ha…

"

[The stars are shining… like the sky… you and I saw together…]

"I see…"

[It reminds me of obsidian. The night pearls look like stars… it’s vast… and like a midsummer night… It’s strange. I-It really…]

"...Yes?"

"Reminds me of the Land of Nejesca."

[...I see…]

[We should go to the Land of Nejesca… together someday…]

"..."

[Of course, the Underground Temple…]

[...]

[Are you listening? It’s interesting. The speckles in the sky remind me… of the aurora… but I know that’s not what those are…]

[...]

[Come to think of it, Bahamut…]

[...]

[Bahamut?]

[...]

[Baha… mut…]

[...]

[Baha… Bahamut…

Heuk

… Bahamut…]

[...]

[

Heuk… heuuuuk…

]

[...]

[Bahamut…]

Grief belonged to those who were left behind.

It lasted a really, really long time, but it was a mere moment for us.

It was a terribly lonely and sad… summer.