𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Albero looked down at Queen.
Quietly, Queen opened her eyes.
ㅤ
『I’ve lost. My body won’t move anymore. . . . . .』
“Where is Shin?”
『She’s sleeping now. My consciousness will soon fade. When it does, she’ll be able to come out.』
“What will happen to you?”
『. . . . . .I’ll disappear. No, my soul will return to 『that world』. The moment our souls separated, I recklessly used most of my power to engulf Shin’s soul and seize her consciousness… My body is now worn out, and my soul has been greatly depleted. It might be a while before I can even move in 『that world』.』
“Then what about Shin━━?”
ㅤ
Before he could finish, Albero coughed up blood.
It wasn’t just physical damage. The heavy burden on both Jabberwock and Albero’s souls rapidly drained his life.
Albero felt a chilling sensation in his limbs.
ㅤ
『As I thought. It was unreasonable for the soul of a mere human and the king of Summoned beasts to completely merge. Especially if Jabberwock’s soul evolved through 『Total Assimilation』.』
“But, but. . . . . .well, it can’t be helped.”
ㅤ
Albero knelt beside Queen.
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“Hey. . . . . .I think Jabberwock’s consciousness has completely disappeared. What happens to this soul when I die? Will the soul of Mog. . . . . .”
『It’s impossible. A Summoned beast’s soul that has reached 『Total Assimilation』 disappears entirely. It becomes a mere mass of power, devoid of will. If the host dies, only the pure, will-less soul goes to 『that world』. . . . . .In the first place, it was a miracle that Jabberwock’s consciousness remained.』
“I see. . . . . .”
ㅤ
A sudden wave of drowsiness hit him.
The consequence of 『Ultimate Fusion』 was catching up to Albero.
Yet, he had no regrets.
ㅤ
“Hey. . . . . .what about the powers when you disappear?”
『They’ll be lost. No more physical transformations or summoning. This worn-out body won’t live more than about a hundred years. . . . . .In other words, this child will live the rest of his life as a regular human.』
“So. . . . . .she’ll be able to live happily. . . . . .right?”
『Who knows. But she won’t be living for me anymore. At the end, I betrayed her… She never expected her consciousness to be taken away when I used 『Total Assimilation』. I intended to take over her body.』
“. . . . . .I see.”
ㅤ
Power drained from Albero’s body.
There was no one left in his heart to reach out to.
Jabberwock’s consciousness had completely vanished.
ㅤ
『Bit by bit, the powers are fading. . . . . .The brainwashing of the summoned demon beasts will also be undone. Congratulations on humanity’s victory.』
“Yeah. . . . . .”
『Hey, is Jabberwock there?』
“He’s not. He’s gone.”
『I see. You might not believe me when I say this. . . . . .but even now, I, or rather Jabberwock, love you.』
“━━. . . . . .”
ㅤ
And then, Albero’s consciousness vanished.
ㅤ
◇◇◇◇◇◇
ㅤ
It surely was just a convenient dream.
ㅤ
『Albero』
“. . . . . .Mog?”
『Thank you.』
ㅤ
A small mole smiled at Albero.
Beside it, a female mole snuggled up, rubbing their bodies together.
ㅤ
『I was happy to meet Albero. . . . . .Thank you so much.』
“Mog. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Then, the female mole spoke.
ㅤ
『An apology for causing inconvenience. I’ll go with Jabberwock too. . . . . .Please take care of Shin.』
“Eh. . . . . .You.”
『Your punch really hurt. See you.』
“. . . . . .Queen.”
ㅤ
Jabberwock and Queen began to walk together, side by side.
Albero watched their retreating figures and shed tears.
ㅤ
“━━Goodbye, Jabberwock. Goodbye. . . . . .Mog.”
ㅤ
And then━━a voice could be heard from somewhere.
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◇◇◇◇◇◇
ㅤ
“Albero!!”
“Albero, please wake up!!”
“. . . . . .uh.”
ㅤ
When he opened his eyes, Ashe and Lapis were embracing him, tears streaming down their faces.
Albero looked around in a daze.
Kid, Ridelle, Ashe, Lapis. And then there were Leivinia and Nisrok.
Albero sat up. . . . . .he was somehow still alive.
ㅤ
“What. . . . . .me.”
ㅤ
His injuries were gone.
Not just that. The power of Jabberwock remained.
But, only the power remained. He couldn’t feel Mog’s warmth.
And then, he realized.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Queen.”
ㅤ
He faintly felt the warmth of the Queen of Hearts.
Yes, the Queen of Hearts poured all her remaining power into Albero, saving his life.
Queen’s intentions departed with Jabberwock. . . . . .she probably isn’t in 『that world』 anymore.
Then, Kid spoke.
ㅤ
“Hey, what are we gonna do with her?”
ㅤ
Kid pointed his 『Headsman』 in his left hand at the girl lying on the ground.
It was Shin Asgard.
She was naked. However, her porcelain-white skin was unblemished.
Normally, one should cover her with a sheet or something, but they couldn’t approach because she was an enemy.
Nevertheless, Albero grabs his uniform and approaches Shin.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Shin.”
“Uh. . . . . .what.”
“Hey.”
“. . . . . .Albero?”
“Yeah. Good morning.”
“Mm. . . . . .so I lost, huh? Queen really did it. . . . . .”
“You don’t have 『power』 anymore. Queen used it all up.”
“. . . . . .That’s true.”
ㅤ
Albero draped his uniform over Shin’s body.
Whether she couldn’t move or not, Shin didn’t even flinch.
ㅤ
“I lost. Just do whatever you want with me. . . . . .assault me, kill me, I don’t care.”
“I won’t do that. Queen asked me. . . . . .you’ll die here and become a new you.”
“What…?”
“For now. . . . . .let’s go announce the end of the battle.”
ㅤ
Albero smiled at Shin.
And so, the historic 『Demon Emperor War』 came to an end.