Editor : Amethyst00



"That sky, no matter how many times I see it, I just can't get used to it."

Aru muttered softly as she looked up at the sky.

Aaron's world, and Dweno's world.

And now, this one as well.

It was Aru's third experience, but the sky of this ominous Age of Calamity was something she simply couldn't adapt to.

"Who could ever get used to it."

Carl also clicked his tongue and shook his head in disbelief.

The rest of the party wore tense expressions.

The Hero's World had begun to encroach upon reality.

On top of that, if it was Dweno's world, it was obvious they were in for an enormous trial. It's as clear as day.

Chelsea glanced sideways toward Leo, who was walking ahead alongside Artienne, following behind Dweno and the elf.

"Oh right, I forgot to introduce myself."

The elf smacked her forehead and spoke.

"My name is Enniha. I'm a painter who captures the beauty of this world on canvas."

"Wow, you're a painter? I love looking at paintings too!"

Artienne clasped her hands in admiration at Enniha's introduction.

Enniha gave her a slightly awkward look.

"You're completely different from earlier. Are all spiritualist like that?"

"I think I'm a bit of a special case? The heroic spirits I've contracted with are a little intense."

"Well, spiritualist tend to have quirky tempers."

At that moment, Dweno, walking ahead, threw out a comment.

"Even if they pretend to be nice on the outside."

"N-no, that's false. I'm really nice. Right? Leo?"

"Yeah, well…"

"What's with that half-hearted answer?!"

Normally, things would've gotten noisier from spirit possession, but Artienne stayed quiet.

Understandably so, the person in front of her was none other than the Great Hero.

In modern times, this's someone with influence rivaling that of a god.

Not someone to be trifled with.

"By the way, where exactly are you all from?"

"I'll explain once we get somewhere safe."

"Hmm. Some outsiders came near our fortress not long ago. Are you connected to them?"

'Outsiders? Is he talking about the advance scouting party?'

"I'm not sure who they are, but it's possible we're connected."

"Such a mysterious bunch, aren't you?"

Despite his words, Dweno no longer seemed suspicious of them.

Following Dweno and Enniha, the group eventually arrived at the sight of distant fortress walls.

"A fortress?"

"…Amazing."

Even at a glance, the fortress looked formidable. The party couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

Leo glanced toward Artienne.

Artienne, meeting Leo's eyes, gave a small nod.

That place was originally a ruined fortress where Leo's party had planned to rest.

But now, it had been perfectly restored and stood firm.

'…Judging from the architectural style, this must be from the Age of Calamity.'

Leo examined the fortress closely.

'It's not just modeled after old architecture.'

The outer appearance resembled the old fortress.

The walls gave off the vibe of Godthrone.

But there was a subtle sense of the present era too.

'I see. So it's been rebuilt.'

As Leo nodded in realization—

When Dweno approached the moat of the fortress, clank! a drawbridge descended.

Thud!

With a heavy sound, the bridge came down. Dweno turned back to them.

"For now, welcome, outsiders. I'd like to hear your story first."

bl

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The loud sound of a hammer striking an anvil echoed.

The party members were amazed by the sound.

"There are so many dwarves!"

"And quite a few beastkin too."

"Are all these people from the Age of Calamity…?"

As they walked, they looked around curiously.

Near the fortress entrance were countless forges.

Dwarves were busy producing weapons there.

Leo watched the scene and muttered inwardly.

'Ivaldi.'

"They're master-level craftsmen."

As Drianna muttered in awe, Enniha smiled.

"Of course. Our Ivaldi blacksmiths are the best in the world."

Ivaldi.

Back during the Age of Calamity.

One of the few fortresses that held out against the onslaught of Tartaros to the end.

It was primarily defended by dwarves and beastkin.

They produced countless weapons and armor, and their goods occasionally reached even Godthrone.

'So it's these guys.'

Leo stopped walking and looked at the Ivaldi craftsmen.

Back then, for those on the frontlines of battle, Ivaldi equipment was essential.

'It was the only gear that could counter the weapons made by the Giant King Giath.'

Even Leo during his time as Kyle received much help from Ivaldi equipment.

In a way, they saved his life on countless battlefields.

But this was the first time he saw them in person.

'Except for one person.'

Leo silently looked at the back of one dwarf walking ahead.

Dweno.

One of the four heroes chosen by Lysinas, he was Ivaldi's Guardian and Master Smith.

Even back then, his fame rivaled that of Agon, the Guardian of the Azure Sky.

This street was different from what Leo remembered.

Of course it was. This wasn't the actual Ivaldi.

The real Ivaldi Leo had seen wasn't this lively.

"What are you doing? Not coming?"

Prompted by Dweno, Leo started walking again.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

bl

Dweno led them to the center of the fortress.

Originally, it was the lord's office.

Seeing that it had been completely rebuilt, Carl's jaw dropped.

"Wasn't this place in complete ruins? How is the building so intact?"

As Carl muttered in disbelief, Dweno laughed heartily.

"Indeed. When we were suddenly transported here, the fortress was in complete ruins. Oof!"

Dweno sat in a chair as he continued.

"But luckily, there were plenty of materials left underground. We used those to rebuild. Took about a month."

"That's even possible?"

"We're dwarves, aren't we?"

Dweno smiled as if it were nothing special. Drianna nodded.

"Exactly! And with Lord Dweno here, it's a piece of cake!"

'Mmm-hmm!' Drianna nodded excitedly, her eyes shining.

"A cute young lady giving me praise? What's your name?"

"I'm Drianna!"

"Ha ha! Drianna, are you a blacksmith too?"

"Yes! A blacksmith and an artist!"

"An artist?"

Enniha's eyes sparkled.

"A blacksmith, huh? Would you show me something you've made?"

At that, Drianna pulled out a longsword and handed it to Dweno.

Dweno examined it and was impressed.

"Ho! That's excellent craftsmanship. You must be a genius."

"R-really?"

"You should just be a blacksmith."

"Huh?"

"With such great talent, it would be a waste not to! Focus more on smithing! Hahaha!"

"Dweno! Don't trample on an artistic seedling in these dark times! Didn't you say beauty should be spread to the people too?"

Enniha strode over, placing a firm hand on Drianna's shoulder.

"Why do you call yourself an artist?"

"To spread beauty to future generations!"

"Excellent! Never forget it that will!"

Watching Enniha encourage Drianna, Carl spoke.

"That 'artwork' I showed you earlier was hers."

Enniha's eye twitched.

"I-it’s fine. It was… original. Yes, very creative."

"Oof, my back."

Carl rubbed his back, still sore from when Enniha had struck him earlier.

But Enniha ignored him.

Meanwhile…

Drianna's eyes sparkled as she looked up at Enniha.

"Please, let me be your student, Teacher!"

It was the first time anyone had praised her work, and Drianna was deeply moved.

Seeing her, Enniha paused to think.

In this hopeless era…

It had been a long time since she met someone with a dream to spread beauty to the future.

Looking at Drianna, whose eyes resembled her own, Enniha nodded.

'Yes. I can teach her. Her sense is… odd, but I can teach her.'

"Alright."

"Teacher!"

Watching this unfold, Carl spoke to Aru.

"How long do you think it'll last?"

"Two days before she gets expelled."

"Oh? You’re giving her two? Generous."

"How long you think?"

"One day."

"Wanna bet?"

"Sure."

Unaware that Aru and Carl were betting on her, Drianna beamed.

Enniha returned her bright smile with a gentle one.

"Let's set aside the chit-chat."

Leo spoke up.

"You've heard of the Fool and the Surviving Hero, right?"

"I have. They're the ones active in Godthrone, aren't they? Why do you ask?"

"Have you encountered them recently?"

"No. Godthrone is far from Ivaldi. Well, this place isn't even Ivaldi anymore."

Dweno shook his head in response.

Leo, being Kyle himself, knew that Dweno hadn't met him yet.

But he asked anyway, so the party could get a better sense of the current situation.

It would be strange to start explaining everything with no prior conversation with Dweno.

Hearing the conversation between Leo and Dweno, the others quickly began piecing together the situation.

"There’s something I want to ask you, then."

"What is it?"

"Where exactly are we right now?"

"South-eastern part of the continent."

"Hmm. I figured. I checked the constellations and suspected it, but it's been so long since I saw the night sky that I wasn't sure… So we really did warp all the way to the southeast of the continent."

Originally, Ivaldi was located in the north-central of the continent.

"It's a miracle! If we stayed in that condition, we might all be dead!"

Enniha brightened.

Duran asked, "What do you mean?"

"A month ago, we were about to face a full-scale assault from the Giant King."

Dweno folded his arms, speaking gravely.

"We'd already been cut off from the outside world for a long time. If we had stayed there… everyone would've died."

Leo closed his eyes at that.

'…By the time we arrived, the fortress had already fallen.'

Just before Lysinas, Kyle, Luna, and Aaron arrived—

Ivaldi couldn't withstand Tartaros's assault and fell.

Dweno was the sole survivor.

When the four first met Dweno, he had just finished holding funeral rites for his comrades.

'This leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.'

Knowing the future is…

"I'm so curious! There are stars in the night sky right now! I don't know how many decades it's been since I've seen that!"

Enniha said excitedly.

"We were surrounded by Tartaros and couldn't see what was happening outside. Has something changed in the Age of Calamity?"

From their perspective, it was only natural to think that way as they're being isolated.

A world that had been stagnant.

No, it's headed for destruction. And now it finally seemed to have a glimmer of hope.

'…That's a story for the far future.'

Should he tell them?

That this is the future?

Then they would ask—

What happened to us?

"……"

After a long silence, Leo answered.

"Yeah. We've reclaimed the night sky."

"I knew it! That means the Age of Calamity is almost over!"

Enniha smiled brightly. Leo replied—

"Perhaps."

He couldn’t bring himself to say it—

That it hadn't even begun yet.

That after all of them perished, and after many more sacrifices—

Only in the distant future would it finally end.

Leo could not say that.