"So...... so strong."

  Everyone stared at that figure, stunned to the core.

  "This is the power of a god......"

  "Say...... was there even a need for us to come?"

  "Not really......"

  The Black Mist Calamity Beast—the culprit—was incredibly powerful, and its corrosive energy was extremely troublesome. None of the eight of them would have stood a chance against it alone.

  Yet such a formidable being had vanished into thin air in just two strikes. No...... to be precise, one strike. Back then, Terra had controlled her power so that the first hit wouldn’t finish it off......

  ......

  In the square in front of the City Hall, people held a grand bonfire party to celebrate Himmler’s return to peace.

  Beneath the glow of the bonfire, they sang and danced, sharing food and wine.

  "Winnie, Winnie! Look! The things they call food are really delicious! Do you want to try some?"

  Semiris, arms full of food, said happily to Hulim Heyerar, holding out a skewer slathered in spicy spices.

  "Thanks, Semiris~."

  Hulim replied.

  "But this is too spicy. I’m a sweet tooth, so I’ll go with this one~."

  She picked a sweet treat from Semiris’s pile.

  "Hmm, that’s totally fine! But what’s a ‘sweet tooth’?"

  "Well, simply put, sweets are a type of food. A ‘sweet tooth’ is what you call someone who loves that kind of food."

  "Wow! That’s amazing~! Winnie knows so much about food! Semiris had no idea!"

  Semiris looked quite surprised, then stared at Hulim Heyerar with sparkling eyes.

  "Winnie, Winnie! Can Winnie make delicious food too?"

  "I can."

  Hulim nodded gently.

  "Really?! Then can Winnie make food for Semiris in the future?"

  "......"

  Hulim paused.

  She slowly looked up at Semiris, who was brimming with anticipation.

  Then, a smile tugged at her lips.

  "Sure. I’ll make it for you someday."

  Someday......

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  "Yay! Semiris wants lots and lots of delicious food! Oh, right! What kind of food will Winnie make for Semiris?"

  "Hmm...... how about roasted meat?"

  "Roasted meat? Yes, yes! Semiris wants roasted meat~!"

  "Hey, Semiris! I’ve been hearing you yelling about roasted meat—where is it? This lord wants a taste too!"

  "Hahaha, I want to try that roasted meat too~!"

  "Even though it sounds like a lowly, barbaric dish, I suppose trying it once won’t hurt......"

  "Um...... I can help too~."

  "Ah, no! No!!! The roasted meat is Semiris’s! Winnie promised to make it for Semiris—you can’t steal it!"

  "Huh? Hey, Semiris, you little......"

  "No means no! It’s all Semiris’s! Hmph!"

  "Tch, cheapskate!"

  "Yeah, so stingy!"

  "Fine. It’s just a lowly, barbaric dish—I don’t care that much anyway!"

  "U-Um...... everyone, please don’t fight, okay?"

  Just then, Ogrum walked over carrying a large wooden basket.

  Thud!

  He set the basket down—it was filled with all kinds of food.

  "The townspeople gave us a lot. Want to try some?"

  "Oh! Great job, Ogrum! You’re the reliable one~!"

  "This lord isn’t holding back!"

  "Commoners’ food? I suppose experiencing it once is acceptable......"

  "Semiris wants some too~!"

  "Get out of the way, cheapskate!"

  "Nyah! No!"

  Semiris stuck out her tongue and squeezed her way in.

  "You little......"

  Sylph and the others sighed, stepping forward to grab Semiris’s glowing wings.

  "Eep——!"

  Semiris let out a squeal, then turned to tussle with them......

  Avery watched silently, showing no desire to join in or eat the food.

  Then a hand clapped down on his shoulder.

  "Come on, Avery! Don’t stand there spacing out—join us! This food is really good!"

  "I have no need to eat."

  Avery replied calmly.

  "Heh......"

  Sylph grinned mischievously.

  "Don’t be so cold~. It’s really delicious——"

  She suddenly stuffed a bottle of wine into Avery’s mouth.

  "——Cheers~!"

  "Gah——!!?"

  Gulp, gulp!

  "Hahaha~! That’s the spirit!"

  After pouring the entire bottle into Avery’s mouth, Sylph tossed the empty bottle aside and ran off laughing.

  "......"

  Avery fell silent for a moment. Then he stared blankly ahead and chased after her—his expression colder than usual.

  The two ran around the food, chasing each other. Along the way, they accidentally dragged others into it, and soon almost everyone was joining in the playful scuffle. The entire bonfire party descended into chaos......

  Inside the City Hall.

  Terra watched the lively scene in the square in silence.

  "Lady Terra."

  Merkphis approached from behind.

  Terra spoke slowly.

  "Merkphis."

  "Yes, my lady!"

  "From now on, I will spend more time traveling and inspecting all parts of Himmler."

  "Yes!"

  "......I leave this place in your care for the time being."

  "Yes, I shall act according to your will!"

  Merkphis replied respectfully.

  "This magic tool."

  Terra took out the crystal ball magic tool and turned around.

  "I’ll leave it here at the City Hall. You are to monitor it at all times. If anything happens, entrust it to the Seven Sages. If it’s something they can’t handle, use this to notify me."

  "Yes! Merkphis shall not slack off in the slightest!"

  Merkphis took the crystal ball magic tool with a deep bow.

  Once that was done, Terra turned back to gaze at the chaotic, playful scene below.

  "How long will this peace last......"

  "Lady Terra, please do not worry! I believe that under your radiance, our world will only grow better. Eternal peace will surely come~!"

  Terra did not respond.

  Beneath the glow of the bonfire below, she shook her head almost imperceptibly......

  In the square, the joyous moments continued.

  Everyone’s face was filled with happy smiles, brimming with hope for the future.

  Hulim watched it all.

  In particular, she stared at Semiris—darting through the crowd with a carefree smile.

  But the past was just that...... the past.

  At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

  The bonfire, the smiles, everyone—they all stopped, then gradually blurred and faded away.

  Then, the blurred scenes began to flow forward again.

  A new round of memories accelerated.

  ......

  ......

  In the blurred visions, time passed relentlessly.

  This time, it seemed longer than ever before.

  The world was gradually growing dim.

  The blurred scenes around her were slowly engulfed by darkness. In the end, everything disappeared, and Hulim could no longer see anything.

  In the dark space, a figure emanating a faint blue glow appeared in front of Hulim.

  "......Winnie?"

  As if hearing Hulim’s voice, the figure slowly turned around.

  Their gazes—across time and space, in this memory space—finally met.