The only ones left in this village now are Shuuto-san and Charlotte-san.
Honestly... it's kind of amazing.
Last time I visited, there were only a handful of small shops—just convenience stores, really.
But now... what is this?
A sign reads: *Ceres Mart*.
It's like a full-blown shopping center, the kind I used to see back in my previous life.
At this point, there's really no use trying to keep my identity hidden.
Besides, I had already asked someone to pass on a message to Kaito-san. I said I'd show my face later, so I might as well just walk around like normal.
With that in mind, I took off my disguise.
But... in the end, I couldn't meet with either of them.
Both Shuuto-san and Charlotte-san are business owners.
Thinking about it, it's no surprise I missed them—they must've been busy.
That night, I stopped by the Adventurers' Guild. Kaito-san took the lead, and before I knew it, plans were made for drinks.
We got in touch with Sector-san and Shuuto-san too, and for the first time in a long while... we laughed, we caught up, and we drank together until late into the night.
* * *
But I didn't come to Jimna just for nostalgia.
There was another reason—one more important.
I came to greet the mayor of Jimna.
A while back, Bauer-sama told me... the mayor had passed away.
Normally, that kind of news wouldn't reach someone like me so quickly.
But Bauer-sama knew—he knew how much the mayor meant to me. Like a grandfather.
And so, he made sure I heard it.
Three days after our gathering, I made my way to the mayor's house late at night.
From inside, I could hear crying.
When I stepped through the door, I saw Naji-san there, weeping beside the futon where the mayor lay.
The mayor of Jimna had already passed away... peacefully, just lying there.
Naji-san looked up and, upon seeing me, burst out in sobs.
"Ceres-sama... Najim-san... Najim-san..."
Her voice trembled, growing louder and more desperate.
The cause of death was clear—old age.
If it had been an accident or some wound, maybe I could've done something. I might've been able to reverse it.
But old age... when this world itself can no longer hold a person... there's nothing even I can do.
"Naji-san," I said gently, "Najim-san passed due to old age. I'm sorry, but... there's no way to bring him back."
"...No..."
Humans in this world live about fifty years.
Najim-san lived past seventy. That's already remarkable.
"Naji-san, you're an elf, so maybe it feels different for you... but Najim-san lived a long, full life."
"I know that," she whispered, wiping her eyes, "You don't need to tell me. But... living in a world without him... it hurts."
"...Naji-san," I said quietly, "I'll tell you something special. Death isn't the end. People move on... to the underworld. After that, they're reborn again, in time."
I reached out with my power, letting her see it.
Najim-san's soul was already beginning to rise, pale and quiet, separating from his body.
"Najim-san..."
And then—Naji-san moved.
Before I could stop her, she grabbed a dagger from nearby—and drove it into her chest.
"What are you doing!?" I shouted, rushing forward. "This is suicide!"
"Haah... haah... I don't want healing," she said, her voice weak. "I want to go where he went..."
No... it's too late.
"I understand," I whispered.
Moments later, the soul of Najim-san fully separated. He blinked in confusion as he turned to look at me.
"...Oh? Isn't that Ceres-sama? Please, please—help Naj! Help her!"
"Najim-san," I said, keeping my voice calm, "first, I need you to understand. You've passed away. And Naji-san... she took her life after seeing you."
"Wha—? What kind of nonsense is that?" he said, laughing uneasily. "I'm standing right here—wait..."
He looked down at himself. His expression froze.
"...My body. It's... pale. Did I really...?"
"Yes," I said.
"Then... what about Naji? What'll happen to her?"
"She followed after you. And even if we tried to stop her, I don't think it would change anything. Her soul... it's already beginning to rise."
"Naji... you foolish girl..."
"I don't want to live in a world without you," Naji-san whispered, her voice distant.
"Naj..."
"Najim-san..."
The two of them held each other close.
Old, fragile, but their feelings were real—like a grandfather and his granddaughter bound by something deeper than blood.
"So, Ceres-sama," Najim-san asked quietly, "what will happen to us now?"
"You've passed on," I said, "so you'll be heading to the underworld."
"The afterlife..."
"Yes. Since you both cared for me so much when I was young, I thought I'd be the one to guide you there. I just didn't expect Naji-san to come along too..."
"I see... I'm sorry."
"And I'm sorry for the trouble."
"It's fine," I said with a small smile. "Leave it to me."
The two of them clasped hands, smiling gently.
Even in death, they looked at peace.
If Najim-san's soul returns to youth after entering the underworld... what kind of couple will they become?
"Naji-san," he said with a chuckle, "looks like we're off on a honeymoon."
"Yes... Najim-san, really..." she whispered.
"Well then, Ceres-sama," he said, nodding, "please."
"Got it," I said. "Dragon God Change."
I shifted into a massive dragon, and with both of them on my back, I soared toward the sky—toward the underworld.
Even among the dead, it's rare to see two souls look so happy together.