I saw Zect marry his childhood friends, and I was there to witness Town Mayor Najim's last breath.
Now, I don't have any reason to stay in this world.
The problems of this place are already taken care of by the great Bauer-sama and Ishtas-sama.
I don't think there's anything left for me to do.
Looking back, it really feels like I've come a long way.
But after being kicked out of Zect's party and drifting around with nowhere to go... this is how things turned out.
I guess I really am the kind of person who just goes along with what happens.
If I hadn't taken in Shizuko-san...
Or maybe if I'd just gone back to Jimna Village, married the four of them, and stayed there... maybe things would've been better.
Those two paths should have been what I aimed for.
Then I could have just farmed in peace and lived slowly as a villager.
That's all I wanted—just a slow life. I never wanted to be a hero, or a king, or even a dragon lord.
...Next time, I won't mess it up like that again.
I told Shizuko-san, Marianne-san, and the others to go their own ways and spend their last moments in this world how they liked, but...
"Why is everyone here?" I asked, frowning a little.
"Ceres-kun, there's no other place for us but by your side," Shizuko-san said with a soft smile as she stepped forward.
"Yeah! I met that foolish girl at the wedding, so it's all settled, right?" Haruka-neesan added cheerfully.
When Haruka-neesan said that, Misaki-san and the others nodded along without saying a word.
Those four... I understand why they'd do this. But Marianne-san and the rest are different.
"Is it really okay for Marianne-san and the others?" I asked, turning toward them.
"We serve the princess and her kingdom. But now that I've married Ceres-sama, we have no more ties to that place," Marianne-san said clearly. "I already said goodbye using the communication crystal. That's enough."
"Well, I was born in the Empire," said another, folding her arms. "Once a woman marries, it's normal to follow her husband—and even go against her family, if needed. I've already said my farewells."
"I used to be a saintess, but I'm not doing anything important anymore," the last one said with a peaceful look. "So there's no reason I can't go."
Just like that, the three of them stood beside me without hesitation.
"I see... Then I'll go speak with Bauer-sama and make the final arrangements," I said quietly.
And so, I started getting ready for the journey to a new world.
* * *
"So... you're really leaving this world?"
"Yeah," I said, giving Bauer-sama a simple nod.
I had come to tell Bauer-sama I was leaving. Standing beside him was a black dragon, just like before.
"I've already taught you how to reach the other world," Bauer-sama said, resting one clawed hand on his chin. "You can go whenever you're ready. When you get tired of that world, just come back and visit us."
"Yeah. We live forever, after all," the black dragon said with a calm smile. "We'll meet again someday."
For beings like them, time means nothing.
And since I had the chance, I asked Bauer-sama for one last favor—to let me visit the underworld again.
* * *
Ceres...
Who's that good-looking man near the top of the stairs? Wait, is that Zect?
Ah, and sitting next to him is... Naji-san? Could that be Town Mayor Najim?
"Is that... Town Mayor Najim?" I asked, squinting.
"Yep!" Naji-san said, clapping her hands. "Alright, you're the next town mayor."
"Again with the jokes..." I muttered, unsure whether to laugh or frown.
"It's not a joke," he said, grinning. "I asked Bauer-sama if I could speak to the elders one more time. That's when I made you the next town mayor."
"But I'm heading to another world," I said, blinking in surprise.
"I know," Naji-san said, nodding. "That's why it's only for a moment. Kasim's already the next one after you."
Why go through all that?
"Why would you do that?" I asked, confused.
"Partly because I met Naji again... but also because of everything you did back when we were still just a village," he said. "But the biggest reason is that deep down, you never wanted to be a king or a dragon lord. You just wanted to be the village chief of Mujina Village, right?"
"Uhm..." I couldn't answer right away.
"Ceres brought Shizuko back, married the other three, and that was the end of your journey," he said, smiling warmly. "Farming, living quietly... That was your dream. You loved the village, and that's where your happiness was supposed to be."
"Maybe that's true..." I said quietly, my voice trailing off.
"That's what I thought. So I made you town mayor, even if just in name. Kasim's the real one now, but think of this as a gift from me—the one who helped turn Mujina Village into a town."
"Thank you very much," I said, bowing my head.
"But hey, don't keep everything to yourself. Miluna and the others wanted to see you too," he added, motioning with his hand.
"Alright," I said, turning toward them.
But man, Town Mayor Najim was seriously handsome.
I think I heard he's related to Uncle Sector somehow. Maybe that's why he looks like him...
Though the way Naji-san had her arm around Najim's waist... Could it be that Zect's habit of chasing women came from...? No, better not think about that too much.
* * *
"Oh my, it's been so long, Ceres," Miluna said with a soft smile.
"It really has, Ceres," Sail added, standing beside her.
"Mother Miluna... and Father Sail?" I asked, blinking in surprise.
I remembered Mother, but Father passed away when I was just a kid. I didn't really remember his face.
We did meet after he passed, but we didn't talk much.
"It's been a long time, Mother... Father," I said, lowering my head respectfully.
"But wow, you really married almost all my friends," Mother Miluna said, laughing.
"No kidding," Sail added. "Just dating all those girls with big personalities... I could barely handle one."
"Oh? Are you saying I'm hard to handle?" Miluna asked, narrowing her eyes.
"No! That's not what I meant! Not at all!" Sail said quickly, waving his hands.
"Well, I hope so," she said, grinning.
"Haha... Mom, Dad, about that..." I said, scratching my head.
I told them everything about how I'd soon be going to a new world.
"I see. That's fine," Father Sail said after a pause. "Normally, we wouldn't even be able to meet like this."
"Yes. Meeting someone who's already gone is almost like a miracle," Mother Miluna said softly.
I shared everything that had happened with them. They just listened quietly, only saying "I see" or "Is that so" every now and then.
"Well then, do your best, alright?" Sail said as our talk came to an end.
And with that, everything was done. The only thing left now was to leave.
* * *
"Shall we go?" I asked, looking around.
"Yes, Ceres-kun," Shizuko-san said, her voice calm and steady.
The other six nodded without hesitation.
"Dragon Mode—let's go. Everyone, get on," I said, lowering myself to the ground.
"Okay," they answered together.
With all seven riding on my back, I lifted off into the sky.
Whoosh—the wind rushed past us as we soared upward.
"Dragon Barrier," I said, activating it.
From here, we'd be flying straight up, all the way to the stratosphere.
As a dragon lord, I could handle the pressure, but Shizuko-san and the others couldn't. That's why I needed the barrier.
Only dragon lords can travel between worlds. That's because the barrier stretches way up into the sky.
To get to another world, we have to fly even higher than that.
And only we, the dragon lords, are able to do that.
"Incredible, Ceres-kun... I can't believe we're flying so high," Shizuko-san said, gripping tighter.
"This world's really round, huh?" my sister said with wide eyes.
They all seemed amazed as they looked down at the world below.
"Yeah. Alright, we're through the barrier... This is another world now," I said, scanning the area ahead. "Let's find a place to land."
Our new life... was just about to begin.
Notes:
• Naji - Female. Partner of Town Mayor Najim, seen with her hand around his waist.
• Miluna - Female. Ceres' mother. Warm and supportive, listens to Ceres' journey stories. Has unique friends whom Ceres married.
• Sail - Male. Ceres' father. Quiet and reflective, listens to Ceres' story. Passed away when Ceres was young, appearance not well-remembered.