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“Teacher… Hop Harvey…!”

When I came to my senses, I was already running somewhere.

“Keineu, Keineu!”

I need to return to the Kingdom! As soon as possible!!

The fastest way back to the kingdom was definitely Space Movement, no matter how I thought about it.

I quickly found where Keineu was.

A space magician is always at the very back of the formation.

As Keineu added strength to defend against the spells falling from the sky, he was so surprised when he met my gaze that his eyes widened, and he tilted his head in confusion.

“Hero? What are you doing here…”

“Please send me back right now! To Hop Harvey’s home!!”

“What?”

Keineu’s expression scrunched up, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Are you out of your mind? Is this some kind of infatuation that’s rendered you incapable of fighting?”

“I’m not joking. Right now…!”

“I’m not joking either.”

It seemed that Keineu wouldn’t grant me Space Movement so easily.

“Gasp, huff…!”

“Hero?”

My body trembled, and my head throbbed as if being squeezed by something.

It felt like my heart was being twisted, and I could sense the blood being pulled from within.

I couldn’t think straight. Time is running out. Even now, bit by bit, that assassin is getting closer to where Hop Harvey is. I need to go as fast as I can!

“Then fine. If you’re not going to send me, I’ll go on my own.”

“What? Are you really going to leave? Do you know what will happen if you don’t suppress the Demon King?!”

“I know.”

I know.

I know everything!

But… it’s because I know that I have no choice but to do this!

If I don’t go right away, Hop Harvey will die!

A world without my teacher holds no meaning for me.

I’m already, just a hero…

“I don’t have time for pointless conversations. The distance that demons travel in a day… If I break through with No Resistance, it should take about two hours. So, I’m leaving.”

“Hey, Hero!”

Keineu urgently called out after me, but there was no time left for conversation.

I immediately activated No Resistance and shot straight toward the direction of my teacher.

If I have the sphere, I can know the direction, so I’m going straight without any detours. I won’t worry about obstacles; I’ll pass through or jump over them, solely focusing on going straight.

Two hours of supersonic sprinting without resistance!

What will happen to my body when this run ends?

Will I be completely wrecked like before?

It’ll probably be much worse than the slow muscle loss I experienced at first.

Sudden damage from overexertion.

Will my body be torn or shattered? Either way, right?

Maybe the teacher will find it endearing?

My head was spinning and my whole body was screaming from maintaining such a fast pace for so long.

Ah, I, this human, am already wrong.

Throwing away my friends, companions, and countless others who believe in me right in front of the Demon King’s eyes, I’m running, tearing apart my own body, for the sake of my loved one.

If my actions lead to my body being destroyed, even if the united alliance retreats safely, there won’t be any hope left for humanity.

The hero who could close the gateway has broken down, destined to perish under the relentless assault of monsters.

Yet still, in the end…

“Please, please stay safe, teacher…!!”

I rushed toward the kingdom where Hop Harvey was.

While desperately enduring the pain of my body being torn apart.

And then… as I cast aside the future of my companions and this world.

***

“Should I buy a gift for Zion’s return?”

Having arrived in the kingdom by using Space Movement, all I had to do now was wait for Zion to bring the news of victory.

If I prepare a gift now, it will probably be a victory commemorative gift.

Once Zion returns, there will be so much to do.

Zion, who has participated in the war with soldiers, generals, and heroes, will be able to declare his official retirement as a hero, having been recognized as a hero who saved the world once again.

The promised time with King Baraeur has long since passed, but he’ll continue his life as a rehabilitation expert while receiving a noble title.

Even if he becomes a noble, it’ll just be a formal title.

What should the gift be?

Should it be a ring?

Finally, the day will come for an official proposal.

Though Zion would accept anything I give, I want it to be something special.

I’m currently on my way to the market, hoping to find inspiration for a gift.

I believe Zion will definitely win and come back.

So…

“Hop Harvey!!!!!”

…?

What was that? Did I just hear Zion’s voice…?

“He’s alive. Hop Harvey is alive!!”

It doesn’t seem like I misheard; there before my eyes was Zion.

His whole body and gear were drenched in sweat, eyes bloodshot, gasping for breath as he strained to look up at me.

“Zion? Could it be you’ve already come back victorious?”

“It’s dangerous, teacher. An assassin sent by the Demon King…”

“What?”

An assassin? I couldn’t understand what was going on, and I desperately tried to think, but I couldn’t grasp how this situation unfolded.

While I was confused, Zion drew his holy sword, took a stance, and began to look around, turning his back on me.

“The demons… the reaction of the demons…”

Is he searching for demons? Here, right now?

The holy sword will resonate and shine if there’s a strong demon nearby, revealing its strength and location to Zion.

And naturally, the holy sword remained entirely silent.

As Zion focused on the holy sword, confirming that there were no demons nearby, he said,

“There are none. Thank goodness…”

– Thud.

With relief, he knelt down and collapsed forward.

“Zion!”

I rushed to Zion’s side, supporting his head in my lap, checking on his condition.

He was drenched in sweat, and his gear felt hot to the touch, and as I loosened it, steam began to rise from his body.

What on Earth happened? Zion’s body was boiling hot, panting heavily, and when I tried to feel his pulse…

‘?!’

His arm was entirely blue.

What was this? What state is Zion in?

“Starting the Simplified Space Movement Array.”

I quickly moved the lying Zion to my home, laid him on the bed, gave him water, and tried to stabilize his breathing. Then, wondering if his skin was burning, I cut away all his outer clothing with scissors.

Zion’s revealed body showed that his limbs were swollen, entirely blue, and upon closer inspection, it wasn’t that the skin was burnt, but rather that it was damaged from internal bleeding.

How could he have gotten so hurt like this? I wanted to provide urgent care, but I didn’t have any ice, and the wound was too extensive to handle.

“Zion. What happened? Did you get hurt during the battle?”

I had no choice but to ask Zion for an explanation.

Laying on the bed, he looked up at me, smiling weakly as he began to answer.

“It’s not like that. Thank goodness. That you’re safe…”

“It’s you, Zion, who isn’t safe! What happened to make you like this?!”

“I ran here.”

“You ran?”

“Yeah. I was worried you might be in danger.”

“From the gate to here?”

“That’s right.”

My mind was becoming more and more confused.

Zion, who was on the battlefield, ran all this way because he thought I was in danger? From the Northernmost territory to the inland kingdom’s capital?

As soon as Zion arrived, the first thing he did was draw his holy sword to search for monsters.

Was there really some threat here?

“Zion, can you explain? If you’re tired, you can rest.”

“…….”

For a moment, Zion closed his eyes, seemingly organizing his thoughts, then began to explain step by step what had happened.

He succeeded in cornering the Demon King, controlling the gate, but due to a false message that the Demon King sent an assassin in my direction, he immediately fled the battlefield and came back to me.

Keineu and the magic tower wouldn’t allow him to leave the battlefield, so he couldn’t return via Space Movement, and as a result of sprinting at supersonic speed for two hours to reach the kingdom, he ended up in his current state.

“…….”

How could this happen…

After hearing all of Zion’s story, countless past regressions flashed through my mind, and the more I thought, the more I felt dazed, as if I had received a blow to the back of the head.

“I’m sorry, teacher. I promised to give you the world, but…”

Zion raised her arm with the vibrant blue flecks while staring up at the sky to cover her eyes.

“But I was so scared. Even if I save the world, if you aren’t here, I would be left alone… sob, surrounded by cheers while drowning in sorrow… aah, when I realized I was moving again, I just couldn’t abandon Hop Harvey…”

Tears flowed endlessly from Zion’s eyes, soaking the pillow.

Two hours had passed since Zion had separated from the Demon King.

Would the last remnants of the united alliance be safe?

No, even if they were safe, with Zion in this state, there was no way to end the war for humanity.

In a thoughtless struggle, humanity would be obliterated by the monsters.

The reasons this world was never saved in the past regressions weren’t because Zion was broken or weak.

It was simply because Zion had always chosen me over the world.

Was it an unchangeable fate that such choices were given to Zion time and again, even if we repeated the cycle?

From the moment we recognized each other, was the future of this world doomed?

I could no longer regress.

I had no meaningful memories left to live a life.

All I possessed were my memories and knowledge of rehabilitation medicine.

Memories I had acquired by sacrificing all my life and time, just to heal Zion.

But even that ultimately held no meaning.

Zion was broken once more, and humanity stood on the brink of annihilation.

In the end…

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…!”

Zion continued to weep, apologizing to me.

I lowered her trembling arm and met her distraught face, then gently wiped her tears away.

“It’s okay. I’m very happy right now.”

“But because of me, Hanamana and Now Troiat… countless people… this world…!”

No matter how much I wiped, her tears kept flowing.

“You’re absolutely beautiful. Seeing you cry, broken.”

“Hop Harvey…”

Though I love her broken, pained, and crying self, I want her to be healthy, happy, and beautiful.

That sentiment remains unchanged within me.

For her revival and future, I have given everything.

And right now, I felt as if fate was saying to me:

– ‘Isn’t there still something left?’

“Zion.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you so much for everything.”

“…….”

Zion’s eyes, upon hearing my gratitude, gradually dried her tears, and her eyes widened as she looked directly at me.

“……What?”

Did she realize the meaning behind my words?

Zion had chosen me so many times, and I had acted, turning back time, doing everything I could for her future.

So this too was ultimately one of those choices.

“Hop Harvey, what are you thinking? Why are you saying such things all of a sudden? Huh?”

Zion, clutching my clothes with trembling hands.

But no matter what she said, I had no intention of retracting this choice.

When I did the last Great Regression, I thought that was the final measure, but this one would probably be the real last.

“Don’t worry too much, Zion. I’m not going anywhere.”

I placed my hand over Zion’s hand that was gripping mine.

And in that moment, time itself stopped.

Before I used the final Time Magic, there were things I needed to say to her.

 

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