---

This is my truth, my memory, my identity…

I had believed that I was a modern person reincarnated into the world of books, but in reality, I was a traveler, repeating past lives and regressions while traversing various worlds. The current situation was my plan to heal Zion in preparation for the next war?

And Mirae, Aurora’s true identity was Aurora, the Chief of Staff of the Demon King’s army.

I can’t fully gauge the details, but she must have undergone regressions that made her lose her memories, just like me.

Initially, my recollection of my identity felt so distant that I could hardly believe it was mine, but as the memories settled in, the emotions of why I thought of Zion and made the decision to regress began to resurface.

The only meaning I found through countless worlds and lives…

The only thing I can love now…

Hanamana, who sensed my possibility of being a regressor, and Now Troiat, who heard her story, actively cooperated with me through Recover to regain my memories. I explained not only the story of the memories I regained but also how I connected with Zion in this cycle.

Everything, including the fact that I had deceived Zion and our relationship ultimately crumbled.

“It’s hard to believe.”

Now, approaching cautiously, showed her disbelief.

“I’m not saying I can’t trust Director Hop.”

She wanted to speak comfortably to Now, who had been a companion for countless long years, but I also felt the need to maintain my attitude since my previous life was mostly lived before regaining my memories.

It felt like there were two versions of myself inside of me.

Suddenly regaining so many memories made the feeling of unfamiliarity linger on, but it should get better with time.

Anyway, Now maintained her calm demeanor and continued speaking.

“Actually, what I’ve wanted to ask Director Hop all this time is how you managed to convince Zion, who had almost given up on life, to undergo rehabilitation. But the answer was a lie about the Demon King appearing, and those lies turned out to be the truth, right? More than who Director Hop was or what kind of past lives he underwent, that coincidence is even harder for me to believe. Was it all intentionally designed by the Creator…?”

“I don’t think so.”

Surprisingly, it was Hanamana, a cleric, who rejected the notion that such an overly coincidental coincidence might not be part of the Creator’s plan.

“By that time, the senior had already established the center three years prior. Perhaps some of the memories that returned through Recover had settled in the unconscious. Therefore, I believe what Zion genuinely wanted was to realize the reason to live and that it was originally the mission given to him as a hero.”

Could there be such an interpretation?

In fact, why I deceived Zion back then was something I too found hard to pinpoint.

While my reason for deceiving Zion was indeed about wanting to protect her in her broken state, the lie about the Demon King returning was the only thought that surfaced in my mind when it came to the matter.

“Anyway, if Director Hop’s memories are correct, then the gate will open again. Five years since the end of the war… That means only about four months and a bit left, right?”

“We have to make preparations somehow. Fortunately, since this is a gate opening for the first time in five years, it should be an incomplete gate. Director Hop, you mentioned that in the cycles you’ve been through, humanity was able to push forward to the gate with a full offensive, right?”

I nodded in affirmation to Hanamana’s question.

What Aurora had said during the ambush in the first cycle was indeed true.

Under the assumption that humanity would gather all their strength to march north immediately upon the gate opening, the forces of humanity and the demons summoned through the incomplete gate could balance each other.

“Then that’s a good situation. Given humanity’s current strength, we can crush those demons.”

Hanamana appeared to be quite confident.

Crush them? Even if I was informed that the gate was incomplete, it was perplexing how Hanamana, who had been through endless wars with demons, was so convinced about it.

Did she have some solid basis for that belief?

“You look perplexed there, Director Hop. Really confused? ”

“… Yes, I don’t quite understand.”

“It’s all because of Director Hop’s existence, and yet the party doesn’t seem to recognize that. Seriously, Director Hop, you underestimate yourself too much!”

The notion that humanity could crush demons being because of my existence—it made me wonder what that could possibly mean…

‘Ah.’

I see now.

The solution came to me in a flash.

I had been alive for the rehabilitation of Hero Zion, but what I had done until now…

“Have you finally realized? In the wars that Director Hop experienced, there was no rehabilitation specialist Hop Harvey nor rehabilitation medicine. If you hadn’t shown up after the war, what would the world look like now? Just imagining it is horrific. With humanity in that state, how could those demons, who barely matched with humanity, be our enemy now?”

“Indeed, as Now said, if we can safely end the next war, future historians will count your appearance and the rise of rehabilitation medicine as the biggest reason humans won the third war. You need to realize how many people you saved and how quickly those people returned humanity to pre-war prosperity. Your achievements are that magnificent.”

“…”

Both Now and Hanamana were praising the impact rehabilitation medicine had on humanity.

They are not the type to shower empty compliments, so it seems that the things I’ve done are truly significant.

But that doesn’t…

Have anything to do with me as I am now.

“Then it’s a relief. If Zion has also regained his health and humanity’s forces are far stronger than the demons, then… we wouldn’t have to worry about the war.”

A welcome bit of good news.

Thanks to the knowledge I gained through Great Regression about rehabilitation medicine, could Zion and humanity emerge victorious in the next war?

I had thought about that when I gathered all my memories and dedicated my time to regressing, but…

The ending I desired… was never supposed to look like this.

What mattered to me,

Was never the world’s peace or victory in war.

“Well, I’ve conveyed everything and heard good news, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Director Hop?”

“Senior?”

Leaving the two of them astonished behind, I headed out of the palace toward the exit.

Mirae, Aurora.

Though her attempts to kill me may have failed, because of her actions, I completely lost the reason I had regressed, putting everything on the line.

At that point, dying would have almost seemed better, as my life felt incredibly miserable.

All I wanted was happiness with Zion.

Now, having lost that completely, nothing in this world meant anything to me.

When using time magic, memories of lesser value are paid first, and if I were to cast even a slightly greater time magic than Recover, I would lose all those ‘worthless memories’ I had painstakingly regained.

Thus, I couldn’t simply turn back time to erase the parting with Zion.

In the end, even while living in this world with Zion, I would finish my life without being forgiven by her, living an utterly meaningless existence until I fade away.

“Director Hop!!”

Now dashed out in a hurry, grabbing my shoulder.

Just before leaving the palace.

The guards at the entrance remained still, making no interference with Now and me as if they were statues.

“I know you’re heartbroken from separating with Zion, and while I don’t know exactly how you feel about each other… perhaps you can still ask for forgiveness from Zion again? Everyone at that ball knows how much Zion loves you. And I, in particular, know a lot more. I’m the one who gave Zion permission to give you that sphere, which is Iris’s relic. So…”

“It’s because of that sphere.”

“What?”

Now looked shocked, unable to comprehend.

“The sphere I was given from Zion. I wanted to know where Zion might be, so I looked for that sphere. But I couldn’t find it anywhere in the house. Later, I heard that while I was attacked and receiving treatment from Hanamana, Zion came by my house.”

Zion had visited while I was away from home after being ambushed by Mirae.

It was a story I heard from a neighbor who was close by during the chaotic night in my home.

Zion had asked the neighbor about my whereabouts, but the neighbor said he didn’t know anything.

Naturally, how could he know? I had no way to inform him of the details other than being attacked.

“I pondered for a long time why Zion, who said he wouldn’t see me again, came to our home. Especially after parting in the night, so soon the next morning. I want to believe he came looking for me to forgive me, but it seems too soon for a change of heart. If that were the case, Zion would have kept searching until he found me. Yet Zion still hasn’t shown up before me. Why is that?”

“That’s…”

Now struggled to respond.

Of course, it would be difficult.

It took me a long time to find my answer as well.

While mechanically casting Recover to regain my memories, I had kept thinking about that.

About why Zion came to seek me and the significance of the lost sphere.

And the conclusion I reached was…

“Perhaps he came intending to retrieve that sphere. That sphere is one that indicates Zion’s location, a precious item that belongs to Iris. It’s no longer something I should possess. So, he must have come to retrieve it while I was away, but as I wasn’t there, he just took it instead. It was a sign saying not to search for him anymore.”

“Th-There’s no way Zion would do that…!”

“Then where could the sphere possibly have vanished to?”

Did I trigger her anger by showing such a skeptical stance?

Now’s face was all scrunched up in displeasure as she sighed and continued speaking.

“Just stay put here, Director Hop. I’ll go get it this instant. I’m sure you’re all in a fluster right now, not remembering that you lost it. I know you’re heartbroken, but thinking like that isn’t right! Regardless, that’s an item we can find quickly if we have the connecting sphere, so let’s find yours, okay?”

Pointing her finger at the floor, she insisted that I stay put and hurried off.

I stood in my spot and waited a little, but she returned quite soon, albeit looking awkward and sporting an embarrassed smile as she avoided my gaze.

“H-Haha… I really ought to be more careful. I lost my sphere too! I even asked Hanamana about it, and she also lost hers… Must be quite the coincidence, right?”

It was evidently a lie.

Her act of trying to gloss over it only served to give away the answer.

“Anyone could lose something as trivial as a small sphere. I’ve lost mine too, and so have Hanamana. So…”

“You’re with them, aren’t you?”

“What?”

“That Iris’s sphere is with Zion, so you couldn’t show it to me. Am I right?”

“….”

Now’s head fell down.

I see.

Honestly, I hoped it wasn’t that way, but it seems that it was.

Zion truly…

“Thank you for your concern, Princess. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Director Hop!”

Leaving Now, who called me anxiously behind, I exited the palace.

I felt sorry toward Now, but it seemed that if I continued talking with her in my current state, I might commit an even greater rudeness, so I hurried on my way.

Zion, the only meaning I discovered through countless worlds, had now left me.

And she no longer wished for me to search for her.

If so, then it truly is the end.

My life, Hop Harvey, has come to this point.

Ultimately, I was unable to become anyone, anything, leaving only wounds behind for Zion, who I wanted to gift happiness, waiting to be buried in meaningless memories and vanish.

 

---