Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented-Chapter 132

I had a dream.

A happy dream.

A dream where all my duties had ended, and I was with my comrades.

I visited Igrain’s elf village, shared a drink with Ain among the boisterous dwarves.

Images of Melissa teaching knights with her dignified presence, and Saint Elena praying in the grand temple, flashed before my eyes.

And there I was, wandering the beautiful continent of Astria with them.

Living, not as a girl burdened by strange memories imprinted on her soul, but as a girl from the continent of Astria, receiving all their affection.

If everything had gone normally, how would I have lived in this world?

If I still had the holy sword, would I have become an adventurer? Or maybe the emperors of Alpharion and Betarion would have given me a position. If so, wealth and fame would have followed, even if I hadn’t pursued them.

And among those faces, there was a beautiful woman with red hair.

I smiled.

"Oh, my sisters are here."

The people who always looked at me with love in their eyes.

The ones who made my heart flutter.

The gaze that Igrain shared with another as they looked at me.

Two pairs of warm eyes.

If Chris had been with me back then, I would have been truly happy.

Of course, even now.

In front of me are Igrain and Chris.

Two people, with similar but slightly different kinds of affection.

If I live receiving their love, I can be happy.

On the continent of Astria, in this world.

"I must leave."

With Igrain’s cruel words, my happy dream was suddenly yanked back into reality.

---

I was filled with confusion.

Why?

"Why... why?"

Igrain's face blurred. No, was it my eyes that were shaking?

Why was she making that expression?

Why? We just met again.

"It’s the law of the world. The dead must return to the cycle of reincarnation. The old must give way to the new... But we were unable to."

Does that mean a new priestess hasn’t been born?

Igrain lifted her gaze, looking at the green orbs floating around us.

"They’ve carried this burden for far too long. The priestesses who guarded the World Tree, now spirits, have watched over the elves in this distorted world for a thousand years, unable to return to the cycle of reincarnation."

Then she lowered her eyes to look at me.

"At the same time, they’ve spent too much of their strength protecting the World Tree from the influence of the Abyss Tree. The power that allows us to exist as spirits in this world is reaching its limit."

Her expression filled with sorrow as she gently stroked my head.

"Thanks to you, Rain. Thanks to you, who didn’t forget and returned to this world, the spirits will finally be able to lay down their burden."

No.

"This will allow new priestesses to be born, live, and form bonds with new spirits. Everything will return to its original cycle... and so must I."

I shook my head frantically.

"Don’t go. Please? You’re all I have now, Igrain. I’ve been strong, haven’t I? We’ve just met again, sob..."

My vision blurred with tears.

No. I couldn’t see Igrain’s face clearly anymore.

"Rain, Rain. You’re a kind, gentle child, but also strong. Rain, the hero who loves this world."

Igrain’s hand, which was gently caressing my face, began to fade.

No, please.

"You now have a world where you must live, don’t you? And people who care for you? You’ll be able to face the new dangers of this world, especially with Chris by your side."

Igrain’s gaze shifted toward Chris. I looked there too.

"Rain, you can’t be tied to this place. You can’t be trapped in the past. For your own sake, I must return to the cycle. If I stay, Rain, you’ll never accept your new life. You might remain stuck here forever, imprisoned by the past."

Through my tear-filled eyes, I saw Chris, her face filled with worry, her tears mirroring mine.

"Rain..."

"You can watch over this world from your new life. We just need to be remembered."

No.

Whummm.

The green light surrounding Igrain’s body began to glow even brighter.

That light seeped into my waistbelt.

"It’s the last of my spirit’s strength. I hope it helps you along your path."

Sllrp.

My desperate arms, trying to hold on to Igrain, passed right through her.

My hands grasped nothing but air.

Igrain’s body began to rise into the air.

She smiled radiantly.

"Rain, please smile for me. Your smile is the most beautiful thing. You’ll grant me this one last wish, won’t you?"

Forcing my lips to curl up, I tried to smile.

"This isn’t goodbye."

Through my tear-blurred vision...

"Live in that world. Live happily."

So Igrain wouldn’t see me cry as our last moment together.

"Seulbi."

The green light.

The light of the spirits.

It engulfed the entire World Tree.

---

Rain.

Seulbi.

The kind child.

The strong hero.

The one who loves this world.

This isn’t goodbye.

We will meet again in another form.

As long as you continue to watch over this place.

As long as you continue to love this world.

---

Surrounded by the warm green light that embraced me before disappearing...

I cried my heart out.

---

When we emerged from the center of the World Tree, the elf kingdom came into view.

The trunk of the World Tree was like a hill unto itself.

"Wow."

I let out an exclamation.

The branches of the World Tree had regained their vitality, and the leaves were in full bloom. They emitted a gentle green light, fluttering through the air, scattering across the elves’ homeland, and riding the wind far beyond.

"Rain, look over there."

At the edge of the elf kingdom, where the border of the frost and verdant greenery met.

The green hue of the trees, filled with life, was gradually spreading.

"It’s returning to normal."

I felt like I was in a dream as I gazed at the forest of the elves, slowly regaining its natural form.

Ssshh.

I felt warmth in my hand.

A slightly larger hand, holding my tiny one tightly.

"..."

I looked up at Chris, who had a teary expression and a pout on her face.

"Why are you crying, sis?"

"I don’t know, sob."

Chris kept wiping her eyes.

I gently pulled my hand from hers, spun around, and looked at the beautiful forest.

"Sis, I’m hungry. Let’s log out and go eat."

"Rain...!"

I couldn’t see her face since I had turned my back, but I could hear the emotion in Chris’s voice.

"You’re hungry, right? What should we eat? Do we have any side dishes left... or should we go shopping? Or should we order chicken?"

"Chicken? Sounds great. But today, I want to eat at the restaurant instead of ordering delivery."

I turned back around, hands behind my back, smiling brightly at Chris. Then, overcome with excitement for the divine dish of chicken, I bounced up and down in place. Chris burst into laughter at my reaction.

As we were talking and joking, I saw a familiar figure swiftly moving up the trunk of the World Tree.

"Palman!"

"Hmph, why are you here?"

I waved at him cheerfully, and Chris scoffed in response.

Thump.

With a light leap, he landed on the trunk where we stood.

Palman looked at me and widened his eyes slightly.

"Hero... Your face has changed a lot."

"Huh?"

I raised my hand and touched my face.

What does he mean? It seems the same as always.

I tugged on Chris’s sleeve, bringing her face closer. I leaned my face close to hers.

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"Sis, is there something on my face?"

"Gasp...! R-Rain! Too close!"

Chris gasped and closed her eyes tightly, squirming in confusion. Watching her, I turned my attention back to Palman.

"So, what brings you here?"

"There’s something to celebrate at home. I’d like you to join us."

---

Tap, tap.

Palman’s home was nestled close to the World Tree.

As we approached his cozy house, tucked between the massive roots of the World Tree and covered with leaves, we heard a strange sound.

Waaah! Waaah!

"Gasp."

"It’s a baby crying."

Chris whispered in my ear.

When we entered the house with Palman, we saw a bed.

"Oh, welcome. I’ve heard a lot about you from my husband. Little adventurer."

A female elf with radiant green hair sat on the bed, looking tired but happy, cradling a bundle.

She bowed her head to me.

"I’m Palman’s wife. Thank you for saving the elves, adventurers from the stars."

"A-Ahem. It was nothing."

Chris coughed awkwardly, turning her head.

I walked closer to Palman’s wife.

Then, I looked into the bundle she was holding.

A baby.

A baby elf with long ears, nestled in her arms.

I felt a strange sensation.

This world.

The continent of Astria, which appeared before my eyes as a game.

Even in such a world, life is still being born.

Looking at the baby elf, I couldn’t help but smile.

The baby elf’s hair was as soft as downy fur.

Pure white, like snowflakes.

"Hehe, she’s adorable, isn’t she? She’s a princess."

Behind me, as Palman

’s wife and I gazed at the baby, Palman spoke.

"For a thousand years, the lineage of the World Tree’s priestesses was cut off. But now, the princess with white hair, our child, has been born."

I turned to look at Palman.

A male elf who couldn’t become a priest.

He was smiling.

His face was filled with pride, emotion.

And the look of a father.

"There’s a tradition among elves. We ask our benefactors to name the first child."

Palman’s wife handed me the baby.

"Would you name our child?"

"Hehe!"

The baby laughed happily in my arms.

---

Memories of my noisy comrades came flooding back.

The woman who always looked at me with a warm smile.

Now, I’m the big Rain.

I looked down at the baby in my arms.

And I called out her name.

"Igrain."