The moment the last fist connected, he understood — it was over.
As if to prove it, Chrono's body crumbled and fell.
Ermes caught him with what strength he had left, and in that same instant, it all became clear. Ermes's final blow had not only shattered Chrono's power — it had extinguished the last flickering flame of his life.
"...Ah..."
"It's not your fault."
Leaning against Ermes, Chrono spoke gently.
"My lifespan was never going to be long, having forced the use of Creation Magic in the first place.
...You knew that too, didn't you? That even left alone, my life would have ended before long. You knew — and that's exactly why you arranged for this kind of resolution."
"..."
"I hold absolutely no grudge against you. If anything, I'm grateful. You didn't kill me — you simply indulged my selfishness."
"No, no."
He knew those were words of comfort. That was precisely why Ermes shook his head in denial.
"Even so, I was the one who struck. I was the one who dealt the finishing blow.
I killed you. I must accept that as fact and carve it into myself. That's what I believe."
Ermes had never taken a life before.
Rose had made sure of that. As a precaution — to prevent Ermes, who had lost his emotions and with them the ethical framework they provided, from walking the path of a killer — it had been strictly forbidden.
And so this must have been it. The first time Ermes had intentionally killed someone.
He — Ermes — had killed Chrono. This remarkable being who carried such noble ideals. The only great man in this strange country who had truly maintained an upright sense of values — he had killed him.
And when he thought of that, something flowed naturally from within.
"...Are you crying?"
Chrono, barely able to stand, asked gently. Ermes, aware of the wetness tracing down his cheeks, nodded.
"...I'm sorry. I'm not even sure why I'm crying, but still..."
What emotion had given rise to these tears?
Was he mourning the loss of a wonderful magician, terrified by the sheer weight and enormity of the fact that he had taken that life himself, or was it something else entirely?
Ermes was still too young to put that feeling into clear words.
Chrono must have understood those emotions and that inner conflict perfectly. He didn't press the matter with words of his own; instead, he spoke of something else.
"...There's something I need to give you."
"Wha...?"
To the bewildered Ermes, Chrono murmured something.
Then, from his chest, a light drifted outward—something serene and mysterious, brimming with a mystical hue.
"This is...?"
"The Sixth Creation Magic, '"
◻︎◻︎◻︎◻︎◻︎
.' Something like its foundational form."
It moved from Chrono toward Ermes, and was drawn into his chest.
It settled inside him—or more precisely, within the '
Primal Inscription
' he carried.
"With this, the Creation Magic has been passed on. You may not be able to unlock its true power as you are now... but you, of all people, will reach that realm someday. I'm certain of it."
He had entrusted it to them. To someone with different feelings, to someone who had once been his enemy. That was precisely why it was done with respect — and with hope for the path they would walk.
Ermes absorbed the weight of those words, turning his awareness inward to the Creation Magic that now resided within him.
As if relief finally washed over him that there was truly nothing left to do, he let out a long breath.
"I think... everything that needed to be done has been done. ...Now then, Ermes. This is my last request."
"...Yes."
"Would you take me to Laplace? I'm sorry, but I haven't the strength to take even one more step. He still seems to have his consciousness intact, which is remarkable. In the end, I'd like to speak with him before this is over."
"...Understood."
Ermes acknowledged the request, hoisted Chrono onto his shoulders, and began walking. He settled him down beside Laplace, who was propped against the wall.
True to his word, Laplace still had his consciousness about him, and he watched Ermes's actions with a faint, mocking twist of his lips — yet clearly satisfied.
And so, leaving the two members of the organization behind, Ermes gave a final bow before turning on his heel.
He wiped away his tears, straightened his spine, and above all, did not look back.
Rose walked up to him and spoke.
"Are you done?"
"Yes. The organization has been destroyed here. The battle is over. There is nothing left for me to do in this place.
...The rest is time for just those two."
Ermes finished speaking, and Rose smiled softly.
And just like that, the two of them began walking side by side.
Together with his companions, from the underground to the surface. From a world of deep darkness to a world bathed in light.
From the past, to the future. Because that is the duty of the victors.
The children who had wished for a future faded away into the light.
Next chapter: the story of Laplace and Chrono. I hope you'll give it a read!
I've also started a new series on another site!
'The Mediocre Second-Place Nobody Who Gets Mocked as an Idiot Somehow Beats Out His Childhood Friend to Join a Genius High Schooler VTuber Unit'
A hot-blooded creative youth story about a (self-proclaimed) mediocre boy who could never reach first place no matter what he did, getting scouted by a genius beautiful-girl streamer.
It's got everything — youthful romance, sweet comeuppance, and love comedy! It's currently rocketing up the rankings at an all-time best!
There's a link at the bottom of the screen, so together with Creation Magic,
I'd be really happy if you'd give it a read, and a follow ★ rating too……!