Naoki had returned from Naraku.
Standing on the Vimana's deck and seeing that figure descending from the sky, everyone felt relieved.
"Thank goodness it worked..."
"He's finally back too, that worrywart."
"Isn't he always like this?"
The people there were old friends who had known Naoki for at least ten years. They were used to him constantly putting himself in danger and making others worry about him, so their current feelings weren't too turbulent.
More than mere gratitude, it was a feeling of relief and liberation.
If asked why...
"Welcome back."
Morgan approached Naoki, wrapping her arms around his body and hugging him tightly: "Thank you for your hard work, Naoki."
"Yes, I'm back." Naoki raised his hand and straightened Morgan's slightly disheveled hair, then looked at the others: "Are all of you alright?"
"Yes, we have no casualties, Your Highness."
Barghest answered.
"It's just that Britain... the situation now truly cannot be said to be alright."
"I know."
Naoki turned to look at the situation around him.
Vortigern had been annihilated by him. And with its core gone, plus Musashi's slash, the Cursed Worm was now visibly collapsing.
Along with Cernunnos, whose Divine Core had been destroyed by the Holy Lance and annihilated.
In fact, the crisis facing Britain this time had completely ended.
However, in exchange...
All the fairies were annihilated by Naoki. Now, without unlimited Mana, Naoki also couldn't summon them back to revive all the fairies. And under the influence of the Cursed Worm, Britain had also been totally destroyed, leaving only a small portion in the far south. Its area didn't even reach one-twentieth of its original size.
The Fairy Kingdom of Britain had been totally destroyed.
"We failed." Morgan said in a sad tone. "I... since six thousand years ago, have always wanted to protect this island and the fairies. Since two thousand four hundred years ago, I gave up on the fairies, only wanting to protect you and this island with you."
Protected by the Rain Clan six thousand years ago, Morgan had sacrificed six thousand years of hard work and sacrifice for this island.
An exchange that, to others, was completely unequal, but Morgan persisted for thousands of years like yesterday. And now, this sacrifice was also useless.
The thing to protect was destroyed, the object to protect vanished.
From Cernunnos's appearance to the end of all current battles, it had only lasted about one full hour.
"Naoki, I... am ready to complete my mission."
Morgan suddenly said.
Naoki was shocked: "Mission... the Fairy of Paradise mission?"
"Yes, delayed for six thousand years, now it's time to complete it."
The Fairy of Paradise mission had two parts. One of them was to ring the six pilgrimage bells, making the fairies realize their sins. This had been completed by Morgan multiple times before Naoki came to this world.
And the second was to forge the Star Holy Sword.
Go to the Inner Sea of the Stars, using everything she experienced as material, sacrificing everything to forge the Star Holy Sword—this was not just forging a sword, but starting the forging from its concept.
Because this Lostbelt had no concept of the Holy Sword. Although Naoki came, he had once dedicated the Holy Sword to the world, but now the Holy Sword had returned to his hand. This Lostbelt returned to a state without the Holy Sword.
So, first, the concept of the Holy Sword must be established, and only then can the Holy Sword be forged. And as the price for establishing the concept, Morgan would disappear completely.
"Thank you for your hard work over the past two thousand four hundred years, Naoki, for always accompanying me." Morgan gripped Naoki's hand. "I always knew you hated this island, hated the fairies so much. You destroyed the fairies multiple times, massacring the fairies again and again—those things that seemed cruel and heartless were actually what you truly wanted to do. Even if possible, you might have stood by idly when disaster struck."
"But because of my one request, you stood in the position of protecting this island, even discarding your former self and the Holy Sword... Thank you so much, thank you for everything you've done for me, Naoki."
No one there could fully understand Morgan's feelings.
The two thousand four hundred years she spent with Naoki in this Lostbelt, only the two of them could fully understand and feel it—even Melusine, who had lived with them in the same era, could not.
"No, you don't need to do that, Morgan." Naoki gripped Morgan's hand tightly. "It's not over yet, Morgan, we haven't ended. Everything can still be saved."
Raising the Holy Sword he held, Naoki looked at it with a complicated gaze.
The weapon he had discarded for two thousand four hundred years, the power inherited from his most important friend—
"I will save this world you love, Morgan."
After saying that, Naoki released Morgan's hand. Holding the Holy Sword with both hands, he raised it to the sky, as if dedicating it to someone.
Naoki's action changed everyone's expressions.
Without needing anyone to explain, everyone realized what he was thinking.
"Naoki! Stop!"
Aoko hurriedly shouted loudly: "You want to discard everything again!?"
Discarding everything—everything about his Human History self, everything about himself as the Star Holy Sword Bearer... Things he had discarded two thousand four hundred years ago, and now had regained, Naoki was preparing to discard them once more.
"Yes."
Naoki nodded calmly, turning to look at everyone who had surrounded him. After a moment of silence, he showed a slightly regretful expression.
"I'm sorry, friends. I understand your intentions and desires to bring me back to Human History, but on my side... after all, I still want to be on Morgan's side."
"Perhaps this is also the fate of the Star Holy Sword Bearer."
The fate of the Star Holy Sword Bearer was to save the world.
Whether it was the great world of everyone, or the small world of one person, both were objects that must be saved.
So now, Naoki would save the world—save the world only for Morgan alone. Save the world where she was, save the world she loved.
[You want to become a savior only for her?]
Merry's voice sounded.
[That's exactly what you would do, Naoki.]
"Merry... sorry."
[No, no need to apologize. After all, I already expected you would make this decision. I also already discussed it with Morgan beforehand... Let me be frank, Naoki. I have one way.]
[—One way that can save the world in the truest sense.]