Finally, I reached Pantora.
As I stepped down from the carriage, an inexplicable feeling settled over me—like I had known this place all my life.
It was the spiritual bond.
That invisible thread tied me to this land, to Yoichi. That's why it felt so familiar, as if his memories had become part of me.
I walked slowly through the streets. But the Pantora I saw now didn't match the one Yamato had once described to me.
Today's Pantora was vibrant—lush green fields stretched in every direction, swaying gently in the breeze like a sea of emerald. The scent of fresh earth filled the air.
Eventually, I arrived at a house at the edge of the border, perched where the land met the vast sea.
It wasn't large, just a modest two-story home, but it stood with quiet dignity, overlooking the shimmering waves.
As I approached, the front door creaked open and a woman stepped out. She appeared middle-aged, and behind her stood a young girl, peeking out curiously.
"Do you need something here?" the woman asked, her voice cautious but not unkind.
"No... I haven't come with a purpose in the usual sense," I replied. "I'm here to fulfill a wish."
"A wish?"
The sun hung low in the western sky, casting long shadows over the landscape.
"Then... you'll have to wait until the sun goes down," I said quietly.
She paused for a moment, scanning my expression. "I don't know where you've come from or why. You say you're here to fulfill a wish—whose? What wish? Are you... are you Yamato's friend? Or are you here because of him?"
"Yes," I said with a soft nod. "That's exactly why I came. I came to tell you... everything."
Her eyes widened slightly, a storm of emotion rising just beneath the surface.
"He's been missing for many months," she whispered. "We've been so worried... Where is he now? Is he alive? Is he safe?"
"You'll have to wait until the sun sets," I told her gently. "Yamato asked me to do this."
(I'm sorry, Yamato, I thought silently. I had no choice but to lie. I can't explain everything to them—not yet. I want them to hear it from you.)
"Come inside and sit," she offered.
"Thank you, but I'd like to stay outside," I said, gazing at the fading sunlight. "It won't be long now."
I stood quietly, watching the world slip into dusk. Birds flew back to their nests. Stars began to appear one by one, faint yet shimmering in the indigo sky. The rhythmic sound of the sea filled the silence.
The moment had arrived.
I called Yamato's wife and daughter to come outside. The last light of the sun had vanished below the horizon.
Then, I summoned Yamato.
As he appeared, his form glowing faintly in the darkening world, his wife gasped—and tears welled up in her eyes.
His daughter stood frozen for a heartbeat, then cried out, "Father!" and rushed forward, arms outstretched.
"I'm sorry..." Yamato said, his voice trembling. "I've been far away from you. I couldn't come back. I left you and our little girl behind and went in the city so I could earn money... but I couldn't be there when you needed me most. I sent what I could, but I had no time left to see your faces. Forgive me... I've failed as a father."
His eyes glistened. He could hardly speak.
"Why are you saying that?" his wife said, stepping forward, her voice full of emotion. "You did it for us. And now you're here, right in front of us. During the drought, many perished... but your daughter and I survived because of the money you sent. We helped others too. You've given us everything. You have nothing to be sorry for—we are proud of you."
Yamato's lips trembled. "It warms my heart to hear that. But... I'm no longer alive. What you see now is my spirit. I've come only for a brief moment. Mahiru brought me here—to fulfill my final wish."
"What do you mean you're not alive?" his wife asked, her voice cracking with grief.
Yoichi took a deep breath, then shared his story—how he died, how he tried to earn a little more before returning, hoping to give them a better life.
"I just wanted things to go back to the way they were," he said softly. "But fate had other plans…"
"Yamato… take this," I said, handing him a bag— Squit and I had found beneath the waters.
He opened it slowly.
"This… this is the bag where I kept all the money I earned. I dreamed of using this to live a peaceful life with my family. And you found it. You truly found it... Thank you."
He turned to his wife and handed her the bag, his hands trembling.
She clutched it to her chest, tears streaming freely. Their daughter stood by, confused, joyful, then broken-hearted again. The moment she realized her father was a spirit, her small body began to shake—and she, too, wept uncontrollably. Yamato hugged his little girl softly and she started to cry. Her tears fall aparts like the shattered glass started to fall.
Their grief was overwhelming. I felt tears fill my eyes, unable to stop them.
"It's time to say goodbye," Yamato said, his voice quiet but steady. "Live well... both of you."
"I just want to say... thank you for everything," his wife whispered. "Goodbye, my love."
Yamato turned to me.
"Mahiru... you wanted to understand the human mind, didn't you? You wanted to understand the human heart. Let me tell you this—this world is cruel... but I still love it. Because I have people I love. Even if I'm in hell, their words bring peace to my soul. I would fight for them. If they stumble, I'll lift them. If I fall, they will lift me. That's why I'm still in love—with them, with life.
Love gave me strength to keep going. I sacrificed my freedom for my love, and I did so willingly.
Mahiru, go search for love. Learn to see the beauty in people's hearts. Then, life will begin to love you back.
Only when you understand the power of love you will truly understand the human heart and mind.
Love is the most powerful force in this world. If you can master it—you are the strongest of all."
"Thank you, Yamato. For your words… for everything. I'll never forget you."
He smiled faintly.
"I will remember you, my king. You may not see it now, but one day the world will call you by that title—because you were born to wear it. Live long, my king. Farewell."
"Goodbye, Yamato," I said, my heart heavy.
His wife turned to me. "Thank you, Mahiru, for everything. We can never repay you."
"It's alright," I said softly. "Just be well. That was all I came for."
"Please," she said, "Stay with us tonight."
"I can't," I replied. "There's still so much more I need to learn about this world."
She nodded. "Then... safe journey."
"Goodbye."
Humans are the most fascinating beings.
People live clinging to hope. Time shapes them—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Faith gives them the courage to trust others. Yet, each of these can become a double-edged sword.
Hope, while beautiful, can also shatter a man's will to live.
Time, the great sculptor, can lead one astray.
Faith, when broken, can leave a soul in ruins.
Every force has its opposite. Every truth its contradiction.
Love is a pull beyond reason. An invisible force that cannot be seen with the eyes, yet its presence is felt in every heartbeat.
It gives people the strength to carry on.
It keeps them breathing through the storms.
It lights the path when all else fades to darkness.
Because of love, people dare to hope. Because of love, they choose the right path. Because of love, they learn to trust.
I long for that love.
Not just romantic affection, but the kind of love that defines our humanity.
Love is not merely an emotion—it is existence itself.
This world still breathes because love exists within it.
Yes, the world is cruel.
But the antidote to that cruelty… is love.
Even in the harshest times, people hold onto love.
It is the most ancient power, the only true strength born uniquely in the hearts of humans.
I've left Pantora behind.
There's still so much I don't know—so much more I need to understand. But knowledge alone won't carry me forward. I need something else to fuel this journey.
Money.
To travel, to learn, to seek the deeper truths—I need wealth to sustain the path ahead.
Once every year, the grand Festival of Etheria takes place in the Etheria Kingdom. People from all corners of the world gather there—powerful warriors, skilled magicians, noble families. Among the many events, one stands above the rest: the Great Sword Tournament.
There's one man who wins every year, standing unmatched on the battlefield. And the prize? A vast fortune.
I'm going to compete.
If I enter the tournament, I have two clear goals.
First, I'll discover the limits of my current strength.
Second, if I win, I'll claim the prize money.
But it won't be easy—not even close. The strongest fighters from distant lands will gather there. Will I be able to defeat them all?
I will.
If they're strong, then I'll be stronger.
If they burn like fire, then I will rise like water to extinguish them.
Can I defeat them all?
Yes.
I believe in myself. I'm going there… and I'm going to win.
Someone once called me a king.
If I lose, I'd have to bow my head and walk away.
But a king never bows.
It is the world that bows before the king.
If my calculations are correct, the Etheria Festival begins three months from now.
I'm currently in the Coculam region. If I start today, it would take about two months to reach Etheria. But I won't leave immediately. I've just left Pantora behind. My body—and more importantly, my spirit—needs rest.
I'll take two or three days. Then, I begin my march toward destiny.
There is another kind of power in this world, one that rivals magic: money.
If you have money, you can get anything. You can buy anything.
Doors open. Paths clear. Power follows.