Chapter 241

Epilogue (3)

Even though they are far away, my roses are keeping their place. That brought me unbearable regret, responsibility, and warm longing.

When I closed my eyes, I enjoyed the scenery of the memories that flowed out and I opened my eyes again.

I tapped Ricdorian’s arm with my finger.

“Then, shall we go out?”

The price of having to spend all of my life here. But ironically, God not only sent Ricdorian with me, but also did not completely cut me off from the other world.

Sometimes it was questionable. I considered returning to my world more like a price, a punishment.

The more I look back, the more I think it’s not just that.

The moment I said this, the mirror rattled violently once. Then it vomited something like it had vomited a letter from Francia before.

This time it was not an envelope, but a neatly folded note.

It is not the parchment of the other world, but the modern one of this world now. I unfolded the paper, checked the contents, and arranged my clothes.

“Shall we go?”

Before I knew it, Ricdorian, who was wearing clothes too, followed me. In his arms was Pudding, who had turned into a cat.

They always fight, but at times like this, Pudding was always calm in his arms.

I smiled to myself and left the house. It was a pretty far outing after a long time.

***

I said it was a pretty far outing, but the place we arrived at was a park about three stops away from my house.

Perhaps feeling good in the cool air, the guardian deity of the Blue Rose within me let out a song-like cry.

‘Feeling good?’

When I talk quietly, the blue energy wraps around me like a wave and then sweeps me down. It was the way the guardian deity answered me.

‘Next time, when I come out at dawn or at night, I’ll take you out too. Whistle.’

I gave the name of my guardian deity ‘Whistle’ because it always sings a cheerful whistle-like song when I am in a good mood.

Ricdorian was away from me for a while while taking Pudding for a walk.

The 4-year-old guardian deity was wearing a leash and was enjoying a walk in the form of a cat.

It’s funny, but since that guardian deity can only be a cat, I sometimes hear that cats shouldn’t be taken for a walk by people passing by.

So our walks were rare at dawn or at night.

It was under my words that caused the two beings who would normally never separate from me to separate for a moment.

No, I guess they’re used to it now.

I sat on a bench and looked at the deep blue sky. I felt it in the morning too, but the sky was blue enough to make it look like it could pour out the river.

“The air is nice.”

As I muttered, I felt someone sitting next to me. When I glanced around, the figure of a small grandmother was at the end of my gaze.

She was an ordinary old woman with a slightly curved back, colorful green pants with small flower patterns, a cart made of black wire, and a hat for mountain climbing.

I can see about eight out of ten people like this if I go for a walk through the traditional market.

I put on a puzzled look.

“Why do you always show up like that? I’m surprised.”

Then the grandmother smiled kindly through her wrinkled face. Just as she smiles, her wrinkles are fully dug.

“Isn’t this the least surprising thing? Hoho.”

“It’s not like that when I think of the inside.”

I shook my head.

“Isn’t that right, God?”

I asked, looking at God in the form of a small grandmother.

To be precise, to the God who sent me here from the other world.

The grandmother, no. God, in the form of a grandmother, just laughed. Having already met several times, I shrugged my shoulders as I knew that this was a kind of hobby.

“But why are you always like that? Last time you were pregnant, before that you were a 3-year-old girl.”

Her wrinkled face looked real no matter which side I looked at. Well. This would be natural.

“Haha. Didn’t you hear that? Student. God is in the form of the weakest…….”

“Don’t call me Student.”

What’s the point of calling me that when I’m not a student? I replied casually, and a smile returned from the other side.

“I was careless. Forgive this old lady.”

“Huh, you’re incredibly sincere in your role…….”

This was the third meeting with God. The first meeting was to give us a place to live after coming here and what we needed to live in the future.

In the second meeting, God showed the last mercy so that letters could come and go from the other world. That’s why I’m not sure what the meaning of today’s meeting is.

Now, it’s not like I can go back because my lifespan is suddenly over. At the first meeting, God already gave me a rough idea of how long I would live here.

In other words, it could be said to be the average lifespan of a human being, perhaps a little longer than that.

Ah, I thought that if I had lived here as usual, I would have lived a pretty long life as well.

Who would have known that this longevity would be an obstacle? In particular, this lifespan, in other words, fate, was created by the person who manages this world, so according to the rules, it should not be touched.

I thought there were a lot of rules to follow for the so-called Absolute God. No, perhaps God must keep and protect this major premise.

Putting aside the unsuitable philosophical concerns, I stared at God.

“So why did you ask to see me?”

I only blinked once, but before I knew it, there was a little girl in front of me. Maybe she was 8 years old. She had the appearance of an age in which a square school bag would suit her.

Oh, did God change because my reaction to the grandmother was bad?

“I came to see you. Can I not?”

“…… You know that way of speaking really doesn’t match the way you look right now, right?”

“Hmm, is that so? I know you’re not inclined to be obsessed with things like this.”

“That’s true, but I feel a sense of alienation.”

“Well. I thought you liked children. Is it wrong? Hmm?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you like a child like this?”

I looked closely at God’s appearance. Even though it was dark, she had long, wavy hair, rough cheeks, and big eyes.

…… Is it young Francia?

Of course, it was a little younger, but if Francia was made into an Asian, she would look like this.

Huh, when I let out a sigh, God innocently tilted her head.

Then, God’s appearance changed once more. This time, it was a high school student wearing a school uniform. This time, I thought of someone who makes me feel the same thing as Francia.

“The student next door?”

“I think you like this one these days?”

…… Are you a stalker>

“I hope you don’t show that you are watching my every move like that.”

I’m not going to tell you not to do something you won’t stop doing anyway, so I just hope you don’t show it off. I said it in such a way.

“Why, don’t you feel that way? Huh? Alright, alright. I should have this kind of fun in my lonely daily life.”

“Actually, it’s not even fun, is it?”

God’s laughing eyes stopped for a moment. The bright eyes immediately rolled to one side. The place God looks sideways to is none other than the side where Ricdorian is.

“How is he doing these days?”

God put an arm on the lap, rested her chin on it, and grinned. That question had nothing to do with my question.

This is how God expresses intention not to answer.

“Is he doing well?”

“As you can see.”

I shrugged. As God did, I also glanced towards Ricdorian.

Ricdorian was just preventing Pudding from grazing. Eating grass won’t do Pudding any harm like a normal cat, though. It was funny because he was clumsy in admonishing him as if he was raising a real cat. He looked lovely like a green sprout that popped its head in spring.

Did I laugh without even realizing it? I felt a clear gaze and turned my head to see God looking at me.

No, maybe this is an observation.

“Huh, you look happy.”

“That’s not the question, is it?”

“I’ll say so. So, do you have any questions?”

Instead of answering God’s question, I took one look and clicked my tongue in a low voice. Then I took off the jacket that I was wearing.

“…… If you’re going to look like that, at least act like your appearance.”

I sighed deeply as I covered God’s lap with my jacket. It’s winter now. What is with the bare legs under the school uniform? On top of it, sitting cross-legged with a short skirt.

God had a strange expression.

“As expected, you’re merciful. Is it because you are the largest piece?”

“If this is mercy, I must have already passed into nirvana? Am I Buddha?”

There was a laugh at my silly joke.

“So what are you curious about?”

If God asks this, it is probably asking after I had guessed everything. In fact, at the first meeting, I asked a lot of questions, but God didn’t answer at that time.

Will there be a different answer now?

I asked, even though I was dubious.

“…… How much is the difference between time over there and here, and how does it flow?”

This was a question I had already asked but never heard an answer to.

This also applies to incoming and outgoing letters, as they couldn’t mark the time on the letters, and even if they marked them, they arrived with it being erased.

I also didn’t know how much time had passed. I just know that it’s been quite a while.

“Time goes by, of course. Because I wanted you to leave the other world as it is. Are you curious about the consequences of your choices?”

The observing eyes were fixed on me once again. God imitates a human being, but with deep eyes that a student of that age cannot contain.

It was an unfathomable depth, as is the meaning of God’s existence.

“This might mess you up. Are you still curious?”

“Yes, I am curious.”

God spent a few more moments observing, then spoke.

“Time is much faster this way. That might be a relief for you.”

God smiled.

“But even so, by the time you go back, the humans you know will be very old or not have left, right?”

“This place is faster, so why?”

“Time is fast on this side right now, but at some point it slows down on this side. Still, it’s usually faster this way.”

God’s eyes did not fall from me.

“But the remaining roses over there, the beings you reap, are tied to you, so they won’t age. As time goes by, more and more people will find this strange or reject it.”

God was telling me that this was the result of my choice.

“They weren’t the roses of your generation, they weren’t the ones you should reap.”

“Yes.”

I meekly agreed.

“I chose knowingly. And my roses knew everything and still chose it, right?”

“….. ”

“Me.”

For some reason, God did not spit out lies. Only kept silent now Therefore, God’s silence was an affirmation.

“Then that’s fine.”

I could laugh because everything is fine

“Because I decided to give up everything and give everything to those who chose me.”