Basically, Roman's choice did not come as a surprise to Rozen.
Given Roman's current condition, it was impossible for him to reclaim Solomon's rings.
Not to mention he had already abandoned all the power that came with being Solomon, but even now, with these nine rings, Roman would no longer be able to use them.
After all, the only thing Roman possessed now was the residual mana from the Holy Grail he had won during the Holy Grail War. Other than that, he had nothing left.
By contrast, Rozen—who had absorbed Solomon's power as nourishment and grown strong upon it—could naturally use Solomon's rings.
As long as he wore all nine rings on his hand, even without the forged tenth ring, they would be able to communicate spiritually with Miracle and unleash the full power of all ten rings.
At that time, Rozen would be able to nullify any magecraft in the world and draw all of it under his command, becoming the second King of Magecraft after Solomon himself.
That was why, after Goetia was annihilated, these rings had flown into Rozen's hands on their own—equivalent to acknowledging him as their new master.
So, whether considering his own circumstances or the bond between himself and Rozen, Roman was always going to entrust these rings to him.
"Perhaps, like the tenth ring, they may fuse with your soul, cause a chemical reaction, undergo a qualitative transformation, and ultimately evolve into a power comparable to Miracle—it's not impossible."
That was what Roman said to Rozen.
In response, Rozen nodded.
"Alright then, I'll accept them."
This was something Rozen had already prepared himself for.
Although, to him, the rings were of little use. Even relying only on the power of Cleansing, Rozen could already achieve what Solomon's rings had done—nullifying all magecraft and even true magic in the world, bringing them all under his command. Compared to Solomon's rings, the effect was undoubtedly stronger, never weaker.
Still, as Roman had said, who knew whether these rings might also fuse with Rozen's soul like the tenth ring once had, producing a violent metamorphosis and becoming something comparable to Miracle?
After all, the true reason the tenth ring had transformed into the transcendent, world-defying power known as Miracle had always been Rozen himself.
Because his affinity with Solomon's rings was simply too high, and because he had absorbed all of Solomon's power as nourishment, his soul and the ring had merged, creating an unforeseen chemical reaction. Only then had the tenth ring evolved into Miracle.
If the tenth ring could do this, then the remaining nine might not be incapable of the same.
Perhaps by absorbing and fusing with them, Rozen could cultivate a new miracle—it wasn't impossible.
Of course, aside from that, Rozen also accepted the rings to draw a full stop on Roman's life as Solomon.
"This way, you'll truly become human, no longer Solomon, big brother."
Leaving those words behind, Rozen turned and prepared to leave.
"Rozen!"
Watching this, Roman couldn't help but call after him.
Rozen, of course, understood what Roman was feeling now.
He was surely still burdened by the past—by the fact that he had stolen away Rozen's happiness.
But Rozen's answer remained unchanged.
"I've never felt happier than I do now."
Rozen gave Roman a carefree smile, then walked away decisively, not allowing him the chance to hold him back.
Roman stared blankly after him, as if still seeing that carefree smile right before his eyes, and once again his vision grew wet with tears.
Only in this moment did the last trace of hesitation in Roman's heart disappear.
From this day on, Solomon would exist no more.
Only the man named Romani Archaman would continue to live in this world—until, like any ordinary human, he reached the end of his life.
…
Meanwhile, after leaving Roman's room, Rozen did not return to his own quarters, nor to the central command room still filled with joyous celebration. Instead, he headed straight toward Chaldea's gates.
Not the inner gates leading deeper into the facility, but the outer gates—the ones that opened to the world outside.
"Fou! Fou!"
From some corner, Fou scampered out, cheerfully crying as it leapt onto Rozen's shoulder, nuzzling his cheek.
"You want to do the same thing I do, don't you, little guy?"
Rozen kept walking as he reached out and tapped Fou's little head with a finger.
"Fou!"
Fou answered with a bright cry, as if in agreement.
Right now, man and beast both wished for the same thing.
To leave Chaldea—and see the world outside.
"Before I used Miracle to open the door to other worlds and embark on an endless journey, I had never once set foot outside Chaldea."
As a test-tube baby born in Chaldea, Rozen had only been given a second chance at life through an inexplicable miracle that saved him from early death.
Before that, he had only ever been permitted to move within Chaldea's walls. Like Mash before meeting Roman, he had spent his life confined to sterile rooms and laboratories. How could he ever have seen the world outside?
But now, with human order restored and human history repaired, and with today being one of those rare clear days outside Chaldea's snowy peaks—if not now, then when?
Rozen felt a burning urge to see the sky of this world with his own eyes. Even Fou understood that desire.
Together, man and beast stepped out of Chaldea—only to find someone else had already arrived before them.
"Mash?"
Rozen stopped, startled.
"Senpai?"
Mash, who had been staring blankly at the sight before her, turned at the sound of his voice.
The moment she turned, even Rozen was briefly dazed.
For the sight before him was simply too beautiful.
Beyond Chaldea stretched a vast expanse of snow and ice, running to the edge of the far mountains.
Mash stood there, a trail of footprints behind her, bathed in dazzling sunlight beneath the clear blue sky. The sunlight wrapped her slender figure in a golden veil.
In that moment, the scene of the girl turning back seemed impossibly beautiful.
Not to mention, Mash's delicate face still carried traces of joy and emotion.
Of course she was moved.
"I should have realized—the one who most wanted to see Chaldea's blue sky outside was you."
Coming back to his senses, Rozen first smiled in understanding, then gave a wry smile.
He remembered how many times Mash had gazed from Chaldea's hallways out at the blizzards and snowy vistas, hoping one day to see the blue sky she had never known.
Now, that dream had finally been fulfilled. How could she not be here?
For it wasn't just Rozen who had never left Chaldea. The same was true of his adorable junior.
Suppressing his emotions, Rozen stepped forward to join Mash's side.