[637] The Final Gate (3)
Electricity could banish darkness, too, but even that was only darkness before Shirone's light.
Nade couldn't withstand that sanctity that seemed to cradle the whole world.
Shirone's presence—layered so many times it defied counting—was a kind of terror Nade had never known, even in his magic-assimilation state.
That terror, twined with his anger, pushed his magical output to a new record.
"Uaaaah!"
System 2000 overloaded and the Coliseum's lights flickered.
The sudden dimness deepened everyone's unease; the jittery sensed a catastrophe and trembled.
"This is a ridiculous graduation exam."
If it had been only Nade or only Shirone, System 2000—built with the kingdom's finest technology—wouldn't have been pushed this far.
But both were now logging values beyond comprehension, and no one could say whether the system could handle their collision.
'You don't know, Shirone.'
Rootless from the start, Shirone didn't know what it meant for a root to rot.
The paradoxical pain of being unable to cut it away and unable to leave it be.
"I said I don't knowoooo!"
Arcs of electricity curved through the air and crashed toward Shirone.
"Graaah!"
Dozens of Shirones per second convulsed from the shocks and collapsed.
But the annihilation event kept bubbling like foam, sustaining the fractal boundary.
'Live! Live, Nade!'
The System 2000 bracelet was seconds from destruction, but he did not hesitate.
Quantum Oscillation—Photon Cannon.
The mass wave alone turned the annihilation's shock into anti-magic and battered Nade's mind.
'This won't put out my anger!'
If his anger could be extinguished, wouldn't a life spent clinging only to that anger be a pitiable thing?
Magic Assimilation—Thunder-God Rebirth.
"Kraaah!"
Nade didn't bother restraining the flood of魔力; he emptied himself. The Thunder God's form braided into tens of thousands of tendrils and shot toward Shirone.
-Warning! Warning! System overload. System 2000 will shut down. Remaining time: 10 seconds. 9 seconds...
"Damn it!"
As differing energies crossed, half the audience leapt to their feet; the analysts severed the main system and prepared for the worst.
'Look closely! My anger! My monstrous self!'
It felt like Nade's cry from within.
'Nade, I know how hard it's been.'
Anger grows by devouring human hope; once it takes hold, you lose sight of what truly matters.
'But... we're almost there now.'
At least Nade hadn't given up.
He clung to the faint light that maybe—someday—he could fly free, holding on with a rope clenched in his teeth for parents who would never return.
'You have us now! So—!'
The quantum oscillation that had been consumed by the Thunder-God Rebirth returned, and the flash swelled back to its original scale.
"Live! Nade!"
As if nothing could stop it, the flash descended and Nade opened his mouth in wonder.
"Ah...."
The sacred light began to push back the anger of magic assimilation.
'Ah—Shirone.'
Shirone's blood tears turned into clear liquid.
'You are beautiful.'
So luminous.
'So I... want to be friends with you...'
The massive light flared and expanded, erasing Nade's figure entirely.
After a long silence, as if the world had been born anew, everyone in the Coliseum slowly opened their eyes.
The prolonged streak of light made the whole ordeal feel dreamlike, and then—because it felt real—System 2000 shut down.
With the guidance voice gone, people finally came to their senses and looked over the battlefield.
"There—there!"
At the center of the Coliseum Nade lay sprawled; at a distance, Shirone watched, panting.
When the crowd realized the graduation exam was over, a hot swell rose in their chests.
"Waaaah!"
Shouts erupted and people jumped to their feet; a standing ovation rippled through the Coliseum.
"Shirone! Shirone! Shirone!"
Shirone's name rang out across Creas City; not once did anyone cry Nade's name.
'So that's how it is...'
Even if you weep blood tears, scream like a monster over a hard life, the world does not care.
-Fight to the end! Struggle to the very end!
Did Shirone already know that?
Was that why he shouted so desperately, even while understanding how helpless the situation was?
"Nade."
Shirone, still on his knees, lifted his head.
No one knew exactly when System 2000 had failed, and the anti-magic impact had surely been immense.
"Nade!"
Shirone couldn't stand; his limbs flailed as he crawled toward Nade.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Nade."
When his single-minded focus on the exam broke, emotion finally washed over him.
He sobbed, and then Nade's chest heaved.
"Kukuk, kukukuk."
Nade pushed himself up, wearing a self-mocking expression just as Shirone stared blankly.
"What the hell, and I still lost after that?"
He had expelled everything from his magic assimilation, having turned his back on friends, family, even his own life.
He had thought he could destroy anything in the world if he set his mind to it, so being stopped by Shirone felt absurd and humiliating.
"Nade, are you okay?"
Nade looked at the sniffling Shirone for a moment, then looked away.
'What right do I have...'
He hadn't even mustered the courage to claim the name "friend"; he'd shown his bare face without that resolve.
System 2000 rebooted and the guidance voice finally played.
-West Nade. Final graduation ranking confirmed: runner-up.
The audience fell silent.
-Alpheas School of Magic graduation top scorer: Arian Shirone. Transmitting data of all 30 participants to the Red Line.
"Sweetheart, our son..."
Vincent and Olina stood dumbfounded, spent of the energy to be surprised.
This had been the fiercest graduation exam in the kingdom's history; the crowd took time to work through their emotions.
"Rian, did you hear? Did you just hear that?"
Reina patted her younger brother's shoulder and turned, sensing something off; Rian clenched his fists and trembled.
He was a child.
Annoyingly bold enough to threaten to tell on sword instructor Kite when he hid in the library, brilliant enough to land a killing blow with a wooden sword he'd never held, principled enough to beat someone in a real duel—this boy was Shirone.
-Take responsibility for what you must.
What better words could capture his character?
-But you don't have to take responsibility for things you shouldn't.
The heart has no regrets about the path it chooses.
-Even if I die, I wouldn't regret becoming your friend.
That boy was Shirone.
"Shiroooone!"
Rian shouted with all his might.
"Let's go! Out into the world!"
Rian's voice echoed through the Coliseum and the audience rose and applauded.
"You're the best! Pride of the Tormia Kingdom!"
"You'll be a great mage for sure!"
It was so loud that nearby voices were drowned out. Miro and Poltar, who had only just met, hugged each other and leapt as if embarrassed.
"Kyaa! He's the top! Shirone's the valedictorian!"
"I told you! I knew he'd do it! My eye for talent wasn't wrong! Oh—wait!"
Poltar, celebrating like it was his own victory, rummaged through his bag and scribbled impressions in his notebook.
Miro watched Shirone shyly bowing to the praise and felt a twinge of sadness.
'He's ready.'
System 2000 didn't make combat any easier than the real thing, but there was a definite gap between simulation and reality.
If every spell from the graduation exam had collided in real life, the outcome might have been different.
But everyone fought under the same conditions, and no test was more rigorous; that was why Miro felt sorrow.
'Shirone, from today you're the kingdom's top student. But that means you'll bear a heavier burden.'
The world Shirone must fight in will be a brutal chaos far worse than the exam.
'Congratulations. And I'm sorry.'
As one who helped raise Shirone, Miro could already see what he would have to face.
'It'll be hell. You won't want to endure it. You will shed blood tears, Shirone.'
Even without preaching the duties of the strong, humanity will stand at the brink of ruin, and Shirone, as part of the whole, will have to lead them.
'So enjoy today to the fullest. It's your day.'
Miro finally smiled and turned, and a bald, middle-aged man approached.
"You were here, Miro. I didn't recognize you with the hood."
It was Enrique, Fermi's father.
"Oh ho, you came because he's your son at least?"
"This year felt different. But he failed."
"How unfortunate. Did you see Fermi?"
"He left without a word. He might try again next year, or he might quit school."
Fermi was an asset Miro couldn't afford to lose.
"Don't worry. He never makes decisions that cost him. Annoying, but reliable."
If he was Olga's son, they could trust him.
"Hmm, Miro, huh. Where have I heard that...! Well, Miro indeed!"
Poltar's eyes widened and he shouted.
He couldn't know about the panel of twenty judges, but Miro's renown as one of the world's greatest talents was unforgettable.
Poltar trembled as Miro puffed her cheeks and tapped her index finger to her face; she draped an arm around his shoulder.
"The mood's perfect—let's get a drink. And you're buying, sir."
"...Are you really Miro? You don't look a day older. What on earth have you been doing?"
"Hohoho! If I told you, you'd faint. Enrique, shall we?"
Enrique shook his head and followed, asking as he walked,
"Aren't you going to meet Shirone?"
"No, it's fine."
Miro glanced back toward the Coliseum exit.
"We'll meet on higher ground."
Amid the unending applause, Shirone held out his hand to Nade.
"Nade, can you stand?"
Nade snorted and turned his face away.
"Forget it. Don't think of me as your friend. I don't deserve it."
"That kind of talk..."
Shirone frowned and was about to reply when—
"You! Say it properly!"
Iruki ran up and smacked Nade on the head.
"Ow! Why'd you hit me!"
Nade turned and Iruki jabbed a finger at his face.
"Why'd you attack me twice! Was it on purpose?"
Nade blinked, then scowled.
"I don't know! Maybe your face invited the punch! I was already in a bad mood—stop sticking your nose in."
Iruki narrowed his eyes.
"What's there to be upset about? You say you don't care, and yet you still got runner-up."
Thinking better of it, Nade looked back at Shirone.
"Anyway, don't forgive me. From today I'm leaving the trio."
This time Shirone whacked him on the head.
"Hey! Stop it, seriously!"
"Because it's maddening! A friend isn't someone who won't fight! Friends fight and then make up! Don't you have that little trust in me?"
Nade clenched his teeth and lowered his head, sorrowful.
"I just... can't forgive myself. I don't know why I did it."
"Taking life seriously matters, but—"
Iruki put a hand on Nade's shoulder.
"You don't have to be so serious all the time. It's over now. Just shake it off and go."
Did he deserve that?
As he wondered, Shirone reached out again and smiled.
"Let's go eat, Nade."