Final Chapter: Beyond Time and Space

☆68 The Last Adventure ① 

Before ascending the throne as king, there was something I absolutely had to do. 

I mean, think about it—once I’m king, I won’t be able to go on adventures freely anymore, right? Anything remotely dangerous will be immediately forbidden. 

Sure, I plan to delegate all the political stuff to the capable people around me and live as lazily as possible. But if I can’t even take a little trip to kill time, that would honestly suck. 

There will probably be official visits abroad, surrounded by guards. But that kind of travel won’t let me truly experience the world. 

That’s why—right now, before it’s too late—I need to go to that place. 

I want to put my lingering regrets to rest. 

I want to see it with my own eyes. 

The very depths of the Great Southern Chasm. 

Before I even realized it, I was gripping my phone-like device. I pressed the button that connected me to Lilith without hesitation. 

◆◆◆

After pushing through the objections of those around me—though not without being forced to sign a written pledge stating, “This will be the last time,”—I finally got permission for the journey. 

Of course, Elysia was coming along as well. 

—Would this count as a sort of pre-marriage honeymoon? 

Aside from the driver, the carriage was empty. 

Until we met up with Lilith, it would be just the two of us. 

The moment we got into the carriage, Elysia clung to me. She was acting all affectionate. 

Hey, where did your usual dignity go…? 

The driver can hear everything, you know. 

I couldn’t shake my embarrassment and ended up acting more distant than usual. As a result, Elysia quickly became sulky. 

…Alright. I’ll make it up to her when we’re alone. 

Yeah, that sounds like a plan. 

—As we traveled south from Celestia, the fertile lands of the Soldia Kingdom spread out before us. Nostalgia filled my heart. Nothing had changed. 

Lush tropical plants thrived under the sun, vibrant flowers blooming in a dazzling display. A sweet floral fragrance drifted through the breeze. It pleasantly tickled my nose. 

Our destination was still far away. 

But this time, we had a powerful advantage. 

Our carriage was equipped with magical tools infused with wind magic. It boosted our speed far beyond our previous journey. 

The horses also wore enchanted accessories that prevented fatigue. It allowed them to move tirelessly. 

The scenery outside the window blurred past. It was reminiscent of the view from a train in my previous life. 

Feeling a little hungry, I took a bite of a sandwich I had bought in a town we passed through. 

The aroma of toasted bread mixed with the rich flavors of the filling. It brought a sense of satisfaction. 

Beside me, Elysia had fallen asleep. Her head was resting on my shoulder. 

Her peaceful expression made me instinctively soften my gaze. 

…It was peaceful. 

The chaos of recent events felt like a distant memory. 

The fierce battle against Alexis—had that really happened? 

This moment felt so calm, so slow, that I almost couldn’t believe it. 

Wrapped in this comforting silence, another day of travel passed without incident. 

◆◆◆

It was the evening of the tenth day since leaving Celestia. It was when we arrived at the southern island, bustling with tourists. 

The sky was painted in shades of crimson. The marketplace was alive with colorful seafood stalls and sizzling grills. The air was filled with laughter and lively conversations. It made the entire island feel like a festival. 

First, we headed to the hotel to drop off our luggage. 

Lilith and the others were set to arrive the next day. 

But my mind was already focused on something else— 

“Last time, I never got to enjoy this.” 

Muttering to myself, I stepped into the lively street of food stalls. 

At a stall displaying fresh sashimi, slices of tuna and octopus gleamed under the lantern light. 

A skilled chef expertly filleted fish. They plated them one after another. 

Elysia watched with an expression as if she were witnessing something grotesque—but I ignored it. 

“Come on, just try it. You’ll be surprised.” 

I offered her a plate with a piece of what looked like tuna. 

“I have never eaten raw fish before…” 

“Don’t knock it till you try it.” 

Demonstrating, I drizzled something resembling soy sauce over my own piece and popped it into my mouth. 

As I bit down, a firm, springy texture and deep umami flavor spread through my tongue. 

“Damn… this is good.” 

A wave of nostalgia washed over me. 

This taste, this texture— 

Even in our well-equipped town, we had never managed to recreate this kind of soy sauce flavor. 

Seeing me devour my sashimi with such enjoyment, Elysia seemed to grow curious. 

She hesitantly picked up a piece, pinching it between her fingers, and brought it to her mouth. 

The moment she tasted it— 

“This is…!” 

Her face lit up with pure delight. 

“See? Good, right?” 

“Yes, I have never tasted anything like this before—it’s so unique.” 

She took another piece. She savored it with wide, fascinated eyes. 

“Trying new things is important, isn’t it?” 

Smiling, she added, 

“This moment—this exact moment—I will remember forever.”