Chương 188: Chapter 67: "And Thus, Feelings Were Entrusted"

Mom was gone. But the memories of that time were not over yet. Left alone, Lewis stared at the small black box containing Mom's gun for a while. He murmured with resolute eyes.

'... Yuna said that, but. I'll return that someday when she comes again. Aiming for a world where such things are not used is the task for us living in this world.' Then, he speaks gently to the"Lilna" waiting by his side.

'Come. Lilna. Let's continue the research on Natura.' It seems time skipped again there. Lewis seems to be holed up in the laboratory as usual. With a severe stoop, he was tackling the desk as if grappling with it. Approaching him. Perhaps he had gone through a lot of hardships. Several indelible wrinkles were carved on his forehead. Gray hairs mixed in here and there suggest the passage of considerable time. Before long, he let out a long breath, Fuu, and muttered to himself. His face looked somewhat satisfied.

'Has it been twenty years since then? Finally, Natura have started to appear in general households. There are even plans to create Homunculi as similar products, fearing not even God.' He suddenly turns his gaze to the right. Following his gaze— In the back, there was"Lilna".

"She" was strictly stored in a transparent case at the end of the room. She has almost become her current appearance. The only slight difference is that she isn't wrapped in armor-like armaments. And the tips of her limbs are not combat-use platinum material, but semi-biological material exactly like a human's appearance. Lewis was directing a warm gaze like a parent at"Her".

'Lilna. The next time I move you, it will be when I unveil you to Yuna and Yu.'

"I was already completed..." Lilna stares at her past self with a complex expression. Lewis shrugged his shoulders, saying "good grief."

'Good grief. She hasn't come to see me at all since then. I hope she's doing well...' There is no way for Lewis to know the circumstances. That Mom is probably no longer in this world. Thinking that he, knowing nothing, is still worrying about Mom with hope of reunion. I feel terribly unbearable.

'Well, fine. I'll do what I can and wait anytime. Now, let's continue the research. The energy problem still has piles of issues.' Time skipped again. This time, Lewis was terribly emaciated. The research desk was so scattered that there was no place to put things. The floor is also cluttered. In his right hand was a liquor bottle.

'... In the end, I couldn't stop it. War has started again.' Flushing red, he slams the desk with all his might, saying Damn it. His eyes, which had burned with hope as if it were a lie, were now completely hollow and helplessly drowned in sorrow.

'I really am powerless. In the end, I can't do anything...! Even the Natura I painstakingly created were used as tools of war...' Staring at the silent"Lilna". If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. He shook his head sideways, saying no, no.

'What will become of just one machine...' With a momentum scary to watch, he just kept drinking in desperation. Eventually, he slumped weakly on the desk. With a voice like fading away, he leaked a complaint.

'Hey. I wonder what you guys would have done...' He stares blankly at the black box containing Mom's gun. Tears were flowing from his eyes.

'Yuna... Lenks... Once more. I want to see you guys...'"" Lewis..."" Voices worrying about him overlapped. Even knowing this has already happened. Even knowing there is no way to help. It was too painful, and I couldn't bear to watch. Then, more time passed. An old Lewis, whose hair had turned completely white, was there. He must have gone through extraordinary hardships. Deep wrinkles accumulated over long years were vividly carved everywhere on his face. Thrust with the merciless passage of time before my eyes.

Even more painful feelings well up. Lewis. Did he... wait until he became like this...? He had a rather calm expression, as if enlightened. Maybe he got tired of life. His former vitality, the somewhat laid-back visage, was nowhere to be found anymore.

'The era of humans is over. From now on, surely, the era of Natura will come.' He declared so with eyes holding sad conviction.

'With such a worthless plan. They won't torment Natura, or Humites, anymore.' With tottering, unsteady steps, he walks to the wall. There,"Lilna", still in her youthful appearance unchanged from before, was carefully stored in the same case as that time. Lewis calls out to"Her".' Liet Luenso Natura. Lilna. I will give meaning to your name. You guide Natura correctly.' Suddenly, Goh, goh, Lewis coughed violently. I opened my eyes wide in shock.

Along with the cough, a large amount of dark blood was scattered on the floor. Both Lilna and I lost our words in too much shock. While gasping in pain, Lewis floated a fleeting smile.

'Sorry. Yuna. The promise to give her to you... I don't think I can keep it.' Dragging his staggering body. He headed for the research desk as if possessed by something.

'Not much... longer... I must customize Lilna... I must hurry... the completion of the program to stop the system...' And finally. That time came.

'Finally... they sniffed out this place...' body Lewis, who entered from the laboratory door, was covered in blood all over. The injury to his abdomen is terrible enough to make one want to cover their eyes. He had been shot by someone. He seemed unable to even stand anymore. Gasping for breath. Crawling, he approaches the research desk with a desperate look. He directs sad eyes toward the wall. —There was the undeniable current Lilna. Solidified the tips of limbs with platinum metal for armament.

A combat form wearing a costume like armor. At the last moment. He had finally completed her.

'Lilna. At least, only you...' Squeezing out his last strength. He reached the research desk and pressed some button. Then, a hole opened in the floor. The transparent case containing Lilna sinks down through the hole. Seeing that through. Lewis laughed weakly.

'Please... I leave the future to you... And... be happy...' end Slowly, as if collapsing on the spot. Lewis falls. There, the replay of memory ended. I couldn't say anything. It was too tragic. Too fierce. Looking at Lilna. She had closed her eyes as if praying.

"Lilna..." She opens her eyes slowly.

"... It's okay. I was entrusted with precious feelings too, wasn't I..." Her blue eyes staring at me seemed to contain firm determination. That's right. Because you are that kind of person.

"Yu. Your mother's memento is over there, right?"

"Yeah..."

"You use it. It's much better than leaving it lonely in a place like that."

"You're right." Urged by her. Although my mood hasn't cleared yet, I head to the black box left on the shelf. When I picked it up and tried to remove the lid. Strangely, the lid suddenly glowed faintly white. As if opening by itself, it opened very easily. In the pristine condition exactly as seen in the memory. Inside, a ruggedly built gun was enshrined on a cloth. When I tried to pick it up. Suddenly, my consciousness was thrown out— I was in an endlessly white space.

It was a place contrasting with the World of Heart, which is usually endlessly pitch black. And in front of me, Mom stood. Holding that gun in her right hand.

"Mom..." But Mom. Even seeing me, even at this call, she showed no special reaction. Mom spins words as if telling someone who is no one. As if saying what was decided in advance. Actually, that must be it. This seemed like a message.

"This world is unreasonable, isn't it? There are helpless difficulties. There are opponents against whom nothing works no matter what you do." That was a word accompanied by heartfelt realization from Mom, who had been fighting alone in other worlds full of monsters. Still, Mom continues.

"Still, when you have to face such difficulties or opponents. When you absolutely cannot lose. What do you think is needed first to truly not lose?" That is— Mom put her hand on the center of her chest. And smiled brightly. That smile that encouraged me when something painful happened when I was little.

"It is to have a heart that never loses. If you can have just that, then only one thing more. You just need a means." Mom lifted my right hand. She gently placed the gun she was holding on my palm.

"Magic Gun 《Hartrail》. This is one means." Mom releases her hand quietly. The heavy weight of the gun barrel weighs directly on my palm. Heavy. It felt like the weight of the entrusted feelings was transmitted directly.

"I entrust it to you. Do it properly." Mom's figure goes away. This time, I probably won't be able to meet her again. Even knowing it wouldn't reach. I was shouting.

"Mom... Mom!" —Yu. Maybe it's my imagination. I felt like she called my name just once at the end— When I realized. I was back in the original place. In my right hand, Mom's gun is firmly gripped. It feels like she is fighting with me. Just with that, power seemed to well up from my heart.

"—Thank you. Mom."

"Me" also utters the same words. Our hearts were one. Renewing my determination. I faced Lilna firmly.

"We have everything we need. Let's go. to the final battle."

"Yeah. Let's go." To end the chain of tragedies that has continued since two thousand years ago. To the place of decisive battle. Estcage.