Aži Dahāka continued
[I see. Known as the strongest Hakuryuukou in history, what you want is, an extremely ordinary, and common family.] ……Vali didn’t have any reply to that. …In the inner depths of my mind, I actually wanted to have a family…. After finishing breakfast, his otouto pulled Vali’s hand. “Onii-chan! Let’s go out to play soccer!”
This time, his imouto also grabbed hold of Vali’s hand. “You can’t! Onii-chan is helping me to study today!”
“Play with me!”
“Study with me!”
Seeing his otouto and imouto pulling Vali’s hands, haha laughed. “Come on, if you two don’t stop, you’re going to pull onii-chan’s arms off, you know?”
His own otouto and imouto were competing over him, and his haha was laughing as she watched all of this—. In the end, he helped imouto study first, and then went to play soccer with onii-chan afterwards. After helping his imouto to study history, he played soccer with his otouto until evening, and following that, the three siblings washed the dishes together with their haha. Seeing the figure of his haha and otouto conversing happily with each other in front of him, Vali also began to smile at some point. At that time, Aži Dahāka’s voice was heard again. [If you want to continue living in this world, then it’s possible, you know? This barrier was made for that purpose. When the world that they so strongly sought was placed in front of them, dozens, hundreds, and thousands of strong warriors fell like that.] …I see, so Aži Dahāka used such powerful magic. While immersed in combat, the warriors and heroes each had things that were precious to them, or perhaps once had. Being able to reproduce it to this extent — it was understandable that some people’s willpower would crumble. Vali had spent a night in this world. At night, he slept together with his otouto and imouto on one bed. It was the first time since Vali was born…that he slept together with his family. It was actually so tranquil that he felt deeply moved. The next day, he got up early and they ate breakfast together. A family of four was eating as they conversed with each other. All of this buried his loneliness…. After breakfast, the family of four sat together and played board games. While his otouto and imouto were arguing, haha amusedly laughed. It was such a gentle and peaceful world—. There was no fighting, it was just time spent happily together with his family members—. Time flowed by gently, and from the depths of his heart, a smile emerged on Vali’s face, and then — he stood up. His otouto and imouto were surprised. “Onii-chan? What’s wrong?”
“Onii-chan? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Two people looked up at his face. —At some point, Vali could no longer hold back the emotions welling up inside of him, and he began to cry. So there really is such happiness…. This is…the ordinary happiness obtained from an ordinary family…. This was the first time that he had ever received—. But, regardless of whether it was fortunate or unfortunate for Vali, he was able to clearly realise that this was an illusion, it was a false and never-ending power. The time that elapsed in here was nothing but a few seconds in reality. Immersing myself in days like these, how fortunate would I be—.Immersing myself in a world like this, how happy would I be—. While shedding tears, Vali tightly hugged his otouto and imouto. “…I am…”
I don’t even know your names—.I can’t even call out to you—. So, I know that this is a false world. At that time, I didn’t meet you; saying this is ironic but that has also become an important factor in denying this world. Vali spoke gently
“Onii-chan has somewhere that he must go. He can’t be with you…I’m really sorry for not being able to play together with you. —Sorry.”
A dream is fine.An illusion is fine.Even so, we met each other. We also touched each other. It’s the first time since I was born that I was able to spend time together with an ordinary family. “Even if this is a dream, or an illusion, to be able to meet you…and speak to you is truly good. With this, I — no matter how many thousands or ten thousands of years, I will continue to fight on, and survive…!”
Once more, he tightly hugged the otouto and imouto within the illusion. In order to firmly remember this warmth—. “…I’m really sorry that I didn’t call out your names. —But, I need to go now, so that I can protect you—”
After separating from those two people, Vali turned around to face the door. He wanted to tell his saddened haha. Even if this is an illusion, it’s good that I was able to speak with you one more time, and be able to spend time with you—. “Kaa-san, we probably won’t be able to see each other ever again…we won’t be able to speak to each other ever again, but I will protect you from afar, and watch over my otouto and imouto.”
If he hugged haha right now, he definitely wouldn’t be able to return to reality. So…so, I can’t touch you. If I touch you, then I’ll…. Vali showed mother his most earnest smile. “So, thank you. You were able to talk to me one more time. Even if this is an illusion, this is enough for me. I will definitely protect you—”
Vali turned the doorknob. “—Goodbye. I’m heading out.”
—Goodbye, my family. After opening the door, waiting in front of him was the figure of his chichi. It wasn’t the chichi who abused him, nor was it the chichi of his otouto and imouto. It was probably the ‘chichi’ that Vali truly desired and that was reflected by the magic technique. Indeed, looking closely—. No matter how much he verbally denied it, he confirmed in his mind once again what he truly thought. However, it was not uncomfortable. “Are you going?”
“Yes, I need to go, Azazel. I always thought that meeting you in reality was one of the best things that happened to me. I am — Vali Lucifer.”
Return—. Return to the world where my nakama, rival, and Azazel are waiting for me—. The false world collapsed, and what appeared before his eyes again was the scenery of snow-covered mountains. The three-headed Evil Dragon standing in front of Vali asked
[…That was a nice dream, right?] Vali replied with a splendid smile
“……Yeah, it was the best dream.”
Aži Dahāka’s attitude immediately changed, as his expression became very serious while he expressed his respect towards Vali
[Hakuryuukou Vali, you were actually able to get away from my techniques. I deeply apologise for putting you into that lowly technique of mine. I recognise you as my greatest and most worthy opponent!] When Vali noticed that Aži Dahāka’s attitude was completely different to his previous playfulness, he began to feel pumped up with fighting spirit. Aži Dahāka knew that this powerful illusionary world was capable of siphoning a warrior’s willpower away, and fascinating them. The people who were able to return from there were truly brave people. “The same goes for the both of us, Aži Dahāka. I also feel from the bottom of my heart that my battle with you has a lot of pride!