Might
(I knew it was useless... I can't do anything... It's useless...)

Might started setting up his sword with shaky hands.

Might
(Here I go... in front of me... where Adonis is...)

He scolded his legs that didn't want to move, and slowly began to walk. One step, and another step... The distance between him and Adonis became closer little by little.

Closing his eyes, the former Adonis waited for him to come impatiently...

As it was he should have stopped by then. It had been a long time as it was, if he didn't struggle to get there... If he did so, if Might couldn't finish Adonis with his own hands...

Might
U...u...u...!

But, finally the distance between them disappeared. He set up the tip of his sword, touching Adonis' chest.

-And stabbing through.

The hard edge of the sword slipped into the tender meat. A dull feeling transmitted down to Might's arm as he gripped the sword.

Adonis
Uguh!

At Adonis' voice, Might couldn't bear it and looked up.

Might
Ado... nis...

Might couldn't comprehend what he'd just done.

Might
(I... What am I doing...? Why do I have my sword... in Adonis...?)

His head was blank. He looked up at Adonis who seemed to be fading.

Adonis
Th... thank you... Mi, igh... t...

Adonis quietly smiled while he endured the pain. He showed his gratitude, he showed it to the boy he loved.

Might
A... Adonis? ...Ado... nis...

Might couldn't do anything but keep calling his name. He seemed to forget all other words-. That gentle smile, burned into his heart.

Warm blood spilled down the sword, and soaked Might's hands.

Adonis
Don't have such... a sad face. ...Do you want to... make me sad too...

Might
Ah... Adonis...

Adonis
Goodbye... Might.

He left a gentle word, and Adonis seemed to close his eyes to sleep. One teardrop slid down the side of his cheek. And fell on Might's face-.

Might
It can't... it can't... Nooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Might's bitter cry echoed in the huge room. At the same time, their surrounding began shaking eerily. With a thunderous roar, rubble began falling from the ceiling. Now that the demon king was sealed, the castle began collapsing.

Might stood stock still dumbfounded as the demon king's castle collapsed around him.

And his ears heard something-

-Might-kun, where are you, Might-kun, please answer me!!

It was Hector's voice.

Hector found Might's figure, and ran to where he was through the rubble.

Hector
Might-kun... I'm so relieved, you're safe...?!

But Might didn't react to Hector's calls. His eyes had no life in them as if his soul had died before.

Hector
Might-kun? ...What's wrong, steady yourself, Might-kun!!

Hector shook him, and finally Might noticed his existence.

Might
Hector...? Why are you here...

Hector
...Because I couldn't leave you alone in here. It's already collapsing here, well, shall we escape?

However, Might had a haggard expression on his face and didn't move. And he shook his head largely.

Might
No... I... already...

Hector
What are you saying?!

Might
I, killed Adonis... With my own hands I sealed off the devil by... Adonis...

Hector
Might-kun...

Might bit his lip as he regret and self-condemnation rose from the bottom of his heart. The castle collapsed more and more quickly, it was just a matter of time before the place was buried in rubble.

Hector
...Are you going to waste Adonis-kun's feelings?

Might
Eh...?

Hector
Didn't Adonis give his life to protect you? Do you think Adonis would be happy if you died in a place like this?

Might
Hector...

Hector
Then, stand up quickly! Everyone is waiting for you to come back.

Might nodded silently. The life came back to his eyes.

And, the demon king's castle kept collapsing without trace. He faced the battle to its end.

...A while later. They returned alive from the castle to the Varoja temple. Kurt immediately collected everyone in the altar room to communicate with Ragsiel.

Soon a pillar of light rose from the altar, and Ragsiel's figure appeared. His usual appearance of being talkative changed, and he was full of the divineness of the gods.

Ragsiel
Might... You endured the test, well fought.

Might
Yes... Because you lent me your powers.

But, even with direct words of appreciation from the god of creation, Might's expression didn't brighten.

Ragsiel
About Adonis... I'm sorry. It was already too late for me to be able to separate the demon king and Adonis...

Might
No... I was prepared...

Might made an unreasonably cheerful face when he said that.

Might
Besides... I think Adonis still lives in me.

Ragsiel
What...?

Might
Yeah, not just me, but everyone here, Adonis lives on in everyone around the world... That's what I want to think.

Kurt
Might-san...

Might
Because... Because Adonis protected this world in exchange for my life!

The tears didn't stop overflowing as he forcibly held up a smiling face.

Lorence
Might...

Leica
Might...

Hector
...

Might
(Goodbye... Goodbye... Adonis!)

Before long, the companions who had gathered around Might began parting from the temple, separating one at a time waling down their respective paths.

Kurt stayed at the temple, saying he would carry out his modest duties as a priest.

Lorence returned to the royal palace, to return to his professional duties as the leader of the Knights of the Court.

The former bounty hunter Leica went on alone, traveling aimlessly.

However... On the way back to the royal palace, only Hector disappeared without telling anyone his whereabouts.

Might
(Where did you go... Hector...)

Might
(If you're not here... Won't I be lonely...)

-After that.

Might enlisted in the Knights of the Court, and very quickly he distinguished himself as Lorence's right-hand man, and as an exceptional youth he was promoted to the leader of his own platoon.

However, as usual he wasn't able to find Hector's whereabouts. Sometimes, between the exhausting duties of the knights, Might continued searching for his whereabouts. On countless occasions he fumbled around repeatedly in vain...

But Might still continued to search for Hector. He never gave up, with single- minded conviction.

-And then, one certain day.

The hot door that was often opened showed Might's face, and Hector's eyes rounded spontaneously.

Hector
M, Might-kun...?!

Might
...I've finally found you, Hector.

Hector
I've been found a lot... No one was preventing you from knowing my whereabouts.

Might
To hear something like that from you... What have you been doing up to now?

Hector
Ah... As a matter of fact, I'm starting as a pharmacist.

Might
A, a pharmacist?

Hector
Since I studied pharmaceutics at the training school, I thought it would be simple but... Making medicine to cure people is much more difficult than making medicine to kill people.

Might
Hahaha... What's that, it doesn't seem like you...

Hector
...Is that so?

As he said that, when he casually turned towards Might, Hector noticed tears gleaming in his eyes.

Hector
Might-kun...

Might
...

Might ran up to Hector and pulled him towards himself.

Might
...Why were you gone so suddenly. Always... Were you worried for a long time?

Hector
...It's inexcusable. It was painful to watch you... mourning for Adonis-kun..

. Might
Hector... Don't go away again... Always, always stay by my side... Hector...

Might expressed his unbearable desire. Because of this, he searched for a long time. For Hector. There was warmth in his eyes.

Until now Hector had watched Might with eyes that didn't show affection.

Hector
...I understand... I promise.

Though the words were blunt, it was a gem that couldn't be substituted easily.

The two embraced closely as if they were confirming each other's warmth. Forever, and ever...

The End