103-103 Sages Cup 4 (2/2)

”Not forever, of course. Of course not forever, but at least I'll have it for as long as I live.

Yes. I hope so.

Oaken laughed as he laid out the three cups and poured in the liquor he had brought with him, and Astira paused for a moment to take one of them.

”Oh ...... does Oaken still remember how to do this afterwards?

”What, you treat me like an old man. Of course not. I'm the one who invented it in the first place.

”......, right.

The friend in front of me had not changed at all.

But when Astila saw Oaken with the cup in his hand again, she couldn't help but feel that many years had passed without her knowing it, and her face clouded over with an inexplicable sadness.

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...... Don't worry. No matter how much time passes, there is no way I will ever forget you. How many times over the past two hundred years have I dreamed that this day would come?

”......Yes. ......Yes. That's right.

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”...... Oh, so maybe you cried a few times because you were lonely?　You did cry, didn't you?

Don't try to make me say that!

”Hmm. ...... That was a stupid question.

Astira's face brightened and she picked up a small cup.

”Well, shall we begin? But it's a bit long, isn't it? It's a little long, but it's full of lines that are embarrassing to say in public.

”...... Don't complain now!

Then they raised their cups one at a time and said the words in their memory at the same time without hesitation.

”We, the three cups, thank you first for this strange encounter.

It was a rule that they would say in the tavern when they all came back alive.

No one else knew about it, but the three of us.

”And in gratitude for our good fortune to be here again, ──── we commend you for the hardships we have overcome and the wonderful adventures we have had.

It was a phrase that had been coined on the premise that the three of them would be reunited.

It was the first time one of them had ever done so without the other. But for the two of them, it felt natural to do it now.

It was the only promise they had made when they reunited.

They hadn't decided anything about what would happen if someone was missing.

So they continued as if there were still three of them there.

Of course, there was no one there but the two of them.

The other person (・・・・), who was supposed to be there when they said this, is nowhere to be found in the world.

They know that very well.

They know it so well that the third cup seems to shake a little.

The red stone seemed to glow as if in response to their voice.

The person they know so well seems to be standing in front of the third cup.

They both know that all of this is just an illusion created by their own desires. ────

But hopefully, just for this moment.

It would be nice to be able to share a cup of sake, even if only for a moment, with the friends with whom we once shared adventures, even if it is only an illusion.

Even though they knew it was an unattainable dream, they held up the two cups and said the names of their lost comrades together.

”This 'Cup of Wisdom' is dedicated to our friend Roy.

Quietly, the two cups touch each other.

The third cup remained in front of the red stone.

There was no one left to raise the third cup with them.

They both knew it.

And so the wishes of Oaken and Astira were swallowed up in the silence of the night. ──── And then nothing happened.

They lowered their raised cups and turned their heads without saying a word.

But ────

”...... Oh.

Astila suddenly looked up.

”...... What's wrong?

I think I just ...... heard someone laughing at me.

What?

”What?” Oaken looked around involuntarily.

But, of course, there was no one there.

No, no, no, no, no, no. There's no one there.

”...... No. I think ...... Roy was smiling at Oaken just now.

Astila said and laughed quietly.

I think it was you who laughed at me.

”...... No. That's not true. ...... Look, now he's pointing at Oaken and laughing. What's with the bearded monster?

”Isn't the ...... bearded ghost a bit of an exaggeration?

”...... Hmm. Well, why don't you try shaving it off?　Maybe then Roy would understand.

”Ho ho, can we please not do that? ...... Are you serious?　Please don't do that.　You know?

I hope that makes sense to Roy out there. ......

...... No, I told you there was no one there.

There were only two people there, Oaken and Astila.

There was no one else in the room.

──── But then, just for a moment.

In the eyes of the two of them, it seemed as if they could see Roy smiling quietly at the sight of the two of them so unchanged.