Everything is born ...

My consciousness returned in a boundless white space. Standing before me was a man in a reddish-white robe with white hair streaked with red.

"Congratulations, Ayato. We can finally meet while you're conscious."

"Who are you?" I asked in bewilderment.

Even though I felt that way, a part of me felt profoundly familiar with this man. Why?

"No need to rush, let's chat a little. Hmm, perhaps we can start with a small question like: How has the life you've lived been so far?"

The man began speaking cryptically, while posing a question I found rather odd.

Yet for some reason, my lips itched to speak—so I ended up spilling almost every story I had experienced to him. From when my memories were lost, and how they slowly returned faintly each time I saw those strange projections while searching for the black orb. Even up to the last event that made my hands tremble again just remembering it.

"Aurel..."

"It seems you've gotten some explanation from her, haven't you? About the 5 Demon Kings?"

"Right, from my conclusion as well, those five demon kings are—"

"Correct! Those five are the demon kings who threw that world into chaos!"

"...!"

My heart half-accepted it, and half-rejected it. I never imagined they all had such a dark past. But when I recalled the projections of their memories that I felt—I couldn't deny it.

"That's why I want to ask you again, Ayato. What is your opinion of those five?"

"Opinion?"

"Yes, opinion. Do you think they are good people? Or are they people without any feelings!"

"That's impossible!" I snapped, as if slamming a table. "They are the kindest people I have ever met in that world! There isn't a single person like them that I met in my old world either!"

"Haha, they look that good in your eyes, do they? Even though in the past they slaughtered so many living beings without batting an eye?"

"That..."

He had stumped me. I couldn't say anything.

"Rather, that seems to pose a new question, doesn't it?"

"You seem to really enjoy asking questions."

"Of course! For someone who has navigated life from every point in that world, I always have questions! It's proof that knowledge is endless! No matter how long a lifespan you have."

The red-haired man spoke with an impassioned smile, briefly reminding me of Ragna's passion for battle.

"5 Demon Kings, 5 black orbs, 5 beings born from darkness... hey, Ayato. Do you think you can give me the answer to my question from that time now?"

"Question? Did you even..."

My head suddenly began throbbing, and a question that had been lost from my mind resurfaced: Is everything born into this world... white?

Sweat began pouring from my brow—trailing down my cheek until it fell from my chin.

"That..."

"I await that answer from your mouth, Ayato."

"I..."

Is everything born into this world white? That question pointed directly to something I had felt firsthand during my journey in this foreign world.

It started with my lost memories—making me a completely different person.

Then followed by the bitter experiences I went through, which created a personality that made me wary. Even the betrayals and wounds I felt slowly shaped a way of thinking different from when I was still in Japan.

All those memories began clashing in my mind, spinning and mixing into one color... black.

I couldn't call myself white—not after blood dripped from my hands—not after the betrayals I committed based on my own selfishness—not for my cruelty towards those who made me suffer—all of those held different colors, and mixing them all would yield... a deep, dense black.

But that question referred to something newly born, if that were the case. Then surely the answer should indeed be white. Because anything that begins surely has no stains yet—but what about them?

The 5 Demon Kings, born from human darkness, didn't they not even have a chance to be white? Does this question apply to them too? Or... what does he actually want to hear from me? What kind of answer?!

"Ayato... the reason you are in this world is my doing. A result of my burning desire to give them a chance. I sacrificed almost everything. I sealed their bodies and darkness within the Sanctuary, while my soul searched for a new vessel in a different universe to find the key to eradicate the darkness gnawing at their souls."

The man spoke at length. I felt like I understood—but far more questions swirled in my head than understanding.

"Among the grains of stars that looked like small sands in outer space. I found you. The owner of a soul on the same frequency as mine, allowing me to enter—and what I found was a child strangling his mother, pushing her towards the brink of death."

"..."

"In a matter of seconds, I took control of your body, but my control was almost negligible. I mustered all my remaining power to at least borrow your body to this world, and return it. But fate decreed otherwise. After bringing your body here, my soul lost control completely, and could only help you survive with such a fragile body."

The man approached me, his face so calm. Unlike me, I felt the muscles in my face forming an expression of confusion and panic, trying to produce the desired answer.

"Yet, every time I narrated your life in my mind, with every second, I enjoyed it more. So this is the life of a human who started from black, then became white, and once again stained himself black."

Oh... I see... So that's how it is!

"I... I've found the answer!"

"Hoo, then let's hear it."

"Whether everything is born white... I don't care!"

"... eh?"

"Whether it's white, black, brown, yellow, green, red, blue! I don't care! Even if they're all mixed up, I don't care! Because if in the end there will only be white and black! Then I will introduce both colors no matter what! If they are white, then I will introduce black. If they are black, then I will introduce white! The same goes for bluish-gray and reddish-yellowish-gray!"

The man looked shocked by my nonsensical, rambling nonsense, but his face slowly twitched until he finally burst into loud laughter.

"Ahahahaha! So that's your answer, is it! How amusing!"

"Wh-Whatever! Th-That's an answer purely from my own thinking!"

Geez, it's actually pretty embarrassing thinking back on it.

"I... am very satisfied, Ayato. That is a truly incredible answer! It's an answer based on your desire! My, isn't it true that the sixth orb is the orb of desire, after all?"

"Eh? Wh-What do you mean?"

"Don't worry about it, Ayato."

The man then extended his hand to me, and I grasped it.

"My name is Vinnzu, and I wish for you—that your life from now on will always be filled with happiness."

His face slowly blurred in my vision. The voice I felt I had mustered was no longer heard on the surface. And then, finally, everything became—dark.

...

I opened my eyes.

Not in the Sanctuary ruins. Not in front of unfamiliar life projections. But in a warm room, a comfortable bed, with morning sunlight sneaking through the window.

"Ayato...?"

That voice. I recognized it. I turned my head—it hurt so much—and saw Aurel sitting by my bedside. Her eyes were red and swollen, but she was smiling. A smile I thought I would never see again.

"A-Aurel? But... how—"

She didn't answer. She just laid her head on my chest, and I could feel her shoulders shaking. Her embrace was tight, as if afraid I would disappear again.

"I... I'm back," I said, my voice hoarse. Those words felt foreign on my tongue, but also... right.

The door opened. Lys, Ragna, Irea, and Cielle burst in. Their faces, which I last saw filled with despair, now shone with relief and tears.

"You stupid kid!" Ragna approached and smacked my head—a bit hard, but I felt the affection behind it. "Don't you ever make us worry like that again!"

Lys approached and hugged me without a word. I could feel teardrops on my shoulder. Irea stood by the bed, trying to look strong, but her eyes were also glistening. Cielle just held my hand, her grip gentle but full of meaning.

...

A few weeks later.

The world was slowly beginning to recover. Without King Veyric and without the threat of the dark Sanctuary, humans began rebuilding their civilization. The Magic Tower, under Lys's leadership, became the center of an inter-kingdom coalition and a mediator for civilizational recovery.

I chose not to get involved in complicated politics. I returned to my gang, which had now developed into an official organization to help the victims of the Sanctuary catastrophe. There was much to do—rebuilding homes, healing wounds, and most importantly, ensuring this dark history would not repeat itself.

One evening, I stood on the hill that was once Fenrir's favorite spot. This place had been restored by Irea, who patiently replanted the flowers destroyed during the battle. Fenrir, in the form of a cute little wolf, was playing among those flowers.

"Never thought we could finally stand here peacefully," I said to Irea, who stood beside me.

She smiled. "Life is always full of surprises."

...

Five years later.

We gathered on the same hill—Fenrir's favorite spot, now filled with colorful flowers. Lys, though complaining about the piles of documents she had to handle, came with a wide smile.

Ragna, who was now handling the colosseum's restoration, enthusiastically talked about a new tournament to be held. Aurellia, acting as the Magic Tower's overseer, listened patiently while occasionally adding comments.

Cielle, as usual, stuck close to my side. She didn't have an official "job," and that was fine. Her presence alone was more than enough.

I looked at them one by one—Lys arguing with Ragna about something, Irea stroking Fenrir's head, Aurel smiling at me, and Cielle holding my hand.

On our fingers—on everyone's fingers—were matching rings. A symbol of the bond we had built, through suffering, tears, and laughter.

The sun was setting, painting the sky in orange and purple. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of flowers and peace.

I smiled. This isn't the end. It's a new beginning. A beginning for us, for the world, and for all the possibilities waiting ahead.

"Thank you," I whispered, to that man, to the world, to everything that had brought me here.

"I am truly happy."

―The End

****

It's unbelievable... I-I actually manage to end a series from my mind! Really?! It's a big achievement! It makes me confident I could finish my next series!

ーand yes... another Harem baby!