Fuhh… It's been a while since I didn't have to go to my office.
And that being said, now I am confused about where should I go.
Ah! It's been a while since I haven't visited the kids. I wonder what they're doing right now at school. Yep, I want to visit my students. Well, they are also technically Shizu-san's students as well.
It's still morning, the sun just rise a few moments ago. The kids should be finishing school in the afternoon. I still have plenty of time.
Ah speaking of the kids, it reminds me of Shizu-san. I haven't paid any respect to her grave for a long time. It's on the hill outside of the city. It's been years since the last time I paid a visit.
"Ranga, are you there?"
"Yes! I'm here, Master!" Ranga suddenly appeared from my shadow.
"Good boy. Please take me to the hill where I made a grave for Shizu-san"
"As you wish!"
Then I took my humanoid form and jumped to Ranga's back.
We ride through the city. Everyone seems to greet me. It can't be helped, I rarely take a stroll around the city recently. A lot of people must be wondering why I suddenly ride Ranga and casually reply to my people's greetings. If I remember correctly, the last time I took a stroll is when I held a founding festival.
I finally arrived at Shizu-san's grave. I put myself down from Ranga's back and walked towards the grave.
I stared at the grave. It doesn't have any name engraved on it, but anybody knew it was her. Besides, her body wasn't there but kept inside my stomach.
I closed my eyes, and hold my hands together. I imagined Shizu-san's figure, which Ciel made inside my mind. She looks waving at me and smiles happily. Is Shizu-san happy?
[The individual named Shizue didn't have any regret in her last moment. So it can be concluded she died in a happy state]
I see, perhaps Ciel manage to take the memory or data when she was still a Great Sage.
If Ciel said so, then it must be true. Then I'm relieved if Shizu-san died happily.
"Shizu-san, I'm glad if you're happy. I manage to save the kids. I reconcile with Leon and accomplished to have his answer about your existence. Hinata is also more open up, and she looks happy to take care of the kids"
I imagined myself talking to Shizu-san who appeared inside my mind. She keeps smiling while I say those words. But then, I also remember Yuuki.
"But unfortunately, I can't save Yuuki. I wouldn't blame myself because of his action, but I wanted you to know that I'm very sad to imagine how it feels for you to see Yuuki become like that"
Shizu-san's smile disintegrated a bit. Ah, I think she's going to be upset. She walks toward me while keeping her gaze on my eyes directly.
"Slime-san, you said you didn't blame yourself. But it looks like you regret not being able to save him. Even though I love him, and treat him like my son, I wouldn't approve of his behavior. So please, don't be too hard on yourself, Slime-san"
"But if only I realize it sooner, I might have made him in a better state"
"You have done more than enough, Slime-san. No matter how powerful we are, we cannot control other people's hearts. If Yuuki has done something outside of our expectation, then it just means we haven't known him very well."
"But, how do you feel Shizu-san? Knowing your student whom you treated as your son doing some bad things?"
"We all have done bad things, Slime-san. We all have a reason for doing so. I believe Yuuki has done the same. He's still a good boy. I am very certain his intention is also a good thing"
Suddenly I remember the day when I massacred 20.000 of Falmuth kingdom's army to gain souls for my evolution into a Demon Lord. That's right, it's a horrible thing to do. No matter what the cause is. But I still do it, to revive my people.
"You're right Shizu-san. It seems I have failed to understand fully Yuuki's intention. Without knowing what he aiming for, I couldn't judge him as a bad person. I will do the same, to the other kids"
"Thank you so much, Slime-san. Thank you, for taking care of my students"
Shizu-san smiled beautifully, and then she reached me and hugged me. It felt warm and calming. I feel her touch, and I can feel her strength in her arms.
Wait, hold on. How can I actually feel it while it is only my imagination?
[I sync it with your sense, Master. So when you imagine yourself being touched by her, I made your skin feel like being touched as well]
….
I can't say a word. It felt good but if Ciel did it without my consent, it's actually a bit creepy. But I admit I do want to feel Shizu-san's embrace for a bit. Just a bit okay.
And wait for a second. Talking about Shizu-san, isn't it I'm talking with her as if she's alive? It feels too real for Shizu-san to talk like that even though it's only my imagination. Is it Ciel's doing?
[Correct. I made a projection of an individual named Shizu based on her personality. Everything she said is the most highly possible outcome from her personality]
Wow, just wow. It feels like somehow I cheating on the whole world. Many people offer to pray and spend a lot of time talking in front of someone's grave to have a slight moment of their loved one to talking back at them.
And here I am, talking casually with Shizu-san with the help of Ciel. Even though it's not a real Shizu-san.
The real Shizu-san is already gone. I don't know what happen to her soul, but I wish Shizu-san's soul would travel to a nice place.
[There's a possibility for those souls to gather around under a new person]
I see.
Wait, what?!
You mean, there's a possibility that Shizu-san is reincarnated?!
[It might not be certain, but it's possible]
No way!
It couldn't be. But, wait a minute.
I'm also a reincarnation. I died in another world and my soul travel to this world inside a slime. Now that I think about it, this case also happened to Masayuki right?
Most of Rudra's soul has gathered inside Masayuki. And although Rudra's memory doesn't come along, Velgrynd is very certain that most of Rudra's soul is gathered inside Masayuki's body.
So, it's possible that somewhere out there, someone has gathered Shizu-san's soul as well?
[Correct. If you wished to find them, I could search for them]
Ciel, just how reliable can you be?
[All is done for my Master's wish]
It wasn't my wish!
All I wished for is Shizu-san's peace. I simply wanted her to rest and leave no regret. I owe her a lot, including this appearance which I use for my humanoid form. I'm a man who always repays a debt.
So if Shizu-san gets reincarnated somewhere, I wished for her well-being and to live happily. I do not wish to interfere with her new life. I just someone who happen to meet in her previous life.
Let her live happily if she really is getting reincarnated.
[Understood]
Thank you Ciel, you don't need to search for her.
As soon as I said that, I realized Shizu-san already dissapeared. I didn't feel her embrace anymore. I open my eyes, and saw her grave. The sun has risen pretty high, and I felt that my surrounding was glowing under the sunlight.
It suddenly felt lonely.
