stay of the stars

A secluded world bathed in warm sunlight.

On a quiet edge of a vast plain, a small hut stands guard.

A derelict house that is rarely even visited by people.

Contrary to expectations, the place where no one seemed to live was busy today as well.

“Tea smells good~ Herb tea is the best in the morning~”

Its white tail wags along with its pleasant voice.

Skadi, a white-haired woman wearing a cone-shaped hat, took a teacup and headed outside as if enjoying the quiet morning atmosphere.

A place where warm winds gently sweep across the plains that stretch to the horizon.

Looking at the distant green sea, I stretched out my chest and took a deep breath.

“Huuuh. The air quality is also good. It’s finished now.”

I put my teacup down on the tea table in the garden and looked at the plain quietly.

Thanks to the house being built on a low hill, the appearance of the great plain came into view at a glance, and her purple eyes captured such a world and cast their gaze over the distant horizon.

“Yeah…it’s complete.”

this place.

This world of vast grasslands was the home of Skadi, who had perished a long time ago.

The land of the dead, where a fierce storm rages over the ash-cloudy skies and snow-covered plains.

The land, which was thoroughly trampled by the army of demon beasts led by the emperor and could not grow even a single blade of grass, was eventually transformed into a land overflowing with life by Skadi’s hands.

“How long did it take? One, two…”

Suddenly, Skadi, who folded her fingers while counting the time it took, stopped counting with a bitter smile when the number exceeded 10.

There is nothing sadder than getting older for a woman.

Even if it looks the same as before.

“I really did it.”

He quietly sat down on a chair and whispered softly to the blue horizon.

someday.

When she was about to collapse in despair, she remembered the person who held her hand and set her upright and told her the future.

We are people who are not buried in the past, but are moving towards the future.

I remember the first person who said that.

Her most reliable ally who taught her how to return to her homeland and made her dream of the future.

And, perhaps, someone he really liked.

Skadi still missed Yujin Kang.

“I wanted to show it to you first when it was finished. It’s a pity.”

The news of the reconstruction of the hometown.

Roshua and Laflis were the first to inform Yujin Kang.

Still serving as professors at Helios, they were one of the few people Skadi shared news with.

They were the people she trusted the most, and they were the ones who were genuinely happy when she told her that she had succeeded in rebuilding her hometown.

And the next thing to inform was Adeline of ‘Maria Group’.

“Tsk…I didn’t know that kid would become the leader of that big group.”

The reason for notifying Adeline of this fact was not a big deal.

The material needed to rebuild the homeland, the place where it was excavated, was Abanrat… it was only a small piece of land owned by Yujin Kang, because it now belonged to Adeline.

Of course, that didn’t mean Adeline was paid.

This is because, as the biggest beneficiary of the non-profit foundation she runs… the so-called ‘Eugene Foundation’, Skadi has all rights to use Avanrat.

Everything was free, but Skadi was a shameless person, so she informed Adeline of this fact.

‘congratulations. You finally did it.’

That was all of Adeline’s answer.

I didn’t say a word about where to use it or how profitable it was.

I just smiled and sincerely congratulated them.

“Professor, I wonder if you’re pretending to be an adult just because you drank some water.”

A smile was drawn on her lips even as she grumbled.

Not only Adeline, but also Ansia and Cynthia were notified of this fact.

Of course, it is the same that sincere congratulations returned, but due to the nature of the construction work, they could not come directly.

They just sent messages in writing, and the only chance for Skadi to get in touch with them was through radio broadcasts.

—Today, the angelic protection agreement between the family head of the Vega family, ‘Encia von Dipplin Vega’…

-The central dimension and the Witchbeast Empire formally establish diplomatic ties under the declaration of the Emperor of the Witchbeast Empire, ‘Karina von Eugene Westerund’…

—It is known that Foreign Minister Cynthia, who led the negotiations this time, is a member of the ‘Westerlund royal family’…

“They’ve become really famous too.”

It’s also strange that Encia’s gang became the head of the family, but now she’s leading the entire angel tribe and contributing to their revival.

Cynthia became the foreign minister this time, but as her older sister Karina became the new demonic emperor, she became the royal family as well.

Not to mention Adeline.

From being the owner of the Maria group to being a new core subject professor at Helios.

Back in the day, they were just noisy, timid, and demanding kids.

Time has changed them so much.

“Somehow, it seems like I haven’t changed…?”

Skadi hasn’t changed much since then.

Aside from giving up Helios’ professorship, it was no different from exploring academics and continuing his research life.

It’s just that the subject has changed from ‘Pure Magic Theory’ to ‘Reconstruction of the Ruined World’.

And, the theory was also completed this time.

In fact, it hurts a lot these days because of it.

─Beep. About 10 groups approaching the barrier were found.

─Beep. Deportation due to unauthorized access.

Notifications blared loudly around her.

Nothing else, they were all people who came to see her without permission and were kicked out.

The ‘magic that revives the world’ created by Skadi is a magic that caused a stir in the existing academic world.

It was a conventional wisdom in the academic world that it was impossible to revive a dimension destroyed by demons, and it was common sense that the land should be abandoned.

However, Skadi did not give up and finally completed the research that everyone said would not work.

The magic she created, ‘Terraforming’, immediately caught the attention of the entire academia, and now dozens of people a day come to see if they can partner with the technology.

“Oh, I’m dying of annoyance, really… Does this guy’s alarm go off all the time?”

Skadi turned on the double wick and immediately closed the notification.

There were many visitors, but she had no intention of sharing this technology for money.

To purify even the last remaining world.

Because that was her purpose and conviction.

So, recently, barriers were placed around the entire dimension to prevent them from coming.

It’s a colossal feat, but it wasn’t too difficult for Skadi, who reached the limit of the 9th circle.

“What…”

Skadi, who had turned off the notification, spoke to the empty space.

“It seems to be useless to you, too.”

When I turned my head, there was a human figure standing there.

A person who covered his body and face with a beautiful black robe.

When In-young approached without a word, she took off her hood, revealing her beautiful blonde hair under the sunlight.

Skadi smiled at the clear blue eyes looking at her.

“Hello, Estelle. Long time no see?”

“Yes. Long time no see, Professor Skadi.”

Rob’s persona was Estelle.

Although Estelle disappeared a long time ago, she would visit Skadi once in a while.

The reason was that there was nothing special, and Skadi was the only person he could meet without any burden and give and receive help.

“I guess you’ve come quite far this time? No news for several years.”

“I came after looking around the Witchbeast Empire.”

Saying that, Estelle held out a picture.

It was a picture of Estelle taken against the backdrop of the Empire’s territory.

As usual, ‘Your student, Estelle’ was written on the photo.

“·······.”

A trip to the Demon Beast Empire.

It would have been unimaginable in the past, but now that exchanges with the central dimension have begun, it is not so difficult.

Although the distance is a bit flawed.

“Didn’t you go to your friends? Even if they don’t say anything, every time we meet, they miss you and want to die.”

“No. At least…for now.”

Estelle hasn’t been able to meet her friends yet.

One reason why she wanders the world.

It is to find Kang Yoo-jin, who has been thrown out beyond the world line.

If I had told my other friends about this, they would have put everything else aside to help Estelle.

Encia too. Cynthia too. Adeline too.

Because his love for Kang Yoo-jin is second to none.

So Estelle didn’t say anything.

Even if they swallow their longing, so that they can move forward.

Read at noblemtl.com

Just as we have created our present future, so that we can achieve our dreams in our respective positions.

“You talked to me well about that.”

“Because the professor is not one to be shaken.”

Estelle was the only one who confided her plan to Skadi.

Skadi is a woman with a strong will.

Even if she knew Estelle’s plans, she was not one to give up on her dreams.

Be clear about what you want to do and what you want to achieve.

Her move forward is unwaveringly solid.

Not for the past, but for the future.

She made such a promise to Kang Yoo-jin, and had the conviction to keep it.

“…Yes. I did.”

Read at noblemtl.com

Just because she’s Skadi doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to find Yujin Kang.

No, in my heart, I wanted to go find him with Estelle even now.

But it didn’t.

“Because I have work to do.”

return the world to its original state

Read at noblemtl.com

Just as I revived my hometown, I wanted to make other worlds like this.

I wanted to make it a land full of life once again.

And when I finally achieved all of that, I wanted to meet him.

I wanted to meet you and show you the green world that I promised you.

Because she wanted to, Skadi was able to resist the current urge.

“I’m also a professor.”

“Hmph. Tell me about your business. What do you need this time?”

There are several reasons why Estelle visits Skadi.

Sometimes they just come to rest, but usually it’s because they have the materials they need.

All the rare materials known to the world come from Avantrat, but Estelle didn’t have the courage to go there.

I could go if I wanted to go secretly, but I couldn’t be more rude to my friends when I was hiding my whereabouts.

“I come here often for that reason, but not today.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Yes. I just came.”

Estelle smiled softly and looked at the distant plain.

how much time has passed

A really long time has passed since that day.

Probably too many years to count on my fingers.

For a long time, she wandered around all dimensions, searching for a ‘method’.

Estelle’s eyes, looking far away, seemed to look back on the path she had walked.

“Today is probably the last time I come here.”

“Huh? Last?”

“Yes. At least… as a ‘Wanderer’.”

At those words, Skadi’s eyes widened.

woman in front of you.

I saw Estelle, who took off her girlish t-shirt and became a mature woman.

While facing the journey she had longed for and jumped on from a long time ago.

Skadi could see that she had finally reached the ‘end’.

“I see. You…”

Skadi, who had been quietly watching Estelle, took out a picture from her arms.

One day, a photo of four professors including Skadi and Yujin Kang were taken together.

It was the most precious memory she treasured.

She handed it to Estelle.

“Take it with you.”

“This…? But this…”

Estelle knows too. How much Skadi cherishes this photo.

So I hesitated without accepting it, but Skadi just laughed and said it was nothing.

“This is the last gift.”

“Can I take this?”

“I’m giving it to you because it’s you. I think you should.”

Actually, this isn’t the first time Estelle has been given a picture.

For some reason, Estelle had a hobby of collecting photos, and most of them were related to ‘old memories’ of her and her acquaintances.

I remembered it because I had gotten it from Skadi a few times.

“···thank you.”

Estelle eventually accepted the picture Skadi gave her.

In the photo, which was held with both hands, was a brightly smiling Skadi, two other professors, and Kang Yu-jin smiling faintly next to them.

“Then go. Do you have something to do?”

“Professor… will you stay here?”

“Are you asking for the obvious?”

Skadi cast her gaze back to the plain.

“I still have work to do.”

This place has been revived, but many destroyed worlds still remain.

Skadi couldn’t rest until they revived them all.

Like the horizon that spreads out so far away, the time waiting for her is still far away.

That’s why Skadi couldn’t leave this place yet.

As if we don’t forget and continue the world he revealed.

──The ‘maintenance of the stars’ will continue.

“then.”

Leaving behind such a respectable woman, Estelle turned away.

*

A forest in the cold winter.

A man steps into the winter forest of Helios.

“Whoa…”

Estelle exhaled white breath as she left footprints on the white snow field, and caught the view of Helios in the distance.

“·······.”

it’s a place i miss

And, it’s a place I’d definitely want to go back to.

Everything started there and ended there.

The place where the memories of her crying and laughing are sleeping.

Estelle, who was looking at the place, smiled and moved into the forest.

Sabak- Sabak-

If you take a step, the immaculate snow will shatter.

Yujin Kang disappears.

even if it’s been a long time

Winter in this forest still doesn’t end.

As always, it sleeps quietly in the white snowfield.

Estelle now knows that this forest is a forest that contains Kang Yu-jin’s image.

Because it was winter created by his mind, now that he died and disappeared, it was a forest where spring should have come.

But the winter forest was still winter, breathing white snow under the cloudy sky.

“…it’s all here.”

deep in the deep forest.

I saw a derelict house built there.

A long time ago, Yujin Kang’s colleagues made it, and now it is a place that Estelle visits occasionally.

Of course, nobody knows that.

“ha···.”

Upon entering the desolate house, you see a completely different interior from before.

All the old and shabby things have been cleaned up, and it looks nice.

Even though no one lives there, it looked much nicer than before when everything collapsed.

and one side of the wall.

A spacious wall with no furnishings, all over one side of it, there were photos.

“·······.”

Photos taken by Yujin Kang’s colleagues.

A photo with Yujin Kang.

Around the photo that first kept its place, numerous photos Estelle had collected decorated the lonely house.

Photos taken with friends.

Pages of newspaper articles and papers in which Yujin Kang appeared.

And, the bonds of everyone that Estelle has gathered.

As if someone were trying to decorate it so that it would not be lonely.

The small space was filled with warm memories.

“This is the end.”

I put the picture I received from Skadi there.

There, where the laughter of the four professors was added, Estelle looked at the center of the wall full of photos for the last time.

The only empty space where nothing is pasted.

Looking at the place reserved for the most important photo, she smiled one last time.

“Wait a little.”

Leaving the cradle of memories behind, her steps were lighthearted.

So Estelle left the cabin.

towards the final destination.