Free Web NovelChapter 2004: Chapter 2004: Departure and Departure
"...Yes."
"What about them?"
"They are all my wings... I mean, I will be responsible for each one of them."
"You..." freewebnoveℓ.com
He tried to stand up, but was held back by his brother Edward and sister Maria:
"Calm down, he is a God Summoner, the most powerful person in the Material World. Since he promised to be responsible, you should be pleased. You also know that the moral standards of ordinary people don’t greatly constrain a Circle Sorcerer. He is a man of his word, a promise is sufficient."
But such words of comfort only made Mr. Alphonse Edwards even more infuriated.
He looked at his brothers and sister:
"You all speak so easily, don’t you realize that the only reason we can all sit here peacefully and that he agreed to save all of us that night is because of my daughters?"
His voice was deafening:
"It is because of my daughters’ existence that he was willing to help us, it is because my daughters became his lovers that he can talk to us with a smile instead of sending us away directly. You all received help without giving anything, but my daughters have given their entire lives!"
What he said wasn’t wrong, so his two brothers and only sister had nothing more to say.
Shard looked at Megan, who showed a helpless expression. As others younger than Mr. Alphonse Edwards of the Fourth Generation had no right to speak, Shard looked towards the elders.
Third Generation firstborn Envy Edwards was spaced out, thinking about something unknown, and Gratoni Edwards sneered as he glanced at Shard:
"You want to marry my granddaughter, why should I speak for you?"
None of the others at the table were surprised, seemingly already aware of Alphonse’s true identity despite being raised as an adopted son.
Fortunately, the father of the four from the Fourth Generation, once Demon Pride Edwards, spoke up:
"Alphonse, I see this young man as quite decent. Don’t interfere excessively with your descendants’ choices, or what difference is there between you and your ancestors?"
Facing his father, the angry middle-aged man nodded and sat back down but still asked Shard:
"Even though you are of high level, do you not constantly hide without a fixed residence?"
"Oh, I have a rather nice property in the Kingdom Capital, and it’s quite large."
Alphonse Edwards’s expression softened somewhat:
"I heard that a God Summoner always refuses to reveal his true identity. In normal society, do you also have your own career and reputation?"
"Yes, I could even be considered a noble... I do have a legitimate job, though the income is not much, I certainly have social standing."
Shard was known as "The Famous Detective of Tobesk," though since becoming famous, business had dried up, but he was indeed well-known in Tobesk... as the sort of fame one gains from being a Duchess’s lover.
Alphonse Edwards’s expression was no longer as severe:
"I know you are very strong, but I don’t wish for my daughters to spend their lives with a man who only knows killing and fighting."
He probably wanted to ask if Shard had his own influence, but Shard answered in another way:
"I actually have a doctoral degree, I can be considered a cultured person."
Although it was an honorary degree in History, it was still certified. As for the Saint Byrons Integrated Academy degree, he hadn’t completed it, so there was no need to mention it. However, given the current situation, if he doesn’t complete his Ascension journey within ten years, his probability of becoming the next Librarian and obtaining a tenured position at the Academy is almost certain.
Alphonse Edwards finally nodded:
"Treat my daughters well from now on."
After speaking, he reminded Megan:
"I won’t interfere with your choice, but if you regret following such a fickle man in the future, don’t forget to cry at your mother and my graves."
Most people stifled laughter, and Megan could only nod:
"I understand, Father... I won’t regret it."
"Young people indeed."
After Alphonse Edwards said that, he fell silent.
"Our bodies melted into the blood waters, but the graves should still exist. Transfer the graves here, and let the four of us be buried together on this island. Yes, on this Green Island,"
Hohenheim Edwards, speaking again on behalf of his brothers and sisters to their descendants, said:
"Place the graves in the location of the flower garden behind this house, so that we wanderers who left our homeland may finally return home after a century." freewebnovёl.ƈom
Their descendants all nodded in unison, everyone had descendants, and the bloodline still carried on. As for Maria Edwards, who was buried at sea and had no grave, the Green Siblings still had her relics, which could be used to rebuild a grave, using those relics as her remains.
After resolving the matters of the Fourth Generation, only the First Three Generations remained. There were fewer people among the First Three Generations. Pride Edwards of the Third Generation looked at his sister, Gratoni, and seeing that she didn’t want to speak, he took the initiative to speak to Shard:
"The two of us choose to continue moving forward. These days, I’ve spoken at length with the children. They do not resent my decision back then to destroy the town and the island, and I am very happy to be reunited with so many family members in the final days of my life. Watching the family grow larger and each person having their own story, I am satisfied."
"Since it is my brother’s choice, I will continue to move forward as well, wherever he goes, I will go."
Gratoni said, looking at Shard with an unapologetic gaze:
"Take good care of my granddaughters."
Shard nodded, then looked at Envy Edwards, who had been lost in thought; the latter noticed Shard’s gaze:
"I will not continue moving forward, I am not qualified."
Although Shard saved him from the state of the Space-Time Curse at a cost, his soul was different from others. Shard could sense that peculiar feeling of spatial and temporal dislocation, and the power he still wielded was astonishing:
"Speaking of it, I’ve actually experienced more time than all my family members combined. I have witnessed many things in the past; I have delved into the Fourth Era, the Third Era, and even once touched the edge of the Second Era."
He took a deep breath:
"I still have my own mission, and I will leave here for a place where I am truly needed."
Shard was somewhat puzzled, but he also somewhat understood. He nodded slowly, deciding to discuss these matters later.
With that, only the living Sloss Edwards remained, the Second Son of the Second Generation, brother of Laster Edwards, and the family’s second Lord who propagated the subsequent four generations. He had already made up his mind about his own matters these days:
"Once they have been seen off, I will take you to my father’s library, laboratory, and storeroom. After that, I will find the most suitable use for the remaining days of my life."
"Very well, everyone, let us raise a cup together with tea instead of wine."
The living and the spirits all lifted the teacups in front of them, and on that sunny morning, with Shard, they said:
"This marks the end of the final banquet of the Edwards Family’s Sixth Generation. The mission has been accomplished. Everything has ended. Let us toast to Green Island! Toast to this world!"
"Toast to Green Island! Toast to this world!"
At this moment, Shard suddenly wondered what Laplace Klein Howard would think if he saw this scene.
No time to delay, those who should leave should not stay. Everyone got up and walked out of the house into the courtyard of the old house. Family members bid farewell, loved ones embraced each other. Even Megan and Audrey, who did not like men, lightly embraced their father, Mr. Alphonse Edwards.
"Death is but the beginning of another adventure, farewell world, farewell family, farewell, God Summoner."
Pride Edwards of the Third Generation led everyone in bowing to Shard, then Shard waved his hand and opened a black rift, revealing the moonlit shoals.
Pride, Gratoni, Hohenheim, Edward, Alphonse, and Maria walked in together. Megan’s father, Mr. Alphonse, still gave Shard a warning look in the end, but ultimately nodded at him. No words were spoken, but Shard understood his meaning.
Megan and Audrey appeared now, far stronger than Shard expected, waving goodbye to their father. After the rift closed, they only quietly wiped their eyes.
Subsequently, the Green siblings, along with their father, Elder Nicholas Green, were the first to leave. And Shard asked Megan to find Ciris and the girls of the Golden Dawn on the island, allowing the believers of the Old God, The Forgotten Old Man, to handle the memories of the other six people about to leave the island: two cultists and two pairs of twins.
This was not a simple job, and to ensure perfection, memory handling required some time. So, while Ciris and the opera troupe girls were busy, Shard found Envy Edwards alone and spoke with him at the entrance of the old house.
The extraordinary soul looked at Shard, and even though they were both proficient in the Power of Time, they should have had much in common, but looking at him, Shard suddenly understood that they were actually completely different.
"Please allow me to give you some advice."
The spirit looked at the small town below the hill and said:
"Do not use the Time Key of the Ancient Era; exploration of the Fifth Era’s time is sufficient. The exploration of the Fourth Era has certain issues, and the First Three Eras should not be touched."
Saint Byrons Integrated Academy actually does not advocate the exploration of the Ancient Era’s Time Key. The academy and the church have roughly the same stance, so one cannot find Sage Level and Angel-Level Relics in the black market, nor can one see Keys predating the Fifth Era.
"I understand."
"I cannot tell you what I have seen in the past, you probably understand the rules of time better than I do. Your grandfather may have said many things to you; although he saw much through my eyes, the truth does not represent the whole. Please be cautious with it."
He continued, and Shard nodded again:
"So where do you want to go next?"
The spirit was silent for a moment, gazing blankly at the town below the hill:
"The Tree Father has departed, but the stability of time still needs maintenance. I have once touched the great Power of Time; my time is already different from a normal spirit. Farewell, God Summoner, we may meet again."
A tree-shaped green glowing symbol appeared on the spirit’s forehead of Envy Edwards. As the green roots spread to the entire spiritual body, his spiritual body gradually dispersed into light spots and vanished into the midday wind, as if the soul actively chose to depart.
"Where did he go?"
Megan, who came to find Shard, asked. Shard watched as those light spots scattered toward the town, gently shaking his head:
"It’s hard to say; perhaps it’s the end of space-time, perhaps it’s the other side of time, perhaps it’s somewhere unknown to anyone. In any case, he will not appear here again. From now on, Envy Edwards will no longer exist."
Megan tilted her head slightly, not fully understanding what Shard was saying. Shard didn’t explain either, just watching the wind scatter the light spots until all returned to calm.
