For the next two weeks.

Marikka was in a lull.

< have come to visit her in turn.

"Now that I've met some old friends, it's not so bad to sleep in once in a while," she says cheerfully.

They are cheerful, but their color is not so good.

Jin had overcome all difficulties, but his life expectancy was just too short.

(No, is there a final way to transfer his memories and personality to a homunculus or an automata (......)?

<

(I wonder if the homunculus succeeded. ......)

(I wonder if the homunculus succeeded... ) I am curious about it, but since I said I would leave it to you, I can't ask you about it.

(In the first place, if he became a homunculus, he can't be in contact with ordinary people, can he?)

< person knew about it.

(In that sense, it might be a good idea to go into hiding in Hail.)

Suddenly, the word "Paradise" comes to Jin's mind.

(It's a bit too much to call it a "Pure Land", but I guess that's how it's positioned.)

Jin reaffirms that he, too, should be in the Pure Land.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Two days later.

Finally, the effects of <> and <> are no longer long-lasting.

Now Lise has to reapply them every three hours.

"Marikka, is there anything you want to eat?"

Sion has been staying at Marikka's house for a long time now.

"Thank you, I don't have much of an appetite right now."

"Really?　If you need anything, just tell me.

"Yes."

Persica juice is the only thing that still seems to pass his lips, so Jin has been bringing in large quantities from Horai Island.

But even that is not a panacea.

Jin-sama!

"What's wrong, Marikka?"

Marikka, who was still lying down, called out to Jin.

I saw Jin-sama off once.

"Yes, of course you did."

This was less than 400 years ago, when Jin was still alive. ...... though Jin now has no memory of that time.

"......It's your turn to be sent off, isn't it?"

"......"

Marikka must have been aware of what was happening to her. She smiled a clear, all-knowing smile.

"But I am grateful to have met Jin-sama, who saved us from being called <> and even calling ourselves that, and who has allowed us to live peacefully like this."

"Marikka, you are younger than me, don't be so pathetic!"

Theon, who seems to have returned to his old tone of voice, encourages her with stronger words.

"Thank you very much. You're right, I still have ......."

There was a pause in the conversation.

"<>!"

Lise immediately casts a healing spell. With that, Marikka regains some of her strength.

"............ there is still so much to see and do... ......"

"Marikka-sama, there are still many things I want you to teach me.

"Marikka-sama, please get well soon."

Rhodes and his sister Vita came and took Marikka's hand.

"Thank you, everyone."

(What is ......< doing?)

Jin was a little impatient. If he was going to do something about Marikka's homunculus, he had to take action soon or he would not make it in time.

Time is running out.

"<>!　<>!"

Every three hours became every two hours, and now every half hour, until Marikka still could not lift her head from the pillow.

"............I'll tell you while I can still ...... talk. ......Thank you, Zion, for all these years."

"Marikka ......!　I don't like that word!　You and I will still be looking to the future of our friends together!"

"I'm sorry ......, right ......?"

Marikka then turned to Jin.

"Jin ......, my lady. I thank you for meeting you and for everything in this world."

"Marikka ......."

I have one ...... favor to ask you.

What's that?

"Would you ...... like me to stroke your ...... head like I did ...... once upon a time? ............?"

"Yeah, sure."

Jin gently reached out and stroked Marikka's head as he had in the past.

"It's like ...... going back to ...... the old days. ......, isn't it..................?"

His voice trailed off.

"Marikka?"

"Marikka-sama!"

Marikka!

Marikka, aged 493, passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends and acquaintances.

* * * *

Jin was alone, looking up at the sky.

（The old man ......<>...... got here just in time, didn't he?)

But Jin knows that the old man will not talk about it.

Yes, as long as the existence of Jin is not threatened.

That is the that Jin has given to Lao-kun, Reiko, and all golems and automata on Horai Island.

Not to follow Jin blindly, but to choose the best path with your own judgment.

Father.

Reiko?

Yes. ...... I can only tell you one thing. <

"I see. So there's no need to be sad?

"Yes."

"...... but it's hard ...... even though I know that. ......"

Jin wiped his tears with his sleeve.

That day, the sky of the Nord Federation was unusually gloomy, and the clouds were hanging low, as if it would rain at any moment.

* * * *

"...... what's that?　I'm ......."

"Hey, Marikka."

"Hey, Marikka.　You are ......, or rather, where am I?

"It's not heaven, and it's not the afterlife."

"...... Marikka, for a moment."

"And you, ......, you too?"

"Yes, there are others."

"Oh, really,......, am I getting younger?"

"Yes, I'm back to my physical best, right?"

"Yes, yes. That's why you're all on .......

Sooner or later, Zion will come.

We'll have fun here again.