——When he opened his eyes, he saw azure color.

An azure-colored field spreading everywhere.

The twilight sky with various colors mixed together in it was not cracked nor collapsing.

It was just a beautiful scenery, extending into the distance.

When he breathed in, he felt a sweet scent. And a soft and warm sensation on his head.

He raised his head as if turning over in sleep.

There, stood a girl with a gentle expression.

Like a mother, like a goddess, she looked soft and sacred.

Looking up at her, the young man reached out towards her cheek.

The girl appeared to immerse dearly in the sensation of the hand touching her cheek as she looked down at him.

"...It has been a while, Host."

"............I knew that you were always by my side."

Hearing Takeru's words, Lapis smiled broadly.

Takeru too, made a light smile.

"...Did I die?"

"No. You have kissed the newborn children you had with your wife and headed to sleep. Please rest assured. When the morning comes, you will return to happy days."

"............I see."

Making a relieved, and at the same time slightly lonely expression, Takeru looked at Lapis.

"Why did you come to meet me?"

"I do not know. The only thing I did in the world as the God, was restoring your body back to normal. That is why me being inside your dream can only be said to be a miracle."

"............"

"If anything... it might be because you have accomplished your goal. With that, mine and your connection must have been restored."

Although she didn't know, thinking that way would make her happy, is what Lapis said.

Takeru stroked Lapis' cheek time after time again.

"Did I... fulfill my promise?"

"Yes."

"I saved everything, right?"

"Yes."

"...I see."

He closed his eyes as if relieved. This time, Lapis pat his head.

"...Was it unexpected whom I choose?"

"No, not even a little? It was very much like you, Host."

"It was quite difficult, y'know? There was actually a huge quarrel about that."

Takeru spoke excitingly, happy to chat with her.

They talked about various things. He conveyed many happy memories to her.

But for some reason he felt very sleepy, although he wanted to talk lots, he felt comfortable with his head stroked and dozed off.

"Hey... Lapis, I have much more I want to talk about..."

"I am always by your side."

I know that. I always felt it. Even though he held a sword devoid of warmth, he noticed that she was by his side. Even though he couldn't see her, he felt her existence.

However, he couldn't help but wish for time where he could touch her like this.

"...We'll meet again, right?"

"Yes... definitely. From now on, we can meet any time in your sleep."

Hearing that, relieved from the bottom of his heart, Takeru breathed out deeply. He stopped resisting sleep and entrusted himself to the calm.

Wind blew.

Petals danced in the air soundly,

"...Host, do you remember the contract with me?"

A gentle voice had made his eardrums tremble.

Yeah, of course. I remember.

Takeru responded inside his heart.

There was no way he would forget.

His answer to those questions haven't at all changed since then.

—— Question one. Do you have an intention of becoming an inquisitor? ——

—— Question two. Do you have an intention of exterminating witches? ——

—— Question three. Will you discard yourself for the sake of your goal? ——

—— Question four. Will you discard what you hold dear for the sake of your goal? ——

—— And,

"This is the last question."

——The last question was,

"Host... are you now happy?"

Opening his heavy eyelids in the end, Takeru looked at Lapis' smiling face under the twilight sky.

There was no need for tears. After all, this wasn't a parting.

Days full of happiness would continue from here on.

That's why Takeru enjoyed this moment as he answered.

"Yeah... thanks to you being with me, I am very, very happy."

There was a beautiful smile in front of him.

Petals danced in the sky, gentle wind blew around them.

The sensation of his head being pat invited sleep.

He fell asleep inside his dream.

Takeru who had finished all his battles, once again returned into his happy life.

"I too am... very happy thanks to being with you, Host."

Embraced by this azure warmth, he fell into tranquility——