Ghost 19 — An End Without Horizon
"Hey. After all this chaos in the world ends, what will you do, Master?"
In the antechamber, waiting for the preparations to finish before the meeting with the Divine Word Church, Sophia asked that.
Throughout their journey here, Sophia had appeared deep in thought.
That was undoubtedly the source of this question.
Sophia was concerned with what would come after.
Shiro, asked, remained expressionless as always. After a breath, he replied.
"Escape."
"Wha—?"
Sophia’s voice, filled with unspoken doubt, likely echoed the silent thoughts of everyone present.
Escape?
From whom?
From what?
As far as I know, I cannot imagine any opponent that would force Shiro to flee.
If such a being existed, it would be only the other Shiro—Black—but even that felt wrong.
The very idea that Shiro would flee—declaring it so—feels too unexpected for me to accept.
Throughout our interactions, I’ve always believed Shiro to be someone who accomplishes whatever they set their mind to, regardless of cost.
No means are too extreme if the goal demands it.
For Shiro to declare outright that they would flee—without regard for form—contradicts that image entirely.
Everyone else seems to share the same thought; all wear expressions of mild disbelief.
Only Ariel appears to hesitate for a moment, then her expression shifts—something dawns on her, and she seems to understand.
Does Ariel know something we do not?
"Shiro-chan, is it really safe to say that out loud?"
Ariel speaks while glancing around nervously, her movements unnatural.
Something is off.
There’s a faint air of fear in her demeanor.
The way she acts suggests there is something beyond even Shiro and Ariel’s ability to resolve.
A suspicion arises—something here threatens to derail Shiro’s plan.
“Fine, but not fine. So please, don’t speak of this matter much.”
Shiro’s tone feels tighter than usual.
As if guarding against something.
“Shiro, is that being a threat to our plan?”
I ask, curiosity pricking.
If the plan I believed was progressing smoothly is, in fact, walking a precarious bridge unknown to me, then knowing the truth is necessary.
“Yeah. Fine, fine. Lars-kun doesn’t need to worry. Honestly, he’s the one who’d be more likely to interfere here. After all…”
Shiro cuts off Ariel’s words.
Shiro shook his head. Ariel, having seen it, nodded in agreement.
“Just remember one thing—there’s no need to worry.”
“That’s not how it works.”
“Lars. There are things in the world better left unknown.”
Ariel attempted to press further, but then refused to elaborate any further.
No explanation could be drawn from either Ariel or Shiro, now silent.
I had no choice but to abandon further inquiry.
Still, if Ariel said there was no need to worry, the plan would proceed without issue.
“Where would you run to?”
Just as I thought the matter settled, Sophia brought it up again.
Despite having just heard Shiro’s earlier warning not to speak of it.
“Who knows.”
As expected, Shiro replied dismissively.
The words carried a faint edge of irritation, as if Sophia had brought up a subject she wished to avoid.
“Answer seriously.”
Whether unaware of the irritation or aware yet pressing forward anyway, Sophia looked at Shiro with an unusually serious expression, repeating her question.
Shiro remained silent, his closed eyes turning toward her. Sophia stared intently at his face.
The silence persisted. It was Sophia who broke it first.
“Can I come too?”
Her voice was quiet, almost fading, tinged with hesitation.
Not fear—rather, the feeling of already knowing the answer, yet unable to refrain from asking.
“No.”
Shiro’s reply was brief. Still, unmistakably a refusal.
Sophia’s expression was one of quiet resignation—almost as if she had expected this, yet still tinged with sorrow.
“You can’t come with me. But you can choose to stay here—or live on Earth?”
Shiro dropped the statement like a bomb.
Earth?
No. Thinking about it, it wasn’t strange that Shiro had been to Earth.
In fact, it would have been strange if he hadn’t.
It was a long time ago, but Shiro had drunk a canned coffee right in front of us.
A canned coffee that did not exist on this world.
A brand common in Japan, familiar to us all.
Such a thing could not have been obtained without having been to Japan.
Shiro possessed the means to travel to Earth.
Likely through transfer.
That meant he could go to Earth.
He had considered returning to Earth.
In fact, he had thought about it many times right after being reborn into this world.
Wishing to return to Earth.
Could that wish be fulfilled?
"This way is fine. I have no attachment to Earth."
As I pondered, Sophia dismissed the path back to Earth without hesitation.
"Returning to Earth won't make me who I was before. More importantly, I like who I am now. Going back would just bring complications—registration, paperwork, all of it. Better to live freely here."
"Live freely" — a response utterly characteristic of Sophia.
Living without thought, following only one's impulses.
She'd probably scold me if I said it aloud, but that carefree way of being seemed perfectly suited to her.
It felt like true freedom.
"What about you, Kyoya?"
Sophia turned the question to me.
But my answer was already decided.
"I'm staying here too."
I do have attachment.
But return is impossible.
Sasajima Kyoya is already dead.
This is merely a demon named Lars.
It will not return. It cannot return.
Ah, so...
Sophia dismissed my answer without hesitation.
He likely anticipated my answer without needing to hear it.
That I have no intention of returning.
Perhaps they had intended to grant me a chance when they asked me.
To make her believe there was still a way to turn back, that other choices existed.
But no matter how many choices exist, I have already decided.
I'm sorry.
The future is meaningless to me.
Fermyna「」
No response. Just a drunkard, it seems.