Beginning Beyond The Horizon

At this time of night, there are still some people walking on the street, and there are fewer and fewer stalls open. Most of the stalls that are open late at night sell alcohol. Friends were gathering around the table. Hajime, who was walking beside Yul, happily looked at the men drinking at the table.

Hajime smiled and said, "It's a good thing to just walk alone with you without the company of others." He turned his head and continued to look at the men drinking and chatting at the table.

"Why do you keep looking at them?" Yul asked.

Hajime said, "I wonder if one day, the five of us can return to Tanzang safely and sit at the table and drink happily like these people."

Yul held Hajime's hand and said, "That day is waiting for us. We already have the fourth key and only need one more key. We may return to Tanzang earlier than the fifteen years we originally planned." He paused and pushed Hajime's hair away from Hajime's face. "When we get back home, let's go to the inn near U-ri's house to celebrate. They make the most delicious food."

Hajime stared at the five men sitting at the table, listening to Yul talking about the appearance of the inn and the smell of the food. When Hajime continued to stare at the men, he saw himself sitting at the table with Yul and Abrafo, Michio, U-ri and Bong. They laughed. They ate, passed food around, and enjoying a lovely conversation.

Hajime smiled and said, "Your description of the Inn is so good, I even imagine us drinking and eating."

Hajime and Yul continued walking along the street. Yul said, "Meiji, he is so perfect. I know my parents will like him very much. Haha, more like they will pamper him."

Hajime stopped and held Yul's hands. "Of course, they will probably spoil him because he looks like you. Yul, can you promise me that if Meiji does something wrong, you can scold him and let him reflect on his mistakes, but never raise your hand to hit him," Hajime said sadly.

Yul said, "Naughty children are usually spanked."

Hajime said, "I'm just afraid that hitting him will leave scars and make him resentful."

"I can't promise that I won't hit him, but I can promise you that he won't be punished cruelly or harshly," Yul said. "Every mistake he makes; I will definitely teach him to never make the same mistake again."

Hajime sighed and said, "I guess that will have to do."

Yul saw the dissatisfied expression on Hajime's face and asked, "You are not happy?"

Hajime said, "I'm just worried that your father will forcibly impose military punishment on him."

Yul chuckled and said, "To be honest, my parents probably wouldn't let Meiji join the army. Look at me, after stubbornly fighting with my parents for a long time, they only allowed me to be a palace guard." He looked at Hajime. "Unless Meiji stubbornly wants to join the military."

Hajime and Yul continued walking, and after passing a few stalls, Hajime said, "You are a brave warrior, you should succeed your father when you come back. Because the title general cannot be given to others except your family." He looked at Yul. "Although your father says he doesn't want you to join the military, but deep inside his heart, I know that deep down, there is a part of him that wants you to stubbornly go against his wishes."

Yul asked, "And how do you know this?"

Hajime chuckled and said, "Well, I put myself in your father's shoe and that's how I feel."

Yul said, "Alright, when we return home, I will talk to my father. I will tell him that I have the strongest partner in the world working beside me, so my parents can rest assured." He turned to looked at Hajime with a smile. "Because no matter how difficult or dangerous my situation is, my partner is always there to save me when I'm in trouble."

Hajime smiled, and the two continued walking towards Eternal Library.

After passing the stalls that were still open and walking on the dark streets for a few minutes, Hajime and Yul stood in front of Eternal Library.

"We're here," Yul said. "So, do you want to break in, or knock on the door?"

Hajime said, "We are here to borrow the artifact, so it would be better to knock on the door."

Hajime and Yul walked to the door, and Yul started banging the doorknocker against the door panel. After several knocked on the door, one side of the door opened, and a young librarian came out to greet Hajime and Yul.

"The master is waiting in the guest room," the young librarian said.

Hajime asked, "He knew we would come?"

The young librarian said, "Master asked me to wait, because someone may show up unexpectedly tonight." He closed the door and took Hajime and Yul into a small guest room.

Ru was still studying when Yul and Hajime arrived. As soon as Ru saw Yul and Hajime, he closed the book he was holding and placed the book on the table next to him.

Ru smiled and said, "I knew you would come back." He walked to Hajime. "How can I help you? Whatever I should give you, I've already given you."

Hajime said, "I would like to borrow the pavilion trap."

Ru chuckled and said, "This request may be a bit too much. What can I get in return?"

Hajime asked, "What do you want in return?"

"I want five books. Detailed stories of how you got the keys," Ru said. "I believe my library deserves such stories."

Hajime said, "U-ri has been working on it. When he finishes writing, I'll make sure he sends you a copy."

Ru handed a yellow blank talisman to Hajime. "A drop of blood. Not just yours, but his as well," Ru said, handing the needle to Hajime. Hajime touched the sharp needle head with his finger and smeared his own blood on the yellow paper talisman. Yul did the same thing, and after Yul's blood stained the paper talisman, Ru untied a small bag around his waist and handed the yellow bag to Hajime. "Here," Ru said. "I hope it comes back intact."

Hajime said, "I will try my best to bring it back intact."

"If you lose it or break it, you have to make me a new one," Ru said, looking at Hajime. "Making a new pavilion trap is no easy task."

Hajime said, "Okay. Thanks."

Yul looked at Ru and asked, "Aren't you afraid that we will lie to you?"

Ru slowly folded the yellow paper talisman and said, "I'm not afraid. If you don't fulfill your promise, no matter where you are, my night shadows will always find you." He gave the two Tanzanies a quick smirk.

After leaving Eternal Library, Hajime and Yul walked back to the inn along the street they had walked not long ago. However, at this time of night, the moon was particularly round, and all the stalls were closed. There are very few people walking on the street.

Hajime felt very happy to be able to hold Yul's hand and walk side by side Yul. He wished the streets were a few hundred yards longer so he could walk side by side with Yul, holding his hand for a few hundred more yards, but no matter how much he wished in his heart, the reality was that no road goes on forever and if he kept walking, the road would come to an end sooner or later, so when he saw the rooftop of the inn from a distance, his heart was filled with sadness.

Hajime suddenly stopped. "Yul..." Hajime said softly.

"What's wrong?" Yul turned to look at Hajime and asked.

Hajime looked up at Yul, as if the bright moon was shining on Yul's head, forming a double-masted halo on Yul's head. "I...I..." Hajime tried to say the words he had been holding in his heart, but it seemed that every time he opened his mouth, the words didn't come out.

Yul sighed and said, "Hajime, it's just you and me here now. You can speak freely."

Hajime took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I am the fifth key to No Man's Land," Hajime said, looking up at Yul. 

Yul was shocked when he heard Hajime's words. "You are the fifth key?" He asked. "How? How long have you known?"

Hajime could see the disappointment on Yul's face. He said, "Since Peace Valley."

Yul said, "It's been so long, and you didn't think to share this with us."

Hajime said, "I originally wanted to share it with everyone after meeting Baishui, but everything has been too much for me recently. After Makas City, I realized that we could die at any time. After Meiji was born, I did a lot of thinking. I could lie to the world and myself, but I don't want to lie to you." He paused for a moment, his eyes moist with tears. "I can see that with every step we take closer to No Man's Land, the mission becomes more dangerous. I thought, if I am going to die, I wanted to die with a clear conscious. I don't want to die knowing that I owe you an explanation." 

Yul took his hand away from Hajime. He stood there motionless, not knowing how to act at Hajime's words.

"When I returned to Peace Valley, I met Alvalokitesvara. Alvalokitesvara told me how to kill Eldrys and destroy the black hole," Hajime said.

"How to kill Eldrys?" Yul asked in an angry tone.

Hajime said, "Pierce the white dragon tail into Eldris's heart."

Yul said angrily, So, you have always had a plan. Once we get the white dragon tail, you will kill Eldrys with the white dragon tail. After Eldrys dies, we will bring the white dragon tail back to Tanzang to purify the land and destroy the black hole. Is this your plan?"

Hajime nodded.

Yul scoffed angrily. "You had two years to tell us about this and you didn't," Yul said.

Hajime said, "I am the most suitable person. Remember, I cannot die. Even if I die, I will be resurrected. That is why Goddess Gia wants a mage to embark on this journey with the four of you because she knew that only I could kill Eldrys and still be alive."

Yul said, "What if they're wrong?"

Hajime took a deep breath and said, "They are all goddesses, how could they be wrong."

Yul said angrily, "I know you knew they might be wrong and that is the reason you didn't want to keep Meiji at that time. That's why you came up with all kinds of excuses to abort the pregnancy."

"But at the end I kept him for you, didn't I?" Hajime said in frustration. 

"After I begged and begged, you did," Yul said through tears. "I thank you. Now, is there anything else you want to tell me?" He looked at Hajime.

Hajime's heart breaks when he sees Yul's tears. He thought this quiet night would be a good opportunity for him to share what he'd always wanted to tell Yul, but the conversation didn't seem to be going the way he wanted. Since everything had to be said sooner or later, he decided that since the conversation had soured, it would be better to say it all at once. Whatever decision Yul made after the conversation; he could live with it.

Hajime looked up at Yul and said, "The person standing in front of you is not really me. I am a soul from another universe, implanted into this body to help you complete your mission and save Tanzang. The fact is, I am just an ordinary person using the body of a pure-blood mage. Only a pure-blood mage can open the door to No Man's Land. After I help you complete your mission and save Tanzang, Alvalokitesvara will grant me one wish."

Yul looked at Hajime with tears in his eyes and said sadly, "From the day we left Tanzang until this moment. I have always been honest with you without any secrets. I trust you completely. I am extremely disappointed in you." He turned around and slowly walked towards the inn, leaving Hajime behind. 

Hajime stood in the middle of the night with tears streaming down his face, watching Yul's back getting further and further away from him. Although this was not the first time Hajime saw the back of the person, he once loved leaving him, Yul's back left the most painful impression on Hajime.

Hajime bursts into tears as he realizes that some people are born with so much love that they don't even need it. Some people will do anything to keep the little love they have. For a very small number of people, they are born from the mistakes and hatred of others and are labeled unloved from the moment they took their first breath. Hajime stood alone in the darkness, watching Yul's back disappear into the night. He realized that he was one of the few people who was born because of other people's mistakes and was destined to live a life of being a thorn in others' eyes.

Hajime laughed and cried at the same time. "Mother is right. I am indeed the reincarnation of a disaster falling star. I am destined to be hated by everyone who knows of my true identity," Hajime said. "The more I try to catch love, the faster it slips away from my fingers." Hajime put his hand into the cross bag, grabbed the wooden eagle and threw it to the ground.