Chapter 1

A break from the routine.

(How old am I this year? Ninety, wasn't it? I've grown old.)

The small old man woke up in bed, gazing at his wrinkled hands and smiled brightly.

I've lived a good life. During the dark times, I stood on the brink of death more than once or twice. To have lived this long, with my short hair now completely white, my back bent, and my skin full of wrinkles, is a cause for celebration.

(I probably don't have another ten years left.)

Though the years left in his life are not many, for an old man who had always thought his life was as good as nonexistent, this was nothing new, and his smile did not waver.

"Good morning, Faeed."

"Good morning, Elrika."

The small old man Faeed smiled at Elrika, his lifelong partner, who was sleeping next to him.

Elrika was also around ninety, her back bent, her long hair now completely white, and her once-praised as the most innocent beauty in the world, face now full of wrinkles.

After nearly eighty years together, they had grown old without realizing it.

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"What a fine day, isn't it?"

The small Faeed, holding a hoe, looked up at the blue sky and murmured. Every day, whether it was sunny or rainy, the sky remained the same, filled with a myriad of emotions.

Eighty years ago, the sky was red. Not metaphorically, but truly red, with brown, murky clouds drifting by, and the world was shrouded in darkness.

Born from the darkness, a being who called itself the Great Demon King changed the world's order, and the demonic minions it created roamed freely, leaving only death, despair, and lamentation.

But all that was good rose up.

Humans, elves, dwarves, halflings, fairies, mermaids, beasts, and other various benevolent beings stood against the Great Demon King and emerged victorious.

The blue sky returned. Peace returned.

"Hmm..."

Faeed, who had dedicated "almost" his entire life to the earth and the fields, put down his hoe, looking at the now empty field after the recent harvest.

(I wonder what has become of the village where my family lived. Is it still abandoned, or has it been redeveloped?)

Thinking about his remaining lifespan after waking up, Faeed suddenly remembered his distant hometown village.

Born as the third son in a poor village, his treatment was not good. Being a backup to a backup, he was often given cold leftovers, and with no spare resources, he had almost nothing to call his own.

But that was fine. Compared to when the village was swallowed by the dark army and everyone, including his family, was killed, this was much better.

(My son... I'm sure he's doing well.)

Next, Faeed thought about his son, who was born to him and Elrika. His son, who had set out to explore the continent in search of adventure, was apparently doing well on the neighboring continent, as the occasional letters he received indicated no significant changes.

(And my grandchildren are doing fine, but... I haven't seen my great-grandchildren yet.)

Faeed's regret was not knowing his great-grandchildren. They were still young and could not endure the long sea journey between continents, and he was not in a position to move easily. If things continued this way, Faeed might never see his great-grandchildren before his time came.

"Phew..."

Faeed sighed unintentionally as he thrust the hoe into the ground, but there was no feeling or strength behind it; he just swung it down.

(I want to see everyone's faces.)

The last thing that came to Faeed's mind was the faces of his comrades who had shared the hardships with him. For Faeed, whose youth was crushed in the chaotic era, the only bright memory of his young days was the time spent with his comrades, including Elrika.

"Hmm..."

When he swung the hoe again, there was strength in it, but his mind was not on the field.

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"Hey, old lady."

"What is it, old man?"

After finishing dinner, Faeed, drinking hot water, called out to Elrika.

"Would it be a problem if we left here?"

"It's been over seventy years, and most of the human participants are probably gone, except for the long-lived races."

"Hmm..."

Elrika, with her long experience, understood what Faeed was planning but did not rush to answer, simply stating the facts.

"Then... shall we go see everyone's faces?"

"Yes, yes. That's right."

Elrika smiled at Faeed's sudden words. Perhaps she had been hoping for the same thing.

"Then... I should send letters to those we know. It wouldn't be right to leave them out if they came to visit."

"Shall we summon a familiar for the first time in a while?"

"That's a good idea."

With the plan set, Faeed decided to send a bird familiar with letters to inform his few acquaintances of their journey.

There were no nearby residents who needed to be informed. Faeed and Elrika lived in a secluded mountain area, leading a quiet life.

"We should dig out our old equipment, too."

"It's been a long time."

Wrinkled hands moved busily as the night grew deeper.

◆

"Thinking about it, we've had a long relationship with this house, haven't we?"

"Yes, even though we've made some changes, it's been nearly seventy years."

A few weeks later, Faeed and Elrika, having finished their preparations, reminisced about the small house they had lived in for so long. It was far from luxurious, but it was filled with memories and held a special place in their hearts.

"But your appearance is nostalgic."

"Yours too, Faeed."

"Ho ho ho."

"Hee hee hee."

Faeed, carrying a sword and shield in a plain sheath, and Elrika, holding a white robe and a white wooden staff, smiled at each other's appearances.

Faeed, who had become small and old, carrying a sword and shield, looked like a child trying to look grown-up, a mismatched sight.

"Shall we go, then?"

"Be careful of your footing."

"I'm not that weak. You should be careful too."

"I don't think I'm weak either."

The old couple, exchanging light-hearted banter, began their descent down the mountain.

For their final journey.

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(Did I pick up something strange...?)

Herman, the driver of the magic golem carriage that connected the cities, glanced back at the strange cargo he had picked up along the way.

"This must be the latest magic technology, old man!"

"Yes, it is."

The wrinkled old man with bright blue eyes and the serene old woman were looking at the golem horse.

(These two old folks walking on the road... I thought they were trying to reduce their family's burden, but they had money, and they didn't know about the golem carriage that has been around since I was born. How isolated were they?)

Herman, the middle-aged driver with rich red hair, scratched his head, recalling his encounter with the two.

◆

"What...? Kids?"

As Herman, driving the carriage to the next town, squinted, he saw two small figures.

At first glance, they looked like children, and Herman hurriedly increased the speed of the golem carriage to catch up with them.

"Huh? Old folks?"

But as he got closer, Herman realized they were not children but a small old man and an old woman.

"Old man, old lady, is everything okay