Valhalla no Ban Gohan - Volume 5 - Chapter Ep

Volume 5 Epilogue
Epilogue
“Huh!? Andvari was set free!?”

A few days since then—

When thing had calm down, after I had gave my thanks to everyone in ‘Asgard’ who had help me, I was informed by a sudden grave news.

Of course, the one who told me that was the number one informant in the God Realm, Ratatoskr.

“Yup, the source was quite reliable. That because I had seen and heard it with my own eye and ear.”

“The source, weren’t you referring to yourselves…”

In a way, I actually quite respect how loose his mouth was. Especially the fact that he won’t change despite getting into trouble every time.

“Well, let put that aside, Mr Sei. I am sure that you wanted to know the reason for his freedom right?”

“Ah, yes, please tell me! What exactly had happened?”

“He hehe. If you want me to say that, then I would appreciate if you would show me your sincerity first.”

“Sincerity?”

“Wasn’t it obvious? I am referring to the dogeza.”

I immediately responded to his request and show him my greatest sincerity by embracing him. Then, as if he was unable to withstand my weight, he waved his limb and ended up losing his conscious like he had fallen asleep.
“Ah~ what should I do, since it like this, I won’t be able to the explanation. Let see, who else might know about this…”

“Yo! If that the case, I am aware of that also, Oshishou-sama! That was because I had heard it directly.”

At that moment, my disciple, Ikusu appeared out of nowhere. Somehow it seem that she had appeared at quite a good timing but… ah, that right, before she become my disciple, she was a passionate stalker. I am sure that she was hiding somewhere while looking at the situation quietly.

“Ikusu, don’t tell me that you had perform a dogeza to Ratatoskr?”

“Of course! There was no other greater pleasure than putting my forehead on the ground for this back flipping fellow. After I had transform into my human form ~like this, I perform the dogeza that I was proud of!”

Ah, it seem that she had gotten addicted to it… As she was a huge masochist, she might be happy but Ratatoskr, you should not think that this was a norm in the society.

“Well, that’s fine. So, why was Andvari set free?”

“Okay! Somehow, it seem that Odin-sama himself decided to let him go. In the past, it seem that it was the truth that he forcefully steal Andvari treasure and he even forgot to compensate him up until now, but no matter how I look at it, it seem that the one to blame was Odin-sama…”

Somehow it seem that Andvari was more pitiful than I thought. Other than me, I am sure that anyone else will also sympathizewith him as well.

“After Odin-sama had realize his own mistake, he said this. ‘Even though it was to lure you out, can we get to an agreement with each other on this as I had die once also?’ As Andvari had accepted that honestly, he was set free… so that the gist of it.”

Ikusu told me that while putting a lot of effort in mimicking Odin-sama voice.

I see… it seem that Odin-sama had changed a lot ever since the Einherjars rebellion incident. No matter what mistake had he committed, to think that he would easily forgive the mastermind that try to hurt him… I doubt we will get the same result if it was the previous him.

“It important that we forgive each other…”

I said that with a strong thought.

“!… this…”

At that moment—I was attacked by a certain instinct all of a sudden. I am not so sure what was this… but I am pretty sure about it. That—Andvari was standing at the entrance of ‘Valhalla’ right now.

“… I had to go…!”

As if I was urged by this mysterious impulse, I headed toward him. This was neither a curse nor was it fate. Perhaps this was—‘bond’.

“An…Andvari…-san.”

“…Andvaranaut. No… you were now Saehrimnir. I knew why you were here. Was there any chance that you were planning to send me off?”

I gave a nod toward the voice that enquiry me about that. Once I looked at him, I was unable to say anything at all as if something was stuck at my throat.

“…Can I pat your head…?”

Once again, I nodded toward that voice. Then, he bend his knee and patted my head. After that, he told me to listen to him quietly.

“I had just realized that… it was quite tiring to continue hating a person… But my life was full of hatred. If I didn’t hate everything, I might start to have doubt on my life. As I was unable to admit that fact… I had no choice but to continue my hatred against the world.”

“…”

“A few hundreds year had passed since Odin stole you away from me. After time passed, you had finally return back to me. I believe that I had an option to undo the curse and live a peaceful live with you. But… somehow I am not satisfy with it at all. The moment when I heard that ‘Asgard’ will experience a food shortage in the future from them, I thought of this. I had to kill Odin to clear my grudge, and in order to do that, I devised a scenario by sending you to the God Realm.”

? Them… was it? What does he meant by that? Did it mean that it was not Andvari himself who predicted that ‘Asgard’ will experience a food shortage?

Since he mention them, then it mean there was multiple people involved. Who were them? For what purpose did those people told Andvari that?

“In the end, my plan failed and I was prepared to be killed. It sound like a good idea for me to become a curse after I had die. But… to think that I was set free. Normally, this was an impossible outcome. If I were to guess the reason for his change, then it might be exactly like what the blue Valkyrie had said previously. The possibility that ‘you had shown’—somehow, it seem that I am able to see it now.”

After he had said that, Andvari stood up slowly. While seeing me, who was unable to mutter anything, off, he told me something with his back facing me.

“I won’t act like your parent at this point. But… I will give you a warning. Instead of that being an act to lure me out… Loki, the words that he said was the real deal. I am sure of it. That was why I believed in his act and came out.”

Real deal… that?

I am sure that was a lie. Since that was his role as a traitor instead of his true feeling…

“It’s up to you whether you believe me. But be careful. The grudge of his… was much stronger and deeper than mine. Weren’t there already some fool that was caught in his lie? This was just my imagination but… I am not surprised if he possess information that only he knew.”

…Information that only Loki knew…. something only Loki knew, a secret…? I don’t feel like he was acting in a manner if he was in possession of that….

While I was lose in my thought, I lose track of Andvari appearance.

What with this… to think he leave immediately as if he wanted to disappear. …I wanted to call him this… at least once in the end.

“Father…”

“Ah, were you feeling a bit lonely? Sei-san.”

“Huh!? Bry…Brynhildr-sama!?”

That surprised me, to think that she was beside me once I had realize about it. Actually… I had thought of this previously, but weren’t there too many of this type of development?

“Brynhildr-sama, was there any chance that… you sneaked up this close to me on purpose?”

“Ah, it was finally exposed. He he, but it not like I did it on purpose every time.”

While saying that, Brynhildr-sama stick out her tongue in a mischievous way and laugh. Argh! Were you saying I was played by Brynhildr-sama!?

“Ah, I can’t let down my guard at all. If that was the case, doesn’t that mean the only places where I can have my delusion were in the toilet or shower room only!”

“Delusion… what were you referring to? Sei-san.”

“Ah, huh? Did I speak out loud just now?”

Damn! I planned to leave it as a monologue but to think that I had done it unconsciously! Was there any chance that this was Andvari curse… Wait, I shouldn’t blame everything on the curse right?

“By… by the way, Brynhildr-sama. Why did you come here today?”

“Ah, I am on a mission. Odin-sama ordered me to observe Andvari from the shadow to see whether he will leave ‘Asgard’ obediently after he was set free.”

I see… even though his sin was forgiven, it not like he can be trustedcompletely. Regardless of how good a person was, it was still good to have some level of caution.

“Will it be alright for you to talk to me while you are on your mission?”

“It’s alright. That was because some of my sisters were tailinghim. Actually I asked a big favour from them to allow me to step out for a while. …so that I can talk to you. Sei-san, was it alright for you to spare me some time now?”

After she asked me, I gave a big nod as expected.

After Brynhildr-sama saw that, she suddenly picked me up and move toward the tree shade. Then, after we had reached a suitable location, she put me down, sit down and remained silence.

“…? What the matter? Brynhildr-sama, didn’t you had something you want to say.”

It not like I was urging her but due to the uneasiness, I called out to her spontaneously. Then, Brynhildr-sama remained silence for a few more seconds before she opened her mouth.

“Sei-san, I…—“

It was like a whisper from the wind. The lips that were sealed tight due to the embarrassment. Those yearning eye sight… had informed me secretly and properly.

“—I like you.”

p287

“…eh?”

I ask her again unintentionally. That was because I don’t understand at all.

“What I am saying was… I love you.”

Wait, hold it. That not it. It not like I was asking her again because I couldn’t heard it. I hope that you won’t look down on the sense of hearing of a boar.

But that was the point. I am a boar, no matter how you look at it.

Well, it true that I can transform into a human. As I am quite skilled with the rune of mannaz. As long as I have magic points, I will be able to maintain in that appearance.

If someone asked me how much magic point I possessed… let see, I am unable to said it for sure since I haven’t try to measure it but I think it possible for me to retain in my human form for a whole day without taking in the sleeping time.

Ah, in another way, it seem that I am mostly human. As it was unexpectedly common for a God-human couple in the world, I am sure that there was no problem for this.

But… wait, that not it!! There was a problem! It full of problem!!”

“What… what were you saying Brynhildr-sama!! Were you alright!? Please think carefully, it me who you were talking about!? Can I really accept your feeling since I was plain and unmanly at all, on top of that, I keep saying that I was a gentleman but in reality I was opposite of that!?”

I shouted that on purpose so that she could heard it. As soon as she heard that, she showed a sad expression and said.

“…I’m sorry, Sei-san. It seem that I had troubled you…”

“Ah, that not it! I am not troubled at all! I am really happy about your feeling! I am so happy until I am able to accept ‘Ragnarok’ with a smile if it occurred right now!!”

I don’t understand your example but… thank you. I am also very happy.”

Brynhildr-sama show a smile.

This was quite unbelievable… was this a reality?  This was not a dream right? Ah, if this was a dream, then I had to express my feeling before I wake up!

Then, when I flustering—Brynhildr-sama continued her talk.

“But… I wonder whether this feeling of mine was real.”

“Eh…? What… what do you mean by that…?”

After hearing that sudden enquiry, I retracted my feeling of joy and become calm. While holding back the uneasiness that was increasing steadily within me, I waited for her reply.

“… Sei-san true identity was the magic ring, Andvaranaut. The things that was casted on that ring was not limited to the curse that kill its owner. You also possess the ability to increase people greed upon seeing you. The feeling that I had right now… was it really my true feeling? Was it really born from my own feeling?”

“…That…”

I wonder… To be honest, I am unable to answer that question also. No… I think that there was no one in this world who was able to answer that question.

That was because—it does not had any shape at all.

“Previously, I was cursed by Odin-sama. I did told you this before right? The curse that I had to marry the person who woke me up from my slumber. Moreover, love was not involved at all. After I was aware that there was fake love… I pledged that I won’t love anyone.”

With a bitter smile, Brynhildr-sama also mentioned that, she had locked myself in her room for a while ever since then.

I… was not aware of that at all. It normal that I was unaware of that but there was not even a slightest in her behaviour… no.  I am sure that I had noticed that Gerhi-sama had become a bit worry for quite some time but… I thought that it was something like a good omen.

While I was remembering when that happened, Brynhildr-sama continued further.

“But all the pledge that I had made was always easily broken in the end. That day… the first day when Sei-san had arrived in ‘Valhalla’. My heart was melted… by your outstanding courage and dedication. I believed that, that was a real love. But… I had some doubt on it. That was because I was aware that you were Andvaranaut.”

So that was the trouble that Brynhildr-sama was facing right now. That was also an unresolvable reality.

“I am also scared… That the feeling that was sprouted in my chest was fake. Once I thought of that… I became scared. Sei-san… what should I do? How should I interact with Sei-san from now on…?”

“… It’s a pity… because even I don’t know the answer to that.”

I was unable to answer her. I was unable to prove her feeling also.

I am sure that the curse that was placed on me had been undone properly. Despite of that, I was unable to change anything.

I am the magic ring, ‘Andvaranaut’, the brown boar ‘Saehrimnir’ and also the ‘Valhalla dinner’ that fill everyone stomach. Up until now, from now onward, that was an unchangeable fact. Then—

I transform into my human appearance with the rune of mannaz as usual. After I kneel down in front of her who was hanging her head, I extended out my hand.

“Brynhildr-sama, I am pleased to meet you. Even if you don’t understand right now, I am sure that you will understand at some day. Before that day arrived— I hope you can always watch over me.”

“! Sei-san…”

Brynhildr-sama grabbed a hold to my hand while hesitating. Then, I pull her hand gently and stood up.

“Sei-san. I had… always watch you. When I was unable to see you, I still thought of you. From no onward also…I will also do the same.”

“Yes, please do so. I am sure the day will came… that a new feeling will be born and it was strong enough to replace your current feeling. I will also do my best from now onwards also.”

—That was an early afternoon of a certain day.

The new pledge was formed between the two humans was carried away by the golden wind.

The both of us were willing to continue moving forward as if we were chasing that wind.

Toward the white future while we holding each other hand, stumble together and surpass it together.

Until the day came when our peacefulness was visited by— ‘Ragnarok’.

~Fin~