Everyone who saw this scene felt their hearts twist in agony, their eyes turning red with tears.
"I'm sorry, General. This is the last time I'll ever deceive you. Please forgive me."
"I forgive you... I forgive you..." Zebul cried, her voice filled with despair.
"Please… open the protective shield…"
"I promise I won't fight… I just want to hold you one last time…"
But such a childish lie couldn't fool even a child.
"Don't cry, General. This is my destiny. I was born for this purpose," Elliot consoled her.
"You're wrong… it shouldn't be like this… Why should you be forced to bear everything from birth…"
"I am the head of the Tenryou Commission. The Tenryou Commission exists to defend our home and protect the nation. This is my duty."
As he spoke, Elliot turned his gaze to Kujou Tae, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "Kujou Tae, from now on, you must support the General and safeguard the safety of Inazuma."
Kujou Tae's eyes were bloodshot, yet no tears fell. He stood tall and answered firmly, "As you command!"
Elliot swept his eyes over the subordinates aboard the great ships and nodded with satisfaction. "Good, very good. Even in the face of tens of thousands of monsters, you still stand bravely, defending your home and the land behind you."
"I am proud to have you as my men. Among my subordinates, there are no cowards—only men of unyielding spirit."
"What a pity… with so many fine soldiers, I never had the chance to truly lead you."
"Do you all still remember the oath of the Tenryou Commission?" Elliot looked at the armored, spear-wielding soldiers with hope shining in his eyes.
"We remember!"
Every member of the Tenryou Commission responded, their eyes burning red.
"We are the spears of Inazuma, shattering all enemies that stand before us!"
"We are also the shields of Inazuma, vowing to protect this land with our very lives!"
Their shouts roared like dragons and tigers, resounding through heaven and earth.
"Well done. All of you."
"Hold fast to your oath, and never forget the duty of the Tenryou Commission." Elliot nodded with deep satisfaction.
Then, his gaze returned to Zebul.
"General, it's truly a blessing to have met someone as endearing as you…"
Looking at the weeping Zebul, Elliot smiled warmly.
Before the eighth reincarnation, in Elliot's memory, Zebul had always been someone reserved, even cold.
Yet, before the Khaenri'ah War, she had been mischievous and playful, so unlike the Zebul he knew—more like a lively little girl who loved to laugh and cause trouble.
He wished she could always remain that way, for that was who she truly was.
Not sealing herself away in the hollow "Plane of Euthymia" for centuries on end.
Elliot knew too well how painful loneliness was.
A hundred years of loneliness was beyond what he could imagine.
And that "Plane of Euthymia" contained nothing at all.
No human warmth, no mountains or rivers, no birds or beasts. Nothing but a dead, empty void.
Spending centuries in such a place… the very thought was despair itself.
Fortunately…
Fortunately, in this life, she would not endure that again.
This time, only he would leave.
She would still have her sister Baal, her friends Chiyo and Kitsune Saiguu, and Yae Miko by her side.
They would live well, happily, on Narukami Island.
"At a time like this… saying something like 'cute'…"
"If you really care… then open this barrier… let us face the monsters together…"
"After we win… I'll…"
"General." Before Zebul could finish, Elliot shook his head, cutting her off.
"As long as I am here, protecting Inazuma will always be my duty."
"But… but…"
"But… I recently learned a new dish… you haven't tried it yet…"
"You haven't told me… if it's good or not…"
"You can't just leave like this…"
Zebul was sobbing uncontrollably now. She could no longer hold her blade, pressing her hands despairingly against the transparent shield.
He was right there…
Right before her eyes…
Yet she was powerless.
"The dishes the General makes must be delicious," Elliot said softly with a gentle smile.
"After all, they were taught to you by Master Chef Chiyo herself."
At those words, Chiyo froze for a moment, then muttered quietly, "You have no idea how troublesome it is to teach her to cook…"
"She heard you liked stewed meat soup, so she insisted on learning it…"
"That dish is so difficult… I spent ages teaching her, and she only just managed to learn it…"
"Then you said you liked sugar-coated hawthorn, and she kept pestering me to teach her that too…"
"At least that was simpler, but it still took me an entire day to teach her…"
Chiyo lowered her head, her eyes red, mumbling complaints under her breath.
Her voice trembled, but she still tried her best to hold back the tears.
"After all this time, you still remember I like stewed meat soup."
With Sasayuri's memories within him, Elliot clearly remembered—Sasayuri's favorite dish had always been the stewed meat soup Chiyo had made long ago.