He Tried to Protect His Friends… But Sacrificed Himself Anyway – Manga Recap

Ajouté : 2026-06-04

[00:00:00]At the beginning, a castle was shown.

[00:00:02]Inside the castle, a monstrous creature, the demon lord, was screaming. Someone stated that it was over, while a group questioned whether they had defeated him. However, the demon lord screamed again and warned them not to think they had won, declaring that he would take every one of them with him. He then activated self-destruct. A girl attempted to use Earth Fortress, stating that it was an incarnation, but realized she would not make it in time. At that moment, the silhouette of a man was shown jumping toward the demon lord, urging someone to use their miracle, no matter what it took. It was then narrated that once upon a time, there was a shadow hero who brought about miracles. He was called the hero's first and last best friend, the one who held the hero's party together, and the beloved of an elf and a succubus. People praised that man and bestowed upon him the title Toa of the Miracle. The shadowed figure then came between the demon lord's attack and the rest of the party, blocking it while declaring that his friends must be protected no matter what. The scene then shifted to a canyon, where the same man was shown lying on Liliana's lap. Upon opening his eyes, he confirmed that she was safe and remarked on the lap pillow, stating that he could finally rest his whole body, and that he had no strength left. He then stood up and asked Areios if he was safe as well, apologizing for borrowing his princess, Liliana, like that. He addressed Selene, Lith, and Lilith, stating that he had saved everyone from the explosion using his power, the power to cause miracles, and that it had been the best. The scene then shifted again, revealing that he was severely wounded and slowly passing away. He stated that it was the best place to die, being surrounded by friends and seeing their tears as he went. Areios shouted at him not to give up, calling out to Toa. One by one, the others spoke, saying they did not want this and calling him an idiot for using the power of miracles to take the full blast of the explosion by himself, warning him not to die. As this happened, Toa thought that in truth, he had already died once before. He realized he was leaving without even telling them that he was a reincarnator.

[00:02:04]He recalled that when he died in high school and was reincarnated into that world, he had obtained a god-tier skill with a completely uncreative name. The scene then shifted and Toa passed away.

[00:02:15]It was narrated that the tragedy that had come his way had granted him the chance to meet his previous precious friends. Perhaps because the power was so great, he had finally paid the price in the end in the form of his own death.

[00:02:27]Liliana and Lilith were then shown holding Toa's hand. Toa thought that it felt warm and that he was glad he had been able to protect everyone. Liliana declared that if he were gone, then what would become of them and vowed that even if she had to sell her soul through her research, she would drag him back from the depths of hell. Lilith added that even if he disappeared, they would remain together forever, regardless of whether it was a dream or an illusion, and that they would be together for all eternity. Toa felt that their emotions were heavy, but admitted that it made him happy. He bid everyone farewell and then he finally passed away. The scene then shifted to another world. In a forest near the royal capital, Luca, a man told a woman to just dump the child, while the woman said not to blame them for being born as their child. The man then added that it was good riddance.

[00:03:14]The boy gained consciousness and realized that he could not speak. He looked at his parents running away and it was revealed that he was Toa reincarnated as a child. He thought that he had been reincarnated again, only to be abandoned right after birth and questioned what kind of situation this was. He remarked that it was not much different from his rock-bottom start in his previous life and wondered why he had not been allowed to pass away in peace. He then heard a snap. It was a pack of wolves. In desperation, Toa attempted to use his miracle again, calling for help, but realized that the miracle was not happening. He then understood that he was as good as dead and began remembering Areios, Liliana, Celine, and Lilith. Suddenly, someone came flying a black silhouette of a winged woman. Bats gathered around Toa as the woman descended and effortlessly slashed the wolves, causing the rest to flee. Toa wondered if he had been saved.

[00:04:06]The woman approached him and stated that he was an abandoned child forsaken by fate. She introduced herself as Astrea Rinstead and declared that she was a vampire. Toa, recalling rumors from his previous life, thought about vampires as a race he had never encountered. He admitted to himself that he was frightened, noting that the pressure she emitted rivaled that of the demon lord.

[00:04:27]He observed that, like a skilled hawk hiding its talons, she appeared calm, yet her crimson eyes glowed quietly like a moon. He also realized that his body, driven by a baby's instinct, craved maternal affection. Astrea then held Toa in her arms and explained that vampires and humans were enemies. Vampires sought blood and hunted humans, while humans, in turn, were hunted by the holy men of the church. Toa anticipated what this development might mean. However, the scene shifted as Astrea hesitated. She admitted that his very existence was sinful in its cuteness and that he was so adorable it was almost mysteriously sinful. She then held Toa and flew into the sky while Toa realized that he was flying. Astrea declared that she would stay by his side until he could stand on his own. Toa realized that he had truly been saved. Astrea then questioned whether she was intoxicated by the full moon, noting that such a decision was unlike her. She stated that this was not like keeping livestock and resolved that she would raise a human out of her own affection. She acknowledged that if her kind discovered this, both of them would be targeted for extermination, yet she reassured him that under her protection, he would live. She further declared that if he were ever to die, she would die as well and that they would go together.

[00:05:43]She vowed to protect him no matter what means she had to use. Hearing this, Toua remembered his battle with the Demon Lord and the moment he had taken the blow while declaring that he would protect his friends. He realized that Astrophea was now making the same vow to him. Overcome with emotion, he began to cry. Astrophea, not understanding, wondered if he was hungry or needed care, wishing they could understand each other's words. Toua then thought that perhaps, on this night, a miracle had truly occurred that he, Astrophea's son, had been saved by a woman like her. He then uttered his first word, "Mama."

[00:06:18]Astrophea looked at him, smiled, and accepted him as her child. The scene then shifted to a house. Inside, Toua observed something resembling a kingdom map, though it differed from the one he knew. He noted the name Royal Capital Luca, realizing it was unfamiliar. He recalled that the capital he had grown up in was Feldman and concluded that he had truly arrived in a different world.

[00:06:40]Astrophea reassured him that she did not attack humans as she regularly obtained blood through the black market. She stated that she had not fallen so low as to lay a hand on her child. She also mentioned a recent incident in which vampires had been killing each other over human blood, calling it cruel despite them being of the same kind.

[00:06:59]Toua then thought about his friends, acknowledging that even though they had been together just an hour ago, that had been the only way he could say goodbye.

[00:07:06]He resolved to walk a different path in this new world. Astrophea then stated that meeting him felt like a miracle and held him in her hands. She spoke hero from the shadows who had fallen while protecting his comrades during the subjugation of the Demon King, noting that he reminded her of Toua of the Miracle. Hearing this, Toua focused on her words, the subjugation of the Demon King, and Toua of the Miracle, and realized that she knew about him. He then recalled the legend. Once, there had been a man, a shadow hero who supported a party of elite champions with a divine protection of miracles and helped defeat the Demon King who had been corroding the land. The legend of the five who brought peace had been passed down along with the story of the hero who became a sacrifice. He had been known as the hero's first and last best friend, the mediator of the party, and the beloved of an elf and a succubus.

[00:07:56]The scene then showed each of his former party members remembering him. Toa was startled and reflected on his name and title, realizing that although this land felt unfamiliar, it still knew him. At the same time, Lilith experienced a strange sensation. She stated that she had felt Toa as if he were far away, yet it felt strange. She asked if others felt the same and insisted that Toa was still there with them. She said this while holding a hazy figure.

[00:08:23]Then, the scene shifted showing the royal capital, Luca, the castle, the town, and Lilith's estate. Lilith was seated at the dining table. Before eating, she offered her thanks to heaven and earth and expressed gratitude for life, then began her meal. She asked whether the wine was recognized, explaining that it was the same one they had all drunk during their journey, a brand filled with memories of Toa. She spoke to a hazy figure, referring to him as Toa. She then accidentally spilt the wine and repeatedly apologized, telling herself not to cry and saying she would clean it up. She then reacted as if Toa were helping her, smiling and remarking that he was truly kind. She referred to him as her husband and expressed that she loved him. It was then narrated that once there had been a man, a shadow hero named Toa of the miracle. He supported the hero's party with his miracle power, leading them to swift victory until they cornered the demon king. However, the demon king self-destructed and in response, Toa used his miracle power to take all the damage upon himself. It was said that at the moment of his death, his expression was peaceful. The reason was that he had managed to protect his four comrades, his companions, the hero Areos, the princess Liliana, the elf Celine, and the succubus Lilith. Having saved them, he departed the world completely satisfied, or so everyone believed. Astonishingly, 10 years later, Toa was reincarnated. After being abandoned by his human parents as a newborn, he caught the attention of a vampire and was taken in safely. The scene then showed Toa sitting on Astrea's lap. He thought that nothing had changed, yet in his previous life, he had been able to cause miracles, such as making flowers bud and bloom, but now that power was completely gone. He questioned whether he had lost it during reincarnation and whether the moment when Astrea had picked him up had simply been coincidence. Astrea then asked what was wrong and whether he had had enough milk, asking if it was good. Toa appeared content, but internally noted that her dietary situation was troublesome, as when she craved blood, she either had to take it from humans or purchase it in advance. Astrea then apologized, stating that rather than cow's milk, she wished she could have fed him with her own. She explained that her life had been completely removed from men. Although many had approached her, she had found them all unpleasant and had grown tired of them. As a result, she had never dated anyone, had never experienced childbirth, and above all, was still a virgin. Toa internally noted that this was something he definitely should not be hearing. Astrea continued, questioning how she could ever trust men. In his imagination, Toa apologized, thinking that he was actually an 18-year-old man on the inside and fearing that if she found out, she might kill him. Astrea then reassured him that no matter what happened, she could never hate him, calling him her innocent and adorable child. Toa again apologized internally for being an adult on the inside. She then looked at him, and Toa felt as though her gaze had seen through him. He wondered if he had slipped up and whether his cover had been blown. At that moment, the scene abruptly shifted as a beam of light struck their home, tearing it in half. Astrea immediately leapt out with Toa and demanded to know what the intruder wanted. Another vampire appeared stating that he had come to take Astrafeya, declaring that it was the day she would become his woman. He then noticed Toa and asked for the human child to be handed over so he could take his blood as well. Toa, clinging to Astrafeya, thought that his blood would not taste good anyway.

[00:11:52]Astrafeya responded sharply, telling the intruder to stop joking, stating that she had nothing to give him, and warning that if he laid a hand on her or her child, she would not let it go unanswered. The man introduced himself as Neteru Nobusumi. Toa internally reacted to the name, wondering if something could be done about it.

[00:12:10]Neteru, hearing something, questioned what had been said. He mocked the situation, questioning how a human and a vampire could exist as parent and child, treating food as family. He stated that Astrafeya, once feared as a potential vampire queen, had fallen so low as to grow attached to mere food. He then declared that this made him want to marry her, take care of her, and re-educate her. He ordered her to bite the child to death and come with him.

[00:12:36]Astrafeya angrily questioned whether he was jealous of the child. Neteru denied it, telling her not to make a fool of him. Astrafeya responded that she was not making a fool of him and declared that she had lost all patience with him and his kind long ago. Neteru then slashed his own hand and launched an attack, calling it Blood Blade.

[00:12:55]Astrafeya merely smirked and stood her ground. Neteru stated that once he finished with her, he would kill the child. In response, Astrafeya bit her own hand and activated her ability, declaring Bloody Dead Sight.

[00:13:09]The scene then shifts to Astrafeya showering, lost in thought. She reflects that she had never imagined she and that child would be bound together by the mark of fate. She decides that for now, it is best to keep the truth a secret for the child's own good. Thinking further, she She she must quickly choose a name for the boy, something truly wonderful, a special name worthy of her beloved child. The scene transitions to Toa's thoughts. He reflects that Astrophia is a powerful figure, expected to become the next generation's vampire queen, and considers himself fortunate to have such a strong and admirable mother. At that moment, Astrophia lifts him from behind and tells him it is time to sleep. Toa internally reacts, noting that this is his first night staying at a woman's house, but quickly reminds himself to behave like a proper baby.

[00:13:56]Astrophia then places him onto the bed and cuddles him, affectionately calling him adorable. Toa feels content and begins observing her closely. Astrophia kisses his forehead and gently says that they should do this every day, adding that such affection is what parents and children share. This moment triggers Toa's memories of his past life. He feels a sense of nostalgia, realizing it has been a long time since he was pampered like this. He recalls a similar incident during a journey toward the Demon King's Castle. In that memory, Lilith suddenly kisses him, startling him as he questions her actions. She explains that succubi possess a dangerous impulse, and if left unchecked, it could lead to severe consequences. To prevent that, she claims she is suppressing it through energy drain. Toa expresses disbelief, stating he has never heard of such a thing. At that moment, another figure appears, Selene. She also begins kissing him, causing him discomfort. She explains that while elves typically absorb mana from the earth, as a high elf, she absorbs too much and could even wither a forest. To manage this, she endures it by drawing life force from him instead. Toa points out that she had never mentioned this before, to which she casually admits she had been hiding it. Suddenly, the hero, Areos, appears and declares that he understands their situation, offering himself as an alternative partner. However, he is immediately kicked by the princess, who angrily scolds him, reminding him that he already has her and was not invited into the situation. Everyone turns to look at them as the princess expresses frustration, questioning why she ended up falling for someone like him. She notes how the others are always clinging to Toa and admits she also wants to talk to him about Arios, though she assumes there will be time for that later. Arios apologizes and the two reconcile with a handshake. He jokingly remarks that she is quite jealous, prompting a mild reaction from her. Toa then addresses Lilith and Celine, saying he understands their situation and is willing to help in emergencies. However, he questions whether it truly has to be him they rely on. Both immediately respond that it absolutely must be him. The scene then shifts back to the present. Astrophia smiles softly and expresses that she wants to do these things like kissing precisely because it is him. She concludes by saying that being a mother is truly a wonderful privilege.

[00:16:16]Astrophia kisses Toa's forehead once again, softly calling him adorable and cute. Toa reflects that in his past life, even with two beautiful companions like Lilith and Celine, things had never progressed to a kiss on the lips. He regrets his hesitation, thinking of how he had been too much of a coward despite having the chance. Then a new thought crosses his mind, perhaps he could do it now. However, he immediately assumes that such an action would likely unsettle her. At that moment, Astrophia suddenly kisses him again. They briefly look at each other before she quickly stands up and turns away, saying she feels warm and will step out to get some night breeze to cool down. Watching her, Toa is left stunned, thinking that her reaction was far too endearing, as if it were something straight out of a performance. Shortly after, Astrophia returns in excitement, announcing that she has come up with a name for him. She explains that the good fortune of that night, granted by the heavens, should not be dismissed as mere coincidence.

[00:17:15]Their encounter felt like a miracle, and she wishes to preserve that meaning by making it his name. Referring to miracles and drawing a connection to the hero of the past, she declares that from this day forward his name will be Toa Toa Reinstall. She then lightly questions whether he truly likes having the same name associated with Toa Miracle. Toa feels deeply honored thinking that receiving that name once again in this life is an incredible blessing. He recalls that 10 years ago in another world, he had once been known as Toa Miracle and that he had died. The scene then shifts to the royal capital where Luca Castle stands. Toa reflects that he gave his life to protect his four comrades and wonders how they have been since then. At that moment, the hero Areos is shown narrating a story explaining that Toa the Miracle became a star watching over his companions from the night sky even now, forever. After finishing the story, he notices that the children have fallen asleep. He steps out onto the balcony and remarks that it is getting cold suggesting that Princess Liliana should come inside as well. She agrees mentioning that since he has finished reading that picture book she dislikes, there is no reason to stay.

[00:18:24]Areos apologizes acknowledging that it reminds her of the painful truth that they were unable to save him that day.

[00:18:30]However, he continues saying that this is precisely why he refuses to waste the life that Toa entrusted to them. He feels as though Toa passed the future to him as if saying he would leave the world in his hands. Liliana responds by saying that after all, Areos is Toa's best friend now and forever. Areos then looks up at the sky and notes that he cannot see the star due to the brightness of the moon. Liliana agrees also unable to see it and softly speaks toward the sky noting that it has been 10 years since Toa became a star. She wonders if it is lonely up there and adds that if he were to fall back down, they would catch him and hold him tight.

[00:19:07]Both of them share that sentiment and Areos adds that he should simply come back without hesitation. The scene then shifts once more to Astrafia and Toa sleeping together. As they rest, Toa reflects that his former comrades and the world itself still do not know that the hero has returned after 10 long years. Then the scene shifted and it became clear that a lot of time had passed. Toa had now grown older, slashing through multiple monsters at once while using his move slash jab. He then activated spark causing all the monsters to explode instantly. Astrafia remarked that if monsters on the level of Haragig could now be instantly killed, then his skills had improved once again. Toa reflected that it had already been 10 years since his birth in this life. Counting from the subjugation of the demon king in his previous life, 20 years had actually passed. His current status was then revealed. Toa rank star level 14 race human age 10 with the skills spark and slash jab. He thought about how, thanks to Seamama's swordsmanship and magic training, his growth speed was incomparably faster than it had been during his childhood in his previous life. As for the other major changes, they had recently moved out of their house in the forest and started living in the royal capital, Luca. The two of them were then seen shopping together when Astrafia asked what he wanted for dinner. Toa replied that he wanted to eat his mother's omelet again and she happily agreed. She then asked him whether, as a human, he wanted to live freely among his own kind. Toa was touched that she had thought that far ahead for his sake. He realized how huge of a decision it truly was for a vampire mother to hide her identity and live blended in among humans just for him. As he looked at her, he could not help but think once again about how beautiful she was even after 10 years had passed since she picked him up. She did not have a single wrinkle or blemish. Her beauty attracted many curious gazes, yet she never seemed bothered by them at all. Surprisingly, she was also highly sociable and quickly became close with several humans. People saw them as an unusually close parent and child, but honestly, he felt that calling it merely close was an understatement. One day, during their new life in the capital, he decided to go out into town alone. This was his second outing by himself. During the first, he had already finished his business at the library. Today, he intended to confirm something that had remained nothing more than speculation for many years. It was not because he had suddenly deeply interested in the new city they had moved to. In fact, he did not feel that way at all. It was simply because he recognized it. He knew this road, although it had become strangely warped. He knew this bridge as well, though it was now crooked. The city was now called the royal capital of Luca, but the scenery was undoubtedly the same place as the royal capital from his previous life, Feldam. Last week, after researching history at the library, he finally understood everything. It was no wonder he had mistakenly believed he had reincarnated into an entirely different world. Right after his death, three major changes had occurred. The first was the change to the land itself. The Demon King's self-destruction had apparently affected the entire kingdom, causing such massive deformation that maps had to be redrawn.

[00:22:21]The second change was the abdication of the throne. Hero Areos had been recognized for his achievements in subjugating the Demon King and was entrusted with the throne by the former king, Atarum. Princess Liliana now stood beside him as queen, supporting King Areos. The third change was the royal capital itself. As the newly crowned king, Areos' very first action had been something completely unexpected. He changed the name of the royal capital from Feldam to Luca. A flashback then showed Areos and Liliana together.

[00:22:52]Holding his hand, Liliana questioned whether renaming the capital should really take priority when there were far more important matters, such as rebuilding the country. However, Areos answered that if that was the case, then renaming the royal capital of both him and Toa should be prioritized even more.

[00:23:08]Liliana repeated his words in confusion, asking what he meant by calling it their royal capital. Arios then explained that the name Luca meant the bringer of light. Liliana immediately remarked that it sounded exactly like Toa, the bringer of miracles. Arios agreed and said that during their journey to defeat the demon king, the power of miracles had been their light of hope. Now, with the kingdom in ruins and reconstruction still ahead of them, both the kingdom and they themselves once again needed light. Liliana smiled and added that it was true, since Toa had even guided their romance. Arios then looked ahead and quietly begged Toa to watch over the kingdom they would rebuild together and to continue lighting up its future. The scene then returned to the present, where Toa had just finished reading the book and began walking away. He could not help thinking that Arios had gone and done something unbelievably stylish.

[00:23:59]Embarrassed, he admitted to himself that it honestly made him blush. After calming himself, he noticed that the place around him had also remained almost unchanged even after 20 years.

[00:24:09]Deciding it was time to confirm something personally, he headed toward the church. Inside, the priest was treating and healing people as usual. As he watched, Toa thought about the one thing he truly wanted to confirm after reincarnating. Miracles no longer happened around him. Even now, as Toa of the miracles, he wondered whether he was still capable of remaining true to that title. After leaving the church, his eyes fell upon the towering bronze statue of Arios, the hero who had become king. Behind the statue stood the royal castle, where Liliana now resided as queen. While he stood there silently staring at it, an old man approached him and commented that he had never seen his face before. He asked what was wrong.

[00:24:51]Toa explained that he had moved there just last month and had simply been looking at the king's statue. The old man chuckled and referred to it as the statue of the former king, Arios, saying that admiring it at such a young age was promising for the boy's future. However, he also noticed the troubled expression on Toa's face and asked whether he had fought with a friend. Toa denied it, but admitted that looking at the statue reminded him of all the times he and that friend used to fight, make up, and then end up fighting again only a week later. But ever since that final day, their connection had been severed for 20 years. He then quietly added that he had only recently come to understand just how deeply passionate that friend's feelings had been. Thinking about it now filled him with an overwhelming sense of friendship. The old man smiled warmly and remarked that the expression on Toa's face now shone brightly, just like the sun. Still, he found the story strange, especially when Toa mentioned 20 years. That was when the old man suddenly remembered something. 20 years ago, when Arios' statue was first planned, there had originally been another statue intended to stand beside it. Toa immediately guessed that it must have been Queen Liliana's statue.

[00:26:01]However, the old man shook his head and explained that it was meant to honor someone else entirely. The statue was supposed to depict the man who brought miracles. His name was Toa. Hearing that, Toa fell silent. After a pause, he quietly replied that he knew of him.

[00:26:17]Toa, the former comrade in arms of the king, had died protecting his companions from the Demon King. The old man nodded and explained that thanks to Toa's noble sacrifice, the hero's party had managed to return alive. The people who once lived in fear of monster outbreaks were now able to smile peacefully because the Demon King had been destroyed. Toa had contributed greatly to those smiles and was remembered everywhere as a true hero. Toa then asked why the statue of the man who caused miracles had never been built. The old man sighed and explained that it had become a regrettable matter. Toa's family, the Missile family, had claimed the rights to it and entered into a dispute with the king. At those words, Toa clenched his fists tightly. In his mind, he cursed his shameless parents and brothers from his previous life, furious that they had continued interfering with his life even after his death. Noticing his reaction, the old man hesitantly asked if he was all right. Toa quickly thanked him for the story and walked away before the conversation could continue. The old man watched him leave and quietly muttered that it was truly a pity. He wondered whether the statue would ever still be built someday because he himself would have loved to pray before it. The old man gazed up at the statue and spoke proudly about the heroes of the past. Areios was remembered as the hero of the light sword, while Toa was known as the hero of the shadows and the bringer of miracles. Together, they had been called the saints of light and shadow, two comrades who always stood back to back.

[00:27:43]As Toa ran through the streets afterward, his thoughts became heavy. He wanted to see Areios again, but he knew nobody would ever believe his existence now. In his current form, he had no way to prove who he truly was. At that moment, he recalled the words spoken earlier by the priest during the appraisal at the church. The priest had been shocked by the results, praising his extraordinary talent as an adventurer. Even at only 10 years old, his skills were considered exceptional.

[00:28:10]The appraisal had revealed two known skills, Spark and Flash. Toa had quietly repeated to himself that there were only two skills. However, the nun assisting with the appraisal suddenly noticed something strange. There appeared to be one more skill, yet the appraisal could not properly identify it. Confused, she remarked that it seemed broken and that even the skill's name was completely unknown. Hearing that only deepened Toa's thoughts. Until now, he realized he had been avoiding the truth, but today's appraisal had made everything painfully clear. He was no longer the same Toa of miracles from the past. He was no longer someone worthy of standing beside King Areios in this world. There was no longer any place for him to return to. As those thoughts consumed him, a crimson rose petal drifted through the air, reminding him of Astrafia. When he finally returned home, Astrafia welcomed him back immediately.

[00:29:02]However, the moment she saw his face, she became concerned and commented on how terrible he looked. She also noticed that he was hiding something behind his back. Toa then revealed the flower he had been carrying. It was called a Rhinonose. At that moment, he remembered the flower shopkeeper explaining that the flower carried a warm meaning in the language of flowers. While handing it to Astrafia, Toa reflected on everything that had happened. Even if reincarnation had severed the ties he once shared with his comrades, and even if he had lost the power of miracles, this woman had remained by his side for 10 straight years. The flower's meaning was deep affection. He quietly thanked her from the bottom of his heart. The current him was no longer the Toa from his previous life who had run away from the terrible Missile family. Nor was he still the Toa of miracles who once fought beside the hero to defeat the Demon King. Right now, the only thing that truly mattered to him was Astrafia, the person living alongside him in the present. From now on, he decided that she would always be his top priority. He was no longer a legendary hero. He was simply Toa, a slightly strong brat trying to live his new life. The moment those feelings settled in his heart, Astrafia suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace. As she held him, Toa quietly thought about Areios once more. Learning the reason behind the capital's new name and hearing that Areios had even tried to build a statue in his honor had made him genuinely happy. He truly had been grateful to fight beside him as comrades-in-arms, but at the same time, he silently asked Areios for forgiveness. He no longer believed himself to be someone worthy of standing beside the king. Even so, he hoped they could both continue doing their best from now on, each walking forward on their own separate paths.