Chapter 146

CHAPTER 59 An Ominous Feeling “It’s finally happening…isn’t it?” “Yes.” Seiya nods in response to Jonde. We watch the Hero with bated breath until he finally turns and looks at us. “Rista, open a gate to the spirit world.” “Hero…?! Are we not going to the Demon Lord’s castle?!” The tension in my shoulders eases as Jonde screams. W-well, this is Seiya, after all. It was ridiculous to ever even imagine he’d jump straight into the final battle without any preparation… “Hero! You said you wanted to strike while the Demon Lord’s guard was down!” “The tide of battle is constantly changing. That demon priest mentioned that the Demon Lord had become invincible, which means I have to make sure I’m perfectly prepared just in case the Demon Lord is already perfectly prepared as well. In other words, I need to train in the spirit world.” “But you already mastered most of your classes when you trained with the deities! What’s left for you to—?” “Rista, hurry up and open a gate.” “Hey! Don’t ignore me!” “Jonde, Jonde, Jonde. You saw for yourself how useful training in the spirit world was, right? Let’s let Seiya handle this!” “Besides, Jonde, we get to continue practicing Eternal Sword now!” Jonde silently looks back and forth between Kiriko’s face and mine until… “Very well.” …he reluctantly agrees. And just like that, we return to the spirit world yet again. “I told you not to come.” “Well, too bad! I’m your support goddess!” After leaving Kiriko and Jonde with Cerceus, Seiya heads straight for Ishtar’s room. Despite being told repeatedly to not follow him, I persistently refuse until I end up at Ishtar’s chamber as well. Seiya opens the door and barks a demand: “I want to talk to Chronoa.” He doesn’t even greet Ishtar. “S-Seiya?! You plan on training with the Goddess of Time, too?!” “Yes.” I-is he serious?! It never even crossed my mind to ask a deity of the heart of the spirit world for help! But if he somehow manages to learn the Goddess of Time’s skills, then it wouldn’t matter how strong Ultimaeus was! He could just stop time! Ishtar, however, wears a slightly troubled expression. Yeah, I guess that would be considered cheating, though! I mean, can you even train under the deities at the heart of the spirit world?! “Chronoa is a very kind goddess. You should be able to speak with her, but it would be best not to get your hopes up.” “All you need to do is get me there, Grandma.” Ishtar quietly nods. After that, we make our way to the Chamber of Eternal Stasis, then slip into the heart of the spirit world through the painting there. When Ishtar speaks up, the doors to the heart open, revealing the graceful, smiling Goddess of Time. “Chronoa, I need to ask you something…” As Seiya starts to speak, though, the doors to the sanctuary open once more, revealing a colossal god. It’s Nemesiel, the God of Logic and Reason! The last time we saw him, Seiya used the Granny Rista Sword—also known as the Holy Power Draining Sword—to turn him into an old man! H-he’s pissed, isn’t he?! But when Nemesiel sees Seiya, he mutters: “Hmph. You again? I remember you coming to the heart of the spirit world to save Ristarte from the curse, but I’m having a hard time remembering what happened after that. According to Chronoa, I apparently granted you permission to go back in time, but…” …?! Nemesiel doesn’t remember being turned into an old man?! Without hesitation, Seiya adds: “Yes, and I am very grateful for your kindness and cooperation.” “Hmph. I see. It appears I did help you, after all…” Whoa! Seiya just lied to a god with a straight face! Chronoa, who knows exactly what happened that day, sounds amused. “Tee-hee. So, Seiya Ryuuguuin, what is it you wanted to see me about?” “Would it be possible for me to learn skills that accelerate time or stop it completely?” “Humans cannot control time, unfortunately; whether it be stopping time, traveling back in time, or speeding up time.” I—I figured as much. After all, there’s no way a human could manipulate time, since no deity other than Chronoa can. Although I’m disheartened, Seiya stands his ground. “Have you ever tried teaching a human before?” “No. Such a thing simply isn’t possible.” “I’m the kind of person who has to see something for himself before making up his mind. I want to train under you and judge whether it really is impossible.” After pondering, Chronoa cheerfully smiles. “Very well, then. Shall we begin?” But just then… “No! A deity of the heart must not cooperate with a mere human! Even if it is to save a world, manipulating time violates the laws of the gods!” Nemesiel’s furious roar echoes throughout the plane! Seiya, however, appears puzzled. “Oh? But you helped me the other day. Did you not?” “No, that was—” “I would understand if you’d refused to help me last time, but you didn’t. So why was last time okay and not this time? You’re the God of Logic and Reason, yet I don’t see any rationale behind your decision.” “Tch…!” His groan is followed by silence. Before long, Nemesiel’s lips skew into a frown as he barks: “V-very well! Nothing will come of your training anyway! There is no way a human could ever control time!” Y-yes!! He convinced Nemesiel to let him train! I inwardly jump for joy. Both Chronoa and Nemesiel think it’s impossible, but Seiya isn’t your average Hero! He’s one in a billion! So just maybe…! As hope swells my heart, Seiya says to me: “Well, I’ll be training here with Chronoa for a while.” “Okay! Good luck!” “I’ll be here three days at most, so let Jonde and Kiriko practice Eternal Sword while they wait.” “O-okay, but…what about me?” “Just go play somewhere.” “Again?!” While Seiya usually makes fun of me or ignores me when I scream at him… “Rista, you really should relax every once in a while.” “…!” I sense a faint warmth in his words, and something feels extremely off about that. In the midst of my blank amazement, Seiya walks over to Chronoa’s side. “Ristarte, shall we head back to the unified spirit world?” “O-okay.” After bowing to Chronoa, I leave the heart of the spirit world with Ishtar. I think back to what Seiya said while walking down a hallway in the sanctuary with Ishtar. Hmm… I feel like I’ve heard him say something like that before…but when? “Ristarte.” Ishtar calls my name as I ponder. “Oh?! Yes?” “Regardless of whether or not Seiya’s training under Chronoa bears fruit, Demon Lord Ultimaeus was granted a powerful Dark God’s Blessing. You can never be too prepared. There is still time before the Demon Lord awakens, so I would like Seiya Ryuuguuin to train as hard as he can until then.” Ishtar seems to be looking out for Seiya as well. Struck with sudden curiosity, I ask: “Great Goddess Ishtar, why did the Demon Lord receive the Dark God’s Blessing in the first place?” “The demon most likely wants to gain more power as well. Both the Demon Lord and the demon are trying to obtain the negative energy created through defeating the Hero.” No wonder they’re trying to help the Demon Lord… “I would prefer not to imagine it, but if Seiya Ryuuguuin were to lose to Ultimaeus again, the Dark God’s powers over Ixphoria would grow exponentially.” “S-Seiya isn’t going to lose!” “Yes, I believe so as well.” Ishtar then mutters: “Ristarte, you need to be just as careful. If the Demon Lord were to defeat you, the demon would gain far more power than it would from defeating the Hero.” We arrive at the door to Ishtar’s room. I lower my head, thank her for the help, then say good-bye. Oh. So even if I die, the demon would still gain immense power… Hmm? Even if I die…? My heart brims with frustration and confusion as I walk through the sanctuary alone.