Chapter 154

CHAPTER 65 A Farewell When we return from the Demon Lord’s castle, a clear, beautiful sky hangs over Termine. The malevolence that was swallowing Ixphoria must have vanished after Ultimaeus was defeated. Inside the palace stand a great many soldiers who are anxiously waiting for us to speak. “Seiya Ryuuguuin has defeated the Demon Lord.” Jonde makes this declaration sternly. After briefly exchanging glances, the soldiers erupt in cries of joy. “The Hero defeated the Demon Lord!” “Ixphoria has been saved!” My heart, however, is closed off from the world despite being showered with endless praise, so I force a smile onto my face. All of a sudden, the rowdy soldiers fall silent. Queen Carmilla slowly approaches us with her guards. After bowing deeply to Seiya and expressing her gratitude, she shakes my hand. “You did it.” The smiling queen looks around as she notices something odd. “Where’s Kiriko?” “K-Kiri’s…” After Ultimaeus lost his mana and his body turned to dust, Kiriko disappeared as well. All that remains is the flower pendant I gave her. Even though I cried in the Demon Lord’s castle until I could cry no more, I can feel my eyes become hot again. The queen throws her arms around me. “I know. You’ve been through so much pain.” My mind goes blank as I bury my face in my former mother’s chest while bawling my eyes out, and for those few minutes, I even forget that I’m a goddess. A banquet is held at the palace after that. Everyone in Termine is invited to come and drink as equals. A waitress offers me wine. I don’t usually drink, but I’ll make an exception today. “Hey, give me some more of that…” “U-um, Goddess? That was your sixth glass, you know. Maybe you should take it easy and—” “Shut up and bring me the entire barrel!” “Eek! She’s acting like a drunk old man!” I apparently go into a drunken frenzy, but it’s no surprise after what happened with Kiriko. My legs wobble. Jonde and Seiya appear to be chatting nearby, so I idly eavesdrop on their conversation. “At any rate, I still cannot believe I’m alive. Being undead, I’ve been thinking to myself, ‘I wish I could have died in Kiriko’s place.’ A meaningless thought, perhaps, but it’s something I cannot drive from my mind.” Jonde, don’t stay stuff like that. I think that to myself. Seiya, on the other hand, admits: “Yeah, that would’ve been the preferable outcome.” Y-you didn’t have to be so straightforward about it…! As Jonde places a hand on his head in a disheartened gesture, Seiya continues: “Anyway, what do you want to do? I can transfer your soul into a skeleton or something while I’m here.” “N-no, thank you. I’ve grown attached to this body. I’m fine the way I am.” “All right. Then let me give you this, instead.” Seiya hands what appears to be a small, wooden box to Jonde. In the dead center are a few buttons. “What is this?” “It’s a detonator to set off the explosive-filled earth serpents wrapped around your body. If your brain is ever taken over by your undead half and you feel there’s no hope, press this button and die.” “O-oh, I see. A twisted act of kindness, but I appreciate it, nonetheless.” “You don’t need to thank me. By the way, I considered the possibility that you may lose consciousness and become unable to press the button yourself, so I gave a spare detonator to the queen.” Seiya points at the queen drinking wine in the distance. When he shows her the detonator, the queen pulls out a detonator and holds it up in the air with a smile as well. “I still have mine!” One after another, soldiers and waitresses hold their detonators up as well. “We have one, too!” “So do I!” “Me, too!” As Jonde watches in mute amazement, Seiya tells him: “I gave a detonator to waitresses and soldiers you could trust just in case the unexpected happens.” “What the…?! Could you not hand out so many of those?! What if someone accidentally presses the button?!” “Ha-ha-ha-ha!” Seeing Jonde panic makes me burst into laughter. Jonde notices and walks over. “Tsk! That Hero is really something…!” “Well, that’s just like Seiya. Don’t you think?” “I—I suppose… B-but am I really going to be okay? Like, seriously? I’m not going to randomly explode or anything, right?” “This is Seiya we’re talking about. You’ll be fine. There’s probably some long-winded procedure you need to follow to detonate it.” “You’re right! That does sound like something he would do!” After exchanging a laugh, Jonde looks me right in the eyes and whispers: “Are you sure you don’t wish to tell the queen?” I’m sure he’s referring to the fact that I was Princess Tiana in a past life. I watch the queen enjoying conversation with a few soldiers in the distance. “Aria told me that, in order to have a truly fresh start, people don’t retain memories of their past lives when they’re reincarnated. And…that’s probably how things should be.” “Princess…” “Oh! But I’m not going to forget you or the queen…and of course, I won’t forget Kiri, either. But I don’t think I should make it a point to tell the queen about that.” “…I see.” I glare at Jonde’s melancholy face. “And, Jonde! Stop talking to me so formally like I’m a princess! It’s weird!” “B-but, Princess…! I must show my utmost respect…!” I wear a menacing grin as Jonde humbly shakes his hands. “Hey, I forgot to tell you, but…do you remember that fish-person that kicked your ass during the enlistment trial for the Beast Emperor’s unit?” “What?! Why do you ask?” “Actually…that was me.” “…Huh?” After a silence… “Damn you, Goddessssssssssss!!” Jonde furiously screams, chasing after me as I giggle and run away. “Rista, get ready to leave.” The sun was already starting to set when Seiya said that to me. “You’re leaving already? You should stay longer and relax…” The queen is reluctant to see me go. The banquet is probably going to last all night, so I don’t see why we can’t spend at least one full day in Termine, but it looks like Seiya’s in a hurry to depart. He probably doesn’t see the point of staying here any longer now that the Demon Lord has been defeated. The only reason he hung around this long is probably because he was worried about me, since I’ve been depressed since Kiriko’s passing. After telling the queen we have to say our good-byes, she cheerfully smiles back at me. “Well, to be honest…I won’t be that lonely when you’re gone.” She points to the outskirts of Termine. Far in the distance, casually standing near the castle wall, is Mega Rista. “Because a guardian angel still watches over Termine.” “Ha-ha… You probably shouldn’t rely on her for much, according to Seiya.” Queen Carmilla creases her eyes as she nostalgically regards Mega Rista. “My loved ones always leave me dolls.” When I was little in my past life, I gave the queen a handmade doll. It was destroyed by Grandleon, though… “You’re leaving me with a really big doll this time, though.” “Huh?!” The queen smiles. It almost feels like…she knows. She walks over and tightly wraps me in her arms. “Come back to Termine someday. You’re welcome anytime.” “I will…” After letting go of the queen, I open a gate to the spirit world and walk through with Seiya. When I turn around one last time, I’m met with smiles from the queen and Jonde—even Mega Rista, standing far behind the soldiers, is innocently waving farewell. The moment Seiya and I step foot onto the spirit world’s plaza… “Rista!!” Aria comes rushing over. Adenela and Cerceus are nearby as well. In fact, when I take a closer look, I notice that countless familiar faces, like Rasti, the Goddess of Shape-Shifting, and Nephitet, the Goddess of Ghosts, too. I don’t say a word. Instead, I silently give them the thumbs-up, and it becomes a reenactment of the banquet in Termine. The other deities shower us with praise just like the soldiers did. In the midst of the commotion, Adenela pokes my shoulder. “R-Rista, it l-looks like you’re a h-high-ranking goddess now, t-too.” “Huh?! M-me? A high-ranking goddess?” “Of course, Rista! You just saved an SS-ranked world!” It still doesn’t feel real even after hearing Aria put it into words. Undoubtedly, that’s because it was 100 percent Seiya who saved Ixphoria while all I did was stand there. I find myself at a loss because it’s honestly hard to be happy right now. Eventually, though, Cerceus approaches me. “Thank goodness the world was saved! Kiriko and Jonde must have been thrilled, huh?” “Cerceus, about that…” “Hmm?” I pause midsentence, then cheerfully smile as I try to lighten my mood. “They were! They were ecstatic!” “I’m glad! I really hope they stop by again one day! I could really use their help at the café.” “Yes, I’m sure they will one day…” “Then I need to go wash Kiriko’s apron so it’ll be ready for her!” Cerceus grabs Kiriko’s apron, an apron that will never be worn again, and rushes toward the back of the kitchen. Tears well up in my eyes as I watch him. I make my way over to Ishtar’s room alone after that in order to tell her that we successfully saved Ixphoria. However, when I step into her room, I’m met with her solemn gaze. “Ristarte, congratulations on saving the SS-ranked world of Ixphoria. And…” Ishtar deeply bows her head to me. “Please forgive me for keeping the truth a secret from you.” I shake my head with a smile. “Even Seiya collapsed during the battle against Celemonic after he learned the truth. If I knew about the dilemma between the world and Kiriko—let’s just say I wouldn’t have been able to handle it. Nothing would have changed anyway. So…it was better this way.” After bowing once more, I start to take my leave when Ishtar stops me. “Are you really going to go?” “Yes.” “But, Ristarte…” Ishtar probably knows exactly what I’m going to do, since she can see into the near future. Still, I clearly insist: “I’m Seiya Ryuuguuin’s goddess, after all!” After retiring from the Great Goddess’s room, I find Seiya leaning against a wall in the hallway. “Rista, open a gate. I need to return to Ixphoria.” “Sure, but why?” “I just remembered that the old man in Sage Village told me to stop by after defeating the Demon Lord. I completely forgot about that.” “Oh yeah. He did say that, didn’t he?” “It’s not a big deal, so I’ll go alone. I’ll be back soon.” I open a gate like always, making sure it leads to a spot slightly away from Sage Village. Seiya wastes no time opening the gate, but he closes it the moment he realizes I’m right behind him. “What do you think you’re doing?” “I’m coming with you.” “I told you I can handle this myself.” I stare hard at Seiya’s face. “You wouldn’t ‘completely forget’ something like that. You acted like you forgot on purpose so you could leave me in the spirit world and go by yourself. Right?” It looks like I hit the nail on the head. Seiya clearly furrows his brow, so I boastfully laugh. “Heh! You’re not gonna trick me again like you did in Gaeabrande!” “You’re such a pain in the ass.” Seiya lets out a sigh. “Ixphoria has been saved. Anything else is redundant.” “And what’s this redundant thing you want to check?” “…That old man in Sage Village—he might actually be that so-called demon.” “Oh? And your evidence is…?” “There is no Imel of Sage Village. I observed the villagers in Ishtar’s crystal ball and memorized the names of every single one of them.” “I’m impressed, Seiya. Very clever.” “That’s not all. The Demon Lord said that his final ripple of life was flowing to the Dark God as he looked in Sage Village’s direction. This Dark God is most likely a discarnate entity. I assume it gave orders to the Demon Lord and the other high-ranking monsters of Ixphoria using a crystal ball or in its own inner world.” “And the demon gained tremendous power with the death of Ultimaeus…” “Exactly. In other words, it may no longer be a discarnate entity. It might be able to kill you or me now. This demon and its abilities are entirely unknown. It’s highly possible that I’ll be killed if we end up fighting.” “Then why are you even going, Seiya?” “To settle the score.” “Are you prepared?” After thinking for a bit, Seiya replies: “Not at all.” “That’s not like you.” “But I can’t rest until I defeat it.” “Yeah… I feel the same.” Seiya’s expression is as indifferent as ever. Normally, I have no idea what he’s thinking, but this time, I can read him like the back of my hand. “You don’t need to come.” But even then, I stick closely behind Seiya. He shoots me a piercing glare. “Stay here.” “No.” “Stay here.” “No.” “I’m going to punch you.” “Go ahead.” “Stay here.” “No.” Seiya raises a fist into the air, but I neither cover my head nor close my eyes until eventually he gently lowers his hand. I laugh. “You save me, you make fun of me, I fall in love with you, and I sometimes hate you—I don’t even understand what’s going on anymore, but…you and me—we’re in this together.” “Unfortunately.” “Yeah, yeah.” I show Seiya the flower pendant Kiriko wore. “Hey, do you think I can hold on to this?” “You gave it to Kiriko, right? It’s yours.” “By the way, Kiriko really loved the toys you made for her in the spirit world.” Seiya looks away bashfully. I continue. “Thank you for giving us that time together. I’ll never forget it.” Silence briefly fills the air between us until Seiya quietly mutters: “Ready to go?” “Yes.” He opens the door to the gate once more. Though overly cautious, Seiya doesn’t create any golems this time. Perhaps he knows that bringing them with us would be a waste. After slipping through the portal together, we walk toward Sage Village. Our hands find each other. It’s almost strange how naturally we hold hands. Usually, Seiya would pull away, but he continues to hold on to me. Our bond strengthens as we press forward—unprepared and heading to a village we may never leave. But I absolutely cannot forgive this demon for toying with Kiriko’s fate.