Chapter 178

CHAPTER 16 Homecoming “Is something the matter, Rista?” “Huh?!” I return to my senses at the sound of Uno’s voice. My vision of Nina lasted only a split second. Was I imagining things? But the vision seemed far too clear to be just my imagination! “Oh, um… I just had a vision of the girl who made this, but she was crying.” “You have the ability Appraise, right? Are you sure you didn’t unconsciously use it?” “It was nothing like when I use Appraise. This is the first time I’ve… Wait.” This wasn’t the first time I’ve experienced something like this. When I was in Ixphoria and was talking to Queen Carmilla—my mother from my human life—she showed me a doll. But when I touched it, memories of my past life suddenly played out in my head. After explaining this to Uno, she firmly nods. “It sounds like Demon Mode has helped refine your skills. You have most likely learned Appraise’s highest-level skill.” “Its highest-level skill?! Seriously?!” “The ability to visualize thoughts left behind in items—I believe that is your new power, Rista.” “Y-you mean like psychometry?! Yes!! That’s so cool!” “It seems to be closer to a specialized capability than a skill. You are probably only able to visualize these thoughts thanks to your deity brain waves. It isn’t something you could Mimic easily, even using Joker’s special move.” Seiya was able to copy the only thing that made me unique: healing magic! But it looks like I’m not useless anymore as long as I have this! As I inwardly rejoice and jump for joy, Uno smiles while saying: “Let us name this new special ability Peeping Rista.” “I’d rather not sound like a criminal, thank you very much!! Thanks for ruining the mood!” “I-I am so sorry. It appears I need to work on my naming skills…” “A-anyway, I’ll come up with a name later. Right now, I’m more interested in knowing why Nina was crying.” “How about using the move once more, then? You might learn why.” I nod, then hold on to the pressed flower and close my eyes. I link my senses to the item in my hand, just like I do when I use Appraise. Before long, I have another vision of Nina crying. She repeatedly calls out for her father in a dark room while copiously weeping. But… “…Did you figure anything out, Rista?” “No… I can clearly see her, but I still don’t know why it happened.” I grimace out of frustration, almost ready to quit, but Uno looks into my eyes, deathly serious. “While rare, there are some humans who possess the ability to read thoughts dwelling in items. However, you are a goddess, Rista. You should be able to go beyond that.” “What do you mean?” “If you strongly desire to know what happened, you should be able to read the person’s feelings emitted from their residual thoughts or even visualize a past experience of theirs.” “I-is that what you meant by ‘go beyond’?” “Yes. I am sure you can do it, Rista. Peep through the windows of their hearts.” I’m starting to feel more like a criminal when she puts it like that, but contrary to my mixed feelings, Uno clasps her hands before her chest in excitement. “It is time, Rista! Amplify the goddess powers inside of you!” “O-okay! I’ll give it a try!” I focus all my attention on the pressed flower in my hand. “Mn… Mn…!” “You need to be more serious about it!” “Okay… Hi-yaaaaaa!” “What do you mean ‘hi-ya’?! You have to wish harder! Even harder! Until you want to vomit blood and—blaaargh!” “E-er…rrraaahhhhhh!!” I tightly clench the pressed flower, almost completely crushing it. O-oh, no! I’m pushing so hard that I think something’s about to come out of my butt! But I have to do it! You’ve got this, Rista! Figure out why Nina was crying! Ahhhhhh! Shine, my goddess powers! Moon Plasma Power! Boobs Up! In the name of the moon, I’ll peep on youuuuuu! I continue to fire myself up as if I really were on the verge of vomiting blood when I suddenly realize I can’t hear Uno’s voice anymore. And inside my head, I have a vision different from before. The area is as dim as it was earlier, but standing before me is a massive sable crystal. It’s the magic-sealing stone where Lucifer Crowe was sealed. I can see others surrounding the stone as well: multiple demon priests, Rosalie wearing a robe, Chaos Machina, and… “Dad… No… Please don’t…” I can hear Nina’s voice. She’s holding hands with her father as tears stream down both of their faces. But even then, her father courageously says: “Nina, it’s my turn. Someone has to do it.” Nina falls silent, but Chaos Machina speaks up in her place. “Yes, Ninaaa. He was selected fairly, so there’s nothing to be done about it. Nothing, nothing, nothiiiiiing!” “…Have you finished saying your good-byes?” Nina’s father firmly nods at Rosalie, who then slowly unsheathes her sword. “I promise I will not let your death be for naught. This shall bring us one step closer to Lucifer Crowe’s awakening.” “Exactlyyy. Peace will finally return to the world.” Nina’s father crouches before the magic-sealing stone and lowers his head. Rosalie raises her sword high into the air. “Dad!! Noooooo!!” Rosalie mercilessly swings her blade as Nina screams. My consciousness returns to reality with the unpleasant sound of a life being cut short. “…Are you okay, Rista?” I violently begin to tremble to the point that I don’t even reply to Uno’s concerned call. I-I-I have to tell Seiya! There’s an extremely large grassy field not too far from Uno’s place, littered with bizarre plants and weeds. I sprint over as quickly as I can, knowing that Seiya and Cerceus are training there. I find Seiya leaning against a nearby tree. “Ah…! Seiya!” But in my haste, I nearly trip over some garbage on the ground. It’s Cerceus, laid out on his back after training, but I don’t have time for him right now. “Seiya, this is bad! Rosalie is using human sacrifices to resurrect Lucifer Crowe!” Seiya, however, doesn’t even blink. “And how do you know that?” “I found out with the help of the new power I got from my Demon Mode! I read Nina’s residual thoughts in the pressed flower she gave us!” Still in my demonic form, I flail my arms and try to explain, but Seiya appears skeptical. “Are you sure you’re not just imagining things?” “I’m not imagining anything! My Appraise ability improved, so I can now reexperience people’s feelings and past by interacting with their possessions! Uno said so, so it must be true!” “Hmph. If what you say is true, then I suppose I can start calling you Crystal Ball Woman instead of Herb Woman.” “I don’t care what you call me!” Because right now, my top priority is opening a gate to warped Gaeabrande. First, I want to talk to Rosalie and confirm what I saw. Nevertheless, Seiya is still sitting in the shadow while showing no signs of moving. “Even if your vision did prove that really happened, it’s nothing to be surprised about.” “What?!” “When Rosalie was talking to the demons in front of the magic-sealing stone, they mentioned that Lucifer Crowe was already close to awakening, and that they would only need around ‘one hundred more.’ One hundred ‘days’ seemed like a long time, so I suspected they were talking about sacrifices.” “Y-you knew?! So why didn’t you do anything…?!” “That version of Gaeabrande is a warped illusion created by Mersais. Even if Lucifer Crowe were to awaken and defeat Mash, everyone would be saved in the end, right? Does it really matter who saves the world as long as it happens?” “I get that, but…!” Cerceus glares at me as I talk to Seiya. “Y’know, being stepped on hurts, Rista! How about an apology?!” “It’s your fault for leisurely taking a nap in a field like that!” “I wasn’t taking a nap! I was exhausted from all the training!” “‘Training…’ Oh yeah! Seiya, have you finished training?” When I turn around, Seiya is writing something on a piece of straw paper while still sitting under the tree. “Uh. What are you doing?” “I’m using my free time wisely. I’m creating a simulation for if the Divine Hero suddenly attacks.” “O-oh. I guess that is important, but ‘free time’? That means you’re finished training, right?” As I urge him to hurry, Cerceus suddenly casts a scornful eye at me. “Why are you in such a hurry? Seiya told you already. That world is an illusion.” “I don’t care! I just don’t like watching the people I love die! Cerceus, you’re a god, too, right?! Surely, you feel the same way!” “Hm… Yeah, I don’t really like seeing people die even if they are illusions.” “Right?! So let’s go! Rosalie’s probably sacrificing more townspeople as we speak!” I shift my eyes toward Seiya and quietly wait in anticipation for him to say his signature phrase. “I’m perfectly…” Seiya pauses, then begins pouring some tea into a cup from the teapot he had with him in the shade. “What the…?! Why did you stop?! You were about to say you were perfectly prepared, right?!” “Yes, I’m perfectly…” But Seiya brings the cup to his lips and takes two sips of tea. “…prepared.” “Stop pausing and say the line all the way through! Why are you sipping tea in between words now?!” Annoyed, I shove Cerceus forward. “You too, Cerceus! Get ready to go!” “What? I have to go, too?” “Of course you do! Seiya, get your—are you still drinking that tea?! Ugh! Get up and let’s goooooo!!” Although anxious about how Seiya’s acting even more apathetic than usual, I end up prodding them until we eventually return to warped Gaeabrande. The gate leads to Rosalie’s hideout. Although I’m limited as to where I can connect my gates to in this warped world, I can still freely open a gate to places I’ve been before. The moment we arrive, I begin my search for Rosalie to ask her about the human sacrifices, but when I look around, she’s nowhere in sight. “Hm? What’s all that about?” Cerceus mutters. The main road, a slight walk away from the hideout, is bustling with humans and demons as they seem to be gathering and making a fuss. “There’s only one way to find out!” Seeing the main street so packed throws me for a loop. I had no idea this many humans and demons lived here. The frigid town of Iglu is now filled with hot air and commotion. After the people eventually move to the side of the road, a horde of stout, armored demons come walking through. “Demon’s Sword has returned!” “The triumphant return of our Hero!” Demons and humans join hands and rejoice. In spite of the fact that most of them are wounded, perhaps from being attacked by the dragonewts, the demon soldiers parade down the street, all smiles. However, when a standout six-armed demon appears, the cheers from the crowd grow even louder. “Eraser! Eraser has returned!” “Long live Eraser! Long live Demon’s Sword!” Taken aback, I poke Seiya’s shoulder. “H-hey! Isn’t that one of the Demon Lord’s generals…?!” “Yeah. And it appears he’s regarded as a Hero in this world as well. While he was a general, I remember him being some expendable monster who was instantly torn to shreds by the emperor, but his stats seem to have improved somewhat.” Even the vicious demon, who could freely wield an array of weapons with his six arms, warmly responds to the villagers’ applause and praise without hesitation. Cerceus mutters: “Even a terrifying demon like that is living in harmony among the humans.” “Yeah, it’s a strange feeling… Ugh! There’s no time for this! We have to find Rosalie!” I start asking the clapping townspeople where Rosalie is until someone tells me that she’s apparently behind the building where the magic-sealing stone is kept. When we head over, we find her praying in front of a row of tombstones. “Rosalie… So this is where you were…” She stands up when she hears my voice and slowly turns around. “Eraser has returned from his expedition victorious, so I came here to inform the spirits of the departed.” “Is that how you plan to atone? You think that makes this all right?” “What are you talking about?” “I know that you’re sacrificing the townspeople to resurrect Lucifer Crowe!” “…As expected of a goddess, after all. It seems I can’t hide anything from you.” Rosalie doesn’t seem to be shaken up, despite being called out. In fact, she fixes me with a penetrating glare, causing me to get flustered instead. “Lucifer Crowe requires a large quantity of mana—our very life force—to resurrect. However, the mana of demons and dragonewts is far weaker than that of humans. It would take a few decades of killing dragonewts to ever even get close to our goal. Therefore, once every few months, we draw lots among the villagers to fairly decide who will become the next sacrifice.” Rosalie directs her gaze to the dozen or so tombstones. Seeing the complete lack of emotion in her eye sends a chill down my spine. “D-don’t tell me that these tombs are all…!” She sacrificed all of these lives for her cause… She’s just like the Great Mother of Dragons! This isn’t the Rosalie I know at all! Could a new environment and position really change a person this much? “S-Seiya! Say something to her!” But Seiya is acting like nothing’s wrong, just like Rosalie. “Does it even matter? This world is just an illusion, after all. If anything, I want to shake her hand.” Seiya then pats Rosalie on the shoulder. Cerceus copies Seiya as well for some reason and gives Rosalie a thumbs-up with a grin… What is wrong with you two?! Rosalie gives Seiya a slight nod. “I appreciate your understanding. We had no choice but to make a few sacrifices for the greater good.” “‘Greater good,’ my ass! This is wrong! I’m not going to let you kill any more people!” “We don’t need any more sacrifices. Eraser slew over a hundred dragonewts during his expedition. While that only equates to a few human lives, it should be enough to fully shatter the cracked magic-sealing stone. Lucifer Crowe will awaken once the demon priests finish the mana-infusing ritual.” “The resurrection of Lucifer Crowe… Are you sure that’s a good idea? Rosalie, what if the demons are just using you?” “How many times do I have to explain myself? The bond built between humans and demons over the past decade is thicker than blood. Chaos Machina and I have overcome death and defeated the dragonewts together countless times.” Speak of the devil. Chaos Machina herself suddenly appears and warmly waves at Rosalie. “Come on, Princess! The ritual is fiiinally about to begin!” “All right. Let’s go.” After replying with a cordial smile, Rosalie and Chaos Machina walk off harmoniously together. And as I watch them fade into the distance, I actually do feel a strong bond of trust between them. When I enter the stone building where the magic-sealing stone sleeps, the soldiers from Demon’s Sword are already there along with Eraser, Flashika, and the higher-ups from the Human-Demon Alliance as well. Standing before the hordes of demons and humans, Rosalie ceremoniously declares: “Today, our long-sought goal of resurrecting Lucifer Crowe is about to come to fruition. However, before we begin the ritual, let us express our gratitude in prayer to Demon’s Sword, who gathered enough mana after killing countless dragonewts for us, and to the humans who have sacrificed themselves to accelerate the resurrection.” Both humans and demons close their eyes in reverence for a few moments until Rosalie eventually opens her eye. “Now, let the ritual begin.” And on her signal, the demon priests surround the magic-sealing stone. They raise their sights and arms to the skies. They appear to be using magic to gather the life forces from the dragonewts Eraser killed, which they will then pour into the stone. …However, right as the demon priests begin to chant, the door to the building flies open with a thud. Everyone looks over. Standing there is a single demon, covered in wounds. It was a Demon’s Sword soldier who had returned from the expedition. “Get out. We’re in the middle of the ritual,” Eraser demands with a stern voice. However, the demon slowly approaches us with unsteady steps. It’s like he didn’t even hear him. “Heh-heh-ho-ho-ho… Ha-ha…ha…” Right as the demon soldier eerily chuckles, Seiya sprints forward! He swings his sheathed sword with an upward motion, knocking the demon back to the entrance! “S-Seiya?! What’s going on?!” “Shut up and stand back.” The demons around us glare at Seiya. Their reactions make sense, though. Their fellow was just attacked without warning. However, Seiya doesn’t take his eyes off the demon for one second. The soldier slowly stands back up and gives a muffled laugh. Then, in the very next moment, his body radiates a blinding light before he immediately explodes with an ear-piercing roar! “Whooo-yyy?!” Cerceus screams the loudest. Chaos Machina then shouts: “D-did that deeemon have explosives strapped to his body? What is the meaning of this, Eraser?! He’s your soldier, riiight?” “My soldiers would never betray us!” While they argue back and forth, Rosalie’s eye opens wide as she stares at Seiya. “How did you know that soldier was a threat?” G-good point! We would have all been blown to bits if Seiya didn’t notice! But how in the world did he figure it out? Seiya’s eyes are sharp as he explains: “No decent person would ever approach someone while saying ‘Heh-heh-ho-ho-ho,’ so I decided to strike first.” “Huh?! …O-oh! So that’s how you figured it out!” Rosalie seems to be astonished, but I don’t blame her! As always, Seiya’s intuition is out of this world! And what kind of person hits someone with a weapon just because their laugh is weird?! Just how unhinged is Seiya?! But, well, his split-second decision did save our lives! In an attempt to change the mood, Rosalie shouts: “Increase security at the entrance! No one else gets in! There is no time to waste! Continue the ritual!” Perhaps something terrifying is happening right now outside the building, but even then, Rosalie prioritizes feeding mana into the magic-sealing stone above all else.