Chapter 184

CHAPTER 21 Rosalie’s Resolution The Goddess of Atrocity, Mersais, destroyed the spirit world. Every world in existence is now warped. The ruler of the underworld, Hathies, said we have to save three high-level warped worlds in order to revert all the worlds back to normal, so Seiya, Cerceus, and I traveled to Warped Gaeabrande to begin our journey. The world Seiya and I saved once before is now ruled by the dragonewts, and the one who rules over the dragonewts is none other than our old friend Mash. Rosalie, the emperor’s daughter, joined forces with the demons to resurrect the legendary demon, Lucifer Crowe, in order to defeat Mash, but the demons ended up betraying the humans and breaking their alliance. Furthermore, although Seiya ultimately vanquished the legendary demon, the city of Iglu, where humans and demons once lived side by side, has been left in ruins. Even after reducing Lucifer’s body to ash with Hellfire, Seiya keeps his arm wreathed in flames as he glares at the other demons. His powerful aura even makes both Chaos Machina and Eraser completely lose their will to fight. I speak up to make sure they understand. “Listen! If any of you even think about hurting another villager, all those Phoenixes will turn you into dust!” I point up at the Automatic Phoenixes that Seiya created, but… “Huh?!” There is nothing there but a bright-blue sky. Whaaaaaat?! Where the hell did all those birds go?! There are only a few left soaring above Seiya’s head. “H-hey, Seiya! What happened to the Automatic Phoenixes?!” “I only need a few for self-defense, so I dismissed the rest.” “This is the one time where it would actually make sense to have a lot, and you got rid of them! You may be safe now, but the town is still swarming with demons! What about Nina and Rosalie?!” Nina stands next to me, her face racked with concern. Rosalie looms over her defensively. Seiya glances at us, then sighs. “…Fine.” “Seiya?!” He then slowly points his sword at the demons. “Get out of here. Every last one of you.” The demons begin to stir, and a hot-blooded member of the bunch, with the head of a bull, marches over and stands in front of Seiya. “This is bullshit! This town is our—” But his sentence is suddenly cut short as his bovine head is sent flying through the air. Cerceus jumps out of fright…because Seiya cut the demon’s head off without even a moment of hesitation! “I told you I would kill you if you didn’t back off.” After witnessing Seiya casually cut down a demon as if he were chopping vegetables, Chaos Machina raises her hands in the air as if she is surrendering. “Let’s gooo before we lose our headsss, Eraser.” “Tch…!” After glaring at Seiya for a few moments, Eraser and Chaos Machina turn on their heels, and the other demons in the city follow after the former generals in droves. Eventually, Chaos Machina turns around as if she remembers something, looks at Rosalie, then smiles and waves. “Good-bye, Princess! Take carrrrrre!” The resentment doesn’t leave Rosalie’s eyes until every last demon is completely out of sight. I wait a few moments before asking her: “Are you sure you’re okay with this? We did get rid of the demons, but…” “Once they’re outside the town’s barrier, they won’t be able to get back in without using a magic gate to teleport, and they won’t be able to connect to our magic gate without our permission.” “Oh, okay. I guess you can relax now, then.” “Yes. Iglu’s barrier is not simply powerful. It’s flawless. After all, it was created through the great efforts of Flashika and my loyal retainers long ago,” mutters Rosalie with a somewhat melancholic tone. Eventually, the villagers, who were staring off into the distance, turn their gazes at her until she suddenly bows her head to them. “I am an incompetent fool. The demons were simply using me. Feel free to put me on trial to punish me. Or do whatever you deem necessary. Even if you decide that my punishment is death, I will not flee.” The villagers exchange glances as if they have no idea what to do. Nina, however, suddenly holds out her arms in front of Rosalie as if to protect her. “We… We would have been killed by the dragonewts a long time ago if Rosalie never invited us to live here!” Several moments of silence go by. “She’s right… We would have…” “I would have never had a child if not for Lady Rosalie…” Everyone begins to mutter, standing up for Rosalie in their own way, but even then, she shakes her head. “No. I must atone for these ten meaningless years. I must pay for the lives of my people I foolishly sacrificed.” “These ten years haven’t been meaningless, Rosalie.” “Everything I did was for nothing. Our peace agreement between humans and demons was broken…and Lucifer Crowe, whom I helped resurrect, was a threat to humanity.” “No, your desire to save humanity is what allowed a miracle to occur. Finally, the true Hero has come.” Nina turns to Seiya with an impassioned glance as he switches out one of his bloodstained swords for a new one. The crowd looks to him with smiles and nods. I let out a sigh of relief by Cerceus’s side. “It looks like everything’s going to be okay. I was worried things were going to get violent for a moment there.” “Yeah, they’re all mature, good people. I wouldn’t have been able to forgive her.” “…You’re pretty petty for a god, you know that?” After rolling my eyes at Cerceus, I pat Seiya on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s send a few Automatic Phoenixes to search the town just in case there are any demons left. It’s better to be safe than sorry, right?” “…Rista.” Seiya suddenly fixes me with a piercing glare, causing my heart to do a backflip. “Huh?! Wh-what?!” “Why are you so concerned about the residents of a warped world? Just in case you are forgetting, this is nothing more than an illusion created by Mersais.” “I—I know that!” This isn’t the real Gaeabrande. While the cautious Hero may not believe everything Lord Hathies told us, we already experienced a warped world for ourselves while we were saving Ixphoria. There’s no doubt that Gaeabrande will turn back to normal once we remove whatever is causing the world to distort, and it makes sense to me in my head… “Then why do you care? Normally, I would make sure the town’s residents were safe and slaughter every last demon that was here, but this isn’t the real world. Putting ourselves in danger to save an illusion is stupid.” “I know, but…it’s hard to just look away when the people around me are suffering.” I clasp my hands together as Seiya looks down at me as if he simply can’t understand. “Please, Seiya! Send out a few Automatic Phoenixes just in case!” “That would be pointless.” “Whatever! Just do it!” Seiya reluctantly creates a few dozen Automatic Phoenixes before sending them in different directions to survey the town. Rosalie, who was watching our exchange, approaches us and lowers her head. “Thank you for your concern for the townspeople as well… Where will you head next?” “We’re going to go defeat the Dragon Lord, of course! So you just sit back and relax!” The moment I proudly slap my hand against my chest, Rosalie and the townspeople erupt with cheers. With rosy cheeks, Rosalie then shouts: “Really?! Then allow me to take you there with our teleportation circle! I can take you all to the Dragon Lord’s home base, Bahamutros!” After a high-ranking townsman hands Rosalie a staff, she begins excitedly drawing a magic circle on the ground until Seiya demands: “Stop. I just exhausted my mana during my battle against Lucifer.” “M-my apologies! I forgot you had just finished an intense battle! You must rest!” “This isn’t a problem of simply resting. What kind of idiot would waltz into the enemy’s base without a plan? Gathering information comes first, obviously. That thoughtlessness is what let you get tricked by the demons.” “Mn…! Yes, you are absolutely right! I should be ashamed!” “S-Seiya?!” While what he said was extremely rude, Rosalie simply hangs her head apologetically. “A-allow us to provide you with a place to sleep, Hero. Then after you rest, you can start gathering infor—” “That won’t be necessary. We have a world far better than this warped one we can rest at, so we will be heading back there for now. Rista, open a gate to the underworld.” “What?! W-wait! What happened to gathering information?!” “I’m going to go do some information-gathering training.” “You need to train for that?!” Rosalie’s mouth hangs open in mute amazement, but…w-well, I don’t blame her. Normal people aren’t able to comprehend Seiya’s cautiousness. It isn’t long until the townspeople begin to crowd around in a clamor as if they are disturbed by what he said. Seiya taps me on the shoulder. “I’m sick of explaining every little thing we do. You talk to them.” “O-okay! Hey, uh… Rosalie? We’re about to go to the underworld to train! But don’t worry! Time flows differently there, so we should be back in around two hours!” “The underworld…? Time flows differently…?” “Princess, excuse us, but could we talk?” The top-ranking townspeople wave Rosalie over, and they begin to talk in whispers. Nevertheless, I have no problem hearing them with my extraordinary divine senses. “They spoke of an ‘underworld,’ but does such a place even exist?” “Do you think the Hero is going to abandon us?!” Rosalie and the high-ranking officials eventually approach us, all smiles. “Would it be okay if we accompanied you to this ‘underworld’ you speak of?” They really don’t trust us! “Wh-what should we do, Seiya?!” “I thought having you, a goddess, explain things would be convincing enough but apparently not.” “Yeah. And is it just me, or did they actually start getting suspicious of us once Rista opened her mouth?” “Wh-what the hell, Cerceus?! Are you saying this is my fault?!” At any rate, there’s no way Seiya’s going to let them come with us. We’re going to have to run away and— “Sure. But only Rosalie is allowed to come with us.” “What?! Are you sure, Seiya?!” “Worn-Out Rosalie here has been fighting the dragonewts for over a decade, so I want to get information on the enemy from her.” “I-is that really the only reason why?” “Mersais was able to bring the Divine Hero out of a warped world as well, so I want to see if humans from warped worlds share any common traits.” Interesting. That does sound like something Seiya would do, and there’s no way I can say no to that… “Please be careful, Princess.” “I will return soon.” Rosalie nods to her people. After I open a gate to the underworld, Seiya immediately walks through, followed by Cerceus, Rosalie, and then me. The underworld isn’t shrouded in thick fog the way it usually is, but Rosalie’s eyes open wide in astonishment as she looks up at the red sky. I connected the gate to some green plains near Uno’s residence. It’s usually a quiet, uneventful area, but today there is a massive slug-like underworld dweller crawling down the dirt path. “So what do you think, Rosalie? This is the underworld. Trust us now?” Rosalie stands in stunned silence for a few moments, then looks at me and smiles. “Unlike the others, I never doubted you for a moment.” “Then why did you want to come?” “Because I wanted to learn the secret behind the Hero’s strength.” Seiya suddenly walks in between us, then stares fixedly at Rosalie before placing a hand on her forehead. “It seems you don’t have a fever. Stick out your tongue.” “Huh…? L-like dis?” Seiya begins checking Rosalie as if he were a doctor. He touches her arms and legs as she stands while occasionally bending and extending them at the joint. Her face gradually turns a bright red as Seiya continues to touch her all over. “Do you feel any different than you normally do?” “No… Wait… I feel like I’m burning up…” “Oh? This might be due to you leaving the warped world. I’m going to need to take a closer look.” “And I’m feeling a little tingly in my lower body.” “Which part?” “Below the abdomen…around my crotch…” “I see. Mind if I feel around?” “…?! You better not feel around! What the hell is wrong with you two?!” I scream, unable to take it anymore. Seiya, however, lets out a weary sigh. “I told you already. I’m studying her body for hints to defeat the Divine Hero.” “I get that, and I know that’s important. But Rosalie’s a woman, so maybe cut out the excessive touching?” “Hmph,” snorts Seiya before turning on his heel. Cerceus then cheerfully stretches his back. “Finally, we can rest! I think I’m going to use my free time to go bake a cake at Uno’s place!” “Must be nice not having a care in the world…” Cerceus sprints past Seiya and heads straight for Uno’s house. Seriously? How badly does he want to bake a cake?! What is he, a little girl?! Rosalie, on the other hand, turns to Seiya while still red in the face and pleads: “H-Hero! May I please train with you?!” “Why?” “The townspeople may have forgiven me, but I still cannot forgive myself! I wish to become strong so that I can help save the world! It is the least I can do to atone for my sins. I would be too ashamed to face my people otherwise.” Seiya’s eyes light up. “Are you saying you want to fight the Dragon Lord as well?” “I am already living on borrowed time! I will do anything you ask, Hero!” “Okay then.” Seiya nods as if he has just heard the magic words. “What the…?! Whatever happened to not wanting any allies?!” “I don’t care if this warped-world Rosalie dies. Additionally, having someone who would blindly charge in and attack the enemy on command is a great tool to have. I could probably use her as a sacrificial pawn.” “S-Seiya?! I can’t believe you! She—” “It would be an honor! Even being your sacrificial pawn would be enough for me!” “An ‘honor’?! You’re allowed to be mad at him, y’know!” But Rosalie doesn’t even seem to hear me as she mirthfully asks Seiya: “So what kind of training will we be doing today?” “I told you I need to recover my mana first. Today, I rest.” Rosalie gleefully clasps her hands together while watching Seiya walk away with a roaring yawn. “You’re going to sleep, huh?! Wow! Amazing!” “Wh-what exactly is so amazing about that? Everyone sleeps when they’re sleepy… Hey, Rosalie? Just make sure you don’t let Seiya use you, okay? You’re easily tricked, after all.” But Rosalie simply mutters to herself with rapture: “Not only is he overwhelmingly powerful, but he has incredible foresight as well! The Hero possesses every quality that I do not!” Hmm… It looks like she’s completely obsessed with Seiya already, even though the original Rosalie pretty much hates him. But, well, he did defeat Lucifer Crowe right before her eyes. The Hero she’s been waiting for all these years has finally arrived, so it isn’t hard to understand how she feels. But she seems to have a tear in her eye while watching Seiya enter Uno’s place. “Ah…! My Hero…!” Um…?! She just respects him… That’s all…right?!”