Chapter 190

CHAPTER 25 To the Nakashi Village Ruins Day Three. Cerceus and I are relaxing at Uno’s place for the moment, since we can now maintain Invisibility for a decent amount of time. Rosalie also seems to have gotten the hang of it, so she’s quietly mediating in her room under Slauri’s supervision. Incidentally, Cerceus is baking a cake in the kitchen right now as if he’s already completely comfortable with his progress. “I’m impressed you were able to learn Invisibility in such a short period of time, Rista.” I bashfully smile while sipping the tea Uno poured for me in the living room. “It wasn’t easy, but I managed. Anyway, I really thought Slauri was just a pervy old man when we first met, but…” “But he still shared some of his aura with you, yes?” “Yeah.” Uno places her teacup on the table with a somewhat solemn gaze. “There is a limit to how much aura we of the underworld can share. Slauri will probably never be able to grant his aura of Invisibility to anyone else ever again.” “Wait! Are you serious?!” I am legitimately startled by what she said. I can’t believe Slauri gave us something so valuable! “Hmm? Rista? Where are you going?” “To Slauri’s place! I need to check on Seiya and see how his training’s coming along, too!” After trotting through the forest and arriving at the spring, I find Slauri quietly fishing by its edge just like when we first met. Noticing me, he turns his gaze in my direction and mentions: “The Hero isn’t here anymore. He said he was going to go back and Synthesize.” “Oh. It looks like we just missed each other. Wait… Does that mean…?” “Yes. He has already learned the advanced Invisibility technique that he asked me to teach him. He really is something, that Hero.” Seiya already told Slauri not to tell me what the move was, and I’m sure he has his reasons, so I decide not to press Slauri for answers. Instead, I slowly approach him and take a seat by his side. “Hey, um… Thanks.” “For what?” “For teaching us Invisibility. There’s only a finite number of people you can teach, right?” “Unoporta must have told ya, huh?” Slauri’s lips curl into a suggestive smile as he laughs with a “hee-hee.” I don’t mind as long as I can help the Goddess and her Hero. The underworld and spirit world are built on supply and demand, after all. I vaguely remember the Lord of the Underworld saying something similar. Now that I think about it, I haven’t visited the Shrine of the Six Realms at all lately. Well, it’s not like I have any reason to go, though. I gaze over the still water and quietly say in almost a whisper: “The underworld’s a strange place, but there are a lot of good people here, surprisingly enough.” “Uno and Due are both great people as well. I’m sure, deep down inside, most of us want to help y’all as well.” If there is a limit to how much of their aura they can grant to others, then that means everyone who has taught a move to Seiya so far will never again be able to share that move with someone else. I have to eventually thank each and every one of them. …While thinking that to myself, Slauri suddenly scratches his head with an apologetic expression. “But it’s almost instinctual for us to fulfill our roles. This may seem ridiculous to deities and humans, but it is common sense to us. It’s like how night always comes after day. It is what we must do, for that is how we were made.” “Uh-huh…” Wh-what in the world is he talking about? It doesn’t make any sense to me, but the dwellers of the underworld always show their true colors if it means getting a taste of our HP. That must be what he’s talking about. “Hmm. Got a nibble.” Slauri stares into the spring water as something appears to be tugging on his fishing line. “Looks like I found dinner.” After a brief battle, he pulls a grotesque-looking underworld fish out of the water and flashes a bright smile. He’s kind of cute when he’s like this. “Well, Slauri, I should get going.” “Okay. Take care… Oh, wait. I almost forgot.” “What’s up?” “D’you think you can wear a wet T-shirt next time ya come? I didn’t get a good look at your knockers last time, so I thought ya could—hey. Hey, wait.” I decide to check up on Cerceus for some reason after returning to Uno’s place and find him happily stirring something in a bowl in the kitchen. “Making another cake?” “Yeah. I figured I’d use this time to do something worthwhile, since I can already turn invisible and all.” “Why don’t you do some sword training, then? You are the God of Swords, after all.” “Swords are so last year.” He suddenly shows me his cake batter in the bowl. “I have an idea, and this is probably gonna come in handy during our journey.” “Like emergency rations? I don’t think cake has a long shelf life.” “All I’m saying is that fighting isn’t everything.” Cerceus fearlessly smirks. “Besides, I’m guessing we still have a good while before we leave. It doesn’t matter if Seiya’s perfect, because if we mess up, he’s screwed as well, right? I’m sure he’s gonna make us do some extra training before we go, just in case. So I figured I could at least have a little fun while I can.” Cerceus then begins to focus back on making his cake. Now that I think about it, Seiya did make me practice being a fish-person over and over again after he learned Transformation. So Cerceus is probably right. Seiya’s probably going to thoroughly check our progress before we leave again. I—I should probably go have some fun while I still can, too…! After that, we all get together in the living room and enjoy Cerceus’s cake while chatting until Seiya suddenly comes walking over. “We’re leaving tomorrow. Be ready.” ““Huh?!”” Cerceus and I yelp. “What are you so surprised about? You mastered Invisibility, didn’t you?” “B-but you didn’t even watch us practice, Seiya! Are you sure you don’t even need to check if we’re any good?” “Not this time. Even if you deities do mess up, your lives won’t be in much danger as long as the enemy doesn’t possess Chain Destruction. Besides, being strict with you two has never once worked out. I’m expecting you to fail, so don’t worry.” “O-oh… Okay…” He doesn’t trust me at all! I mean, that might be my fault, but still…! “But what about Rosalie? Was she able to master Invisibility?” “I only need you two to be halfway decent at it.” “Huh…?” “It doesn’t matter whether she lives or dies.” “O-oh, come on, Seiya! Stop joking around like that! Don’t you think he needs to stop with the edgy jokes?” “Y-yeah! Ha-ha-ha!” Cerceus and I try to laugh it off, but Seiya turns his gaze to the second floor, where Rosalie is, and his eyes send a shiver down my spine. His expression is so icy that it makes the usual indifferent gaze he gives us seem almost loving. Seiya doesn’t see Rosalie from the warped world as a woman. He doesn’t even consider her human. I have a bad feeling about all this! B-but we’re just going there to collect information this time. It’s not like we’re going to be invading the enemy’s base! Even though I know that, I can’t help but be concerned, so I eventually decide to pay Rosalie a visit and head to her room. “Hey, Rosalie? Can I come in?” I knock. “Come in,” she replies, so I open the door, but… “Huh?” Rosalie is nowhere in sight. “It appears I was able to master it as well.” I hear Rosalie’s voice right by my side, and she suddenly appears before me! “You did it! I’m so happy for you, Rosalie!” I cheerfully grab her hands and rejoice, causing her to smile somewhat bashfully. “I hope I can be of some use now.” “You’ll be more than that! You mastered Invisibility!” “Do you think the Hero will be pleased?” “He’ll be thrilled! I just know it!” “R-really?! I was so worried I would simply get in his way! Thank goodness! Oh, thank goodness!” Her cheeks light up with joy like a little girl, contrary to her usual tightly wound demeanor. But while one problem has been solved, a new concern flashes across my mind. “H-hey, Rosalie. Don’t get too attached to Seiya, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt.” “What?! I—I won’t! I—I don’t have any f-feelings for the Hero! At all! I simply respect him! That’s all!” …?! She’s so obvious! I can read her like a book! “O-oh, okay. Anyway, we leave tomorrow, so make sure you’re ready to go, okay?” I leave the panicking princess with those words and retire from her room. Sigh… Seiya and Rosalie… Their feelings for each other are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. I really hope this doesn’t cause problems down the road. The next day. We meet up in Uno’s garden, where Seiya is having Cerceus carry an obscene amount of equipment. “So? Where are we going first, Seiya?” “We’ll head back to Iglu first. After that, we’ll use Rosalie’s teleportation circle to travel to Nakashi Village, the Dragon Lord’s hometown.” Rosalie then timidly mentions: “Hero, Nakashi Village is in ruins. I don’t believe there is a single soul who lives there anymore.” “I know. That’s where you come in, Rista.” “Me?” “Find one of Mash’s belongings and use psychometry on it.” “So that’s how you were planning on using Rista’s powers!” S-Seiya’s relying on me?! “Actually, I could simply use my Appraise ability to get a decent amount of information myself, even if Rista didn’t have a power like that.” “I—I do, though! I’ll try to get as much information as I can!” But while I’m in high spirits, Uno suddenly approaches us with a solemn stare. “Rista, there is something I want you to be careful about if you decide to transform into a demon god in the lower realm…” “O-oh yeah. I vaguely remember you talking about that before… Wait! Will I die?!” “No, it’s not that. It could, however, cause you to have an emotional spike, which could lead to an outburst.” “An emotional outburst?!” I am genuinely startled, but Cerceus, on the other hand, slaps his knee. “Now that you mention it, I was trying to suck up to Lucifer in Iglu after turning into a demon god. No wonder I was suddenly filled with such negative emotions!” “Except for the fact that you turned into a demon after sucking up to her!” “Oh… Right… Sorry…” “Just shut up! Anyway, there isn’t anything else we need to worry about, right, Uno?” “You should be fine as long as you maintain emotional balance, Rista.” “Okay! I’ll be careful!” “…Rista, you sure you’ll be okay?” “I learned how to control my emotions while training under Slauri! Have some faith in me, Seiya!” I make a gate to take us to Iglu just like Seiya requested. It’s the first time we’ve been back in days, but time in the underworld moves slowly just like in the spirit world, so only a few hours should have passed here. “Oh, Hero! Surely, you must have wanted to go to Nakashi Village as quickly as possible, and yet you returned to this village first for my sake!” rejoices Rosalie as she thanks Seiya. “Oh, hey! Rosalie’s back!” Before long, the villagers gather around Rosalie, where she gives them a rough idea of what happened, and I simply watch. Hmm… Seiya probably only wanted to come here first because it’s the safest place in Warped Gaeabrande that we know of. I’m sure of it. It isn’t long before I’m proved right. Seiya sternly barks: “Rosalie. We don’t have time for that. Hurry up and prepare the teleportation circle.” “I—I am deeply sorry! I will get right on it!” After briefly explaining to her people that she will be traveling with the Hero, Rosalie uses a staff to draw a magic circle on the ground. Seiya isn’t even suspicious for a change and steps right on it. However… “I am going to turn invisible before we go, just in case. Cerceus, Rista, you, too.” We turn invisible, making it impossible to see each other, but I can still hear Cerceus’s worried voice. “But Seiya, how are we going to know each other’s location like this?” “Yes, this is one drawback of the move. Therefore, Rosalie will remain visible and act as our guide.” “Yes, sir!” Rosalie nods with a smile… Well, I guess she’ll be fine since the village is supposed to be abandoned. “All right, let’s go.” A brilliant light radiates as we are drawn into the magic circle and disappear. By the time the light dies down, all I can see are ruined buildings before me. Each seems to be weathered as if they faded with time as weeds grow from between the cracks and rubble. “It looks like the place was destroyed a while ago, huh?” Only Cerceus’s voice fills the silence. Besides Rosalie, the rest of us are invisible. All I can assume is that Cerceus is standing in the direction I heard his voice coming from. “This village was destroyed during the dragonewts’ invasion a few years ago.” “But this is supposed to be Mash’s hometown, right?” “I hear the Dragon Lord even slaughtered the humans who raised him.” “What…?!” “They call me the Hero Mash back at home in Nakashi Village, you know!” I suddenly remember when Mash was merrily bragging to Seiya. I still can’t believe he would do something so vile. Someone must be controlling him…or maybe the Dragon Lord really isn’t even Mash. I can’t deny these thoughts. “I want to see Mash’s old house.” “I heard the Dragon Lord was raised by the village chief. I believe the remains of the biggest house lie somewhere in the center of the village.” “Then go make sure and report back to me, Rosalie.” “Yes, sir!” After Rosalie cheerfully rushes off, Cerceus mutters: “Rosalie’s a really big help, huh? Her teleportation magic’s even more useful than Rista’s gates.” “I—I can open gates to anywhere, too, as long as I’ve been there once! It doesn’t take long to cast them, either, so I can get us places faster than she can!” I try to defend myself, but I’m sure Seiya’s just going to tell me again how useless I am. And yet… “Rista’s gates are superior overall. After all, she can freely go in and out of Iglu without the townspeople’s permission and while ignoring the barrier as well.” Seiya actually compliments me. Wh-why? What’s going on?! “At any rate, did you memorize this village’s location so you can create a gate next time?” “Yep! All done!” “Make sure to keep it up, then. Otherwise, we will have a hard time getting around this planet if Rosalie dies.” “D-don’t say something like that. It’s—huh?!” All of a sudden, countless salamanders emerge from the air where Seiya’s voice was coming from! The dozens of fire salamanders then immediately scatter about in each and every direction of the village. “What was that?!” “These are far more convenient than Automatic Phoenixes if I’m going to search every house in the village.” Seiya seems to have started searching the village himself even after sending Rosalie out to find Mash’s old house, but she comes running back to us before he can find anything. Rosalie looks around, unable to find us. “Rosalie, we’re over here.” “Oh! Goddess! I have returned with good news. The area around the village chief’s house is safe! While the building is falling apart, there is still furniture and other belongings inside!” “Then let’s go. Lead the way, Rosalie.” “Yes, sir!” But after Rosalie takes a few steps, Seiya mutters: “Wait. One of my fire salamanders found a dragonewt at the Emperor Dragon ruins on the north side of town.” “A—a dragonewt?!” “I’m going to observe it a little longer,” echoes the empty space in Seiya’s voice. The salamanders he sent out must have their eyes linked with Seiya’s. “Hmm… It doesn’t appear to be any different from your average lizard-person,” mentions Seiya’s voice after a few moments go by. Rosalie’s face is suddenly overcome with surprise. “There is a dragonewt?! In these ruins?! Allow me to go kill it! You all head to the village chief’s manor!” “Wait. Let’s go watch this dragonewt first. I am sure after torturing it for information, we could use Rista’s psychometry on one of its possessions for even more—perhaps conflicting—information.” “‘T-torture’?!” echoes Cerceus’s voice from behind me. Even I swallow my breath in shock. What kind of hero does that?! But…he’s doing it to save the world, right? I thought Nakashi Village wasn’t going to be dangerous, since we only came to gather information and we’re invisible. But the sudden appearance of a mysterious dragonewt gives me the feeling that there is more here than meets the eye.