Fifth Act If You’re the Villainess, Tame the Final Boss “Lady Aileen, you’re taking too long up there!!” Lilia shouts, blocking the third attack. Her arms already feel tired and heavy. I hope I last until the evacuation’s completed, at least. The citizens of Imperial Ellmeyer’s capital city have just awakened from their slumber, but they quickly figure out this is an emergency. Soldiers and sundry other people are running around below her. The floating palace is back in the sky and firing at them. Nobody is dumb enough to just stand there spacing out. The force behind the attacks is gradually weakening, but fielding several shots in a row is just…! Even as she’s thinking this, a fresh attack comes. Gritting her teeth, she fixes her eyes on it from the imperial castle’s highest clock tower. Holding her holy sword horizontally, she sketches a semicircular barrier. A light ray that evaporates everything in its path hits the barrier squarely. The impact hits Lilia just as hard. “…………!” The force pushes her backward, grinding down the soles of her shoes. Cracks begin to develop in the holy sword. She’s smiling dauntlessly, but her face is dripping with cold sweat. Please hold up. This holy sword is the reason she can still wield power similar to the sacred sword. Once it’s gone— “Lilia! Are you okay…? Serenaaaaa!” She hears an oddly dim-witted voice, and then wings flutter around the clock tower once, and a figure alights near her. “What are you even doing? You’re the Maid of the Sacred Sword, remember?! Get it together!” “Serena.” The other girl has grabbed her shoulders, startling her, and the sacred sword swells with power at tremendous speed. She sweeps it through the incoming attack, and it bursts with a bang. “Oh—” Unable to stand its Serena-amplified power, the holy sword has turned to dust. Staring at her empty hands, Lilia mutters, “It can’t be. Checkmate? …Reality is incredible, isn’t it?!” “Have you lost your mind? You don’t have to worry—” “Noooo, eeeeeeek! Don’t drop me, please don’t drop meeeeeee, Lady ManaaaaAAaaaaaaah!” With a pathetic cry, something else is falling toward them. Actually, was thrown seems more accurate. “Uuuuuuuh… I know she hates me, but that was mean…” Having been flung into the clock tower, Sahra gets to her feet, sniffling. She’s holding several holy swords. Not having any of it, Serena promptly helps her up. “And you! What are you doing? Come on, shape up.” “I mean, she swung me around and arou— Oh, Lilia! Thank goodness, you’re okay! Um, I brought all the ones Ashmael had. Here!” “O-okay? Um, you’re not telling me not to collapse until I’ve gone through all those, are you?” “No matter how often they break, I’ll work really hard and fix them, okay?!” “Lady…Lilia… Lady Sahra, Lady Serena!” This time, they hear a voice from below. Rachel, the villainess of Game 2, has just run up the stairs. “What, you’re awake?” “I am now… I don’t know…what’s going on, but…! Lady Lilia was…doing something…so Isaac told me to go take a look… Also, I brought you this!” Getting her rough breathing under control, Rachel holds out a basket. The next thing Lilia knows, she has a bottle of water shoved into her mouth. “There! Drink up, please. You’re the linchpin right now, Lady Lilia! I imagine Lady Aileen is up with the floating palace, isn’t she?! Keep your strength up, so she can focus on that.” “Amh? Fuu ay ere?” “Leave it to us: We’ll support you with everything we’ve got! Prince Cedric is moving as well.” Lilia’s eyes widen slightly, and Rachel laughs. “Both Master Claude and Lady Aileen are absent, so Prince Cedric is mobilizing things in his own name. He says, if it comes down to it, he doesn’t mind if Master Claude beheads him; he’ll take responsibility. Prime Minister Cyril advised him. That’s why the army’s on the move. We’ve requested help from Grand Duke Levi as well.” “…I see.” Lilia drains the rest of her drink and pushes the empty bottle onto Rachel. Taking a holy sword from the bunch in Sahra’s arms, she looks outside. She can see the water dragon heading back toward Ashmael. Did she actually fly Serena and Sahra here? Even though it can’t have been on the demon king or holy king’s orders? Even if the principal consort asked her to, to think she’d carry Sahra… Upon closer inspection, the men issuing orders to the soldiers turn out to be Lester and Marcus. The demon king’s forest seems rather noisy as well; Aileen’s lackeys must be running around over there. The floating palace attacks again. The sight may have drifted off its target, or perhaps something’s broken. Instead of a straight line, the attack is wavy. Figures fly in from below and intercept it—the cambion and the holy knight. Or, no, she should probably say Duke Mirchetta and the next captain of the Holy Knights. “Sorry, Elefas, we left you half! James, help, I’m falling!” “At least handle the landing yourself, you thoughtless—” As the two of them fall, a voice speaks from below, “Say, Isaac, isn’t this really mean?!” “Nah, it’s not mean at all; he’s the most powerful thing we’ve got right now. Oh, aim this way, Denis.” “An eye for an eye, and an attack for an attack! Give it your best!” “I have fortifying substances here, so try your hardest.” “…It won’t help physically, but if you sniff this herb, you may feel calmer…” “Elefas! Hang-in-there Dance!” For some reason, the demons in the demon king’s forest all began dancing at once. Apparently, they’re trying to provide encouragement. “Okay, here we go. Give it your best shot, Elefas Gun. Time to die, newlywed.” “Since you’ve borrowed magic from Master Claude, you can do this. I’m sorry we can’t do anything…!” “First, you summon me, then you tie me to this thing without warning and tell me to power it! It isn’t fair!” The attack that’s launched from the demon king’s palace—along with that tear-filled scream—blows away the floating palace’s incoming attack. “…Lady Aileen’s lackeys are as incredible as ever. So is your husband, Serena; I wonder how he got over here.” “From the looks of it, the cambion carried him and flew.” Lilia is about to laugh when, in a corner of the imperial castle, she spies a figure in conversation with the prime minister. Noticing her as well, he hastily opens a window, leaning out. For one miraculous moment, their eyes meet. “Lilia! You’re all right?!” Yes, she is. Of course she is. Before she can answer, the floating palace’s gun opens fire again. She hears several things: the shrieks of several men and cries of “Elefas isn’t recharged yet!” However… She levels the holy sword again. Serena grabs her shoulder. Taking a step forward, she slashes horizontally, blasting the attack away without a trace. “Gracious. Who does Cedric think I am anyway?” Shining sparks similar to the ones that fall from the sacred sword sift down from the holy sword. As one would imagine, a holy sword repaired by the Daughter of God is powerful. Tucking her chin, she fixes her eyes on the floating palace. Send anything you’ve got. There’s no way I’ll lose. I gave up being the player to get this heroine bonus, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t underestimate it too much. Well, on the other hand… “If I had the sacred sword, I could have downed that floating palace with one attack.” “Eeeeeeek! Again, here it comes again, it’s coming, Liliaaaaaa!” “You too, Lady Serena! Stay beside Lady Lilia! Take your place!” “My ‘place’?! Excuse me?! And what, you’re just here to cheerlead?!” Smiling wryly, Lilia levels the holy sword to meet the incoming attack. Tremendous pressure shoves her backward, but Serena, Sahra, and even Rachel all set their hands on her back, supporting her. An attack of bright white light. As they clench their teeth, bearing up under it, Serena spots a shadow that nearly blots out that whiteness. “…Look. What’s that?” A black sphere is rising from the floating palace, scattering miasma. It looks patently sinister, but Lilia gives a dauntless smile. Oh, that must be the current final boss. All right, villainess, give it your best. The heroine can’t save the final boss. Cedric won’t be able to finish drawing his picture of the imperial couple, either. You don’t mind, do you, Cedric? It’s all right if it isn’t a picture of you as the emperor and me as your consort. Opening her violet eyes wide, she knocks the attack away. The recoil throws her and the others back. The holy sword shatters, its shards grazing her cheeks, but she stays on her feet. After all, as long as Lilia doesn’t fall to her knees, she’s sure Aileen won’t, either. If Evare is the hero of Game 6, the corrupt dragon he’s trying to slay must be its final boss. And the Maid of the Sacred Sword he sought must be its heroine. In other words, either Machina or Lucia is the heroine of Game 6. One is the Maid of the Sacred Sword, and the other the villainess. However, Machina has returned to her former expressionless state, and Lucia lies as limp and motionless as a doll now that Grace, her soul, has been extracted. Growing desperate, without the sacred sword that would save the world, the hero has transformed Charles into the corrupt dragon. With the Maid of the Sacred Sword still absent, the final boss has appeared. No… Aileen glances at Grace. Evare has realized the same thing. “Yeah, there’s still a way. We’ve still got a sacred sword. Just use that to end the corrupt dragon,” Evare says. Grace can become the sacred sword, then let Aileen take her in so she can use it. However, that sword is bound to kill Charles. “…That boy is Aileen’s son. He’s basically my grandchild. You’re telling Aileen and me to slay him?” “Well, if you don’t, he’s gonna rot the world.” With a thick blup, black sludge seeps out of the floating sphere. It hits the ground with a hiss, and the earth begins to rot away. Stern-faced, Grace rises to her feet. Evare laughs. “That’s right. There’s nothin’ else you can do. It’s the only way to save the world!” “W-wait, please wait! Master Charles hasn’t—” “Hey, don’t stress about it too much. It’s what the prince wants, too.” Estella, the only one who’s tried to protest, stares at him wide-eyed. With the look of someone who’s found his prey, Evare goes on. “After all, everyone’ll be saved this way. It’s a fine decision, real fittin’ for the crown prince of Ellmeyer. Don’cha think? As his fiancée, I bet you’re proud of him.” “I… That’s…” “And that way, he won’t have to crush your dream of becomin’ the holy king, either.” Estella looks stunned. “You shoulda been the holy king, but they made you get engaged to this prince so he could become emperor, right? That worried him a whole lot. He figured it was his fault. Like he’d become shackles for the girl he loved.” Estella’s breathing is rapid and shallow; she clutches at her chest, and Baal hastily keeps her from falling over. There’s no telling whether he’s frustrated or finds the situation funny, but Evare tips his head back, shouting into the sky, “So you don’t need to hesitate. This is what he wanted. He’s protectin’ his family! Protectin’ the dream of the girl he loves! He said he’ll die for that! Well, he might drag his dad down with him, but somethin’ on that level’s just charmin’, really. Magnificent, ain’t it? That’s the crown prince of Ellmeyer for—” Aileen launches herself off the ground. She raises the holy sword, swinging it at the black sphere, but magic rushes out like an electrical current and knocks her back. She flips in midair and lands on her feet, gouging the ground with her heels as she skids to a stop. “Wh…what, huh?” Evare has stopped laughing for a moment, but he tries to keep up appearances by smiling. “Nothin’ can slay those two except the sacred sword. Not your husband or your son.” “I am Master Claude’s wife. Why must I slay my husband?” Aileen retorts without turning a hair. Catching her balance, she straightens up. “Master Claude is in pain. No doubt he’s struggling, trying to save Charles. No, even if he was attempting to take it all on himself and fulfill his duty as an emperor… If I don’t save him, who will?!” “…What are ya goin’ on about? Don’cha care what happens to the world?” “When I acquired the sacred sword, it was in order to protect Master Claude!” There is no other reason. As Aileen looks up at the sphere, the corners of her lips curve. “Saving the world is a mere afterthought.” She gets a better grip on the holy sword. She can tell it’s shining. Evare’s eyes widen. She plants her feet firmly on the ground, then leaps into the air again. Seeing the black sphere below her, she swings the sword down on it as hard as she can. The miasma is swept away, and the tip of her sword connects with the sphere. A tremendous blast wind rises from its surface. “Whoa, wait, if you break that, the corrupt dragon really will resurrect—” Cracks run through both the holy sword and the black sphere. People will probably say it’s the sound of the world being destroyed. However, Aileen isn’t the only one who lunges in without hesitating, and that makes her smile. With neither holy sword nor sacred sword, arms spread wide, in order to save the final boss— “Master Charles!” Come. Our beloved demon kings are waiting for us. Don’t fear the sound of the world breaking. That’s just the signal for the start of your dear one’s rescue. She’d always been earnest. She was bold and stubborn, yet also a daddy’s girl. She was very proud, yet naive to the ways of the world, and sometimes, she seemed a little foolish. That was the sort of girl she was. She’d always stood as tall as she could and kept her mind keenly alert, insisting she’d become the holy king. Estella Shah Ashmael, Ashmael’s first princess, was a paragon of a royal young lady. A sacred princess with the dignity of a single flower blooming in the desert, one who shone as brilliantly as a star. Their parents were friends, so Charles had known her since they were small. However, as the youngest child and the easygoing second prince, he just didn’t see eye to eye with her. She’d probably be sort of cute if she smiled, but the only looks untidy Charles got from her were glares. Those eyes seemed to ask him, What are you anyway?, and he didn’t like them much. When had his older twin pointed out that it was rare for him not to like somebody? “You never fight anybody straight on; you just let everything slide. I hope she does smile for you.” His brother was always causing chaos with the tactless things he said, but he was actually very perceptive. In her attempts to be outstanding, Estella lived in a way that was the polar opposite of everything Charles did. As the only one of his siblings who’d been born with magic and sacred power, Charles couldn’t afford to be outstanding. Although both his brother and sister had mildly concerning character flaws, they both had the capacity to become splendid emperors. Both humans and demons loved them, so there wouldn’t be a problem. In an emergency, and only then, he could handle it for them. It would be too dangerous to have the demon king be emperor two generations in a row. If he slacked off and let them underestimate him, he could prevent any needless fighting. His father wouldn’t allow that, though. “You can overpower your sister and brother, so you mustn’t be their retainer,” he said, and although everyone was hoping for his older brother to be the next emperor, he arbitrarily appointed Charles as crown prince…complete with the bombshell that Estella would be his fiancée. Charles assumed Estella would refuse. The holy king doted on her, and if she did refuse, he’d make sure it came to nothing. However, she came to Ellmeyer, hair chopped short, and gave her consent. He couldn’t believe it. It made him just a little happy. Then when she raised her head and he saw the resignation in her eyes, it was more than he could bear. He’d crushed her dream of becoming the holy king. All her effort had gone to waste, and it was his fault. Black hair and red and violet eyes. It seemed old-fashioned in this day and age, when the demon king reigned as emperor, but a lot of people disapproved of the boy who was destined to become the demon king assuming the throne again. His father had his mother, who’d possessed the sacred sword. She’d apparently done phenomenal things and had silenced any objections. As a result, his parents probably thought he’d need someone comparable if he was going to be the next emperor. The holy king’s beloved daughter. A girl with enough sacred power that she was considered his successor. If they needed a Maid of the Sacred Sword now, nearly twenty years after the dissolution of the Holy Queendom of Hausel, no one was more appropriate than this girl. Both his older sister and his female cousins were famous, but probably not in a way that would qualify them to be a Maid of the Sacred Sword. However, because of him, everything she’d built had collapsed. Feeling wretched and frustrated, he shut himself up in the old castle. He couldn’t face her. He had to find a way to outwit his father… That was when it happened. His body had begun to change. His skin had blackened and grown scales, and everything that touched them rotted. It was like a divine punishment. His father—who had experience with becoming a dragon—consulted with the holy king, and the holy king made Charles gloves and an eye patch with sacred power worked into them. He was told that Estella could make the same things. What a joke, he thought. He didn’t want to be any more of a burden to her. Then Evare appeared. He claimed to come from the future, and that Charles shouldn’t actually have been born in this era. Maybe because Charles wanted to atone somehow, he believed that preposterous story. He would become a dragon and rot the world. In that case, he had to get himself killed by the Maid of the Sacred Sword before that happened. That was why he helped Evare in his search for her. He’d considered interfering with the past and preventing his own birth, but when he thought about his older sister, and particularly his twin brother, he wasn’t able to do it. He didn’t go to his family for advice. He wasn’t confident that he could explain it properly. He wrote up a document dissolving his engagement, though. In the end, he’d never seen her smile. Still, he thought as he wrote, that’s probably all for the best. If I’d seen her smile, I might have fought this. The ferocious pain that runs through his chest brings him back to his senses. “Are you awake?” “…F-Father…?” He blinks, then realizes something with a jolt. Black miasma is flooding from his chest, like blood. A rounded, egg-shaped barrier is catching it. The miasma is settling in the bottom, and black, turbid water is building up below them. His father is holding him in his arms, keeping his head above the surface. He also noticed that one of his father’s arms has turned into something grotesque from the shoulder down. He’s being drawn into Charles’s transformation. The parts of him that are soaking in the black water probably are as well. “What—?” “Hold still. Your body is smaller, so the progression is faster. I’m taking as much of it as I can and spreading it out, but…” “Why are you here?! This is— You know it’s a bad idea to be in here!” His father is the one who conjured this smooth, round barrier. He probably meant for it to act like the shell of an egg, and he’s trying to slow the progression. By getting inside, he’s taken Charles’s transformation into himself. “Hurry, put me down and get out!” “If I leave, you’ll turn into the corrupt dragon all by yourself.” “There’s no way to stop that! I told you ending up like this was my destiny, remember?!” “You’ve got plenty of energy, don’t you? My body is creaking here and there, and I’m feeling a bit worn down.” No, Charles hurts, too. His back spasms as thick scales gradually cover it, and he can feel his cells splitting again and again, as if he’s being torn to bits. It’s the pain of being reborn as a different creature. Still, this pain should be all his. He only shared the curse with his father to buy time. “The sacred sword is still— That’s right, we’ve got Grandmother’s. That means it’s fine; hurry—” “You’re a strong boy.” Just as Charles is about to scream Leave me and go again, his father smiles at him, and he freezes up. “Frankly, the idea that you’re my son doesn’t feel real to me yet, so I’m going to say this… I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to raise a child properly.” What is he bringing up at a time like this? Still, even though he’s dragged his father into this, the man’s red eyes are kind, and he finds himself listening closely. “I’m not worried anymore. You’re a splendid son. You seem to be going through a bit of a rebellious phase, but that’s probably proof that you’re growing up properly. I did manage to have a family, didn’t I?” “What…are…?” “Maybe that’s why. I jumped in because I couldn’t just leave you like this. I think you could rely on me a little—or no, I suppose you can’t, can you? No, you can’t. When I was your age, I didn’t think there was any human who could save me, either. However—” Wham. A sudden impact runs through them. It came from outside. “Ah.” His father smiles, his eyes softening amid the scales that have begun to grow around them. “There she is… It’s all right; I’m sure yours will come for you, too. It’s just instinct talking, but even so.” “Come for… What will?” “Isn’t it obvious? The Maid of the Sacred… No, I suppose it’s the Maid of the Cursed Sword. The demon king’s wife.” This time, the impact comes from over their heads. Something is trying to break through the barrier. But when this barrier breaks…when this egg hatches, he’s going to— A crack runs through the top of the shell. It’s breaking. That noise is the sound of the world collapsing. “Master Claude!” It’s his mother’s voice. She must have come for his father. That’s fine. Light lances in. His mother grabs his father’s hand and begins to pull him out. Thank goodness. The relief makes the tension drain out of him. They’re apparently very high up. He can feel himself falling backward. He’s been worried about Evare’s rampage, but if his mother and father are there, they can stop it. If Machina’s safe, Estella should be able to return to her era. All that’s left is— If he’s slain, that will be the end of it. Even Evare will get his wish. “Master Charles!” He opens his eyes, which may not even be human eyes anymore—and sees Estella. “Wh-what…?!” He’s falling through the sky, and she desperately reaches out for him. Charles can’t believe what he’s seeing, and he screams, “What are you doing, you idiot?! Run!” “Is it true that you like me?!” “Huh?!” Even at a time like this, it feels as if all the blood in his body is trying to flow backward. Charles is speechless, and Estella glares at him. “No, that can wait! I’ll listen to you later. Your hand, Master Charles.” “Wh-what the…? I…” Estella’s fingertips skim his cheek, and he hears a hiss, as if something is scorching. Turning pale, he tries to yell, but then his back spasms. He grits his teeth, bracing against the intense pain as wings sprout from his shoulders. The wings seem to have slowed his fall. Estella has caught up to him, and she cups his cheeks with her hands. At the same time, sacred power courses through him, with her at its center. She’s trying to hold back his transformation. There’s no way she can stop it, though. “Get away…from me…” As Charles tries to shake her off, what he sees in that pair of incredibly close violet eyes makes him catch his breath. Why is she crying…? He can see himself in those lovely eyes. His festering skin, his eerie, odd-colored eyes. A half-formed thing, neither holy nor demonic. Still, without hesitating, she wraps her arms around his neck. “I came to take you back.” She smiles at him. That smile. It’s the one he’s always wanted to see, even if it was only a glimpse. He thinks his heart might stop. Pain rips through him, as if his body is being torn to pieces. Estella’s power tries to curb it, and an explosion and lightning lash out in reaction. Seeing Estella’s cheek hiss as it touches him, Charles gulps. No, no, I can’t do this. Estella’s going to get dragged into it. He knows that, but his arms have wrapped around her, pulling her close. There’s nothing else for him to cling to. He’s struggling pathetically. Gods. Gods, you don’t have to save me, so please— —save the girl I love. He looks up, as if he’s praying, and he sees Machina. She’s holding a sacred sword. The one weapon that can kill him. At that point, he doesn’t care why. “Kill me! Hurry!” “I won’t let that happen!” Estella hugs Charles tighter, as if she’s determined not to let him go. Machina raises her blade, preparing to strike Estella right along with him. “Machina, stop! Just me—don’t drag Estella into this!” Even as Charles screams, Machina pierces Estella’s chest with the sacred sword. It’s like watching a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis. Aileen gazes at the sight, feeling vaguely nostalgic. “Did you know, Aileen?” Claude is looking up at the same thing, although he’s leaning on her shoulder for support. “Having that happen right in front of you is pretty hard on the heart. It’s like being petrified with fear.” “My, is that right?” “Even if it was the only way, I feel bad for poor Charles.” “What do you mean, poor Charles?!” Baal screams, almost in tears. “You should feel much worse for us! We told her not to go, but she shook off our hands. We feel as if we’ve sent her off to marry, and she hasn’t even been born yet…! Couldn’t you have dealt with this yourself somehow, Aileen?!” “No, I could not. If I’d loaned my body to Lady Grace, or if I’d used Machina’s sacred sword, I could probably have slain Charles, but I couldn’t have restored his humanity. After all, I am his mother.” Romantic love is something she can’t give him. Those words are swallowed up in the brilliant light that shines from the sword buried in Estella’s chest. The corrupt dragon’s scales fall off, as if it’s molting. Evare looks up at the sight in disbelief. What is it? What’s happenin’? Why…? Aileen broke through the black sphere and rescued the demon king. Even so, he saw Charles fall, and he thought his victory was assured. At the very least, he wouldn’t be alone anymore. However, the holy king’s daughter went after Charles, and Machina went after her. So even a soulless shell with no sacred sword responds to the corrupt dragon it must slay? He’d been watching with a half smile on his face when Machina manifested the sacred sword. He was startled, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Grace watching Machina and the others, her fists clenched. She seemed prepared to leap in there herself if this failed. Since that was so, he assumed that Machina’s sacred sword was like a lingering fragment of Amelia— No, whether Charles was slain or not, victory was his, he thought. But then… …Machina ignored Charles. The sacred sword sank into Estella; her body was absorbing it. Evare knew what this was. The Maid of the Cursed Sword. When all but the hilt had vanished, the girl’s body began to glow from within. It wasn’t the sort of light he’d seen before, the sort that simply repelled. It was a gentle light that seemed to wash everything away. That light enveloped Charles’s body even as it radiated thick, black miasma. Those black scales, that ugly, misshapen form…transformed into petals of light and scattered in the wind. The corrupt dragon was turning back into an ordinary boy. “But that’s… That can’t be… Only the real sacred sword could…” The sacred sword is the proof of love. In the midst of those fluttering petals of light, the boy and girl look shocked, and then they embrace. Even their tears turn into twinkling particles of light. No. No, this is no good. If this keeps up— That pure-white world. Nausea wells up inside him. A world of nothing, buried in pure-white ash. When he’d awakened, he’d been a boy. The floating palace held only what he needed to ward off starvation. There wasn’t a single soul there. He waited several years for someone. Then growing tired of waiting, he ventured outside. He found a map, but there were no longer any destinations to travel to, nor any roads to travel on. Since that was so, he headed for the country where he should have awakened as the evil god. The desert kingdom had become a land of ashes. When he reached it, there was nothing. An empty stone monument. The last will of a mother who’d been defeated by destiny. The ruin seemed ready to crumble at any moment, and inside it, he found nothing but a girl who neither spoke nor smiled. He’d been happy at first. Just having someone else around was enough. She said nothing, though. She didn’t smile. She didn’t even eat. She just followed him. Gradually, he began to feel even more alone than he had when he was by himself. After all, she wasn’t alive. She simply moved. It felt as if he was being forced to admit that he was the only living thing. No one lived here. He couldn’t save anything. Nothing could save him. He spent years and years in a world like that, all by himself. Rage that felt a lot like fear had welled up inside him, and he’d almost fallen to his knees, but he forced himself to stay on his feet. He couldn’t let himself acknowledge the existence of love. After all, in a world where no one else was alive, there was no way for love to be born. “There’s no way I’m gonna let it end all happily ever after like this!” In his fury, he takes aim at the defenseless falling pair. The corrupt dragon is being purified; it can’t strike back right now, and Charles shouldn’t have that sort of strength left. He’s just taking his anger out on them. He knows that. Still, why is he always the only one with no sacred sword, no future, no love? I wish I’d never been born. Registering Evare’s hostility, Charles holds Estella close. He’s planning to protect her. What a beautiful sight. It’s so beautiful that his lips twist. That’s a beauty that’s never had, and never will have, anything to do with him. Not him, who lives all by himself— Break already. This must be what the evil god who should have awakened inside him would have felt like. Or was he only ever the evil god all along? He doesn’t know. The urge to kill and destroy simply well up inside him, and he hits them with all the magic he’s got. A little late, the demon king and the others register it and turn his way, but they’ll never make it in time. “Die! Go on and die, everyone, everythin’—!” The magic, a mass of malice and envy, disperses right before his eyes. A brilliant flash has cut through it, and Evare stares, dazed. The sacred…sword. The thing he’s spent so long yearning for has slashed through his attack and is headed straight for him. Machina is the one wielding it. Why? He doesn’t know if his gasping murmur made it out as speech or not. Still, he knows he’s the only one who mustn’t live in this world any longer. Thinking Machina will swing that sword at his neck, he closes his eyes. In the end, I guess I couldn’t beat destiny, huh? Now, he thinks, he’ll finally be able to rest. His mother must have felt this way when she lost, too. —And yet with an eye-opening noise, something slaps him across the face. When Machina slaps Evare’s cheek, the sound carries shockingly well. It’s almost like an alarm clock. The dizzying events that have taken place in the span of a few minutes seem like a dream. Aileen blinks, as if she’s just awakened. It isn’t a dream, though. Perhaps the sacred sword has purified it; there’s an area where the grass has grown back, and in it, Estella is clinging to Charles. She’s probably crying. The arm Charles has hesitantly put around her is the color of rather pale flesh. The wings that sprouted from his back are gone. Baal is gazing at the pair rather bitterly, his arms folded. Softly, she touches her husband’s chest. There’s no hardness there, either. The clothes that covered the right side of his upper body are ripped, but there are no scales on his arm or shoulder. Claude is properly human again. Luciel is holding Lucia’s body. Beside him, Grace exhales dramatically. The sternness in her expression has dissolved. It’s over—or so she thinks, but… “Wha—? Huh?! What the heck is this?! Just a— Why do you keep whackin’ me like—? Ow, that hurts!” Machina is smacking Evare repeatedly with the sacred sword. She’s silent and expressionless, but the way she’s hitting him puts a distant look in Aileen’s eyes. “I’ve seen something similar very recently…” “Yes, so have I.” “Me too… Actually, not ‘seen’ so much as ‘experienced’…” “Where was this?” Luciel averts his eyes. Grace cocks her head, looking perplexed, even though she’s the one who did it. While this is happening, Machina keeps beating Evare mercilessly with the sacred sword, until finally, a kick sends him flying. He doesn’t seem to have the magic to block it, and the way he rolls like a ball is identical to Luciel as well. The evil god must be something like Father’s colleague. In that case, this development may be almost a cliché. “Why?! What for?! If you were killin’ me, I’d get that, but punchin’ and kickin’—what’s goin’ on here? It makes no sense!” “…I think Machina may be angry.” “Huh?!” Evare turns to look at Aileen, and Machina slaps him across the head again. “I said that hurts! C’mon, what?! If you’ve got somethin’ you wanna say, spit it out!” “……s…go.” Blank-faced, still holding the sacred sword, Machina speaks awkwardly. “Let’s go…home.” Those words make Evare freeze up. His eyes open so wide, they seem in danger of falling out of his skull. Then he tries to smile again. “Go home?” He hasn’t actually managed that smile, and it’s painful to look at. Laying the sacred sword across her palms, Machina holds it out to him. It’s what Evare wanted, and yet he shakes his head as if he’s afraid, backing away. “That’s… No, that ain’t it. That ain’t…the real thing…” “Just a moment.” Grace has drifted lightly down to the ground, and she gently cups Machina’s face in her hands. “Yes, I see. Amelia really isn’t there anymore. Did she say something to you?” “…Hap…py…” In Machina’s expressionless face, her lips move. “She said…be…happy.” Evare’s eyes are on the ground, and he squeezes his hands into fists. Grace smiles, although she looks as if she might burst into tears. “I see. Then that is your sacred sword now. The next sacred sword, which Amelia is sending to the future.” “That’s just… Hearin’ that now ain’t gonna…!” “It’s all…right. Let—” Machina’s tongue seems stiff and awkward; she stammers, then says it again. “Let’s go home, Evare.” “I mean, you can say that, but— You saw it, too, right? That prince won’t become the corrupt dragon now. She saved him… I’d noticed it, on some level. In the future, the corrupt dragon I needed to slay wasn’t around anymore. There’s nothin’…nothin’ I can change…” “There is.” “What? Huh?!” “I’m sure Lucia…will wake up. That’s what…Amelia wants.” Machina gives her answer haltingly, one word at a time. They look at Luciel, who’s still holding Lucia’s body in his arms, and he smiles. “That’s right. Grace and I need to grant that wish this time.” “Luciel…” Shaking off Grace’s worried gaze, Luciel raises his head. “Don’t worry, Evare. Someday, I’ll become the corrupt dragon.” “Huh?” “I know a little about how this world is put together. There’s no guarantee that Charles won’t become the corrupt dragon later on. Even if he got through this, something’s bound to happen down the road. And so when things are really hopeless, I’ll take it on. To keep the world from breaking any more than it has to, I’ll cover it with white ash, hiding it from its destiny of destruction until the Maid of the Sacred Sword appears.” Evare looks startled. Voice trembling, he murmurs, “A world…of white ash…” “I can’t even imagine what the future you were born into a thousand years from now is like…but you have the sacred sword now, don’t you?” Once again, Evare looks at the sacred sword in Machina’s hands. He probably still hasn’t realized that it’s his sacred sword. However, that sword will definitely become the real thing. “Why don’t we trust the humans of the past to handle the rest?” “Let’s go…home. To…our world,” Machina repeats. Evare hangs his head, looking as if he’s about to burst into tears. However, he promptly looks up and gives a genuine smile. “Yeah, well, I did lose, huh! Before I get myself killed, I’d better… Well, actually gettin’ killed would probably be easier, but…” Holding the sacred sword against her side, Machina extends a hand to him. Evare looks at that hand just a little reluctantly, but he doesn’t refuse it. In that moment, centered on their joined hands, a circle of light appears. Startled, Aileen backs away. Evare gives her a sardonic smile, as if to say the joke’s on her. “’Kay then, I’m off.” “R-right now?! What about, you know, basking in the afterglow for a moment?!” “Nah, no need. I’ve gotta clear out quick, before I get myself killed.” “Wait a minute, Evare!” Charles is still holding Estella, but he shouts to them. “If Machina goes, what are Estella and I supposed to do?” “Not my circus, not my monkeys. Fix it with the power of love or somethin’.” “L-love?! Can love do stuff like that?!” “Get the floatin’ palace workin’ again. Seriously, it’ll be fine somehow.” How careless can you get…? Aileen thinks. Evare grins and waves; his other hand is still holding Machina’s. “I won’t get my hopes up, but I’ll be waitin’. A thousand years from now.” A pillar of light rises from the ground to the sky. Evare and Machina’s figures begin to dissolve into particles of light. Then Machina turns back. Thank you. Her voice doesn’t reach them, but her lips form the words. She smiles, and although her gaze looks like Amelia’s, her face is nothing like hers.
Chapter 115
34 min read