Chapter 117

Final Act Premonition of a Conquered Otome Game Only a handful of people see Charles and Estella off the next day. All they’ve told Ellmeyer is that they are staying in Ashmael. No doubt the abrupt state of war has thrown the empire into confusion, but their dependable companions will handle things somehow. The one thing that scares Aileen is her older brother’s response: “I’ll be looking forward to hearing you attempt to explain this.” However, there are a variety of people that Charles and Estella shouldn’t see. More than anything, the floating palace—although it’s still floating—is half destroyed, and there’s no telling when it will stop working. In the end, Aileen, Claude, and Baal give them a hasty send-off on their own. “We actually will be able to get back, right?” Even after they’ve gone down beneath the palace’s ruined throne, Charles is dubious. “It should be all right. Now that I think about it, I believe the floating palace was what sent me back to this age.” “Yeah, but there’s no proof, is there? Besides, I’d never heard that they stored the floating palace in the demon realm.” “The floating palace is repairing itself at this very moment. Maybe it was stored in the demon realm so humans couldn’t interfere with it? As a matter of fact, I’m considering doing that very thing. I’ve already decided to let my father take care of Lucia’s body, and that would be the most convenient approach. What do you think, Baal?” The floating palace is technically under the joint administration of Ashmael and Ellmeyer. Baal, who’s walking beside Estella, answers Claude’s question as if it bores him. “The floating palace isn’t something current technology can cope with. Ultimately, we also feel that’s the only thing to do with it. That Evare fellow may be slumbering somewhere in the palace at this very moment, but we haven’t managed to find him, even though we’ve checked practically everywhere.” “No matter how hard we look, I bet we’ll never find him,” Claude says, and Baal shrugs in agreement. “It may be best to build a dummy of the underground ruin as well. At any rate, the body of the Daughter of God actually isn’t there.” “What about asking the Holy Dragon Consort to help? She’ll use water and hide it perfectly.” “Maybe we’ll do that…” Aileen, who’s walking at the front of the group, senses an invisible wall in the darkness and stops. The altar really should be beyond this point, but… After giving it a little thought, she turns back. “Estella, if you would.” “What? Me?” “I think you’ll be better able to reach the place that should be here.” Estella looks bewildered, but she nods. “All right. If you’ll allow me, then.” Stepping forward, Estella sets her hand against the doors in the unseen wall—although no doubt it’s visible to her—and murmurs, “Hear, O past. Open, O future. I am the maiden who inherits the regalia of saints and demons.” A line of light runs through the doors, and they swing open as if they’re being cut out of the darkness. What lies beyond them isn’t the altar. “This is it. The place I saw for a moment when I was flung into the past.” It’s an odd space, entirely white, surrounded on all sides by seamless walls of pure-white stone. Both the sight and its coloring are the polar opposite of the underground ruin. In the very center of the spacious room, a pillar of blue light reaches from floor to ceiling. Inside it, a diamond-shaped stone spins slowly. It must be a divine stone. It’s quite large—nearly as tall as Aileen. However, that’s all there is. The room holds nothing else. “—And? What do we do?” Baal asks. Claude tilts his head, puzzled. “Good question.” “I told you. I said we couldn’t let Evare go back. We needed Machina.” “You really rely on Lady Machina, don’t you, Master Charles?” Charles is about to complain, but Estella’s cold eyes make him freeze up. His gaze wanders uneasily, and for some reason, he slinks up beside Aileen as if he’s running away. “Well, she’s gone now, and there’s no point in relying on somebody who’s not here…” “Charles… Shape up a little.” “Seriously. How did you grow up this spineless?” “You’re the one who raised me, Father!” “Did you call me?” A voice abruptly echoes in the room, and everyone flinches. “Is there a problem with how I raised my children?” The low voice echoes, but it carries well. Although there’s a little static mixed into it, it’s unmistakable. “Master Claude?” “Oh, my sweet Aileen. The idea that you’re both here and there is rather entertaining.” “Honestly…” Turning back, Claude hugs Aileen to him and glares at the pillar of light. They can see the dim figure of a man in it, seated in a chair, his long legs crossed. Charles tucks his chin a little and murmurs, “Father.” She can tell from his tone that he’s talking to his real father, not to the version of Claude who’s here. “Now then, Charles.” At the sound of his name, Charles stiffens. He acted rather carelessly with the Claude in this era, but he’s fully on his guard now. “Where are you, and what are you doing?” “…It’s really nothing to do with you—” “Don’t you realize how worried your mother and I have been?” Charles shuts up. Aileen is impressed. He’s definitely used to being scolded. “For the past week, you’re all your mother’s thought about, and it’s all your fault.” “No, see, that’s it! That’s what you’re actually mad about, Father!” “What are you saying? I’m angry because I’ve been worried. So worried that it was decided to host a great Demon King Love-Love Dance party for the first time in ten-odd years, with your teacher at the center.” Claude claps a hand over his mouth; he’s nearly burst out laughing. Aileen is already dead tired. “Don’t you feel bad? He’s nearly forty, and he’ll end up dancing like a fiend in front of his wife and children in order to cover for you. I’m really looking forward to it. I want to hold it right this minute.” “See?! You’re enjoying yourself! Seriously, what’s wrong with you?! You make no sense—” “So you should hurry home, too.” Those words seem to take the wind out of Charles’s sails. Glancing over at Charles, Estella speaks up. “Your Majesty, it’s Estella. I’m very sorry for the trouble.” “I’m glad you’re safe, Princess Estella. My son’s the one who’s caused trouble for you.” “No, I pursued Master Charles of my own will. However, um…we don’t know how to get back home.” “Don’t worry about that. I’ll—we’ll open the path. Your sacred sword will point the way.” “…So you know about all this.” “I only remembered the details a little while after you two disappeared.” Charles sulks like a child. “If you knew, you didn’t have to ask me what I was doing.” “It’s been over a decade. I don’t remember all the details… Although, that doesn’t seem to be true for Baal. He’s very worried.” “Father…” “Baal is waiting for you, Charles.” There’s a brief pause. Estella blinks, and Charles looks perplexed. “Why me?” “Actually, he’s waiting right behind me now. It’s rather scary.” “Huh?” “It may be my imagination, but I get the feeling he has about eight arms, and I think he’s grown horns. Frankly, that doesn’t look like a human face. It’s one of those, what do you call them, Asura demons? He’s like that. He has a holy sword, and he’s lying in wait for you. For the past few days, every time he opens his mouth, he says ‘Kill, kill, kill, kill’ constantly, like it’s some sort of chant. He must have been carrying this grudge for sixteen years.” Charles turns pale. In contrast, Estella looks thoroughly exasperated. “Father is there with you? I’m impressed Mother allowed that.” “She asked us to take him off her hands because he wasn’t getting any work done. However, frankly, I’d like her to take him back soon. I’ll give him my son’s life if that’s what it takes.” “Just a— Why would that even happen?!” “Don’t you know?” The current Baal glares at Charles, who backs away at the sight of his face. “Do you really not know, boy?” “Um, I, uh…” “Let us explain it to you, on behalf of our future self. You arbitrarily confronted our daughter with a dissolution of your engagement, then not only took her into the past but also dragged her into something extremely dangerous! Do you think we’ll forgive you for that?!” “Well, that’s where things stand. The Baal over here has started silently taking practice swings. It’s rather scary.” “D-demon kings shouldn’t say they’re scared! It makes things even scarier!” “Even for demon kings, scary things are scary. Oh, that reminds me: Since Baal is scary, I’ve dissolved your engagement to Estella.” “Huh?!” This time, Charles stares. He sounds anxious. “Wh-why?! I—I mean, Estella said she wasn’t going to do that—” “Yes, you were the one who said you’d dissolve it. That’s my son, all right. That document was perfect. All it needed was the holy king’s signature. Not only that, but you’d laid all the groundwork already. Such brilliance. I was moved.” “…Come to think of it, I did leave that in my room,” Estella murmurs. Charles totters. Baal’s mood seems to have improved substantially. “Haaaaa-ha-ha! Is that how it was?! That’s fine, then. We’ll save this grudge of ours and hit you with all of it sixteen years from now!” “…Well, I suppose he brought that on himself.” “He really did.” Aileen can only put a hand to her cheek and agree. Charles despairs, planting both hands on the pure-white wall. Estella goes over to him. “What’s the matter, Master Charles?” “What… What’s… What…?” “I’ll be the one to fight my father, if you like. I do have the sacred sword.” Charles’s head snaps up. Estella is gazing at him steadily, and he blushes bright red, but then he averts his eyes— Her son’s mind must be a very complicated place at the moment. Still, in the end, as if he’s come to a decision, he looks the girl he loves in the eye. “No need. I’ll deal with the lousy holy king by myself somehow.” A smile blooms on Estella’s face. “Is that right?” “What was that ‘lousy’ for, hmm? Starting now, we don’t like this side of you. You’re still unborn, and we don’t like you!” “‘If that’s settled, can we wrap this up? This Baal seems liable to breathe fire soon.” “Both of my fathers, be quiet, please. Um, specifically, what do I need to do?” Simply being cautioned by Estella makes Baal look dejected. Life is already hard, and he doesn’t even have a daughter yet. “Just produce the sacred sword. It’s all right; the former Maid of the Sacred Sword over here says she’ll bring you back. She’s been eagerly making all sorts of preparations.” Apparently, Lilia hasn’t changed one bit. “I’m afraid we’ve caused all sorts of trouble for you. Especially you, my dear wife.” At the note of sweetness in his voice, Claude’s eyes sharpen, and it makes Aileen laugh. “No, not at all. I only did what was natural for the demon king’s wife, Master Claude.” “She’s right. It’s nothing to do with you.” “You are me, you know.” “Even so. You shouldn’t meddle with the past. You have your own Aileen—” “Dear. Quit teasing your past self. It’s quite childish.” The cool, chiding voice that breaks in unexpectedly makes this Claude freeze up, and it seems to make the other Claude smile wryly. Aileen looks up at the figures from the future. The only one she can see clearly is Claude. However, the woman’s hand on his shoulder must belong to… “You’re right. I can’t have my younger self stealing you away. I’ll behave and wait for our son’s return.” Realizing that it’s time to say goodbye, Aileen retreats. Claude thumps Baal on the back, and Baal reluctantly puts distance between himself and Estella. Charles and Estella stand in front of the pillar of blue light, side by side. Estella bows to them. “Thank you for all your help. Please give my regards to Mother as well.” “…We’d really appreciate it if you’d avoid making our future self sad.” Baal bids her farewell with words that are pretty close to a complaint, and Estella giggles. “Please don’t worry. You’re my favorite, Father.” Baal blinks, then clears his throat awkwardly and nods. “A-are we, then…? We suppose that’s all right.” “Now then, Master Charles. Are you ready?” Charles gives them a glance. Then without saying a word to them, he turns his back. “Yes, let’s go home. The future will be here really soon anyway.” Estella seems to hesitate a little, but when Aileen nods and smiles at her, she nods back. The sacred sword appears above her palm. Aileen is sure this isn’t the last time that power will save her son. Resonating with the sacred sword, the divine stone begins to turn. The pillar of light churns as if it’s being mixed, and its light grows whiter and whiter. It’s as if it’s pointing the way to a blank, untrodden future. “—Listen!” As he becomes a silhouette against the light, Charles speaks abruptly. “Make sure you do have me, too, all right? I’ve never once felt unlucky for being born.” Without thinking, Aileen almost takes a step forward, and Claude pulls her to him. “Just wait.” He’s right. There’s no need to be impatient. This future is bound to come in due time. She thinks Charles just smiled. His shadow links hands with Estella’s, and although she can’t hear what he says, she’s sure it isn’t “goodbye.”