Since Baron’s true nature had been broadcast across the country thanks to Fam’s sneaky setup, the brainwashing on the people of Sorcera was undone. Once they came to the realization that a demon had been inciting them all along, the army of Sorcera no longer had any reason to invade Astaroth.
In the name of Aria, Princess of the Kingdom of Sorcera, war was called to a halt, and a truce pact was forged between their country and Astaroth. Upon our return to Astaroth, we delivered the documents related to said truce pact directly to the castle.
“You have all truly done us a great service through your recent endeavors,” the King of Astaroth said, offering his words of appreciation. “With such great shortages in our forces due to Gregor’s insurrection, there would have been no escaping enormous losses had war reached our lands.”
“I believed all along that if anyone could accomplish such a feat, it would be you,” Sonia, the Oracle of Light, told us.
“It’s an honor to have you place so much trust in us, Princess Sonia,” I replied politely.
“Sieg...”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“I distinctly remember telling you not to address me by such names, did I not?” Sonia seemed irked with me; she had insisted once before that I call her only by her given name.
“I understand that...but I don’t want to cause a scene in a public setting.”
“Very well. I do not wish to be thought of as an overbearing woman, after all.” She then turned to address Seira. “So you truly were a princess of Sorcera all along, Seira. Please accept my sincere apologies for showing you such discourtesy for so long.” With that, Sonia bowed her head.
“Please! You don’t need to bow!” Seira responded, rather flustered. “It would’ve been even more absurd to simply accept the word of a stranger who appeared out of nowhere claiming she was a princess.”
Once our audience was over, we departed from the royal castle. No matter how many times I experienced it, I just couldn’t get used to being in a public forum like that. I began rolling my stiff neck and saw Spinoza doing the same thing; the others didn’t seem to be bothered by things at all.
I’m not sure why, but I still have this nagging feeling about something...
As we were heading back to the guard station, I casually asked Seira and Alma: “What do the two of you plan on doing now? Are you going back to Sorcera?”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet, honestly,” Seira replied. “I might return for a while until Sorcera gets back on its feet, then come back here and take advantage of your hospitality again. I want to keep fighting alongside everyone as a guard, after all. Protecting the Royal Capital here is a direct link to protecting Sorcera too.”
“Oh, come on! Being a princess would be way better than being a guard,” Alma objected. “Hey, if you want, Seira, how about I be the princess instead of you?”
“You’re joking, right?” I said.
“I can’t think of anyone less princess-like than you,” Fam agreed.
I couldn’t help but get that jab in, and Fam had gone the same route.
“Sorcera may be my home country, but Astaroth is my home away from home. I love everyone here just as much as there.” There seemed to be a halo of light glowing behind Seira as she declared those words.
Is she some kind of goddess...?
At any rate, the shadow that had been hanging over Seira’s head seemed to have been lifted. She was no doubt relieved to finally have all that weight off her shoulders.
“And you, Alma? What are your plans?” I asked.
“Hmmm. I hadn’t really considered going back to Sorcera. I haven’t gotten my memories back, so it doesn’t feel quite right to call it my homeland.”
“So you never did end up getting them back in the end, huh?” I said.
“Nope, not at all. Can’t remember a thing.”
“Normally you’d think you’d remember at least a little something,” I mused. “Though, you know, that thing that Baron said still kind of bothers me.”
Baron had seemed like he had known the reason for Alma’s amnesia; perhaps it was possible he had something to do with it.
“Anyway, I’m surprised to hear you say you want to stay here. If you went back to Sorcera, you’d be Commander of the Royal Guard—that’d be a much better deal for you than being a guard here, I bet.”
“But if I went back, I’d be working with a bunch of people I don’t even know. Building all those personal relationships up from scratch again would be a real pain.”
“That’s kind of a pathetic thing to try and pass off as bragging.” Alma had been puffing her chest out proudly as she admitted that, and I couldn’t help but poke fun at her for it.
“And also...” she went on.
“Also what?” I asked.
“Well, how do I put this... I’m actually rather fond of my current environment,” Alma murmured, rubbing her cheeks in her hand awkwardly.
Hearing that, a huge grin crept across Spinoza’s face. “Oooh. Ended up getting that attached to us, huh?”
“It’s kind of embarrassing to be asked that to my face...but yeah, I suppose so,” Alma muttered, looking away somewhat bashfully. “Besides, Commander Bolton offered me that squad sergeant position. If I’m needed that much, I’m perfectly willing to stay here.”
“Personally, I’d prefer if both you and Seira stayed here,” Fam said. “The more allies the better, in my opinion.”
“Oh? I can’t believe I’m hearin’ that from a recluse like you, Fam,” Spinoza quipped.
“Shocking, isn’t it? I’d like to think I’ve grown a bit,” Fam replied.
“Grown, huh...” Spinoza narrowed her eyes.
“Why are you staring at my body, Spinoza? Perhaps that feeble mind of yours can’t comprehend the concept of spiritual growth?”
“Please, stop fighting, you two!” Seira immediately jumped in between Spinoza and Fam. It was a familiar scene that hadn’t changed a bit.
“I know!” she went on. “Since we’re all here, why don’t we go out to eat together after this?”
“A party’s a great idea! Nothin’ like a li’l celebration!” Spinoza agreed.
“You don’t even have any money, do you?” Fam scoffed.
“So be it,” I said. “As your squad sergeant, I’ll go ahead and spring for this one.”
“Awww yeah! You rock, Sieg! That’s how it’s done!” Spinoza cheered.
“If there’s food and eating involved, you can guarantee I’ll be there!” Alma assured us.
We headed over to the guard station to give our reports, then moved straight on to the pub from there. Footing the bill for the entire squadron was definitely going to sting, but seeing as I didn’t exactly have any hobbies, I had enough spare cash to cover it. It was a small price to pay if it let me deepen my bonds with my comrades.