Episode 24

The two camps faced each other. By coincidence, their numbers were the same, and there were also several pairs who were acquainted.

“Eris……”

“It’s been a while, Van. And everyone else too.”

Eris had acted together with Van and the others, excluding Luke. Originally, their bond had come from gathering in order to save Masfelt, who had collapsed from mana sclerosis.

“……It seems you’ve calmed down a little. I’m relieved.”

“Yeah. ……What have you been doing since then?”

“Various things. I had a hard time being chased around by the Knight Order.”

Eris looked back on that time with apparent disgust. In the process of chasing Zeke, the movements of the Knight Order had also reached Van’s ears. He was curious about how she had evaded pursuit. But right now, there was something more important than that.

“We have business ahead. We want to confirm the truth. For that, we have to chase Zeke.”

“……Did you speak with Zeke properly?”

“I couldn’t. I guess it’s because there’s no trust……”

“Van. You can’t gain trust from someone you don’t trust yourself.”

Van muttered self-mockingly that she was harsh. There was a part of him that wanted to believe Zeke, and another part of him that burned with fighting spirit, unable to ever forgive him. That was precisely why he wanted to reveal the truth through necromancy.

“……You won’t step aside?”

“I can’t.”

“I see. What a shame.”

Both sides had something they could not yield on. Precisely because they understood that, it was painful and sad.

“Yorn-san. I’m glad to see you seem well.”

“Thank you. I heard you had retired, though?”

The two mages present restrained each other through conversation. Both were from the Mage Corps, and in the past, they had been superior and subordinate, as well as master and disciple.

Yorn was an aloof person, and his careless words and actions stood out, but he did not show that toward Glanz alone.

“Ho ho. Supporting promising young people. That too is an old man’s duty.”

“There are plenty of young people in the Mage Corps too, though. Five years ago, when you quit on your own, things became difficult for us.”

“I believe I taught you everything necessary, did I not?”

“It wasn’t enough. Unlike you, I’m an ordinary human.”

Yorn had originally had his talent recognized and became Glanz’s direct subordinate. Glanz was the Sage, counterpart to the Sword Saint, and was praised as one of the greatest mages on the continent. Many mages from inside and outside the kingdom sought his instruction, and to those belonging to the Mage Corps, he was an object of admiration and a goal.

“After all sorts of things were pushed onto me, people started calling me the next Sage. It’s truly a nuisance.”

“It is not a title anyone can obtain simply by desiring it. You should know that.”

“If you are the wise Sage-sama, you should know my personality, shouldn’t you? I don’t need honor. As long as I can live moderately, that’s enough.”

A sense of tension drifted behind their exchange of words.

Glanz and Yorn. The two understood. In a battle where multiple people were mixed together, the first move mattered more than anything. The magic selected first would influence the flow of the battle.

“That is contradictory. ……Your current actions are.”

“I think so too. ……You never know what will happen in life.”

Glanz felt glad to see the growth and change of his former subordinate. If it had not been under these circumstances, he would surely have smiled.

“Blood-san…… no, Selen-san. Why are you on that side? This is different from what I heard.”

“That stings……”

Kratz and Selen. They were also acquainted.

“It’s Zeke we’re talking about. I’m sure all sorts of things have gotten twisted. ……It’s not too late yet. Come over here.”

“That’s impossible. I also have something I must protect.”

Selen glanced at Ciel for an instant. Then she faced Kratz again.

In the Republic of Ignote, Zeke, Kratz, and Blood had fought the rebel army. They had fought through without retreating even against the divine dragon called a god. Because that event had happened, many lives had been saved.

“It’s been two years since then. You’ve become like a mature woman.”

“You’ve aged quite a lot. The passage of time is cruel.”

“I’m still in my twenties! Neither you nor Zeke has improved that foul mouth!”

Kratz snorted indignantly. Though she had been Blood, Selen remembered that Zeke and Kratz had exchanged similar words. At that time, she had been deprived of speech by the cursed equipment.

It had been Zeke who saved her from the Yaksha’s grudge in Ignote.

“It was truly difficult, with the whole country in crisis. ……President Riedel might get angry if I say this, but the time the three of us spent together was special. I was happy that there were people who treated me normally.”

“……I won’t deny it. What happened in Ignote was special to me too.”

“Then could you throw away your magic guns, Selen-san? I don’t want to fight you.”

“I see. Then you should place that saber on the floor too. That weapon blessed by Leviathan.”

Memories of the past and the present. The future might be changeable, but events that had already happened would not change.

“You’ve grown strong, Ciel. I could never have imagined this from the timid you of back then.”

“……I needed to change.”

Those who inherited the silver power. Aktor and Ciel, who carried Diabalet blood, were members of the ducal house and also half-siblings.

“I believe I asked you and Selen to treat the Sword Saint…… It seems it ended in failure.”

“I apologize. My sacred arts could not save the Sword Saint.”

Even with the sacred arts, said to overturn all misfortune, saving Masfelt’s life had not been possible. The sight of her power being blocked by an unknown force was strongly engraved in Ciel’s memory.

“In that case—that must have been fate.”

“Fate? That Masfelt-san would die?”

“Yes. —And that you and Zeke would meet, too.”

Ciel had been born bearing the proof of sacred arts more deeply than anyone. Regardless of her birth, her power had been expected more than anyone else’s. But the result was cruel. Although she should have had aptitude, she could not use sacred arts. Ciel had become a foreign element and a nuisance in the ducal house.

“……I will not apologize. Even now, I would do the same thing. You were an existence that would bring misfortune to the Astera Ducal House.”

“……”

A death sentence in the name of demotion. Ciel had been forcibly sent to the provincial city of Apion, where a mysterious epidemic had spread. At that time, Ciel had neither the means nor the willpower to resist.

“I thought it would be best if, with luck, the two of you disappeared together, but the result was greatly different.”

Through her meeting with Zeke, Ciel was saved and awakened to sacred arts. Being abandoned saddened her, but considering her meeting with Zeke, it might have been good in a certain sense.

“I do not resent you. Considering the ducal house’s position and your own, you likely had no choice but to do that.”

Perhaps she could have been used as a political tool. There might also have been the option of marrying her off to form a connection with another noble. But the silver power that was too strong had complicated the issue.

“I understand that an honorable death was the best and necessary way to settle everything neatly.”

“……I see. It would be easier for me if you hated me, though.”

Aktor shook his head as if exasperated. Seeing that, Ciel smiled for some reason.

“You told me I had grown strong…… but I think you have changed too, Aktor-nii-sama.”

“……For reference, in what way?”

“Hehe, you’ve become much more human. In the past, you were cold and frightening. —I’m sure it’s Zeke-san’s influence.”

Ciel showed a very bright smile. It was an expression Aktor had never seen before. In contrast, Aktor’s expression twitched.

“Kh, there is no way I could be influenced by that problem child! ……Ahem. Return home. If you do, I will arrange things so that the future you desire comes true.”

“I will seize the future with my own hands. He, Zeke-san, taught me that.”

“What a coincidence. I learned the same.”

Now, he thought it would have been better if they had talked more. That there were things they could understand about each other if they had dialogue. The relationship between brother and sister, which had been cold for many years, was unexpectedly not bad.

“Luke-dono. Your accomplishments have reached even the Lagias Domain.”

“Simon-san. Are everyone in the private army well?”

“They are almost too well.”

Luke had followed Zeke’s adventurer activities without permission. The soldiers of the private army had been forced by Zeke to accompany him in his adventurer activities. That had been how they met.

“You have become splendid. I do not say that as flattery. You truly look like a different person.”

“Thank you. ……I think anyone who spends time with Zeke would become that way.”

“……That too must be a talent.”

Judging from Zeke’s personality, Simon had expected Luke to leave him immediately. He was proud of his master, but that did not mean everyone would welcome him. He had not thought the young Luke would be able to understand the meaning behind Zeke’s harsh tone. —But Luke had remained by Zeke’s side until the end.

“I thank you, Luke-dono. For staying beside Zeke-sama. That was something we in the private army likely could not do.”

“Simon-san. ……I intend to keep doing that from now on too.”

“I hope that will happen.”

Simon did not know how Zeke and Luke thought of each other. Even so, from Simon’s perspective, the two of them were……

They were caught unwillingly in an irresistible flow. It was not that someone was bad. No one was bad. It could not be helped.

Everything had been decided from the moment the world wished for by the Wisher was born. The Watchman, the keys, and the Guide. —History would repeat itself any number of times.

“Try moving me aside, Eris. We’re going ahead.”

“I won’t go easy even if you cry, Van.”

They took up weapons for what they each believed in. They could no longer turn back.

“The essence of magic. Were you able to see it?”

“There’s no way I could see something that grand.”

Position and pride. Feelings they could not yield. Their path was decided.

“I wonder if you can cut me with that saber. Cowardly Kratz-san?”

“Ugh, I feel incredibly out of place. ……Could it be that I’m the weakest?”

They used memories of the past as nourishment and moved forward. In order to spend the same time together again.

“Ciel. Your talent is top-class. However, I have been able to use sacred arts for many years longer than you. You understand what that means, do you not?”

“It doesn’t matter. I won’t let anyone die anymore. Zeke-san would be sad.”

Family status and bloodline did not matter. She would use her power for the sake of those she wanted to save. Believing that this was the meaning of why she had been born.

“I am Simon Titan, commander of the Lagias private army. Now, let us have an honorable match.”

“Luke Hartmann, captain of the Knight Order’s Seventh Squad. I’m coming.”

For the future they desired. From now on, as they had in the past……

“Hm? It seems we are the last ones. Young lady of the Guide?”

“…………Too familiar. Absolute elimination.”

“What is this? I feel a chill……”

Because the world had been changed for her. She had to repay that debt without fail.

Whether they wished it or not, they were forced to fight. Because that was the system and rule of the world.

Mana surged. A massive torrent large enough to shake the space was released from the two mages. The first to move were Glanz and Yorn.

Magic activated at exactly the same time, without the slightest deviation.

The magic the two selected was, oddly enough, the same.

As if it had been decided from the very beginning.

““Invalid Room!””

A rainbow-colored miracle enveloped the ruins.

Zeke had reached the deepest part of the ruins…… or more precisely, the area just before it. All he had to do was proceed and destroy the oldest necromancy that was likely sealed there. With that, his objective would be achieved, but his feet had stopped.

(I see…… I can’t interfere with this. It’s well thought out.)

A tightly closed door. With Zeke’s power, he could probably force his way through.

(The space isn’t fixed. Jumping in like this would be meaningless. Or rather, I’d die.)

Whether some kind of magic had been applied, the space connected to the deepest room had been severed. The mechanism at the ruins’ entrance, the dead dragon along the way, and the skeletons. The security was truly perfect. A strong will that forced entry would not be acknowledged was transmitted from it.

“……Shupilad. I need to revise my understanding.”

The magic Glanz and Yorn activated. A mysterious space covered Van and the others.

“Is this Unison Link? Why……?”

“……I have no strength.”

Each of them reacted to the strange sensation. Confusion spread, except for Glanz and Yorn, who likely knew the circumstances.

“All the buffs I had prepared disappeared.”

“My saber too. I can’t feel mana from it.”

They looked at each other. Everyone’s gazes gathered on the two of them.

“Ho ho. I believed in you, Yorn-san. I knew you would choose this magic.”

“You’re as rough with people as ever. I’ve hated that about you since long ago. Ahh, now I have no mana left.”

Yorn sat down on the spot. As his words indicated, he appeared exhausted.

“What happened, you ask? This muscle-magic old man will explain.”

“Then, as introduced, this muscle-magic old man shall explain.”

“Mm?! You are standing out even more than me?!”

Aaron burned with rivalry toward Glanz, who was completely into it. The air wrapped in tension began to loosen.

“I call this spell by another name: the ‘Field of Dialogue.’ Within this limited space, not only magic, but even the refining of mana is impossible. Above all, all combat actions become meaningless.”

“I see. Like this, perhaps?”

Selen shifted her gaze to her magic gun. For some reason, she threw the reasonably large magic gun at Kratz. It drew a clean arc and struck him splendidly.

“Wait?! Ow, that hurts…… it doesn’t hurt? Huh?”

It had certainly hit Kratz. But the person himself had taken no damage. That was the answer.

“As you can see. It is not possible to injure humans within this space.”

“It forbids combat actions and seals mana. Certainly, with this, we have no choice but to talk. Sacred arts are no exception either……”

“That’s right. Since it’s an absurd spell, its range is narrow, and it requires quite a lot of mana. To cover this space, Unison Link was necessary.”

One of Glanz’s original spells. He had drilled it into Yorn, his subordinate. —Because someday, there would come a time when it was necessary.

“It is certainly powerful magic. ……But if we leave its range, would it not be irrelevant?”

“It nullifies attacks from outside too, and humans within the range can’t leave either…… basically.”

“In other words…… it is talk time.”

Aaron sat down. In truth, he was exhausted, and he lay down. He was completely free-spirited.

“I appreciate your quick understanding. In that tense situation, proper dialogue would have been difficult. Some of you are acquainted, but many of you are meeting for the first time. This was the only way to speak frankly.”

Glanz had originally intended to target Zeke with it, but there was no way that genius would obediently allow the spell to activate. Above all, the range was limited, and the effect time was short.

It was unsuitable for actual combat, and still needed many improvements.

“If no one gets hurt, I’m happy. ……But how long will it last?”

“With Unison Link limited to this, about an hour, perhaps?”

“That’s short?! ……What are we supposed to do after that?”

Van placed his sword on the ground, signaling his intent. Atri yawned, perhaps sleepy.

“We will discuss that as well, Van-san. Sharing information is the first step toward mutual understanding.”

Following Van’s example, Glanz released the staff from his hand. Seeing that, one person after another let go of their weapons. In the end, everyone sat down on the ground as if forming a circle. ……Except for one person.

“But at this very moment, Zeke is heading deeper inside. What do we do about that? ……Wait, Luke, what’s wrong?”

“……”

Luke stood still. He looked at his own sword and at the motion of his hand clenching. From the perspective of Van and the others, who could no longer sense mana, it made them understand even less what he was doing.

“Glanz-san, and Yorn-san too……”

“I owed you a debt as well. Westen was saved because you were there, Luke.”

“We could not do it, but perhaps you can open his heart.”

Luke bowed deeply. Those who understood the meaning opened their eyes wide and stared at Glanz and Yorn.

“Now, go. And have a full-on fight. You two are young, after all.”

“Leave this to us. Everyone will join you afterward. Let us compare answers there.”

Luke started running. He passed through the space of Invalid Room without restriction. Apparently, Luke alone had been excluded from the spell’s targets. It was the work of two first-rate mages.

“Sorry, Van! This is…… this alone is my role.”

“……Fine. You owe me for this!”

The story headed toward its conclusion.