Episode 30

A dim and chilly space. Her movement had been sealed, and all she had were the information entering through her eyes and ears. There were people she recognized there.

“Amaaaazing. Tret really is different after all.”

“……This result was only possible because of your power, though.”

“That’s not true. If someone without ability used it, they’d die easily, you know?”

The one who looked like a boy was Pariaach, if she remembered correctly. It seemed there were enemies besides Tret as well.

“You really outwitted Lagias. Mister Tret.”

“He probably used some cowardly trick……”

The tall man…… She had never met him, but Selen and Ciel had said he was probably Dex. And one other person: even in the darkness, that red hair stood out. Feluart. The fake adventurer who had deceived them and approached them.

“Is this really the ‘Guide’? ……Actually, what was her name again? Her presence is so faint I can’t remember.”

“Feluart, you’re so mean. You were with her for a little while, weren’t you?”

“There’s no doubt she’s the ‘Guide.’ Elzen had his eye on her since five years ago. ……In the first place, the fact that Pariaach isn’t denying it confirms it.”

Five years ago. Her meeting with the Freak Trading Company had been what led her to leave Alhi Village. Just as Van had said, everything had been a lie.

“Man, Leader really is ruthless too. He took her with him even though he knew this would happen.”

“He’s still better than you. So…… when do we move?”

There were four of them. She could feel other strange presences as well, but if she worried about all of them, there would be no end to it. She had to somehow outwit the people now in her field of vision and escape from here.
She would not give up. The version of herself who had merely accepted everything and waited for death, like when she had been in Alhi Village five years ago, was gone. She would not wait to be saved, but carve open her own path. That was what Atri had been taught.

“……Hmm. What’s with those eyes? I don’t like them.”

“Hey, hey, is she seriously thinking she can be saved in this situation? Shouldn’t we break her legs?”

“Don’t. If she dies from that, we’re back to square one. Mister Tret’s hard work would go to waste.”

Even if she were in perfect condition, it would be difficult for Atri to suppress them. Difficult, yes, but she had no intention of simply letting them do as they pleased. There had to be something she could do to strike back.

“……Come to think of it, do you actually understand what position you’re in?”

“……”

“I’m talking about the ‘Guide,’ of course. From the looks of it, you don’t know anything.”

The Guide. Zeke, Pariaach before her, and Tret had all said that word. As far as Atri’s memories went, it was a word she had never heard before. She thought it was related to the keys and the Watchmen as well, but honestly, she did not really understand.

“To put it simply, the ‘Guide’ is—the being who turns Lagias into monsters.”

“……Huh?”

Pariaach’s mouth spread like a crescent moon and twisted with mad delight. Atri did not understand what she had just been told.

“The path to the Gate to the Otherworld is closed, but you’re the one who can summon it. And the ones who guard the path that appears are the ‘Watchmen,’ Lagias.”

“……You really are scum.”

Pariaach spoke fluently with a delighted expression.

“They call it guarding, but there’s no will or emotion there. Lagias’s true identity is people who are turned into monsters before they even understand what’s happening and forced to keep fighting until they die. What’s even funnier is that the oath extends to their mate too. That’s why they’re the ‘Watchmen.’ Hilarious, right? Ahaha.”

Mate. Watchmen. What was this person saying? Turn into monsters. She did not understand. Whose fault was that supposed to be?

“I don’t know what happened between you, but it really was a masterpiece. To think you, the ‘Guide,’ were attached to Lagias. ……I’m sure it was such a bother for him.”

Since when? Since she was born, or midway through? Since when had Zeke known?

(How long have I been hurting Zeke?)

“Didn’t you get all fired up about ‘I’ll change’ or something? I don’t know what you were trying so hard for, but because you exist, Lagias’s parents will be turned into monsters and killed, you know? —That’s why I told you, didn’t I? This is a comedy!”

“Tch, what a pain. Don’t make her cry. It’s an eyesore. Weaklings who act like victims are the most annoying.”

Tears ran down her cheeks, but she felt nothing. Something precious inside her was being lost. Her memories crumbled with a sound.

“And that’s the end of the mistaken woman’s five years. Congratulations. Game over.”

She had thought she could change. Because she had met Zeke, who had saved her from the darkness. She had believed that she could finally change, that she could move forward on her own feet. And yet……

(Father, Mother. I couldn’t change at all. Nothing about me had changed. In the end, I was still useless.)

“Don’t worry. The first thing the Watchmen Lagias attack is whoever is near the path. Well? Nine times out of ten, that’ll be you, though. Ahah.”

“Unfortunate, but give up. Blame the past ‘Wishers’—Diabalet. ……We’ll erase this rotten world.”

The future she thought she had grasped, the future she thought she had aimed for, was nowhere to be found. Everything had been an illusion.

(I’m sorry.)

Her consciousness grew distant. The last thing reflected in Atri’s vision was Tret’s inorganic eyes.

After a brief floating sensation, the scenery changed into that of a town. In addition to Zeke and Glanz, Ciel, Selen, Van, and Luke were all there. It seemed the spatial teleportation through Unison Link had succeeded safely.

Zeke and Glanz had fallen to their knees and were breathing hard. Large beads of sweat floated on both their brows.

“Glanz-san! ……And Zeke too. Are you all right?”

“Are you an idiot? If you have time to worry about us, go seize a carriage!”

After being rebuked by Zeke, Van hurriedly looked around. The town’s residents widened their eyes in surprise at the sudden appearance of Zeke and the others. Zeke grimaced at the situation, where they stood out badly in a way that drew far too much attention.

“Ciel, stay behind. We’re going to procure a carriage. I hope they listen obediently.”

Selen raised her magic gun. Just as Zeke had said, she smiled fearlessly as though she truly intended to seize a carriage.

“Of course that is not allowed. Selen, you have been influenced by Zeke too much. I will talk to them. In the end, that will be faster.”

Even if they seized a carriage, if they were pursued afterward, there was a high chance it would cause an even greater loss of time. Not from the viewpoint of law and order, but as the efficient option, Luke thought they should follow the proper procedure. Zeke’s way of thinking had also rubbed off on him.

Just as each of them was about to act, a carriage passed by. A large carriage that suited their needs perfectly. The man sitting on the driver’s seat widened his eyes.

“Could you be that brat from back then?”

The man stopped the carriage after seeing Zeke. After that, he turned his gaze to Luke and Ciel in order.

“It’s me, me. We were together in Apion, remember?”

“……Who are you? Abandon that carriage and disappear at once.”

“Why!? That foul mouth means you really are that brat from back then, Zeke.”

The man gave a wry smile at Zeke’s abuse, saying his personality had not changed at all. Luke seemed to notice something and raised his voice.

“Could you be…… Serve-san? It has been two years.”

“It’s Mauve, Mauve. Been a while, Luke. I heard you became a knight.”

Mauve conversed with Luke and Ciel. It seemed he was also acquainted with Selen, and they exchanged information briefly.

“……I don’t really get it, but your companion’s in trouble, huh?”

“Yes. Mauve-san, why are you in this town? Did you leave Apion?”

“No, not exactly. To put it simply, I’m here to buy supplies.”

Mauve sounded somewhat evasive. He also seemed somewhat uneasy.

“You know the Freak Trading Company, right? They regularly came to Apion as peddlers too, but…… they suddenly stopped coming.”

“!? The Freak Trading Company……”

Mauve explained that the Freak Trading Company had stopped appearing after a certain point. It was not as though Apion’s life depended solely on that company, but it was also true that there had been important transactions.

Mauve had come to another town to purchase goods in place of the Freak Trading Company.

“Well, never mind me. ……You need a carriage, right? Then take this one.”

Mauve indicated the carriage he was riding. The large carriage had likely been prepared to carry the goods he had purchased back to Apion. Mauve said he would hand it over without hesitation.

“We cannot. That would cause trouble for everyone in Apion.”

“No one would think it’s trouble. The people of Apion were saved by the Silver Saintess. Then it’s only natural we repay that debt. And of course, to Zeke too……”

Zeke’s mana had been drastically depleted, and his complexion was poor. With sweat on his forehead, he scowled and spat abuse suspiciously.

“Hah, you will aid a Lagias wanted by the Knight Order? What are you scheming?”

“Who cares about the Knight Order? I believe in the corrupt noble who saved Apion. I don’t care what anyone else says.”

Mauve unloaded the cargo and handed the reins to Luke nearby.

“Besides, you’d know if you thought about it a little. Someone who kills the Sword Saint because he wants fame wouldn’t sneak around and run away, would he? Especially if Luke and Lady Ciel are with him.”

Mauve said this openly to Zeke, whose eyes widened in surprise. The Knight Order was also stationed in Apion, but the foundation of the town’s security was the town soldiers like Mauve. During the curse incident, the Knight Order had not lent them a hand. However, Ciel and the others, dispatched as the ducal house’s advance party, had fought to the end without yielding to the curse.

“……Every last one of you is insane.”

Zeke muttered quietly.

He took coins from his pocket and threw them at Mauve. Perhaps he intended it as payment for the carriage.

“I don’t need money…… Wh-what is this!? A platinum coin!? How many carriages is this worth!?”

“Silence. Do not make a fuss. It is an item you commoners would never behold even if you devoted your entire lives to it. Weep with joy.”

Ignoring the flustered Mauve, Zeke climbed into the carriage. Glanz followed him.

“I will serve as the driver. Now, everyone, into the carriage. Time is limited. Van, hurry.”

“Y-yeah……”

Van looked as though he wanted to say something, but as Luke had said, they had no time. There was still some distance from here to the Lagias Domain.

“Thank you, Mauve-san. We will meet again somewhere.”

“I’m in Apion, so tell me the story then. ……Make sure you save them. That companion of yours.”

The carriage set off toward the Lagias Domain.

A large lake mirrored the cloudless blue sky and painted the world like a reflection. The lakeshore behind the residence of the House of Lagias, the lord’s house of the Lagias Domain. There, in that place, inhuman beings, Tret, and the restrained Atri appeared as though tearing through space.

“So this is where the Gate to the Otherworld appears……”

“That’s right. Lagias has engraved its history here for many long years to protect this land. Unconsciously, that is……”

Pariaach glanced for an instant at the splendid manor, then shifted his gaze to the sky. His eyes seemed to hold an emotion that could be called mad delight.

“And…… once the seal is broken, the change will appear immediately. In both.”

At Pariaach’s signal, the formula covering Atri scattered like mist. Atri was freed. But she could not move.

Atri was struck by the sensation of something bursting inside her.

The sky, which had been clear, unnaturally lost its light for an instant. She did not understand the logic, but something had definitely changed.

“……Hey, hey, is that it? What a letdown.”

“Their true worth will be tested at the next new moon. That is when the path to the Gate to the Otherworld will appear.”

Pariaach spilled a grin. Atri felt fear at the eerie sight so far removed from his childlike appearance.

“Well, the operation succeeded. Let’s hurry up and withdraw.”

“…………No, looks like we were a little late. These guys have no presence.”

Two shadows stood behind the three of them.

One was a tall man wearing fine clothes. The distinctive necklace hanging from his neck stood out.

The other was a beautiful woman with glossy black hair. She wore numerous pieces of jewelry.

What could be said about both of them was that neither had any expression. They were like masks. Their emotions were absent.

“Earlier than I thought…… No, faster.”

“Oh my, we let our guard down.”

—Slash.

The sound of cutting through the air echoed around them.

The tall man had used a gigantic jeweled sword he had drawn from somewhere to cleave Pariaach clean in two.

The divided body fell left and right. There was no death cry, nor any bleeding. Atri could not speak at the sudden event.

“Looking closer, these guys are covered in magic tools. Those obnoxious jewels are magic catalysts, huh?”

The woman fired bullets of flame at point-blank range. Tret barely blocked them with the flat of his sword, but he could not kill their momentum and was shot down into the lake.

Immediately afterward, light flickered and Tret’s presence vanished. Apparently, he had teleported.

(Next is my turn……)

Lifeless eyes reflected Atri. There was no emotion to be felt from the two people. As though their only choice was to eliminate the foreign object before them, cold killing intent was directed at Atri.

(These people are probably the Watchmen.)

The Watchmen—in other words, Zeke’s parents. Because Atri had been captured by the enemy and brought to the Lagias Domain, she had stolen their lives. Even if the other party was the infamously wicked Lords of Lagias, Atri could not justify herself.

(It’s all my fault. Because I was born……)

The jeweled sword was raised high, and a magic chant began at point-blank range. Both were directed at eliminating Atri. Due to guilt and fear, Atri could not move.

(This is my sin. The time has simply come for me to be judged.)

She accepted everything. That was the only choice Atri had left.

When the end drew near, what surfaced in Atri’s mind were memories from long ago.

She had been saved by an overwhelming existence and found a reason to live. She had met Van, gained a new place to belong, and been blessed with many encounters. Traveling with those her own age had truly been fun. ……Happy memories surfaced one after another.

She should have resolved herself, so why did regret arise? Why did tears overflow? The ones who were truly suffering should have been those who were turned into slaughtering weapons without even understanding why.

(……No. I don’t want to die yet.)

Death drew near Atri. Inescapable despair stained Atri’s heart jet black. The merciless sword strike and magic invited Atri toward death.

—Or they should have.

Pale-blue light flickered, and a cold storm covered Atri. It had enough force to completely repel the Watchmen’s sword strike and magic, but the center was wrapped in silence.

—Just like five years ago. A strong light that would not be swallowed by darkness appeared before Atri’s eyes.

“Why did you save me?”

“It has nothing to do with you. It is for my own convenience.”

By coincidence, the exchange of words was the same as five years ago. But the meaning, the situation, and everything else were different from that time.

“Because of me, Zeke’s father and mother……”

“Shut up. —If you are truly sorry, then live no matter what happens. Keep living. That is your atonement.”

Those very cold and sharp words gouged into Atri’s heart. Yet they were very warm.