Chapter 120
Chapter 120: Farewell
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The sky of Tarmine was clear when we returned from the Demon King’s Castle . The evil that covered Exfolia disappeared after Seiya defeated Artemaeus .
There were many soldiers in the royal palace, seemingly waiting for us to speak .
「…Ryuguuin Seiya has defeated the Demon King Artemaeus . 」
John Dae declared those words with an austere complexion . The soldiers remained silent for a moment, and then, they shouted with joyfulness .
「The hero has defeated the Demon King! 」
「Exfolia has been saved! 」
My heart was filled with loud cheers and endless praise . The soldiers, who were making a fuss, became quiet abruptly . I noticed that Queen Carmilla walked with an escort soldier . She bowed deeply to Seiya, and said thank you . Then, she held my hand .
「All of you did really well . 」
The smiling Queen looked around when she noticed a missing person .
「Where is Kiriko? 」
「Kiri is… 」
…Artemaeus’ corpse, whose magic power had been lost, became dust and Kiriko disappeared, leaving only the flower pendant that I gave her once . I wept and cried for a long time without stopping in the Demon King’s Castle . I thought that I had no more tears, but my eyes became teary once again when the Queen asked me about her . The Queen hugged me then .
「So, that’s what happened . It must’ve been painful . 」
I forgot that I was a goddess, and I wept on the chest of my mother from my previous life .
—
Afterwards, a feast was held in the gardens of the royal palace . The people of Tarmine put aside their ranks, and enjoyed each other’s company in the feast . A palace maid recommended me to drink some wine . I accepted it even though I never drank alcohol .
「Hey . Give me more, please… 」
「Ah, excuse me goddess . That’s your sixth cup, isn’t that right? It’s better to slow down from now on…」
「Shut up!! Don’t you dare tell me to stop!! Bring me the whole barrel!! 」
「What!? You sound like an old man!! 」
I felt bad for remembering Kiriko, so that’s why this wine felt like a cure . My legs were wobbling . It seemed that Seiya and John Dae were talking nearby . I listened to their conversation with a dazzling head .
「So, in the end, you did it all by yourself, huh . I learnt the special sword skill from the Goddess of War, but it was for nothing . It feels like I wasted my time back then . 」
「Hmm . There will be many opportunities for you to use it in the future . 」
「Well, you’ve got a point . We have the impending reconstruction plan under way . We need to check various places of the kingdom in order to handle the remnants of the Demon King’s Army . There’s a lot of work to be done starting tomorrow . 」
John Dae spoke while looking at the soldiers frolicking in the distance .
「Despite the hard work, over time, Exfolia will eventually recover . 」
「And, over time, you’re gonna get worse and worse . 」
「Damn you!! You’re so unfriendly!! 」
Shortly after yelling to Seiya, John Dae looked down .
「I wonder how an undead like me is allowed to survive this way . I think this outcome should’ve been different, you know . “I wish I had died instead of Kiriko”, these thoughts have been in my mind since then…」
“John Dae . You mustn’t say those words . ”…I thought so, while listening to their conversation .
「Yeah . You’re correct . That scenario would definitely be better . 」
Seiya completely ignored it . No…No! It wasn’t supposed to be like this…!
Seiya continued his conversation with John Dae, who held his head down .
「More importantly, what are you going to do? While I’m here, do you want me to transfer your soul to a skeleton body?」
「Ah, no . I have an attachment to this body . It is fine like this . 」
「Is that so . Okay, then I shall give you this . 」
Seiya gave John Dae a small wooden box . I noticed that a button was in the middle of that box .
「What’s this? 」
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「It’s an explosive detonator loaded into the earth snakes that are wrapped around your body . If your brain gets eroded by the undead phenomena, and you think that you aren’t going to have your rational consciousness back, then press this button to die . 」
「Ah, ah, I see . So, that’s your type of twisted kindness . Well, I thank you for that . 」
「I don’t need your thanks . By the way, I gave the Queen a spare detonator, in case you lose your mind before pressing the button . 」
Seiya pointed to the Queen drinking wine in the distance . When Seiya showed John Dae’s detonator, the Queen took out her detonator from somewhere under her clothes, and lifted it up while laughing .
「I have it! 」
Then, the soldiers and the palace maids around us took out their detonators one after another .
「We have one too!! 」
「Me too!! 」
「I got one as well!! 」
Seiya told a speechless John Dae the following words .
「As a precaution, I gave a couple of detonators to some trusted soldiers and palace maids . 」
「Hey, why did you give those detonators to such people!? What if they press the button by accident!?」
When I saw that John Dae freaked out…
*laughs*
A laugh leaked from my mouth . John Dae, who noticed my presence, came to me alone .
「C’mon, that hero is really…! 」
「Well, that’s just the way Seiya behaves . So, it’s all right for us to ignore some of his ridiculous remarks, don’t you agree?」
「Maybe, yes but…I’ll be really okay? I’m not going to suddenly die, am I? 」
「It’s going to be okay . We’re talking about Seiya after all . I think there’s a lengthy procedure to go until those boxes get detonated . Don’t you think so?」
「Ah! Yes! Now that you mention it, that’s probably correct!」
After we laughed slightly, John Dae stared attentively at my face and whispered .
「…Aren’t you going to tell the Queen about that story? 」
Of course, I was Princess Tiana in my previous life . I saw the Queen talking happily with the soldiers at the distance .
「Aria spoke to me about this before . The reason why reborn people have no memories of their previous lives is simple . We forget everything of our past so that we can start anew and live our new lives . I believe that’s the right thing to do . 」
「Princess… 」
「Ah . But, I won’t forget, okay? I won’t forget the Queen and you John Dae…And, of course, Kiri as well . Still, I don’t think I should tell the Queen that I was Princess Tiana . 」
「Is…that so . 」
I glared at John Dae, who had a sunken face .
「By the way, John Dae! Can you stop talking to me with such formal speech? Somehow, it feels weird and strange!」
「Ah, well . But, it’s hard for me to switch it now upon learning the truth! 」
I smiled wickedly at John Dae, who kept waving his hands at me .
「You see . I never told you this info before…John Dae . A fish-man bashed you during the Enlistment Test of the Beast Emperor’s corps, am I right?」
「Ehh!! How do you know that!? 」
「Actually, I was that fish-man . 」
「…Ah? 」
After being silent for a while…
「You…You shitty goddesssssssssss!! 」
John Dae looked furious at me . I ran away from John Dae while laughing aloud .
—
「…Lista . We’re going now if you’re ready . 」
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Seiya spoke to me when the sun started to set .
「Are you going already? I wished that you stayed here a little bit longer… 」
The Queen showed me a sad face . The feast was going to continue overnight, and I thought that it was okay to spend the whole night in Tarmine . Nonetheless, Seiya wanted to return early . Now that he had defeated the Demon King, Seiya probably thought that it didn’t make any sense to remain in Exfolia . Actually, to tell the truth, I felt that Seiya stayed in the feast for a few hours because he might had taken into account my feelings . After all, I felt utterly depressed and sad that Kiriko was gone forever .
The Queen smiled when I told her that we would return one day .
「Well…In fact, I don’t feel that lonely anymore . 」
She pointed to the borders of the Tarmine Kingdom . On the far side, near the city walls, I could see the drunk Great Tarte .
「Because now, Tarmine has a guardian goddess . 」
「Ahah…But Seiya said that she wasn’t that useful to being with . 」
Nevertheless, after watching the Great Tarte for a short moment, Queen Carmilla spoke as if she felt nostalgic .
「Somehow, I feel a connection with her . Someone always leaves a doll behind . 」
In my previous life, I gave the Queen a handmade doll when I was young . Unfortunately, the Grand Lion destroyed that doll…
「So, you gave me a bigger doll this time . 」
「Eh? 」
The Queen laughed . Maybe the Queen knew about everything…Somehow, I felt that way .
She came close to me and hugged me tightly .
「Please, come back to Tarmine…Anytime is fine… 」
「Yes… 」
I left the Queen and opened the portal . Seiya and I dived through the portal towards the God’s realm .
I looked back on my way to the portal, and I saw the smiling Queen, alongside with John Dae, the soldiers, and far beyond, the Great Tarte, who waved at us innocently .
—
As soon as Seiya and I arrived at the plaza of the God’s realm…
「Lista!! 」
Aria rushed on my direction . Adenela and Celseus were in the surroundings as well . In addition, I saw the faces of other goddesses who never came down to the plaza of the God’s realm . I saw Rusti, the Goddess of Change, and Nephitet, the Goddess of Seclusion .
When I raised my thumb in silence, the feedback was similar to the one we received in Tarmine . Just like the soldiers who celebrated our victory, the gods praised Seiya and me .
Meanwhile, Adenela touched my shoulder .
「Li…Lista . You…You are now part of…of the top goddess’ league . 」
「Eh! Top goddess? Me, you say? 」
「Of course, Lista! You saved a SS-rank difficulty world after all! 」
It didn’t feel real to me even though Aria reaffirmed it . To be honest, Exfolia’s rescue quest was completed 100% by Seiya’s power . I was just by his side .
Celseus showed me a smile since I looked rather awkward for not being able to rejoice openly .
「Even so, I’m glad the world was saved! Kiriko and John Dae must be thrilled, right? 」
「…Celseus . You see… 」
「Hmm? 」
I remained silent for a brief moment . Then, I changed my mind, and smiled with a happy expression on my face .
「You’re right! Both of them are very happy! 」
「I see! I hope they’ll come to work with me one day! 」
「Yes . One day, surely… 」
「I must wash Kiriko’s apron first before they come here! 」
I looked at Celseus with tears when he took Kiriko’s apron to the kitchen . That apron won’t be worn again . Yes, never again .
—
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After that, I headed towards the Great Goddess Isister’s room on my own . I went to report about the successful rescue of the world Exfolia .
When I walked into the room, the Great Goddess Isister stared at me with a strange look on her face .
「Listarte . Thank you for saving Exfolia, the SS-rank difficulty world . Moreover…」
The Great Goddess Isister bowed deeply to me .
「Please forgive me . I’ve been hiding the truth from you for a very long time . 」
I shook my head with a smile on my lips .
「Even Seiya fell down unconscious during the battle with Ceremonic because he knew the truth . Between saving the world and saving Kiriko…I think I wouldn’t be able to stand it if I knew the truth beforehand . And the results remained unchanged . Therefore…it’s fine now . 」
I tried to leave the room when I bowed in respect . However, the Great Goddess Isister spoke to me before I left .
「Are you leaving already? 」
「Yes . 」
「Listarte . You know… 」
The Great Goddess Isister, who was capable of predicting the near future, was able to read my future actions . Still, I spoke with confidence .
「Because I am the goddess in charge of Ryuguuin Seiya . 」
—
When I left the Great Goddess Isister’s room, I noticed that Seiya was leaning against the wall of the aisle .
「Lista . Open the portal . We have to return to Exfolia . 」
「Okay, I understand . But, why do you want to return? 」
「I forgot about something irrelevant . I remembered that the old gramps told me to come to the Sage Village once I defeated the Demon King . 」
「Ah . Now that you mention about it, that’s right . 」
「It’s no big deal . I can go alone . No problem . I’ll be right back . 」
「Yes . 」
I summoned the portal as usual . I chose the place of arrival a little away from the Sage Village .
Seiya tried to go under the portal . Yet, when he realized that I was going to follow him, he closed the portal’s door .
「Hey . What are you doing? 」
「…I was following you Seiya . 」
「I just said that I was going alone . 」
I stared at Seiya’s face .
「I definitely believe that you didn’t “forget” about it . I bet that you forgot about it on purpose, am I correct? You wanted to leave me in the God’s realm by myself while you went to the Sage Village on your own, isn’t that right?」
I guess I hit the bull’s-eye . Seiya clearly wrinkled between his eyebrows . I laughed proudly .
「Ehhh! I won’t be deceived anymore after what you did to me in Geabrande! 」
「What a troublesome woman . 」
Seiya sighed then .
「Exfolia is safe . For now . There’s a chance that some evil is lurking around . 」
「What kind of evil are you referring to? 」
「…The old gramps at the Sage Village . There’s a high possibility that his identity is actually the evil god . 」
「Eh . How do you know that? 」
「The wise man named Immel never existed in the Sage Village . I’ve never heard of him before . In fact, I know all of the deceased villagers after I watched the past repeatedly from Isister’s crystal ball . 」
「As expected of you Seiya . 」
「I have my own suspicions . When the Demon King said that his life was “flowing towards the evil god”, he stared at the direction where the Sage Village is located . 」
「I see . That makes sense . 」
「The evil god may be acting only as a conscious body in Exfolia . I presume that the evil god intervened through a crystal ball, or maybe into the subject’s spiritual world . These two are the highest possibilities where the evil god could send instructions to the Demon King and the Emperors in Exfolia . 」
「And Artemaeus’ death gave the evil god a mighty power… 」
「That’s right . In other words, it’s no longer just a conscious body as before . The evil god could probably kill me or even kill you . The evil god’s abilities are unknown . It’s likely that I’ll die if I engage in a battle with the evil god . 」
「So, why are you going? 」
「I have to see it with my own eyes . 」
「Are you ready? 」
After thinking for a while, Seiya finally muttered .
「Not at all . 」
「This isn’t like you Seiya . 」
「But, I won’t know if I don’t the face the evil god directly . 」
「I see . You’re right . I feel the same way… 」
Seiya had a boring expression as usual . I never knew what Seiya was thinking about nor did I knew what to do, but this time, I knew that I had to be by his side .
「You don’t have to come . 」
Even so, I stick behind Seiya . Then, Seiya stared at me .
「Don’t come . 」
「I refuse . 」
「Don’t come . 」
「I refuse . 」
「Do you want me to beat you? 」
「I don’t mind it . 」
「Don’t come . 」
「I refuse . 」
Seiya raised his fist . Still, I didn’t protect my head nor did I close my eyes . Eventually, Seiya gently lowered his raised fist . I smiled at him .
「You helped me, and yet you called me an idiot for countless of times . You liked me and you hated me as well . Sometimes, it was confusing, while other times was clearer…But after all, we shared a lot with one another . 」
「It’s a rotten relationship . 」
「Maybe, yes . 」
I showed Kiriko’s flower pendant to Seiya .
「Listen . Do you want me to give this to you? 」
「You did it for Kiriko . It’s yours . 」
「You know what? Kiri was pleased with the toys that you gave me in the God’s realm . 」
I spoke with Seiya after he looked shyly away .
「Seiya . Thank you for letting me spend an irreplaceable precious time with Kiriko in the God’s realm . 」
After a moment of silence . Seiya finally muttered .
「…Shall we go? 」
「Yes . 」
I summoned the portal once again . The extraordinarily cautious Seiya didn’t create golems this time . Perhaps, he realized that was it useless to bring golems with him this time .
After diving through the portal, we walked together towards the Sage Village that was visible in the distance . I felt that Seiya’s hand slightly touched my hand unintentionally . As a natural occurrence, I began to hold hands with him as we walked side by side . Seiya tried to shake my hand off his’, but I grabbed his hand tight, and we continued to hold hands .
I felt that we got along very well .
We went to a place where we didn’t know what to expect . Seiya didn’t prepare for this upcoming hurdle, and I thought that I might never return alive…
Still, it wasn’t possible for me to forgive the evil god that played with Kiriko’s fate .