“S-so, what happened then?”
The president’s domination began. Amelia leaned forward on the bed, as if to fall off, eager to hear what happened, especially when the Holy Sword, a hero’s privilege, was drawn. Having spoken for quite some time, her lips were starting to feel a bit neglected. She wanted to take a small break and smoke a cigarette, but this was the infirmary. She had smoked in the company infirmary before, but that was when she was the injured party and had permission from the supervisor. She certainly wouldn’t smoke in front of someone who was underage and had just regained consciousness. So, she continued the story.
“Nothing much. It wasn’t a grand twist or a story with its ups and downs. The president just easily beat up that Carter fellow and captured him, and that was it.”
I’m sorry to dash your expectations, but the climax of the story has already passed.
“Huh?”
“I don’t know why you’re looking at me like that. The president used Carter’s trump card, his very lifeline, the Holy Sword. When the chances of winning decreased, it naturally ended.”
As I told Amelia, the battle that followed ended anticlimactically, especially considering all the behind-the-scenes scheming. The president’s Holy Sword severed one of Carter’s arms, the one holding the Holy Sword, and that was the end of it. Carter was enveloped in a storm of magic, and when the storm passed, he was lying on the ground, barely clinging to life, looking worse than a wringing wet rag.
“Eh…”
“Thanks for that look of disappointment. Why would you look forward to trouble at work? It’s better when things just end normally.”
That’s how reality usually is. I know this from personal experience, having had hidden powers awaken at the last moment, but it’s not something that happens often. It would also be problematic if Carter, the enemy, were to awaken and turn the tables. When you have the advantage, it’s best to end things then. I could only offer a wry smile to Amelia, who was puffing out her cheeks as if dissatisfied with the outcome.
“Judging by Instructor Fushio’s words, it seems the opponent had a secret plan, but it was unfortunate that it was crushed along with everything else. Well, it seems that whenever the president gets involved, the outcome is usually a one-sided thrashing.”
“Ouch!?”
I flicked Amelia’s forehead with my index finger as she leaned forward, wanting trouble in her work, and she winced, clutching her forehead at the slight pain.
“It seems that Carter was supposed to fight the president much later, but he mistook the demon lord’s soul within you for the president and attacked, thinking you were weakened and it was an opportunity.”
“You were seriously in danger, you know?” I lectured her. Amelia, looking dejected, apologized to me. I nodded, deciding to accept her apology.
“So, I’ve explained my part. Amelia, I’d like to hear your side. Do you know anything?”
I had explained the events up to this point, but my main objective was Amelia’s rescue, which was my job. While it was accomplished, I had to see the results. From our conversation, it seemed her memory was fine, and she was scheduled for an examination later. The instructors and medical staff had said there were no abnormalities in her soul or body. Although I was told there were no problems, there were a few things that bothered me. It was undeniable that the opponent experienced something abnormal during the final moments of the battle. Those white chains – they were an attempt to impede her movements. No one would bind themselves in the middle of a fight. The question is, who did it? And, even if the blade was covered and its cutting ability nullified, hitting someone with a blunt object is still fact. I’m a little worried about whether there are any physical abnormalities.
“Um…”
“It’s fine if you don’t know.”
Frankly, I didn’t expect any information to come out. After all, she had been unconscious the whole time and her body had been controlled by another soul. It would be strange if she remembered anything. Anything gained would be a bonus. That’s the kind of mindset I had when asking. So, I had resigned myself to nothing coming out of it.
“I received lessons?”
“Huh?”
Unexpected words came out of Amelia’s mouth.
“Lessons? Are you talking about dreams? If you’re sleepy, you should sleep a little longer?” I tried to get her to rest, thinking she wasn’t fully recovered, as she spoke hesitantly and fearfully.
“No! Magic lessons!!” she denied emphatically. But magic lessons? Before thinking about who taught them, I pondered the meaning of “magic lessons.” Should I take it literally as lessons about magic? Or was some kind of special lesson performed using magic? The former is straightforward, while the latter is a slightly more complex interpretation, but either meaning is understandable.
“Mike taught me Sage Magic in my heart!”
“What? Mike? You mean *that* Mike? Why would the Demon Lord teach you magic? And Sage Magic at that?”
“Um, Mike wasn’t the Demon Lord, he was a Sage!”
“?”
If my memory served me correctly, the disembodied soul named Mike was referred to as the Demon Lord’s soul. But Amelia claimed Mike was a Sage, not the Demon Lord. Puzzled, I tilted my head, not understanding the meaning.
“I see, it was a fun dream.”
“It wasn’t a dream!!”
I placed my hand on her shoulder and spoke gently, but it seemed she was serious, and her mood soured to the point where one might imagine a “poof.” However, she seemed willing to explain the situation. Bit by bit, she recalled what happened while she was asleep, and then…
“…I see, he’s gone.”
“Yeah, he said he’d take back my body and that it was his last magic, and then he disappeared.”
Sage Magic. The truth was, it was a grimoire inscribed within the remnants of Mike’s soul, a Sage from the past. He had re-inscribed it onto Amelia’s soul. Its role was to seal the Demon Lord’s soul. Since that was no longer possible, I thought he had entrusted Amelia with what he could as a form of atonement.
“He said, ‘With this, you are a fine Sage.'”
“Is that so.”
“I don’t know how to use magic at all.”
“Yeah.”
And, Amelia must have understood his feelings. Her initial smile, so like her usual self, was probably Amelia’s way of acting strong so as not to worry Mike, who was embarking on his journey. Even for a brief period, he had spent time with Amelia. That person, with whom she had spent time, was now gone unexpectedly.
“I just know. That’s all. I’m not a Sage.”
She looked down, and a tear fell onto the back of her hand. What should I call the relationship between Amelia and Mike? Friends? Lovers? Siblings? None of them seemed right, and I didn’t know how to express it. Despite such a relationship, a gaping hole must have opened up in Amelia’s heart. Even for a short time, it’s sad when someone you’re close to disappears. Amelia learned that.
“Hey, Amelia.”
“…”
“What did he say to you when Mike parted with you in the end?”
Perhaps because of that. I asked the girl who had experienced an eternal farewell, an experience I would likely have myself someday. Did he apologize? Or did he encourage her to live well? Or did he try to lighten the mood with a joke, not wanting the parting to be sad?
“Mike, at the end…”
“…”
Amelia, who knew the outcome, slowly raised her head from her bowed posture. Despite the shock of their parting, tears streamed from her eyes, yet she smiled.
“Ami, thank you for giving me a name, me who had no name.”
“‘Me who had no name, thank you for giving me a name,’ he said, and then he disappeared.”
She said Mike’s last words with joy. Recalling those words, I had a vague fantasy of Mike leaving with a smile at the very end. Amelia looked down again, trying to hold back her tears.
“Cry, it’s an offering to the departed.”
“Nn, ah.”
But she didn’t have to hold back those emotions. I gently placed my hand on her head and stroked it, releasing the emotions of the girl who was calling out Mike’s name. Amelia clasped her hands and hugged them to her chest. The girl’s crying echoed in the quiet infirmary. Life is full of unreasonable things. What happens on the other side eventually happens to you. And amidst it all, such partings occur. If Carter hadn’t rebelled, would Mike’s soul still have been within Amelia? One ambition severed one bond. Thinking about it, the world is truly cruel. All I can do is let her emotions overflow, so she can move forward.
“Ah! The leader is making Ami-chan cry!”
I don’t know how long it had been. I looked at Minami, who was shouting noisily at the entrance, having removed only her armor and now in simple gear, pointing at me. I glared at him to be quiet, but he wasn’t deterred.
“What’s wrong? Was the leader’s sleepy face scary?”
“Hey, is my face a weapon or something?” He ran over and then sat by the bed, gently hugging Amelia’s head. I pulled my hand away and reprimanded Minami for his guess about why Amelia was crying, but he acted as if he hadn’t heard me.
“Day by day, the leader’s face is starting to resemble Instructor Kio’s. If I saw that face first thing in the morning, even I would cry for real.”
“Alright, I get it. Minami, you’re picking a fight with me. I’ll take you up on it later, so be prepared.”
“Regrettably, it’s a limited edition, so we don’t sell it outside of business hours.”
I protested that I didn’t think my expression was that menacing, but he just brushed it off. Finally, he said, “It’s alright, you’ll see nothing scary in my embrace anymore.” He shielded Amelia from me. Minami had managed to dispel the somber atmosphere with this exchange, which was a bit heavy-handed, but effective. He couldn’t ignore someone who was sad. Seeing his face, I couldn’t stay angry anymore. Resigned, I sighed.
“Haa, Minami, you should have had plenty of time until your shift. Did something happen?”
It seemed that Minami, who disliked serious atmospheres, had found a way. He can’t leave someone sad, it’s like Katsu’s way of acting. I was impressed by his thorough guidance. When I asked him why he was here earlier than expected, “Ah, Kaido-senpai is surrounded by twin angels and is in trouble, so he wants us to go help.”
“Again.”
He casually dropped a significant piece of information. I glanced at Amelia, who was being hugged by Minami. She was still weak, but she was smiling. Reassured, I stood up to resolve the ensuing trouble.
“Amelia, you should rest a little longer. Minami, don’t make too much noise.”
“Ah, Jiro-san!”
“What is it?”
“Um, thank you for helping me!”
“…Don’t worry about it.”
For now, this job is done.
Today’s word:
There are encounters, and there are partings.
Sometimes, it’s painful.
That’s all for today.
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*The first volume has been decided to be published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
The e-book version was also released on October 31 of the same year.
Volume 2 will be released on December 19.
The content has been revised and expanded from the version posted on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, with the addition of an unpublished interlude.
Please check out the new books as well!!
Also, a comic adaptation has been decided for Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.”
