The Battleship Elpis.
Inside a room within the Battleship Elpis, believed to be a chapel. This place, which felt like a replica of the last sanctuary once created by Elearis impersonating Iris, even housed an altar shaped like a pipe organ. A pipe organ resonated with a profound tone, played by Kuromel, the mastermind behind it all. As her small fingers moved across the keys, a famous hymn from Delamis began to play.
“Hoh. You, who seek to become a god, play a song praising a god. How truly interesting.”
From behind Kuromel, an elderly man spoke. Simultaneously, the fingers playing the organ stopped, and silence naturally fell upon the chapel.
“What, you’re stopping? I wanted to listen to your performance a little longer.”
“Hmph. Analyst. No, now that those who remain are only my comrades, those who know the true name, this title is no longer needed. What is it that you want, Riod?”
Kuromel, flapping her black wings once, asked without turning to face Riod.
“Nothing. You seemed unusually cheerful today. It’s also the day of your promise with Kelvin-kun, so I thought I’d say a final greeting… Was I intruding?”
“No, not at all. Riod, along with Ange, you are a meritorious retainer who contributed alongside him most closely. Is there any reason why I would dismiss you?”
Kuromel began playing the organ again, this time a different song from before. Riod knew this song. It was a song composed when the great war surrounding the Eastern Continent ended, and the four great nations created Seijo Town Pars.
“…You truly are quite skilled. By the looks of it, you don’t possess the ‘Performance’ skill, do you?”
“How long do you think I’ve lived? Even without skills, I can do things like this with ease. I’ve learned what I didn’t know and improved what I couldn’t do.”
“Hoh, the ‘Black one’ is more of an effortful person than the ‘White one,’ are you? Opportunities to speak directly like this haven’t been frequent, but that’s how it appears to me.”
“…I am a lazy creature, and I couldn’t truly exert myself until I lost what was most important.”
The tempo of the song, which had been leisurely, sped up ever so slightly. Naturally, Riod didn’t miss it.
“Oh, my apologies. That was a question lacking in consideration. Let’s change the subject. Elpis moves using your magic power as energy, and now you can control it at will. However, yesterday you were flying so high, yet today you’re flying at such a low altitude. What’s wrong? Isn’t this like telling yourself, ‘I’m here’?”
“That’s an uncharacteristic question for you, Riod. Today is the day of our promise, you know? Since you invited me to a fight to the death, isn’t it natural to meet a little early, in a clear location? I’m good at waiting, but at the same time, I also have a strong desire to meet quickly. I’m sure you already know that, so there’s no need for you to ask, is there?”
“…My apologies again. I hadn’t considered that. It seems I am still shallow in my thinking. Please dismiss it as part of our casual conversation.”
For this moment alone, a look of bewilderment appeared on Riod’s face. It seemed he hadn’t anticipated the reason she gave.
“Fufu, then I shall also share a trivial bit of small talk. Riod, your wish was to ‘create a hero from Pars,’ wasn’t it? And not just any hero, but one powerful enough to save the world.”
“Ah, yes. I’m not sure if Kelvin-kun has become that, but I wished for it. I also made efforts in my own way. Now, let’s see what happens.”
“Why did you make such a wish?”
Riod offered a meaningful smile as he looked at Kuromel’s back, who still showed no sign of turning around. If he were to now, he could have been described as having a sinister expression rivaling Tristan’s.
“Hmm… I’m not from Pars, but I have an affection for that town. It might not be characteristic of me, but I felt a sense of crisis that there was no one to protect the town. Pars is weak. Amidst that, by some turn of fate, I was reincarnated as an Apostle. A wicked goddess appeared before me and promised to grant my wish in exchange for my cooperation. Thus… I believe you can imagine the rest? While the Judge was engrossed in protecting his homeland, I gained more than that. To protect Pars, I bet everything on him. I created a great hero who could shatter your scheme, to save the world including Pars, and to make him the pride of Pars. Oh my, saying it out loud, I’ve just realized. I was quite greedy. Goodness, how embarrassing.”
“…Yes, I knew that. Knowing that you were a veritable tanuki, I kept Riod as my pawn until the end. Precisely because of that, I believed Riod would genuinely engage in the task. Fortunately, the result is excellent. Depending on the method of combat, he has gained the power to defeat even that Serge.”
The congratulatory song of Pars’ birth was flowing gracefully. Kuromel’s tone was similarly smooth.
“You want to entertain Kelvin-kun. I want to make him strong. It was a contract made with mutual benefit. Now, all that’s left is to believe in his success.”
“Indeed. What will you do from here? If you intend to leave the Apostles, I won’t stop you. Teaming up with him is also an option. Ah, or perhaps attacking me right now might be quite interesting.”
“I won’t do that. I have a principle of not making bets I know I’ll lose. Besides, I am still your Apostle. By contract, I won’t feel satisfied unless I see this through to the end, and my wish would be in vain. I will cooperate as much as I can so that you and Kelvin-kun can fight one-on-one. That’s all I have to say.”
“…Riod, I wish you the best of luck.”
“I’ll return that sentiment exactly. May we have a good fight, our Lord.”
With these words, Riod vanished from the chapel without a trace. It was almost simultaneous with the completion of the Pars song, and Kuromel continued to play the next piece. The song she began to play was once again a hymn. Somehow, her tone seemed to carry an elated emotion.
“…A song praising a god? Fufu, no. No, Riod. There is only one person I think of. This is a song to be offered to you, to praise you. This world that I manage will continue to reincarnate centered around you. Ah, yes. In the next world, perhaps it would be good for me to become the partner and journey with you, in place of my white self. Or perhaps as an enemy, or an observer? Battling endlessly, increasing my allies, nurturing love, and as the end of my journey—”
Kuromel raised both hands and slammed them onto the organ keys as if to destroy them. *Daaang!* A sound, as if her emotions had exploded, reverberated.
“—In any case, I will kill you. No matter what process is taken, I will be the one to conclude the story. This is something I cannot yield to Efil, Sera, Rion, Ange, or even Shutra or Colette. Yes, it is absolutely unforgivable…!”
The next moment, the Battleship Elpis shook violently. Shortly after, an incredibly loud roar was heard in this chapel.
“…You’ve finally arrived, my Lord. I have been waiting. Mao, Riod, Tristan, the signal for the opening of hostilities has been given. Please welcome them courteously?”
