Chapter 82: Star Palace Nagi
Inside the Tenjōin mansion.
Nagi supported Tenjōin Chiko and slowly walked into the basement.
Through the large hole in the ground, the bright moonlight spilled down, illuminating the damp basement and casting a faint halo.
The moonlight highlighted the unconscious Tenjōin Mototake in the corner.
Despite Ueda’s full-strength attack severely injuring Mototake, the Stellar Ritual continued to heal his wounds.
Nagi could tell at a glance the state of the man before her.
“He’s still alive,” Nagi said calmly.
She noticed that the Stellar Society had altered his body using the Shadow of the End, just like Amabane, transforming him into something no longer purely human.
Rather, he existed somewhere between human and fantasy creature.
Moreover, his soul was very strange.
In addition to the part that belonged to his “self,” it was mixed with many soul fragments that were not his—star light.
These star lights distorted his perception and blurred his sense of self.
Making him obey the Stellar Society.
It was reminiscent of how she had been replaced by the End and lost her memory.
The difference was that the power the Stellar Society wielded was far less mature and powerful than that of the End.
It seemed the Stellar Society had dabbled in a technique resembling a “star light state” through countless experiments.
Thinking of this, Nagi unconsciously glanced at the water pooling on the ground.
The water’s surface reflected her eyes, where countless purple-black star lights still shimmered.
“What a fool,” Tenjōin Chiko squatted down, gently stroking Mototake’s back.
“Shoko, I’m sorry… I—”
“No, this is not something for you to apologize for, Mother.” Nagi interrupted Tenjōin Chiko’s words.
Her feelings for the unconscious Tenjōin Mototake were complex.
But one thing was clear—she felt grateful.
During the days when she was not by her mother’s side, Mototake had brought happiness to Chiko, and that was enough.
As for Mototake’s attempt to revive Chiko and the Stellar Ritual that engulfed the entire Kawano City.
Regardless of whether he was being used by the Stellar Society—
“Will Mototake… die?” Tenjōin Chiko’s voice, tinged with worry, interrupted Nagi’s thoughts.
“He won’t,” Nagi replied firmly. The star light within Mototake was rapidly dissipating, and soon he would regain consciousness.
But Tenjōin Chiko had little time left.
The two might not be able to meet again—
“Really, to call someone back without even opening his eyes to look at me…”
Chiko smiled wryly, reaching to wipe the blood from Mototake’s face, her tone gentle: “Standing beside me now is the child I once proudly spoke of—little Shoko.”
Nagi averted her gaze, scanning the surroundings, unwilling to disturb the final conversation between her mother and Mototake.
She quietly turned and stood with her back to the two.
“He… no, I should say ‘she’ now, is quite an incredible person~,” Chiko continued softly, as if having a casual chat.
“So, don’t worry. Even if I’m not around later, she will take good care of Kohane…”
“Kohane has always hoped to be with you, her father…”
“I can’t believe how beautiful Kohane has grown…”
“If possible, I really want to see how Kohane becomes an adult… So you must live well to see it clearly for me~”
“And Shoko, I… also entrust you with her…”
“Though that child seems strong and independent, she’s actually very, very afraid of loneliness…”
“When I’m not around, I’m counting on you…”
“I didn’t expect Shoko to also grow into such a lovely girl…” Tenjōin Chiko gently lifted her head, as if looking at Mototake, or perhaps speaking to Nagi standing behind her.
“But no matter if it’s a boy or a girl, you will always be my most beloved child. That will never change.”
“Even if she’s somewhat of a mischievous girl~,” Tenjōin Chiko said with a smile as she slowly turned her head.
“…..” Nagi felt her face grow warm, pretending not to notice, but her hands couldn’t help but grab the hem of her coat, gently pulling it down as if trying to cover her exposed fair thighs.
“It’s very fitting for you, Shoko… Did you use it to win over the child you care about?”
“….. It’s not good; I asked another stupid question… What kind of good child like Shoko wouldn’t be liked by someone~?”
“What a pity, I couldn’t see the child Shoko cares about with my own eyes…”
“I really want to see Shoko in a wedding dress…”
“Though it must be very beautiful…”
“…..”
“That day… will definitely come.” Tenjōin Chiko seemed to see through Nagi’s thoughts, repeating with a firm tone.
“Even an unworthy, cold-hearted mother like me will one day see what my two precious children have grown up to be.”
“This world must be a beautiful world.”
“So, Shoko, you will be okay.”
As Tenjōin spoke, the star patterns in the basement lost all their light, generating countless cracks along with the crimson star above.
Under the bright moon and starry sky, the faintly glowing red star began to gradually descend toward the ground.
The Stellar Ritual was on the verge of collapse.
“Shoko, can I ask you one last thing?”
The last request from her mother—
“Kill me,” Tenjōin Chiko said softly.
The red star was falling.
If before then, Tenjōin Chiko’s soul continued to resonate with Kohane, it might become “star light,” remaining deep within Kohane’s soul.
Having gained this information from the memories of the End and the Stellar Society, Tenjōin Chiko understood.
For Kohane’s future happiness, she knew she must “completely dissipate” here.
No longer “death,” but the “fall” of a star.
Upon hearing this, Nagi silently picked up the broken blade from the ground and turned around—
She had long known this scene would unfold.
In this crumbling world—
“Mother.”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“….. I’m sorry for abandoning you back then.”
“No, the young Shoko was protecting me, and that’s why she chose to leave, right?”
“Even so, am I still your child?”
“It seems Shoko has also learned this bad habit of mine… This is a foolish question…”
“Even if I… am a bad woman?”
“Yes, if it’s Shoko, there must be her reasons~”
“Mother… I’m very happy now… very, very happy…” Nagi replied to her mother’s earlier question, slowly walking toward Tenjōin Chiko.
Nagi lowered her head, her mind flashing through the faces of her family in this life, her friends by her side, and “his” face.
“Yes, if possible, I really want to thank them~,” Tenjōin Chiko said with a smile.
Magical energy infused into the blade of “cutting”—
“Mother, I’m sorry—”
“—This isn’t the right thing to say.” Tenjōin Chiko gently shook her head.
“I will always love you, my child, Shoko… No, little Nagi.”
“—I love you too, Mother.”
The blade’s light carved a silvery arc.
The crimson star transformed into a brilliant shooting star, falling from the starry sky.
The purple-black star lights dissipated in an instant, from Nagi’s eyes, revealing her clear and bright black pupils.
“Your child has a boy she likes… is that okay?”
Nagi asked her mother this final question.
And “Tenjōin Chiko” did not answer, but simply revealed a blissful smile and gently nodded before collapsing.
The star light disappeared from Nagi’s eyes.
But the feelings within her still remained.
Was this the truth that star light would not be consumed?
“Nagi, are you okay?”
A gust of wind brought a familiar voice to Nagi’s ears.
It was the voice of Karura.
A snow-white seagull fluttered its wings, descending from the sky.
Ah, I am no longer light.
But Nagi.
Star Palace Nagi.
“The Sema people are coming; we should leave.”
“I understand.” Nagi gently supported her “sister” Kohane’s delicate, soft body, letting her rest steadily on the ground.
“Karura—”
“What?”
“Thank you.” Nagi turned back to Karura in mid-air, her deep black hair flowing like the night sky, revealing a radiant smile on her fair, symmetrical face.
Seeing the beautiful girl with black hair before her, Karura paused for a moment before breaking into a helpless smile.
She was never alone.
When she became Star Palace Nagi, seeing the world shrouded in twilight, deeply trapped in endless despair.
The summoned beasts that cared for her refused her wish to break the contract.
They devised a plan, one that would allow her to live—
A plan of lifelong regret.
This plan wasn’t just to make Tsukimi Kana the new savior.
But also to give this former savior a reason to keep living.
Star Palace Nagi was a person who was loved by countless individuals, a blessed one.
