We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Return from the Abyss
The sky, the land, everything visible has transformed into a mysterious world.
It was as if we had arrived in another world without our knowledge.
As I looked around the scenery, dumbfounded, Revalia descended from the polychromatic sky.
Revalia seemed extremely exhausted, as she landed normally, unlike usual. Then, she slumped her head to the ground.
“Elnea-sama!”
Though she should have been as tired as Revalia, Laira desperately ran towards me.
Then, before I could even welcome her with “Good job,” Laira clasped me tightly.
But it wasn’t a hug of affection like usual. It felt like she was confirming that I was here.
What on earth could be wrong?
I tilted my head, my face buried in Laira’s chest.
Then, the question was soon answered by Laira’s mouth.
“I was worried! Watching from the sky, I felt like Elnea-sama was going somewhere far away!”
“Whaaat!?”
I wanted to reassure her by saying, “I’ve been right here, I wasn’t going anywhere,” but seeing everyone else nod in agreement with Laira, I couldn’t.
“I felt a fear that Elnea-kun might disappear.”
“Should I say it was like his presence was fading? If we had just let it go, Elnea-kun probably would have vanished from this world.”
“N-n-no!”
At Ruiseine and Sefina’s words, my face contorted.
“It was similar to the feeling when Yunyun was about to disappear.”
“It was similar to the presence when Rinrin was about to vanish.”
“No way…”
At Yufilia and Nina’s words, I felt a chill run down my spine.
“I immediately sensed it was a tremendous technique, but I also certainly felt that Elnea-kun seemed like he would vanish as a consequence.”
Even Wol seemed to have sensed the precariousness of my existence.
Perhaps I’ve stepped into a realm I shouldn’t have?
If I hadn’t reacted to Mistral’s voice or everyone’s presence, I might have been absorbed by the world.
Looking at the polychromatic scenery anew and replaying everyone’s words, I realized the terrifying nature of my own technique.
More than the sense of accomplishment from defeating Rugah and breaking Baltnowar’s forbidden technique, my own technique instilled fear.
Still embraced by Laira, I trembled slightly.
However, I noticed something new and suddenly regained my composure.
“Speaking of which, is Laira getting away with it?”
“Hahahaha, it’s not getting away with it!”
I had been hugged only by Laira. Ordinarily, Ruiseine would have been the first to leap into this situation, and Yufilia and Nina would have taken me from her at the first opportunity.
Hmm, I wonder what’s going on?
As if to confirm, I looked at everyone again.
They were all slumped to the ground, exhausted.
I see. It was everyone who endured Rugah’s fierce attack while I was desperately performing the Dragon Sword Dance. It’s natural that they’re exhausted.
“Thank you, everyone!”
Honestly, I want to thank each of you individually. But that seems to be something for a little later.
“Elnea-kun…”
Called by Madrine, I broke free from Laira’s embrace. Then, I knelt beside the fallen Baltnowar.
“What an amazing technique…”
For Baltnowar, the forbidden technique was his proof of life, his means of asserting his existence to the world.
He succeeded in bringing forth the Human Race’s Rugah and artificially creating a being that surpassed the Primogenitor Race.
But both of those were shattered by us.
Baltnowar’s scheme had all come to nothing.
And yet…
For some reason, Baltnowar had a satisfied expression on his face.
“Could it be… You wanted me to break the forbidden technique?”
I blurted out the thought that suddenly came to mind.
Then, Baltnowar smiled from behind his black beard.
“No, that’s not it. Once an ambition is conceived, its achievement is paramount. But you see… if there were to be anyone to thwart my plans, I thought you would be suitable…”
“Is it because I live a life completely opposite to yours?”
“Ah, yes…”
Even as we spoke, Baltnowar’s breathing grew shallower.
His remaining time was now very short.
“I, who lived in solitude, and you, who will live without solitude. Which one will be chosen…?”
“You were by no means alone!”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice to the dying man.
But those were my honest feelings. Therefore, I wanted Baltnowar to truly receive them.
“You were not alone. Certainly, you may have lost dear companions as you lived for a long time. But you also had new companions and friends!”
The words the Rainbow Dragon Gaf was about to say at the end.
“I consider you to be…”
Anyone could guess the words that followed.
At least, Gaf considered Baltnowar a friend.
Not only that.
Istericia, who was reluctant to open her heart to us.
The first person she gravitated towards was not of her own race nor a protector, but Baltnowar.
Istericia too, was someone who adored Baltnowar.
Baltnowar listened to my words in silence.
“You are not alone. You were simply dragged down by the past and became blind!”
“Ah, is that so… I was afraid of parting and closed my heart…”
Then, Baltnowar gazed at me with his unfocused black eyes.
“When did I go wrong?”
“You didn’t go wrong…”
“No, it’s fine… I made a mistake in the way I lived my life. But… in the end, people are like that.”
Baltnowar, with a weak movement, grasped the hem of my clothes.
“No matter how many centuries one lives, people so easily stray from the path. To the extent that I am pointed out as being mistaken by a newcomer like you… Therefore, you should keep this in mind, so as not to meet the same end as me…”
“I wish I had met you normally. If so, I think we could have become good senpai and kohai.”
“No, that would be impossible… After all, I had strayed from the path long before you were born.”
Still, I couldn’t help but think.
As fellow “chosen ones,” we should have been able to meet in a different way.
Baltnowar tells me that anyone can easily make mistakes. Then, as an elder, he should have taught me many things.
I wanted to learn not about the destination of the wrong path, but about how to choose, and how to have chosen, from the many forks in the road, and walk together.
But that would not come to pass.
Baltnowar’s life, prolonged by Madrine, was also about to run out.
The hand gripping the hem of my clothes loosened its grip.
His unfocused eyes no longer reflected anything.
Gradually, Baltnowar’s breathing grew weaker.
Baltnowar was an enemy, the very instigator of the great calamity, yet I wanted to quietly see him off.
But the Nine-tailed Great Demon, Charlotte, easily trampled on that wish.
“I have one last thing I wish to ask.”
“Charlotte!?”
Not showing even a shred of mercy to the dying man, Charlotte drew not only my but also Madrine’s and everyone else’s reproachful gazes.
However, Charlotte was unfazed by our stares.
“Elnea-kun, this is important.”
Saying so with her usual narrow eyes, she moved closer to Baltnowar.
“I asked you this at first, but please confirm it again. Before arriving here, did you not visit the Divine Race’s Country?”
“Hahaha, what are you talking about…?”
“Do you have any information about the man in black who gave the Empire’s Emperor bad advice?”
“…With all that grasped, what do you intend to ask me?”
What could she mean? Not knowing the circumstances, I tilted my head.
Besides, the fierce battle between Mistral and Charlotte had apparently ended unnoticed.
Of course, Mistral was unharmed, and there was no victor.
Charlotte, setting aside us who were her enemies, exchanged her last words with Baltnowar.
“You, after all, know another forbidden technique, don’t you? And a super-colossal one at that.”
To Charlotte’s question, Baltnowar merely lifted the corner of his lips slightly, not providing an answer.
However, Charlotte seemed satisfied with just that reaction.
Charlotte, stating that her business was concluded, moved away from Baltnowar.
I once again witnessed Baltnowar’s final moments.
“Though I may not be in a position to say this. Cherish your family and friends…”
“Yes. I will cherish them. I promise!”
“Ah, then I shall witness your happy life by the Goddess’s knees…”
“I pray that you can reunite with your wife and friends there…”
“Thank you…”
Baltnowar’s breathing became shallow and slow.
And then, before our eyes, he quietly passed away.
Madrine recited the funeral rites, and we prayed.
Considering how great the disturbance was, the ending turned out to be quite somber.
After the long prayer, I stood up.
Everyone seemed to have recovered somewhat, and they gathered around me with weak footsteps.
“Well then, shall we go home?”
I smiled at everyone.
Everyone smiled back.
And Charlotte, smiling as usual.
Charlotte…
Charlotte!
“Fufufu, it’s not over yet? Well then, shall we begin the continuation?”
“Whaaaaaaaaaaaat!”
With a “crackle” sound, Charlotte, the Great Demon, cracked her whip and swayed her nine tails, where a powerful magic had manifested.
Facing Charlotte, who was full of fighting spirit at this point, I despaired.
That’s right. I still hadn’t dealt with this person!
“Kyaa!” screaming, everyone leaped onto Revalia.
Revalia, looking displeased, flapped her wings, not wanting to be caught up in it.
“W-wait, everyone!”
I was left behind. And also, Ruilala, a mermaid bathing in the spring.
“If this is how it is…”
Resigned, I grasped my White Sword.
“With Ruilala as a sacrifice, I summon the Giant Demon Lord!!”
“Ugh, Elnea-kun, you really are cruel.”
Ignoring Ruilala’s sigh, lightning flashed from the White Sword raised high.
Dark miasma formed on the ground, which undulated like a high wave.
At the place we watched, that being descended.
He wore an ornate armor over luxurious blue outer garments. His golden hair shone beautifully like lightning, praising his peerless beauty.
The one who emerged from the miasma’s darkness, with a demeanor befitting a Demon Lord, was the Oldest Demon Race, the Giant Demon Lord.
“Charlotte.”
The Demon Lord’s eyes, glittering, displayed the authority of a ruler and held absolute power.
“Well, well, Your Majesty the Demon Lord.”
Charlotte, unfazed by such an existence, narrowed her eyes even further and smiled.
Then, she respectfully knelt.
“Charlotte, your vacation is over.”
“Yes. I have had sufficient rest.”
The Giant Demon Lord looked down at Charlotte.
Charlotte obeyed her master, the Demon Lord.
“So it was a fake rebellion after all—!”
And so, I yelled in exhaustion.
