Chapter 448: After the Battle
<Author's Notes>
We look forward to your continued support this year.
As if they didn’t want to pour cold water on the moment————
The people around us didn’t speak to me.
They looked like they were carefully gauging the right timing.
But for now, they were only watching from a distance.
……Heck, Itsuki, what’s with that face?
Kashima beside Itsuki looked a little embarrassed.
Amidst all that, the first one to speak was———–
[Your long journey has finally come to an end huh, Touka.] Fly King Squadron.
The Leopardkin Beastman, second only to Seras in seniority, Eve Speed.
[I was certain you would see it through———– When you returned from the battle at the Anti-Demon White Castle, I already had a premonition bordering on conviction. And yet, now that the moment is truly here, this lingering sense of unreality still refuses to fade.]
[And even watching that sh*tty goddess got sent down the Purification Corridor right before our eyes didn’t feel real either.]
That sight.
That something like that had been unfolding until just moments ago in this peaceful plaza.
It was unbelievable——— Feeling that way was only natural.
[The end of Vysis…… it was a fierce, dreadful finale.]
Eve said it as though savoring each word.
[From what I have heard of the punishment known as the Purification Corridor, it may well have been a fitting sentence for the evils she committed. However…… it does not erase the suffering of those who died amid tragedy and catastrophe, nor will it bring them back. Even so———–]
Eve gazed toward the far reaches of the clear, open sky.
[The fact that Vysis will never again give birth to further tragedy or calamity, that alone is something we may accept with honest relief———– At least, that is what I believe.]
Having said that, Eve fell silent for a while.
What thoughts she was turning over in her mind……
That, even I could not know.
The only thing I did know was———–
[You’ve always been looking toward the future, haven’t you?]
It felt like Eve Speed had always been looking ahead.
Especially since we left Urza and entered the Golden Demon Zone.
She carried her feelings for her parents and the fallen Speed clan with her.
Yet she was never driven by vengeance.
Revenge is an act that binds one to the past.
It means dragging the past along, nurturing negative emotions and grudges.
Generally speaking, it can hardly be called healthy.
……Well, I got my revenge and felt pretty damn refreshed, though.
On the other hand————- having someone like Eve around made me feel strangely at ease, too.
[Fufu. With this, Erika’s burden should finally be lifted as well. I must hurry and tell her that everything is truly over. And then, perhaps Liz and I too…… may finally obtain the life we truly wished for.]
Eve smiled at me, then said———–
[It is thanks to you. Allow me to offer my gratitude once more, Milord.]
[I’ve said this more than once, but that line belongs to me too. Not just you…… looking back on the decisive battle with Vysis and everything that led up to it, there’s no way I could have managed it alone———– Like I’ve told you countless times.]
……That said……
I wonder how things are like over there?
The Royal Capital of Jonato Principality———– the defense of the Sacred Eye.
The underground Sacraments that were meant to be sent to Heaven.
They had all vanished without fulfilling their original roles.
Which meant the Sacrament army that went to destroy the Sacred Eye should have vanished as well but————
[Seras, can you lend me a shoulder?]
[Certainly. Please, hold on to me.]
[Sorry about that…… hm?]
[———-Seras.]
As I stood up with Seras' support, someone approached.
The one who called out was……
[Princess.]
Cattleya Stramius.
Behind her stood the Holy Knights of Neia.
Machia was there as well, the one I had spoken with after the battle at the Anti-Demon White Castle.
Cattleya gave an elegant cough.
[Well done…… and you certainly didn’t hold back when it came to showing off your affection in front of everyone.]
[Eh!? No, Princess! That’s not———]
I instinctively moved my body away from Seras.
Thereupon……
[Ah……]
Cattleya stepped forward and embraced Seras.
As if holding a treasured possession she had cherished since long ago.
[Allow me to say it as well. You did wonderfully———– and thank you for your hard work.]
[……Princess.]
At the instant she was hugged, Seras still looked taken aback by Cattleya’s words.
But her expression gradually softened, filled with deep affection and respect.
She gently looked down at Cattleya, who had buried her face against Seras' shoulder, and returned the embrace.
Then, wearing a smile as bright as the sunlight, Seras lowered her lashes.
[Yes, to the Princess as well…… truly, thank you for all your efforts……]
There was strength in Cattleya’s arms as she held her———- strength filled with emotion.
And then Cattleya Stramius spoke her name.
From the depths of her heart———– the name of her dear friend.
[Seras……]
I couldn’t see her expression.
But perhaps all the feelings she had been carrying until now had finally overflowed.
Her voice was thin, trembling with tears.
In that moment, it felt like I was seeing that Queen of Neia look her age for the first time.
I don’t know her exact age.
But among the representatives of the nations, she’s probably the youngest.
The only one who might be younger than Cattleya would be, well, Zine.
Now the Queen of Neia.
Just how much weight had been placed upon those small shoulders?
How many heavy responsibilities had she endured since her days as a princess?
……Zine too, for that matter.
Both of them are far too composed for their age.
Well, maybe that’s just what it means to be royalty……
Seras deepened the embrace, drawing Cattleya in as if to envelop her.
Then, wearing an expression reminiscent of a holy mother, she gently stroked the back of her former liege.
[If we could spend peaceful days together again, without reservation…… Seras Ashrain truly wishes for that. Back then…… when Bakuos invaded Neia, if you had not so forcefully ordered me to flee that place…… I would never have arrived here, nor would I have met Touka-dono. It is thanks to you————- Cattleya-sama.]
[—————No…… this outcome is the result of your…… your own efforts……]
[Even so…… if you had not accepted me after I was exiled from my homeland…… this present would not exist. This future would not exist.]
[……Fufu. If that is the case, then……]
Cattleya released the embrace, wiped away her tears with a fingertip, and smiled.
Then, half-jokingly……
[The emotions and obsessions that drove him were certainly not praiseworthy, but…… perhaps my father, who stubbornly refused to hand Seras over to that goddess no matter what, deserves some credit as well……]
Seras tilted her head slightly…… and gave an awkward, strained smile.
[A- Ahaha……]
……Just now.
You hesitated for a moment over how to react, didn’t you, Seras?
[Hehe. You needn’t worry about my feelings, you know? Well…… it is true that somewhere inside me, there was a naive hope that Father might one day return to being the former "Holy King"…… However, it is also an undeniable fact that Father was an infatuated old fool who got intoxicated by the "fragrance" known as Seras Ashrain, and in the end surrendered the throne of reason to his own desires.]
[Y- You don’t have to put it that harshly……]
Cattleya laughed softly, elegant as ever.
By now, she had fully returned to the face of a queen.
[Then, at the very least…… shall we someday offer flowers in his memory, together?]
Seras returned her smile.
[Yes…… let us do so, Princess.]
Thereupon, Cattleya turned toward me and ran over.
[To you as well, my thanks.]
Carrying that momentum straight with her, Cattleya threw her arms around me.
I snorted lightly and said,
[As the coordinator between the nations of this continent…… why not have you take Vysis' place for a while?]
Or perhaps her proactive role as the organizer of the Goddess Subjugation Army.
Was that also part of her plan to seize the initiative with the postwar future already in mind?
Coming from this queen, it wouldn’t be surprising.
[Fufu. I really can’t get the better of you.]
[In which sense?]
[……I mean, you know. You’re being embraced by such a beautiful, youthful queen of a nation, and yet you’re far too calm about it, aren’t you?]
I shrugged.
[Sorry, but I’m devoted solely to Seras Ashrain.]
[T- Touka-dono……]
Seras fidgeted shyly.
Cattleya gave a wry smile.
[Good grief. You’re so passionate I might get burned. Truly…… to her, you are without question the perfect partner. Fufu, Touka Mimori———]
Squeeze.
The arms wrapped around me tightened.
And then……
[Thank you…… for finding her.]
[……It’s thanks to you that Seras was protected all this time.]
Cattleya released the embrace, straightened her posture with elegance, and faced me.
[I would very much like to be allowed to preside over the wedding ceremony of you two in Neia.]
Seras practically jumped into the air.
[W- Wed——— Princess!?]
[Ara, weren’t you planning to hold one?]
[Eh, about that……]
Seras turned to me, her mouth opening and closing in flustered panic.
Her eyes were clearly seeking my verdict.
[Well…… we can talk about that later.]
[——–As he said!]
With a snap, Seras whipped her face back toward Cattleya.
Her expression was a (somewhat amusing) mixture of intense confusion and pounding heart.
……Now that I think about it calmly.
What the heck am I even doing in front of my classmates……?
[Now that things with Vysis have been settled, I’m glad to see this side of Seras coming out more naturally.]
Cattleya said, covering her mouth with her hand as she laughed gracefully.
In her own way, she was probably trying to help Seras relax.
Best friends…… and at the same time, something like sisters.
[Now then, Touka Mimori-dono, you appear to be utterly exhausted. If you intend to rest after this, then should you give me instructions———– within what I am able, I can act as your proxy and take care of matters in your stead…… What do you say?]
As expected of Cattleya Stramius.
Given the flow of things, I’d probably be having many similar conversations after this.
I didn’t mind that in itself———— but I was completely worn out.
Honestly, I was sleepy.
Cattleya must have noticed and decided it would be best to let me rest.
That might be why she spoke up first.
[I’ll thank the others properly later, but…… yeah. Just in case I don’t wake up for a few days, could I ask you to act as my stand-in…… and to handle the helm on some of the cleanup work?]
[Leave it to me.]
[If you need someone to consult, rely on Zine. She’s smart. And for matters related to the Faraway Country, Lieselotte is your best bet…… As for things concerning Vysis and the Deities, you can ask Thesis or Loqierra———– and regarding my classmates…… Itsuki, no, apparently Suou Kayako has been acting as the coordinator in place of Sogou, so she might be better. Anything concerning me personally, if I’ve regained consciousness by then, you can consult Hijiri.]
Supported by Seras, I began to leave the plaza.
To see whether there was a room inside the castle where I could rest———-
……Ah, right. Nyantan, who knows the castle inside and out, isn’t around right now.
But Cattleya had already gotten the information from Duke Polarie.
Duke Polarie.