Indeed, it seems that Baron Herman has kept his promise to me. Until we arrived at Galahad Fortress, the Crusaders showed no signs of pursuit. Not even a single tracking familiar made an appearance.
In truth, they may have been on our trail, but simply couldn’t find us.
Lily and Fiona, being only in front of the enemy fortress, had prepared themselves accordingly. The representative of that preparation was a magical tool called the “Predator Coat,” which completely conceals its user.
The principle is that it distorts visible light using light attribute magic, making it appear transparent. However, if one moves too vigorously, the distortion in the light may misalign with the surrounding scenery, causing that part to look warped or blurry, so it doesn’t entirely hide the user in any situation.
Nonetheless, if one remains still, its effects are tremendous. If the guard soldiers are on high alert, relying solely on their eyesight or that of their familiars, they will undoubtedly be unable to spot us.
Incidentally, although it’s called a coat, it’s actually a rather large piece of cloth. The “Predator Coat” can only activate its transparency effect for those attuned to the light attribute, so the user is Lily, and Fiona also uses it by having it draped over her, allowing both of them to conceal themselves. It’s somewhat like a shared cloak.
The fact that we have various items for concealment is fortunate, as Lily and Fiona received my letter while staying at Galahad Fortress. Lily immediately grasped the situation and ran to Spada to gather the necessary equipment and supplies to support my return.
Preparations were complete. Although there were some twists and turns, I managed to successfully rendezvous with them at Alsace Fortress.
If we could reach Galahad Fortress, all that would remain is to travel safely along the secure paths of the country, with no need to be wary of enemy attacks. There would be no obstacles in our way, and the journey was smooth.
And so, I returned to Spada after several months.
“…Ah, I’m back.”
Swaying on the back of the immortal horse Merry, I gazed at the great city walls of Capital Spada from afar, whispering with deep emotion.
The month changed, and on the 2nd day of the Month of Clear Water in March, I returned from Galahad Fortress to Spada.
Having safely escaped Daedalus, there was no longer any reason to stay at Galahad Fortress. The war was over.
Although Merry had been made to live in the stables for some time, it seemed that Fiona and Lily had taken proper care of her, as I felt no sense of discomfort or deterioration as I rode her again after so long. Truly, they had done everything for me, and I am deeply grateful.
On the strong back of Merry, there was not only me but also Sariel.
In fact, I hadn’t yet reported to the Spada Army that I had captured Sariel.
I certainly did not intend to remain silent and hide her. I intended to immediately propose that we had captured the enemy’s commander… but it might be better to wait for now. It was Lily and Fiona who urged me to hold off on that.
Essentially, they wanted to first hear the explanation involving Sariel, which they were eager to know. If Sariel were presented to the Spada Army, it was highly likely she would be taken into custody.
Word has it that the Eighth Apostle Ai had foolishly ended up as a prisoner in the Galahad War and was imprisoned in a special dungeon beneath Spada Royal Castle. While Sariel, having lost her powers as an Apostle, wouldn’t need an extravagant prison, it was not out of the question for us to be imprisoned in the same place, unable to meet again.
Honestly, we have no precise knowledge of how the Spada Army would treat Sariel. That’s why it seems they want to gather as much information as possible while they still can.
Then, after they hear the situation, we will decide what to do with Sariel. More specifically, we need to set conditions in line with what I desire. If execution is a possibility, continuing to shelter her becomes an option as well. In determining how Sariel will be treated in the future, we must first provide an explanation that both of them can agree upon.
Had I quickly revealed the circumstances, there would have been no need for such clandestine behavior. When returning to Galahad Fortress, I had reported my return to the Spada Army. After returning to Spada, an official report was to be made via the Adventurer Guild headquarters, and I was told I would soon receive a summoning order from the Royal Castle.
Apparently, I am a contributor who repelled a powerful enemy, and it seems King Leonhart himself has taken notice of me.
In any case, I have an obligation to report my own movements. However, I concealed Sariel’s existence when I arrived at the fortress. I even used a magical tool for disguises held by Lily and Fiona to transform into another person again. Fortunately, I was able to bring her this far without drawing a “Who the heck is that?” from anyone.
I had a nagging fear of being found out, which is why we hastily left Galahad Fortress. Ultimately, it turns out that we could only settle down and talk about this once we returned to the dormitory in Spada.
It’s been several days since I reunited with Lily and Fiona. I carry a grave secret but struggle to reveal it, going through painful times. The gazes from the two of them directed at me and Sariel grow more intense with each passing day, and we made our way back without any meaningful conversation.
Stress so overwhelming it feels like it could bore a hole in my stomach. Honestly, I want to return to the frontier village and live an easygoing life as a false priest again.
However, the hardest part must be for them. My struggles are nothing more than that.
I have made up my mind. I do not regret my choice. No matter how painful or sorrowful the outcome may be, I shall accept it without complaint.
“…”
The sky above me is still blue.
It seems I will be able to return to the dormitory before dusk.
So tonight, I will finally reveal everything to them.
Why I continue to let Sariel live. How I took her blessing from her… all of it.
The sun has already set, and the old dormitory’s lounge is illuminated by indoor lights, casting a soft glow.
It’s a quiet night. I can barely hear the sounds of insects. The night sky only has a thin veil of clouds floating, and a hazy moon seems to be shining.
Simon is not in the dormitory. I’ve been told he went out on some quest. I do not know when he will return.
Therefore, at this table now are Lily and Fiona. Facing them are me and Sariel. Finally, we can talk without any interruptions.
Preparations are complete. There is no turning back now, nor can I postpone this any longer.
Alright, let’s get started.
“…Let’s start by talking about what happened after I was consumed by the teleportation magic.”
Lily and Fiona nodded silently.
“That magic is said to be called ‘Heavenly Transfer Gate.’ It’s a teleportation magic created by a man named Bishop Judas, the one who turned me into an experimental subject, for Apostles’ emergency escape.”
“And you ended up at the ‘Fountain of Light,’ right?”
“Ah, yeah… did I mention that?”
At Lily’s unexpected question, I hesitate for a moment. No, I definitely haven’t mentioned that I was transported to the “Fountain of Light” yet.
“That teleportation magic likely utilizes the earth veins. It’s restricted to those that bear strong light attributes. Therefore, the destination is not freely set; it’s limited to points where the light veins surface, in other words, dragon veins. The original destination was supposed to be a sanctum created in Daedalus. But before that, there happened to be a strong light dragon vein… that would be the ‘Fountain of Light.’”
I listened, half in wonder, to Lily’s fluid explanation. I had never expected her to unravel the mystery of that teleportation magic to such an extent.
Seeing Lily, who looked far younger than Reki and Ursula yet spoke so eloquently about magic, left me astonished once again.
“It seems there was still some magical power left. But if it had been even a year, or even six months later, Chrono would have appeared right in the middle of the enemy forces as planned. I must be grateful for the Queen’s blessing.”
Saying this, Lily smiled softly. Truly, it seemed as though she was offering thanks to the fairy goddess she believed in. Or perhaps she was just happy about my safety.
However, seeing that smile, which should bring the most comfort, sent an undeniable chill down my spine.
Now, while Lily hasn’t transformed, her consciousness has completely returned. Lies and deceptions will not work on her. On the contrary, she would surely expose even the deepest psychology, which I might even want to avert my gaze from.
“Regarding teleportation magic, that’s fine. The problem lies beyond that… Hey, Chrono, what did you see at the ‘Fountain of Light’?”
Suppressing my instinct to flee, I meet Lily’s gaze straight on.
“I saw Sariel’s memories.”
I recount the truth as it is.
“After Sariel was struck by the heart-corrupting missile, she triggered intense reverse interference on me, who was nearby. Since then, I traced back through her memories.”
First, the memories of that day’s battle. I saw myself merging with Lily and taking on a female form from Sariel’s perspective, and I checked the scene where I had been eating at Alsace Fortress before charging onto the battlefield.
“So, our strategy was successful, then?”
“Yeah, it was a huge success. At that time, Sariel had almost lost consciousness and was in no condition to retaliate.”
As she was caught between the memories of the past and present, Sariel took a full hit from my “Fist of Wrath.”
“And finally, all of her sealed memories were released.”
I witnessed Sariel continuing to fight as an Apostle, interacting with some Apostle companions, and even things that occurred before she awakened as an Apostle.
“—So you were, after all, a test subject like Chrono.”
“Yeah, that was as Lily had predicted.”
A tragic victim of Judas’s “White Relic.”
“Before that reality, did you feel sympathy for her?”
“No, Fiona. If that were all it was, I could still have killed Sariel.”
I had my doubts. However, I had kicked the dying Sariel at the edge of the fountain and grasped her frail neck. Knowing that she was a fellow who had suffered inhuman experiments in hell, I could still kill her.
“Just before I was about to break her neck, I learned… that Sariel’s true identity was an acquaintance from my homeland.”
“An outsider, then.”
While my situation of being summoned differs from Sariel’s reincarnation, we both came to this other world.
“If she had been a complete stranger, even if she were Japanese, I could still have killed her. But I just couldn’t… I could not kill someone whose face I recognized, someone with whom I had exchanged even a few words.”
I’m sorry. All I can do is apologize for my weakness.
Of course, those words of forgiveness did not come back. Lily and Fiona remained silent.
The silence stretched on for ten or twenty seconds. It was Lily who broke the silence.
“Introduce yourself, Sariel. What were you?”
With a gaze as sharp as a blade, Lily’s emerald eyes pierced Sariel. Even so, the unemotional puppet that Sariel was responded immediately. She answered clearly, without hesitation, as if to respond to Ursula’s tiny question.
“My name is Yuriko Shirasaki. I am a second-year student at Sakuragi High School, attending the same school as Kuroha Mao. I belong to the Literature Club. In Japan, I was an ordinary student, without any special abilities or status.”
“So, was it really true that you were just an acquaintance of Chrono?”
“Yuriko Shirasaki had unilaterally fallen in love with Kuroha Mao. In fact, on the day of the summoning, she was going to call Kuroha Mao and confess her feelings. However, the moment she tried to speak out her love, both she and he were summoned to this other world—”
“Enough.”
At Lily’s words of restraint, Sariel suddenly stopped speaking, as if she had pressed the stop button on a DVD player.
Once again, silence returned. A dark, heavy silence that felt like being at the bottom of the ocean.
“So in the end, you hesitated to deliver the final blow, Chrono-san.”
“Yeah, there’s no excuse I can make.”
“No, I am not blaming you. Even you, Chrono, must have been faced with a very difficult, agonizing decision.”
Words of understanding pierced my heart instead. However, what scared me the most was that Fiona’s expression showed no change from her usual demeanor.
A sleepy, utterly uninterested, blank expression. That familiar face now resembled that of a dispassionate goddess who cared nothing for human suffering. I had no idea what was going on in her heart.
Despite her words, was she angry? Or had she already grown tired of my pathetic behavior and found it unworthy of her concern? At this moment, it wouldn’t be surprising if she just slipped away and I never saw her again.
“But you’ve managed to live despite all this, haven’t you?”
“…I hold no ill will against Sariel anymore. I lost all my powers and blessings as an Apostle.”
“After the battle, it seems you lay low in Irz Village without getting betrayed or reported, but that’s the reality, isn’t it?”
That was the part I should be most suspicious of, but Fiona showed agreement as if it were nothing. Truly, if Sariel harbored any two-faced sentiments, she could have done anything with me, to kill or spare me. The fact that I returned safely to Spada was the greatest proof of trust, but… even so, it shouldn’t be something so easily accepted.
“Still, just to clarify, what were your intentions in acting this way?”
This time, Fiona’s golden gaze pierced into Sariel. Calmly, without wavering, she answered as she always did.
“Having been freed from the will of God, the course of action is dictated by Yuriko Shirasaki’s intentions. I desire to act in accordance with her will.”
“Why is that?”
“I don’t know. However, the desire I have to fulfill Yuriko Shirasaki’s will does exist.”
“Are you in love with Chrono-san?”
“The one who loves Kuroha Mao is not I, but Yuriko Shirasaki. I can understand what love is as an emotion, but I cannot actually feel it. I don’t believe someone like me, devoid of human emotions, can love another person.”
“I see. Even without love, you can still have sex, though.”
Fiona is already aware. With that one remark, it’s more than enough to realize.
Well, it’s true. The first thought I had for that method came about because of what Fiona said. Having said it myself, it’s impossible not to notice.
“What’s wrong, Lily? I’ve been asking most of the questions so far.”
“…What’s the matter?”
The abrupt shift. Fiona’s gaze now turns to Lily, who has suddenly gone silent. Indeed, Lily has stopped talking all of a sudden, and the lead in this conversation has shifted to Fiona.
“Don’t you really want to ask more things?”
“I’ve understood most of the situation… including how Chrono feels about Sariel and what he wants to do.”
“I see. Then, I’ll ask.”
Fiona’s golden eyes reflect me. Shining almost mystically, as if vowing never to accept anything but the truth.
“How did you take Sariel’s blessing away from her?”
Ah, fine, Fiona. I’ll tell you. I won’t lie or deceive.
“That is—”
“Stop.”
It was Lily who interrupted.
“Stop. Alright, that’s enough already…”
With her head down, Lily murmured like an incantation. I couldn’t see her expression.
“…Lily.”
“Please, Chrono… don’t say it…”
Lily’s voice trembled, sounding faint. Is she crying?
“Are you scared, Lily?”
Somewhere distant, Fiona’s voice rang harshly and loudly.
“I feel the same way. But this is something we must hear. Not from anyone else, but directly from Chrono-san—”
Fiona’s pure white hands reached out to Lily. Gently, softly, she embraced Lily, who seemed as fragile as glass about to shatter.
An image of an older sister gently hugging her trembling younger sister in sorrow. But why does Fiona’s hands, entwined with trembling Lily, look like a white snake with venom?
“Now, please tell us, Chrono-san. All of your sins.”
“Mmngh!”
Fiona’s hand covered Lily’s mouth.
No one is left to stop my confession.
“If Sariel loses her purity, she loses her qualifications as an Apostle. So I… violated Sariel.”