213 212. Road.txt (1/2)

What awaited me at the end of the fall was a large space.

At first I thought that he was going to return to his own room, but it seems that he had prepared the 《Connection》 in an entirely different place. Rather, the ”Connection” in my room and the fifty-seventh layer of the ”Connection” have disappeared since Nosphy announced his hostility earlier. There was no doubt that some kind of trickery had been done to Nosfi beforehand.

After confirming that his options for escape were diminished, Nosfi let go of the hand he was holding until his bones were breaking. Then he waved to the green girl sitting on the throne.

'I'm back now. I've brought you back properly, Lord.'

There is a throne - that is, this is a large 'throne room' in the center of the castle. It is lined with majestic thick pillars, and a large number of candlelight flickers suspiciously on the sooty, discolored stone walls.

There are only two doors. One is the grand door for the king to receive his people, and the other is the king's own door behind the throne. A boldly embroidered red carpet stretches out from the grand door.

I was standing on that carpet.

It seems certain that I have been sent back to the 'viasia' behind the sixty-sixth layer.

The green girl in front of me proves it.

''-- 'Accelerate (kasok),' 'accelerate,' 'accelerate,' 'accelerate,' 'accelerate,' 'accelerate,' 'accelerate,' 'accelerate,' 'accelerate,' 'accelerate,' 'tamasii' --'

Repeating the short chanting in a messy manner is Lord with his face down.

That unique and enormous magical power is something only she can possess.

The green luminescent magic power adorns the throne. And the small flag (pennant) that is lowered behind it - of a bird and sword design that is probably the emblem of this country Viasia - is wavering.

It's a strange sight.

It is a closed room, but there is a breeze blowing.

That wind was not only shaking the small flag (pennant), but also Lord's hair.

Unlike usual, Lord is undoing Midori's ponytail. It was close to the Lord I saw in the garden on the morning of the second day - and the noble 'General King (Lord)' I saw in my dream.

And now, that downcast face lifts.

Slowly and slowly it lifts up and meets the eyes of the Lord, who has no trace of charm, only dignity painted on his face.

Green (emerald) eyes. There was a strange darkness to them, as if they shone brilliantly but were covered by a jet black film. The two small spheres seemed to condense a stormy forest.

I was exposed to its bottomless green eyes, and I was in awe - and sadness.

So much so that the Lord there seemed to be on the verge of criticality (aha!).

If you touch it, it will break.

If it's not good, it will involve everything around it.

That's what I thought.

It was too dangerous, and I couldn't find the words to say to her.

But Nosfi, next to her, casually called out to her.

''Hm?　That's strange. Where did the liner go? I'm pretty sure he dropped it here, but I can't see him: ......

When Lord heard that, he freaked out and shook his shoulders.

Then he removed his eyes from me and muttered evasively.

'The Reynand Vols guy did it to me ....... The one who noticed the battle here entered and took Ryner away. ......

'Oh, I see. Or rather, it turned into a battle after all, didn't it?

You have been denied (・・・・・・・・) ......

Lord's language was strange.

The charm was gone, not only from his appearance, but also from his language.

It's such a drastic change that one would suspect it to be an imposter.

'The only citizen who has survived the wear and tear on his soul - General Reynand Vols? Hmm ......, it seems that even if you play with the timeline of 'here', that man is the only one who can act freely. But to outsmart Lord in the few minutes or so that he's been fighting Uzuraha-sama is ....... Does that mean he's a fierce general of the Great War, even if he's rotten?

”Vo, that Volus guy, he said his mistress was crazy ....... He even said that she was broken ....... This concubine, this concubine ......!

Lord refers to himself as a 'straw man'.

The word remains the same, but the meaning is different than before. The air, the mannerisms, the tone of voice, everything is different. That old woman's language - even herself seems to be different (・・・・・・・・・・).

They leave me alone and continue to talk.

'Oh, how awful ....... I'm sorry, Lord. I knew that due to the way the 'wards' work, that man was the only one who might be able to ignore the rules. This was a mistake on my part.

Nosefy laments in a big way and apologizes in a big way.

There's always a creepiness to that stilted performance. But Lord seems to accept it without any discomfort.

'Listen to me, Nosfi. The Volus man betrayed his mistress and conspired with Uzumi and the others. He tried to deprive her of her precious vassal and brother. ...... Why is it that Volus is the only one left who has not been kind to her: ......?　You've always interfered in my life!　I won't allow it, I won't allow it!

'Oh, poor Lord. Then let me, this me, refuse your retrospect.

Nosfi's voice was soft, but brutal in its delivery. Lord, who had been repeating the rough words, shuddered at the relentlessness of the words.

'I'm going to cut off ......?　What does that mean: ......?

'You don't need a 'general' anymore, do you?　You, me, Uzumi-sama and Rainer are the only ones who are aware of this, and that's enough. Let the others be the audience, and that will bring you closer to the world you want. That way, you'll be closer to the world you want.

”Vo, you're going to turn off the Vols: ......?　It's true that I can't forgive him, but it's also true that he was a loyal vassal who served Viasia to the end of his life: ......, until it was erased.

'That kindness has caused Helvirshine to escape. Above all, do you need a 'general' in your world?　General Volus's soul is now unleashed.

......!

Pressed by Nosfi's incessantly positive argument, Lord nodded slowly after he was at a loss for words.

'Didn't we promise each other, kids who tried too hard, that we'd get back together and start over?　Don't worry. I'll take it back for you in a minute. So, please return to your usual self. Now, calm down and go to .......

Mm-hmm.

The Lord dissipates his anger as Nosfi chides him.

Seeing this, Nosfi smiles with satisfaction and then turns to leave the room.

''I'll be off then. In the meantime, Lord, please try to persuade Uzuraha-sama.''

'Yes, ....... Let's do as my friend Nosfi says here: ......

Nosfi walked out of the great door, leaving me and Lord alone in the throne room.

I didn't move because I wanted to talk to the Lord - not only because I had something to talk about with him - but also because I was simply under too much magic to show him my back.

Ever since the fall, the Lord has been putting pressure on me, a pressure worthy of a king.

She finally speaks to me.

The Lord of the Knights, my Lord Commander, is here. I've been waiting for you for a long time.

”Lord, or is it ......?

The first and foremost question is. If this premise is wrong, then there is no reason to stay.

'Is it strange that my mistress is a Lord?'

Lord nodded his head with a graceful movement.

It was only a faint expectation, after all.

'...... a bit. That way of speaking is too old-fashioned.''

There are remnants of the Lord.

After all, there is no doubt that the girl in front of me is Lord.

I'm pretty sure

[Fifty Guardian] The one who steals the truth of the wind.

I've determined that.

'Well, that's odd ....... But this is the true mistress, though: .......

Why ......?

”I took advantage of the 'cost' of the wind chanting, and it took me back a bit.

I wanted to ask him why he came back, not how he came back, but Lord speaks only of what he wants to talk about in a vague way.

But I don't believe him when he says he's back.

The charm is gone, and he has become stern. Instead of gesturing like a small animal, he moved in a leisurely fashion. The youthfulness fizzled out, and the life was gone from his eyes.

Anyone who sees it will think the same thing I do.

--old,

Lord's sharp eyes seemed to read that impression in my expression. I chuckle and correct him while stabbing myself.

'Huh, I haven't grown old. This (...) has made me young again. I used to be too old and my speech was broken, but this is normal ......

I don't understand why people say I'm back to being a child with this old man talking like an old man. Are you saying you've come full circle and become an adult?

Oh, it's all so nostalgic ....... Yes, this is how she used to speak. But it's still not enough ....... The life of the Stealer of Reason is so long that you can't truly return unless you go back much, much further in time. Oh, I must go back much, much further in time ......

Lord mumbles to no one as his eyes wander into the void, not speaking to anyone. Her appearance is morbid, and I am convinced that she is not normal.

Lord speaks to me like a patient seething with fever.

Noh, Vortex Wave. When do you think the boundary between 'child' and 'adult' is?

Perhaps this is the biggest question Lord has right now.

I don't know who is a 'child' or an 'adult' or where I am at.

But it's the same for me.

I can't tell you exactly who the girl in front of me is right now, nor can I say anything about myself. I'm not a respectable enough person to tell you the boundaries.

I'm at a loss for an answer, and Lord shook his head with a calm expression.

'Good. I don't look forward to an answer. Even my mistress still doesn't know. ...... but I can tell you one thing for sure. A thousand years ago, the magnanimous king who sat here was a child. He was an adult, but he was more of a child than anyone else.

The ”Lord” was a child, says the man himself, a thousand years later.

I am sure that for her, the boundary between a child and an adult is not in the way they look or talk. It's more of an inner child, she says.

It's really nostalgic. This is how we used to greet the Whirlpool Wave from the throne. Over the objections of many of my vassals.

He seems to be trying to reminisce about the past, but I can't follow him at all. I immediately say no.

...... Sorry, but I don't remember what happened then.

'I want you to answer me without remembering. Do you know why a thousand years ago, the Mistress welcomed Uzumi, the husband of 'Nosfi' in the south, to the north ......?

You can't remember, so you have to shake your head.

I'll tell you now. But in truth, Uzumi is the only one who told me to stop being the king.

Perhaps this is what Lord wanted to say all along.

He wanted to tell me that I had lost my memory.

Uzumi told me that it was downright weird to talk more stinky than ...... this age. He even told me to speak more like a child. You try to live up to the expectations of those around you, but you said it didn't look good at all ...... and gave me .......

And I guess he wanted me to say the same thing again.

You can see it in his frenzied expression.

She was undoubtedly the 'savior of the North. But to her at that time, Uzumi was her ”savior. Of course, she didn't say it out loud: ......

Squinting and reminiscing about scenes from the past, Lord looks like an adult.

No matter how much he says with his mouth, here is an old man who has lived a thousand years - an old man who is trying to spend the rest of his life reminiscing about the past.

Only Uzumi understands what he didn't say!　Only Uzumi saw that she was in pain, and told me that she would save me, and grant me my wish!　Uzumi, tell me again what you want my mistress to say. Now, fulfill your responsibility at that moment. Be my concubine's 'vassal' and convince Ryner to be my concubine's 'brother'!

Even though he had just told Lord this morning that he would ”help” and ”grant his wish”, he couldn't repeat the same words again.

Of course. Because now, up to the here and now, it's as if the meaning is different.

To save the Lord now would not be to bring Ayd, it would be to make Ryner the new Lord's brother.

That can't be done.

Such a sham. Fake world. False happiness.

I know better than anyone what awaits at the end of it.

”It can't be done.

Seeing me shake my head quietly, Lord is confused and starts to shake.

It was a natural denial for me, but apparently it wasn't for Lord.

''Please, Uzumi. Please be a 'vassal' ....... This country of viasia cannot exist without you ....... That was and is ....... It is no longer possible for a mistress to do it alone. ......

The Lord stands from his throne, unsteady as a flickering flame, with a pattering, weak voice.

''Nosfi said. I'm not going to be able to get the same amount of time as the other people. But the spatial magic will only work if the vortex wave is here. Please keep extending your life span in 'here' for a long time. ......

I've never heard of that request. I brace myself.

It seems that Ryner is not the only one in danger.

”You're not going to lock me in here, are you ......?

I would like that. I'm sure that's why I've been waiting here for the whirlpool. Yes, I've been waiting for the whirlpool wave for a long time. ......!

Crazy next, loving next.

The Lord reaches out to me, just as he did with the Guardians in the past.

When I heard from the Vortex Wave what happened to the other Guardians, I was no longer convinced. All of the Guardians are waiting for it (・・・・・・・・). Even after death, they have become nothing but souls, bound to the depths of the earth, their memories have been snatched, they have become monsters, and even after a thousand years have passed, they are still (・・・・) waiting for (・・・・・・) the Savior who emerged from the Otherworld (Aikawa Kanami). And I believe that Uzumi has a duty to fulfill the unfulfilled obligations of those monsters, mistress, ....... So please, please .......

”So you think it's my duty to stay 'here': ......?

”Oh, yes, ....... ”Keep your mistress' peace of mind 'here' .......

An unremembered obligation - starting with that too selfish request - is still good (・・・・).

That much is acceptable.

But I just couldn't tolerate Lord getting his wishes wrong.

I'm even angry.

'No. ......!　That's not the way to keep the peace, Lord!　Waiting in here with the four of us won't change anything!　There is no such thing as a family!　That painting you were so proud of, the one you left behind, the one that depicts your ”family” is the id!　Not a liner!　Your 'friends' from your time in that orphanage were not me or Nosfies!　You can't just give us more time and make it harder on yourself!　I'll get my real brother (id) in here soon!　So all you have to do is wait--!

'I can't call the Ayde my brother!　That one has become nothing more than a mistress to be worshipped as a king!　We don't need that!　I don't want it!

-Oh!

My angry reprimand is returned with a greater angry reprimand.

'I don't need any more of Id's or Seldora's!　Now I have a new brother and friend in my life!　You weren't related to the Ayde in the first place!　What's the harm in welcoming your new brother here!　Now there's ”Rainer” and ”Nosfi”!　And then there are the 'vassals' that the mistress trusts most!　Perfect!

'Vassals,' he says, and I'm the one pointing my finger at him.

We are the only people the Lord can see any longer.

The three of us trapped in the darkest depths of this labyrinth (viasia) are all that is left of her world.

The past, or the Aids, never existed from the beginning - as if to say that, they are obsessed with just me, Ryner and Nosfi.

If you notice, you can't stop now ....... You can't control ....... I thought what she really wanted was far away, out of her reach. But this morning, she finally realized that she was wrong. Before she knew it, everything she wanted was already here!　Everything, before you know it!　Ah, the thousand years of waiting were worth it!　Haha, hahahahahaha!

Lord laughs with unfocused twin eyes.

I look into his eyes and understand the true meaning of the word.

You can feel the anger that had been building up at the top of your head fading away.

Ah, ah, .......

The load is already .......

''That's why I won't let Vortex Wave go to ground!　I don't want to see the Ides of the Unknowns again!　We have enough whirlpools, Nosfies and liners for this place!　No, not just good enough, but perfect!　Hahahaha!

Lord's twin eyes only see what he wants to see anymore.

And he smiles like an adult, but like a child.

--I've already ...... broken. Long ago.

He says he's about to reach his limit now, but that's not true.

I've passed my limit without my realizing it.

If you think about it, it's not surprising.

If Vortex Wave can keep 'here' going, it's perfect ......!　This time in this peaceful viasia, this time the mistress will have her happiness ......!　Yes, we will live again (・・・・)--!　This time, you will live in a world where no one expects you to be a mistress--!

I can remember when we met.

How could a girl who has lived for a thousand years talk like that?

It's not possible for her to laugh like a normal girl.

'Oh (...), I don't care about the past anymore (・・・・・・) (・・・・・・・)!　You know, there's plenty of time to spin a new past!　The peace of Vieisia is everlasting!　Well, you should reward me and Nosfi for working too hard!　Yes, thank you!　Now I remember again!　As a reward, someone else (...), you promised the mistress that you would pacify the North forever!　You'll have to make good on that promise, too!　If you have both of those things, your regrets will disappear on their own!　Ah, the mistress is gone!　I'm going to disappear!　Kuhu, kuhahahaha!

She is broken and laughs at her belief in that absolutely wrong untried.

She's so battered that she can't hold herself together anymore without believing in that fake untried.