460 456. "Epilogue Part 1".txt (1/2)

If it wasn't enough, I was prepared to offer up my magic stones.

But I had everything.

Easily, it was all there.

I looked at Kanami and her friends who were holding the magical stone.

Inside the room that was shaking slightly, there were four faces lined up.

Currently, the party of the 'Primary Attack Team' was on the move in a carriage.

It's a good thing that you're able to see the inside from the outside because the roof has been cleaned off, just like a carriage that was used for ceremonies in the Great Sacred City. It was welded by a magical tool, so no insects or wind could enter the carriage while it was running, and it was as comfortable to ride in as a noble guest room.

It's large enough to carry ten adults. The fine velvet covering on the couches provided is softer than necessary, and the furnishings and the knights are full of elegance.

In the ceremonial carriage, Seldra, Kanami, Sis, Kounel and the five cleaners were meeting each other.

--Half a day passed.

After letting Fafner and Glenn escape, we continued on foot through the blood-dried wilderness back to the earthworks of the final line of defense.

From there, we made our way comfortably in a wagon along the well-maintained trade route.

Surrounding us was a plain of dotted vegetation. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information on this topic.

It's important.

It's meaningful that they dare to have such a large procession without using the ”Connection”.

It's because as a hero who has conquered the ”Blood Land”, it is a ritual to return in triumph.

This is not only a signal for the start of the End of the Season Festival, but also the ”price” for Kanami's ”plan” to be completed. Hence, the attack on the ”Blood Land” cannot yet be said to be over, and it is not yet at the stage of releasing the tension.

It was supposed to be so, but the Sith in the carriage had been making a fluent forceful speech all along.

''--Okay, it's time for a triumphant return to the first city!　Of course, I'm going to have to stand in the front of the room where I'm most visible!　For being left out of the fold in Blood Land, I'm not going to give it up!　That's good, Kanami!

She had been turned into a magic stone by Glenn's Black Thread, but it was already like this.

If Kanami reapplied a bit of Kanami's magic power to the magic stone that the cleaners had retrieved, she would be fully restored.

In the face of the Sith, who had obtained a more useful body than a thousand years ago, Kanami had a bitter smile on her face.

''Rather, will I be in trouble if you don't do so?　Collecting honors for the ”Blood Land” attack is an important task for the Sith and Seldora. ...... By the way, I'm hiding behind a mask. I don't want to be given any more weird titles.

While the two of them were talking about their fluency, Kounel and the cleaner were standing in the middle of the carriage.

''Well then, it's decided that Sith-sama will be the leader of the triumphalism! By the way, I'm going to reserve my spot in the back, just like your attendants. ...... So, I'd like to give the cleaner a squire coordination as well!　Just so you know, I have a bunch of clothes I bought from another world, so I can arrange them as much as I want!　However, makeup won't help your face, so you'll have to wear a mask. But we'll be wearing masks at the festival as usual (as a default), so don't worry!

”............

Kounell enjoyed arranging the various garments on the empty chairs and treating the cleaner as a dress-up doll.

The cleaners did not speak.

Currently, she is covered in a 'curse cloth' taken from Kanami's 'possessions', covering her grotesque skin as a 'blood doll'.

Peace.

In the end, the 'Primary Attack Team' is not missing anyone - on the contrary, they are on their way home with new friends.

We've won a complete victory.

So we can talk about the arrangements about our triumph with such cheerfulness.

............

I was the only one who wasn't convinced.

According to the plan I had heard in advance, both 'Fafner Helvirshine' and 'Glen Walker' were supposed to be on their way home as well.

When I asked Kanami about it, she happily replied, ”When someone goes through life with all their might, their fate can shift. But is it really true?

That time.

The moment (when) most of the battle of ”Blood Land” was over and everyone joined together in one place.

Indeed, there was an interference by the intervention of a third party.

Glenn had exerted his power beyond the limit, and the 'Black Thread' was dangerous.

Fafner also maintained his will to fight and held his sword in his hand, even after receiving the ”Dimensional Decisive Operation (Dimension Graduate) 'Revive'”.

It was a counterattack that exceeded my expectations.

But did it also exceed Kanami's expectations?

Kanami's all-powerful dimensional magic would have been able to force the place down.

That unnatural resolution makes me suspicious of Kanami.

-- now Kanami is operating on the basis of rules that I don't know about.

One of those rules is the Grim Reaper, the shadow-loving reaper.

Having escaped Fafner and Glenn, she now lurks in Kanami's shadow without blame. She's treated the same as that Noi - or even better.

After the obstruction by the Dee Reverend Night of the Abyssal Dimension (Dee Reverend Night), Kanami and the Reapers quickly made peace with each other.

Kanami's side apologized, saying that it was a violation of the rules of dueling to try to impose a salvation that Fafner didn't want, which was accepted by Reaper.

'Dueling' rules.

He even went to the trouble of providing a 'referee', the Reaper, to comply with them.

Perhaps it's a ritual to strengthen ”Magic Kanami” to its limits, just like the Triumphal and ”End-Tan Festival”, but it's the ”price” .......

I was curious about the details of the rules.

But now our leader's mind is dark, deep, and black and difficult to see through.

If there is any chance of seeing through it, it is the oldest bloodsucking species frolicking in the middle of the carriage - the oldest bloodsucking species.

Janitor, look at you!　The otherworldly kimono and our folk costumes blend together and it's so cool!　But isn't that too cutting-edge!　No, they are the leaders of the times!　With this triumphant return, we're going to make it popular for our friends to be popular!

If you're a better (・・・・・・) quuner than I am, you may have figured out the rules.

The only problem is that I don't want to owe that guy anything alone.

Perhaps sensing my feelings and gaze, Kounel, who has finished coordinating the cleaners, comes to a seat near me, wiping sweat off his face with a ”whew”.

Then, with a nasty smile, he brings his little mouth up to my ear.

''You look uncomfortable, Master Serdra. ...... Is that expression perhaps pondering about your own rules that the Chairman is observing?

............!

Just by looking at his face, I've been able to read his inner thoughts.

Even though I've come this far, it's a skill comparable to Kanami and Hitaki.

''Why don't you just ask the chairman? If you wish for it, the chairman will surely make it happen, right?　If you're embarrassed to ask him directly, I'll let you know on the sly later.

Kounell smiles benevolently.

But don't get caught up in that smile and nod your head.

Even I know enough to know that if you owe this guy one thing, you'll have to pay him back three times as much one day.

Most of all, he was bitter.

”Don't need it. It's not what I need to know to do my job. ...... and you need to know what else you need to know. You threw a wrench in the works for me and Glenn. Because of you, he's going to die. ...... That guy was a great guy who was going to be my magical stone heir!

'If you didn't want to be messed with for counting on, you could have just gotten serious and beaten him up.

At the complaint, Kounell replied immediately, not with a benevolent smile, but with a cold, blank expression.

''I meant it. Even though it was an unexpected turn of events, there's no way I would ever cut corners in that important battle.''

'Heh!　Is that for real?　The fight to just take on Glen Walker's attacks for an extended period of time?　That legendary Lord Serdra is serious!

'I was fighting back. I just didn't have the strength to eat the [irreversible] poison and give them an effective hit.

...... Heh. Even if it is, it's carelessness that has poisoned you by eating and drinking fluently in enemy territory, even though your body wouldn't starve to death in the first place.

I'm the fluent one, said Kounel, picking up the sack that was hanging behind his waist and showing it off.

It's a special leather bag that has been protecting Kuunel's stomach throughout his search for ”Blood Land”.

When attacking ”Blood Land”, Kounel had come with elaborate measures.

It is said that he used all kinds of magical tools to protect his eyes, nose and mouth, and planted magical stones all over his body for protection. One of those measures was to swallow a special bag beforehand and put it down in your stomach to prevent Glenn's poisoning - that's what she claims, but I don't know if it's true or not.

Then, being used to assassination, she pretended to be poisoned and pulled out the 'blood-stealing thing' from behind Glenn's back and even robbed him of the antidote.

After that, she showed more 'affinity' with the 'thing that steals the reason of blood' than Glenn and used fresh blood magic to cleanly pull out the [irreversible] poison from my body.

In other words, this girl called Kounel completely surpassed both me and Glenn in the battle in 'Blood Land'.

When the meal was being served, Guren was still not an enemy ......

That's what I'm talking about: carelessness and cutting corners. In fact, if you hadn't been so blindsided, you would have been seriously injured. The fact is, you should be very grateful to me.

That's what I was trying to do. I wasn't in the air to get Glenn to listen to me until after I was injured.

You want to talk?　Was it in the air enough to be injured to be done?　Most importantly, I don't know what to expect. As one of the 'primary attackers', Ate took the magic stone of the maximum target when he could have taken it. Which was the right thing to do in the operation, right?

I can't say anything back.

In contrast, Kounel's expression returns to a smile.

''Yes, that's the end of the conversation. ...... Now that you've convinced me, it's time to make up for it. We have to show the people how well we are getting along with each other. The most important job of the ”Acting Commander-in-Chief of the North-South Alliance”, Seldora-sama, is to be admired by everyone with this victory. Just like Sith-sama.

That would be the irony that I, like the Sith, was completely useless in 'Blood Land'.

A victorious Kounel looked around the plains and pointed at the plains.

Beyond the plains, he could see one town.

From a distance, it was a town of a few hundred people.

Surrounded by stone walls about two meters high, lined with wooden houses, and with a lot of smoke from life rising up.

The current location is Legia Country, which is at the western edge of the ”mainland”.

I'm not sure if it's a country town on the western edge of the mainland.

The news of the liberation of the ”Blood Land” has already been reported by the knights at the frontline base, and the simple wooden gate on the west side was open. As if lured by the open mouth, our carriage advances and passes through the gate.

What was waiting for us at the gate was the heat of the air.

It was a crowd of more people.

The first thing I heard was a loud cheer.

The vibration, which was no less than my 'dragon's roar', made my skin go numb and my vision blurred.

A road decorated with minimal 'magic stone lines' (line) stretched out, and the townspeople lined up at both ends of it.

One of them shouted louder than anyone else.

Conveniently, as if reading out my long-awaited lines (・・・・・・・・).

'-- The return of the heroes!

The sky, the village and the earth shook.

As the carriage creaked, people of all colors, like a mountain hiko, said, ”The return of the heroes! And repeat.

If you look closely, all those townspeople were wearing what looked like masks.

It was the formal attire of the festival, the tradition of the Hooziers.

It proves that beastmen and non-beastmen are equal friends.

This time, they are also praying for the release of the slaves and 'Demon Stone Humans' (Jewelculus).

That's why my position as a triumphant representative of the beastmen is very important.

However, before my delayed reaction, the Sith takes up the front of the carriage and raises their hands to respond to the cheers.

''Eek!　I'm home!　As an apostle to save this world!　On behalf of the Levantine faith!　This Sith is back from ”Blood Land”!　Respect!　Pray to this me every day!

The highlight of the triumph is me and the Sith.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that our performance here will determine the future of Revanism and the beasts. Immediately I move behind the Sith and raise my hand to the cheers. I can't get my hands off them. I turn to each of them and respond properly. The voices mixed in there are also heard.

''-- Ah, thank you!　Now I can finally sleep peacefully!

'Congratulations, Master Sith!　That's not the way the city religion works!　I'm going to convert today and worship the Levantine God!

'Really good!　Once the 'Blood Land' is gone, we can go out like before again!

Townspeople lined up at both ends of the street, looking at us and waving widely.

Little kids were being shouldered by adults and turned to us and said, ”Thank you! They shouted, not quite understanding the situation.

Some of them took out their instruments and played them.

Some scattered flower petals in large quantities from the tops of houses decorated with flowers.

People from all walks of life welcomed us in all sorts of ways.

This was a triumphant parade.

The carriage moves through it, slowing down.

After passing by, the 'magic stone line' (line) could be seen glowing purple. It's likely that Kanami has been hurriedly repairing the 'magic stone line' for the past month, and behind the scenes, he's crafted it to connect from the labyrinth to here.

When we confirmed that, we found a group of knights lined up.

As our carriage approaches, they all take the knight's salute.

''--all hands, salute!　As of the present time, I announce that the End of the Tale Festival has begun here in the Land of Legia and the defensive mission is over!　Your shift is over, but don't take a break just yet!　Send our heroes out of town with respect, not work!　After that, after the dust, after worshipping and learning, celebrate and rest to your heart's content!　That will be the ritual that will announce the beginning of a new calendar year to the world!

They seem to be the reason we have such a simple but orderly triumphal parade in this way.

However, after we leave, I can read from their loose expressions that they plan to enjoy the feast and feast in this town.

'Haha, yes!　As of today, the calendar changes!　Just as the old calendar became the new calendar, so the new calendar became the 'New Holy Calendar (...)'!　The apostle Sith, the representative of the Levantine religion and a living legend, is here to usher in a new calendar!　For short, make it count as a year in the Sith calendar!

The Sith are proclaiming the appropriate things.

The townspeople's reaction was not bad, although they thought that the apostle's dignity would be lost if he was speaking out of his head. Many of them were praying in the face of the Sith's thick and clear magic, feeling holy without question.

Even those who didn't pray, spoke up, ”Blessings of Revanism! Hooray! ”Blessed be the Kingdom of Legia! He shouted and got excited. As expected of a religion that ruled the continent for millennia, using the 《Level Up》 as bait.

Information has reached this far west that she will be the symbol of Revanism now that Rustyala Hoozeyers is gone.

Behind the loud cheers, my ears neatly pick up the calm voice of the whispering city folk, too.

I can tell you in a live voice who is the most notable in triumph.

'So that's Sith-sama ....... You're just as they say you are.

As they say, so does Miss Serdra. The big body, the face. It's kind of cool to be covered in old wounds.

Is that the ”Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Confederacy”, Miss Serdra?　You're a dragonborn (dragon newt) like Snow-sama.

The majority of his gaze was on me, not the lead Sith.

'Serdra, isn't that the legendary general from a thousand years ago?　He was on the front lines of the battlefield to protect the persecuted beastmen of the north at the time: ......

They say you came to us from a thousand years ago through the maze. Normally, he's the one guiding our Lady Snow, but when things get tricky like this, he's the one who comes out on top.

''Oh. So, you easily killed all the 'Blood Land' monsters?　Isn't that a little too strong?

''Legend has it that he was the strongest of all those ridiculously strong dragon people (Dragon Newt). Probably the 'strongest' in the history of the continent.

He must have been informed, in advance.

I'm sure they knew beforehand that what was needed to liberate ”Blood Land” this time was the defeat of Fafner, the ”thief of blood”.

And when it comes to the battle, it's time for the highest military power on the continent, the deputy commander of the North-South Alliance, Serdra, to take the field.

They've done their best to conceal their existence as Kanami.

Hence, the people believe that the ”Primary Attack Force” was more successful than anyone else in the history of the Dragon Man (Dragon Newt) Serdra.

They believe that he stood in front of everyone else and fought boldly while protecting the slightly out-of-the-way apostle next to him.

Their voices are heard one by one.

'I don't mean to say it, but you're even more admirable than Snow-sama. I don't mean to say anything about your gender, but your bearing is imposing.

That's top of the line for all-time heroes. That's who the ”real heroes” are, I suppose.

And I'm--I'm just happy to hear that I'm missing the point.

I've always liked being treated as a hero.

Of course, I'm not a 'real hero', I'm not the 'strongest', I'm not even a good person.

The people are only fooled by the air I wear.

It's hilarious, it's funny, and it's silly.

I can't help but smile, no matter how much I'm not in the mood for triumph.

I'd cheat the heroes proudly, and they'd respond by raising their hands.

Seeing this, Kounel, who was quiet like a squire behind me, condescendingly praises me for playing the role of a hero.

''--Yes (...). That's the role of Seldra-sama. You must never cut corners. You will be the beginning of the new era of the 'King's Dragon (Lord)'. That bloodline will be controlled from behind the scenes by the Senate's allowance for eternity. This path leads to a world without the ideal Aikawa Kanami for the target.

It was whispered in my ear and reminded me of one of the futures.

The image of the ”King Dragon (Lord)” is the ”King (Lord) who rules” from a thousand years ago.

From now on, I'll be like him, flying around all over the place, saving people from all walks of life. I'll go from here on out and save people like that guy. I'll go from time to time exterminating bad monsters and resolving local conflicts when they arise, sometimes interfering in the country's internal affairs.

Furthermore, unlike ”The One Who Steals the Reason of the Wind” which had no end in sight, I have a proper end in sight.

And if I fall by the wayside, I'm still the understudy.

The job is passed on to the next understudy, Snow Walker.

That's easy.

No sense of responsibility.

I don't care when I quit. I'm just playing the hero in my retirement.

When I think of it, I remember, once again, my days of hardship are completely over.

”Kuhuhuh. Kuh-ha-ha.

Aren't you enjoying this, Master Seldre?　And it's 'safe' to say that the future is fixed, right?　This is the true power of the Chairman ....... but not everything seems to be going according to plan, which is a bit troubling.

Behind me, laughing and waving my hand, Kounel kept his gaze focused on one spot.

A disparate group of people lay flat on the road in the midst of a great commotion.

They were all in one place, as if they were worshipping and clasping their hands together towards us. The masks they wore were not in the form of beasts, but rather masks that just hid their faces.

''Oh, Ancestor. The founder of Revan is there now ......

'The Founder. It's Saint Kanami who changed our 'destiny'. Kanami-sama, ah, Kanami-sama Kanami-sama--

'The God of the have-nots is ....... Finally, I'm happy to see you .......

I can see that most of the group are 'Demon Stone Humans (Jewelculus)'.

I can see Kanami further behind Kounel, probably because his faith is too strong and he has no interest in me or the Sith at all, and they all have high 'qualities'.

I find a troublesome group of people, and I report to the leader, in case it's not obvious.

It's a good thing that you're not a member of this group,” he said, ”Kanami, that's not ...... the 'Jewelcrus' who were previously in the lowest level of the cathedral. At any rate, due to the close circumstances, it looks like you're in sight.

Kanami has been sitting in the carriage seat ever since his triumphant return.

And after the 'Trial of the 80th' a month ago, she was unfocused and let her gaze wander in the air.

Was he looking at a delusional Rustyala because he had nothing to do?

Pulling that Kanami back to reality, he quickly grasps the situation.

'............. It looks like it. If Neil and Glenn-san were here right now, there was a way to deceive them successfully, but ....... Reality doesn't work out so well, Serdra.

It seems to be a deviation from the ”plan,” but he doesn't seem surprised.

Rather, he smiles as if to say he's been waiting for you and opens the book he's been holding carefully.