470 465. Diablo Sith Part 2.txt (1/2)

It was a pleasant morning.

A variety of fireworks continue to shoot up against the bright, clear blue of the sky.

The morning sunshine reflected diffusely on the magical snow (tierrei) that poured down, glittering.

Under a strange festival sky, I cover my face with a large cloak and walk through the marketplace of the Wald - passing people enjoying the festival on the way. Among them were children of siblings begging for that one and me too, and a man and woman who appeared to be their parents replied, ”Just for today!

I finally got to see that scene with a sense of serenity.

We walked for an hour or so, nostalgically, and arrived at our destination.

It seems that there was a big meeting (mass) at the Fouzeyards Cathedral last night, and the priests were busy walking around.

But as soon as I revealed my face to them and proudly announced that I had come to see the Sith, they allowed me to see them.

I suppose it had been mentioned to me beforehand, from above.

I was led to the innermost temple. However, it seems that an exorcism was carried out, and there were no ordinary guests inside, only knights and priests.

I miss it a bit.

There are stone pillars standing at regular intervals in a neatly cut out cubic space. The floor and walls were polished like mirrors, emphasizing the austere air. A red carpeted path was laid out from the entrance to the altar, with several couches for visitors on either side of it.

A year ago, I had sat on one of those couches as an honored guest.

I was dressed in ill-fitting prayer clothes, waiting for Kanami to arrive any moment - today I am the opposite.

Underneath the cheap cloak, I was dressed for a labyrinth search. I've got a well-worn leather glove and breastplate, and I wear a rugged sword unsuitable for a temple, and I carry a bag of medicine and other props around my waist behind me.

With this appearance, I'm going to pick up Kanami today.

I'm going to do that, but the knights who surround me as I stand on the red carpet will not allow it. I look at the besieging knights and blurt out.

'That's all you've got ......?'

At a quick glance, there are about fifty people in the room.

The large temple was not filled at all.

I frowned at the smallness of the battle force.

The new 'Senate' and the others have not appeared.

The chain of command is functioning well from the knights' unhindered movements. I'd like to think that someone from the 'Senate' is hiding and conducting business nearby. However, it seems likely that Kounel, who is likely to be a representative, has moved to another location from the 'Government Affairs Office and Connection Storage' downstairs to avoid a confrontation with me.

As I continue to critically observe the knights around me to see if I can somehow read the information on the move, I hear footsteps coming from the doorway in the corner of the temple.

A Sith appeared.

Then he slowly climbs onto the temple platform.

The knights took the knight's bow in unison at the appearance of the serving apostle.

There is no longer an obstacle on the carpet that connects me and the Sith, and my eyes meet with the Sith standing on the platform.

A halo seemed to shine through the stained glass.

The Sith, clad in the holiness of an apostle, speaks out quietly.

'You are so calm, Dear. You've really grown up compared to when I was inside.

That's what he said when he saw how hard I was working on the information.

”...... Well, that's true. I've been through a lot of trouble even with this. I'm a veteran labyrinth explorer.

I'm proud of myself a little bit because of the compliments I've received.

But it's probably the Sith who are growing up, too.

Inside the stern temple in the early morning, Sis speaks leisurely in the pale light.

''Right. There are no more labyrinth explorers in this Confederation that surpass you. As I recall, the last time I dove in was roughly 80 layers?　...... Really, it was so close to being over.

'Yes. So, maybe today I'll still reach the 'deepest'. And that's the end of the 'adventure' I've been yearning for since I was a kid.

'Since you were a kid?　...... Oh, that's an entertaining novel from the village church. Come to think of it, I used to read those all the time. It's kind of nostalgic.

What. Did you know you were in a coma?

'A little bit. I've been burned out because you're not raising the bar at all and I can't get out there at all.

He didn't give the one-sided narrative characteristic of the apostles.

The Sith did not raise their voices and had a good ear for us.

Thanks to this, we could hear the sound of fireworks in the distance.

Moreover, the hustle and bustle of the festival and the performances.

It's like an accompaniment to the Sith speaking in a solemn temple.

Seeing me listening closely to them, the Sith become more alert.

'You really are so calm. It's as if you knew it was going to happen. ...... Hey, since when did Dia see through the Lord's 'plan'?

Hmmm, that's a tough one. ...... It was on a trip to a hot spring that I became aware of the fact that Kanami was no longer working.

'A spa trip is ....... Before the ”Blood Land” attack?　Not almost last minute.

Yeah, it was really last minute.

Everyone had a faint feeling that Kanami had been suffering since beyond the example 'The Last Battle'. But what would be a fitting answer to the Sith's desired answer would be a trip to the hot springs.

On the day of that hot spring trip, I discussed the 'End of Season Festival' with Maria and the others.

Then, in agreement with what Rustyala had said about the 'last enemy', we anticipated and prepared for the battle that awaited us at this festival.

It is a determination to never give up, no matter how difficult a battle is waiting for you. ...... At that time, Maria also said this.

While soaking in the open-air bath with her familiar companions, she said, ”--But if Kanami-san hadn't been peeking at this hot spring discussion with a strange concern, it would be a different story. It could be a very easy fight,” she joked, laughing.

I trust that Maria's reading of the situation.

Of course, Snow and the Reapers, too. And, of course, Rustyala.

I trust them all, and that's why I came to see the Sith, alone, with a sense of security like this.

As if reading my inner thoughts, the Sith nodded.

'So ....... You're prepared, you're alone. But why did you come here first?　You would have headed straight for 'The Deepest'.

'Of course I'll be in the labyrinth soon. But it's not enough to just go to Kanami's place. You have to make a lot of preparations.

The Sith will continue to ask pure questions and I will answer them without pretense.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that me and Sith aren't good at negotiating or bargaining, so we have no choice but to do so.

'Preparation?　Heh ......, what kind of preparation do you need?

'I'm not very smart, so I didn't understand all of Rastiara's will: ....... But I know something about it. That probably means I shouldn't have forgotten anything.

If all I had to do was go, I would already be there.

But when I close my eyes, the memory of Rustyala stops me. Even on that last night, she laughed, repeating, ”'We're all in this together'.

You're a forget-me-not. ...... You're taking so long to say that the 'End-Tan Festival' has already begun.

Maria taught me that there's no need to rush, you see. So I'm just going to be me and do my best to stop it.

”...... I won't let him stop you. No, the Lord can't stop now. The new Levantine religion and the 'sacred calendar' is going to last forever from now on.

Tension rushes across the Sith's face as he hears the word ”stop”.

Immediately, while spreading his hands out, he explains the religion that he himself protects.

'Ever since My Lord resurrected me as a magic 《Sith》, I've been given the task of spreading Revanism ....... There is no other religion as good as this one. It is the best and most perfect teaching that I have ever known.

I think he's trying to convince me.

I can tell that he doesn't want to fight me if he can, because he was once one with me.

'I think it's a good religion too. But when you say it's the best and even the perfect ....... Really?

Yes. Because this Levantine religion is 'real'?　Unlike the fakes, there are certain blessings. A thousand years ago, he saved people suffering from the 'Devil's Poison' and spread sacred magic that enriched their lives, and in the present day, he saved the world from enemies such as Palinclone and Yangtaki. It's not just a matter of ”leveling up”. It gives people all sorts of benefits.

It is not a manual preaching.

You can tell from the fervor in his words that this is missionary work from the heart of a Sis.

'And why is that?　Unlike other religions, the nascent Levantine religion has a 'true God'. So, if you pray, you'll get a good return for your prayers. ...... Hey, Dear. What other religion is out there like this?

There will be nothing on the continent that can compare to this Levantine religion.

That's undeniable, I responded with a shake of my head.

Well, there is no other way!　We haven't had ...... for a long time. But we finally found ......, finally after a long struggle!　That's not fake, confusing, or comforting!　'The Real God' is found by us, the apostles!

Next, the Sith's gaze begins to wander through the air.

He believes that he is beyond (...).

'No, not us apostles, but this 'I'. If I close my eyes, I can easily remember the exploits of this Apostle Sith. As an apostle of justice, I was always repeating the same words. I would say over and over again to the Lord when I wasn't yet a god, ”It's a very honorable thing to be the cornerstone of saving the world. Over and over and over again, I kept saying, ”Sacrifice to the Lord” ....... Finally, those words of mine made the Lord ......

Sith's mouth relaxed as he stared at Kanami, who wasn't here.

She smiled. However, the corners of her eyebrows were lowered.

''-- This 'I (Sith)' made the 'Lord (Kanami)' the 'real God'.

He had a smile of admiration.

But at the same time, it looked as if he was repenting.

The Sith continue to proselytize.

'After a thousand years of sacrificing and sacrificing and sacrificing and sacrificing many things - laying many foundations - I have finally fulfilled my mission of saving the world. I saw it through to the ”deepest part” and even received praise from the former Lord. It was just one word, but he certainly praised me: ......

'...... Sis, good for you. You've been through a lot, but I know you've been working hard. Now your apostolic mission is finally at an end--

No. It's not over yet.

His exertions were interrupted.

The Sith's complex smile crumbled into a sharp look of determination.

'The mission still continues. There was a continuation of the apostle's mission. ...... The continuation is to protect the new Lord.

...... He wants you to protect it. Did that Kanami order you to do that?

'No. It's just that when I saw the Lord of the 'deepest', that's what I swore to myself. This is not because someone ordered me to do so. The continuation of this mission is my path, chosen by 'me' of my own volition.

Even the former Lord Noi doesn't matter, that Sith assures him.

He also swears to Kanami, who is looking at him (...) out of the corner of his eye.

'Therefore, the Apostle Sith will continue to serve and protect the new Lord with all of his being until the end of his life.

The halo is dazzling.

It was the first time I'd ever seen a Sith.

But it wasn't the first time I'd seen him in my life.

The Sith must have finally gotten something important beyond the framework of being an apostle.

With a newfound emotional support, he's going to risk his life to push forward on his chosen path.

The way he caught that Kanami and wouldn't let go of him was, for all intents and purposes, my very own (・・・・・・・・・・)--

Oh, I see. It's my decision. I'm going to have to do something about it. ...... I knew it was my destiny to be a Sith.

'Fate ......?　Dear, what are you talking about?

The Sith, who struck out on their missionary work, tilted their heads at my strange response and expression.

It's something I can't explain in one word, but I'll tell them in my own way.

”I guess it was inevitable that I became the reincarnation of an Apostle Sith. I was born 'I (you)', so I met Kanami that day and invited her to join me in the labyrinth. ...... Surely, that was an invitation from 'me'.

It was a night when the magical snow (Tear-Ray) was falling.

That day, when I was still level 1, I took out Kanami, who worked at the tavern.

Just like the Sith of a thousand years ago, what I did was the same.

”Sith, it wasn't just 'you' who hunted down Kanami. I” was also fulfilling the mission of the apostle. It was a 'connection' of fate, I believe.

'...... That's not true!　Destiny!　What are you really talking about!　Diah has no business being on an apostolic mission!　So you won't have a single regret!　You've forgotten the word of the Lord!　Dear is dear!　No crime, no responsibility (・・・・・), not even one--......!　No way!　It's all about 'me'!　With a little thought, it should be obvious!

Quickly, the Sith defended me.

But halfway through, I realize that the word ”regret,” ”sin,” and ”responsibility” are mixed in with the word ”protect” and I'm severely upset.

I immediately agree with the Sith's words and continue the conversation.

'Yeah, there can't be sin and responsibility. I agree. It's just that, Sis--

I don't regret taking Kanami to the labyrinth that day.

It wasn't a mistake that Kanami and I met, and I'm not going to pretend it didn't happen.

That's why I came to the cathedral first.

”Sis, you are too. You're just like me, so you don't have to feel guilty or responsible. ...... You've done your duty, you're no longer an apostle. I think we can put an end to all that.

He mentioned the most important purpose of the day.

However, as expected, it was hard for the Sith to accept, and his expression gradually grew grim.

'I'm not an apostle anymore, ......?　This me?

'If you've taken Kanami to this Noi guy, you're done being an apostle, right?　I'm just a Sith now.

'Dear, even you can say some things and some things are wrong. I'm still an apostle, okay?　I have been, and always will be, an Apostle Sith. There's no way I'm just a Sith: ......!　There's no such thing as a much more special, equal partner in this world: ......!　He wasn't there!

The Sith's 'Apostle' is probably the same as my 'Swordsman'.

Even if it doesn't make sense anymore, I'll continue to stick to that role.

Because I know that feeling.