82 After the storm (Chapter 5 Epilogue) (1/2)

Sisyphe

”With the black storm comes the army of the devil.

Led by the Dark Knight of Evil.

A brave man of light challenges you.

Defeated by the Dark Knight.

But the Goddess of Light is coming

The Dark Knight flees before the majesty of the Goddess of Light.

Then the city of men will be saved.

A bard is singing in front of the temple of Lord Raina, the goddess of wisdom and victory.

The worshippers are listening to it.

Three days after the Black Storm, a lot of people have come to the temple every day to thank Goddess Raina.

I've been coming here every day since the incident ended.

I prayed for her just a few minutes ago.

Even so, the wait was long.

Sisyphe~

”Sister Kayna.

My sister Kayna comes in from across the street.

'You're here again, aren't you?'

Sister Kayna says with a dumbfounded look on her face.

'Of course, sister Kayna. I can't thank Lady Raina enough for all the help she's given me.'

Sister Kayna stopped coming after one visit with me.

I think I should be a little more grateful to Lady Raina.

I think back to the Black Storm incident.

The demon army that came with the Black Storm.

That army was led by an evil dark knight riding a giant dragon.

That dark knight was incredibly strong.

He easily defeated the brave Lord of Light, Rage-sama, who defeated the most powerful King Damon (Lord).

The scene would be seen by many people in magical images.

I look at the city walls.

There is a huge hole in it.

The Dark Knight easily broke the strong castle wall made of dwarves. Once again, I feel the fearfulness of the dark knight.

That dark knight pushed Master Rage away with the force of breaking through the city walls.

Even now, the stone pavement in the plaza in front of the temple is largely broken.

He then pressed the fallen Rage-sama to put a stop to it.

The victorious demons covered the skies of the Ariadia Republic.

The people of Ariadia were overwhelmed with despair at the demons' victorious voices.

I, too, thought it was all over, so I fell to my knees and almost cried.

It was then. Goddess Raina descended with a group of angels.

Suddenly, the beautiful, shiny goddess appeared, and we were transfixed.

And when Goddess Raina appeared, her majesty caused the dark knight to bend forward and begin to suffer.

It was a very moving sight, as we watched in the magical images.

The dark knight had no choice but to bend forward and retreat in agony, and thus we were saved.

It seems that other people felt the same way about that moving scene, so they decided to make a mural of it for posterity.

The mural depicts the Dark Knight bent forward in front of Lady Raina, and it will be passed on to the people of the Republic of Ariadia for all time.

The people who see the mural will also be reminded of Lady Renna's greatness.

Well, that's certainly true ....... But looking at this crowd, it is indeed impossible to pray again and again!

ze ......

My sister Kayna looks at the crowd of people and says in exasperation.

Very crowded. It's like a festival.

Despite the size of the temple of Lord Rena, we couldn't get inside, and even the square in front of it was crowded with people.

It took me a long time to visit the temple, too.

Leiria, the priest of Lord Raina's temple, is also busy dealing with the people coming to pray.

''Well, let's at least thank them from here, sister Keina.

In fact, I think sister Kayna should go inside and pray to the statue of Lady Raina. However, standing in line for hours seems to be a painful experience for sister Kayna, who is not very good at patience.

'Well, at least that's the case: ......

Then my sister Kayna prays.

I pray the same thing.

Lady Raina. Thank you for saving us.

Chiyuki.

Many people have gathered in a temporary theater built outside the city walls.

The play is a special lecture dedicated to the goddess Raina.

There is a great deal of praise for the goddess Raina, who drove away the ”Black Storm”, as it is commonly known, when the demons attacked the country.

She is played on stage by Shenna in costume.

The lead actor returns and the donkey ears seem to have decided to give a lecture.

The stage is ”Alferia” as planned.

Incidentally, the goddess Raina is supposed to appear in this play.

At the end of the play, when Princess Alferia was about to be defeated by a witch, Reena appeared and saved the princess.

There are many other plays in which Raina appears at the end besides this ”Alfelia”.

Of course, all of them are as a deus ex machina who resolves a confusing situation and brings the story to a close.

The ”Black Storm” incident that struck the Republic of Ariadia was also resolved by Raina in the end.

Just like this story.

”That's beautiful, Chiyuki-san.

Nao, who is watching with me next to me, says to me as she looks at Sienna.

Shenna was so beautiful as she danced in the center of the stage.

Shenna had been at Regena's house with his childhood friend from Silone while she was missing.

They said she wasn't treated badly. He was rather kind to her, she said.

He saved my life and didn't kill Rage again, so he must not be a bad person at all.

Then why is he following the demon king?

It's probably because of the silvery white witch Kuna who was with them.

It seems that she is the daughter of that demon king, after all.

It's surprising that that ugly demon king had such a beautiful daughter.

According to Ligeena's story, she came to tour Ariadia with her dark knight.

But I can't take that as a word.

She is definitely involved with the ghouls and the demons of the underground waterways.

After all, she was the one who told us to come to the underground canals.

It sounds like she was mostly in Nargol, but even if she wasn't there herself, she could use her underlings and it wouldn't be a problem.

However, I've also heard that the White Silver Witch helped Shenna help her brother, Decius.

These two aspects of the situation are unavoidable.

However, as long as King Damon's (Lord) Urbald was at the back of the underground canal, there's no doubt that the Demon King was trying to bring disaster to this country.

''It really is. See, Syrone-san, look at it too. It's so beautiful.

'Yes. ....... Chiyuki.

The opposite of a reply is not seeing the play at all. It's like he's not even in his mind.

He can't forgive his childhood friend for defending the silver witch.

You can't forgive him for defending the silver witch. You'll be able to find out if you've got a good idea of what to expect. Isn't that right, Lino-san?

I ask Reno, who is watching the play with me, to agree.

'Yeah, I think he probably does. It's like he was affected by Raina's mental magic. I think she was probably under a powerful mesmerizing spell.

Reno says that at that time, Raina used a spell to break the spirit magic.

I'm not sure what the magic that was cast on him is, by the way, although there are other types of mental magic such as fascination and oblivion, but Reno doesn't know what it is.

But in a normal sense, he must have been cast a charm spell.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

The silver witch was a beautiful woman, comparable to Raina.

If a beautiful woman like that used her mesmerizing magic, she would be a hit.

You're right. But there is hope. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. There's a chance to get him back.

I said, encouraging Shirone to do so.

'Yeah, I know, Chiyuki-san,'

Syrone replies without effort.

”By the way, one thing I've been wondering, is it possible that you're not really under a spell and are just lost and deceived by the scent of the silvery white witch?

There is a possibility that what Nao says is possible.

This is what Kaya said in the first place.

Kaya is back in the St. Renaria Republic with Kyoka.

Apparently there's some unfinished business on everything.

''Hmmm. It's true that Kuroki isn't popular with girls. If a beautiful girl like that makes a move on you, there's certainly a chance you'll be cheated out of your mind. If Kuroki didn't fall under the spell, but was just hit by the s*x appeal, I'll have to sanction him with an iron fist.

Cyrone makes a clenched fist and laughs, ”Hmmm.

'Well ....... Be gentle with me.

I stop Silone in a small way.

I was a little afraid of Syrone's face.

'That's the thing, Sirone. Your childhood friend isn't a bad looking guy, and he seems to have a kind personality, so why aren't the girls getting you?

Reno says curiously.

That certainly bothered me too. He usually looks like he could have a girlfriend.

''Oh, Kroki gets really nasty eyes when he sees a pretty girl. Probably everyone else is going to look at you like that too.

That's right: ......

Reno's face strengthens a bit.

'I'm telling her that she shouldn't look at me like that, but she just can't help but look at me like that. I'm sure you're aware of the fact that you're being hated, so you're trying not to look at it, but you can't help it. ...... And also he doesn't want to make you feel uncomfortable, so he's trying to avoid getting close to you.

Sirone says, holding her forehead.

'Then maybe they're watching you, Sirone?

Reno asks, pulling back a little.

'Yeah, I get very uncomfortable looking at you too when I go to Kroki's room wearing a miniskirt or something. But, well, you don't have the nerve to attack me, and besides, I've known you for a long time, so I'm used to it.

Yes. ......

What can I say?

'Hmmm, as expected, Reno is fine, but some kids might find it disgusting.

That's true.

The two men look at each other.

'But that doesn't mean we can't get him back and do things together. ......

As you can imagine, I'm not comfortable with being subjected to s*xual gazes at all hours of the day.

We will have to ask him to stay home.

We watch the play from then on, avoiding the subject of him.

The scene is set on the stage where the princess, played by Shenna, defeats the witch.

The woman playing the witch was originally supposed to be played by Ainoe.

However, Ainoe is said to have escaped with Lesser Damon.

Instead, a masked understudy plays the witch. It's a moderately good performance for an understudy.

Soon the play is over and the actors return to the backstage.

Chiyuki-dono. I heard you were here.

When the stage is over and I'm about to leave, I'm called out to him.

'Sir Decius. What have you done?

It was Decius who came in. He was supposed to be busy cleaning up the Black Storm incident. I wonder what's going on.

I've come to report that the cleanup of the incident has been settled. Come to think of it, you don't seem to be able to find Reiji-dono and Kyouka-dono?　I want to thank you for funding our recovery: ......

Decius says, looking around.

Rage paid half of the funds for the reconstruction of the Republic of Ariadia that was requested.

Well, actually, it's Kyoka and Kaya's money. That's what they're paying out in Rage's name.

The only thing that bothers me is that Regina also funded it separately from Kyouka. The source of that money is a bit of a mystery.

You're not going to be able to find out what's going on in the world,” he said, ”Reigi-kun is recuperating with Sahoko-san. His wounds are fine, but he's lost most of his magic power. That's why he's resting now.

Rage is recuperating. And Sahoko is with him.

He's not in mortal danger, but it seems that the fight with him consumed most of his magic power.

Even though Rage, who has a huge amount of magic power, could not win even if he used up all his magic power. Once again, he was reminded of his strength as a dark knight.

And when his magic power is depleted, his regenerative ability and resistance drops, so his injuries are harder to heal and he becomes more likely to get sick.

Also, it's not like his body is injured, so he can't recover from it with healing magic.

There is a potion that restores magic power, but there isn't enough in this country to restore Rage's vast amount of magic power. It seems that there are some in Elyos, but it seems that the stuff that can restore rage is rare even in Elyos.

And since it will recover if you rest, there's no need to bother to use a rare item.

That's why right now Rage is in a special sleep to recover his magic power. Well, he'll wake up sooner or later.

''I see. It can't be helped if you're not there. Well then, I'm happy to report that the demons that escaped have gone to the labyrinth and have taken over the area.

'Well, I'll take the labyrinth: ......

The labyrinth is a place that was once ruled by the evil god Lavrus.

According to Decius' report, it seems that this time it has been replaced by a land ruled by the Demon King.

However, I didn't feel like attacking it again.

''And then there's the damage. I don't know if I should say we were lucky, but it seems that no civilians have died. However, it seems that some of the freedom fighters who entered the underground canal never came back.

Decius says with a somber look on his face.

There were so many Ratmen in the underground canals that a lot of damage was done to the freedom fighters.

If Shenna hadn't blown the whistle, there would have been more damage to the freedom fighters.

The person who had turned into a Ratman was turned back into a person by Sahoko's magic. They should be recuperating by now.

However, they don't know if they were able to turn all the Ratmen back to normal.

If anyone is deaf or lame, they can't be lured back to earth.

The flute again, but Shenna seems to have returned the flute to him, the dark knight, along with the sword. So now the flute is not in the country.

And Ainoe-dono, I've heard that his whereabouts are unknown. The witch-hunters were chagrined.

Witch Hunters are people who hunt human beings who have made a contract with Damon or evil gods.

Volunteers belonging to the Order of Odis, the Order of Felia and the Order of Raina created the witch hunters because they saw the existence of witches as dangerous.

The founders, I'm told, are priests and university professors from Odis.

They are not formally recognized by the Order of Odis and others, but they operate with impunity.

Their pursuits are strict and they are said to torture.

They are also not afraid of the witches because they don't hesitate to involve people around them who are not involved in the hunt for them.

If Ainoe is also found, she will be tortured badly.

''Ha, enough about her whereabouts. She didn't seem to know anything important: ....... And even if I found her, I wouldn't be willing to hand her over to the witch-hunters.

None of us care about her.

And even if I find it, I'm not going to hand it over to the witch hunter. You can't torture them, as expected.

''You're right. The witch-hunters are a bit much. They even suspected my sister, Shenna.

Decius says with a slightly angry look on his face.

He felt bad that his sister was suspected of being a witch.

Shenna hadn't made a deal with Damon. The interrogation made that clear, but the witch hunter didn't seem to be convinced.

That's why I assured him that Shenna was not a witch.

The witch hunter also backed down because I assured him that I was one of the brave ones. Otherwise, they would have tortured Shenna.

'Well, anyway, we have more things to think about over here. I don't have time to think about Mr. Ainoe right now.

I shake my head and reply.

For now, I'll have to find out about the silvery white witch.

I think about the girl with the silver hair.

◆Shenna.

”Shenna!　What was that performance?　I could have done better than that!