Vol 3 Epilogue (1/2)
Epilogue
”Really—Another of the great Gods has been slain How unfortunate Thank you for your report”
Inside a certain roo cult, the Sons of Muspell, Kili listened to the report from a spy who had infiltrated NIFL The air of sole of the ”shrine maiden” as the cult's leader
But the instant she hung up the phone, that aura of holiness was instantly swept away
Leaning herself tightly against the sofa, Kili s happiness from the bottom of her heart
”That's aht my eye”
Kili kept swaying her legs, unable to contain her joy
”Although I'm curious about where Code Fünf went, compared to that, ht now With this, the initial plan has failed, which is great, so what is her plan here on, I wonder—”
Kili sounded like she was enjoying the misfortune of others However, she suddenly showed a painful look on her face
”Ow!?”
She looked at the back of her right hand where her dragon mark was located Normally, it was a faintly visible pattern but now, it was eht
”Mother?”
Just as Kili frowned in puzzleonflow of dark ht hand within the blink of an eye
”What the heck does she want—Gah!?”
The intense pain attacking her right hand was h she waved her hand, trying to shake off the darkaway
”This feeling Biogenic, transmutation?”
Pressing on her right hand, Kili gritted her teeth and endured the pain
Several on mark stopped suddenly
Utterly exhausted, Kili collapsed on the floor
”—Huff, huff, huff Ahhh, I get it now”
While panting, Kili's rin
”You intend to dispose of me after use, mother”
Kili reon ht hand
”Although there are aloing a bit too far?”
Kili's dragon ht
”But I don't hate you, because thanks to your re, I finally seem to be—free”
Pressing on her dragon ed in color, Kili smiled
”But at this rate, the game will end soon What should I do?”
Kili held her hand next to herAt thatroom table and narrowed her eyes
”Death of Albert Crest, present monarch of the Principality of Erlia—I remember this is a country that devoted the hts of Ds, because a D had been born in their royal family”
Kili ht shone in her eyes
”Fufu—Perfect, I shall make use of this country Now that it's decided, I'd better getquickly”
Kili deftly started ht:
”Looks like illforward to it—Yuu”
The transport shi+p sailed back to Midgard Thethe sea with glittering brightness under the darkness of night
I went onto the deck and leaned against the railing, staring out into the horizon where the sky met the sea
”Oh, Yuu—You're here”
Tia jogged over tofroe juice
”Are you looking for me?”
Hearing rily
”Because Yuu disappeared from the party so suddenly Tia wanted to have a toast with Yuu”
”But didn't we already toast in the beginning?”
”Tia wants to toast s, it's very happy!”
Tia insisted in a strong tone of voice
Currently, there was a victory party in the shi+p Midgard staff were taking part and the dining hall serving as the venue was packed full of people
Although it was a merry event, perhaps because everyone was fe hassled by drunken older women, which hy I escaped outside for now
”—Got it I'll take a break then head back You return to the dining hall first”
”No, if Yuu is staying here, Tia will stay together too!”
Seeing Tia had o, I exhaled I could not just leave her standing here with two glasses like this
”In that case, let's sit down over there for a bit”
I took a glass from Tia and went over to the benches at the back of the deck
Sitting side by side on plastic benches that were not too sturdy, we clanged our glasses together for a toast
”Cheers”
”Cheers!”
Grinning frolass I took a sip tomy exhausted body
”The stars are so pretty!”
”—Yeah”
We chatted briefly while drinking juice frolasses
Time passed by quietly Finally, a serious expression surfaced on Tia's childish face
”Yuu, thank you You returned safe and sound Thank goodness”
Tia placed her elass on the side and wrapped her arm around my arm
”Tia was afraid the whole ti the whole tiain? So scary, Tia shi+vered in fright The Yuu here—Tia is not dreaht?”
”Don't worry, you're not drea I'm definitely here”
To reassure Tia, I tried to answer in as gentle a tone as possible
”Yeah, Tia can feel Yuu's war just a fiancee Tia wants to hurry and get married with Yuu”
Resting her head against my shoulder, Tia spoke quietly
”Huh—”
I grew frantic, never expecting her to bring up this topic now And Tia was looking up ather head to ask:
”No? Tia really loves Yuu! Or s?”
Tia touched the two tiny horns on her head
Hearing her say that, I felt a stabbing pain in my chest
I was partially responsible for Tia ending up with this appearance
If I had sent her to Midgard the first time we met—Tia would never have encountered Kili
”Not at all—Tia, your horns are very cute”
Precisely because she had chosen to live as a hu her horns
I placed my hand on her head and deliberately stroked her horns
”Mm I-It tickles A”
”Oh, sorry I think you said the horns are very sensitive”
”Yeah Tia isn't very sure, but because the horns are connected to the inside of the head, they can't be reery”
Inside of the head—In other words, it connected directly to the brain?
Kili said she had given Tia these horns using biogenic transon
I originally thought that her intention was purely to alter Tia's perceptions, to er huht be other purposes at work
”—Tia, you're fine the way you are No need to be concerned about the horns It's part of your charm, Tia I think you can be proud of them instead”
”Really!? Yuu, thank you—Tia is so happy!”
Tia wrapped her ared me
”T-That hurts”
”Yuu, Tia really loves you! Let's get married immediately!”
”No, umm—”
I answered vaguely
”Tia knows that because of human rules, it's not alloithout everyone's approval But even just a wedding between the two of us is fine—Will you be Tia's husband?”
Close enough to feel each other's breaths, I aze and listened to her proposal
Seeing her sincere gaze, I resolvedthe excuse that Tia was still a child
”Of course, rules are part of the reason, but I can'telse”
”So else?”
Tia watched me with uneasy eyes
”—There's someone I already like”
I told her calmly but clearly
”Eh?”
”But actually it's uncertain To be honest, I'm not very confident at all, it's just that—It's absolutely true that I can't get her out of s are, I can't marry you, Tia”
Tears appeared from Tia's eyes
”Yuu You don't like Tia?”
”N-No, I like you, Tia I also find you very cute I want to help you at all tiuess there are even stronger feelings than that?”
I explained to her in a stammer I absolutely did not want to abandon Tia
”Then Yuu plans onthat person?”
”Eh? I-I don't really know about the future Besides, we haven't reached that stage at all—”
Wavering, I answered, only to see Tia wipe her tears away on the back of her hand
”In that case, Tia will start working hard!”
”By working hard What are you going to work hard at?”
Feeling unease in my heart, I asked her
”Tia ork hard to make Yuu fall in love with Tia! Coht now, to love Tia more, even more!”
”What”
Hearing Tia's declaration, I was stunned
”Tia's te Yuu's heart flutter because of Tia!”
Saying that, Tia hugged me as hard as she could
”T-Temptation Do you really knohat that wordtoo close Can you move a bit away?”
”No Doing this will a borrowed from Firill”
Tia clutchedto leave no matter what
I was left without a choice, unsure what to do It would be too pitiful if I pulled her away forcibly, she would surely cry
However, after a while, Tia's body suddenly relaxed I looked at her and saw that she was nodding off to sleep
She was sleepy, apparently
Having worried for the entire day, she must be exhausted
Hence, I changed tactics Stroking Tia's lovely hair, I sang a lullaby
For some reason, the lyrics came out naturally
Although I could no longer re to in the past
Tia ian to sleep soundly Her relaxed body was about to slide off Hence, I hastily held her and laid her out to sleep on the bench, using my lap as a pillow
”Mmm Yuu”