vol 8 epil

Epilogue
A Brief Parting
Heading to Kurant City, Suimei and the others
managed to accomplish their goal of rescuing Elliot.
And after confronting Hadorious and
safely, she must have been quite relieved and her
complexion had improved a fair bit.
“This time we ended up causing you quite a bit of
trouble. So I would also like to show you my
gratitude. Thank you.”
Elliot also offered his gratitude as he went around
and shook the hands of everyone involved in this
case. Eventually, it came down to Reiji's turn.
“In any event, it's good that Elliot is alright.”
“I ended up owing you a debt. One day I'll
properly pay it back in full, so do let me know if you
need anything.”
“Hahaha, last time I ended up in your debt, so
there's no need to worry about it.”
“That won't do. It would affect my honour if I stay
quiet and refuse to pay back what I owe. Besides, the
one who owes me for that one is not you―”
Elliot stopped speaking there, and turned a
grudgeful gaze towards Suimei.
“Don't I get a handshake?”
“What's that? Did you want to shake hands with
me?”
“Aah, I'll pass. If I'm going to do that it'd be way
better with a girl.”
“Heeh? Despite looking like you have no immunity
to women you're going to say that? Could it be that
you're forcing yourself?”
“Shut it! Sorry 'bout that!”
As Elliot slightly sneered, Suimei shrugged his
shoulders and Elliot regained his composure. This
time, he had completely brought along unnecessary
troubles with him.
“But, to think that you would be the one to save
me. It's the biggest blunder of my life.”
“Yeah it is. With this, we're even from Reiji's case,
you got it?”
“You really do have an unrefined way of
speaking.”
“Shut it, unlike you I was raised normally.”
After saying that, Elliot and Suimei began
throwing cynicism and complaints at each other.
Elliot had more to say with his aloof attitude than
Suimei did with his foul mouthed sharp tongue,
but―judging that it would never end if they were left
alone, Reiji went to stop them.
“Now now, both of you, leave your fight at that.
Let's move on to the main event.”
“You're right. I also have quite a bit of interest
regarding that.”
“That is the reason we gathered here today after
all.”
As Reiji tried to change the topic, Elliot and Suimei
both went with him, and then headed to the corner
of the open space. And as everyone walked over
there in succession, they arrived at the place where
Felmenia had constructed the pool before. Right
now, instead of a water tank, there was a large
magic circle spread out on the ground. Graziella had
only heard about the result of Elliot's confinement,
but she squatted down in front of the magic circle,
and gazed at it with deep interest.
“This is, the magic circle to return you to your
world is it...?”
She must have investigated the formulas which it
was composed of before. Graziella read deeply into
the magic circle as she touched it. And naturally, the
one to respond to her was Suimei.
“That's how it is. Rather, don't take advantage of
the fact that I'm away to tamper with it or erase it
on your own alright?”
“You're the shrewd one who came up with this.
You've already established a way to come and go
right?”
“Well yeah.”
Yes, when Suimei completed the magic circle to
return, he had already kept in mind the coordinates
and such to make it so that he could come and go. If
he depended on the weather beaten magic circle, if
the primary key to him returning vanished, he
would no longer be able to do so. Because he had to
set up several measures in place, he was quite
troubled.
“But, I never thought a pool would become the
hint I needed huh.”
“We must thank Felmenia-jou for that.”
“That's also true, but somehow it's rather ironic.”
Felmenia was the one who summoned them to
this world, and since she was also the one who tied
the last thread for them to be able to return, Suimei
didn't know quite what to say about it. And then,
having heard Lefille say that, Felmenia...
“Suimei-dono! Please praise me!”
While fluttering her tail and circling around
Suimei like a puppy, he let out a sigh like he was fed
up with it.
“... Hey, regarding that, I praised and thanked you
quite a lot already right? Is it still not enough?”
“Fufufu, it's fine to say it once every day you
know? If it is only praise then it is free of charge.
Rather you'll yield a profit.”
Suimei didn't quite know what he was making a
profit of, but he was already sick of thanking and
praising her after doing it more than ten times
already.
“Yeah yeah. Thank you very much~, as one would
expect of the White Flame Felmenia-sama~.”
“Mu, that's too halfhearted!”
As things didn't go the way she wanted them to,
Felmenia flailed both her arms about. After Suimei's
identity as a magician was revealed, it seems she no
longer worried about her appearances in front of the
others, and sometimes showed childish behaviour
without any restraint.
“Well, anyhow―oi, Mizuki, will you fix your mood
already?”
Setting aside Felmenia, Suimei called out to
Mizuki. Just as he said, Mizuki was pouting at full
throttle, and her cheeks had puffed out about as far
as they could go.
“Hmph. Suimei-kun you dummy dummy
duuuuummy! You should just fail your magic and
die!”
Anou Mizuki, was unable to clear away her
resentment. As she yelled that out, Felmenia spoke in
a somewhat bitter tone.
“Mizuki-dono, that would be somewhat
problematic... We're going along with him after all.”
“Then it's fine for only Suimei-kun to fail. With
pinpoint accuracy.”
As Mizuki insisted that Suimei go through
something terrible, this time Lefille folded her arms
and spoke in a troubled tone.
“No, if that happens we wouldn't be able to return
anymore...”
“Then only Suimei should go through something
terrible! It doesn't matter what it is!”
Suimei let out a grand sigh as she showed no signs
of improving her mood. After the fight at the
Hadorious mansion, the mysterious spirit up and
vanished somewhere, and the usual Mizuki was
back. So Suimei confessed about the fact that he was
a magician, but―it turned out like this.
It was the most obvious consequence, on the day
he told her, she naturally didn't listen to anything he
said on the carriage ride back. It was only a few
hours ago that she even started talking back to him.
The fact that he kept silent about being a magician...
Or rather, she seemed to be angry about the fact that
he kept rejecting her chuunibyou all this time. In a
sense, because he was monopolizing occult
information that she loved so much, her anger
doubled up. That's why Suimei had been apologizing
to her ever since that evening.
“That's why I said I'm sorry, forgive me already...”
“Shut it! Keep apologizing to me! Until you die!
Forever!”
“No, that's a little...”
“Duuummy, duuuummy, duuuuuummy! Hmph!”
After disparaging him like a child, Mizuki once
more made a sullen mood. Setting her aside, Elliot
spoke out to Suimei.
“So, are you going now?”
“Yeah. We'll go back promptly and do something
about all those anxieties that have been piling up.”
“... You're right, like school.”
“... And our friends.”
“... Un, and our families.”
Anxieties. Hearing that word, the ones who
reacted sensibly were obviously Reiji, Mizuki and
Hatsumi. They were matters that they haven't been
worrying about... Or rather, that they tried not to
think about until now. Just what had been going on
on the other side? It was difficult for them to
imagine. And while they were thinking of that,
Lefille spoke up.
“Sorry. We said that we were all going, but I think
I'll stay behind.”
“So suddenly, what's, wrong?”
Liliana opened her eye like she was surprised, and
Lefille showed her a determined expression.
“No, I just thought I would pick up the training
that I had stopped doing.”
“You're going to stay behind and train?”
“Yeah. As I thought, to settle my worries as I am
right now, I don't think there are any shortcuts. As
long as I am a swordswoman, I think it is something
I can only find by swinging my sword.”
Certainly, it was proper logic that a swordsman's
anxieties could only be resolved by swinging their
sword. But, Suimei denied her thoughts anyways.
“―No, Lefi should absolutely come along with us.”
“Why is that?”
“Nothing much, I just thought Lefi should meet
with the instructor.”
“Instructor?”
“With dad?”
After Lefille and Hatsumi chimed in, Suimei gave
them a nod. The instructor that Suimei was talking
about was Hatsumi's father and the owner of the
dojo that Suimei went to. He stood at the peak of the
Hundred Swords of the Martial World, and was one
of the Four Great Sages of the Arts, the Sword of
Four. Kuchiba Kiyoshiro. If she met and talked with
that man who achieved greatness as a swordsman,
she definitely had something to gain from it.
“The instructor is one of the monsters from my
father's generation. Even if you just talk to him, I
don't think it'll be a waste you know?”
“Certainly, I also think you have something to
gain from doing so.”
Hatsumi who had a bout with her also agreed with
Suimei, and it seemed to spark Lefille's interest, and
she spoke with a serious expression.
“Hatsumi-jou's father is it? I had heard about him
before from time to time, but... How strong is he?”
“... Even if you ask how strong... Right?”
“... Uun, you can't really put it in words huh.”
Suimei and Hatsumi both averted their eyes. The
Kuchiba School of the Phantom Sword of the
Kurikara Dharani, Kuchiba Kiyoshiro. He was an
uncommon swordsman who could perform the
inhuman act of cutting a high rise vertically with a
single swing of a katana. He already far surpassed
the category of just being strong, so they really didn't
know what to say about him.
“That's how it is. Lefi is coming too. It's already
decided.”
“I got it, I got it.”
Grabbing Lefille's arm, Suimei pulled her over to
the magic circle. And as he did, Felmenia hopped
over with light steps as well and stood atop the
magic circle.
“I'm looking forward to seeing Suimei-dono's
world.”
Following after her, Liliana and Hatsumi also
walked over.
“I am also, looking forward, to it.”
“There are a ton of animals too. When we get
there, should we go to a zoo?”
“A, zoo?”
“It's a place where they raise all sorts of animals
from all over the world.”
Hearing Hatsumi say that, Liliana's eye snapped
open and began shining. In the other world, there
was a mountain of places one could think of that she
would want to go to. Just like Hatsumi said, there
was the zoo, pet shops, touching farms and cat cafes
that she would definitely want to be taken to. And
while they were getting excited about that, there was
a single good for nothing that couldn't read the
atmosphere and poured water all over it.
“We're not going there to play around. It's fine to
relax a little, but in the first place we're not there to
sight see but to―”
“Suimei, you're, so thickheaded.”
“That's right Suimei, that kind of remark is the
worst you know? You really can't read the
atmosphere.”
“That's no good, un. It's definitely like Suimei to do
so, but...”
“Suimei-dono. I'm sorry but I cannot defend
that...”
“Dummy dummy, Suimei-kun's a
duuuuuuuuummy.”
“Ugu...”
As the consecutive critical voices poured in on him,
Mizuki joined in. And as those words were packing in
on him, Reiji spoke up.
“It's true. To be so completely serious isn't like the
usual Suimei.”
“Shut it. It's so nice isn't it that you awakened to a
new power and have it so easy.”
Suimei never thought Reiji would pull out the
Sacrament's power at the eleventh hour and achieve
an exceptional level up. On top of the goddess'
power, he now had the Sacrament. It was beyond
the level of foul play. However, Reiji didn't seem to
think that in his own little way, and his expression
became slightly gloomy.
“... I don't particularly think I had it all that easy
though.”
“Even though you're now able to use that much
outrageous power?”
“... Suimei is the one saying that? Even after
rampaging like that?”
Reiji pointed a critical gaze at Suimei implying he
was the same. Even so, the voice he used to talk back
at Suimei like he always did had no energy behind it.
In any case, deep within Reiji's eyes, Suimei realized
that there was a light entrenched in there like he was
brooding over something.
“... Hey Reiji, what's wrong? You've got no pep to
you, you know?”
“No, there's just something I have on my mind.”
“Something on your mind?”
And Suimei had an idea of what that something
was.
“You worried about what you were told at that
time? That's just a kind of common psychological
attack you know? I don't think it's something you
need to particularly worry about right?”
“That's probably true, but even so it's stuck in my
mind.”
He was caught on Gottfried's warning, 'If you
don't want to lose yourself, rebel against the will of
the Goddess.' That wasn't something that Suimei
didn't understand either. The subjugation of the
Demon Lord was just that sudden an event. Before
he knew it, he could have been manipulated by a
god, and toyed around with. If he thought of it that
way, there was certainly things that Suimei would be
worried about, and the person in question would
have just that much more of a strong sense of
discomfort regarding it.
“... As I thought, shouldn't you also go back for
now? It's better for you to go back once, take in the
air, and calm down. You're starting to choke down
before you even realize it.”
“That's true... But.”
“It may seem strange coming from me. But rest is
important isn't it? Even I relaxed before heading to
Kurant City, and it was quite beneficial. I was able to
realize it because of Menia after all.”
“Saying it's all thanks to me is a little... Eheheh.”
Felmenia started chuckling while making a
slovenly smile. Setting her aside, Suimei continued
what he was talking about.
“Come on over. Let's go back for now OK?”
“Uun, even so I'll stay behind. Besides, if we also
vanish on top of Suimei's group, if something
happens here we may not be able to deal with it
anymore.”
“But you know...”
“Sorry. Let me be selfish here.”
Reiji was being much more stubborn than Suimei
expected. Was he just that worried about this world?
That was probably also true, but Suimei also thought
that it was still related to what Gottfried had said.
And as long as Reiji was that determined, there was
no point in trying to persuade him any further.
“... I see. I got it. If that's what you decided, if I
say anything more it would just be insensitive huh.”
“Un. Thank you.”
Saying that, Reiji honestly gave his thanks. Suimei
then looked towards Mizuki who was still pouting.
“Mizuki, are you sure it's fine? Not to go back?”
“I'll also stay behind. Reiji-kun is staying after all.
So me too.”
“Sorry.”
“It's fine. Don't worry about it.”
As Mizuki smiled towards Reiji, Suimei spoke once
more.
“Everything is back to normal so I think it's good
timing to go back though.”
Suimei wasn't sure what was wrong with his
casual remark, but Mizuki's face suddenly went pale.
And as Suimei realized the meaning behind that, he
averted his gaze from her as he felt unpleasant at
having guessed what she was thinking about, and
apologized.
“... No, sorry. It's nothing. Forget what I said.”
“Stop that! Please, I don't want to hear any
sympathy!”
Covering her face with both her hands, Mizuki
became downtrodden. The source of that sorrow,
was obviously, that. Suimei and Reiji could sense it
and didn't touch on it any further, but naturally
those who didn't know of Mizuki's past in detail were
also present.
“―What's that Mizuki, is the Holy King of the
Heavens Io Kuzami all that bad?”
“―There was quite a few hardships, but we ended
up being saved by Io Kuzami-dono too, I also don't
have all that bad of an impression of her though.”
And the ones to speak of what should not have
been spoken of, was Graziella and Titania. Since they
did not know that the Holy King of the Heavens Io
Kuzami was a product of Mizuki's past failures, their
words held consideration that wasn't actually
consideration at all.
On the other hand, Mizuki being Mizuki, she
started hyperventilating as she repeatedly breathed
in and out. And even while she was doing that, the
two of them continued to use that name in
consideration even though they should have stopped.
“Io Kuzami's magic was―”
“Mizuki. There is nothing to be ashamed of in
being possessed―”
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Graziella-san! Tia! For the love of god don't unravel
any more of my BLACK
HISTORYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Mizuki burst into
tears at her wit's end.
“Is that so? You played a great part though...”
“Yes, you did.”
“Great part!? What kind of great part!? Just what
did I do!?”
So Mizuki asked, but Graziella and Titania...
“No...”
“That's, well...”
“Don't avert your eyes at that part! All your
persuasive power vanished at once!”
And while that was going on, Reiji looked towards
Suimei with a bitter smile.
“Hey, if it's that, can't Suimei reproduce it?”
“Wait, Reiji!? Don't friggin' dump that on me in
this kind of situation!!”
“But you know, back in the Imperial military
encampment you did it right? That FUHAHAHA or
whatever laugh.”
And as expected, that was the limit. Mizuki's eyes
peeled back, and she collapsed right where she was
as she began frothing from the mouth.
“Stop... Don't dig it up... If you don't stop, I'll die.
I'll emotionally die, so...”
Seeing that, Suimei thought it would be bad if they
didn't change the subject.
“... Well, whatever. It's about time I activate it.”
“Wait a sec Suimei! Are you running away!?”
“I'm not running or anything, I just said that I
was going now right!? You guys do something about
Mizuki!”
“Wait, you coward!”
As Reiji yelled at him, Suimei stuck out his tongue
at him and urged Felmenia on.
“Menia, I'll leave the assistance up to you. Let's get
going before it gets weird alright?”
“Y-yes. Leave it to me.”
Ignoring that it had already gotten weird, Suimei
and Felmenia activated the magic circle. And then,
Selphy, who also happened to be present, called out
to Hatsumi.
“Hatsumi, have a safe trip.”
“Yeah. Once I finish what I need to do over there,
I'll come back, so until then give my regards to
Gaius and Weitzer.”
In complete contrast to the earlier exchange, the
two of them had a rather calm and gentle one. On
the other hand, Reiji seemed to have given up seeing
that the magic circle had activated, and let out a sigh
as he changed his mood and smiled towards Suimei.
“Take care. I'll be imposing on you a bit, but I'll
leave things on that side to you.”
“Suimei-kun! I think you already know, but bring
me back a souvenir! The amount of apologies that
you owe me will be determined by that!”
“Yeah yeah, I got it.”
The ones who were departing atop the magic circle
and the ones seeing them off all waved to each other.
And before long, Suimei and the others were
swallowed by a blue beam of light, and were
transferred from this other world to the modern
world of Earth.

vol 8 epil 2018-12-13T04:41:00-08:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Unknown