Chapter 214
Léna-Lloyd is shocked by the words that come out of Agil’s mouth.
「…The former Divine Catastrophe Dragon King, huh… I figured it wouldn’t just be some average monster, but I never imagined someone that powerful would show up…」
「Let me make this clear – I don’t know much either. Just about what I said earlier. Even less than Jibru knows about Zepar. An ancient guardian of the Stellar Vein like Ouronus, Mýrus, or Alto Parto would probably know something, but―――」
「Ahh, of course that’s impossible.」
Léna-Lloyd nods at Agil’s words.
The three, or rather creatures, Agil just mentioned – Ouronus is sealed away, Mýrus is dead, and Alto Parto have retreated deep within the Stellar Vein. There’s no way to ask any of them.
「At least, by the time I was called to the Stellar Vein, Zepar was already gone… No idea if he died or just disappeared though.」
「So that means the original Earth must have been born even before that time…」
「More precisely, the ‘Earth Dragon’s soul’ within him.」
「Oh right, that soul was reincarnated into the current Earth, wasn’t it?」
「That’s right.」
Earth was born 3 years ago.
Jibru became partners with Zepar over 1000 years ago.
The timeline doesn’t add up.
So what’s going on? As Léna-Lloyd mentioned earlier:
Jibru’s original child had already died, but his soul was somehow preserved and reincarnated again as the Earth Dragon.
That’s the story behind Earth’s birth.
「Hmm, that part still doesn’t make sense to me. If the original Earth died and was reincarnated into the current Earth, why did Jibru wait so long to do it? She could have reincarnated her child much sooner without all those experiments like Hero Cadias. 」
There was no need to make some ancient hero just to study giving Stellar Vein powers.
And why wait a whole millennium?
Her actions don’t seem very consistent. It’s all too roundabout.
「Well… we won’t know unless we ask her directly.」
Agil shrugs his shoulders as if to say she probably won’t answer anyway.
「Hmm, I see. Anyway, I have some other questions―――」
Léna-Lloyd continues barraging Agil with questions.
「―――I think I get the gist of it now. Yeah, that makes sense.」
「…Sheesh, you really have no tact, do you?」
Even Agil grimaces at the sheer number of questions.
「We’re not that close. Anyway, just one last thing I want to ask.」
「There’s still more?」
「Nah, this one’s just out of curiosity. During the fight earlier, what was that magic circle you drew in the sky? It disappeared when you passed out, but what would have happened if you’d activated it? I’m interested as a fellow mage.」
Léna-Lloyd recalls the expansive magic circle that filled the entire sky.
Agil must have poured most of the power he stole from the Stellar Vein into that spell formula.
What was it for?
It looked similar to Elibel’s Sanctuary Breach magic, but the details were different.
What did it do?
As a mage, Léna-Lloyd’s curiosity was plain to see.
「Oh, that. It was―――」
Agil hesitates briefly before explaining the magic’s effects.
「…what?」
For a moment, Léna-Lloyd thinks she must have misheard.
「Really? That’s what it did?」
The words slip out unthinkingly.
Agil nods.
「Yes. That was the power of that spell formula. My… no, all our deepest wishes were poured into that magic…」
Agil’s gaze seems far away, looking at something no one else can see.
「……」
Léna-Lloyd just watches him silently for a moment.
Then she says a single word:
「You really are an idiot.」
「I guess you’re right.」
「Between you and Yamu… you two are such hopeless fools, so stupidly kindhearted.」
Léna-Lloyd says she’s leaving, cutting the conversation short and taking her leave.
She didn’t want to be in the same space as Agil any longer.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to stop herself from punching him.
After passing through a teleportation gate and moving to the deeper levels, Léna-Lloyd leans against a wall and heaves a big sigh.
She really wonders how such a kindhearted fool came to be called a Demon King and Emperor Beast.
「Trying to lend a hand even to those he should hate… Just like Eli. Why do the guys I fall for always have to be such bleeding hearts…」
Scratching her head in frustration, she heads towards Elibel’s research lab.
Maybe chatting over tea will help lift her spirits. Of course, she gets rejected.
◇◆◇◆◇
―――What had gone wrong?
Facing encroaching death, that was the question Cadias pondered.
Looking back, it had been a turbulent life.
He had no memories.
All he could recall was his name, Kirishima Aoba, and that he came from another world somewhere. That was it.
A complete blank slate start.
It should have been a hopeless situation for most.
But he did not give up.
Luckily, he had power.
The power of lightning, and great physical abilities.
Starting out as an adventurer in Wano Country, he rose meteorically, his name echoing across the continent.
He gained fame, wealth, connections – everything an adventurer could want.
But for him, that was merely part of the process.
He had a purpose.
No, it might be more accurate to call it a lifelong wish.
『Hey Aoba, you always look kinda desperate, y’know? What’s up with that?』
As he began adventuring, he made companions.
One was a girl with the stature of a grade schooler – Suiren.
Self-proclaimed to be Aoba’s fiancée, though he had no memory of making such a promise.
After literally forcing her into silence when she first aggressively confronted him, she started trailing after him, and before he knew it, they were partying together.
It even earned him the shameful reputation of “Continent’s Strongest Lolicon Adventurer.” He could cry.
『I have a goal I can’t stop pursuing.』
『Hmm, finding others from your homeland, right? That’s what you said before.』
『…Yeah.』
He pauses briefly before answering.
『I hope you can find them!』
Seeing Suiren’s guileless smile, he felt apologetic.
『Ah, I’ll definitely find them. And then―――』
―――I’m going back. Back to the world I came from.
He didn’t say it out loud, but continued the thought in his mind.
Yes, his ultimate goal was to return to his original world.
Becoming an adventurer allowed him more freedom to act.
Searching for others from his homeland was just to gather clues.
『Let’s do our best, Aoba! I’ll help too. So when it’s all over, we can g-g-get m-m-married— kyaa!?』
As Suiren starts saying strange things, he gently pats her head to quiet her down.
He feels bad, but that just isn’t possible.
He does like Suiren, without a doubt.
But he can’t return her feelings.
Because one day, he’ll disappear from this world.
One day, he’ll return to the world he originally came from.
『Don’t worry, Suiren will find a much better guy than me someday.』
『No way… there’s absolutely no one better…』
Seeing Suiren pout, Cadias chuckles.
Many times, he considered abandoning his old world and living out his days as an adventurer here.
But in the end, he chose to return to his homeland – his original world.
Yet that wish went unfulfilled.
The earth dragon before him spoke:
『Those aren’t your memories. They’re remnants of my memories as a human…』
In that moment, his past life’s memories as Cadias came flooding back.
Memories of when he was the Hero.
His former companions.
And his own death.
He felt the ground crumbling away beneath his feet.
He never had a place to return to after all.
His homeland, his companions – they had died long ago.
There was no homeland for him.
It had all been false memories.
Then what had I been fighting for all this time?
The comrades who followed me, Suiren – what had they died for?
It was all meaningless.
And his body was torn apart by the earth dragon’s jaws.
He died.
―――Or at least, he should have.
「Huh…?」
He opens his eyes.
Where is this?
「What’s wrong, Aoba? Spacing out there?」
Looking over, he sees Suiren dressed in traditional Wano clothing.
「Sui…ren?」
「What’s with that face, like you’ve seen a ghost?」
「But, weren’t you…」
Wasn’t she dead?
I saw her get decapitated right in front of me, her head crushed underfoot.
Without thinking, he reaches out and touches the face of the Suiren before him.
「Kyaa! Sexual harassment!!」
He gets smacked, hard. Ow, that hurt.
「What was that for, so suddenly! I mean, it’s fine if it’s you, Aoba, but you have to prepare a girl’s heart first! Don’t just do it out of nowhere! Got it!?」
「Ah, sorry…」
He apologizes reflexively.
「Anyway, come on, let’s go.」
Taking Cadias’ confused hand, Suiren starts walking.
「Go? Where to?」
「To meet everyone! They’re all waiting for you, Aoba!」
Still confused, he walks alongside Suiren.
It’s pitch dark, but somehow they can make their way forward.
After a bit, figures come into view up ahead.
「―――Yo! About time you showed up, Aoba! Kept us waiting forever!」
A giant of a man like a bear – an adventurer from Wano Country,Yasha Lau Lan Fan.
「Lau…?」
「Huh? What’s with that glum face? Making us wait around so long… Come on, let’s go!」
「But, you’re…」
Why are you here?
Weren’t you in the imperial capital when…
He can’t make himself say the rest.
Lau drags him along, setting off again.
After a while, more figures appear.
One, two… soon there are over five walking along, chatting casually.
Every single one is a member Cadias – no, Aoba – parted with in death.
I see… so that’s what this is.
Finally, he understands where they are.
Which means, perhaps, just maybe…
Faint hope sparks within him.
「Looks like we’re just about there. Made it!」
Lau announces.
Cadias looks ahead to where he’s gesturing.
「Ah…」
There they were, just as he had hoped – four men and women.
A sister dressed in white robes.
A plain man with an eyepatch and crimson spear.
A large man encased in blue armor.
And a petite girl holding a teleportation staff.
His former companions who had followed him when he was the Hero.
「Ah… everyone…」
Cadias stumbles over to them, weeping as he embraces each one.
「Everyone… I wanted to see you all… so much…!」
The Spear Master sighs “give me a break,” the Blue Warrior laughs heartily, the Silver Magician’s expression doesn’t change, and the White Saintess sheds tears as they hold each other close.
He was certain they would never meet again.
That they could never exchange words again.
He couldn’t go back. He had no homeland left.
But here they were, reunited.
With his homeland – his former companions.
「I’m sorry… I’m so sorry for taking so long to get here…」
Suiren gently hugs him from behind as he sobs uncontrollably.
「You did well, Aoba.」
「Suiren, I―――」
Before he can say anything more, Suiren speaks first:
「I don’t resent you at all, Aoba. Not just me – Lau and the others don’t either. We chose to follow you of our own will. No matter the outcome, we’d never blame you for it.」
「―――」
「Let’s adventure together again, okay? Delving into dungeons, finding treasures, selling materials at the guild, drinking and carousing… Oh, it’ll be your job to stop Lau if he gets too rowdy when drunk!」
「―――Okay, just leave it to me…」
「Then let’s go, Aoba. Don’t worry, this time we’ll all be together.」
Slowly looking around at everyone, he stands up.
「Let’s go, everyone.」
And so, Cadias’ soul gently faded away.
◇◆◇◆◇
『―――Seems he passed on satisfied.』
My other self mutters contentedly.
『I still don’t really get how that was the Holy Ark’s power.』
We watched as Cadias was reunited with his deceased comrades, then vanished with them somewhere else.
The images played directly in our minds.
「It appears to be so.」
Saint Orion replies.
She’s half-emerged from a black coffin, a bizarre sight.
「Conversing with the dead. And reproducing the abilities of the dead conversed with – that is the Holy Ark’s power.」
Leaning out of the coffin, she explains:
「Its original purpose was to soothe lost souls and guide them to God’s side. The greatest secret art left behind by the White Saintess of the Holy Kingdom.」
Waving her hand over the black coffin, it transforms into a small crucifix along with a pale glow – the cross she wears around her neck.
『Why would you use such an ability for our sake?』
Sure, Orion gets along with Una and Dos, and has some connection to Robun too apparently. But I can’t see the highest human authority so readily using her powers for monsters.
「Sir Hero is not unrelated to us in the Holy Kingdom either. And I thought it was a good opportunity.」
『Opportunity?』
「Yes. I wanted to learn more about all of you. Una, Dos, and Robun were a great help to me at the continental congress too. I thought this could be a chance to change people’s perceptions of monsters and…」
Clasping her hands before her chest, Orion confides her inner thoughts.
「The Holy Kingdom reveres the Holy Dragon as its guardian deity. Even among the nobility, there are many who take the form of humans. Though few are aware of it…」
I had heard Holy Dragons disguising themselves as humans and blending into the Holy Kingdom.
Elja and Pororo said they haven’t been found out right? They’re totally busted!
「With that history, I wanted to get to know you all better. I hope we can walk together. It’s not just me – no small number of nobles share this thinking, including Sir Schwein.」
Sir Schwein…ah right, that pig-like guy.
I see, with her existing openness to monsters, this was a chance for her too. Mix of pragmatism and hope, I guess.
Well, as long as the humans don’t come hunting, I’m happy.
『I see. I’ll be looking forward to working with you.』
I hold out my hand to Orion.
However, my size is too big, so I can only bring the tip of my pinky finger.
「Thank you. I look forward to continued good relations as neighbors」
Let’s leave the details to Elibel and the holy dragons.
Seems satisfied with my reply, she passes through the teleportation gate with Dos and the others, leaving the dungeon.
◇◆◇◆◇
『Well, that just leaves us.』
『Yeah.』
『I’ll release the vessel. I probably won’t even be conscious for a while, so work hard while I sleep, alright?』
『Wait, really?』
Honestly, I thought if I had another me around, I could just relax.
『At this point you… I’m tired too, y’know. While you sleep, think about all the work I have to handle alone. You wanted to switch because it was too much for you, but it really has been tough!』
Oh right, of course.
I’m super grateful for all the work my other self has done.
He’s done an amazing job, truly.
『…Please keep up the good work!』
『I want you to say you’ll try your best from now on too, is it that hard?』
『…We’re two halves of the same whole. Let’s keep supporting each other.』
『Are you just gonna push it all on me again? Soon as something happens, you’ll leave it all to me, is that what you’re thinking?』
『…Well, that just seems like it works best…』
『That’s not the issue here! Learn something for once, partner!』
『…Okay, I’ll do my rubest.』
『Give me a break! And there’s like no feeling behind it at all!?』
My other self holds his head like “good grief.”
Sorry about my personality…
『Ah well, whatever. Anyway, switching back for now. We’ll talk more later.』
‘Kay.
My other self slowly closes his eyes to release the vessel.
Meanwhile, I look back on everything up till now.
He’s right, I have been relying on him this whole time…
When I first reincarnated here, I tried to do everything myself, but after Ann came,
then Pururu was born, Elibel revived, my subordinate grew, the dungeon expanded…
I started pushing all the work on them because it just went more smoothly that way… or so I thought.
But maybe it’s time to rethink that.
Can’t just depend on my them forever.
Like they support me, I need to support them too.
That’s what real trust is, I guess.
Yeah. Even though I said all that to my other self, I need to grow up too from now on.
For starters, I’ll talk it over with Ann and the others again.
About my other self, our future plans, all of it.
Thank you, my other self.
For making me realize such obvious things.
Rest well for now… Huh?
It’s taking kinda long to release the vessel, isn’t it?
Doesn’t it usually happen right away?
『Hey, what’s going on?』
I call out to my other self, but he doesn’t seem to hear me.
He has a very serious look on his face.
『Hey, say something! What’s going on?』
『―――Can’t…』
『Huh, what’d you say?』
Can’t hear clearly.
Speak up.
『――return…』
『Huh?』
『The vessel… won’t release. I can’t return to your body…』
…What did you say?
『Seriously…?』
He nods solemnly.
Doesn’t look like he’s joking.
Eh, hah!?
『Wh-what do we do…?』
『Well… first, let’s ask Elibel about it.』
『…Good idea.』
Once the Sanctuary Breach wears off and I’m back to normal, we’ll head for the depths.
Gotta consult Elibel quick!
Ah geez, so unreliable.
What a hopeless ending.
◇◆◇◆◇
Meanwhile, in the Stellar Vein―――
『It seems Earth and the others safely defeated Agil. Splendid, I want to give them a round of applause. As expected of my dear Earth.』
「Yes. But it seems they did not deliver a final blow. Lord Agil is restrained in the dungeon after his defeat.」
『Oh my… too soft, that child.』
「What shall we do?」
『Have any candidates been found on the surface?』
「A few. The most promising is probably the Dragon Slayer of Borhelic Kingdom.」
『I see. Then let us make our move as well. We will administer one final trial to those children.』
「And… your body, my lady?」
『No need to worry. I’m growing tired of ‘pretending to be weak’ anyway. With Gluttony, I could heal these trifling wounds instantly.』
「…Did Lord Harsha die for that purpose?」
『…Harsha?』
「―――Ah… my apologies, it’s nothing.」
『I see. Well then, let us proceed. Summon Gulfan and Alto Parto as well. There is little time either way. Let us commence the final feast of this planet’s Stellar Vein.』
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