❛january (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
acperience) wrote2012-05-11 12:39 pm
acperience) wrote2012-05-11 12:39 pm
Entry tags:
lolheroes - dai dyd II; novel translation
So much of this is old, so be warned.
dai denyuuden vol. 11 pg. 265-280
(From behind Ryner—)
Zohra: Oh, oh, what's this? Are you being bulliiiiied, Ryner?
(He cuts through the Latsel thread around Ryner's neck.)
Ryner: Zohra!?
(He turns to look at him. Insert usual description of Zohra.
And from further behind—)
Peria: Hey, hey, fragile Princess Ryner. On our Princess's orders, we've come to save you~.
(Insert usual description of Peria. He takes a step forward in front of Ryner, as if to protect him.)
Peria: Ah, it seems the Hero who seduced Ryner is here.
Zohra: The Mad Hero, right? Geez, even though Ryner said before that he chose him as a friend, I'm not gonna listen to him. So—
Peria: Shall we kill him?
Zohra: Yeah~, we should do that, but if Lucile Eris is here, it's not gonna go over well. I was almost killed by that guy before...
Peria: Ri~ght, that's why I brought a Rule Fragment... One piece, then? For the Hero, for the God Devourer [Lucile], Remurus...? Now then.
(To the two talking amongst themselves:)
Ryner: Hey, what are you two suddenly talking about...
(At the same time as each other—)
Zohra: Shut up.
Peria: Please be quiet.
(And then suddenly, they throw a punch at him.)
Ryner: Whoa—
(He holds up his hands in defence, but they punch past that and hit him in the face.)
Ryner: Guwa, ueh... geez, that hurt!
Zohra: Yeah, well, that's because it was supposed to.
Peria: (slightly angrily) Exactly. Though as soon as you become our ally, Ryner, we won't have to do this.
Claugh: Who the hell are these two?
Luke: Indeed? But it seems that they're also decisive people.
Claugh: Liiike I was saying, what's all this about 'decisive people'?
Luke: ... Claugh and Ryner Lute have chosen to protect Sion-san. Those two have chosen to protect Ryner Lute. If it's only these who have gathered, then it seems that I can't choose a path where no one is killed. Nothing will be decided that way. In the end, we truly are in the palm of Remurus-san's hand... so would it be all right if I were to write the scenario as I please?
(Luke looks up at the ceiling.)
Claugh: Who are you talking to?
(Luke shrugs.)
Luke: To God?
Claugh: Huh? What's that supposed to mean?
Sion: You've met with Remurus?
(Luke looks at Sion.)
Luke: If Your Majesty hadn't come to save Ryner-san, I wouldn't have met with him. As that tea-coloured hair man suggested, as the cornerstone of our country, perhaps you should rethink a little whom you choose as your friends.
(Sion frowns. Then suddenly, his voice falling from the ceiling—)
Remurus: All right, all right, now that all the actors have gathered, let's start the climax~.
(Everyone looks up. Insert usual description of Remurus.)
Claugh: ... What is that?
Zohra: Peria. Get the Rule Fragment ready.
(Peria frowns.)
Peria: If that were its true body, I'd have no problems with attacking it... but Remurus's figure isn't reflected in my eyes. Can you see something on the ceiling with your eyes, Zohra?
(Ryner looks at Peria. Insert explanation of the All Enchantment.
In other words, Remurus might be an illusion.)
Remurus: No, I'm here. I'm right here. It's just that a god can't be seen by normal eyes, you see?
(He laughs.)
Luke: Claugh?
Claugh: Hmm?
Luke: Take Sion-san and prepare to escape...
(Then there's the sound of doors closing.)
Remurus: This play must be seen to the end. If there's anyone who needs to go to the toilet, please try and hold it in.
(Zohra frowns slightly.)
Zohra: If that's not his true body, then hurry up and locate it.
Peria: Hmm~, well, I'm trying, but aside from us, there aren't any other presences within the tower.
Zohra: Seriously, you're as useless as ever. I'm telling Pia on you.
Peria: Eh? Then, Zohra, would you please help as well?
Zohra: Aagh, then geez, why don't we just break down the wall? Make our own escape route.
Peria: Ah, that works.
Luke: Ignore Remurus. Claugh. We'll be the ones to decide what happens from hereon. We humans will...
Claugh: That's why I'm asking—what the hell? First of all...
Luke: There isn't any time for explanations. So please listen to me.
Claugh: Ah?
Luke: Either Sion-san or Ryner Lute must be killed, but which death do you think would be the most interesting? I'll follow your instincts. After all, your way tends to be more fortunate than mine.
(Claugh looks at Sion and Ryner.)
Claugh: Well, Ryner then, I guess?
Luke: Uwa, decided so quickly?
Claugh: The guys protecting Ryner seem strong, so it should be interesting to try and kill them, shouldn't it?
(Luke smiles with a troubled face.)
Luke: Honestly, that's such an irrational reason for a choice. I certainly wouldn't have chosen so efficiently.
Claugh: You're talking to an idiot, you know?
Luke: No, I truly think so. And as I believe this has surpassed Remurus's expectation, shall we do it? Kill Ryner. I'll act as the decoy, so don't be concerned for my life and simply kill Ryner please, Claugh.
(Luke lunges forward.)
Claugh: What, we're seriously doing this!?
(Peria reacts. With closed eyes—)
Peria: Zohra, up and diagonal to your right, directly to your left, and below your left are threads.
Zohra: OK.
(Zohra starts cutting through the threads with a dagger.)
Zohra: If you guys think that you even stand a chance at defeating us, then regret...
Peria: Red Hair is preparing a spell... never mind, he's finished. Uwa, he's fast.
Zohra: Huh? Then you should've stopped him, Peria. I'll kill White Hair.
Peria: Ah, is that right? Then I can't be your eyes, Zohra.
Zohra: Haa? I don't need that. Who do you think I am?
Peria: An idiot?
Zohra: I'll kill you after this.
Peria: Ahaha.
(Then they both move.
Ryner has absolutely no idea what's going on. He looks at Sion behind Claugh and Luke. Sion looks back at him, and then, with a worried face, looks up at the ceiling.)
Remurus: Wow, this is amazing, isn't it? Even though a mighty god has appeared, noooobody's even listening to me. Though I think that's how it should be, that everyone's just doing what they want.
(Zohra, cutting through Luke's threads with what's obviously a special dagger.
Peria, preparing to fire Kuuri at Sion.)
Claugh: Hey, aiming at Sion?
(He prepares the same spell at Peria.)
Peria: What I seek is iridescent destruction >>> Kuuri!
Peria: This was a fake. You're finished, Red Hair.
(He throws a hidden knife at Claugh.)
Claugh: Whoa—
(He catches it with his right hand. Peria smiles.)
Peria: It's poisoned.
(Claugh also smiles.)
Claugh: This is an artificial hand, idi~ot.
Peria: Whoops.
Claugh: You're the one who's finished. Once I release my arm's curse...
Peria: (muttering) Burn.
(The knife shines red.)
Claugh: Uh-oh, crap. Well then, you can have this back.
(Something about pushing the knife towards Peria and Peria using that force to return to Ryner.)
Peria: You're strong, aren't you? On top of that, you managed to deal with Benorino's Fang. Pia's going to be mad at me.
(Ryner looks at them—Luke, Zohra, Claugh, and Zohra. Then at Remurus, who notices and laughs.)
Remurus: Well, now that I've been forgotten by everyone, I'll continue~. For our conversation where no one has to die—well, no one's going to die anyway. Then, let's go.
Remurus: First of all, all the humans who have gathered here have one feature in common. What is it, you ask? Well, although I ask, I'm not expecting an answer, so I'll tell you. The fact is, all of you are people from Roland.
Remurus: But don't you think that's funny? That such superior beings were all born in Roland—don't you think that's funny? Maybe someone had a hand in this? That a kind and might god thought that "humans" should decide their own fate and lent a hand?
(Luke stops and takes a step back.)
Zohra: Oh? Are you giving up?
(Luke lifts his hand.)
Luke: Yes, I've been defeated. Shall we call a truce for a bit? It seems we're roughly equal. Then Remurus's...
Remurus: (interrupting) My thoughts? But there's no need to blame yourself for not being able to break free from my scenario, Luke. I've been plotting this for much longer than you all, but above all, I was born long before you all.
(Claugh and Peria stop their fight.)
Claugh: Because you were born before us?
Peria: What do you mean...
dai denyuuden vol. 11 pg. 7-21
"You know, I don't feel love."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"So you're saying that you've never cared for any of the people you associate with?"
"Hmm~ That was more like playing around—no, rather, you could say I was testing myself by associating with them."
"But you seriously don't care for any of your friends?"
"Caring and such emotions—my heart is incapable of producing or understanding them."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. At the very least, I wasn't created with such things."
"By the army?"
At Major General Calne Kaiwal's question, Luke smiled faintly and spoke.
"Where I was going with this wasn't about how my emotions were destroyed by the army—but rather, by the gods. In any case, this entire scenario was Remurus's doing, and yet in the end he disappeared, entrusting everything to humanity."
At that, Calne laughed.
"To be honest, I don't know what to think about the gods and this world they created. I mean, it's a world where a mad country like Roland was born."
"So you're saying that if gods truly did exist, then such a world wouldn't come to be?"
"That's right."
"You, Claugh, and I are the same, correct? We all came from the Emirel Private Forces?"
"Right."
"That certainly was a terrible place, wasn't it?"
Calne made a thoughtful face, as if he were recalling something, and then,
"Well, it's not like it was the only horrible place in Roland,"
He said, laughing.
At that, Luke remembered the past.
As expected, the memories that came to mind were terrible ones.
Well, as he'd established just now, he wasn't capable of emotions, so perhaps that wasn't entirely accurate—but even though he couldn't acknowledge them as such, what he saw was a horrible scene.
In his mind were painful memories.
No, even if they were painful, it'd already been several years since they occurred in Roland, and so now, Luke turned his attention to the scene that spread out before him.
Right now, Luke and the others were inside a small office in a tower within the Remurus Empire.
(description of how Roland took over Remurus, etc. Skipping from pg. 9 to pg 11)
"......"
However, the conversation just now was inconsequential.
More than that, it was a conversation about love.
A conversation about emotions.
A conversation about humanity.
Luke stared ahead. Standing by the window, he stared outside.
And, he asked,
"Calne-san, do you love anyone?"
Calne laughed, before answering.
"I love each day. My preferences are older women."
"I've heard the rumours."
"Roland's noblewomen can be pretty cute with the way they stand on edge, you know?"
"Hmm."
"But the bakery lady is good too. She likes to use her husband's favourite phrase."
At that, Luke looked at him with an astounded face as he spoke.
"All of them already have someone else, I see. Is that your preference?"
Calne laughed frivolously, looking his way.
And he spoke.
"Does it really matter what my tastes are? In the end, everyone will just die anyway, right?"
"......"
"On top of that, I have no idea when I'll die. Under these circumstances, wouldn't it be foolish to get into a serious relationship?"
He said, laughing again.
And he looked out the window once more.
He was waiting for Eslina, a girl who was coming from the Roland Empire in the south to Remurus.
She was the younger sister of Fiole Folkal, who had been employed as Sion's secretary, and was a rather cute child.
Rather than be an attractive, mature woman, she was still in her teens.
And as her brother, Fiole, had been killed by the nobles out of spite, she'd been placed by Calne's side for protection.
The two had gone through many months without seeing each other. Calne alone had been captured by the Remurus Empire.
Eslina had been worried, of course.
If she were a normal human who possessed emotions, it was only natural that she'd be worried. No, perhaps she even loved him.
Because when Luke found and saved Calne at this tower—no, that wasn't it, was it? At that time, Luke had thought that the captured Calne might've been brainwashed by Remurus, and so to destroy that risk, he'd intended to kill him, when he then pleaded for his life.
"What's with this? After so many months, I've only realized it now when I'm about to die. So if I were to live, I'd like to be able to return..."
Recalling those words, Luke looked at Calne.
"By the way, are you planning on confessing your love to Eslina?"
"Eh?"
With a surprised face, Calne turned around.
"Back then, weren't you pleading for your life to me?"
Luke asked that.
Looking as if he were thinking about something, Calne replied.
"Fiole would be mad at me, wouldn't he?"
Luke tilted his head to the side and said,
"Isn't he dead?"
"Haha, what a dry response. Sion-san wouldn't want to hear that, though."
"I don't share his human-like nature, after all."
"Even so, he isn't human inside—wasn't that what was just discussed before?"
"Correct."
"Love, affection, friendship, betrayal, life, death, emotions, emptiness... Those are what the almighty gods entrusted to people... to humans. Somehow, it all feels really sudden, doesn't it?"
Calne muttered to himself.
Luke stared at his face.
Already, Calne knew everything.
What had just happened in this tower a while ago.
And the top brass of Roland, Field Marshal Rahel Miller, Field Marshal Bayuuz White, Field Marshal Claugh Klom, and here, Major General Calne Kaiwal—it was something between them.
Specifically, the subject of Ryner.
The subject of Sion.
The subject of the gods.
The subject of this world.
And the subject of the future entrusted to humanity.
In other words, those subjects.
Calne's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Ah—"
At that, Luke asked,
"What's wrong?"
"No, nothing."
"Has Eslina-san come?"
"Ahaha."
"Then, you should hurry and confess to her."
"If it were that simple, it wouldn't cause so much distress."
With that, Calne began to walk, perhaps to meet with Eslina.
Then, he spoke.
"By the way, to continue the conversation from before—"
"Hmm?"
"About how humans possess love, affection, and camaraderie... and how because of that, all the hopes for the future have been entrusted to us—how stupid."
"Haha."
"You really don't love anyone or consider them a friend, Luke-senpai?"
"Yes."
"For example, you don't see Claugh-senpai as a friend?"
At the question, Luke said jokingly,
"What do you think Claugh would do if I say that we are?"
"Haha. He'd definitely punch you."
"Probably, yes."
"Or if not him, then you feel something towards First Lieutenant Milk Callaud. Isn't that love?"
At that, Luke lifted his head, looking at Calne, who was already exiting the room.
"Does it seem that way?"
"Are you saying that you're just acquaintances? Even though you fuss over her the way you do?"
"Ehh."
"No, don't just go 'ehh' with a surprised face."
"Love... love, is it? Rather than that, I'd say it's because of the brainwashing."
"Huh?"
"No, it's nothing. Now, please go already. Don't you have a confession to make?"
"Like I said, it's not that simple~."
Laughing, Calne left the room.
Alone in that room, Luke's thoughts spun around.
Many thoughts developed all at once.
How to move, here in the central continent.
What position to take in Roland.
And regarding Ryner and Sion.
But at the same time, in the corner of his mind, he continued to think over what Calne said.
"Isn't that love?"
To that question, he had a simple answer.
That likely wasn't love.
However, he understood that the brainwashing was no longer in effect.
The brainwashing of the Goddess that dwelled within her had been undone.
Already, they were able to escape the curse of the Goddess.
And yet, he felt sworn to loyalty towards her.
Why was that?
Was it because she possessed the innocent, human-like emotions that he yearned for?
Did he, who wasn't capable of such things, believe it to be important?
But if he were to call such an emotion love, then—
"Well, as long as I can't deny with certainty that it is... it seems that I truly do possess human emotions after all,"
Luke murmured, standing up.
Slowly, he approached the window.
The office was on the fourth floor of the tower.
It wasn't a particularly high area.
He looked out and surveyed the capital of Remurus.
The surroundings of the tower were overflowing with crowds of people.
Between the army and the civilians, they moved around busily.
However, in the center, one girl in particular was granted permission to enter the tower's outer circumference.
It was Eslina Folkal.
She had a crying face. As she began to tremble, she had that sort of frightened face.
She looked around frantically, before she noticed a man exiting the tower.
At that, her expression changed. As the tears streamed down her face, she ran.
In the man's direction.
She ran in the direction of Calne Kaiwal, before hugging him.
To that, Calne made a troubled face.
Perhaps that was love and affection.
Luke looked at that from above.
And then, looking down at the tower basement, at the tower prison—
"... Now then, for what meaning did the gods give us life for?"
With the world's verdict ten years away, he murmured that.
dai denyuuden vol. 12 pg. 71-72
(Ryner and Kiefer have been talking about magic—about learning it from various countries, how long it takes, how people are best at their mother country's magic, etc.)
Ryner: Naturally, I like Roland’s magic the most.
(Kiefer smiles.)
Kiefer: In spite of the fact that in Toale’s forces, there are the most users?
Ryner: Nnn?
Kiefer: Soldiers who use magic—if you narrowed it down, the army that Toale leads—those who from Imperial Nelpha are the largest number? All of them are magic users.
Ryner: Yeah~ There, the control…
(Anyhow, that insignia no longer exists, as Toale Nelphi lost his country.
And now, that country is working for Vois's organization and Pia's organization.
As Toale, by nature, dislikes conflict, he works outside of the center of things.
No, though he's called a king even by Ryner, he's just a puppet who's only treated as such as mere window dressing.)
Ryner: Toale. Toale? I~ see.
(He rises.)
Kiefer: Are you going to wash your face?
Ryner: Yup.
(He and Kiefer talk for a bit about sleeping.
He's thinking of implementing new magic/weapons or something.
And perhaps for that, Nelpha's magic language would be good. Pia and Vois have plenty of Rule Fragments, given their rather warlike characters.
That's why Ryner doesn't want to give such tools to them.
But if it's Toale. If it's him...)
Ryner: ...
(Thinking about that, he leaves the room.)
dai denyuuden vol. 12 pg. 105-155
(Tiir enters the scene and Pia attacks.
Standard description of Tiir—black hair, eyes, clothing, etc. Glowing red cross. Pia recognizes him as an Iino Doue bearer since she’s seen several during the war.)
Tiir: (smiling) Uwa, to have avoided my attacks up until now—you’re strong.
(Tiir has light cuts on her arms from when Pia attacked him, but they heal. He moves to attack her again.
Pia’s subordinates notice the scene.)
Subordinates: Pia-sama!
Subordinates: Princess!
(They start to use magic all at once.)
Pia: Back me up! This guy…
(Vois’s subordinates move in behind her.)
Pia: This guy devours magic! Don’t use magic! Throw your knives!
(They throw knives. Tiir smiles.)
Tiir: That won’t hit…
(Pia smiles.)
Pia: It’ll hit. Because I’m the one handling this.
(She spins her fingers around. A magic circle is created in the hole she makes. Roland’s magic.)
Tiir: Aha, magic is no use. That’s what you just said…
Pia: Shut up, monster.
(She invokes the magic.)
Pia: What I seek is water mist >>> Misumi!
(She’s sent back due to the recoil and jumps up into the sky.)
Pia: Come on, jump. Jump and avoid the knives. Jump and scatter.
(Tiir looks up at her.)
Tiir: Da—
(She sends knives flying from all around Tiir. They strike him. He bleeds, obviously. Furthermore, Pia casts her claws. Tiir frantically evades.)
Pia: The claws were a fake~
(Pia swings her leg up. A knife flies from her tiptoe. It cuts through Tiir’s neck. More bleeding. His surroundings blur. It’s a fatal wound.)
Pia: Everyone, leave. If his power is taken away, this will end. Iino Doue bearer, you won’t recover.
(She watches Tiir bleed and his blood dye his clothes red.)
Pia: Now then, tell me, who are you? You’ll only heal if I offer up magic, you know?
(Tiir smiles, despite being on the verge of death.)
Pia: What’s so amusing?
Tiir: Your feeling of triumph.
Pia: That’s amusing?
Tiir: Yes.
Pia: Then, we’re agreeing that I won? Even though an Iino Doue bearer devours magic, that wasn’t a lengthy display of power. But for that bleeding, your ability to devour magic from the air…
(Tiir snaps his fingers. His neck injury begins to heal. The knife falls out.
Pia smiles.)
Pia: That is?
Pia: But to heal your injuries, you use up your energy, don’t you? Healing your wounds consumes a lot of energy. I already know about you guys. We’re abundant in knowledge.
Tiir: That’s only because you kill our brethren.
Pia: Hey, hold on. We’re different from Gastark’s people. We’re not interested in the Cursed Eyes. We’re your friends.
(Immediately, Tiir’s expression changes.)
Tiir: In the end, humans’ standing is different from our friends’. More and more, it makes me sick.
Pia: Ahaha, that’s all you guys ever talk about. Having your eyes open at birth, you Iino Doue bearers are unpleasant people.
(Tiir glares at her. With one hand, Pia stealthily prepares a Rule Fragment and thinks about how her victory has already been decided, especially as the Iino Doue can’t devour Rule Fragments.
She throws what looks to be a knife at Tiir, but is actually a Rule Fragment.)
Tiir: That kind of thing has no meaning.
Pia: (smiling) If it won’t hit, then don’t move?
(She prepares herself.)
Tiir: Oh, don’t tell me that you still think you can win?
Pia: Oh my, don’t you know that there isn’t a single man in this world who’s stronger than me?
Tiir: Hahaha.
Pia: Go ahead and laugh. This’ll be the only time you can.
(Tiir smiles.)
Tiir: No, no, I’m laughing over the misunderstanding. But did you think that my friends weren’t here as well?
Pia: (stupidly) Eh?
(Behind Tiir is a pretty ~17-year-old girl with black hair, black eyes, and black clothing. Another Iino Doue bearer.)
Girl: Hold on, Tiir-san, don’t be hasty! If we interfere by ourselves, what’ll you do if we get hurt?
(Tiir looks over his shoulder.)
Tiir: But from observing from before, we don’t know if it’s safe for our friends to come, wouldn’t you say?
(Tiir’s attitude has changed from before—he’s talking a lot more gently.
He looks back at Pia and his attitude goes back to how it was before, as he spreads both arms apart.)
Tiir: (confidently) However, it would seem there isn’t a problem. I was able to take control here alone. The humans here are weak. I’ll slaughter them.
(Pia thinks and considers using a Rule Fragment—the Demonic Beast Destroyer [Ellearms].)
Pia: This situation—it can’t be helped, huh?
(She reaches into a dress pocket. Suddenly, Vois appears.)
Vois: No, no, now’s not the time, Pia-san. The outcome has been decided. Now’s the time for negotiations.
(Pia looks at him.)
Pia: What do you mean, the outcome has been decided? You can’t be saying that I’ve been defeated by that guy…
Vois: That’s not what I’m saying. If you use Ellearms, it’ll be the same as them slaughtering everyone, you know?
Pia: …
Vois: Yes, it’s your victory. However, I’ll be responsible for this. This is my field of expertise.
(Vois boldly sticks out his chest to Tiir.)
Vois: Well, well, all of you with Cursed Eyes. Hello. I was hiding until a while ago… I was observing the situation. Based on how things went, don’t you think we should start negotiations, Tiir-san?
(Tiir narrows his eyes.)
Tiir: Negotiations? I don’t negotiate with inferior humans.
(Vois smiles.)
Vois: Is that so? For what reason are you here, then? It can’t be that because you’re so disgusted at us, you came here just to kill us.
(Tiir smiles.)
Tiir: Humans always disgust me.
Vois: However, we’re not the only disgusting humans. Um, over there to the side, they’re inside that fortress.
Tiir: …
Vois: Furthermore, you Cursed Eye bearers should know that our king is one of your friends.
(Tiir glares at Vois.)
Tiir: The one you’ve named as a demon and are using—Ryner?
Vois: Aha, to say we’re using him—that’s a mean way of putting it. Ryner and I are friends. We’re such close friends that we’ve slept in the same bed…
(Tiir disappears—or rather, he moves extremely quickly. He grabs Vois’s neck and slams him to the ground with enough force to break his neck.)
Vois: Gua—
Pia: Damn it.
(She watches the Cursed Eye bearer girl’s behaviour, knowing that she can’t help Vois because the girl will attack if she tries.
A black mist appears (?). Within the mist, Pia can see glowing red eyes—nearing 1,000 of them.
Meanwhile, Tiir is strangling Vois.)
Tiir: I already said that I don’t negotiate with filthy humans. The trivial jokes of a brat like you are tedious to listen to. If you’d cast yourselves before us and begged for your life from the start, I might’ve been willing to listen to your request.
Pia: If you kill that brat, I won’t negotiate with you?
(Tiir looks up at her with a cheerful expression.)
Tiir: Then I’ll kill you. But even if you’re killed, the others will still beg for their lives.
Pia: You can’t kill me.
Tiir: Hahaha.
Pia: If you kill me, my subordinates will refuse to negotiate with you.
Tiir: Hahaha, then I’ll kill them…
(Pia thinks again, considering the use of Ellearms to deal with the Cursed Eye bearers. Something about a seal and a choker.)
Pia: (surprised) … No way.
(Someone grabs her arm. It’s not Tiir or the Cursed Eye bearer girl.)
Pia: What are you?
(The black mist begins to clear up. Pia can see a blond-haired man with who looks to be in his late twenties and resembles Ryner. Aka Lieral.)
Lieral: (gently) Well, from hereon, the war should occur, huh?
Pia: Don’t touch me!
(Pia swings her claws. She hits him, but with Lieral being Lieral, it doesn’t have much of an effect, since his body just heals itself.)
Lieral: (jokingly) Well, I’m still alive.
(His appearance begins to change.)
Lieral: Through magic, I can go against the laws of nature…
(Pia begins to cast Kuuri.)
Lieral: Oh, amazing speed, huh?
(Lieral does something to the spell.)
Pia: N-No way—
(Thoughts about magic.)
Pia: … Amazing. But why aren’t you attacking? Don’t tell me that you’re going easy on me?
(Lieral smiles faintly.)
Lieral: Haha, I’m different from Tiir-kun. I believe in being nice to women…
(Pia interrupts.)
Pia: Or it’s the magic? That’s why you’re not attacking. You’re not able to. Because you’re an hallucination.
(Lieral smiles faintly again.)
Lieral: Magic.
Pia: It seems like it.
Lieral: Yeah. For me, that low degree of magic isn’t worth using here. For example, if you surrender, I don’t need to use magic.
Pia: How crude—
(Lieral begins drawing a magic circle.)
◆◆◆
(Pia jumps high into the air and looks down below, feeling strangely afraid.)
Pia: …
Pia: (moaning) Uuu.
Pia: D-Damn it, I won’t lose. I’ll protect my spirit, the magic won’t be destroyed…
◆◆◆
Lieral?: Hey, isn’t it good up in that hole?
(The spells Lieral prepared disappear and Lieral smiles.)
Pia: …
(Pia thinks about Lieral’s skill.)
Pia: …
(Tiir stands up.)
Tiir: Don’t be a hindrance, Lieral Lieutolu.
(Lieral looks over his shoulder, looking at ease.)
Pia: …
(Pia chews at her lips.)
Lieral: Your unpleasant attitude towards humans is bad for negotiations, don’t you think?
(Tiir glares at Lieral.)
Tiir: I don’t need to be given instructions by a human.
Lieral: (cheerfully) Well, while we’re talking about this, I’m only partly human, you know?
(He spreads his arms apart. However, Tiir just looks sullen.)
Tiir: First of all, I didn’t even want to work together with you like this. It’s because of Ene’s orders…
Lieral: Then, if you’re acting according to her orders, shouldn’t you be happier? After all, she wants to be on good terms with a human like me.
Tiir: … That’s because she’s too soft.
Lieral: That’s not it. I think I see things the way she does more than you.
Tiir: What are you…
Lieral: You don’t know anything. You don’t know anything about that, I’d say. For my son’s happiness, I wouldn’t care if I destroyed the world. However, as advice from your senior… well, because of their ability to devour magic, Iino Doue bearer’s cells don’t age, but between the two of us, which one of us is older, I don’t know.
(Many Cursed Eyes appear through the black mist.)
Lieral: But, well, let me give you some advice. Your behaviour—is that something you’d want to show to the young Cursed Eye bearers who love you so dearly?
Tiir: … That’s a different issue. To begin with, I was opposed to this alliance with humans…
Lieral: Why are you still against it? If you kill them, who will you be protecting? By being antagonistic towards humans, who are you protecting?
(Tiir’s expression clouds up. Lieral seems satisfied.)
Lieral: Then, my work is done. As you’re the representative of your group, I’ll entrust this to you. See you.
(He waves.)
Pia: W-Wait…
(Lieral disappears into the darkness.)
Pia: What in the world is that guy?
(She feels humiliated. Vois gets up.)
Vois: Iya, that was dangerous. I was on the verge of feeling pleasure from that strangling~
(Tiir looks down at him.)
Tiir: (annoyed) … I can do it again, if you want?
(Voice smiles slightly.)
Vois: No, no, it’s all right. Being strangled once is enough—I don’t want to die. Now let’s have a business-like conversation, shall we?
Tiir: …
Vois: Well, I understand the general situation. Lieral Lieutolu is Ryner-san’s father, huh?
Pia: Haa!? What!? That attractive man is that sleepyhead’s… father?
(Vois ignores her.)
Vois: So, your group of Cursed Eye bearers. Why such a strange sort of people was born, I don’t know, but right now, what are your conditions for negotiations?
(Tiir, looking sullen, doesn’t reply. Vois continues smiling.)
Vois: Our king is a Cursed Eye bearer, after all. Right now, with this world’s current state of affairs, the Cursed Eye bearers have no choice but to seek protection. Others will just gouge out and use your eyes. By doing that, they can get a lot of power, isn’t that right?
(Tiir’s expression changes, but Vois ignores that.)
Vois: So, because of that, “Work for us and we’ll give you protection” is something I’m not going to say. Our naïve Demon King-sama would get angry. That’s why it’s okay. I’ll accept your conditions. Become friends with us.
(He lifts a finger to his cheek.)
Vois: However, surely, that won’t give you peace of mind, will it? Because you’ve been persecuted for a long time. Because you’ve been afraid of humans all your life. The persecution in humans’ hearts—my parents were swindlers, so I’ve studied a lot about it…
Tiir: Humans’ hearts, to us…
(Vois interrupts.)
Vois: No, no, you guys, you’re human, you know? You feel wrath at the persecution. You feel humiliation. You feel grief. So aren’t you human?
Tiir: …
Vois: In fact, I’d say that Ryner-san is more human than me, you know.
Tiir: …
(Tiir remains silent.)
Vois: Even if I say that, the anxiety doesn’t disappear. Then, what should we do to make this anxiety go away? This attack, this threat—to be recognized as strong, you have to build up your status, that’s what I’ve been thinking about… so, by building up your status, you’ll really give our king some relief?
(He looks over at the black mist, as does Pia, where there are still countless glowing eyes. Their subordinates look startled—an expected response, given how deadly Iino Doue bearers and Alpha Stigma bearers can be.
Pia knows from having known Ryner since they were young, however, that Ryner is just the same as anyone else.
And though the Cursed Eye bearers’ numbers were very few, people were still afraid of them, hence the persecution. )
Pia: …
(The minority groups are discriminated against. Persecuted. Slaughtered. Hated.
Vois rushes.)
Tiir: Where are you going?
(In spite of the overwhelming power of someone like Tiir compared to Vois, who can’t fight, the reality is that the Cursed Eye bearers take the abuse.)
Vois’s subordinate: Vois-sama!
(The mist—which was probably Lieral’s doing—begins to clear up. But rather than trained fighters or anything like that, they’re just frightened-looking children.
Even so, the subordinates’ reactions are the same. They’re monsters. Kill them.
And to that, the Cursed Eye bearers respond the way they do. Hate rises to their expressions. Grief rises to their expressions.
Hate rises to Tiir’s expression. Or, rather, murderous intent does. To that, Pia moves in order to stop him.
Vois smiles and lets out a sigh.)
Vois: Be quiet, you idiots!
(The subordinates look surprised.)
Vois: If any of you guys say anything like that again to the Cursed Eye bearers, I’ll give you the death penalty. Is that clear? Right now, they’re our friends. If you insult our friends, I’ll give you the death penalty. Understood?
(The subordinates look bewildered.)
Vois: I’m asking if you understand!
(It’s clear they do. Vois looks over at the Cursed Eye bearers.)
Vois: Hey, Cursed Eye bearers. Cheer up. And please be at ease. I’m not going to discriminate against you.
(They still look on guard, though.)
Children: No way! We know that all humans hate us!
(Says a five-year-old girl. Vois smiles.)
Vois: I can’t hate children, you know? I’m a lolicon.
Pia: Haa? What are you saying, now of all times?
Vois: (happily) I know, being born into a life of discrimination and persecution, since in my country…
Someone: Don’t be fooled!
Someone: Don’t believe that human’s words!
Someone: That’s right, that’s right—we won’t be fooled!
Vois: (confidently) Discriminating and persecuting—my parents educated me in that. That’s what my parents said. They’re different from us, they said. That’s how I was to think as a child. They’re different, so it’s okay to bully them. It’s okay to discriminate against them. It’s okay to persecute them.
Someone: Be quiet, human!
Vois: It’s difficult, to erase the education you were born into. Children don’t forget that kind of thing. But today, the children who are born here can be taught differently. Today, immediately and entirely, it’s not unreasonable for things to change. So from now on…
(Tiir holds out his arm, stopping him. Magutt looks at him with cold eyes.)
Magutt: This guy is dangerous. He’s deceiving our friends.
Tiir: However, we need them.
Magutt: This guy can’t…
Tiir: You don't understand the danger of humans yet. The Gastark Empire and Roland Empire are already approaching. If we’re found, they’ll gouge out our eyes.
Magutt: But…
Tiir: But what you said was correct. We can’t depend on his words, right?
(Magutt’s expression brightens. Tiir grabs Vois’s hair.)
Tiir: And so, we’ll be taking him captive. He’s an important person to the humans. Anyhow, we can use him as a pretext for negotiations, can’t we?
Vois: Ah, help?
Pia: I can’t help from this distance, I don’t think?
Vois: Is that so… well, this is just about as I expected, so please take care of me.
Pia: Please take care of you…
Vois’s associate: Please don’t move. Everyone, act according to Vois-sama’s instructions.
(Pia looks at the associate, who’s a 16-17-year-old girl with tea-coloured hair and mismatched black eyes—aka Relca.)
Relca: Vois-sama is intending to pierce into the hearts of the Cursed Eye bearers; however, because they’re won’t understand a human’s words, they want to hear from the king of Cursed Eye bearers.
Pia: The king of Cursed Eye bearers? That’d be Ryner?
Relca: Yes. And already, he’s been called. He’s in a hurry since we sent a letter to him.
Pia: Huh, when was that?
Relca: Immediately when Tiir Rumibul attacked.
(Pia’s eyes narrow, as she considers the implications of what Relca just said.)
Pia: I don’t like you guys.
Relca: Are you angry at the part about not being informed?
Pia: All of it.
Relca: That’s business. However, I’m sorry.
(She looks at Vois, worried.)
Pia (muttering) But that brat is too much, wouldn’t you say?
Pia: Well, since he’s a brat, things balance out.
Pia: Incidentally, what did you write in that letter to Ryner? That Vois has been taken captive?
(Relca shakes her head.)
Relca: That Pia-san has been killed.
Pia: Aah, that would make Ryner come.
Relca: (worriedly) If he didn’t, that would be a problem.
(The Cursed Eye bearers pull back into the mist.)
Pia: Then for me, there's no point in trying to save Vois.
(Relca glares.)
Pia: Just joking.
(Pia laughs.)
Pia: (muttering) Haa, this is tiring…
Pia: Aah, I want to meet up with Peria and Zohra…
Pia: (something about sleeping)
dai denyuuden vol. 12 pg. 225-300
Pia: Because, Ryner, you're going to have fight someone even faster than Ferris-san here.
Ryner: Eh?
Pia: An Iino Doue bearer. And on top of that, he currently has an infinite supply of magic power that he can devour—really, a bad guy. His name’s Tiir Rumibul. You know him?
Ryner: Ha? Tiir? Why are Pia and Tiir…
Pia: And there’s Lieral Lieutolu. Your father’s really strong. (something about his magic)
Ryner: Hold on, hold on—why do you know my dad?
Pia: There were two people who attacked. So, those guys abducted Vois and took him back to the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement. That means Ryner can’t go back.
Ryner: Haaaaaaaaa? Wait, that kind of serious matter—what’s going on?
Pia: Personally, since it’s Vois’s life, I don’t think it’s a serious matter.
Ryner: No, that’s not the problem, I don’t think.
Pia: Ah, I have a message from Vois. Or rather, not him. From Relca.
Ryner: Na?
Pia: Anyway, this is to shake the Cursed Eye bearers’ hearts, since they won’t listen to the words of a human. That’s why the king of Cursed Eye bearers has to persuade them.
(Ryner’s eyes widen.)
Ryner: Who’s the king of Cursed Eye bearers?”
Pia: Isn’t it you?
Ryner: I’m the king again?
Pia: With the air of an idiot king, I’d say?
(Ferris, Pia, and Ryner banter for the next page.)
Ryner: Yes, yes, I get it already. Then, let’s go have that talk? With Tiir, Lieral, and Vois? That combination’s kind of funny…
(He thinks about how the last time they met, they were enemies, as the purpose of the Iino Doue’s existence was to kill Lieral.)
Ryner: Pia, what’s Tiir and Lieral’s relationship?
Pia: Hmm~ It didn’t seem like they liked each other much?
Ryner: Ah, as I thought?
Pia: However, it seemed like your father was an ally of the Cursed Eye bearers.
Ryner: Hmm.
Pia: But the Cursed Eye bearers’ seemed to have listened attentively to Vois’s speech.
Ryner: Hou. Vois’s speech, huh?
Pia: But Tiir didn’t believe in him.
Ryner: I see.
Pia: So, for the sake of negotiations, they took him captive until Ryner comes.
Ryner: Negotiations?
Pia: That’s right. Negotiations.
(Ryner narrows his eyes as he thinks over how this would go over.
For the Cursed Eye bearers' group, Tiir approached Ryner and co.—no, the People's Republic of Sphelliyet for negotiations.
For the sake of selecting a union.
He hates humans to that extent.
Towards humans, he and the other Cursed Eye bearers have nothing but contempt.)
Ryner: (muttering) The world’s current situation is pretty bad, huh?
(At least, with the way Gastark treats Cursed Eye bearers. Before Ryner's eyes, Cursed Eye bearers—women and children—were killed by them.
And they gouged out their eyes.
Tiir had cried out angrily.
And Lafra—)
Ryner: ...
(Ryner remembered that time.
Lafra was a boy who'd believed that Ryner could act as a bridge between humans and Cursed Eye bearers.
Lafra had smiled. Before he'd died, he smiled.
Entrusting the Cursed Eye bearers with Ryner, he'd smiled and died.
Ryner remembered that.
Nevertheless, Tiir and co. approached the People's Republic of Sphelliyet.)
Ryner: … Well, this is a major thing.
(He stands up and heads over to his horse.)
Ryner: Well, I’d say that we should hurry, but I don’t know where Vois is… Pia.
Pia: Hmm?
Ryner: Where do I go?
Pia: I don’t know.
Ryner: Eh?
Pia: I didn’t ask.
Ryner: Then what do we do?
(Suddenly, before his eyes, a black mist appears.)
Ryner: What the…
(Pia moves, taking a coin out of her pocket. She puts it forth towards the mist.)
Pia: I wonder if this can kill you? Lieral Lieutolu.
(From the mist, a blond-haired man appears. Relaxed, sleepy eyes, dressed in a tight suit.
Ryner’s father, Lieral.
As expected, in a voice resembling Ryner’s—)
Lieral: Iyaa, might that be a Rule Fragment?
Pia: That’s right.
Lieral: Why do you have that? It’s a rather unusual thing to be in possession of.
Pia: Because I’m a genius.
Lieral: Haha, I see, a genius? Well, even I might be blown off if I were attacked with that. But I can’t say—I’ve never had it tried out before.
(Pia smiles a tad happily.)
Pia: Then I’d have a chance at victory?
Lieral: Seems that way.
Pia: Well, that’s fine. I won’t kill you.
(She puts the coin back. Then she looks over at Ryner.)
Pia: Ryner.
Ryner: Hmm?
Pia: (says stuff about possibly learning Lieral’s magic)
(Lieral smiles.)
Lieral: No, no, this magic may be my strong point, but it can only be used at the cost of your humanity. It’s not something I’d advise my beloved son to use.
(He looks at Ryner.)
Lieral: Then, let’s go, Ryner.
Ferris: Where are you taking him?
Lieral: To where the Cursed Eye bearers are.
Ferris: But alone…
Lieral: It’s fine if you come along as well. As I’ve said before, I want to protect my son. And so, it wouldn’t be a very good idea to send him out alone.
Ryner: Ah, Ferris, you’ve met with my dad before?
Ferris: He entered my dream.
Ryner: Dream?
Ferris: Yeah.
Ryner: So, what’d you talk about?
(Ferris doesn’t answer.)
Ryner: Hey, Dad.
Lieral: What is it?
Ryner: What’d you talk to Ferris about?
Ryner: Hey, Ferris. Seriously, what did you talk to my dad about?
(She still looks embarrassed.)
Ferris: Just gossip.
Ryner: You’re that angry over gossip?
Ferris: (angrily) That’s enough already. Be quiet, idiot.
(Ryner tilts his head but doesn’t ask further.)
Ryner: Well, I guess it’s fine.
Ryner: Then, Dad.
Lieral: What is it, my son?
Ryner: No, why do you keep saying that over and over again? It’s embarrassing.
Lieral: Ahaha.
Ryner: So what’s the situation?
Lieral: With Vois-kun?
Ryner: Right, right.
Lieral: He might be being tortured?
Ryner: Eh, no way?
Lieral: Really. He’s in league with the Goddesses, so the Cursed Eye bearers don’t believe in him. Well, torture aside, the Cursed Eye bearers need to search through his memories, so they won’t kill him.
(Ryner remembers Lafra and the Ebra Crypt.)
Ryner: … Is Vois suffering?
Lieral: Well, there’s a possibility.
Ryner: Then we have to hurry.
(Lieral nods.)
Lieral: That’s why I’ve come out to get you. Well then, I’ll be your guide. Get on your horse.
Pia: Would it be possible for me to…
Lieral: Can’t say for certain. However, you’ve fought with the Cursed Eye bearers. To enter their settlement, Ryner and the one who saved them before, Ferris Eris, would be best—or so I’ve been told.
(Ferris looks his way.)
Ferris: Hmm.
(Ryner looks at Pia.)
Ryner: Well then, I’ll be going.
(Pia smiles.)
Pia: Ah, by the way, Ryner.
Ryner: Hmm?
Pia: Don’t die with Vois, all right? If I go back to the People's Republic of Sphelliyet alone… then Roland and Gastark will end up conquering the continent.
(Ryner smiles wryly.)
Ryner: That’s not exactly easy.
Pia: But that would be no fun… bring back Vois, and then bring Tiir or whatever and the other Cursed Eye bearers with you when you return.
Ryner: That’s really not easy at all.
Pia: Haha, but this time, I have friends against Roland and Gastark. So you too, once in a while…
Ryner: Yeah, I’ll do my best. Then, I’ll be going.
Pia: Ye—s.
(Pia delicately waves her hand. She then sits down on the cloth she and Ferris laid out and drinks the rest of her tea.)
Ryner: So, Dad. Is the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement far?
(However, Ryner can’t see Lieral anywhere. Still, a voice speaks near his ear.)
Lieral: It’s about two days away.
Ryner: Um, could you act a little more human?
Lieral: Ahaha.
Ryner: Anyway, it’s two days away? I’ve already been riding for five days, and again I have to ride for two more days?
Lieral: Hahaha.
Ryner: So, which way?
Lieral: That way.
(He speaks like he’s pointing somewhere, but…)
Ryner: (complaining) That’s why you need to be visible.
Lieral: Well, let the horses move. I’ll tell you whether to move left or right.
Ryner: Then at least point us in the first direction. What? South? Is it fine if we go down this road?
Lieral: Yes.
Ryner: Then, Ferris. Go south.
(Ferris starts moving with her horse.)
Lieral: Ah, by the way, Ferris-chan.
Ferris: What?
Lieral: During these next two days, if you were to flirt with and be loveydovey with my son, I would allow it…
Ferris: Die!
(Ferris swings her sword in the direction of the voice.)
Lieral: (cheerfully) Missed me~
(Ferris frowns and puts her sword away.)
Ferris: Hey, Ryner.
Ryner: What?
Ferris: I don’t like your father.
Ryner: Ah~ right. I definitely know what you mean.
Lieral: My, are the two disobedient young ones eloping?
(Ryner sighs.)
Ryner: Anyway, just ignore him.
Ferris: Mmm.
Lieral: Ahaha.
(He laughs.
And so, they begin moving towards the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement.)
◆◆◆
The Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement was in actuality, rather than the south side of the People's Republic of Sphelliyet—in the center of the Geihlficlant Empire—at the east end.
Furthermore, it was deep, deep into the mountains.
The settlement was hidden behind thick trees.
Thousands of people lived in that settlement, in the mountains, in fear of being discovered by other humans.
“… There’s a lot of magic here,”
Ryner said, looking at this settlement in the mountains.
And then he looked around at his surroundings.
Through his eyes, he could see that many procedures had been set in place.
If they had ordinary eyes, the person would only see trees and the ground, rather than the magic procedures that had been drawn—however, with his eyes and the five star pentagram within them, he could read them.
For example, the magic in the trees.
To begin with, it was difficult to approach this mountain.
One would lose control over their sense of direction—that was the same magic he could see as he looked around.
And,
“Ah, Ferris,”
He said, reaching out his hand. He grabbed Ferris’s arm, as she walked beside him.
“Hmm?”
She said, looking his way.
“What is it?”
“There’s a trap there.”
“Hmm.”
She said, looking at her feet. At her feet, there were fallen leaves.
“A magic trap?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t see it, then?”
“That’s why I think these guys are pretty powerful. Even I’m pretty impressed.”
“Hum. Then, what should we do?”
“Take one step behind me.”
“I understand,”
She said, taking one step behind him. And then, at his back—
“All right, let’s go, magic detector.”
“Hey!”
Again, they started moving forward.
There were a lot of magic traps. Not worried that he might miss one, as Ryner could see entirely through them, they moved forward.
And so, they reached the settlement.
It had a bit of a village atmosphere to it.
In the mountain, a two-story building stood.
In an open space, children laughed.
“… This is where all of the Cursed Eye bearers are?”
Ferris said, looking out from behind him.
To that,
“Here should be fine, right? Dad,”
Ryner asked, looking up at the sky.
At that, a voice returned.
“Yeah.”
“Then, from here, what should we do? Sneak in and save Vois?”
“………”
“Or boldly approach and talk with Tiir?”
To that, Lieral said,
“No, already, this time, having come here, Ryner must behave.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The representative of the other side is a capable person, you know.”
“A capable person… then, is it an Ebra Crypt user?”
“No, that’s not it. The Ebra Crypt can’t see the future. However, the other side has someone who can…”
However, all of a sudden, the children who were playing in the open space looked his way.
Possessing the same black hair and black eyes as Ryner—a group of young girls.
Those children—
“He came!”
They called out as they looked his way.
“Tiir-niichan! It’s like Ene-sama said—Ryner-niichan came!”
They happily said those words.
Incidentally, Ryner had erased all signs of his presence and concealed himself in the shadows of the trees.
Really, there was no signs of Ferris’s existence either, as she even hid her breathing.
But the children still noticed.
No, from the start, Ryner and co.’s timing to come here—everyone had known and looked their way.
“… Really, they knew we were coming, huh?”
Ryner said, narrowing his eyes.
And then, from the building, a familiar figure emerged.
Black hair, cold black eyes. Clergyman-like black clothing.
Tiir Rumibul.
The leader of the group of Cursed Eye bearers emerged, looking his way.
Smiling cheerfully,
“Ah, Ryner. You really came.”
He waved over at him.
Incidentally, while Tiir was cold towards humans, he was very kind towards Ryner and Cursed Eye bearers.
Right now, as he stared at Ryner in a happy manner,
“… Ah, why wouldn’t I?”
Ryner said as he stopped concealing his presence, walking forward. He took one step forward—one step into the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement.
And—
“You called, so I came.”
At those words, Tiir spread his arms apart wide and spoke.
“You don’t have to be so tense. This place is your home, after all.”
From behind Ryner, Ferris entered the settlement. And looking Ferris’s way,
“By the way, we didn’t invite that filthy human over there,”
Tiir said in a cold voice.
To that, Ryner replied,
“No, no, someone else invited Ferris?”
“Who?”
“My father… ah, that would be Lieral Lieutolu.”
“Ah, I see. I don’t like your father.”
At that, Ryner smiled, and without looking, called out to his father.
“As I thought, it seems everyone hates you, Dad, huh?”
Then, to that, Lieral laughed.
“Well, as long as Ryner loves me, it’s okay,”
He said, suddenly appearing.
Furthermore, it wasn’t at Ryner’s side, but in the open space. He was with the Cursed Eye bearer children.
At that moment, Tiir’s entire body tensed. Looking at him with open hostility,
“… Don’t approach the children, human. Do you want to be killed?”
He said.
Lieral had a frivolously relaxed expression.
“You can’t kill me. Didn’t you already try that?”
“………”
At that, Tiir glared at Lieral with an annoyed expression.
The children, not noticing the tense situation, smiled.
“Hey, Lieral-ojisan, did you come to play with us again?”
They said, moving to hug him.
Lieral swiftly snapped his fingers.
Suddenly, the girl was holding a teddy bear that appeared before her.
“Waaaaaaaaa!”
The girl’s eyes shined.
“Sneaky! I want one too!”
Said another child, and sure enough, a wagon model appeared.
“Hurraaaaaaaaaaaay!”
Ryner watched the energetic scene with half-closed eyes. Then, to Ferris behind him:
“Ferris.”
“What is it?”
“What do you think about this scene?”
At that question, Ferris looked at Lieral and then stared at Tiir’s angry expression.
“The scene of the strange father delivering presents to the children and the angry mother?”
She said. At that, Tiir looked their way. He started to move.
To that—
“Ah~ I know what you’re thinking, but if you kill Ferris-chan, I’ll kill the children here, you know?”
Lieral said those words.
At that, Tiir stopped moving.
Or rather, he’d been about to seriously attack.
And for the sake of preventing that, Lieral held the children hostage.
Ryner understood the situation, and so became tense.
“This is a troubling situation—don’t you think so? Ferris.”
To that, Tiir spoke.
“No, no, it’s not troublesome, Ryner. It’s a simple situation. Finally, you’re here—the king of the God’s Eyes bearers. And yet, you’re with that foul human. I'll kill her so you can be happy here with us,”
Tiir said. And then,
“Mugatt, Shikure, Melurina. Protect the children.”
He said, ordering someone.
“Yes!”
From inside the building, voices rang out. Then three Iino Doue bearers exited.
They directed their attention towards Lieral. No, Lieral’s surroundings—at the children. Taking a hold of the children, they removed them from Lieral.
“Hmm~ This is…”
At the time that was said, Tiir moved.
He began running towards them in a straight line.
“Now, the spell over Ryner will be undone,”
He said.
His movements were abnormally fast.
At that, Ryner—
“Damn it—Ferris, escape…”
Ferris didn’t leave. Withdrawing her sword, she swung. She swung her sword and,
“Idiot, I’m supporting you as your ally. If you understand that, use your magic!”
She shouted.
At that, in a rush, Ryner began manipulating the air. He carved letters of light in the air.
It was the magic he’d stolen from Estabul.
A spell to enhance his physical capability.
Immediately, he completed the spell.
And,
“I offer up this contract, to bear the spirit beast of light which sleeps in the atmosphere!”
He chanted the spell.
A thin light covered his body, as his body’s movements speeded up.
However, he was still slower than Ferris. Furthermore, with his devouring abilities, Tiir’s movements exceeded those of Ferris’s. She wouldn’t be able to defeat him.
Nevertheless, if it were the two of them…
“We can do this!”
Ryner kicked the ground. Fists by his side, he moved towards Tiir.
Tiir looked his way, and easily dodging—
“Wait, don’t get in my way. This is to open your eyes, after all,”
He said, slipping past Ryner and again rushing towards Ferris.
As he did so, Ferris swung her sword, and so Tiir jumped.
However, at that, Ryner reacted with all his energy. Undoing his subconscious limiter, he could now use his muscles to their full ability.
His muscles, worn from disuse, began building up their magic energy output.
And Ryner—
“Targetting Ferris…”
With all his strength, he slammed into Tiir.
“Don’t even try it!”
He shouted.
Thinking it over, he looked at Ferris.
And to that, Ferris.
His partner, who didn’t hesitate to go to the dangerous Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement with him—wasn’t this important? And so to Tiir’s question,
“………”
To that, Ryner frowned. This was embarrassing. Unable to say anything, he frowned in an embarrassed manner, but nevertheless,
“She’s important. That’s what I’ve decided, you know?”
He said.
And now, those words and Ferris's expression—Ryner was too embarrassed to look over his shoulder and see it.
However—
“………”
Those were his true feelings.
And so he said such a thing to Tiir.
That, right now, he believed to be necessary.
For the Cursed Eye bearers gathered here now who had no faith in humans.
For the Cursed Eye bearers gathered here now who had been persecuted, discriminated against, and hurt.
What Vois wanted to say—in this place, Ryner wanted to try and convey that.
That was why he spoke.
“Ferris is… my important friend,”
He said.
However, at that, Tiir first looked shocked, and then looked up at him with a pitying expression.
“… I see. Important? Well, Alpha Stigma bearers always say that kind of thing, but… in the end, they’re betrayed, go berserk, and then die. Already, how many times have you seen that?”
“………”
“No, haven’t you experienced it yourself? You already know this about humans, don’t you?”
“………”
“So, why speak such nonsense? Important friend? Haha. Are you joking? You’ve been deceived, Ryner. You’re not human. Humans aren’t your friends. It’s not necessary to protect such inferior humans…”
Interrupting Tiir’s words, Ryner spoke.
“You talk too much.”
“Huh?”
“A guy like you who doesn’t know anything—you’re just saying whatever you want!”
Ryner shouted.
At that, Tiir had a somewhat surprised expression; however, Ryner continued.
“A coward like you who keeps running away has no right to talk about my friends with a self-important air like that!”
“………”
“What do you even know about Ferris? Even though she saw me go berserk, she shouted at me that she believed in me and didn’t run away!”
“………”
“Even after I tried to kill her, she’s someone who held me and shouted at me to hurry up and come back!”
“………”
“So, I’m being deceived? Humans aren’t my friends? Then where are my friends? Here? These cowards who ran away into the mountains?”
“………”
“But you guys only ever run away! You’re just afraid of trusting people and getting hurt again! Such cowards don’t have the right to judge my friends… to judge Ferris…”
Tiir swung a fist.
“You’re the one who talks too much!”
Ryner’s face was struck. With absurd strength, his body was almost blown off and he nearly let go.
But Ryner didn’t release Tiir. Then, he spoke.
“If you want to hit me, then go ahead. But there’s no way I’d lose to you. Not to someone like you, who just runs away from humans…”
However, Tiir struck him again.
“Let go!”
He shouted.
But Ryner didn’t let go.
“If you won’t let go, I’ll kill you!”
Tiir said.
Smiling at that, Ryner said,
“Then, you’d kill your friend, huh?”
“………”
“You’re kind to Cursed Eye bearers, you know? But if the situation is bad, you’d kill them. How is that any different from humans?”
“………”
“You’re all just a bunch of brats.”
Lifting his face, he looked at the children by Lieral. He looked at the Iino Doue children who’d come to help the others and to the children by the settlement.
Then, so that all of them could hear, Ryner spoke.
“What the hell are you all even doing here!? Running away, running away, running away, and in the end, you’ve hidden yourselves up in the mountains. Because you’re monsters who have to live like this!? Aren’t you the ones who decided that for yourselves!?”
He shouted.
“You guys might not know this, but this woman here—Ferris, even though she saw me go berserk and kill countless humans, didn’t change her expression at all as she called me a friend!? We’re friends. We’re partners, tea-drinking buddies. That’s why… she told me that I shouldn’t hate myself and see myself as a monster, and she even shed tears!?”
To that, again,
“Be quiet,”
Tiir said.
But Ryner wouldn’t be quiet.
“That’s what you’re afraid of—these humans. I have so many friends who’ve said the same things. I have so many humans friends like that. So, what are you guys running away from!?”
“Be quiet,”
Tiir said again in a small voice.
But Ryner wouldn’t be quiet.
“What the hell are you guys doing here!?”
He shouted.
At that, a Cursed Eye bearer children by the building spoke.
“B-But… in my village, everyone hated me and tried to kill me…”
Interrupting, Ryner spoke.
“It was the same for me!”
Immediately—
“Don’t joke around! I was… I was caught by the military and used as an experiment…”
However, to that as well,
“It was the same for me! But from now on, I’ll protect you. My friends will protect you. No, at least Ferris here won’t hurt you! That’s why…”
Ryner said.
“That’s why, already, stop pretending to hate humans even though you actually like them, and stop running away! Stop thinking of yourselves as monsters and running from place to place! You guys aren’t at fault! It’s okay for us to come outside. It’s okay for us to be loved more. We’re not monsters. For us…”
He said.
As he said those words, tears began to fall.
But even so, his crying voice didn’t tremble as he shouted out his wish—
“… It’s okay for us to live as humans!”
He shouted.
At that, the children looked his way.
And then they looked Ferris’s way.
Furthermore, more Cursed Eye bearers exited the building, peering at them.
And to that,
“… Well then. Have you finished shouting yet?”
Tiir said.
At that, Ryner looked down at Tiir, whom he was pushing into the ground.
Earlier, a strange expression had fallen across Tiir’s face.
Moreover, to all this,
“What you said in your speech, what you were saying, I understand, but… it can’t be that somehow, Ene hadn’t informed me about it…”
He said those words.
At that, Ryner stared at Tiir and asked,
“You could’ve known about that speech? How?”
To that, Lieral, again as expected, moved by his side.
“Here, there’s someone with the ability to see the future. That child’s the leader of this group of Cursed Eye bearers,”
He said.
As Ryner lifted his face at that, Tiir spoke.
“Wait, Ryner, could you take your hand off of me?”
“Eh, ah…”
“I won’t kill that human woman. Really, I won’t kill her. You have my word.”
“Eh? Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“But why…”
“I already heard about the situation that would occur here beforehand from our leader. And this situation—because of our actions, it’s changed from what it should be. “
“That…”
“If not, the future will change. If you don’t act according to what was seen in the future, it will change. But here, Ene saw this—Ryner giving the Cursed Eye bearers a grand speech—Ene would’ve said something… really, we’ve been deceived.”
Tiir frowned, and then pushed at Ryner’s arm, trying to rise.
To that, Lieral—
“No, no, but I think my son gave a wonderful speech. Hey? Don’t you think so, Ferris-chan? Don’t you feel like confessing after hearing such a great speech?”
Those kinds of words left his mouth.
“Aah!?”
Ryner glared at Lieral and then made a sour expression. He looked over at Ferris.
Ferris looked back at him, and then somewhat awkwardly,
“………”
She averted her eyes away from him.
At that, Ryner had an embarrassed expression.
“Huh, what are you talking about? Dad, what do you mean about Ferris and me?”
He said in a small voice, as Lieral replied happily,
“No—I’m just worried about a girl who hasn’t even reached her twenties yet.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little too much?”
“Oh? Then is Kiefer-chan your type?”
“No, that’s not the point~”
“Then could it be Pia-chan?”
“That’s why—!”
“Ahaha, well, I’m just joking around.”
“Your kinds of jokes are awkward!”
Ryner shouted, as a voice emerged from the building.
“Hey, hey, Ryner-san today is my knight in shining armour~ Have you come to save the trapped Princess Vois?”
Exiting the building, Vois spoke.
With his eyes closed and hands joined with a young woman by his side,
“Now, Ryner-san. To open the captive princess’s eyes, you need to use your hot mouth. Please, kindly. Purse your lips.”
He said, pursing his lips.
Ryner looked at the idiot Vois, and then with half-closed eyes, at Tiir.
“By the way, this guy’s a pervert inside, so it’s okay to kill him?”
As he said that, Tiir smiled faintly.
“He’s not worth killing.”
Furthermore,
“Which half of the couple restrains themselves in a kiss?”
Said Vois; however, Ryner ignored him.
He was already worn out.
“So, what’s with this? Vois is as lively as ever, Tiir tried to kill Ferris—this is what was seen in the future. In the end, what did you guys call me out here for?”
He asked.
“To meet with our leader, of course,”
Tiir said, and then looked at the building Vois exited from.
And,
“Well, Ene wanted to hear about your circumstances from our friends first,”
He said in a low, displeased voice.
Ryner gazed in the same direction as Tiir, before looking at Tiir himself, before speaking.
“Circumstances, huh? Aren’t I fine?”
“Who knows? At the very least, Ebra Crypt and Alpha Stigma bearer children like humans…”
“Aren’t I fine?”
“Perhaps.”
“So, what will you do?”
Ryner asked.
Tiir didn’t respond, and so Ryner continued.
“What do you think?”
“………”
“Having abducted Vois for negotiations in the first place, exchanging talks with humans—you’ve already accepted them, haven’t you?”
“………”
“Then, what do you think?”
At the question, Tiir stared at him, before he spoke.
“I think you’re whitewashing matters.”
“Yeah.”
“At any rate, humans will betray us again.”
“Yeah.”
“That woman… your partner—she’s called Ferris?”
Tiir said, looking in Ferris’s direction.
And, continuing,
“… That child is… perhaps that child is different from the humans I know of. As Ryner said, I might be able to have faith in your companion. I already saw it. That child, trying to protect you, Ryner—I saw it.”
Tiir said.
Ryner also remembered that. That time, when Lafra was killed.
At that time, Ferris had saved his life.
Regarding that, Ryner spoke.
“But you still can’t have faith in humans?”
Tiir replied,
“None of these children want to consider it, you know? Humans… because they’re afraid of humans.”
He said that in a slightly angry tone, and then, his face a colour that spoke of fear, said—
“I’ve watched so many children die because of my mistakes. I’m tired of it.”
“………”
“They say they love their children, the parents of Alpha Stigma and Ebra Crypt bearers… but then they calmly sell them to the army for money. If I’d hesitated to take those children away, they would’ve been killed.”
“………”
“Those humans laughed. As they claimed to be exterminating monsters, they laughed. Under these circumstances, how am I supposed to believe in humans?”
He asked back.
To that, Ryner said,
“At the very least, believe in me.”
“………”
“Of course, though, I’m not a very competent guy.”
“………”
“But together, we… don’t you think it’s possible for us to create a new world? I’ll become king of the land of the Cursed Eye bearers. Then, I’ll make laws protecting them…”
After that, Tiir said,
“You know, Vois already said the same thing to the children.”
“Then—”
Tiredly, Tiir shook his head. And then, a self-deprecating smile floated onto his face.
“I already know. We can’t oppose humans anymore.”
“………”
“The world is at war. If humans find us, they’ll gouge out our eyes. That’s why all of you are needed—to protect us.”
To that, Ryner nodded.
“We’ll protect you with all our strength.”
“… Ah, you certainly will. If it’s you, then you will—with all your strength. However, still, I think this might be a mistake.”
“………”
“Here, if I make a mistake, our friends will be slaughtered.”
However, Tiir’s words stopped. Then, staring at Ryner—
“Well, at the very least, I believe in you, Ryner. However, the other Iino Doue bearers and Will Heim bearers might not be willing to open up their hearts to humans…”
To that, Ryner spoke.
“Then, that’ll be your responsibility.”
“………”
“The leader here… the king of Cursed Eye bearers—it’s you, I’d say? You’re loved by everyone. If you choose not to hate humans and to believe in me… then the others will definitely follow. So you do that,”
He said.
Tiir frowned, before smiling wryly.
“What’s with that—they’re certainly troublesome friends, aren’t they?”
He said.
And then, gesturing in Vois’s direction, he said,
“Though as I said before, I’m not the leader. Ene is.”
Regarding that, Ryner asked,
“Hmm. Then this Ene is your leader?”
“Yes.”
“Then what eyes do they have?”
“You’ll see when you meet. She’s wanted to meet with you. No, she’s always wanted to meet with you. As soon as possible… with Gastark being a threat, my power isn’t enough,”
Tiir said.
With Gastark being a threat—the first time Ryner and Tiir met.
Tiir had invited Ryner along, taking him away from Roland. He’d clashed with the others after an incident regarding him being a monster.
Sion and Ferris had extended their hands, but Ryner brushed them off and went with Tiir.
Well, looking back on the past, after giving a self-important speech like that, he’d been the same.
“………”
But at any rate, he’d met Lafra. The one who wanted him to become the King of Cursed Eye bearers.
For the sake of those who didn’t believe in humans and were suffocating in their loneliness, asking him to save Tiir in their first meeting—he’d met an Ebra Crypt bearer named Lafra.
However, a Gastark soldier had attacked that night.
And Lafra had been killed.
Furthermore, many Cursed Eye bearer children were killed as well.
Then, so that Tiir could escape with the remaining children, Ryner had been separated from them.
“… That time, if I’d done more, could things have changed?”
He asked.
Tiir looked at him, and then,
“… No, in the end, as Ene seemed to have seen it, it couldn’t be helped, I think,”
He said.
And this person who had the power to see the future—this Ene knew what was to happen.
However, Ryner was doubtful about that. Could they truly see what was going to happen in the future? If they could, then their power could even exceed God’s, he thought.
But as if he guessed what Ryner was thinking, Lieral spoke.
“That question’s a good one.”
“But I didn’t say anything.”
“But you were thinking it? If the future can really be seen?”
“………”
“With that power, there wouldn’t be anything in the world you didn’t know… you could even kill the gods, don’t you think?”
Ryner nodded at that.
“Ah, well. But couldn’t it have been helped? Tiir’s suffering, Lafra’s death—surely, it’s an almighty power? If you can see into the future like that, it’d be simple to have prevented Lafra’s death…”
At the mention of Lafra, Tiir’s expression became clearly gloomy.
But Lieral ignored this and continued.
“That’s right. It’s an almighty power. But that’s only if you can see. The future of the children who possess Cursed Eyes—they can only see fragments. And in addition to that, you might not see what you wished for. If she tried, that girl would have to offer compensation,”
He said.
And that was obvious.
For great power, a price was always needed. It was impossible otherwise. To use Ryner’s eyes, the Demon—what was called God’s power—it was the same.
To defeat Gastark, to fend off Glouvil, it was the same. He’d destroyed tens of thousands of lives.
But for Ryner to use that power, it’d been necessary to take the life of an important human.
And he’d done it.
He’d taken the life of someone important to him.
He’d taken his mother’s life.
“………”
However, to see the future—that act, he thought, was an even greater power.
What kind of price was needed for that?
Ryner asked,
“I understand. Well? Where is this person? That I’m supposed to meet?”
At those words, Tiir pointed.
“In the basement of that building.”
“The basement?”
“That’s right. Deep in the basement… she’s secluded herself into a room surrounded by a barrier. As the price for seeing into the future, the sun’s rays burn her eyes.”
“………”
It seemed that that was that girl—Ene, or whatever her name was—had presented as her price.
“Because of the sun’s rays, she can’t go out, huh?”
For anyone, that would be a great price; however, to see the future, it seemed like a small cost.
To that, Ryner—
“Then, it’s fine if I go into the basement?”
At the question, Tiir nodded.
“Yes. Alone. She wants to talk to you one-to-one,”
He said.
From behind them, Ferris said,
“Isn’t it a trap?”
However, Lieral—
“No, it’s not a trap. I guarantee it.”
Ferris looked at Lieral. However, with acceptance,
“Ryner, what are you going to do?”
She asked.
Ryner looked over his shoulder and spoke.
“It’s all right, Ferris. Here in the Cursed Eye bearers’ land, I’m a Cursed Eye bearer too, remember? Surely, I’m loved,”
He said, smiling.
Nevertheless, Ferris looked at him with a slightly concerned face, and so Ryner smiled.
“Well, I’m going now.”
He started to walk.
The Cursed Eye bearers said nothing and instead watched him with strange expressions.
Well, after hearing him shout like that a while ago, perhaps they thought he was a crazy person.
“Rather, they’re embarrassed to look my way, huh?”
Smiling wryly, he headed towards the building.
At the entrance, Vois spoke, smiling.
“Cheers?”
“Go die.”
“Ahaha.”
“So have you already met with this Ene person?”
Vois shrugged.
“I’m pretty sure I haven’t done her.”
“Well, I don’t have much confidence in your dirty jokes.”
“Eh, you dislike my dirty jokes?”
“That’s what I said. Anyway, you...”
“Yes?”
Ryner asked,
“Are you okay?”
As expected, Vois smiled at that.
“As I thought, since you're worried about me, Ryner, that means you're interested in me.”
“That’s why you should go die.”
“Ahaha.”
Again, he smiled cheerfully.
Then Vois said,
“Well, they peeked into my dreams.”
“With the Ebra Crypt?”
“Yes. The Ebra Crypt bearer looked into my dreams, turned red, and then ran away. They didn’t like them, apparently.”
“You had a dirty dream, didn’t you?”
“Setting that joke aside, I must give praise, considering this world’s unexpected affairs.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Nooo, you should be happy to receive praise from the head of a mafia. However, to use and deceive the Goddesses—that makes a favourable impression, you know?”
“Ehhh.”
“However, thank you for worrying about me.”
“Y-You’re still a brat in the end. That’s why I worry.”
“Hum. Then, you're a pedophile, Ryner-san…”
Again, Vois said too much, and so Ryner ignored him and moved forward.
“Ah, I’m going now.”
Ignoring him, Ryner entered the building.
Inside the building was nothing unusual—it was like any other house.
There was a living room with a table and a kitchen.
However, there was also a staircase.
Leading downwards, it led to the basement.
He headed down there. Around the stairs, tags were pasted. As expected, looking at the tags, they were magic constructions. Naturally, Ryner’s eyes—no, in the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement, the Alpha Stigma bearers from various countries could create such things. Looking at them now, he couldn’t understand.
He closed his eyes.
Then he opened them again.
Pink, blue, and red colours flickered. A five star pentagram floated into his eyes.
Looking at the tags with such eyes, it seemed that they prevented the sun’s rays from entering.
“Then, it’s not a barrier to defend against invaders…”
Ryner said, before walking forward.
Down into the basement.
It was rather long.
From the building’s appearance, one wouldn’t imagine it to have a basemen this deep. Ryner continued moving, down into the basement, until he entered a corridor.
Down in the basement, it was bright.
It seemed that the brightness of the area had been set with magic, creating an entirely unobstructed view.
And in the corridor, there was a white door.
Ene was likely inside.
Ryner looked at it, before moving forward.
He easily reached the front of the door.
Then he lifted his hand to knock. From the other side of the door,
“Yes?”
A girl’s voice.
To that, Ryner said,
“Ah~ I think you already know who I am.”
“Ryner-san?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m glad. I’ve always been waiting for this day,”
She said.
Always waiting to meet with Ryner, always waiting for this day—she said that kind of thing.
“Is that right?”
Ryner asked.
The girl responded,
“Yes. Anyhow, you can come inside?”
At those words, Ryner looked at the door.
However, as expected, it was an ordinary door. At its four corners, tags were attached for the sake of warding off intruders; however, right now, the barrier wasn’t active.
After all, today was the day Ryner had come—the day she’d been waiting for.
Again staring at the door, Ryner said,
“It’s fine if I come in?”
“Please do.”
“Then, I’m coming in.”
He opened the door.
He stepped inside.
It wasn’t a very large room.
And in the center of the room was a chair.
Constructed like a throne; however, it looked too small for most people.
And in that chair, a pretty girl sat. She looked around twelve, thirteen? At least a year or two younger than Vois.
Delicate body, violet hair.
White skin, closed eyes.
Ryner looked at those closed eyes.
"… You’re not opening your eyes?"
Smiling his way, the girl spoke.
"I’m afraid to open my eyes… I’m afraid to open them during my first meeting with a person."
However, Ryner responded in a dull tone,
"There isn’t really much to be afraid of. My eyes aren’t that much of a monster’s."
"Ahaha."
"So it’s fine to open them."
At those words, Ene smiled faintly.
"As I thought, you’re a kind person. Before, I saw the landscape of the future,"
She said.
And then she opened her eyes.
In her eyes, there was no sight. No, her eyes were a pale violet, almost to the point of being white.
Regarding that, Ryner asked,
"Is that from looking at me?"
Ene shook her head.
"That’s not it. It’s what I’ve parted with as the price for my ability."
"Hmm? Wasn’t the sun your price?"
"The sun isn’t the only thing. As the cost for seeing into the future, your own is sold and your years taken… well, my lifespan is already reaching its end. My future will end."
She said such a thing.
But Ryner wasn't surprised at that.
To see into the future, for such a power, he expected there would be a price.
That was why,
"I see,"
He said simply.
Ene smiled.
"Mm-hmm. That’s right. But I’m glad I could meet you before I die."
To that, Ryner tilted his head and asked,
"Lafra said the same… why me?"
At that, Ene smiled.
"Because you’re a kind person."
"What about me is kind, compared to other people? Compared to others, I’m not kind."
"Ahaha."
"And, uh, isn’t Tiir pretty kind? Earlier, he was worrying and worrying over his allies that I kind of wanted him to shut up."
At those words, Ene nodded.
"If he weren’t like that, I wouldn’t have survived up until now."
"Is that right?"
"Yes. That’s right. All of the God’s Eyes bearers here—all of the children here, Tiir saved. And of all the children, I was the first,"
She said.
Appearing to be remembering something, she said, smiling.
Looking at her kind expression, Ryner said,
"Well? Going back to our previous topic, what did you want to meet with me for?"
She replied,
"You’re someone who can save Tiir—who can save everyone here."
"Then you, about today’s speech…"
To that, Ene nodded.
"I saw that. And today’s speech will be left in everyone’s hearts. With this, we’ll be able to turn their resentful thoughts into happy ones and join together with humans, as they’ll remember your speech today. That’s why you had to meet with everyone."
"………"
"Without your words, they wouldn’t have accepted the idea of being together with humans. They’ve been hurt—already, everyone’s been hurt… Without your words, they would’ve continued like that, alone and lonely."
However, to that, Ryner shrugged and spoke.
"I’ve been blessed. I didn’t really persevere. The others were kind to me."
As he said that, he remembered Sion's face.
Ferris's face, Kiefer's face, Milk's face. The people whom he fought together with here—he remembered his friends' faces.
And then,
"However, you’re certainly unordinary. An ordinary person wouldn’t have remained amongst humans,"
Ene said.
At that, Ryner frowned slightly.
"Then you have the same view as Tiir? In the end, Cursed Eye bearers and humans shouldn’t stay together—is that what you think?"
He asked.
But to that, Ene smiled.
"That’s not it."
"Then what is it?"
"It’s about what was said before. Unordinary—an unordinary Demon whom the Hero wouldn’t devour. You like humans. Sion-san, Ferris-san, Kiefer-san, Milk-san, humans—you like them. And that’s why I think that you can obtain the key to changing this world."
And so, she began an entirely different conversation.
It was no longer about the Cursed Eyes, but about the Hero and Demon—
About God.
To that, Ryner asked,
"What the hell do you know…"
Interrupting, Ene spoke.
"Ah, ah, just wait a bit. There isn’t much time left, so it’ll be a brief conversation."
"What time…"
However, nevertheless, she interrupted and spoke.
"The time of my lifespan. If what I saw about the future is correct, then my life is about to end very soon."
"Haa?"
"Then, before you get caught between things, will you listen to me?"
"H-Hold on. About that, shouldn’t Tiir…"
She shook her head.
With a somewhat sad face,
"If I told him, he’d be worried. That’s why I want to say this. If Tiir cries over my death… it’s not his fault—could you tell him that? Tiir… because of you, I’ve lived up until now…"
"No, no, no, that’s why you need to hold on for moment. Um, it’s only our first meeting and already you’re asking a favour from me…"
However, in spite of that, she didn't listen. But sadly, happily, she smiled.
"Then let’s begin our conversation. Our conversation about the future. The words you gave to everyone today."
"That's why..."
"I've seen the future. You'll see great despair. Then, you'll go berserk. However, at that time, please remember. What you told everyone today—those words."
"Eh?"
"Don’t forget the words you said today, so that you won’t slaughter all of humanity. You’ll change things. Many humans will change. You’ve changed the situation around you. Remember that…"
"H-H-H-Hold on, what the hell are you talking about? Despair? Going berserk? What the hell are…"
But to that, for some reason, she had a satisfied expression. Because of that, the words Ryner wanted to say ended.
"Ah, my death is approaching…"
"Don’t screw around. What the hell was that talk just now about!? Explain…"
"If I explained, the future would change. If it changed, then the end of the world might not be stopped. You wouldn’t be able to proceed smoothly. However, right now, you can proceed so that the world won’t be destroyed. However, at the end, you’ll feel regret and despair, and cry over the spell that’s cast over this world…"
That was all she said.
No, Ene's words were interrupted by a loud voice from behind them.
"Ryner!"
That scream—that voice.
Tiir's voice.
Sounding as if his throat had been torn to shreds, it was a loud voice.
At that, Ryner turned around.
In that moment, the door opened.
And beyond that door—
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 7-48
From the chest of the leader of the Cursed Eye bearers—from Ene’s chest, Lucile pulled out his sword.
With a jerk, Ene fell to the ground.
“……”
She didn’t move.
As the sword had pierced through her heart, she didn’t move.
Within the small room, a scream echoed.
Tiir’s scream.
A scream mixed with despair and anger.
“I-I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”
As he cried that, he moved to lunge from behind Ryner.
At that, Ryner turned around.
“Hey, hold on! Don’t be rash!”
He stopped him.
He grabbed Tiir’s shoulder.
“Don’t get in my way!”
Tiir shook his hand off. His force was tremendous; as he shook Ryner’s hand off, Ryner’s arm popped out at the joints at the shoulder.
Nevertheless, Ryner,
“I told you to stop, you idiot!”
He said, moving towards Tiir and holding onto him.
Tiir looked down at him with a surprised expression and said,
“Why are you stopping me!?”
“Don’t lay a hand on him. You’ll be killed.”
“Don’t give me that. He—to Ene, he…”
Interrupting him, Ryner shouted,
“Just shut up and listen to what I have to say! Ene knew that she was going to die. Knowing that, she asked something of me regarding you. So listen to me!”
At that, Tiir’s words stopped and he looked at him.
“That Ene would die… what in the world…”
Tiir was listening to him now, but he couldn’t answer the question.
The unrest of Ene’s death affected him as well. Looking at the blood that flowed from her on the floor, he trembled.
However, he couldn’t react to Ene’s death, as an ill-wished man stood before his eyes.
Ryner stared at the man before him.
Pretty golden hair and an uncannily beautiful appearance.
He stared at Ferris’s brother—at the figure of Lucile Eris.
Looking his way, Lucile smiled.
“What? You’re not going to do anything? Even though you wish to kill me?”
He turned the sword used to kill Ene around. It was a large sword—the same type that Ferris used.
It was a size that ordinary humans couldn’t handle.
And yet Lucile easily held it.
It was evident that he was stronger than Ferris.
No, he’d already proven that before to Ryner. And at that time, when Lucile confronted him, he couldn’t do anything.
Unable to move, his neck being strangled, and given a warning.
—As a hideous monster stained in blood, don’t get close to my beautiful sister.
Smiling, Lucile had said that.
He recalled that incident.
It happened back in the Roland Empire.
Back when he felt like he was going to be killed by the paperwork he did with Sion, that happened.
At that time, there was nothing he could do to Lucile. Lucile’s power was on an entirely different level, and so someone like him could do nothing—that was what he thought.
That was that in a nutshell.
With unbelievable movements, he was an uncanny monster.
That was the impression Lucile had given him.
However,
“… Right now, you seem human, Lucile Eris,”
Ryner said.
That was right.
Right now, looking at Lucile in front of him, he couldn’t feel that insane power.
At the very least, he looked like an ordinary human.
Before, when Ryner looked at him with his Alpha Stigma, his figure hadn’t been reflected in his eyes—
Ryner closed his eyes and then opened them again. In the center of his black eyes, a red five-star pentagram rose, with dimly flickering blue, violet, and pink.
With those eyes, he looked at Lucile.
As expected, his figure was reflected in his eyes.
Unlike before, when he looked at him, his existence registered.
At this, Ryner smiled.
“… Then, something happened to that god-like power that you obtained?”
He said.
The demon, hero, Goddesses, Remurus—there were mysterious monsters that called themselves gods like that.
But a little while ago, an event occurred in the tower of the Remurus Empire, and so now, in this world, such gods could no longer interfere.
In fact, the power of Ryner’s eyes had been weakened.
The power from the Lonesome Demon and his Alpha Stigma that the gods had created that allowed him to see the structure of the other world—his eyes that allowed him to see everything weren’t at full strength at the moment.
Because the demon was being interfered with, they weren’t at full strength.
And so, he asked,
“So, you’ve been abandoned by whoever’s protection you were under?”
Lucile smiled and replied,
“Haha, that you would ask me that is amusing, isn’t it?”
“Ah? Why is that?”
“You and I are fragments of the same thing, are we not? In that case, what is inside of me is also inside of you.”
“Then, that…”
Lucile nodded.
“The demon. The hero’s sword that was broken into two. However, such a matter is inconsequential.”
Lucile pointed his sword at him and spoke.
“And now, that’s out of the way. I’ve exterminated the monster that was acting as a hindrance, with those eyes that could see the future. My task has ended; I have no further business here.”
At that, Tiir looked at Lucile sharply.
“Damn you…”
He started to move, but again Ryner tightly grabbed Tiir’s arm.
“Don’t move. He’s just trying to provoke you.”
Once Ryner confirmed that Tiir had stopped, he stared at Lucile, smiling.
“If you’re trying to provoke him, that means you’re actually nervous, doesn’t it? If this was like before, you wouldn’t have needed to do that. That means that, if we work together, Tiir and I can kill you.”
Lucile calmly smiled.
“You still can’t kill me.”
“Liar. Then, why did you do that?”
“Hahaha. If you want to so badly, then try and kill me…”
“As if. Well, there’s no point in arguing with you any further…”
Ryner said, crouching down.
And he murmured,
“… Tiir. I’m going to use magic—devour it with your Iino Doue. Then, stop that guy’s movements. At that time, I’ll enhance my own abilities with magic.”
Looking at him, Tiir smiled.
“Ah… I’m glad. You’ve finally become motivated, then?”
In Tiir’s eyes, a sinister vermillion cross rose to the surface.
To him, the Iino Doue bearer, Ryner,
“Don’t kill him. Capture him alive,”
He ordered.
In response, Tiir had a somewhat displeased expression.
“… Understood,”
He said, lowering his body.
At the same time, Ryner’s hand moved. He drew a magic circle of light.
Roland’s magic—he drew Kuuri.
Furthermore, he was using considerably simplified equations. He preferred it that way, to enhance the speed of invocation. In any case, power and accuracy didn’t matter here.
It was magic that existed to be devoured by Tiir’s eyes.
At that moment, Lucile moved. His movements were abnormally quick. Ryner likely wouldn’t be able to deal with it. It would also be impossible for Ferris. As expected, he didn’t move at a human’s level.
Like this, Tiir couldn’t react.
Lucile rushed in and sliced off Tiir’s right arm, but Tiir didn’t stop.
“I’ll kill you!”
He said, swinging his left arm.
As that arm connected with Lucile’s upper body, Lucile swung his sword. In a straight line, it moved to cut off Tiir’s head.
He didn’t have time to avoid it like that. There was no time to dodge.
However, Ryner completed his magic.
“What I seek is iridescent destruction >>> Kuuri!”
He chanted.
From the center of the magic circle, a sash of destructive light was released.
The accuracy was horribly low. Ordinarily, the light would be fired in a straight line, but here, it was scattered across the small room—
A thin light covered his body, as the limiters on his brain were removed and his entire body’s movements were hastened. He charged towards Lucile.
He grabbed the arm that Tiir wasn’t holding onto.
“All right, we’ve got him!”
Ryner said.
To that, Lucile—
“… Haha, it’s a trap.”
“Wha…”
Ryner looked Lucile’s way, but it was too late.
Lucile murmured something.
Ryner couldn’t make out what, but he could tell that it was magic.
Clearly, an ancient spell.
The pronunciations had been lost in today’s era.
In that instant, his entire body became heavy.
Unable to stand, it became heavy.
It seemed to be the same for Tiir.
His body fell. He let go of Lucile’s arm. Pressed against the ground, he couldn’t move.
At that, Lucile smiled and stepped forward. At the motionless Ryner and Tiir,
“Well, the truth is that I have been weakened… but even so, I won’t lose to the likes of you two,”
He said, looking down at them.
Lucile had a confident expression on his face; however, looking up at him, Ryner smiled and said,
“Hey, Lucile.”
“What is it?”
“To what you said just now—mind if I say something back?”
“Hmm?”
To that, Ryner spoke.
It was the same topic that Lucile had been talking about before.
“You’d been prepared for our attack just now, right?”
“Yes.”
Following up on Ryner’s words, a man appeared behind Lucile and spoke.
“… It was a trap, Lucile-kun.”
From behind Lucile, Lieral appeared.
There was a sound at Lucile’s chest. Lieral’s arm had stabbed through Lucile’s chest.
For the first time, Lucile had a surprised expression as he looked at Lieral and moaned.
“… Damn… you.”
“Hahaha, just like that, you really look human. Anyway, aren’t you supposed to be protecting the hero—Sion-kun… Really, you’re distorting the rules and gears of this world. That’s great.”
“… You…”
Lieral moved his arm. From the center of his arm, a black pattern spilled forth and invaded Lucile.
“Don’t talk, Lucile-kun. Because of the Lucile seal within you…”
The black pattern entered Lucile’s mouth. Lucile couldn’t speak. It seemed like his movements had been stopped.
Lieral looked Ryner’s way over Lucile’s shoulder.
“Hey~, Papa and son are cooperating wonderfully, aren’t they~?”
He said cheerfully.
Ryner lifted his face. Lieral obviously understood. In this situation, his appearance was unthinkable.
Even though Lieral shouldn’t have been able to predict that Lucile would come here, he’d understood the situation and responded appropriately.
Ryner looked at Lieral, smiling happily next to Lucile, and said,
“Then, could you do something about this stupid magic restraining us?”
Lieral replied,
“Aren’t you able to read the equations with your eyes? In that case, shouldn’t you be able to find a way to solve it?”
“No, even if I can read it, I can’t exactly move,”
Ryner said, looking at the hand in his line of sight that clung to the floor.
At that, Lieral smiled, and yet for some reason smiled cheerfully.
“Really, you’re still a child, aren’t you?”
He said that kind of thing. Approaching them, he moved his finger. As expected, it was complicated magic.
Even with his Alpha Stigma, Ryner couldn’t understand.
It was of a different form than the magic taught at magic academies nowadays. At its speed, he couldn’t follow it.
“… I’ll need to study a bit more for this, huh?”
Ryner murmured as Lucile’s spell was undone.
Ryner stood up.
“Haa~ My body’s weight…”
He said, confirming his body’s movements.
However, over there,
“Why haven’t you undone it for me!?”
Tiir exclaimed.
Ryner looked over there, seeing that Tiir still lay on the floor.
At that, Lieral smiled.
“Well, you know, you’re not my son.”
“Don’t mess around!”
“Ahaha. Well, jokes aside, if I undo the restraint, will you try to kill Lucile-kun?”
“What do you think!? He… to Ene, he…”
“He killed her?”
“That’s right.”
“And so you’ll kill him?”
“Of course!”
“Then I won’t undo his restraint on you. Ah, but I’ll get your arm,”
Lieral said, moving to where Lucile had cut Tiir’s arm off earlier. Placing it by Tiir, it reattached itself easily.
“Oh, as expected of an Iino Doue bearer,”
He said, shrugging.
Then Lieral looked around the room, as if evaluating the situation.
And,
“Ah—I’m beat,”
He said.
At that, Ryner also looked around the room.
It was an unusual scene.
Lucile and Tiir were restrained.
And, having been pierced through the chest with a sword, Ene had died.
Staring at Ene, Ryner frowned. He then recalled her smiling face from when they first met.
In spite of his frightening eyes—in spite of meeting with a frightening person like him for the first time, she’d spoken with a calm expression.
He recalled the kind words she said to him.
However, she died.
Entrusting Ryner with the Cursed Eye bearers—with Tiir and the others—she died.
It was the same with Lafra.
Lafra had said the same things.
That Ryner was kind. That was why he had to protect the Cursed Eye bearers.
At that, Ryner frowned with a wearisome face and muttered,
“… Damn it. Why me?”
And then,
“Why do the Cursed Eye bearers have to have these eyes? Why do they have to die for them?”
Groaning, he said that.
Tiir answered him. Looking hatefully at Lucile,
“Because of humans, Ryner. Because of the humans who persecute us.”
Ryner looked down at him sadly and spoke.
“But Ene wished for us Cursed Eye bearers to live with those humans.”
“That’s a lie.”
“… That we exist together with humans—she resigned herself to entrusting that wish to me…”
“That’s a lie! Then, why did Ene die? She believed in humans—she foolishly believed in humans, and in the end, she died for it!”
Tiir cried out.
“Then, for what reason do we exist!? To be toyed around by humans, to be persecuted by humans, to be used by humans—in the end, do we exist only to be killed!?”
Staring at the motionless corpse of Ene, he cried.
With those eyes in which that red cross floated, he cried.
And, truth be told, his reaction wasn’t unreasonable. He’d already lost more than enough of his family, killed by the hands of humans.
It was a wound that couldn’t be healed so easily.
After so much trouble, he’d thought he might have been able to compromise with Tiir, but it was all over.
Ene had died.
It was clear that her existence had held an important part of his heart—and she’d been killed by a human.
Of course, whether Lucile was an ordinary human, he didn’t know.
Tiir shouted,
“So hurry up and undo this restraint!”
Tears spilling, he shouted that.
“I’ll kill him. The humans that killed Ene, my family, my friends—I’ll kill every last one of them!”
He cried out.
However, at that, Lieral laughed with a “haha”. He approached Tiir and looked down at him and the restraints.
“Good grief, Cursed Eye bearers are noisy. Are you frustrated?”
“… Don’t use that tone with me, human. I’ll kill you,”
Tiir threatened.
As expected, Lieral simply smiled.
“Not much of a threat when you’re like that,”
He said, before moving towards the throne where Ene’s corpse lay.
At that, Tiir called out.
“Don’t go near her!”
Lieral ignored him and approached her.
Regarding that, Ryner asked,
“What are you doing, Dad?”
“Hmm—? Well, what, I wonder,”
He said, lifting Ene’s small body. Gently, he laid a hand on her hair.
“Someone small like this enduring alone for so long… You’re a stubborn child, aren’t you?”
He said.
Again, Tiir said,
“Don’t touch her,”
He said in a low voice, filled with anger.
To that, Lieral lifted his face, smiling.
“You really love her, don’t you?”
“Be quiet.”
“That’s an important feeling. To love someone—that’s a feeling that all humans possess…”
“Be quiet!”
“The gods underestimate that. It’s what will distort this world’s logic, the gods’ control—”
Then Lieral looked Ryner’s way.
And he said,
“Hey, Ryner. Will you listen to me for a bit?”
“What is it?”
“I’m already dead. This isn’t my true body.”
“I know.”
“So if I die here, don’t be sad, Ryner,”
He said that kind of thing.
“Haa? Wait, what are you talking about?”
Ryner was confused.
But ignoring him, Lieral continued.
“There’s a way to bring this girl—Ene—back to life.”
“Like I said, just wait! Dad, what the hell are you…”
“By using my life, I can bring this girl back. Thanks to Lucile-kun and the power of Lucile, her fragment was lost—and so if I replace that power, she can be brought back.”
At that, Tiir’s eyes widened, and—
“R-Really!?”
But Ryner called out,
“Hey, that’s why I said to hold on! What are you talking about!? Then, you can’t be telling me that you’re giving up your life for Ene, Dad?”
To that, Lieral easily nodded.
“Right,”
He answered.
Ryner shook at that.
At the situation that was quickly unfolding before his eyes, he shook.
Firstly,
“Why… Why do you have to die, Dad!?”
He cried out.
Even though he knew those were disgusting words, he cried out.
Why did he have to throw away his life for Ene’s sake?
For another person’s sake, he would throw away his life?
After all this effort…
“After all this effort we went through to meet again… why do you have to do this!?”
He exclaimed.
At that, Tiir looked up at him. It was only natural. There was no way he wouldn’t be disgusted at what he was crying out.
He was saying that he didn’t want to save Ene.
But Tiir didn’t look disgusted. Instead, he looked up at him with a remorseful expression and said nothing.
Then, Lieral smiled.
“Ah, Ryner. That I mean so much to you—I’m happy.”
“No, really, don’t joke around. Um, calm down. Let’s talk. I, about that…”
Lieral interrupted him.
“I can’t calm down. If I let my fear get to me, then I won’t be able to move forward.”
“If you’re afraid, then stop.”
“Ahaha.”
“So, I beg of you.”
“Ahahaha.”
“Dad, I beg of you.”
Lieral laughed and spoke.
“Ryner. You have Ferris-chan by your side.”
“That’s why…”
“And Tiir-kun. And Kiefer-chan. And your friends. Even Sion-kun. You’re loved by everyone. With all this love—it’s something the gods couldn’t predict. So for your father to leave—it’s all right now.”
“You’re wrong! It’s not all right! I—I still want to hear more from you, Dad!”
He moved to step forward.
He tried to approach Lieral.
However, in that moment, there was something restraining his legs. It was Lieral’s magic—he understood that. He looked at that magic with his Alpha Stigma. As expected, he couldn’t find a way to dispel such complicated magic.
“Damn it—”
Ryner groaned. And so, his legs were restrained.
However, Lieral smiled.
“You can’t undo it. If you try, you won’t succeed. So listen to what I have to say, Ryner.”
“I don’t want to!”
“It’s time for us to part now.”
“I don’t want to!”
“Don’t be so stubborn now~.”
“The one who’s being stubborn is you, Dad! Come on, just undo this magic!”
Ryner cried. And desperately, he tried to move his leg and dispel Lieral’s magic with his finger.
However, he couldn’t. He couldn’t undo it at all. He couldn’t follow the logic behind his father’s complex magic.
“Damn it, damn it, why do I never have enough power!?”
He cried out.
Gently, Lieral spoke.
“But you’re kind, Ryner.”
“Don’t give me that crap!”
“Ahaha, then I’ll continue our conversation.”
“I won’t listen. There’s no way I’m listening!”
He cried out, desperately trying to undo the magic.
However, Lieral moved forward with the conversation.
“Firstly, your question earlier. Why must I use my life to save Ene-chan?”
“……”
“Well, I guess that might be out of a sense of responsibility? At any rate, the one who gave Lucile-kun enough power to kill her was me, to begin with.”
“… Wha—”
Without thinking, Ryner stopped his hand’s movements and looked up.
Then, smiling, Lieral,
“Do you finally feel like listening to me?”
At those words, Ryner shook his head.
“No. Anyway, undo the restraint over me. Then we can talk—”
“Aha, I’m not going to. And now, I’ll continue,”
Lieral said, placing a hand on Ene’s chest. And on her chest, he began to draw something—
“Stop!”
Ryner cried.
To save Ene’s life—to use his life for that—stop, he begged.
However, Lieral didn’t stop. Indifferently, he continued to draw a design on Ene’s chest.
“You know, Ryner, the reason I gave Lucile-kun such power was to save you. Because you were born as an Alpha Stigma bearer, it was so that you wouldn’t die—for that, I broke the rule of the gods’ world and strayed from the path people were meant to walk.”
“……”
“So, the logic here changed. Interfering with the gods so that you, Ryner, wouldn’t die and would grow up with everyone… but for that, she died. Perhaps this pretty child felt some sense of responsibility for that? And so, shouldn’t I take the ultimate responsibility?”
“……”
“No, that might be saying too much. To be honest, my curse is already reaching its end. Truth be told, remaining in this world like this is too painful. That’s why—is it too much to ask that I go where your mother is?”
He said that.
And to that, Ryner replied,
“… It’s always too much to ask for.”
“Haha, do you still want me by your side?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to hold your beloved Papa?”
To those annoying kinds of words, Ryner,
“Yeah, that’s right!”
He said, nodding.
He felt tears stream from his eyes. After all, he realized that he couldn’t stop his father. Not only could he not undo the restraint on his legs, but his father had made up his mind—he couldn’t convince him otherwise, he realized.
Ryner spoke.
“Damn it, what’s with this crap… For me—for my sake, both Mom and Dad had to die…”
However, Lieral smiled at that and said,
There was nothing that could be done.
For his parents who died, there was nothing he could do.
Over there, Lieral spoke. Looking at Tiir as a smile rose—
“So, Tiir Rumibul.”
“……”
“This is a human. For the sake of his family, he’ll do anything. For the sake of protecting what’s important to him, he’ll do anything. Like all of you. Like humans, like Cursed Eye bearers—after all, we’re all the same weak, sad beings.”
“……”
“However, your important person was saved by a human. She’ll be saved by my life. Chances are, as she’s been deprived of the power gathered by Lucile-kun, she’ll have next to none of her memories. She won’t have her power to see the future—that is, she’ll return as an ordinary human. The one you care about more than anyone else will become an ordinary human. Ahaha, isn’t it ironic? Your most important person will become one of the humans that you despise above all else. In spite of that, will you continue to curse humans?”
He said.
It seemed that was Lieral’s aim. No, perhaps Ene had also predicted this.
Perhaps she saw all of this.
Lieral spoke.
“Ah, it’s time. Then, I’ll be departing now.”
At that, Ryner lifted his face.
He stared at his father’s figure, which was already translucent.
He stared straight at him…
“… Dad.”
“Hmm—?”
“Um…”
“Yes?”
“That I… I, uh, was born as Dad’s child…”
“Uh-huh.”
“That I was born as Dad and Mom’s child…”
“……”
“I’m really happy,”
Ryner said.
As tears spilled forth, he said that.
To that, his father smiled happily.
“I know that, idi—ot. So don’t cry. Smile and live.”
“Right.”
“Then, see you.”
“… Yeah,”
Ryner said, nodding.
And like that, Lieral disappeared.
In his place, on the throne, a young girl sat alone.
A beautiful young girl.
She looked to be around twelve or thirteen years old.
Long black hair.
Pretty eyes and pale skin.
It seemed that the sight she’d lost from using the power of her Torch Curse had been returned to her. The violet colour of her hair, as a result from her power’s poison, was no more.
But it was undoubtedly Ene.
Ene, who had died just before, looked around restlessly.
“… What’s going on?”
She said.
“Where am I?”
She said.
At that, Tiir moved. It seemed he’d been freed from the restraining magic.
And he embraced Ene.
“Ah…”
A surprised voice came from her, as he tightly embraced her.
“Thank goodness… I’m so glad,”
Tiir said, his voice choked up.
Ene looked up at him and said in a curious tone,
“Who are you?”
It seemed that she truly had lost her memories—her memories of the Cursed Eye bearers. Her memories of what she’d seen in the future.
However, whether it was for the best that she no longer had those memories—no one knew.
At any rate, the ability to see the future was a power beyond what normal humans should possess.
It was something that humans wouldn’t want to see.
To see when one would die—it was something beyond normal humans.
Idly watching Tiir and Ene, Ryner spoke.
It seemed that Tiir didn’t know how to answer her question, and so, Ryner answered for him.
“… He’s your guardian—your family.”
“……”
“You’ve been protected by him all this time. And from here on, that’s how it’ll continue to be.”
At that, Tiir looked at him in the eye.
In response to that, Ryner said,
“Aren’t I right? Don’t tell me that you’ll refuse to protect her because she’s human.”
Tiir gave him a sharp look.
“… Damn it… why is it like this? Like father, like son. It’s tiring, dealing with either of you.”
He said.
At that, Ryner smiled. He smiled and wiped away at the tears on his face.
Furthermore, Tiir, holding Ene tightly to his chest, said,
“However, I have to give my thanks.”
“To whom?”
“To you and your father. Ryner...”
“What?”
“I’m sorry. For Ene’s sake, your father…”
Interrupting him, Ryner spoke.
“It was Dad’s own wish.”
“But…”
“Just shut up. You have nothing to apologize for.”
“……”
At that, Tiir stared at him, before letting out a sigh.
“Understood,”
He said.
Ryner stared at Tiir and Ene, before looking to the neglected Lucile.
Lucile was still restrained by the now deceased Lieral’s magic. That magic’s art—
“Ah~, I know how to solve this now?”
He said, looking at Lucile.
Lucile’s mouth was closed, as he said nothing.
To that, Tiir spoke.
“Ryner. He…”
However, before he could finish, Ryner replied,
“Don’t kill him. He’s Ferris’s older brother.”
“Eh?”
Tiir said in a surprised voice. Ignoring him, Ryner approached Lucile.
“Dad… For some reason, Dad specifically left this restraint on him. In that case, he must have had a reason for it,”
He said, lifting his face.
As there had been no reinforcements, he felt anxious.
That was why he asked Tiir:
“Hey, Tiir. Did you order any of your friends to come here?”
Tiir answered,
“No.”
“I see. Then, Dad might’ve been keeping them there. More than that, Ferris didn’t come, which was weird.”
He muttered his partner’s name.
At that, Lucile reacted—he knew. That at the mention of his younger sister, Lucile shot a look at him—he knew.
Ryner smiled at that.
“Ehh, you seem surprised. Don’t tell me that you had no idea that Ferris was here? Looks like you weren’t on top of things when you came here.”
“……”
“Then, this really changes things. From the beginning, you’ve always known what was going on.”
“……”
“But right now, you don’t know how things are going to develop.”
Of course, there was the possibility that he’d predicted the situation with Lieral and Ene—
However, everything he knew about those two no longer mattered, as they’d exited the stage.
And now all that remained was them.
“What should we do?”
Ryner murmured.
As expected, Lucile said nothing. No, because of Lieral’s magic, he couldn’t say anything.
“… Well, anyway, I’ll take you along. There’s a ton of things I want to ask you, Lucile Eris.”
Taking a hold of Lucile’s body, Ryner began to walk.
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 49-81
(The outside situation is that the others have been restrained with Lieral’s magic. While Ryner is talking to Vois (who’s stuck), he wonders why, if Lieral knew what was going on, he didn’t stop Lucile from killing Ene and deduces that maybe it was necessary for Lucile to devour Ene’s power.
Ferris rushes in, having heard there was an enemy. She makes sure that Ryner’s all right, before Ryner explains that Lieral took care of it. She asks where he is, to which Ryner replies that it’s a long story. Before she can say anything, she notices Lucile on Ryner’s shoulder.
Ferris demands to know everything that happened. Ryner doesn’t really want to talk about it.
Ferris tries to talk to Lucile, but Ryner explains that he can’t talk and the whole weakening thing.
She asks just what her brother has been hiding from her.
Ryner explains that thanks to Lieral, he knows how to undo it, to which Ferris asks why Lieral can’t just do it himself. At that point, Ferris notices that his eyes are red—that is, he’s been crying. She then assumes that Lucile killed Lieral, before Ryner explains the full story.
Ferris hugs him, on account of Lieral’s death, still feeling like it’s her brother’s fault.
Pg. 64—)
Ferris: I think of Ryner as someone important to me—as family. In that case, isn’t it only natural to be worried?
Ferris: If my family is hurt, then I want to be there for them. It’s lonely without them. And, Brother—that means you as well.
(Lucile looks at Ferris. His eyes, which are usually cold—they have some emotion in them. Staring at those eyes, Ferris continues.)
Ferris: It’s enough already, Brother. What have you been carrying on your shoulders, all by yourself?
Lucile: …
Ferris: At least trust me. Aren’t we family? Aren’t I your little sister?
(Lucile looks away.)
Ferris: If my power isn’t enough, then Ryner will help. If that still isn’t enough, then our other friends will help. That’s why…
(Lucile still won’t look at her. Ferris stares at him sadly.)
Ferris: Brother!
(Ryner steps in at this point, reminding her of the restraining magic—they won’t get anywhere like this. He and Ferris talk for a bit about the state of the world, before he bickers with Vois, who teases him about his character. They then talk about the world for a bit and how Ryner’s the Demon King, as Ryner thinks of all the things he’s been entrusted with and now they have to go ~save the world~.
Ryner asks if Vois can deliver a letter to Roland. Vois asks about what; Ryner (jokingly) says about how they’ve kidnapped Lucile-chan. Oh, and they’ll kill him if Sion doesn’t come alone. Vois approves.
Also, to send a letter to Gastark, since Ryner wants their cooperation too.
Pg. 71—)
Ryner turned around.
Coming from the basement was Tiir, leading Ene.
Looking at Ene, Vois spoke.
“Oh, I see a pretty black-haired girl. Miss, I’ll be the knight who protects your panties—Vois Fiurelle…”
“Be quiet, brat, or else I’ll kill you,”
Tiir said, moving from Ene’s side.
As Ryner smiled wryly at Vois’s perverted antics, Tiir spoke.
“If you ally with Gastark, then for us, cooperating with you…”
Ryner interrupted him.
“You’re the one who needs to be quiet, Tiir. Don’t talk like a kid. Our numbers alone aren’t large enough to change the world, don’t you think? In that case, there’s no other option. We can’t talk about such trivial things…”
“Don’t you dare give me that, Ryner. After all that Gastark has done to us…”
“I know! Lafra was killed in front of me too, remember? I couldn’t save him either. And in spite of that, I’m still alive. I have a duty to fulfill. That’s why I’m saying this. It’s time to stop running away. For everyone else, I need to do this.”
“……”
“You’ll be welcomed in our country—in the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet. If you can help us in this fight, the Cursed Eye bearers will be welcomed in our country. With Pia, Vois, and me ruling as the leaders—you’ll be welcomed into our ranks. Between the four of us, with you and me—there’ll be two Cursed Eye bearers in the government. Does that help?”
“……”
“So join me, Tiir. Become my ally. And I’ll protect you all,”
Holding out his hand, Ryner said that.
Those were the bold words Sion had given him. Those embarrassing words.
No, that was his dream as well—those words he said.
“I’ll change this world. I’ll change it into a world where Cursed Eye bearers will no longer be discriminated against. Where no one has to cry. Where no one has to lose anyone. I’ll create a world where everyone can just take afternoon naps all the time—so join me!”
He said that.
Staring at him, Tiir,
“… Honestly—a place where no one has to lose anything? Coming from someone who just lost their father, those words are…”
“They’re not persuasive?”
Ryner asked, at which Tiir sighed.
“… No, they’re difficult to refuse,”
He said, smiling.
At that, Ryner smiled back.
(Afterwards, he gets Vois to make preparations for the Cursed Eye bearers’ welcome in the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet, as he thinks about the world some more.
Pg. 78—)
(He looks around. But what he’s looking at isn’t the room they’re in.
Rather, he’s looking around this world.
The world where Ferris exists. Lucile. Tiir. Vois. Kiefer, Milk, Toale—
No, and Sion, Claugh, Luke, Miller, Pia, Zohra, Peria, Lieral, Biore, Arua, Iris, Lafra, Fahl, Tyle, Toni, everyone—he looked around the world where they exist.
In a world with so many people, with so many friends, that he can never be alone—it's a miracle.
He wants to protect all of these people.
That he was born in this world, that there's something worth fighting for, even as a hated monster—it's a miracle.
And even though he’s lost so many by this point…)
Ryner: From now on, so that I won’t lose any more of my friends…
(He’ll have to keep fighting for just a while longer.
Because we were born here, and so that we can find happiness that the gods will never know of!
He cries that inside his mind.
He’s already been given so much.
Holding out both of his hands—)
Ryner: I get it… I’m someone to be feared. At any rate, I’ve gained the reputation of the Demon King, haven’t I?
(Looking at the building in which Lieral—in which his father—disappeared, he smiles.
And then, he exits that building.
From there, he looks up at the wide sky outside.
No, he glares at something beyond that sky.
Of course, he can’t hope to think of what the gods’ world was like. He can’t understand with perfect accuracy.
But he knows. Intuitively, he can feel it. No, from Lieral’s words, he knows.
The gods who created humans—they can’t understand the love inside of them. They can’t control his friends.
They’re afraid of them, who feel so strongly.
That’s why Lieral stepped outside of the world’s logic.
No, it’s the same for humans. Those who know of the gods cry out. Uninterested in this world, they shout. But they all have someone they love.
They know of the rules and order of the world, but refuse to follow it.
And so, the gods can’t control them.)
Ryner: Tremble in fear, oh gods. I’ll destroy every last one of you.
(He, Ryner Lute, said that—
The Lonesome Demon swore to break this world.)
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 96-105
”To the idiot, Sion.
Since the situation has somehow changed a lot, I’m writing you a letter.
First of all.
You’ve seen the situation for yourself, so you’re in no position to disagree—you know that, right? Let’s join hands. Form an alliance. There’s no time, so let’s join together as fellow humans and not fight.
Well then, Lucile-kun came to attack us, so we’ve captured him. There’s a lot of info I want him to confess.
Anyway, if Lucile is important, then please come to the designated location.
If you’re up to getting him to confess together, then please come.
We’ll bully Lucile together.
Regarding that, Ferris shouted, “Brother is getting sloppy!” so it seems like she’s pretty happy about the idea.
Well, that’s the end of the first topic.
Ah, what?
I’m serious about what I said in the tower.
I think of you as my best friend. You’re important to me. And so, I want to change this world together with you.
So let’s do it.
Let’s do it together.
I don’t really know about stuff like duty or responsibility.
Stuff like having hopes for the world or friends or love or seeing a dream—I don’t really know about seeing things that way.
I’m just trying to do things my own way.
I won’t betray my friends.
I won’t betray my allies.
For the sake of your dream—a world where no one has to lose anything, where everyone can join hands.
Where everyone can smile and take afternoon naps—”
There, it seemed that the letter paused, wrinkled from wetness.
On the next page, it continued.
“Uh, um, as a note, something hit me from the side.
Uh, a world where everyone can eat dango and take afternoon naps—let’s create it together.
Sion.
If it’s you and me, we can do it.
Let’s do it.
So, ah—anyway, come and get Lucile to confess. We’re in the country next to the Remurus Empire—we’ll be waiting for you in the street of Kakran in Zarohl. Then, once we meet up, we can think about what to do from here.
Ah, before I finish, there’s one more thing.
Ferris has a message for you, and besides that, best regards. Go to Kakran. Looking forward to our meeting.”
Ryner’s letter ended there. It was a total length of two pages.
However, there were still some pages left.
The rest was Ferris’s letter, apparently, written angrily.
She’d written in giant letters that took up most of the page. Furthermore, they had an angry style to them.
Sion looked at that letter.
And in blood-red ink, this was what was written.
You!
Hurry, the Wynnit dango shop!
To advance the central continent!
Unless you want to die!?
From Ferris Eris!
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 114-165
(Riphal and Lir talk about the state of the world—various things like Glouvil being quiet and Riphal no longer being able to hear the Priests’ voices, the situation with Sion and Ryner, etc.)
Riphal: Lir. Regarding Ryner, you’ve already…
Lir: Met him, yeah. He’s an idiot.
Riphal: …
Lir: “Don’t kill my friends. I won’t die here. You shouldn’t kill Cursed Eye bearers”—he kept saying stuff like that.
(Riphal narrows his eye as he smiles weakly.)
Riphal: … Don’t kill Cursed Eye bearers? That’s how it should be, huh. Of course he’d be resentful, wouldn’t he?
Lir: …
Riphal: Sorry, Lir. Only you get the dirty work…
Lir: (interrupting) Says the guy who gave up his arm and leg as sacrifices for his sword. That’s what all of us have always thought about you.
(Riphal smiles.)
Riphal: Well, I’m the one entrusted with that sword, after all.
(He thinks for a bit about Glouvil.)
Riphal: … This is what we have to do.
(But he wonders if this is really the right thing to do—all this endless killing.)
Riphal: Fighting so desperately to kill the insane gods—is what we’re doing the right thing?
Lir: Is that what you’re troubled about now?
Riphal: Someone who isn’t troubled by killing others is…
Lir: Scum?
Riphal: Yeah.
Lir: Well, I get that… but it can’t be helped. There’s nothing else we can do for the sake of our goals. Personally, I think this is the best way for us to advance forward on our path.
Riphal: But maybe we’re making a mista…
(Lir hits Riphal’s shoulder.)
Lir: We’re only human. We make mistakes each day. But if we kept worrying about them, we’d never be able to move forward—so stop talking in a self-important manner like that.
Riphal: …
Lir: Well, as long as it’s only to me or Lize, if you want to complain, then complain. So? Are there any other things you want to complain about?
Riphal: No—well, if I’m going to complain about something, it’d be that my shoulder hurts now, thanks to you?
Lir: Shut up.
(He laughs.
They talk more about the world for a bit—about the Demon, Hero, Goddesses, Priests, etc.—before talking about meeting up with Sion or Ryner.
pg. 126—)
Riphal: Which one do you want to meet with? Ryner Lute or Sion Astal? Between the Demon and the Hero, which one do you want to talk to?
(Lir looks like he’s remembering something.)
Lir: … Ah—Ryner might still have a human touch, I wonder? Well, either way, I probably shouldn’t be the one to talk with him. I did kill a lot of people important to him, after all.
Riphal: Hmm.
Lir: And Sion’s got a tough guard. He took down all of my Lightning Beasts with one attack.
Riphal: Ehh.
Lir: He had a face that suggested that he intends to follow the Hero without hesitation.
Riphal: I see. Is Sion being manipulated by the Hero?
Lir: It didn’t look that way. It seemed like he was just barely resisting.
Riphal: Is that so?
Lir: Yeah.
Riphal: Then it really is different from the story. It’s different from what the Priests said.
Lir: Yeah.
Riphal: Ryner and Sion… No, everyone’s resisting.
Lir: Yeah.
Riphal: It’s not just us who are trying to cut open this world.
Lir: Well, if thinking that makes you feel better, I’m gonna just nod?
Riphal: Huh—
Lir: But I don’t believe in anyone outside of my family. Outside of you, Lize, Sui, Kuu… In this village, we’re all allies. If we make a mistake and trust the wrong person, then the consequences will be…
Riphal: (interrupting) It’ll be fine. I won’t trust anyone else as much as I trust you.
(Lir smiles.)
Lir: If it’s a woman, though, you might be tricked.
Riphal: If it’s a woman deceiving me, then I’d be happy with that.
Lir: Haha.
Lir: So, what now?
(They talk for a bit about diplomacy stuff.
pg. 129—
Riphal’s interrupted by someone.)
Riphal: … Haa? Sphelliyet’s king has entered our territory?
Kuu: Don’t know. Sui-niichan hasn’t figured out all the details.
Riphal: (to Lir) What do you think?
(Lir shrugs.)
Lir: Well, it depends on which king has come.
Riphal: (nodding) Yeah, well.
(Sphelliyet has three kings, after all.
The Demon King, Ryner Lute. The swindler, Vois Fiurelle. The queen of the mercenary group, Azure Princess, Pia Varliere.
The simplest one of the three would be Ryner. Given the history and achievements of the other two, they wouldn’t be able to talk with them easily.)
Riphal: Well, though I’d be happy to discuss things with a woman… So, where is Sui?
(He starts walking.)
Kuu: Outside, holding the messenger captive.
Riphal: Hou. Is Sui even any good at holding people captive?
Kuu: Mmm~ Er, or rather… Well, listen, just go!
Riphal: Ah? What’s with that?
Kuu: Just accept it and go!
(She pushes his back.
He leaves the church. Outside, rather than Sui, is Lize, who looks at him and holds up the letter.)
Lize: The People’s Republic of Sphelliyet has made its move. They say they want to form an alliance.
Riphal: An alliance? That’s rather sudden. So, what are the conditions?
Lize: Apparently, in the event of an alliance, they’ll tell us the truth of what’s going on in this world and cooperate with us to solve the problem.
Riphal: Hum. Then, what’s the truth of what’s going on in this world?
Lize: It seems like Vois Fiurelle is here in Stohl’s capital to tell us.
Riphal: Ah, so it’s the swindler who’s come. Then, he’s not worth speaking to.
(Lize smiles.)
Lize: I thought you would say that. Then, is it all right to reject this?
(Riphal nods.)
Riphal: …
(He stares at Lize, before looking at Kuu. For some reason, her eyes widen slightly in surprise, before she looks away. Riphal stares.)
Riphal: … So, what’s with that reaction just now?
Kuu: …
(He looks at Lize again.)
Riphal: You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?
(Lize’s expression changes.)
Lize: There’s at least one thing I have to hide from you…
(Riphal moves before he can finish and tries to snatch the letter away. Lize resists and strikes Riphal. For whatever reason, he doesn’t want Riphal to see the letter.)
Riphal: Don’t screw around with me! Show me that letter!
(He manages to snatch the letter away.)
Lize: (in a troubled voice) Ah—
(Riphal ignores him and opens up the letter.
“Greetings.
I am the supreme ruler of the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet, Vois Fiurelle.
I had this letter delivered to all of you in Gastark to offer you some welcome news.
First.
Thanks to the wishes of our Demon King, your chance to form an alliance with the lovely People’s Republic of Sphelliyet has arrived! That’s the offer.
Second.
We have information as to why the gods have disappeared from this world. If you form an alliance with us, we’ll tell you all about it.
Third.
I’ve come all this way. I, Vois Fiurelle, personally, have come to your territory—Imperial Stohl’s capital.
Fourth.
We’ll negotiate on how to deal with the monsters that call themselves gods. You, of all people, should know very well that we no longer have time.
Last thing.
The messenger of this letter is a woman that you like. And right now, that woman has been poisoned by me. I possess the antidote. If you choose to disregard this alliance, the she’ll die. If you don’t wish to kill the hostage, then please come to the meeting place.
It would be rather unfortunate if you didn’t.
- The People’s Republic of Sphelliyet’s supreme ruler, Vois Fiurelle”
Riphal’s eyes widen.)
Riphal: Oi, where is Sui?
Lize: …
Riphal: Where is the messenger of this letter?
(He glares at Lize.)
Riphal: Where is Kiefer?
(Lize returns his look.)
Lize: … Well, I figured you’d respond that way… and I hadn’t intended to hide this from you to the very end, Your Majesty. You’ve finally reached the correct conclusion.
Riphal: Ah?
Lize: If you’re going to be talking with a swindler, you can’t afford to be foolish. He has traps waiting. He’s entered this country by himself, after all.
Riphal: …
Lize: Furthermore, the hostage is also prepared. It was a means of shaking you so that you could easily be walked over. That’s why you have to settle down and look at the information. What do you think about the alliance? What was it that you said before?
Riphal: …
(He glares at Lize.
Before, he said that he wasn’t going to accept the alliance. It would be foolish to place himself at the mercy of a swindler and his associates.
Nevertheless—)
Riphal: Where is Kiefer?
(Lize shakes his head.)
Lize: You can’t meet with her. If you didn’t, wouldn’t it only sway you further?
Riphal: Just tell me where Kiefer’s locatio…
Lize: I’m not going to.
Riphal: Listen, just tell me. Don’t you get it? I won’t be swayed.
Lize: …
Riphal: So that I could swing this sword—so that I could use Glouvil, your grandmother sacrificed her life. So many of our family, our friends, sacrificed their lives. And from there, this sword has taken countless lives. Having doubts, with that kind of burden? Being swayed? What’s with that?
Lize: …
Riphal: … And you know that. Regarding Kiefer—regarding Kiefer Knolles… if I have to, I’ll kill her.
Lize: …
Riphal: But you still hid her from me. Why?
Riphal: The reason is simple. If I saw Kiefer again, I’d be hurt. I’d be pointlessly hurt. Isn’t that why you hid her? So that I wouldn’t be in too much pain. But that’s too much help.
(Lize seems troubled.)
Lize: … And if Kiefer Knolles dies? Something pitiful like that would be painful.
Riphal: … Ah~ Yeah, that would hurt.
Lize: See. That’s why…
Riphal: But I’ll meet with her. Maybe I’ll learn something.
Lize: …
(Lize points to a hospital or some such. Riphal laughs.)
Riphal: You know, Lize, you’re way too protective of me.
(From behind Riphal—)
Lir: That’s because Riphal will forever be a kid.
Riphal: Ah?
Lir: It’s the truth?
(Riphal laughs and starts walking.)
Riphal: Then, I’ll be gone for a bit.
Lize: (deadpan) Don’t go eloping with her.
(Riphal laughs.)
Riphal: Haha, it’s tempting.
(He heads in the direction of the hospital.)
(The hospital isn’t very large and the equipment isn’t all that great, considering the size of the village (what with Stohl having wiped out so many of them).
Lying on a bed is Kiefer, unconscious with rough breathing.
Her face is red—it seems that she really has been poisoned.
Sui is by her bed, with the doctor, and looks over at Riphal with a surprised expression.)
Sui: Ah, in the end, you got the location out of Lize, huh?
(Riphal smiles.)
Riphal: He’s that kind of guy.
Sui: It’s because he’s fond of you.
Riphal: Haha, I’m fond of him too. But there’s no way I’m saying that to his face.
(He looks at Kiefer again.)
Sui: It’s bad. After delivering the letter, she collapsed. It looks like she’d already hit her limit at that time. If you read the letter, it should tell you what’s wrong…
Riphal: Poison?
Sui: Yes.
Riphal: The cure…
Doctor: No medicine is doing anything for her body…
Riphal: It’s an impossible poison, then?
Doctor: I don’t know what kind of poison it is. It may be an unknown medicine discovered in the central continent. There’s no cure for it here.
(Riphal nods.)
Riphal: All right, I understood the situation. You two can leave.
(The doctor nods and leaves. Sui stares at him.)
Sui: But right now, she’s…
Riphal: An enemy. I know. She’s already betrayed us.
Sui: … Then it’s fine. Right now, she doesn’t seem to have any weapons or Rule Fragments on her.
Riphal: Hmm. Got it. Thanks.
Sui: Right.
(He bows his head and leaves. After Riphal confirms that he’s gone, he sits down on a nearby stool and looks down at Kiefer.)
Riphal: Is it painful, Kiefer?
(Of course, since she’s unconscious, it’s not like she heard that.
He stares at her face.)
Riphal: …
(He looks at the face of the one who betrayed him for Ryner in the end.)
Riphal: Is that man any good, I wonder?
(He laughs.
He touches her hair and then her cheek, before moving to her neck, but he stops there.
He doesn’t have the right for that—not as someone who would let her die for his justice. For this world.
He didn’t choose her.
So he stopped.)
Riphal: … It’s too bad, Kiefer. I won’t save you. I won’t join with the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet.
(Kiefer opens her eyes—eyes the same colour of her hair. She smiles.)
Kiefer: Long time no see, Riphal.
(She gets up. Any signs of her previous suffering—
Riphal looks shocked.)
Riphal: Haa? Weren’t you poisoned?
(Kiefer smiles cheerfully. Riphal frowns.)
Riphal: Damn it, you lied again.
Kiefer: Ahaha, Riphal is kind. I like that.
Riphal: I’m not the one you like. The only one you like is Ryner Lute, isn’t it?
(Still smiling, Kiefer speaks.)
Kiefer: Fufu. That’s right. Ryner’s the only one who’s important to me. And right now, it’s for his sake that I’ve come here…
Riphal: Get out.
Kiefer: Even if you say that, Sui and Lize will just capture me again if I leave.
(Riphal sighs, exhausted, and kicks the bed. Kiefer gives a start.)
Kiefer: Ah, are you mad?
Riphal: If I’m in a small room alone with a beautiful woman, I’ll put up with it.
Kiefer: Ahaha. You’re as kind as usual.
(Riphal glares at her.)
Riphal: I’ll seriously kill you. Anyway, what is it? What did you come here for? How much of it was a lie? First of all, if you’re doing such a dangerous thing on Ryner Lute’s orders…
(Kiefer shook her head.)
Kiefer: It’s not that. Ryner would never give this kind of order. I did this on my own.
Riphal: On your own?
Kiefer: Vois-kun and I came up with it together.
(Riphal frowns.)
Riphal: The lying duo?
Kiefer: Ahaha. Of course I lie. That’s how it’s always been.
(Staring at her face, Riphal sighs.)
Riphal: It’s easy to be fooled by that face.
Kiefer: Aha.
Riphal: And? So, what about it? What’s the situation?
Kiefer: The letter already covered the situation. Aside from the part about me being poisoned, that was all of it. We want to form an alliance with Gastark. As things stand in the world right now, we want to join hands with everyone and share our information together.
Riphal: … Hum.
Kiefer: For that, won’t you join us? Discuss it with Stohl?
Riphal: And if I say no?
Kiefer: You won’t.
Riphal: What’s with that? Do you expect us to just believe in your words? To negotiate with someone from a family famous for lying and swindling—Vois Fiurelle?
(Kiefer laughs.)
Kiefer: That’s why I’m here. Trust me, we don’t expect you to believe Vois-kun alone.
Riphal: What do you mean?
Kiefer: I’m a hostage~. Surely, if I die here, Ryner will never forgive Vois-kun.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: Ryner’s that kind of person, after all. He’s different from me… He’s different from a traitor like me. He’s someone who would never betray his friends, after all.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: That’s why I want to be of use to him. If you kill me, the relationship between Vois Fiurelle and Ryner Lute will be completely destroyed. The People’s Republic of Sphelliyet will fall from the inside.
(Riphal knows she’s telling the truth, from what he knows about Ryner—from what Lir saw when he attacked the Cursed Eye bearers.
That’s why Kiefer’s attracted to him. Because even more so than the average person, he’s human. Even though he’s a Cursed Eye bearer, he’s very much human.)
Riphal: … That is to say, you’re so intent on this alliance that, in order to convey it, you’re willing to become a hostage?
(Kiefer nods.)
Kiefer: That’s right.
Riphal: You’re an idiot, you know that? This kind of risky gamble…
Kiefer: (interrupting) It’s not a gamble. It’s not risky. I know you, Riphal.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: I knew that if I could speak with Riphal, it’d be all right. That’s why I came.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: Or else, you’ll kill me?
(She smiles. Without tension, without worry, she smiles.
Whether it’s an act or not, Riphal can’t tell.)
Riphal: If I say that I’ll kill you?
Kiefer: Um, I’d cry out in surprise?
Riphal: Stop it with that confident face.
Kiefer: Fufufu.
Riphal: You don’t even like me.
Kiefer: I told you, I like you. Just not more than Ryner.
Riphal: (groaning) You seriously need to be quiet.
(He holds his head. He can feel Kiefer’s legs shaking.)
Riphal: For crying out loud, it’s fine. Relax. Your legs are trembling.
Kiefer: Eh? No way?
Riphal: I’m not gonna kill you, idi~ot. You’re an important hostage, after all.
(Kiefer looks at him, smiling.)
Kiefer: Ah, you don’t have to make that hurt face. But, even if I were trembling, it’s not necessarily out of fear of being killed, you know?
Riphal: Ah?
Kiefer: Once again, I’m going to use you. For Ryner’s sake, I’ll use you. And the thought you might get hurt by that… That’s what I’m afraid of.
(Again, whether she’s lying or not, Riphal doesn’t know. But—)
Riphal: I see. I believe you.
(Kiefer smiles sadly.)
Kiefer: I’m sorry.
Riphal: It’s fine. You aren’t a bad person. It’s my principle to believe in the words of a beautiful woman.
Kiefer: Ahaha.
Riphal: But if you think we’ll dance in the palm of Vois’s hand…
Kiefer: (interrupting) No. If you’ll listen to us, then it’ll be fine for you to choose the meeting spot.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: If you’d rather meet with Ryner instead, that’s fine. Either way, there’s no time. For this world, there’s no time.
Riphal: What’s with all this talk of time? Regarding the lack of interference on the gods’ part, what do you all know? If you’re here in good faith, then…
Kiefer: (interrupting) I’ll tell you everything I know. That is, if you choose to cooperate with us.
Riphal: Then, start talking now. Speak this instant.
(She stares at him, looking to be deep in thought.)
Kiefer: A certain incident occurred, preventing the gods from interfering. Sion Astal’s consciousness was returned to him. Ryner’s temporarily lost his powers as the Demon. The Goddesses can’t intervene in this world. What happened to you, I don’t know. Either way, the gods disappeared. Their interference will be stopped for one year. And within this one year, humans must gain the power to resist the gods. That’s why now isn’t the time to fight amongst each other. We need to cooperate.
(Riphal can’t swallow that, particularly the part about Sion.)
Riphal: Who would believe that?
Kiefer: Then kill me. In that case, Vois and Ryner’s relationship will fall apart. The People’s Republic of Sphelliyet will easily be crushed…
Riphal: … Haa.
(He sighs and lays Kiefer down on the bed.)
Riphal: Lize!
(Lize enters the room. Riphal looks at him.)
Riphal: I know you’ve been standing there, listening the entire time. Isn’t eavesdropping something a pervert does?
(Lize shrugs.)
Lize: Out of his endless concern, the parent had to make sure his idiotic son wasn’t lured away by the evil woman.
Riphal: Who the hell is the parent?
Lize: Of course I’m the dad.
(Lir enters the room.)
Lir: Huh? Does that mean I’m the mom? Then, the mom has appeared~.
(He says with a half-smile. He looks down at Kiefer.)
Lir: Things have become troublesome aga~in, huh?
(Lize nods.)
Lize: It’s easy enough to understand, though.
Riphal: What do you think we should do? Let Kiefer live, or kill her?
Lir: At the very least, I don’t think we need to talk with Vois.
(Lize nods.)
Lize: If we have to talk, it’ll be with Ryner Lute. Apparently, Vois is connected with the Goddesses.
Lir: (interrupting) It’s the same with Ryner. Ryner’s connected with the Demon, and Sion’s connected with the Hero.
(Riphal smiles.)
Riphal: And I, with the Priests? Not to mention our lovely lineage.
(Lize nods with a displeased face.)
Lize: But that’s how it is. If what Kiefer Knolles said is true and the gods can’t interfere, then as fellow humans, we need to gather at least once and exchange information—
Lir: Only so that we can move forward.
(They look at him. Riphal sighs again.)
Riphal: Don’t look at me like that. I don’t know what the right thing to do is either, you know?
(Lize smiles.)
Lize: We know. That’s why we’ll go wherever you go. You’re the one we’ve chosen as our king.
Riphal: And if I make a mistake?
Lize: You’re our goddamn king and childhood friend, so stop acting like we’ll kill you! If you keep that up, I’ll punch you.
Riphal: But you won’t kill me?
Lize: I’m a nice guy, after all.
Riphal: Go die.
Lize: Haha.
(Lize laughs. Lir, likewise, seems to feel the same way.
Riphal thinks—about how to go on from here. About forming an alliance with Roland and Sphelliyet.
It’s matter of timing, though. Sphelliyet’s already made the first move.)
Riphal: Ignore the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet for now. Let’s form an alliance with Roland.
Lir: Hmm. Your reasoning?
Riphal: (something about Kiefer and hostages and her being from Roland used as a spear)
Lir: Ah, that’s how it is.
(They talk about negotiations for a bit, noting on how if Sion really has been freed from the curse of the Hero, then he won’t abandon a hostage.)
Lize: Sounds good to me. Then, I’ll go. I’ll be the one to negotiate with Roland…
Lir: (interrupting) Go to Sphelliyet, Lize. I’ll go to Roland.
Lize: Eh? But…
Lir: I’ve killed Cursed Eye bearers. Ryner probably hates my guts.
Lize: Ah, I see. Then, it’s settled. I’ll go to Sphelliyet as a diversion. Lir will…
Lir: Go establish an alliance. As for Riphal—
Riphal: Continue marching towards the south, right? (stuff about the central continent and picking a meeting point for the negotiations)
(He looks at Kiefer again. Lir lifts up her body and starts carrying her.)
Lir: Then, I’ll bring her with me?
Riphal: Don’t treat her roughly.
Lir: Haha, then I’ll play nice. Though there was a pattern of girls going from Riphal to falling in love with me, wasn’t there?
Riphal: Liar.
(He laughs.)
Lir: Then, I’ll be off.
(He leaves.)
Lize: I’ll be leaving this country as well, to see what the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet has to do with changing this world.
(He’s about to leave, but looks over his shoulder.)
Lize: Will Your Majesty be all right by himself?
Riphal: I’m not some brat, you know.
Lize: Haha, then see you.
(He leaves. Riphal watches him, before sitting back down on the stool. He looks up at the white ceiling.
The gods won’t be here for a year.)
Riphal: … I’ve always wanted that for the world.
(He thinks for a bit.)
Riphal: I won’t find any answers here. Then, where will I?
(He looks to the south—the distant south.
Though he can’t see it with his own eyes, he looks to the very end of the south.
To where Roland lies.
To where the Hero and Demon were shut away so that they wouldn’t destroy the world.)
Riphal: (murmuring) … I should probably head down there myself sometime, huh~?
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 166-182
Ryner: Ah—somehow, I feel really nostalgic.
(He’s lying face-down on a bed in a small inn room. Along with the bed is a closet and a stool—it’s a simple room. There’s a window with worn curtains, past which the street can be seen. It’s not a very busy street, but there’s a famous dango shop nearby, hence why they decided to stay here.
And so, the designated meeting spot with Sion is here.
The meeting time is 2 in the afternoon. It’s still 1 right now, so there’s an hour left.
Ryner stares out the window.)
Ryner: (murmuring) … Is that guy really going to come?
(Ferris went out to buy dango, so it’s not like she’s there to answer him.
Wind blows through the window, ruffling the curtains. Today the sky is clear, and the air is warm.)
Ryner: It’s a good day to meet again. The weather’s making me sleepy, though.
(He smiles with half-closed eyes and turns over on the bed, staring up.
But what he’s looking at isn’t the ceiling.
Rather, the magic arts inside his head.
Yesterday, through all of the night, he went through the various magic in his head.
It’s the magic that Lieral left behind.
Like the spell that binds Lucile, it’s a compilation of ancient magic.
It’s highly complex magic. Modern magic doesn’t even compare. It seems to be magic that Lieral himself created—)
Ryner: Dad was seriously a genius…
(He sighs.
He goes through the various spells, noting what Lieral must’ve created/developed the basis for, such as Kuuri, going by his father’s magic’s quirks.)
Ryner: This is pretty difficult stuff. I really can’t slack off if I want to be as good as he was.
(He smiles.
He moves his finger, trying to draw out Lieral’s magic.)
Ryner: Ah, it’s no use. This sucks. I’m sleepy. I’m tired. Even though I said I would work hard, I’m not very good at that—
(He stops analyzing.
Well, he spent all of last night analyzing, and today he’s meeting with Sion, so his body needs to be in good shape anyway.)
Ryner: Ah, geez, this really sucks.
(He holds the pillow around his head and looks out the window again.)
Ryner: (still analyzing the magic)
Ryner: I’ll just sleep for a bit…
(He closes his eyes. After not getting any sleep for the past couple of days, he deserves that much.
In that moment—)
Sion: You’re sleeping today, of all days?
Ryner: …
(He opens his eyes slightly and looks in the opposite direction of the window—at Sion, who’s entered the room. Sion sits down at the stool by the bed and looks down at him.
Ryner looks up at him.)
Ryner: … Yo, Sion. It’s been a while.
(Sion shrugs.)
Sion: Yeah. Since back in that tower, where you punched me.
Ryner: Haha. Are you mad about that?
Sion: No. Well, I probably deserved it.
Ryner: Yeah, you did. You’re supposed to hit misbehaving kids like you, after all.
(Sion smiles.)
Sion: But I wasn’t misbehaving.
Ryner: Is that right? Then, Ferris can tell you.
Sion: Eh?
Ryner: Let’s see if Ferris will vouch for you.
Sion: Ah, that sounds like it could get violent.
Ryner: Heeeey. Then, you’re a bad guy.
Sion: Hum.
Ryner: Now then, apologize. Come on.
(Sion smiles.)
Sion: When you put it like that, I don’t feel like apologizing at all.
Ryner: Haha.
(He laughs and sits up, before looking out the window.)
Ryner: Is it already 2? The time we arranged to meet up at?
(Sion looks out the window as well.)
Sion: No, not for a bit.
Ryner: Ah, don’t tell me you came earlier just to see us again~?
(He laughs jokingly. However, Sion smiles.)
Sion: Yeah, I did.
(Ryner stares at him with suspicious eyes.)
Ryner: What’s with that? You’re being pretty honest today.
Sion: Is that right?
Ryner: Yeah.
Sion: Well, I’m pretty tired. I did get punched by you, go around the country, and go to jail.
Ryner: Jail?
Sion: No, well, that’s… I’ve already been lectured at by my subordinates for that. About how I don’t need to carry everything alone, and that I’m not Perfect-kun, and things like that.
Ryner: Oh, those guys said some pretty good things, then.
Sion: (quietly) Ahaha. Well, that aside… I’m a bit tired.
(Ryner looks at him and thinks about him for a while—about how this is the first time he’s seen Sion act like this and admit to this kind of weakness.)
Ryner: (happily) Finally, you seem human. Your complexion is good.
(Sion looks at him.)
Sion: Ah, well, that’s because the Hero’s interference has disappeared.
(Hero—the name of the monster that had eaten into Sion.)
Ryner: … I see. That’s good to hear.
(He thinks about the Hero and Demon for a bit.)
Ryner: If you’re doing well, then I’m glad.
(Sion smiles but says nothing.)
Ryner: Did you come alone?
Sion: Something like that.
Ryner: Isn’t that kind of careless?
Sion: I don’t want to hear those words from the king of an enemy country and a guy who just takes afternoon naps all the time.
Ryner: The king of an enemy country? Who’s that? I thought we were friends?
(Sion stares at him.)
Sion: … Haha.
(He laughs and looks up at the ceiling.)
Sion: Hey, Ryner.
Ryner: Hmm—?
Sion: Um…
Ryner: Yeah?
Sion: For not confiding in you, I’m sor…
Ryner: (interrupting) You’ve always been that kind of guy, so it’s fine. Don’t apologize.
Sion: But—
Ryner: I said it’s fine. I’m the same, after all.
(Because of his eyes, he tried to run away from Sion, from Ferris, and from himself.
In the end, he was no different.
Someone who wasn’t allowed to laugh with others.
Someone who wasn’t allowed to cry with others.
Someone who wasn’t allowed to be with others and had no reason to live.
That was what he thought before.
And so Ryner speaks.
Why, staring at Sion, he speaks.
The words he’d been told by Ferris and by Sion.
Staring at the tired form of his friend, he says, simply—)
Ryner: Welcome back, Sion.
(Sion looks at him, and with a face like he’s about to cry—)
Sion: I’m home.
Ryner: You sure took your time.
Sion: I guess I did.
Ryner: But you came back. We just had to take the initiative.
Sion: Yeah.
Ryner: The gods don’t know what’s coming, from the humans that they’ve looked down. After destroying each and every one of them, I’ll create a country where you can just take afternoon naps all the time.
Sion: Haha, that’s what you said at the beginning as well.
(He laughs.)
Ryner: Ah, by the way, could you be the king of that country? I don’t like to move.
Sion: Eh? Ah~ well, it’s fine. But if we don’t call it the kingdom of dango and afternoon naps, Ferris will get mad, don’t you think?
(In that instant, the goddess of dango herself appears at the doorway.)
Ferris: Only once!?
Sion: Um…
Ferris: Don’t “um” meeeeeeeeeeeeee!
(She kicks him again.)
Ryner: Uwaa…
(He stares at them, half-smiling.)
Ryner: Well, I guess I can’t do anything, since I punched him back in the tower.
(It really has been a long time since Sion and Ferris last met.
That was back when they were in Roland, where Sion told Ferris that he killed Ryner and to never have anything to do with him again.
It’s the first time they’ve met again since then.
Looking at Ferris, Ryner can see tears springing up in her eyes.)
Ryner: This is love, huh?
(A very violent kind of love, but he laughs anyway.
Sion looks up from the ground.)
Sion: I think this love almost killed me just now?
Ryner: You’re the worst.
(With that, Ryner crushes Sion’s hopeful expression.)
Sion: Hey, save me… gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
(He’s hit again.)
Sion: I-I get it! I’m the worst! So stop hitting me already!
Ferris: Really!?
Sion: R-Really!
Ferris: Really really!?
Sion: Yes. I won’t do this again.
Ferris: Then—then promise to have the Wynnit dango shop expand into the central continent?
Sion: Eh?
Ferris: Don’t just go “eh”–!
(She hits him again.)
Sion: Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?
(He’s sent flying.
Ryner watches the scene with a smile, before looking out the window and flopping back onto the bed.)
Ryner: Well, I’m going to take a nap, so tell me when you’re done…
Ferris: Don’t just take a naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!
(Ryner can feel killing intent.)
Ryner: This really does feel nostalgic… gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?
(And so he’s sent flying.)
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 222-227
(A carriage arrives at Lieral’s laboratory. Ryner turns around. The carriage possesses the crest of the royal family of Roland. Ryner stares at the carriage.)
Ryner: … You’ve come, huh? You’re as conscientious as ever.
(He smiles. Someone exits the carriage.)
Toale: Ah, Ryner-san. It’s good to see you again.
(He smiles back.)
Ryner: Sorry for making such a troublesome request.
Toale: No, it’s fine…
(He looks behind him, in the carriage, where Lucile is, trapped with magic. Ryner looks at him.)
Ryner: …
(He thinks for a bit.)
Toale: Ryner-san.
Ryner: Hmm?
Toale: Er, because of Ryner’s request, I brought Lucile Eris-san here.
Ryner: … Right.
Toale: What are you really trying to do here?
(Ryner doesn’t turn around.)
Ryner: … What am I trying to do?
Toale: I heard about the situation from Vois-kun. Lucile Eris-san here…
Ryner: Yeah.
Toale: He killed your father.
Ryner: …
Toale: Then you told me to bring him here. Without being noticed by anyone, for that matter.
Ryner: Yeah.
Toale: Is it for revenge?
Ryner: …
(He turns around. Toale has an uneasy expression. Staring at that, Ryner smiles.)
Ryner: … Do I seem like the kind of guy who’s into revenge?
(Toale stares at him.)
Toale: I can’t say. A person’s heart isn’t so simple, after all.
Ryner: …
Toale: But right now, I have faith in you. Saying that, I don’t think you’re the sort of person who would betray my trust.
Ryner: …
Toale: So for the time being, I’ll believe in what you say. That you’re not the kind of person who’s interested in revenge, even against someone who killed someone important to you.
Ryner: …
Toale: As someone with so many friends around you, you…
Ryner: (interrupting) Ah, geez, just shut up already. I know everything you’re saying already. So you don’t need to worry.
Toale: But…
Ryner: (something about Lieral and Lucile and magic and the laboratory)
Toale: (basically repeating what he said as a question)
Ryner: Yeah. Well, putting aside what my dad said anyway, as long as I’m with Sion, Ferris, and you, I’ll be fine, but…
(He points to behind him.)
Ryner: But Dad left something behind for me. That’s why I want to go there alone first.
(Toale still looks a bit uneasy.)
Toale: I can understand that.
Ryner: Is that right?
Toale: Well, my father never liked me, so maybe that meaning is lost on me.
Ryner: Haha.
Toale: But is that really it? Is that really your reason for not bringing along Ferris-san and Sion-san?
Ryner: Yeah. That’s right.
Toale: If that’s the case, then it’s fine. Then I’ll be waiting at the inn you’re staying at.
Ryner: Got it. Well, I’ll be coming back in a few hours.
Toale: Then…
(He moves to go back in the carriage; however, from behind, Ryner strikes his neck.)
Toale: Ah…
(He’s knocked unconscious.)
Ryner: Sorry, Toale. I get that you’re worried, but…
(He looks at Lucile.)
Ryner: But I need to have a one-to-one conversation with this guy, without Ferris or Sion. At any rate, he’s my other fragment.
(He places Toale’s body in the carriage.
Thanks to magic, he won’t be waking up for a while.
Ryner turns around. After passing through the doors of the laboratory—)
Ryner: … Close.
(With magic, the doors shut behind him.)
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 252-256
In the darkness, he saw a dream.
It was his memories of a distant, distant past.
Of when the world was brighter than it was now.
Memories of before the curse that held onto him.
In those memories, his sister laughed. She laughed happily. But before he knew it, he could no longer hear that laugh.
After undergoing their parents’ severe training, she lost her expressions. She lost her emotions.
In spite of that, at that time, she still seemed like a child—
—Brother. What is “love”?
She asked that.
—Brother, why are you patting my head?
She asked that.
—Brother, because you’re here, I’m not lonely.
—I love you as well, Brother.
—Brother, because you’re here, I’m not lonely.
—Training isn’t hard. This is only normal.
—I’m weak. I have to become stronger…
—Brother, because you’re here, I’m not lonely.
Each day, she gradually lost the light in her eyes.
It was to the extent that he was no longer able to see her radiant smile.
And so, her smiling face—
“……”
—He wanted to protect it.
He would risk his life in order to protect her.
That was why he didn’t regret it.
Even if he would never again be able to see the beautiful sky.
Even if he would never again be able to see the bright world.
His sister—
If he was able to protect this sister, then…
“……”
The darkness faded.
He became conscious of the feeling of the hard ground, and being held up by something.
And so, he opened his eyes.
Slowly, Lucile Eris opened his eyes.
But he couldn’t see anything at the beginning.
It seemed that after being unconscious for so long, his ability to see his surroundings was weak.
His ability to confirm the world around him was weak.
Nevertheless, he looked around the room.
It was a dim and dusty room.
He looked down.
There was a complex magic circle in place—that, he knew.
His body couldn’t move.
With his arms and legs bound behind him, he was held in a cross shape of sorts.
Lucile looked ahead.
dai denyuuden vol. 11 pg. 265-280
(From behind Ryner—)
Zohra: Oh, oh, what's this? Are you being bulliiiiied, Ryner?
(He cuts through the Latsel thread around Ryner's neck.)
Ryner: Zohra!?
(He turns to look at him. Insert usual description of Zohra.
And from further behind—)
Peria: Hey, hey, fragile Princess Ryner. On our Princess's orders, we've come to save you~.
(Insert usual description of Peria. He takes a step forward in front of Ryner, as if to protect him.)
Peria: Ah, it seems the Hero who seduced Ryner is here.
Zohra: The Mad Hero, right? Geez, even though Ryner said before that he chose him as a friend, I'm not gonna listen to him. So—
Peria: Shall we kill him?
Zohra: Yeah~, we should do that, but if Lucile Eris is here, it's not gonna go over well. I was almost killed by that guy before...
Peria: Ri~ght, that's why I brought a Rule Fragment... One piece, then? For the Hero, for the God Devourer [Lucile], Remurus...? Now then.
(To the two talking amongst themselves:)
Ryner: Hey, what are you two suddenly talking about...
(At the same time as each other—)
Zohra: Shut up.
Peria: Please be quiet.
(And then suddenly, they throw a punch at him.)
Ryner: Whoa—
(He holds up his hands in defence, but they punch past that and hit him in the face.)
Ryner: Guwa, ueh... geez, that hurt!
Zohra: Yeah, well, that's because it was supposed to.
Peria: (slightly angrily) Exactly. Though as soon as you become our ally, Ryner, we won't have to do this.
Claugh: Who the hell are these two?
Luke: Indeed? But it seems that they're also decisive people.
Claugh: Liiike I was saying, what's all this about 'decisive people'?
Luke: ... Claugh and Ryner Lute have chosen to protect Sion-san. Those two have chosen to protect Ryner Lute. If it's only these who have gathered, then it seems that I can't choose a path where no one is killed. Nothing will be decided that way. In the end, we truly are in the palm of Remurus-san's hand... so would it be all right if I were to write the scenario as I please?
(Luke looks up at the ceiling.)
Claugh: Who are you talking to?
(Luke shrugs.)
Luke: To God?
Claugh: Huh? What's that supposed to mean?
Sion: You've met with Remurus?
(Luke looks at Sion.)
Luke: If Your Majesty hadn't come to save Ryner-san, I wouldn't have met with him. As that tea-coloured hair man suggested, as the cornerstone of our country, perhaps you should rethink a little whom you choose as your friends.
(Sion frowns. Then suddenly, his voice falling from the ceiling—)
Remurus: All right, all right, now that all the actors have gathered, let's start the climax~.
(Everyone looks up. Insert usual description of Remurus.)
Claugh: ... What is that?
Zohra: Peria. Get the Rule Fragment ready.
(Peria frowns.)
Peria: If that were its true body, I'd have no problems with attacking it... but Remurus's figure isn't reflected in my eyes. Can you see something on the ceiling with your eyes, Zohra?
(Ryner looks at Peria. Insert explanation of the All Enchantment.
In other words, Remurus might be an illusion.)
Remurus: No, I'm here. I'm right here. It's just that a god can't be seen by normal eyes, you see?
(He laughs.)
Luke: Claugh?
Claugh: Hmm?
Luke: Take Sion-san and prepare to escape...
(Then there's the sound of doors closing.)
Remurus: This play must be seen to the end. If there's anyone who needs to go to the toilet, please try and hold it in.
(Zohra frowns slightly.)
Zohra: If that's not his true body, then hurry up and locate it.
Peria: Hmm~, well, I'm trying, but aside from us, there aren't any other presences within the tower.
Zohra: Seriously, you're as useless as ever. I'm telling Pia on you.
Peria: Eh? Then, Zohra, would you please help as well?
Zohra: Aagh, then geez, why don't we just break down the wall? Make our own escape route.
Peria: Ah, that works.
Luke: Ignore Remurus. Claugh. We'll be the ones to decide what happens from hereon. We humans will...
Claugh: That's why I'm asking—what the hell? First of all...
Luke: There isn't any time for explanations. So please listen to me.
Claugh: Ah?
Luke: Either Sion-san or Ryner Lute must be killed, but which death do you think would be the most interesting? I'll follow your instincts. After all, your way tends to be more fortunate than mine.
(Claugh looks at Sion and Ryner.)
Claugh: Well, Ryner then, I guess?
Luke: Uwa, decided so quickly?
Claugh: The guys protecting Ryner seem strong, so it should be interesting to try and kill them, shouldn't it?
(Luke smiles with a troubled face.)
Luke: Honestly, that's such an irrational reason for a choice. I certainly wouldn't have chosen so efficiently.
Claugh: You're talking to an idiot, you know?
Luke: No, I truly think so. And as I believe this has surpassed Remurus's expectation, shall we do it? Kill Ryner. I'll act as the decoy, so don't be concerned for my life and simply kill Ryner please, Claugh.
(Luke lunges forward.)
Claugh: What, we're seriously doing this!?
(Peria reacts. With closed eyes—)
Peria: Zohra, up and diagonal to your right, directly to your left, and below your left are threads.
Zohra: OK.
(Zohra starts cutting through the threads with a dagger.)
Zohra: If you guys think that you even stand a chance at defeating us, then regret...
Peria: Red Hair is preparing a spell... never mind, he's finished. Uwa, he's fast.
Zohra: Huh? Then you should've stopped him, Peria. I'll kill White Hair.
Peria: Ah, is that right? Then I can't be your eyes, Zohra.
Zohra: Haa? I don't need that. Who do you think I am?
Peria: An idiot?
Zohra: I'll kill you after this.
Peria: Ahaha.
(Then they both move.
Ryner has absolutely no idea what's going on. He looks at Sion behind Claugh and Luke. Sion looks back at him, and then, with a worried face, looks up at the ceiling.)
Remurus: Wow, this is amazing, isn't it? Even though a mighty god has appeared, noooobody's even listening to me. Though I think that's how it should be, that everyone's just doing what they want.
(Zohra, cutting through Luke's threads with what's obviously a special dagger.
Peria, preparing to fire Kuuri at Sion.)
Claugh: Hey, aiming at Sion?
(He prepares the same spell at Peria.)
Peria: What I seek is iridescent destruction >>> Kuuri!
Peria: This was a fake. You're finished, Red Hair.
(He throws a hidden knife at Claugh.)
Claugh: Whoa—
(He catches it with his right hand. Peria smiles.)
Peria: It's poisoned.
(Claugh also smiles.)
Claugh: This is an artificial hand, idi~ot.
Peria: Whoops.
Claugh: You're the one who's finished. Once I release my arm's curse...
Peria: (muttering) Burn.
(The knife shines red.)
Claugh: Uh-oh, crap. Well then, you can have this back.
(Something about pushing the knife towards Peria and Peria using that force to return to Ryner.)
Peria: You're strong, aren't you? On top of that, you managed to deal with Benorino's Fang. Pia's going to be mad at me.
(Ryner looks at them—Luke, Zohra, Claugh, and Zohra. Then at Remurus, who notices and laughs.)
Remurus: Well, now that I've been forgotten by everyone, I'll continue~. For our conversation where no one has to die—well, no one's going to die anyway. Then, let's go.
Remurus: First of all, all the humans who have gathered here have one feature in common. What is it, you ask? Well, although I ask, I'm not expecting an answer, so I'll tell you. The fact is, all of you are people from Roland.
Remurus: But don't you think that's funny? That such superior beings were all born in Roland—don't you think that's funny? Maybe someone had a hand in this? That a kind and might god thought that "humans" should decide their own fate and lent a hand?
(Luke stops and takes a step back.)
Zohra: Oh? Are you giving up?
(Luke lifts his hand.)
Luke: Yes, I've been defeated. Shall we call a truce for a bit? It seems we're roughly equal. Then Remurus's...
Remurus: (interrupting) My thoughts? But there's no need to blame yourself for not being able to break free from my scenario, Luke. I've been plotting this for much longer than you all, but above all, I was born long before you all.
(Claugh and Peria stop their fight.)
Claugh: Because you were born before us?
Peria: What do you mean...
dai denyuuden vol. 11 pg. 7-21
(Prologue: The Meaning of Life)
"You know, I don't feel love."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"So you're saying that you've never cared for any of the people you associate with?"
"Hmm~ That was more like playing around—no, rather, you could say I was testing myself by associating with them."
"But you seriously don't care for any of your friends?"
"Caring and such emotions—my heart is incapable of producing or understanding them."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. At the very least, I wasn't created with such things."
"By the army?"
At Major General Calne Kaiwal's question, Luke smiled faintly and spoke.
"Where I was going with this wasn't about how my emotions were destroyed by the army—but rather, by the gods. In any case, this entire scenario was Remurus's doing, and yet in the end he disappeared, entrusting everything to humanity."
At that, Calne laughed.
"To be honest, I don't know what to think about the gods and this world they created. I mean, it's a world where a mad country like Roland was born."
"So you're saying that if gods truly did exist, then such a world wouldn't come to be?"
"That's right."
"You, Claugh, and I are the same, correct? We all came from the Emirel Private Forces?"
"Right."
"That certainly was a terrible place, wasn't it?"
Calne made a thoughtful face, as if he were recalling something, and then,
"Well, it's not like it was the only horrible place in Roland,"
He said, laughing.
At that, Luke remembered the past.
As expected, the memories that came to mind were terrible ones.
Well, as he'd established just now, he wasn't capable of emotions, so perhaps that wasn't entirely accurate—but even though he couldn't acknowledge them as such, what he saw was a horrible scene.
In his mind were painful memories.
No, even if they were painful, it'd already been several years since they occurred in Roland, and so now, Luke turned his attention to the scene that spread out before him.
Right now, Luke and the others were inside a small office in a tower within the Remurus Empire.
(description of how Roland took over Remurus, etc. Skipping from pg. 9 to pg 11)
"......"
However, the conversation just now was inconsequential.
More than that, it was a conversation about love.
A conversation about emotions.
A conversation about humanity.
Luke stared ahead. Standing by the window, he stared outside.
And, he asked,
"Calne-san, do you love anyone?"
Calne laughed, before answering.
"I love each day. My preferences are older women."
"I've heard the rumours."
"Roland's noblewomen can be pretty cute with the way they stand on edge, you know?"
"Hmm."
"But the bakery lady is good too. She likes to use her husband's favourite phrase."
At that, Luke looked at him with an astounded face as he spoke.
"All of them already have someone else, I see. Is that your preference?"
Calne laughed frivolously, looking his way.
And he spoke.
"Does it really matter what my tastes are? In the end, everyone will just die anyway, right?"
"......"
"On top of that, I have no idea when I'll die. Under these circumstances, wouldn't it be foolish to get into a serious relationship?"
He said, laughing again.
And he looked out the window once more.
He was waiting for Eslina, a girl who was coming from the Roland Empire in the south to Remurus.
She was the younger sister of Fiole Folkal, who had been employed as Sion's secretary, and was a rather cute child.
Rather than be an attractive, mature woman, she was still in her teens.
And as her brother, Fiole, had been killed by the nobles out of spite, she'd been placed by Calne's side for protection.
The two had gone through many months without seeing each other. Calne alone had been captured by the Remurus Empire.
Eslina had been worried, of course.
If she were a normal human who possessed emotions, it was only natural that she'd be worried. No, perhaps she even loved him.
Because when Luke found and saved Calne at this tower—no, that wasn't it, was it? At that time, Luke had thought that the captured Calne might've been brainwashed by Remurus, and so to destroy that risk, he'd intended to kill him, when he then pleaded for his life.
"What's with this? After so many months, I've only realized it now when I'm about to die. So if I were to live, I'd like to be able to return..."
Recalling those words, Luke looked at Calne.
"By the way, are you planning on confessing your love to Eslina?"
"Eh?"
With a surprised face, Calne turned around.
"Back then, weren't you pleading for your life to me?"
Luke asked that.
Looking as if he were thinking about something, Calne replied.
"Fiole would be mad at me, wouldn't he?"
Luke tilted his head to the side and said,
"Isn't he dead?"
"Haha, what a dry response. Sion-san wouldn't want to hear that, though."
"I don't share his human-like nature, after all."
"Even so, he isn't human inside—wasn't that what was just discussed before?"
"Correct."
"Love, affection, friendship, betrayal, life, death, emotions, emptiness... Those are what the almighty gods entrusted to people... to humans. Somehow, it all feels really sudden, doesn't it?"
Calne muttered to himself.
Luke stared at his face.
Already, Calne knew everything.
What had just happened in this tower a while ago.
And the top brass of Roland, Field Marshal Rahel Miller, Field Marshal Bayuuz White, Field Marshal Claugh Klom, and here, Major General Calne Kaiwal—it was something between them.
Specifically, the subject of Ryner.
The subject of Sion.
The subject of the gods.
The subject of this world.
And the subject of the future entrusted to humanity.
In other words, those subjects.
Calne's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Ah—"
At that, Luke asked,
"What's wrong?"
"No, nothing."
"Has Eslina-san come?"
"Ahaha."
"Then, you should hurry and confess to her."
"If it were that simple, it wouldn't cause so much distress."
With that, Calne began to walk, perhaps to meet with Eslina.
Then, he spoke.
"By the way, to continue the conversation from before—"
"Hmm?"
"About how humans possess love, affection, and camaraderie... and how because of that, all the hopes for the future have been entrusted to us—how stupid."
"Haha."
"You really don't love anyone or consider them a friend, Luke-senpai?"
"Yes."
"For example, you don't see Claugh-senpai as a friend?"
At the question, Luke said jokingly,
"What do you think Claugh would do if I say that we are?"
"Haha. He'd definitely punch you."
"Probably, yes."
"Or if not him, then you feel something towards First Lieutenant Milk Callaud. Isn't that love?"
At that, Luke lifted his head, looking at Calne, who was already exiting the room.
"Does it seem that way?"
"Are you saying that you're just acquaintances? Even though you fuss over her the way you do?"
"Ehh."
"No, don't just go 'ehh' with a surprised face."
"Love... love, is it? Rather than that, I'd say it's because of the brainwashing."
"Huh?"
"No, it's nothing. Now, please go already. Don't you have a confession to make?"
"Like I said, it's not that simple~."
Laughing, Calne left the room.
Alone in that room, Luke's thoughts spun around.
Many thoughts developed all at once.
How to move, here in the central continent.
What position to take in Roland.
And regarding Ryner and Sion.
But at the same time, in the corner of his mind, he continued to think over what Calne said.
"Isn't that love?"
To that question, he had a simple answer.
That likely wasn't love.
However, he understood that the brainwashing was no longer in effect.
The brainwashing of the Goddess that dwelled within her had been undone.
Already, they were able to escape the curse of the Goddess.
And yet, he felt sworn to loyalty towards her.
Why was that?
Was it because she possessed the innocent, human-like emotions that he yearned for?
Did he, who wasn't capable of such things, believe it to be important?
But if he were to call such an emotion love, then—
"Well, as long as I can't deny with certainty that it is... it seems that I truly do possess human emotions after all,"
Luke murmured, standing up.
Slowly, he approached the window.
The office was on the fourth floor of the tower.
It wasn't a particularly high area.
He looked out and surveyed the capital of Remurus.
The surroundings of the tower were overflowing with crowds of people.
Between the army and the civilians, they moved around busily.
However, in the center, one girl in particular was granted permission to enter the tower's outer circumference.
It was Eslina Folkal.
She had a crying face. As she began to tremble, she had that sort of frightened face.
She looked around frantically, before she noticed a man exiting the tower.
At that, her expression changed. As the tears streamed down her face, she ran.
In the man's direction.
She ran in the direction of Calne Kaiwal, before hugging him.
To that, Calne made a troubled face.
Perhaps that was love and affection.
Luke looked at that from above.
And then, looking down at the tower basement, at the tower prison—
"... Now then, for what meaning did the gods give us life for?"
With the world's verdict ten years away, he murmured that.
(Prologue: The Meaning of Life — End)
dai denyuuden vol. 12 pg. 71-72
(Ryner and Kiefer have been talking about magic—about learning it from various countries, how long it takes, how people are best at their mother country's magic, etc.)
Ryner: Naturally, I like Roland’s magic the most.
(Kiefer smiles.)
Kiefer: In spite of the fact that in Toale’s forces, there are the most users?
Ryner: Nnn?
Kiefer: Soldiers who use magic—if you narrowed it down, the army that Toale leads—those who from Imperial Nelpha are the largest number? All of them are magic users.
Ryner: Yeah~ There, the control…
(Anyhow, that insignia no longer exists, as Toale Nelphi lost his country.
And now, that country is working for Vois's organization and Pia's organization.
As Toale, by nature, dislikes conflict, he works outside of the center of things.
No, though he's called a king even by Ryner, he's just a puppet who's only treated as such as mere window dressing.)
Ryner: Toale. Toale? I~ see.
(He rises.)
Kiefer: Are you going to wash your face?
Ryner: Yup.
(He and Kiefer talk for a bit about sleeping.
He's thinking of implementing new magic/weapons or something.
And perhaps for that, Nelpha's magic language would be good. Pia and Vois have plenty of Rule Fragments, given their rather warlike characters.
That's why Ryner doesn't want to give such tools to them.
But if it's Toale. If it's him...)
Ryner: ...
(Thinking about that, he leaves the room.)
dai denyuuden vol. 12 pg. 105-155
(Tiir enters the scene and Pia attacks.
Standard description of Tiir—black hair, eyes, clothing, etc. Glowing red cross. Pia recognizes him as an Iino Doue bearer since she’s seen several during the war.)
Tiir: (smiling) Uwa, to have avoided my attacks up until now—you’re strong.
(Tiir has light cuts on her arms from when Pia attacked him, but they heal. He moves to attack her again.
Pia’s subordinates notice the scene.)
Subordinates: Pia-sama!
Subordinates: Princess!
(They start to use magic all at once.)
Pia: Back me up! This guy…
(Vois’s subordinates move in behind her.)
Pia: This guy devours magic! Don’t use magic! Throw your knives!
(They throw knives. Tiir smiles.)
Tiir: That won’t hit…
(Pia smiles.)
Pia: It’ll hit. Because I’m the one handling this.
(She spins her fingers around. A magic circle is created in the hole she makes. Roland’s magic.)
Tiir: Aha, magic is no use. That’s what you just said…
Pia: Shut up, monster.
(She invokes the magic.)
Pia: What I seek is water mist >>> Misumi!
(She’s sent back due to the recoil and jumps up into the sky.)
Pia: Come on, jump. Jump and avoid the knives. Jump and scatter.
(Tiir looks up at her.)
Tiir: Da—
(She sends knives flying from all around Tiir. They strike him. He bleeds, obviously. Furthermore, Pia casts her claws. Tiir frantically evades.)
Pia: The claws were a fake~
(Pia swings her leg up. A knife flies from her tiptoe. It cuts through Tiir’s neck. More bleeding. His surroundings blur. It’s a fatal wound.)
Pia: Everyone, leave. If his power is taken away, this will end. Iino Doue bearer, you won’t recover.
(She watches Tiir bleed and his blood dye his clothes red.)
Pia: Now then, tell me, who are you? You’ll only heal if I offer up magic, you know?
(Tiir smiles, despite being on the verge of death.)
Pia: What’s so amusing?
Tiir: Your feeling of triumph.
Pia: That’s amusing?
Tiir: Yes.
Pia: Then, we’re agreeing that I won? Even though an Iino Doue bearer devours magic, that wasn’t a lengthy display of power. But for that bleeding, your ability to devour magic from the air…
(Tiir snaps his fingers. His neck injury begins to heal. The knife falls out.
Pia smiles.)
Pia: That is?
Pia: But to heal your injuries, you use up your energy, don’t you? Healing your wounds consumes a lot of energy. I already know about you guys. We’re abundant in knowledge.
Tiir: That’s only because you kill our brethren.
Pia: Hey, hold on. We’re different from Gastark’s people. We’re not interested in the Cursed Eyes. We’re your friends.
(Immediately, Tiir’s expression changes.)
Tiir: In the end, humans’ standing is different from our friends’. More and more, it makes me sick.
Pia: Ahaha, that’s all you guys ever talk about. Having your eyes open at birth, you Iino Doue bearers are unpleasant people.
(Tiir glares at her. With one hand, Pia stealthily prepares a Rule Fragment and thinks about how her victory has already been decided, especially as the Iino Doue can’t devour Rule Fragments.
She throws what looks to be a knife at Tiir, but is actually a Rule Fragment.)
Tiir: That kind of thing has no meaning.
Pia: (smiling) If it won’t hit, then don’t move?
| (Tiir puts out his hand. A black swirl appears.) Pia: What’s that? Tiir: A mass of power. It’s said that it’s an endless supply—with this, the situation has changed, hasn’t it? (Pia thinks over the situation.) Pia: … (Tiir smiles.) Tiir: No, your thinking wasn’t superior to our eyes. (Pia smiles.) Pia: Do you say that to everybody? Tiir: Only to foolish humans. (He eats at the swirl in his hand. His eyes glow.) Pia: … I give up. In this state, I can’t deal with the Iino Doue bearer without my friends… (She thinks about how she, Peria, and Zohra screwed up—they were too confident.) Pia: I couldn’t do it alone, huh? |  |
(She prepares herself.)
Tiir: Oh, don’t tell me that you still think you can win?
Pia: Oh my, don’t you know that there isn’t a single man in this world who’s stronger than me?
Tiir: Hahaha.
Pia: Go ahead and laugh. This’ll be the only time you can.
(Tiir smiles.)
Tiir: No, no, I’m laughing over the misunderstanding. But did you think that my friends weren’t here as well?
Pia: (stupidly) Eh?
(Behind Tiir is a pretty ~17-year-old girl with black hair, black eyes, and black clothing. Another Iino Doue bearer.)
Girl: Hold on, Tiir-san, don’t be hasty! If we interfere by ourselves, what’ll you do if we get hurt?
(Tiir looks over his shoulder.)
Tiir: But from observing from before, we don’t know if it’s safe for our friends to come, wouldn’t you say?
(Tiir’s attitude has changed from before—he’s talking a lot more gently.
He looks back at Pia and his attitude goes back to how it was before, as he spreads both arms apart.)
Tiir: (confidently) However, it would seem there isn’t a problem. I was able to take control here alone. The humans here are weak. I’ll slaughter them.
(Pia thinks and considers using a Rule Fragment—the Demonic Beast Destroyer [Ellearms].)
Pia: This situation—it can’t be helped, huh?
(She reaches into a dress pocket. Suddenly, Vois appears.)
Vois: No, no, now’s not the time, Pia-san. The outcome has been decided. Now’s the time for negotiations.
(Pia looks at him.)
Pia: What do you mean, the outcome has been decided? You can’t be saying that I’ve been defeated by that guy…
Vois: That’s not what I’m saying. If you use Ellearms, it’ll be the same as them slaughtering everyone, you know?
Pia: …
Vois: Yes, it’s your victory. However, I’ll be responsible for this. This is my field of expertise.
(Vois boldly sticks out his chest to Tiir.)
Vois: Well, well, all of you with Cursed Eyes. Hello. I was hiding until a while ago… I was observing the situation. Based on how things went, don’t you think we should start negotiations, Tiir-san?
(Tiir narrows his eyes.)
Tiir: Negotiations? I don’t negotiate with inferior humans.
(Vois smiles.)
Vois: Is that so? For what reason are you here, then? It can’t be that because you’re so disgusted at us, you came here just to kill us.
(Tiir smiles.)
Tiir: Humans always disgust me.
Vois: However, we’re not the only disgusting humans. Um, over there to the side, they’re inside that fortress.
Tiir: …
Vois: Furthermore, you Cursed Eye bearers should know that our king is one of your friends.
(Tiir glares at Vois.)
Tiir: The one you’ve named as a demon and are using—Ryner?
Vois: Aha, to say we’re using him—that’s a mean way of putting it. Ryner and I are friends. We’re such close friends that we’ve slept in the same bed…
(Tiir disappears—or rather, he moves extremely quickly. He grabs Vois’s neck and slams him to the ground with enough force to break his neck.)
Vois: Gua—
Pia: Damn it.
(She watches the Cursed Eye bearer girl’s behaviour, knowing that she can’t help Vois because the girl will attack if she tries.
A black mist appears (?). Within the mist, Pia can see glowing red eyes—nearing 1,000 of them.
Meanwhile, Tiir is strangling Vois.)
Tiir: I already said that I don’t negotiate with filthy humans. The trivial jokes of a brat like you are tedious to listen to. If you’d cast yourselves before us and begged for your life from the start, I might’ve been willing to listen to your request.
Pia: If you kill that brat, I won’t negotiate with you?
(Tiir looks up at her with a cheerful expression.)
Tiir: Then I’ll kill you. But even if you’re killed, the others will still beg for their lives.
Pia: You can’t kill me.
Tiir: Hahaha.
Pia: If you kill me, my subordinates will refuse to negotiate with you.
Tiir: Hahaha, then I’ll kill them…
(Pia thinks again, considering the use of Ellearms to deal with the Cursed Eye bearers. Something about a seal and a choker.)
Pia: (surprised) … No way.
(Someone grabs her arm. It’s not Tiir or the Cursed Eye bearer girl.)
Pia: What are you?
(The black mist begins to clear up. Pia can see a blond-haired man with who looks to be in his late twenties and resembles Ryner. Aka Lieral.)
Lieral: (gently) Well, from hereon, the war should occur, huh?
Pia: Don’t touch me!
(Pia swings her claws. She hits him, but with Lieral being Lieral, it doesn’t have much of an effect, since his body just heals itself.)
Lieral: (jokingly) Well, I’m still alive.
(His appearance begins to change.)
Lieral: Through magic, I can go against the laws of nature…
(Pia begins to cast Kuuri.)
Lieral: Oh, amazing speed, huh?
(Lieral does something to the spell.)
Pia: N-No way—
(Thoughts about magic.)
Pia: … Amazing. But why aren’t you attacking? Don’t tell me that you’re going easy on me?
(Lieral smiles faintly.)
Lieral: Haha, I’m different from Tiir-kun. I believe in being nice to women…
(Pia interrupts.)
Pia: Or it’s the magic? That’s why you’re not attacking. You’re not able to. Because you’re an hallucination.
(Lieral smiles faintly again.)
Lieral: Magic.
Pia: It seems like it.
Lieral: Yeah. For me, that low degree of magic isn’t worth using here. For example, if you surrender, I don’t need to use magic.
Pia: How crude—
(Lieral begins drawing a magic circle.)
(Pia jumps high into the air and looks down below, feeling strangely afraid.)
Pia: …
Pia: (moaning) Uuu.
Pia: D-Damn it, I won’t lose. I’ll protect my spirit, the magic won’t be destroyed…
Lieral?: Hey, isn’t it good up in that hole?
(The spells Lieral prepared disappear and Lieral smiles.)
Pia: …
(Pia thinks about Lieral’s skill.)
Pia: …
(Tiir stands up.)
Tiir: Don’t be a hindrance, Lieral Lieutolu.
(Lieral looks over his shoulder, looking at ease.)
Pia: …
(Pia chews at her lips.)
Lieral: Your unpleasant attitude towards humans is bad for negotiations, don’t you think?
(Tiir glares at Lieral.)
Tiir: I don’t need to be given instructions by a human.
Lieral: (cheerfully) Well, while we’re talking about this, I’m only partly human, you know?
(He spreads his arms apart. However, Tiir just looks sullen.)
Tiir: First of all, I didn’t even want to work together with you like this. It’s because of Ene’s orders…
Lieral: Then, if you’re acting according to her orders, shouldn’t you be happier? After all, she wants to be on good terms with a human like me.
Tiir: … That’s because she’s too soft.
Lieral: That’s not it. I think I see things the way she does more than you.
Tiir: What are you…
Lieral: You don’t know anything. You don’t know anything about that, I’d say. For my son’s happiness, I wouldn’t care if I destroyed the world. However, as advice from your senior… well, because of their ability to devour magic, Iino Doue bearer’s cells don’t age, but between the two of us, which one of us is older, I don’t know.
(Many Cursed Eyes appear through the black mist.)
Lieral: But, well, let me give you some advice. Your behaviour—is that something you’d want to show to the young Cursed Eye bearers who love you so dearly?
Tiir: … That’s a different issue. To begin with, I was opposed to this alliance with humans…
Lieral: Why are you still against it? If you kill them, who will you be protecting? By being antagonistic towards humans, who are you protecting?
(Tiir’s expression clouds up. Lieral seems satisfied.)
Lieral: Then, my work is done. As you’re the representative of your group, I’ll entrust this to you. See you.
(He waves.)
Pia: W-Wait…
(Lieral disappears into the darkness.)
Pia: What in the world is that guy?
(She feels humiliated. Vois gets up.)
Vois: Iya, that was dangerous. I was on the verge of feeling pleasure from that strangling~
(Tiir looks down at him.)
Tiir: (annoyed) … I can do it again, if you want?
(Voice smiles slightly.)
Vois: No, no, it’s all right. Being strangled once is enough—I don’t want to die. Now let’s have a business-like conversation, shall we?
Tiir: …
Vois: Well, I understand the general situation. Lieral Lieutolu is Ryner-san’s father, huh?
Pia: Haa!? What!? That attractive man is that sleepyhead’s… father?
(Vois ignores her.)
Vois: So, your group of Cursed Eye bearers. Why such a strange sort of people was born, I don’t know, but right now, what are your conditions for negotiations?
(Tiir, looking sullen, doesn’t reply. Vois continues smiling.)
Vois: Our king is a Cursed Eye bearer, after all. Right now, with this world’s current state of affairs, the Cursed Eye bearers have no choice but to seek protection. Others will just gouge out and use your eyes. By doing that, they can get a lot of power, isn’t that right?
(Tiir’s expression changes, but Vois ignores that.)
Vois: So, because of that, “Work for us and we’ll give you protection” is something I’m not going to say. Our naïve Demon King-sama would get angry. That’s why it’s okay. I’ll accept your conditions. Become friends with us.
(He lifts a finger to his cheek.)
Vois: However, surely, that won’t give you peace of mind, will it? Because you’ve been persecuted for a long time. Because you’ve been afraid of humans all your life. The persecution in humans’ hearts—my parents were swindlers, so I’ve studied a lot about it…
Tiir: Humans’ hearts, to us…
(Vois interrupts.)
Vois: No, no, you guys, you’re human, you know? You feel wrath at the persecution. You feel humiliation. You feel grief. So aren’t you human?
Tiir: …
Vois: In fact, I’d say that Ryner-san is more human than me, you know.
Tiir: …
(Tiir remains silent.)
Vois: Even if I say that, the anxiety doesn’t disappear. Then, what should we do to make this anxiety go away? This attack, this threat—to be recognized as strong, you have to build up your status, that’s what I’ve been thinking about… so, by building up your status, you’ll really give our king some relief?
(He looks over at the black mist, as does Pia, where there are still countless glowing eyes. Their subordinates look startled—an expected response, given how deadly Iino Doue bearers and Alpha Stigma bearers can be.
Pia knows from having known Ryner since they were young, however, that Ryner is just the same as anyone else.
And though the Cursed Eye bearers’ numbers were very few, people were still afraid of them, hence the persecution. )
Pia: …
(The minority groups are discriminated against. Persecuted. Slaughtered. Hated.
Vois rushes.)
Tiir: Where are you going?
(In spite of the overwhelming power of someone like Tiir compared to Vois, who can’t fight, the reality is that the Cursed Eye bearers take the abuse.)
Vois’s subordinate: Vois-sama!
(The mist—which was probably Lieral’s doing—begins to clear up. But rather than trained fighters or anything like that, they’re just frightened-looking children.
Even so, the subordinates’ reactions are the same. They’re monsters. Kill them.
And to that, the Cursed Eye bearers respond the way they do. Hate rises to their expressions. Grief rises to their expressions.
Hate rises to Tiir’s expression. Or, rather, murderous intent does. To that, Pia moves in order to stop him.
Vois smiles and lets out a sigh.)
Vois: Be quiet, you idiots!
(The subordinates look surprised.)
Vois: If any of you guys say anything like that again to the Cursed Eye bearers, I’ll give you the death penalty. Is that clear? Right now, they’re our friends. If you insult our friends, I’ll give you the death penalty. Understood?
(The subordinates look bewildered.)
Vois: I’m asking if you understand!
(It’s clear they do. Vois looks over at the Cursed Eye bearers.)
Vois: Hey, Cursed Eye bearers. Cheer up. And please be at ease. I’m not going to discriminate against you.
(They still look on guard, though.)
Children: No way! We know that all humans hate us!
(Says a five-year-old girl. Vois smiles.)
Vois: I can’t hate children, you know? I’m a lolicon.
Pia: Haa? What are you saying, now of all times?
Vois: (happily) I know, being born into a life of discrimination and persecution, since in my country…
Someone: Don’t be fooled!
Someone: Don’t believe that human’s words!
Someone: That’s right, that’s right—we won’t be fooled!
Vois: (confidently) Discriminating and persecuting—my parents educated me in that. That’s what my parents said. They’re different from us, they said. That’s how I was to think as a child. They’re different, so it’s okay to bully them. It’s okay to discriminate against them. It’s okay to persecute them.
Someone: Be quiet, human!
Vois: It’s difficult, to erase the education you were born into. Children don’t forget that kind of thing. But today, the children who are born here can be taught differently. Today, immediately and entirely, it’s not unreasonable for things to change. So from now on…
| (The children throw rocks. Vois doesn’t dodge them, and so they hit his face and he starts to bleed. He smiles.) Vois: It’s okay to throw rocks. You definitely have that right to do that to us. You’ve been hurt and are suffering. But that’s your way of talking. Our cost for talking. However, is that how we should talk in the future? Surely, from now on, Cursed Eye bearers will be born. Like this, the future that Cursed Eye bearer children will be born into won’t be any different. This talk—what should we do? Shouldn’t we fight together? Children: … Vois: For example, let’s create new laws. Laws that will punish this persecution. Or laws that reward those who cooperate. In that case, new education will come forth. New relationships will be created. Think about it… (More rocks are thrown and hit Vois’s face.) Vois: You guys sure are nice, huh? Throwing rocks like this. Really, you have the power to kill. You have the power to kill me easily, but you won’t kill me. What kind of sentiment is that? You haven’t thought about it? (The children stop and start becoming noisy. However, a ~10-year-old Iino Doue bearer moves to grab Vois’s neck. ) Tiir: Stop, Magutt. |  |
(Tiir holds out his arm, stopping him. Magutt looks at him with cold eyes.)
Magutt: This guy is dangerous. He’s deceiving our friends.
Tiir: However, we need them.
Magutt: This guy can’t…
Tiir: You don't understand the danger of humans yet. The Gastark Empire and Roland Empire are already approaching. If we’re found, they’ll gouge out our eyes.
Magutt: But…
Tiir: But what you said was correct. We can’t depend on his words, right?
(Magutt’s expression brightens. Tiir grabs Vois’s hair.)
Tiir: And so, we’ll be taking him captive. He’s an important person to the humans. Anyhow, we can use him as a pretext for negotiations, can’t we?
Vois: Ah, help?
Pia: I can’t help from this distance, I don’t think?
Vois: Is that so… well, this is just about as I expected, so please take care of me.
Pia: Please take care of you…
Vois’s associate: Please don’t move. Everyone, act according to Vois-sama’s instructions.
(Pia looks at the associate, who’s a 16-17-year-old girl with tea-coloured hair and mismatched black eyes—aka Relca.)
Relca: Vois-sama is intending to pierce into the hearts of the Cursed Eye bearers; however, because they’re won’t understand a human’s words, they want to hear from the king of Cursed Eye bearers.
Pia: The king of Cursed Eye bearers? That’d be Ryner?
Relca: Yes. And already, he’s been called. He’s in a hurry since we sent a letter to him.
Pia: Huh, when was that?
Relca: Immediately when Tiir Rumibul attacked.
(Pia’s eyes narrow, as she considers the implications of what Relca just said.)
Pia: I don’t like you guys.
Relca: Are you angry at the part about not being informed?
Pia: All of it.
Relca: That’s business. However, I’m sorry.
(She looks at Vois, worried.)
Pia (muttering) But that brat is too much, wouldn’t you say?
Pia: Well, since he’s a brat, things balance out.
Pia: Incidentally, what did you write in that letter to Ryner? That Vois has been taken captive?
(Relca shakes her head.)
Relca: That Pia-san has been killed.
Pia: Aah, that would make Ryner come.
Relca: (worriedly) If he didn’t, that would be a problem.
(The Cursed Eye bearers pull back into the mist.)
Pia: Then for me, there's no point in trying to save Vois.
(Relca glares.)
Pia: Just joking.
(Pia laughs.)
Pia: (muttering) Haa, this is tiring…
Pia: Aah, I want to meet up with Peria and Zohra…
Pia: (something about sleeping)
dai denyuuden vol. 12 pg. 225-300
Pia: Because, Ryner, you're going to have fight someone even faster than Ferris-san here.
Ryner: Eh?
Pia: An Iino Doue bearer. And on top of that, he currently has an infinite supply of magic power that he can devour—really, a bad guy. His name’s Tiir Rumibul. You know him?
Ryner: Ha? Tiir? Why are Pia and Tiir…
Pia: And there’s Lieral Lieutolu. Your father’s really strong. (something about his magic)
Ryner: Hold on, hold on—why do you know my dad?
Pia: There were two people who attacked. So, those guys abducted Vois and took him back to the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement. That means Ryner can’t go back.
Ryner: Haaaaaaaaa? Wait, that kind of serious matter—what’s going on?
Pia: Personally, since it’s Vois’s life, I don’t think it’s a serious matter.
Ryner: No, that’s not the problem, I don’t think.
Pia: Ah, I have a message from Vois. Or rather, not him. From Relca.
Ryner: Na?
Pia: Anyway, this is to shake the Cursed Eye bearers’ hearts, since they won’t listen to the words of a human. That’s why the king of Cursed Eye bearers has to persuade them.
(Ryner’s eyes widen.)
Ryner: Who’s the king of Cursed Eye bearers?”
Pia: Isn’t it you?
Ryner: I’m the king again?
Pia: With the air of an idiot king, I’d say?
(Ferris, Pia, and Ryner banter for the next page.)
Ryner: Yes, yes, I get it already. Then, let’s go have that talk? With Tiir, Lieral, and Vois? That combination’s kind of funny…
(He thinks about how the last time they met, they were enemies, as the purpose of the Iino Doue’s existence was to kill Lieral.)
Ryner: Pia, what’s Tiir and Lieral’s relationship?
Pia: Hmm~ It didn’t seem like they liked each other much?
Ryner: Ah, as I thought?
Pia: However, it seemed like your father was an ally of the Cursed Eye bearers.
Ryner: Hmm.
Pia: But the Cursed Eye bearers’ seemed to have listened attentively to Vois’s speech.
Ryner: Hou. Vois’s speech, huh?
Pia: But Tiir didn’t believe in him.
Ryner: I see.
Pia: So, for the sake of negotiations, they took him captive until Ryner comes.
Ryner: Negotiations?
Pia: That’s right. Negotiations.
(Ryner narrows his eyes as he thinks over how this would go over.
For the Cursed Eye bearers' group, Tiir approached Ryner and co.—no, the People's Republic of Sphelliyet for negotiations.
For the sake of selecting a union.
He hates humans to that extent.
Towards humans, he and the other Cursed Eye bearers have nothing but contempt.)
Ryner: (muttering) The world’s current situation is pretty bad, huh?
(At least, with the way Gastark treats Cursed Eye bearers. Before Ryner's eyes, Cursed Eye bearers—women and children—were killed by them.
And they gouged out their eyes.
Tiir had cried out angrily.
And Lafra—)
Ryner: ...
(Ryner remembered that time.
Lafra was a boy who'd believed that Ryner could act as a bridge between humans and Cursed Eye bearers.
Lafra had smiled. Before he'd died, he smiled.
Entrusting the Cursed Eye bearers with Ryner, he'd smiled and died.
Ryner remembered that.
Nevertheless, Tiir and co. approached the People's Republic of Sphelliyet.)
Ryner: … Well, this is a major thing.
(He stands up and heads over to his horse.)
Ryner: Well, I’d say that we should hurry, but I don’t know where Vois is… Pia.
Pia: Hmm?
Ryner: Where do I go?
Pia: I don’t know.
Ryner: Eh?
Pia: I didn’t ask.
Ryner: Then what do we do?
(Suddenly, before his eyes, a black mist appears.)
Ryner: What the…
(Pia moves, taking a coin out of her pocket. She puts it forth towards the mist.)
Pia: I wonder if this can kill you? Lieral Lieutolu.
(From the mist, a blond-haired man appears. Relaxed, sleepy eyes, dressed in a tight suit.
Ryner’s father, Lieral.
As expected, in a voice resembling Ryner’s—)
Lieral: Iyaa, might that be a Rule Fragment?
Pia: That’s right.
Lieral: Why do you have that? It’s a rather unusual thing to be in possession of.
Pia: Because I’m a genius.
Lieral: Haha, I see, a genius? Well, even I might be blown off if I were attacked with that. But I can’t say—I’ve never had it tried out before.
(Pia smiles a tad happily.)
Pia: Then I’d have a chance at victory?
Lieral: Seems that way.
Pia: Well, that’s fine. I won’t kill you.
(She puts the coin back. Then she looks over at Ryner.)
Pia: Ryner.
Ryner: Hmm?
Pia: (says stuff about possibly learning Lieral’s magic)
(Lieral smiles.)
Lieral: No, no, this magic may be my strong point, but it can only be used at the cost of your humanity. It’s not something I’d advise my beloved son to use.
(He looks at Ryner.)
Lieral: Then, let’s go, Ryner.
Ferris: Where are you taking him?
Lieral: To where the Cursed Eye bearers are.
Ferris: But alone…
Lieral: It’s fine if you come along as well. As I’ve said before, I want to protect my son. And so, it wouldn’t be a very good idea to send him out alone.
Ryner: Ah, Ferris, you’ve met with my dad before?
Ferris: He entered my dream.
Ryner: Dream?
Ferris: Yeah.
Ryner: So, what’d you talk about?
(Ferris doesn’t answer.)
Ryner: Hey, Dad.
Lieral: What is it?
Ryner: What’d you talk to Ferris about?
| (Lieral smiles cheerfully.) Lieral: Iyaa, about the passionate feelings Ferris-chan holds towards my son… (Faster than Ryner can follow, Ferris swings her sword at Lieral. However, it doesn’t injure him. Lieral’s body turns into hundreds of papers, before they gather and appear before Ferris again.) Lieral: Iyaa, your face is all red. How cute… Ferris: If you don’t be quiet, I’ll kill you. (Ferris swings her sword again, and again, to no effect. Pia, arms crossed, watches with interest.) Pia: Um, I’m wondering how he’s doing that~. Would it be possible for me to learn that magic? Lieral: No, this is a forbidden type of magic. You’d have to sacrifice a lot to learn it. Pia: What kind of sacrifice? My body? Lieral: Your soul. Pia: Hmm. My soul… my soul, huh? It doesn’t seem worth it. Lieral: It’s fine not to learn it. Really, it’s a technique people shouldn’t come into contact with. |  |
Ryner: Hey, Ferris. Seriously, what did you talk to my dad about?
(She still looks embarrassed.)
Ferris: Just gossip.
Ryner: You’re that angry over gossip?
Ferris: (angrily) That’s enough already. Be quiet, idiot.
(Ryner tilts his head but doesn’t ask further.)
Ryner: Well, I guess it’s fine.
Ryner: Then, Dad.
Lieral: What is it, my son?
Ryner: No, why do you keep saying that over and over again? It’s embarrassing.
Lieral: Ahaha.
Ryner: So what’s the situation?
Lieral: With Vois-kun?
Ryner: Right, right.
Lieral: He might be being tortured?
Ryner: Eh, no way?
Lieral: Really. He’s in league with the Goddesses, so the Cursed Eye bearers don’t believe in him. Well, torture aside, the Cursed Eye bearers need to search through his memories, so they won’t kill him.
(Ryner remembers Lafra and the Ebra Crypt.)
Ryner: … Is Vois suffering?
Lieral: Well, there’s a possibility.
Ryner: Then we have to hurry.
(Lieral nods.)
Lieral: That’s why I’ve come out to get you. Well then, I’ll be your guide. Get on your horse.
Pia: Would it be possible for me to…
Lieral: Can’t say for certain. However, you’ve fought with the Cursed Eye bearers. To enter their settlement, Ryner and the one who saved them before, Ferris Eris, would be best—or so I’ve been told.
(Ferris looks his way.)
Ferris: Hmm.
(Ryner looks at Pia.)
Ryner: Well then, I’ll be going.
(Pia smiles.)
Pia: Ah, by the way, Ryner.
Ryner: Hmm?
Pia: Don’t die with Vois, all right? If I go back to the People's Republic of Sphelliyet alone… then Roland and Gastark will end up conquering the continent.
(Ryner smiles wryly.)
Ryner: That’s not exactly easy.
Pia: But that would be no fun… bring back Vois, and then bring Tiir or whatever and the other Cursed Eye bearers with you when you return.
Ryner: That’s really not easy at all.
Pia: Haha, but this time, I have friends against Roland and Gastark. So you too, once in a while…
Ryner: Yeah, I’ll do my best. Then, I’ll be going.
Pia: Ye—s.
(Pia delicately waves her hand. She then sits down on the cloth she and Ferris laid out and drinks the rest of her tea.)
Ryner: So, Dad. Is the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement far?
(However, Ryner can’t see Lieral anywhere. Still, a voice speaks near his ear.)
Lieral: It’s about two days away.
Ryner: Um, could you act a little more human?
Lieral: Ahaha.
Ryner: Anyway, it’s two days away? I’ve already been riding for five days, and again I have to ride for two more days?
Lieral: Hahaha.
Ryner: So, which way?
Lieral: That way.
(He speaks like he’s pointing somewhere, but…)
Ryner: (complaining) That’s why you need to be visible.
Lieral: Well, let the horses move. I’ll tell you whether to move left or right.
Ryner: Then at least point us in the first direction. What? South? Is it fine if we go down this road?
Lieral: Yes.
Ryner: Then, Ferris. Go south.
(Ferris starts moving with her horse.)
Lieral: Ah, by the way, Ferris-chan.
Ferris: What?
Lieral: During these next two days, if you were to flirt with and be loveydovey with my son, I would allow it…
Ferris: Die!
(Ferris swings her sword in the direction of the voice.)
Lieral: (cheerfully) Missed me~
(Ferris frowns and puts her sword away.)
Ferris: Hey, Ryner.
Ryner: What?
Ferris: I don’t like your father.
Ryner: Ah~ right. I definitely know what you mean.
Lieral: My, are the two disobedient young ones eloping?
(Ryner sighs.)
Ryner: Anyway, just ignore him.
Ferris: Mmm.
Lieral: Ahaha.
(He laughs.
And so, they begin moving towards the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement.)
The Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement was in actuality, rather than the south side of the People's Republic of Sphelliyet—in the center of the Geihlficlant Empire—at the east end.
Furthermore, it was deep, deep into the mountains.
The settlement was hidden behind thick trees.
Thousands of people lived in that settlement, in the mountains, in fear of being discovered by other humans.
“… There’s a lot of magic here,”
Ryner said, looking at this settlement in the mountains.
And then he looked around at his surroundings.
Through his eyes, he could see that many procedures had been set in place.
If they had ordinary eyes, the person would only see trees and the ground, rather than the magic procedures that had been drawn—however, with his eyes and the five star pentagram within them, he could read them.
For example, the magic in the trees.
To begin with, it was difficult to approach this mountain.
One would lose control over their sense of direction—that was the same magic he could see as he looked around.
And,
“Ah, Ferris,”
He said, reaching out his hand. He grabbed Ferris’s arm, as she walked beside him.
“Hmm?”
She said, looking his way.
“What is it?”
“There’s a trap there.”
“Hmm.”
She said, looking at her feet. At her feet, there were fallen leaves.
“A magic trap?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t see it, then?”
“That’s why I think these guys are pretty powerful. Even I’m pretty impressed.”
“Hum. Then, what should we do?”
“Take one step behind me.”
“I understand,”
She said, taking one step behind him. And then, at his back—
“All right, let’s go, magic detector.”
“Hey!”
Again, they started moving forward.
There were a lot of magic traps. Not worried that he might miss one, as Ryner could see entirely through them, they moved forward.
And so, they reached the settlement.
It had a bit of a village atmosphere to it.
In the mountain, a two-story building stood.
In an open space, children laughed.
“… This is where all of the Cursed Eye bearers are?”
Ferris said, looking out from behind him.
To that,
“Here should be fine, right? Dad,”
Ryner asked, looking up at the sky.
At that, a voice returned.
“Yeah.”
“Then, from here, what should we do? Sneak in and save Vois?”
“………”
“Or boldly approach and talk with Tiir?”
To that, Lieral said,
“No, already, this time, having come here, Ryner must behave.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The representative of the other side is a capable person, you know.”
“A capable person… then, is it an Ebra Crypt user?”
“No, that’s not it. The Ebra Crypt can’t see the future. However, the other side has someone who can…”
However, all of a sudden, the children who were playing in the open space looked his way.
Possessing the same black hair and black eyes as Ryner—a group of young girls.
Those children—
“He came!”
They called out as they looked his way.
“Tiir-niichan! It’s like Ene-sama said—Ryner-niichan came!”
They happily said those words.
Incidentally, Ryner had erased all signs of his presence and concealed himself in the shadows of the trees.
Really, there was no signs of Ferris’s existence either, as she even hid her breathing.
But the children still noticed.
No, from the start, Ryner and co.’s timing to come here—everyone had known and looked their way.
“… Really, they knew we were coming, huh?”
Ryner said, narrowing his eyes.
And then, from the building, a familiar figure emerged.
Black hair, cold black eyes. Clergyman-like black clothing.
Tiir Rumibul.
The leader of the group of Cursed Eye bearers emerged, looking his way.
Smiling cheerfully,
“Ah, Ryner. You really came.”
He waved over at him.
Incidentally, while Tiir was cold towards humans, he was very kind towards Ryner and Cursed Eye bearers.
Right now, as he stared at Ryner in a happy manner,
“… Ah, why wouldn’t I?”
Ryner said as he stopped concealing his presence, walking forward. He took one step forward—one step into the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement.
And—
“You called, so I came.”
At those words, Tiir spread his arms apart wide and spoke.
“You don’t have to be so tense. This place is your home, after all.”
From behind Ryner, Ferris entered the settlement. And looking Ferris’s way,
“By the way, we didn’t invite that filthy human over there,”
Tiir said in a cold voice.
To that, Ryner replied,
“No, no, someone else invited Ferris?”
“Who?”
“My father… ah, that would be Lieral Lieutolu.”
“Ah, I see. I don’t like your father.”
At that, Ryner smiled, and without looking, called out to his father.
“As I thought, it seems everyone hates you, Dad, huh?”
Then, to that, Lieral laughed.
“Well, as long as Ryner loves me, it’s okay,”
He said, suddenly appearing.
Furthermore, it wasn’t at Ryner’s side, but in the open space. He was with the Cursed Eye bearer children.
At that moment, Tiir’s entire body tensed. Looking at him with open hostility,
“… Don’t approach the children, human. Do you want to be killed?”
He said.
Lieral had a frivolously relaxed expression.
“You can’t kill me. Didn’t you already try that?”
“………”
At that, Tiir glared at Lieral with an annoyed expression.
The children, not noticing the tense situation, smiled.
“Hey, Lieral-ojisan, did you come to play with us again?”
They said, moving to hug him.
Lieral swiftly snapped his fingers.
Suddenly, the girl was holding a teddy bear that appeared before her.
“Waaaaaaaaa!”
The girl’s eyes shined.
“Sneaky! I want one too!”
Said another child, and sure enough, a wagon model appeared.
“Hurraaaaaaaaaaaay!”
Ryner watched the energetic scene with half-closed eyes. Then, to Ferris behind him:
“Ferris.”
“What is it?”
“What do you think about this scene?”
At that question, Ferris looked at Lieral and then stared at Tiir’s angry expression.
“The scene of the strange father delivering presents to the children and the angry mother?”
She said. At that, Tiir looked their way. He started to move.
To that—
“Ah~ I know what you’re thinking, but if you kill Ferris-chan, I’ll kill the children here, you know?”
Lieral said those words.
At that, Tiir stopped moving.
Or rather, he’d been about to seriously attack.
And for the sake of preventing that, Lieral held the children hostage.
Ryner understood the situation, and so became tense.
“This is a troubling situation—don’t you think so? Ferris.”
To that, Tiir spoke.
“No, no, it’s not troublesome, Ryner. It’s a simple situation. Finally, you’re here—the king of the God’s Eyes bearers. And yet, you’re with that foul human. I'll kill her so you can be happy here with us,”
Tiir said. And then,
“Mugatt, Shikure, Melurina. Protect the children.”
He said, ordering someone.
“Yes!”
From inside the building, voices rang out. Then three Iino Doue bearers exited.
They directed their attention towards Lieral. No, Lieral’s surroundings—at the children. Taking a hold of the children, they removed them from Lieral.
“Hmm~ This is…”
At the time that was said, Tiir moved.
He began running towards them in a straight line.
“Now, the spell over Ryner will be undone,”
He said.
His movements were abnormally fast.
At that, Ryner—
“Damn it—Ferris, escape…”
Ferris didn’t leave. Withdrawing her sword, she swung. She swung her sword and,
“Idiot, I’m supporting you as your ally. If you understand that, use your magic!”
She shouted.
At that, in a rush, Ryner began manipulating the air. He carved letters of light in the air.
It was the magic he’d stolen from Estabul.
A spell to enhance his physical capability.
Immediately, he completed the spell.
And,
“I offer up this contract, to bear the spirit beast of light which sleeps in the atmosphere!”
He chanted the spell.
A thin light covered his body, as his body’s movements speeded up.
However, he was still slower than Ferris. Furthermore, with his devouring abilities, Tiir’s movements exceeded those of Ferris’s. She wouldn’t be able to defeat him.
Nevertheless, if it were the two of them…
“We can do this!”
Ryner kicked the ground. Fists by his side, he moved towards Tiir.
Tiir looked his way, and easily dodging—
“Wait, don’t get in my way. This is to open your eyes, after all,”
He said, slipping past Ryner and again rushing towards Ferris.
As he did so, Ferris swung her sword, and so Tiir jumped.
However, at that, Ryner reacted with all his energy. Undoing his subconscious limiter, he could now use his muscles to their full ability.
His muscles, worn from disuse, began building up their magic energy output.
And Ryner—
“Targetting Ferris…”
With all his strength, he slammed into Tiir.
“Don’t even try it!”
He shouted.
| Grabbing Tiir’s arm and waist, he collided with his entire body. If Tiir felt like killing him, he could easily do so, as Ryner was now defenceless; however, Ryner didn’t care and hit forward. Evading that, Tiir— “Eh? Uwa, wait, Ryner.” However, that was all he said. With Ryner holding onto his waist, he was thrown onto the ground. And like that, his companions didn’t move. At that, Tiir looked troubled. “… Ryner, release me.” At those words, Ryner pushed Tiir down further. “If I release you, will you attack Ferris again?” “Of course?” “Then I’m not letting go.” “Is that human girl truly so important to you, Ryner?” At that question, he looked behind him. |  |
Thinking it over, he looked at Ferris.
And to that, Ferris.
His partner, who didn’t hesitate to go to the dangerous Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement with him—wasn’t this important? And so to Tiir’s question,
“………”
To that, Ryner frowned. This was embarrassing. Unable to say anything, he frowned in an embarrassed manner, but nevertheless,
“She’s important. That’s what I’ve decided, you know?”
He said.
And now, those words and Ferris's expression—Ryner was too embarrassed to look over his shoulder and see it.
However—
“………”
Those were his true feelings.
And so he said such a thing to Tiir.
That, right now, he believed to be necessary.
For the Cursed Eye bearers gathered here now who had no faith in humans.
For the Cursed Eye bearers gathered here now who had been persecuted, discriminated against, and hurt.
What Vois wanted to say—in this place, Ryner wanted to try and convey that.
That was why he spoke.
“Ferris is… my important friend,”
He said.
However, at that, Tiir first looked shocked, and then looked up at him with a pitying expression.
“… I see. Important? Well, Alpha Stigma bearers always say that kind of thing, but… in the end, they’re betrayed, go berserk, and then die. Already, how many times have you seen that?”
“………”
“No, haven’t you experienced it yourself? You already know this about humans, don’t you?”
“………”
“So, why speak such nonsense? Important friend? Haha. Are you joking? You’ve been deceived, Ryner. You’re not human. Humans aren’t your friends. It’s not necessary to protect such inferior humans…”
Interrupting Tiir’s words, Ryner spoke.
“You talk too much.”
“Huh?”
“A guy like you who doesn’t know anything—you’re just saying whatever you want!”
Ryner shouted.
At that, Tiir had a somewhat surprised expression; however, Ryner continued.
“A coward like you who keeps running away has no right to talk about my friends with a self-important air like that!”
“………”
“What do you even know about Ferris? Even though she saw me go berserk, she shouted at me that she believed in me and didn’t run away!”
“………”
“Even after I tried to kill her, she’s someone who held me and shouted at me to hurry up and come back!”
“………”
“So, I’m being deceived? Humans aren’t my friends? Then where are my friends? Here? These cowards who ran away into the mountains?”
“………”
“But you guys only ever run away! You’re just afraid of trusting people and getting hurt again! Such cowards don’t have the right to judge my friends… to judge Ferris…”
Tiir swung a fist.
“You’re the one who talks too much!”
Ryner’s face was struck. With absurd strength, his body was almost blown off and he nearly let go.
But Ryner didn’t release Tiir. Then, he spoke.
“If you want to hit me, then go ahead. But there’s no way I’d lose to you. Not to someone like you, who just runs away from humans…”
However, Tiir struck him again.
“Let go!”
He shouted.
But Ryner didn’t let go.
“If you won’t let go, I’ll kill you!”
Tiir said.
Smiling at that, Ryner said,
“Then, you’d kill your friend, huh?”
“………”
“You’re kind to Cursed Eye bearers, you know? But if the situation is bad, you’d kill them. How is that any different from humans?”
“………”
“You’re all just a bunch of brats.”
Lifting his face, he looked at the children by Lieral. He looked at the Iino Doue children who’d come to help the others and to the children by the settlement.
Then, so that all of them could hear, Ryner spoke.
“What the hell are you all even doing here!? Running away, running away, running away, and in the end, you’ve hidden yourselves up in the mountains. Because you’re monsters who have to live like this!? Aren’t you the ones who decided that for yourselves!?”
He shouted.
“You guys might not know this, but this woman here—Ferris, even though she saw me go berserk and kill countless humans, didn’t change her expression at all as she called me a friend!? We’re friends. We’re partners, tea-drinking buddies. That’s why… she told me that I shouldn’t hate myself and see myself as a monster, and she even shed tears!?”
To that, again,
“Be quiet,”
Tiir said.
But Ryner wouldn’t be quiet.
“That’s what you’re afraid of—these humans. I have so many friends who’ve said the same things. I have so many humans friends like that. So, what are you guys running away from!?”
“Be quiet,”
Tiir said again in a small voice.
But Ryner wouldn’t be quiet.
“What the hell are you guys doing here!?”
He shouted.
At that, a Cursed Eye bearer children by the building spoke.
“B-But… in my village, everyone hated me and tried to kill me…”
Interrupting, Ryner spoke.
“It was the same for me!”
Immediately—
“Don’t joke around! I was… I was caught by the military and used as an experiment…”
However, to that as well,
“It was the same for me! But from now on, I’ll protect you. My friends will protect you. No, at least Ferris here won’t hurt you! That’s why…”
Ryner said.
“That’s why, already, stop pretending to hate humans even though you actually like them, and stop running away! Stop thinking of yourselves as monsters and running from place to place! You guys aren’t at fault! It’s okay for us to come outside. It’s okay for us to be loved more. We’re not monsters. For us…”
He said.
As he said those words, tears began to fall.
But even so, his crying voice didn’t tremble as he shouted out his wish—
“… It’s okay for us to live as humans!”
He shouted.
At that, the children looked his way.
And then they looked Ferris’s way.
Furthermore, more Cursed Eye bearers exited the building, peering at them.
And to that,
“… Well then. Have you finished shouting yet?”
Tiir said.
At that, Ryner looked down at Tiir, whom he was pushing into the ground.
Earlier, a strange expression had fallen across Tiir’s face.
Moreover, to all this,
“What you said in your speech, what you were saying, I understand, but… it can’t be that somehow, Ene hadn’t informed me about it…”
He said those words.
At that, Ryner stared at Tiir and asked,
“You could’ve known about that speech? How?”
To that, Lieral, again as expected, moved by his side.
“Here, there’s someone with the ability to see the future. That child’s the leader of this group of Cursed Eye bearers,”
He said.
As Ryner lifted his face at that, Tiir spoke.
“Wait, Ryner, could you take your hand off of me?”
“Eh, ah…”
“I won’t kill that human woman. Really, I won’t kill her. You have my word.”
“Eh? Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“But why…”
“I already heard about the situation that would occur here beforehand from our leader. And this situation—because of our actions, it’s changed from what it should be. “
“That…”
“If not, the future will change. If you don’t act according to what was seen in the future, it will change. But here, Ene saw this—Ryner giving the Cursed Eye bearers a grand speech—Ene would’ve said something… really, we’ve been deceived.”
Tiir frowned, and then pushed at Ryner’s arm, trying to rise.
To that, Lieral—
“No, no, but I think my son gave a wonderful speech. Hey? Don’t you think so, Ferris-chan? Don’t you feel like confessing after hearing such a great speech?”
Those kinds of words left his mouth.
“Aah!?”
Ryner glared at Lieral and then made a sour expression. He looked over at Ferris.
Ferris looked back at him, and then somewhat awkwardly,
“………”
She averted her eyes away from him.
At that, Ryner had an embarrassed expression.
“Huh, what are you talking about? Dad, what do you mean about Ferris and me?”
He said in a small voice, as Lieral replied happily,
“No—I’m just worried about a girl who hasn’t even reached her twenties yet.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little too much?”
“Oh? Then is Kiefer-chan your type?”
“No, that’s not the point~”
“Then could it be Pia-chan?”
“That’s why—!”
“Ahaha, well, I’m just joking around.”
“Your kinds of jokes are awkward!”
Ryner shouted, as a voice emerged from the building.
“Hey, hey, Ryner-san today is my knight in shining armour~ Have you come to save the trapped Princess Vois?”
Exiting the building, Vois spoke.
With his eyes closed and hands joined with a young woman by his side,
“Now, Ryner-san. To open the captive princess’s eyes, you need to use your hot mouth. Please, kindly. Purse your lips.”
He said, pursing his lips.
Ryner looked at the idiot Vois, and then with half-closed eyes, at Tiir.
“By the way, this guy’s a pervert inside, so it’s okay to kill him?”
As he said that, Tiir smiled faintly.
“He’s not worth killing.”
Furthermore,
“Which half of the couple restrains themselves in a kiss?”
Said Vois; however, Ryner ignored him.
He was already worn out.
“So, what’s with this? Vois is as lively as ever, Tiir tried to kill Ferris—this is what was seen in the future. In the end, what did you guys call me out here for?”
He asked.
“To meet with our leader, of course,”
Tiir said, and then looked at the building Vois exited from.
And,
“Well, Ene wanted to hear about your circumstances from our friends first,”
He said in a low, displeased voice.
Ryner gazed in the same direction as Tiir, before looking at Tiir himself, before speaking.
“Circumstances, huh? Aren’t I fine?”
“Who knows? At the very least, Ebra Crypt and Alpha Stigma bearer children like humans…”
“Aren’t I fine?”
“Perhaps.”
“So, what will you do?”
Ryner asked.
Tiir didn’t respond, and so Ryner continued.
“What do you think?”
“………”
“Having abducted Vois for negotiations in the first place, exchanging talks with humans—you’ve already accepted them, haven’t you?”
“………”
“Then, what do you think?”
At the question, Tiir stared at him, before he spoke.
“I think you’re whitewashing matters.”
“Yeah.”
“At any rate, humans will betray us again.”
“Yeah.”
“That woman… your partner—she’s called Ferris?”
Tiir said, looking in Ferris’s direction.
And, continuing,
“… That child is… perhaps that child is different from the humans I know of. As Ryner said, I might be able to have faith in your companion. I already saw it. That child, trying to protect you, Ryner—I saw it.”
Tiir said.
Ryner also remembered that. That time, when Lafra was killed.
At that time, Ferris had saved his life.
Regarding that, Ryner spoke.
“But you still can’t have faith in humans?”
Tiir replied,
“None of these children want to consider it, you know? Humans… because they’re afraid of humans.”
He said that in a slightly angry tone, and then, his face a colour that spoke of fear, said—
“I’ve watched so many children die because of my mistakes. I’m tired of it.”
“………”
“They say they love their children, the parents of Alpha Stigma and Ebra Crypt bearers… but then they calmly sell them to the army for money. If I’d hesitated to take those children away, they would’ve been killed.”
“………”
“Those humans laughed. As they claimed to be exterminating monsters, they laughed. Under these circumstances, how am I supposed to believe in humans?”
He asked back.
To that, Ryner said,
“At the very least, believe in me.”
“………”
“Of course, though, I’m not a very competent guy.”
“………”
“But together, we… don’t you think it’s possible for us to create a new world? I’ll become king of the land of the Cursed Eye bearers. Then, I’ll make laws protecting them…”
After that, Tiir said,
“You know, Vois already said the same thing to the children.”
“Then—”
Tiredly, Tiir shook his head. And then, a self-deprecating smile floated onto his face.
“I already know. We can’t oppose humans anymore.”
“………”
“The world is at war. If humans find us, they’ll gouge out our eyes. That’s why all of you are needed—to protect us.”
To that, Ryner nodded.
“We’ll protect you with all our strength.”
“… Ah, you certainly will. If it’s you, then you will—with all your strength. However, still, I think this might be a mistake.”
“………”
“Here, if I make a mistake, our friends will be slaughtered.”
However, Tiir’s words stopped. Then, staring at Ryner—
“Well, at the very least, I believe in you, Ryner. However, the other Iino Doue bearers and Will Heim bearers might not be willing to open up their hearts to humans…”
To that, Ryner spoke.
“Then, that’ll be your responsibility.”
“………”
“The leader here… the king of Cursed Eye bearers—it’s you, I’d say? You’re loved by everyone. If you choose not to hate humans and to believe in me… then the others will definitely follow. So you do that,”
He said.
Tiir frowned, before smiling wryly.
“What’s with that—they’re certainly troublesome friends, aren’t they?”
He said.
And then, gesturing in Vois’s direction, he said,
“Though as I said before, I’m not the leader. Ene is.”
Regarding that, Ryner asked,
“Hmm. Then this Ene is your leader?”
“Yes.”
“Then what eyes do they have?”
“You’ll see when you meet. She’s wanted to meet with you. No, she’s always wanted to meet with you. As soon as possible… with Gastark being a threat, my power isn’t enough,”
Tiir said.
With Gastark being a threat—the first time Ryner and Tiir met.
Tiir had invited Ryner along, taking him away from Roland. He’d clashed with the others after an incident regarding him being a monster.
Sion and Ferris had extended their hands, but Ryner brushed them off and went with Tiir.
Well, looking back on the past, after giving a self-important speech like that, he’d been the same.
“………”
But at any rate, he’d met Lafra. The one who wanted him to become the King of Cursed Eye bearers.
For the sake of those who didn’t believe in humans and were suffocating in their loneliness, asking him to save Tiir in their first meeting—he’d met an Ebra Crypt bearer named Lafra.
However, a Gastark soldier had attacked that night.
And Lafra had been killed.
Furthermore, many Cursed Eye bearer children were killed as well.
Then, so that Tiir could escape with the remaining children, Ryner had been separated from them.
“… That time, if I’d done more, could things have changed?”
He asked.
Tiir looked at him, and then,
“… No, in the end, as Ene seemed to have seen it, it couldn’t be helped, I think,”
He said.
And this person who had the power to see the future—this Ene knew what was to happen.
However, Ryner was doubtful about that. Could they truly see what was going to happen in the future? If they could, then their power could even exceed God’s, he thought.
But as if he guessed what Ryner was thinking, Lieral spoke.
“That question’s a good one.”
“But I didn’t say anything.”
“But you were thinking it? If the future can really be seen?”
“………”
“With that power, there wouldn’t be anything in the world you didn’t know… you could even kill the gods, don’t you think?”
Ryner nodded at that.
“Ah, well. But couldn’t it have been helped? Tiir’s suffering, Lafra’s death—surely, it’s an almighty power? If you can see into the future like that, it’d be simple to have prevented Lafra’s death…”
At the mention of Lafra, Tiir’s expression became clearly gloomy.
But Lieral ignored this and continued.
“That’s right. It’s an almighty power. But that’s only if you can see. The future of the children who possess Cursed Eyes—they can only see fragments. And in addition to that, you might not see what you wished for. If she tried, that girl would have to offer compensation,”
He said.
And that was obvious.
For great power, a price was always needed. It was impossible otherwise. To use Ryner’s eyes, the Demon—what was called God’s power—it was the same.
To defeat Gastark, to fend off Glouvil, it was the same. He’d destroyed tens of thousands of lives.
But for Ryner to use that power, it’d been necessary to take the life of an important human.
And he’d done it.
He’d taken the life of someone important to him.
He’d taken his mother’s life.
“………”
However, to see the future—that act, he thought, was an even greater power.
What kind of price was needed for that?
Ryner asked,
“I understand. Well? Where is this person? That I’m supposed to meet?”
At those words, Tiir pointed.
“In the basement of that building.”
“The basement?”
“That’s right. Deep in the basement… she’s secluded herself into a room surrounded by a barrier. As the price for seeing into the future, the sun’s rays burn her eyes.”
“………”
It seemed that that was that girl—Ene, or whatever her name was—had presented as her price.
“Because of the sun’s rays, she can’t go out, huh?”
For anyone, that would be a great price; however, to see the future, it seemed like a small cost.
To that, Ryner—
“Then, it’s fine if I go into the basement?”
At the question, Tiir nodded.
“Yes. Alone. She wants to talk to you one-to-one,”
He said.
From behind them, Ferris said,
“Isn’t it a trap?”
However, Lieral—
“No, it’s not a trap. I guarantee it.”
Ferris looked at Lieral. However, with acceptance,
“Ryner, what are you going to do?”
She asked.
Ryner looked over his shoulder and spoke.
“It’s all right, Ferris. Here in the Cursed Eye bearers’ land, I’m a Cursed Eye bearer too, remember? Surely, I’m loved,”
He said, smiling.
Nevertheless, Ferris looked at him with a slightly concerned face, and so Ryner smiled.
“Well, I’m going now.”
He started to walk.
The Cursed Eye bearers said nothing and instead watched him with strange expressions.
Well, after hearing him shout like that a while ago, perhaps they thought he was a crazy person.
“Rather, they’re embarrassed to look my way, huh?”
Smiling wryly, he headed towards the building.
At the entrance, Vois spoke, smiling.
“Cheers?”
“Go die.”
“Ahaha.”
“So have you already met with this Ene person?”
Vois shrugged.
“I’m pretty sure I haven’t done her.”
“Well, I don’t have much confidence in your dirty jokes.”
“Eh, you dislike my dirty jokes?”
“That’s what I said. Anyway, you...”
“Yes?”
Ryner asked,
“Are you okay?”
As expected, Vois smiled at that.
“As I thought, since you're worried about me, Ryner, that means you're interested in me.”
“That’s why you should go die.”
“Ahaha.”
Again, he smiled cheerfully.
Then Vois said,
“Well, they peeked into my dreams.”
“With the Ebra Crypt?”
“Yes. The Ebra Crypt bearer looked into my dreams, turned red, and then ran away. They didn’t like them, apparently.”
“You had a dirty dream, didn’t you?”
“Setting that joke aside, I must give praise, considering this world’s unexpected affairs.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Nooo, you should be happy to receive praise from the head of a mafia. However, to use and deceive the Goddesses—that makes a favourable impression, you know?”
“Ehhh.”
“However, thank you for worrying about me.”
“Y-You’re still a brat in the end. That’s why I worry.”
“Hum. Then, you're a pedophile, Ryner-san…”
Again, Vois said too much, and so Ryner ignored him and moved forward.
“Ah, I’m going now.”
Ignoring him, Ryner entered the building.
Inside the building was nothing unusual—it was like any other house.
There was a living room with a table and a kitchen.
However, there was also a staircase.
Leading downwards, it led to the basement.
He headed down there. Around the stairs, tags were pasted. As expected, looking at the tags, they were magic constructions. Naturally, Ryner’s eyes—no, in the Cursed Eye bearers’ settlement, the Alpha Stigma bearers from various countries could create such things. Looking at them now, he couldn’t understand.
He closed his eyes.
Then he opened them again.
Pink, blue, and red colours flickered. A five star pentagram floated into his eyes.
Looking at the tags with such eyes, it seemed that they prevented the sun’s rays from entering.
“Then, it’s not a barrier to defend against invaders…”
Ryner said, before walking forward.
Down into the basement.
It was rather long.
From the building’s appearance, one wouldn’t imagine it to have a basemen this deep. Ryner continued moving, down into the basement, until he entered a corridor.
Down in the basement, it was bright.
It seemed that the brightness of the area had been set with magic, creating an entirely unobstructed view.
And in the corridor, there was a white door.
Ene was likely inside.
Ryner looked at it, before moving forward.
He easily reached the front of the door.
Then he lifted his hand to knock. From the other side of the door,
“Yes?”
A girl’s voice.
To that, Ryner said,
“Ah~ I think you already know who I am.”
“Ryner-san?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m glad. I’ve always been waiting for this day,”
She said.
Always waiting to meet with Ryner, always waiting for this day—she said that kind of thing.
“Is that right?”
Ryner asked.
The girl responded,
“Yes. Anyhow, you can come inside?”
At those words, Ryner looked at the door.
However, as expected, it was an ordinary door. At its four corners, tags were attached for the sake of warding off intruders; however, right now, the barrier wasn’t active.
After all, today was the day Ryner had come—the day she’d been waiting for.
Again staring at the door, Ryner said,
“It’s fine if I come in?”
“Please do.”
“Then, I’m coming in.”
He opened the door.
He stepped inside.
It wasn’t a very large room.
And in the center of the room was a chair.
Constructed like a throne; however, it looked too small for most people.
And in that chair, a pretty girl sat. She looked around twelve, thirteen? At least a year or two younger than Vois.
Delicate body, violet hair.
White skin, closed eyes.
Ryner looked at those closed eyes.
"… You’re not opening your eyes?"
Smiling his way, the girl spoke.
"I’m afraid to open my eyes… I’m afraid to open them during my first meeting with a person."
However, Ryner responded in a dull tone,
"There isn’t really much to be afraid of. My eyes aren’t that much of a monster’s."
"Ahaha."
"So it’s fine to open them."
At those words, Ene smiled faintly.
"As I thought, you’re a kind person. Before, I saw the landscape of the future,"
She said.
And then she opened her eyes.
In her eyes, there was no sight. No, her eyes were a pale violet, almost to the point of being white.
Regarding that, Ryner asked,
"Is that from looking at me?"
Ene shook her head.
"That’s not it. It’s what I’ve parted with as the price for my ability."
"Hmm? Wasn’t the sun your price?"
"The sun isn’t the only thing. As the cost for seeing into the future, your own is sold and your years taken… well, my lifespan is already reaching its end. My future will end."
She said such a thing.
But Ryner wasn't surprised at that.
To see into the future, for such a power, he expected there would be a price.
That was why,
"I see,"
He said simply.
Ene smiled.
"Mm-hmm. That’s right. But I’m glad I could meet you before I die."
To that, Ryner tilted his head and asked,
"Lafra said the same… why me?"
At that, Ene smiled.
"Because you’re a kind person."
"What about me is kind, compared to other people? Compared to others, I’m not kind."
"Ahaha."
"And, uh, isn’t Tiir pretty kind? Earlier, he was worrying and worrying over his allies that I kind of wanted him to shut up."
At those words, Ene nodded.
"If he weren’t like that, I wouldn’t have survived up until now."
"Is that right?"
"Yes. That’s right. All of the God’s Eyes bearers here—all of the children here, Tiir saved. And of all the children, I was the first,"
She said.
Appearing to be remembering something, she said, smiling.
Looking at her kind expression, Ryner said,
"Well? Going back to our previous topic, what did you want to meet with me for?"
She replied,
"You’re someone who can save Tiir—who can save everyone here."
"Then you, about today’s speech…"
To that, Ene nodded.
"I saw that. And today’s speech will be left in everyone’s hearts. With this, we’ll be able to turn their resentful thoughts into happy ones and join together with humans, as they’ll remember your speech today. That’s why you had to meet with everyone."
"………"
"Without your words, they wouldn’t have accepted the idea of being together with humans. They’ve been hurt—already, everyone’s been hurt… Without your words, they would’ve continued like that, alone and lonely."
However, to that, Ryner shrugged and spoke.
"I’ve been blessed. I didn’t really persevere. The others were kind to me."
As he said that, he remembered Sion's face.
Ferris's face, Kiefer's face, Milk's face. The people whom he fought together with here—he remembered his friends' faces.
And then,
"However, you’re certainly unordinary. An ordinary person wouldn’t have remained amongst humans,"
Ene said.
At that, Ryner frowned slightly.
"Then you have the same view as Tiir? In the end, Cursed Eye bearers and humans shouldn’t stay together—is that what you think?"
He asked.
But to that, Ene smiled.
"That’s not it."
"Then what is it?"
"It’s about what was said before. Unordinary—an unordinary Demon whom the Hero wouldn’t devour. You like humans. Sion-san, Ferris-san, Kiefer-san, Milk-san, humans—you like them. And that’s why I think that you can obtain the key to changing this world."
And so, she began an entirely different conversation.
It was no longer about the Cursed Eyes, but about the Hero and Demon—
About God.
To that, Ryner asked,
"What the hell do you know…"
Interrupting, Ene spoke.
"Ah, ah, just wait a bit. There isn’t much time left, so it’ll be a brief conversation."
"What time…"
However, nevertheless, she interrupted and spoke.
"The time of my lifespan. If what I saw about the future is correct, then my life is about to end very soon."
"Haa?"
"Then, before you get caught between things, will you listen to me?"
"H-Hold on. About that, shouldn’t Tiir…"
She shook her head.
With a somewhat sad face,
"If I told him, he’d be worried. That’s why I want to say this. If Tiir cries over my death… it’s not his fault—could you tell him that? Tiir… because of you, I’ve lived up until now…"
"No, no, no, that’s why you need to hold on for moment. Um, it’s only our first meeting and already you’re asking a favour from me…"
However, in spite of that, she didn't listen. But sadly, happily, she smiled.
"Then let’s begin our conversation. Our conversation about the future. The words you gave to everyone today."
"That's why..."
"I've seen the future. You'll see great despair. Then, you'll go berserk. However, at that time, please remember. What you told everyone today—those words."
"Eh?"
"Don’t forget the words you said today, so that you won’t slaughter all of humanity. You’ll change things. Many humans will change. You’ve changed the situation around you. Remember that…"
"H-H-H-Hold on, what the hell are you talking about? Despair? Going berserk? What the hell are…"
But to that, for some reason, she had a satisfied expression. Because of that, the words Ryner wanted to say ended.
"Ah, my death is approaching…"
"Don’t screw around. What the hell was that talk just now about!? Explain…"
"If I explained, the future would change. If it changed, then the end of the world might not be stopped. You wouldn’t be able to proceed smoothly. However, right now, you can proceed so that the world won’t be destroyed. However, at the end, you’ll feel regret and despair, and cry over the spell that’s cast over this world…"
That was all she said.
No, Ene's words were interrupted by a loud voice from behind them.
"Ryner!"
That scream—that voice.
Tiir's voice.
Sounding as if his throat had been torn to shreds, it was a loud voice.
At that, Ryner turned around.
In that moment, the door opened.
And beyond that door—
| On the other side of the corridor, Tiir, stained in blood, was running towards them. He shouted. "Ryner, stop him! Ene! Protect Ene!" That was what he shouted. At the same time, by Ryner's side, he could see a shadow moving. "Eh?" He turned around. Before he did so, Ene was there. As expected, she had a calm expression on her face. However, a sword was pierced through her chest. Ryner stared at the sword. It was a large sword—not something an ordinary human could handle. Ferris used it—that sword. That sword was pierced through Ene's chest. Ene was already dead. Smiling, but not breathing. The sword had clearly stabbed through her heart. "A-A-Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?" Tiir screamed. Ryner didn't move. He couldn't move. And so, he looked up. Then and there, a golden-haired man stood up. With an expression like Ferris's, an unbelievably beautiful man. "… Lucile." Ryner called out his name. Ferris's older brother—Lucile Eris's name. And then, Lucile raised his face. "Finally, my fragment is no more. Isn’t this a good result?" He said, smiling thinly. |  |
(Chapter 5: The Reason to Live — End)
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 7-48
(Chapter 1: Of Love)
From the chest of the leader of the Cursed Eye bearers—from Ene’s chest, Lucile pulled out his sword.
With a jerk, Ene fell to the ground.
“……”
She didn’t move.
As the sword had pierced through her heart, she didn’t move.
Within the small room, a scream echoed.
Tiir’s scream.
A scream mixed with despair and anger.
“I-I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”
As he cried that, he moved to lunge from behind Ryner.
At that, Ryner turned around.
“Hey, hold on! Don’t be rash!”
He stopped him.
He grabbed Tiir’s shoulder.
“Don’t get in my way!”
Tiir shook his hand off. His force was tremendous; as he shook Ryner’s hand off, Ryner’s arm popped out at the joints at the shoulder.
Nevertheless, Ryner,
“I told you to stop, you idiot!”
He said, moving towards Tiir and holding onto him.
Tiir looked down at him with a surprised expression and said,
“Why are you stopping me!?”
“Don’t lay a hand on him. You’ll be killed.”
“Don’t give me that. He—to Ene, he…”
Interrupting him, Ryner shouted,
“Just shut up and listen to what I have to say! Ene knew that she was going to die. Knowing that, she asked something of me regarding you. So listen to me!”
At that, Tiir’s words stopped and he looked at him.
“That Ene would die… what in the world…”
Tiir was listening to him now, but he couldn’t answer the question.
The unrest of Ene’s death affected him as well. Looking at the blood that flowed from her on the floor, he trembled.
However, he couldn’t react to Ene’s death, as an ill-wished man stood before his eyes.
Ryner stared at the man before him.
Pretty golden hair and an uncannily beautiful appearance.
He stared at Ferris’s brother—at the figure of Lucile Eris.
Looking his way, Lucile smiled.
“What? You’re not going to do anything? Even though you wish to kill me?”
He turned the sword used to kill Ene around. It was a large sword—the same type that Ferris used.
It was a size that ordinary humans couldn’t handle.
And yet Lucile easily held it.
It was evident that he was stronger than Ferris.
No, he’d already proven that before to Ryner. And at that time, when Lucile confronted him, he couldn’t do anything.
Unable to move, his neck being strangled, and given a warning.
—As a hideous monster stained in blood, don’t get close to my beautiful sister.
Smiling, Lucile had said that.
He recalled that incident.
It happened back in the Roland Empire.
Back when he felt like he was going to be killed by the paperwork he did with Sion, that happened.
At that time, there was nothing he could do to Lucile. Lucile’s power was on an entirely different level, and so someone like him could do nothing—that was what he thought.
That was that in a nutshell.
With unbelievable movements, he was an uncanny monster.
That was the impression Lucile had given him.
However,
“… Right now, you seem human, Lucile Eris,”
Ryner said.
That was right.
Right now, looking at Lucile in front of him, he couldn’t feel that insane power.
At the very least, he looked like an ordinary human.
Before, when Ryner looked at him with his Alpha Stigma, his figure hadn’t been reflected in his eyes—
Ryner closed his eyes and then opened them again. In the center of his black eyes, a red five-star pentagram rose, with dimly flickering blue, violet, and pink.
With those eyes, he looked at Lucile.
As expected, his figure was reflected in his eyes.
Unlike before, when he looked at him, his existence registered.
At this, Ryner smiled.
“… Then, something happened to that god-like power that you obtained?”
He said.
The demon, hero, Goddesses, Remurus—there were mysterious monsters that called themselves gods like that.
But a little while ago, an event occurred in the tower of the Remurus Empire, and so now, in this world, such gods could no longer interfere.
In fact, the power of Ryner’s eyes had been weakened.
The power from the Lonesome Demon and his Alpha Stigma that the gods had created that allowed him to see the structure of the other world—his eyes that allowed him to see everything weren’t at full strength at the moment.
Because the demon was being interfered with, they weren’t at full strength.
And so, he asked,
“So, you’ve been abandoned by whoever’s protection you were under?”
Lucile smiled and replied,
“Haha, that you would ask me that is amusing, isn’t it?”
“Ah? Why is that?”
“You and I are fragments of the same thing, are we not? In that case, what is inside of me is also inside of you.”
“Then, that…”
Lucile nodded.
“The demon. The hero’s sword that was broken into two. However, such a matter is inconsequential.”
Lucile pointed his sword at him and spoke.
“And now, that’s out of the way. I’ve exterminated the monster that was acting as a hindrance, with those eyes that could see the future. My task has ended; I have no further business here.”
At that, Tiir looked at Lucile sharply.
“Damn you…”
He started to move, but again Ryner tightly grabbed Tiir’s arm.
“Don’t move. He’s just trying to provoke you.”
Once Ryner confirmed that Tiir had stopped, he stared at Lucile, smiling.
“If you’re trying to provoke him, that means you’re actually nervous, doesn’t it? If this was like before, you wouldn’t have needed to do that. That means that, if we work together, Tiir and I can kill you.”
Lucile calmly smiled.
“You still can’t kill me.”
“Liar. Then, why did you do that?”
“Hahaha. If you want to so badly, then try and kill me…”
“As if. Well, there’s no point in arguing with you any further…”
Ryner said, crouching down.
And he murmured,
“… Tiir. I’m going to use magic—devour it with your Iino Doue. Then, stop that guy’s movements. At that time, I’ll enhance my own abilities with magic.”
Looking at him, Tiir smiled.
“Ah… I’m glad. You’ve finally become motivated, then?”
In Tiir’s eyes, a sinister vermillion cross rose to the surface.
To him, the Iino Doue bearer, Ryner,
“Don’t kill him. Capture him alive,”
He ordered.
In response, Tiir had a somewhat displeased expression.
“… Understood,”
He said, lowering his body.
At the same time, Ryner’s hand moved. He drew a magic circle of light.
Roland’s magic—he drew Kuuri.
Furthermore, he was using considerably simplified equations. He preferred it that way, to enhance the speed of invocation. In any case, power and accuracy didn’t matter here.
It was magic that existed to be devoured by Tiir’s eyes.
At that moment, Lucile moved. His movements were abnormally quick. Ryner likely wouldn’t be able to deal with it. It would also be impossible for Ferris. As expected, he didn’t move at a human’s level.
Like this, Tiir couldn’t react.
Lucile rushed in and sliced off Tiir’s right arm, but Tiir didn’t stop.
“I’ll kill you!”
He said, swinging his left arm.
As that arm connected with Lucile’s upper body, Lucile swung his sword. In a straight line, it moved to cut off Tiir’s head.
He didn’t have time to avoid it like that. There was no time to dodge.
However, Ryner completed his magic.
“What I seek is iridescent destruction >>> Kuuri!”
He chanted.
From the center of the magic circle, a sash of destructive light was released.
The accuracy was horribly low. Ordinarily, the light would be fired in a straight line, but here, it was scattered across the small room—
| However, Tiir’s eyes immediately began to absorb it. With a delighted expression, Tiir, “I consume power—” He murmured. “And unleash it—!” In that instant, Tiir’s body moved unbelievably quickly. As he couldn’t evade with his current stance, he reached up and grabbed Lucile’s sword arm. He broke it. He popped out and tore the joints at the shoulder— “Nnn—” Lucile reacted. Pulling away, he jumped back to prevent his arm from being torn apart. In that moment, Ryner used his magic. It was magic he’d taken from the Kingdom of Estabul. “I offer up this contract, to bear the spirit beast of light which sleeps in the atmosphere!” He chanted. |  |
A thin light covered his body, as the limiters on his brain were removed and his entire body’s movements were hastened. He charged towards Lucile.
He grabbed the arm that Tiir wasn’t holding onto.
“All right, we’ve got him!”
Ryner said.
To that, Lucile—
“… Haha, it’s a trap.”
“Wha…”
Ryner looked Lucile’s way, but it was too late.
Lucile murmured something.
Ryner couldn’t make out what, but he could tell that it was magic.
Clearly, an ancient spell.
The pronunciations had been lost in today’s era.
In that instant, his entire body became heavy.
Unable to stand, it became heavy.
It seemed to be the same for Tiir.
His body fell. He let go of Lucile’s arm. Pressed against the ground, he couldn’t move.
At that, Lucile smiled and stepped forward. At the motionless Ryner and Tiir,
“Well, the truth is that I have been weakened… but even so, I won’t lose to the likes of you two,”
He said, looking down at them.
Lucile had a confident expression on his face; however, looking up at him, Ryner smiled and said,
“Hey, Lucile.”
“What is it?”
“To what you said just now—mind if I say something back?”
“Hmm?”
To that, Ryner spoke.
It was the same topic that Lucile had been talking about before.
“You’d been prepared for our attack just now, right?”
“Yes.”
Following up on Ryner’s words, a man appeared behind Lucile and spoke.
“… It was a trap, Lucile-kun.”
From behind Lucile, Lieral appeared.
There was a sound at Lucile’s chest. Lieral’s arm had stabbed through Lucile’s chest.
For the first time, Lucile had a surprised expression as he looked at Lieral and moaned.
“… Damn… you.”
“Hahaha, just like that, you really look human. Anyway, aren’t you supposed to be protecting the hero—Sion-kun… Really, you’re distorting the rules and gears of this world. That’s great.”
“… You…”
Lieral moved his arm. From the center of his arm, a black pattern spilled forth and invaded Lucile.
“Don’t talk, Lucile-kun. Because of the Lucile seal within you…”
The black pattern entered Lucile’s mouth. Lucile couldn’t speak. It seemed like his movements had been stopped.
Lieral looked Ryner’s way over Lucile’s shoulder.
“Hey~, Papa and son are cooperating wonderfully, aren’t they~?”
He said cheerfully.
Ryner lifted his face. Lieral obviously understood. In this situation, his appearance was unthinkable.
Even though Lieral shouldn’t have been able to predict that Lucile would come here, he’d understood the situation and responded appropriately.
Ryner looked at Lieral, smiling happily next to Lucile, and said,
“Then, could you do something about this stupid magic restraining us?”
Lieral replied,
“Aren’t you able to read the equations with your eyes? In that case, shouldn’t you be able to find a way to solve it?”
“No, even if I can read it, I can’t exactly move,”
Ryner said, looking at the hand in his line of sight that clung to the floor.
At that, Lieral smiled, and yet for some reason smiled cheerfully.
“Really, you’re still a child, aren’t you?”
He said that kind of thing. Approaching them, he moved his finger. As expected, it was complicated magic.
Even with his Alpha Stigma, Ryner couldn’t understand.
It was of a different form than the magic taught at magic academies nowadays. At its speed, he couldn’t follow it.
“… I’ll need to study a bit more for this, huh?”
Ryner murmured as Lucile’s spell was undone.
Ryner stood up.
“Haa~ My body’s weight…”
He said, confirming his body’s movements.
However, over there,
“Why haven’t you undone it for me!?”
Tiir exclaimed.
Ryner looked over there, seeing that Tiir still lay on the floor.
At that, Lieral smiled.
“Well, you know, you’re not my son.”
“Don’t mess around!”
“Ahaha. Well, jokes aside, if I undo the restraint, will you try to kill Lucile-kun?”
“What do you think!? He… to Ene, he…”
“He killed her?”
“That’s right.”
“And so you’ll kill him?”
“Of course!”
“Then I won’t undo his restraint on you. Ah, but I’ll get your arm,”
Lieral said, moving to where Lucile had cut Tiir’s arm off earlier. Placing it by Tiir, it reattached itself easily.
“Oh, as expected of an Iino Doue bearer,”
He said, shrugging.
Then Lieral looked around the room, as if evaluating the situation.
And,
“Ah—I’m beat,”
He said.
At that, Ryner also looked around the room.
It was an unusual scene.
Lucile and Tiir were restrained.
And, having been pierced through the chest with a sword, Ene had died.
Staring at Ene, Ryner frowned. He then recalled her smiling face from when they first met.
In spite of his frightening eyes—in spite of meeting with a frightening person like him for the first time, she’d spoken with a calm expression.
He recalled the kind words she said to him.
However, she died.
Entrusting Ryner with the Cursed Eye bearers—with Tiir and the others—she died.
It was the same with Lafra.
Lafra had said the same things.
That Ryner was kind. That was why he had to protect the Cursed Eye bearers.
At that, Ryner frowned with a wearisome face and muttered,
“… Damn it. Why me?”
And then,
“Why do the Cursed Eye bearers have to have these eyes? Why do they have to die for them?”
Groaning, he said that.
Tiir answered him. Looking hatefully at Lucile,
“Because of humans, Ryner. Because of the humans who persecute us.”
Ryner looked down at him sadly and spoke.
“But Ene wished for us Cursed Eye bearers to live with those humans.”
“That’s a lie.”
“… That we exist together with humans—she resigned herself to entrusting that wish to me…”
“That’s a lie! Then, why did Ene die? She believed in humans—she foolishly believed in humans, and in the end, she died for it!”
Tiir cried out.
“Then, for what reason do we exist!? To be toyed around by humans, to be persecuted by humans, to be used by humans—in the end, do we exist only to be killed!?”
Staring at the motionless corpse of Ene, he cried.
With those eyes in which that red cross floated, he cried.
And, truth be told, his reaction wasn’t unreasonable. He’d already lost more than enough of his family, killed by the hands of humans.
It was a wound that couldn’t be healed so easily.
After so much trouble, he’d thought he might have been able to compromise with Tiir, but it was all over.
Ene had died.
It was clear that her existence had held an important part of his heart—and she’d been killed by a human.
Of course, whether Lucile was an ordinary human, he didn’t know.
Tiir shouted,
“So hurry up and undo this restraint!”
Tears spilling, he shouted that.
“I’ll kill him. The humans that killed Ene, my family, my friends—I’ll kill every last one of them!”
He cried out.
However, at that, Lieral laughed with a “haha”. He approached Tiir and looked down at him and the restraints.
“Good grief, Cursed Eye bearers are noisy. Are you frustrated?”
“… Don’t use that tone with me, human. I’ll kill you,”
Tiir threatened.
As expected, Lieral simply smiled.
“Not much of a threat when you’re like that,”
He said, before moving towards the throne where Ene’s corpse lay.
At that, Tiir called out.
“Don’t go near her!”
Lieral ignored him and approached her.
Regarding that, Ryner asked,
“What are you doing, Dad?”
“Hmm—? Well, what, I wonder,”
He said, lifting Ene’s small body. Gently, he laid a hand on her hair.
“Someone small like this enduring alone for so long… You’re a stubborn child, aren’t you?”
He said.
Again, Tiir said,
“Don’t touch her,”
He said in a low voice, filled with anger.
To that, Lieral lifted his face, smiling.
“You really love her, don’t you?”
“Be quiet.”
“That’s an important feeling. To love someone—that’s a feeling that all humans possess…”
“Be quiet!”
“The gods underestimate that. It’s what will distort this world’s logic, the gods’ control—”
Then Lieral looked Ryner’s way.
And he said,
“Hey, Ryner. Will you listen to me for a bit?”
“What is it?”
“I’m already dead. This isn’t my true body.”
“I know.”
“So if I die here, don’t be sad, Ryner,”
He said that kind of thing.
“Haa? Wait, what are you talking about?”
Ryner was confused.
But ignoring him, Lieral continued.
“There’s a way to bring this girl—Ene—back to life.”
“Like I said, just wait! Dad, what the hell are you…”
“By using my life, I can bring this girl back. Thanks to Lucile-kun and the power of Lucile, her fragment was lost—and so if I replace that power, she can be brought back.”
At that, Tiir’s eyes widened, and—
“R-Really!?”
But Ryner called out,
“Hey, that’s why I said to hold on! What are you talking about!? Then, you can’t be telling me that you’re giving up your life for Ene, Dad?”
To that, Lieral easily nodded.
“Right,”
He answered.
Ryner shook at that.
At the situation that was quickly unfolding before his eyes, he shook.
Firstly,
“Why… Why do you have to die, Dad!?”
He cried out.
Even though he knew those were disgusting words, he cried out.
Why did he have to throw away his life for Ene’s sake?
For another person’s sake, he would throw away his life?
After all this effort…
“After all this effort we went through to meet again… why do you have to do this!?”
He exclaimed.
At that, Tiir looked up at him. It was only natural. There was no way he wouldn’t be disgusted at what he was crying out.
He was saying that he didn’t want to save Ene.
But Tiir didn’t look disgusted. Instead, he looked up at him with a remorseful expression and said nothing.
Then, Lieral smiled.
“Ah, Ryner. That I mean so much to you—I’m happy.”
“No, really, don’t joke around. Um, calm down. Let’s talk. I, about that…”
Lieral interrupted him.
“I can’t calm down. If I let my fear get to me, then I won’t be able to move forward.”
“If you’re afraid, then stop.”
“Ahaha.”
“So, I beg of you.”
“Ahahaha.”
“Dad, I beg of you.”
Lieral laughed and spoke.
“Ryner. You have Ferris-chan by your side.”
“That’s why…”
“And Tiir-kun. And Kiefer-chan. And your friends. Even Sion-kun. You’re loved by everyone. With all this love—it’s something the gods couldn’t predict. So for your father to leave—it’s all right now.”
“You’re wrong! It’s not all right! I—I still want to hear more from you, Dad!”
He moved to step forward.
He tried to approach Lieral.
However, in that moment, there was something restraining his legs. It was Lieral’s magic—he understood that. He looked at that magic with his Alpha Stigma. As expected, he couldn’t find a way to dispel such complicated magic.
“Damn it—”
Ryner groaned. And so, his legs were restrained.
However, Lieral smiled.
“You can’t undo it. If you try, you won’t succeed. So listen to what I have to say, Ryner.”
“I don’t want to!”
“It’s time for us to part now.”
“I don’t want to!”
“Don’t be so stubborn now~.”
“The one who’s being stubborn is you, Dad! Come on, just undo this magic!”
Ryner cried. And desperately, he tried to move his leg and dispel Lieral’s magic with his finger.
However, he couldn’t. He couldn’t undo it at all. He couldn’t follow the logic behind his father’s complex magic.
“Damn it, damn it, why do I never have enough power!?”
He cried out.
Gently, Lieral spoke.
“But you’re kind, Ryner.”
“Don’t give me that crap!”
“Ahaha, then I’ll continue our conversation.”
“I won’t listen. There’s no way I’m listening!”
He cried out, desperately trying to undo the magic.
However, Lieral moved forward with the conversation.
“Firstly, your question earlier. Why must I use my life to save Ene-chan?”
“……”
“Well, I guess that might be out of a sense of responsibility? At any rate, the one who gave Lucile-kun enough power to kill her was me, to begin with.”
“… Wha—”
Without thinking, Ryner stopped his hand’s movements and looked up.
Then, smiling, Lieral,
“Do you finally feel like listening to me?”
At those words, Ryner shook his head.
“No. Anyway, undo the restraint over me. Then we can talk—”
“Aha, I’m not going to. And now, I’ll continue,”
Lieral said, placing a hand on Ene’s chest. And on her chest, he began to draw something—
“Stop!”
Ryner cried.
To save Ene’s life—to use his life for that—stop, he begged.
However, Lieral didn’t stop. Indifferently, he continued to draw a design on Ene’s chest.
“You know, Ryner, the reason I gave Lucile-kun such power was to save you. Because you were born as an Alpha Stigma bearer, it was so that you wouldn’t die—for that, I broke the rule of the gods’ world and strayed from the path people were meant to walk.”
“……”
“So, the logic here changed. Interfering with the gods so that you, Ryner, wouldn’t die and would grow up with everyone… but for that, she died. Perhaps this pretty child felt some sense of responsibility for that? And so, shouldn’t I take the ultimate responsibility?”
“……”
“No, that might be saying too much. To be honest, my curse is already reaching its end. Truth be told, remaining in this world like this is too painful. That’s why—is it too much to ask that I go where your mother is?”
He said that.
And to that, Ryner replied,
“… It’s always too much to ask for.”
“Haha, do you still want me by your side?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to hold your beloved Papa?”
To those annoying kinds of words, Ryner,
“Yeah, that’s right!”
He said, nodding.
He felt tears stream from his eyes. After all, he realized that he couldn’t stop his father. Not only could he not undo the restraint on his legs, but his father had made up his mind—he couldn’t convince him otherwise, he realized.
Ryner spoke.
“Damn it, what’s with this crap… For me—for my sake, both Mom and Dad had to die…”
However, Lieral smiled at that and said,
| “You’re wrong, Ryner. This was our own, selfish desire.” “But—” “Well, when you have children of your own, you’ll understand. There’s absolutely nothing to regret about giving up your life for your child.” “……” “This way, you’ll have your own important people. You’ll have a family. And you’ll find happiness. And with that, Ryner—” At his name being called, Ryner replied, “… What is it?” “I love you,” Lieral said. And to that, Ryner couldn’t say anything. But—But he couldn’t move. However, over there, Lieral lifted his hand from Ene’s body. From within her chest, a black pattern swirled. At the same time, Lieral’s presence began to fade away. His life was gathering around Ene. |  |
There was nothing that could be done.
For his parents who died, there was nothing he could do.
Over there, Lieral spoke. Looking at Tiir as a smile rose—
“So, Tiir Rumibul.”
“……”
“This is a human. For the sake of his family, he’ll do anything. For the sake of protecting what’s important to him, he’ll do anything. Like all of you. Like humans, like Cursed Eye bearers—after all, we’re all the same weak, sad beings.”
“……”
“However, your important person was saved by a human. She’ll be saved by my life. Chances are, as she’s been deprived of the power gathered by Lucile-kun, she’ll have next to none of her memories. She won’t have her power to see the future—that is, she’ll return as an ordinary human. The one you care about more than anyone else will become an ordinary human. Ahaha, isn’t it ironic? Your most important person will become one of the humans that you despise above all else. In spite of that, will you continue to curse humans?”
He said.
It seemed that was Lieral’s aim. No, perhaps Ene had also predicted this.
Perhaps she saw all of this.
Lieral spoke.
“Ah, it’s time. Then, I’ll be departing now.”
At that, Ryner lifted his face.
He stared at his father’s figure, which was already translucent.
He stared straight at him…
“… Dad.”
“Hmm—?”
“Um…”
“Yes?”
“That I… I, uh, was born as Dad’s child…”
“Uh-huh.”
“That I was born as Dad and Mom’s child…”
“……”
“I’m really happy,”
Ryner said.
As tears spilled forth, he said that.
To that, his father smiled happily.
“I know that, idi—ot. So don’t cry. Smile and live.”
“Right.”
“Then, see you.”
“… Yeah,”
Ryner said, nodding.
And like that, Lieral disappeared.
In his place, on the throne, a young girl sat alone.
A beautiful young girl.
She looked to be around twelve or thirteen years old.
Long black hair.
Pretty eyes and pale skin.
It seemed that the sight she’d lost from using the power of her Torch Curse had been returned to her. The violet colour of her hair, as a result from her power’s poison, was no more.
But it was undoubtedly Ene.
Ene, who had died just before, looked around restlessly.
“… What’s going on?”
She said.
“Where am I?”
She said.
At that, Tiir moved. It seemed he’d been freed from the restraining magic.
And he embraced Ene.
“Ah…”
A surprised voice came from her, as he tightly embraced her.
“Thank goodness… I’m so glad,”
Tiir said, his voice choked up.
Ene looked up at him and said in a curious tone,
“Who are you?”
It seemed that she truly had lost her memories—her memories of the Cursed Eye bearers. Her memories of what she’d seen in the future.
However, whether it was for the best that she no longer had those memories—no one knew.
At any rate, the ability to see the future was a power beyond what normal humans should possess.
It was something that humans wouldn’t want to see.
To see when one would die—it was something beyond normal humans.
Idly watching Tiir and Ene, Ryner spoke.
It seemed that Tiir didn’t know how to answer her question, and so, Ryner answered for him.
“… He’s your guardian—your family.”
“……”
“You’ve been protected by him all this time. And from here on, that’s how it’ll continue to be.”
At that, Tiir looked at him in the eye.
In response to that, Ryner said,
“Aren’t I right? Don’t tell me that you’ll refuse to protect her because she’s human.”
Tiir gave him a sharp look.
“… Damn it… why is it like this? Like father, like son. It’s tiring, dealing with either of you.”
He said.
At that, Ryner smiled. He smiled and wiped away at the tears on his face.
Furthermore, Tiir, holding Ene tightly to his chest, said,
“However, I have to give my thanks.”
“To whom?”
“To you and your father. Ryner...”
“What?”
“I’m sorry. For Ene’s sake, your father…”
Interrupting him, Ryner spoke.
“It was Dad’s own wish.”
“But…”
“Just shut up. You have nothing to apologize for.”
“……”
At that, Tiir stared at him, before letting out a sigh.
“Understood,”
He said.
Ryner stared at Tiir and Ene, before looking to the neglected Lucile.
Lucile was still restrained by the now deceased Lieral’s magic. That magic’s art—
“Ah~, I know how to solve this now?”
He said, looking at Lucile.
Lucile’s mouth was closed, as he said nothing.
To that, Tiir spoke.
“Ryner. He…”
However, before he could finish, Ryner replied,
“Don’t kill him. He’s Ferris’s older brother.”
“Eh?”
Tiir said in a surprised voice. Ignoring him, Ryner approached Lucile.
“Dad… For some reason, Dad specifically left this restraint on him. In that case, he must have had a reason for it,”
He said, lifting his face.
As there had been no reinforcements, he felt anxious.
That was why he asked Tiir:
“Hey, Tiir. Did you order any of your friends to come here?”
Tiir answered,
“No.”
“I see. Then, Dad might’ve been keeping them there. More than that, Ferris didn’t come, which was weird.”
He muttered his partner’s name.
At that, Lucile reacted—he knew. That at the mention of his younger sister, Lucile shot a look at him—he knew.
Ryner smiled at that.
“Ehh, you seem surprised. Don’t tell me that you had no idea that Ferris was here? Looks like you weren’t on top of things when you came here.”
“……”
“Then, this really changes things. From the beginning, you’ve always known what was going on.”
“……”
“But right now, you don’t know how things are going to develop.”
Of course, there was the possibility that he’d predicted the situation with Lieral and Ene—
However, everything he knew about those two no longer mattered, as they’d exited the stage.
And now all that remained was them.
“What should we do?”
Ryner murmured.
As expected, Lucile said nothing. No, because of Lieral’s magic, he couldn’t say anything.
“… Well, anyway, I’ll take you along. There’s a ton of things I want to ask you, Lucile Eris.”
Taking a hold of Lucile’s body, Ryner began to walk.
(Chapter 1: Of Love — End)
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 49-81
(Chapter 2: Brother and Sister)
(The outside situation is that the others have been restrained with Lieral’s magic. While Ryner is talking to Vois (who’s stuck), he wonders why, if Lieral knew what was going on, he didn’t stop Lucile from killing Ene and deduces that maybe it was necessary for Lucile to devour Ene’s power.
Ferris rushes in, having heard there was an enemy. She makes sure that Ryner’s all right, before Ryner explains that Lieral took care of it. She asks where he is, to which Ryner replies that it’s a long story. Before she can say anything, she notices Lucile on Ryner’s shoulder.
Ferris demands to know everything that happened. Ryner doesn’t really want to talk about it.
Ferris tries to talk to Lucile, but Ryner explains that he can’t talk and the whole weakening thing.
She asks just what her brother has been hiding from her.
Ryner explains that thanks to Lieral, he knows how to undo it, to which Ferris asks why Lieral can’t just do it himself. At that point, Ferris notices that his eyes are red—that is, he’s been crying. She then assumes that Lucile killed Lieral, before Ryner explains the full story.
Ferris hugs him, on account of Lieral’s death, still feeling like it’s her brother’s fault.
Pg. 64—)
Ferris: I think of Ryner as someone important to me—as family. In that case, isn’t it only natural to be worried?
Ferris: If my family is hurt, then I want to be there for them. It’s lonely without them. And, Brother—that means you as well.
(Lucile looks at Ferris. His eyes, which are usually cold—they have some emotion in them. Staring at those eyes, Ferris continues.)
Ferris: It’s enough already, Brother. What have you been carrying on your shoulders, all by yourself?
Lucile: …
Ferris: At least trust me. Aren’t we family? Aren’t I your little sister?
(Lucile looks away.)
Ferris: If my power isn’t enough, then Ryner will help. If that still isn’t enough, then our other friends will help. That’s why…
(Lucile still won’t look at her. Ferris stares at him sadly.)
Ferris: Brother!
(Ryner steps in at this point, reminding her of the restraining magic—they won’t get anywhere like this. He and Ferris talk for a bit about the state of the world, before he bickers with Vois, who teases him about his character. They then talk about the world for a bit and how Ryner’s the Demon King, as Ryner thinks of all the things he’s been entrusted with and now they have to go ~save the world~.
Ryner asks if Vois can deliver a letter to Roland. Vois asks about what; Ryner (jokingly) says about how they’ve kidnapped Lucile-chan. Oh, and they’ll kill him if Sion doesn’t come alone. Vois approves.
Also, to send a letter to Gastark, since Ryner wants their cooperation too.
Pg. 71—)
Ryner turned around.
Coming from the basement was Tiir, leading Ene.
Looking at Ene, Vois spoke.
“Oh, I see a pretty black-haired girl. Miss, I’ll be the knight who protects your panties—Vois Fiurelle…”
“Be quiet, brat, or else I’ll kill you,”
Tiir said, moving from Ene’s side.
As Ryner smiled wryly at Vois’s perverted antics, Tiir spoke.
“If you ally with Gastark, then for us, cooperating with you…”
Ryner interrupted him.
“You’re the one who needs to be quiet, Tiir. Don’t talk like a kid. Our numbers alone aren’t large enough to change the world, don’t you think? In that case, there’s no other option. We can’t talk about such trivial things…”
“Don’t you dare give me that, Ryner. After all that Gastark has done to us…”
“I know! Lafra was killed in front of me too, remember? I couldn’t save him either. And in spite of that, I’m still alive. I have a duty to fulfill. That’s why I’m saying this. It’s time to stop running away. For everyone else, I need to do this.”
“……”
“You’ll be welcomed in our country—in the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet. If you can help us in this fight, the Cursed Eye bearers will be welcomed in our country. With Pia, Vois, and me ruling as the leaders—you’ll be welcomed into our ranks. Between the four of us, with you and me—there’ll be two Cursed Eye bearers in the government. Does that help?”
“……”
“So join me, Tiir. Become my ally. And I’ll protect you all,”
Holding out his hand, Ryner said that.
Those were the bold words Sion had given him. Those embarrassing words.
No, that was his dream as well—those words he said.
“I’ll change this world. I’ll change it into a world where Cursed Eye bearers will no longer be discriminated against. Where no one has to cry. Where no one has to lose anyone. I’ll create a world where everyone can just take afternoon naps all the time—so join me!”
He said that.
Staring at him, Tiir,
“… Honestly—a place where no one has to lose anything? Coming from someone who just lost their father, those words are…”
“They’re not persuasive?”
Ryner asked, at which Tiir sighed.
“… No, they’re difficult to refuse,”
He said, smiling.
At that, Ryner smiled back.
(Afterwards, he gets Vois to make preparations for the Cursed Eye bearers’ welcome in the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet, as he thinks about the world some more.
Pg. 78—)
(He looks around. But what he’s looking at isn’t the room they’re in.
Rather, he’s looking around this world.
The world where Ferris exists. Lucile. Tiir. Vois. Kiefer, Milk, Toale—
No, and Sion, Claugh, Luke, Miller, Pia, Zohra, Peria, Lieral, Biore, Arua, Iris, Lafra, Fahl, Tyle, Toni, everyone—he looked around the world where they exist.
In a world with so many people, with so many friends, that he can never be alone—it's a miracle.
He wants to protect all of these people.
That he was born in this world, that there's something worth fighting for, even as a hated monster—it's a miracle.
And even though he’s lost so many by this point…)
Ryner: From now on, so that I won’t lose any more of my friends…
(He’ll have to keep fighting for just a while longer.
Because we were born here, and so that we can find happiness that the gods will never know of!
He cries that inside his mind.
He’s already been given so much.
Holding out both of his hands—)
Ryner: I get it… I’m someone to be feared. At any rate, I’ve gained the reputation of the Demon King, haven’t I?
(Looking at the building in which Lieral—in which his father—disappeared, he smiles.
And then, he exits that building.
From there, he looks up at the wide sky outside.
No, he glares at something beyond that sky.
Of course, he can’t hope to think of what the gods’ world was like. He can’t understand with perfect accuracy.
But he knows. Intuitively, he can feel it. No, from Lieral’s words, he knows.
The gods who created humans—they can’t understand the love inside of them. They can’t control his friends.
They’re afraid of them, who feel so strongly.
That’s why Lieral stepped outside of the world’s logic.
No, it’s the same for humans. Those who know of the gods cry out. Uninterested in this world, they shout. But they all have someone they love.
They know of the rules and order of the world, but refuse to follow it.
And so, the gods can’t control them.)
Ryner: Tremble in fear, oh gods. I’ll destroy every last one of you.
(He, Ryner Lute, said that—
The Lonesome Demon swore to break this world.)
(Chapter 2: Brother and Sister — End)
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 96-105
”To the idiot, Sion.
Since the situation has somehow changed a lot, I’m writing you a letter.
First of all.
You’ve seen the situation for yourself, so you’re in no position to disagree—you know that, right? Let’s join hands. Form an alliance. There’s no time, so let’s join together as fellow humans and not fight.
Well then, Lucile-kun came to attack us, so we’ve captured him. There’s a lot of info I want him to confess.
Anyway, if Lucile is important, then please come to the designated location.
If you’re up to getting him to confess together, then please come.
We’ll bully Lucile together.
Regarding that, Ferris shouted, “Brother is getting sloppy!” so it seems like she’s pretty happy about the idea.
Well, that’s the end of the first topic.
Ah, what?
I’m serious about what I said in the tower.
I think of you as my best friend. You’re important to me. And so, I want to change this world together with you.
So let’s do it.
Let’s do it together.
I don’t really know about stuff like duty or responsibility.
Stuff like having hopes for the world or friends or love or seeing a dream—I don’t really know about seeing things that way.
I’m just trying to do things my own way.
I won’t betray my friends.
I won’t betray my allies.
For the sake of your dream—a world where no one has to lose anything, where everyone can join hands.
Where everyone can smile and take afternoon naps—”
There, it seemed that the letter paused, wrinkled from wetness.
On the next page, it continued.
“Uh, um, as a note, something hit me from the side.
Uh, a world where everyone can eat dango and take afternoon naps—let’s create it together.
Sion.
If it’s you and me, we can do it.
Let’s do it.
So, ah—anyway, come and get Lucile to confess. We’re in the country next to the Remurus Empire—we’ll be waiting for you in the street of Kakran in Zarohl. Then, once we meet up, we can think about what to do from here.
Ah, before I finish, there’s one more thing.
Ferris has a message for you, and besides that, best regards. Go to Kakran. Looking forward to our meeting.”
Ryner’s letter ended there. It was a total length of two pages.
However, there were still some pages left.
The rest was Ferris’s letter, apparently, written angrily.
She’d written in giant letters that took up most of the page. Furthermore, they had an angry style to them.
Sion looked at that letter.
And in blood-red ink, this was what was written.
Hurry, the Wynnit dango shop!
To advance the central continent!
Unless you want to die!?
From Ferris Eris!
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 114-165
(Chapter 4: Childhood Friends)
(Riphal and Lir talk about the state of the world—various things like Glouvil being quiet and Riphal no longer being able to hear the Priests’ voices, the situation with Sion and Ryner, etc.)
Riphal: Lir. Regarding Ryner, you’ve already…
Lir: Met him, yeah. He’s an idiot.
Riphal: …
Lir: “Don’t kill my friends. I won’t die here. You shouldn’t kill Cursed Eye bearers”—he kept saying stuff like that.
(Riphal narrows his eye as he smiles weakly.)
Riphal: … Don’t kill Cursed Eye bearers? That’s how it should be, huh. Of course he’d be resentful, wouldn’t he?
Lir: …
Riphal: Sorry, Lir. Only you get the dirty work…
Lir: (interrupting) Says the guy who gave up his arm and leg as sacrifices for his sword. That’s what all of us have always thought about you.
(Riphal smiles.)
Riphal: Well, I’m the one entrusted with that sword, after all.
(He thinks for a bit about Glouvil.)
Riphal: … This is what we have to do.
(But he wonders if this is really the right thing to do—all this endless killing.)
Riphal: Fighting so desperately to kill the insane gods—is what we’re doing the right thing?
Lir: Is that what you’re troubled about now?
Riphal: Someone who isn’t troubled by killing others is…
Lir: Scum?
Riphal: Yeah.
Lir: Well, I get that… but it can’t be helped. There’s nothing else we can do for the sake of our goals. Personally, I think this is the best way for us to advance forward on our path.
Riphal: But maybe we’re making a mista…
(Lir hits Riphal’s shoulder.)
Lir: We’re only human. We make mistakes each day. But if we kept worrying about them, we’d never be able to move forward—so stop talking in a self-important manner like that.
Riphal: …
Lir: Well, as long as it’s only to me or Lize, if you want to complain, then complain. So? Are there any other things you want to complain about?
Riphal: No—well, if I’m going to complain about something, it’d be that my shoulder hurts now, thanks to you?
Lir: Shut up.
(He laughs.
They talk more about the world for a bit—about the Demon, Hero, Goddesses, Priests, etc.—before talking about meeting up with Sion or Ryner.
pg. 126—)
Riphal: Which one do you want to meet with? Ryner Lute or Sion Astal? Between the Demon and the Hero, which one do you want to talk to?
(Lir looks like he’s remembering something.)
Lir: … Ah—Ryner might still have a human touch, I wonder? Well, either way, I probably shouldn’t be the one to talk with him. I did kill a lot of people important to him, after all.
Riphal: Hmm.
Lir: And Sion’s got a tough guard. He took down all of my Lightning Beasts with one attack.
Riphal: Ehh.
Lir: He had a face that suggested that he intends to follow the Hero without hesitation.
Riphal: I see. Is Sion being manipulated by the Hero?
Lir: It didn’t look that way. It seemed like he was just barely resisting.
Riphal: Is that so?
Lir: Yeah.
Riphal: Then it really is different from the story. It’s different from what the Priests said.
Lir: Yeah.
Riphal: Ryner and Sion… No, everyone’s resisting.
Lir: Yeah.
Riphal: It’s not just us who are trying to cut open this world.
Lir: Well, if thinking that makes you feel better, I’m gonna just nod?
Riphal: Huh—
Lir: But I don’t believe in anyone outside of my family. Outside of you, Lize, Sui, Kuu… In this village, we’re all allies. If we make a mistake and trust the wrong person, then the consequences will be…
Riphal: (interrupting) It’ll be fine. I won’t trust anyone else as much as I trust you.
(Lir smiles.)
Lir: If it’s a woman, though, you might be tricked.
Riphal: If it’s a woman deceiving me, then I’d be happy with that.
Lir: Haha.
Lir: So, what now?
(They talk for a bit about diplomacy stuff.
pg. 129—
Riphal’s interrupted by someone.)
| Kuu: Riphal! Riphal, Riphal, Riph~al! (Insert mention of how Kuu is someone who follows him—his family. Riphal turns around.) Riphal: … You do realize that I’m this country’s king, right? You shouldn’t be addressing me like that. (She makes a displeased face.) Kuu: Then, Stupid Perverted King-sama. Riphal: That’s even worse. Kuu: Well, that’s not important right now. Sui-niichan is calling for you. Riphal: Sui is? Kuu: Something about a letter from the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet. Riphal: Ho. (He shares a look with Lir, narrowing his eyes.) Riphal: About what? Kuu: (something about the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet’s king going to Imperial Stohl’s capital) |  |
Riphal: … Haa? Sphelliyet’s king has entered our territory?
Kuu: Don’t know. Sui-niichan hasn’t figured out all the details.
Riphal: (to Lir) What do you think?
(Lir shrugs.)
Lir: Well, it depends on which king has come.
Riphal: (nodding) Yeah, well.
(Sphelliyet has three kings, after all.
The Demon King, Ryner Lute. The swindler, Vois Fiurelle. The queen of the mercenary group, Azure Princess, Pia Varliere.
The simplest one of the three would be Ryner. Given the history and achievements of the other two, they wouldn’t be able to talk with them easily.)
Riphal: Well, though I’d be happy to discuss things with a woman… So, where is Sui?
(He starts walking.)
Kuu: Outside, holding the messenger captive.
Riphal: Hou. Is Sui even any good at holding people captive?
Kuu: Mmm~ Er, or rather… Well, listen, just go!
Riphal: Ah? What’s with that?
Kuu: Just accept it and go!
(She pushes his back.
He leaves the church. Outside, rather than Sui, is Lize, who looks at him and holds up the letter.)
Lize: The People’s Republic of Sphelliyet has made its move. They say they want to form an alliance.
Riphal: An alliance? That’s rather sudden. So, what are the conditions?
Lize: Apparently, in the event of an alliance, they’ll tell us the truth of what’s going on in this world and cooperate with us to solve the problem.
Riphal: Hum. Then, what’s the truth of what’s going on in this world?
Lize: It seems like Vois Fiurelle is here in Stohl’s capital to tell us.
Riphal: Ah, so it’s the swindler who’s come. Then, he’s not worth speaking to.
(Lize smiles.)
Lize: I thought you would say that. Then, is it all right to reject this?
(Riphal nods.)
Riphal: …
(He stares at Lize, before looking at Kuu. For some reason, her eyes widen slightly in surprise, before she looks away. Riphal stares.)
Riphal: … So, what’s with that reaction just now?
Kuu: …
(He looks at Lize again.)
Riphal: You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?
(Lize’s expression changes.)
Lize: There’s at least one thing I have to hide from you…
(Riphal moves before he can finish and tries to snatch the letter away. Lize resists and strikes Riphal. For whatever reason, he doesn’t want Riphal to see the letter.)
Riphal: Don’t screw around with me! Show me that letter!
(He manages to snatch the letter away.)
Lize: (in a troubled voice) Ah—
(Riphal ignores him and opens up the letter.
“Greetings.
I am the supreme ruler of the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet, Vois Fiurelle.
I had this letter delivered to all of you in Gastark to offer you some welcome news.
First.
Thanks to the wishes of our Demon King, your chance to form an alliance with the lovely People’s Republic of Sphelliyet has arrived! That’s the offer.
Second.
We have information as to why the gods have disappeared from this world. If you form an alliance with us, we’ll tell you all about it.
Third.
I’ve come all this way. I, Vois Fiurelle, personally, have come to your territory—Imperial Stohl’s capital.
Fourth.
We’ll negotiate on how to deal with the monsters that call themselves gods. You, of all people, should know very well that we no longer have time.
Last thing.
The messenger of this letter is a woman that you like. And right now, that woman has been poisoned by me. I possess the antidote. If you choose to disregard this alliance, the she’ll die. If you don’t wish to kill the hostage, then please come to the meeting place.
It would be rather unfortunate if you didn’t.
- The People’s Republic of Sphelliyet’s supreme ruler, Vois Fiurelle”
Riphal’s eyes widen.)
Riphal: Oi, where is Sui?
Lize: …
Riphal: Where is the messenger of this letter?
(He glares at Lize.)
Riphal: Where is Kiefer?
(Lize returns his look.)
Lize: … Well, I figured you’d respond that way… and I hadn’t intended to hide this from you to the very end, Your Majesty. You’ve finally reached the correct conclusion.
Riphal: Ah?
Lize: If you’re going to be talking with a swindler, you can’t afford to be foolish. He has traps waiting. He’s entered this country by himself, after all.
Riphal: …
Lize: Furthermore, the hostage is also prepared. It was a means of shaking you so that you could easily be walked over. That’s why you have to settle down and look at the information. What do you think about the alliance? What was it that you said before?
Riphal: …
(He glares at Lize.
Before, he said that he wasn’t going to accept the alliance. It would be foolish to place himself at the mercy of a swindler and his associates.
Nevertheless—)
Riphal: Where is Kiefer?
(Lize shakes his head.)
Lize: You can’t meet with her. If you didn’t, wouldn’t it only sway you further?
Riphal: Just tell me where Kiefer’s locatio…
Lize: I’m not going to.
Riphal: Listen, just tell me. Don’t you get it? I won’t be swayed.
Lize: …
Riphal: So that I could swing this sword—so that I could use Glouvil, your grandmother sacrificed her life. So many of our family, our friends, sacrificed their lives. And from there, this sword has taken countless lives. Having doubts, with that kind of burden? Being swayed? What’s with that?
Lize: …
Riphal: … And you know that. Regarding Kiefer—regarding Kiefer Knolles… if I have to, I’ll kill her.
Lize: …
Riphal: But you still hid her from me. Why?
Riphal: The reason is simple. If I saw Kiefer again, I’d be hurt. I’d be pointlessly hurt. Isn’t that why you hid her? So that I wouldn’t be in too much pain. But that’s too much help.
(Lize seems troubled.)
Lize: … And if Kiefer Knolles dies? Something pitiful like that would be painful.
Riphal: … Ah~ Yeah, that would hurt.
Lize: See. That’s why…
Riphal: But I’ll meet with her. Maybe I’ll learn something.
Lize: …
(Lize points to a hospital or some such. Riphal laughs.)
Riphal: You know, Lize, you’re way too protective of me.
(From behind Riphal—)
Lir: That’s because Riphal will forever be a kid.
Riphal: Ah?
Lir: It’s the truth?
(Riphal laughs and starts walking.)
Riphal: Then, I’ll be gone for a bit.
Lize: (deadpan) Don’t go eloping with her.
(Riphal laughs.)
Riphal: Haha, it’s tempting.
(He heads in the direction of the hospital.)
(The hospital isn’t very large and the equipment isn’t all that great, considering the size of the village (what with Stohl having wiped out so many of them).
Lying on a bed is Kiefer, unconscious with rough breathing.
Her face is red—it seems that she really has been poisoned.
Sui is by her bed, with the doctor, and looks over at Riphal with a surprised expression.)
Sui: Ah, in the end, you got the location out of Lize, huh?
(Riphal smiles.)
Riphal: He’s that kind of guy.
Sui: It’s because he’s fond of you.
Riphal: Haha, I’m fond of him too. But there’s no way I’m saying that to his face.
(He looks at Kiefer again.)
Sui: It’s bad. After delivering the letter, she collapsed. It looks like she’d already hit her limit at that time. If you read the letter, it should tell you what’s wrong…
Riphal: Poison?
Sui: Yes.
Riphal: The cure…
Doctor: No medicine is doing anything for her body…
Riphal: It’s an impossible poison, then?
Doctor: I don’t know what kind of poison it is. It may be an unknown medicine discovered in the central continent. There’s no cure for it here.
(Riphal nods.)
Riphal: All right, I understood the situation. You two can leave.
(The doctor nods and leaves. Sui stares at him.)
Sui: But right now, she’s…
Riphal: An enemy. I know. She’s already betrayed us.
Sui: … Then it’s fine. Right now, she doesn’t seem to have any weapons or Rule Fragments on her.
Riphal: Hmm. Got it. Thanks.
Sui: Right.
(He bows his head and leaves. After Riphal confirms that he’s gone, he sits down on a nearby stool and looks down at Kiefer.)
Riphal: Is it painful, Kiefer?
(Of course, since she’s unconscious, it’s not like she heard that.
He stares at her face.)
Riphal: …
(He looks at the face of the one who betrayed him for Ryner in the end.)
Riphal: Is that man any good, I wonder?
(He laughs.
He touches her hair and then her cheek, before moving to her neck, but he stops there.
He doesn’t have the right for that—not as someone who would let her die for his justice. For this world.
He didn’t choose her.
So he stopped.)
Riphal: … It’s too bad, Kiefer. I won’t save you. I won’t join with the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet.
(Kiefer opens her eyes—eyes the same colour of her hair. She smiles.)
Kiefer: Long time no see, Riphal.
(She gets up. Any signs of her previous suffering—
Riphal looks shocked.)
Riphal: Haa? Weren’t you poisoned?
(Kiefer smiles cheerfully. Riphal frowns.)
Riphal: Damn it, you lied again.
Kiefer: Ahaha, Riphal is kind. I like that.
Riphal: I’m not the one you like. The only one you like is Ryner Lute, isn’t it?
(Still smiling, Kiefer speaks.)
Kiefer: Fufu. That’s right. Ryner’s the only one who’s important to me. And right now, it’s for his sake that I’ve come here…
Riphal: Get out.
Kiefer: Even if you say that, Sui and Lize will just capture me again if I leave.
(Riphal sighs, exhausted, and kicks the bed. Kiefer gives a start.)
Kiefer: Ah, are you mad?
Riphal: If I’m in a small room alone with a beautiful woman, I’ll put up with it.
Kiefer: Ahaha. You’re as kind as usual.
(Riphal glares at her.)
Riphal: I’ll seriously kill you. Anyway, what is it? What did you come here for? How much of it was a lie? First of all, if you’re doing such a dangerous thing on Ryner Lute’s orders…
(Kiefer shook her head.)
Kiefer: It’s not that. Ryner would never give this kind of order. I did this on my own.
Riphal: On your own?
Kiefer: Vois-kun and I came up with it together.
(Riphal frowns.)
Riphal: The lying duo?
Kiefer: Ahaha. Of course I lie. That’s how it’s always been.
(Staring at her face, Riphal sighs.)
Riphal: It’s easy to be fooled by that face.
Kiefer: Aha.
Riphal: And? So, what about it? What’s the situation?
Kiefer: The letter already covered the situation. Aside from the part about me being poisoned, that was all of it. We want to form an alliance with Gastark. As things stand in the world right now, we want to join hands with everyone and share our information together.
Riphal: … Hum.
Kiefer: For that, won’t you join us? Discuss it with Stohl?
Riphal: And if I say no?
Kiefer: You won’t.
Riphal: What’s with that? Do you expect us to just believe in your words? To negotiate with someone from a family famous for lying and swindling—Vois Fiurelle?
(Kiefer laughs.)
Kiefer: That’s why I’m here. Trust me, we don’t expect you to believe Vois-kun alone.
Riphal: What do you mean?
Kiefer: I’m a hostage~. Surely, if I die here, Ryner will never forgive Vois-kun.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: Ryner’s that kind of person, after all. He’s different from me… He’s different from a traitor like me. He’s someone who would never betray his friends, after all.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: That’s why I want to be of use to him. If you kill me, the relationship between Vois Fiurelle and Ryner Lute will be completely destroyed. The People’s Republic of Sphelliyet will fall from the inside.
(Riphal knows she’s telling the truth, from what he knows about Ryner—from what Lir saw when he attacked the Cursed Eye bearers.
That’s why Kiefer’s attracted to him. Because even more so than the average person, he’s human. Even though he’s a Cursed Eye bearer, he’s very much human.)
Riphal: … That is to say, you’re so intent on this alliance that, in order to convey it, you’re willing to become a hostage?
(Kiefer nods.)
Kiefer: That’s right.
Riphal: You’re an idiot, you know that? This kind of risky gamble…
Kiefer: (interrupting) It’s not a gamble. It’s not risky. I know you, Riphal.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: I knew that if I could speak with Riphal, it’d be all right. That’s why I came.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: Or else, you’ll kill me?
(She smiles. Without tension, without worry, she smiles.
Whether it’s an act or not, Riphal can’t tell.)
Riphal: If I say that I’ll kill you?
Kiefer: Um, I’d cry out in surprise?
Riphal: Stop it with that confident face.
Kiefer: Fufufu.
Riphal: You don’t even like me.
Kiefer: I told you, I like you. Just not more than Ryner.
Riphal: (groaning) You seriously need to be quiet.
(He holds his head. He can feel Kiefer’s legs shaking.)
Riphal: For crying out loud, it’s fine. Relax. Your legs are trembling.
Kiefer: Eh? No way?
Riphal: I’m not gonna kill you, idi~ot. You’re an important hostage, after all.
(Kiefer looks at him, smiling.)
Kiefer: Ah, you don’t have to make that hurt face. But, even if I were trembling, it’s not necessarily out of fear of being killed, you know?
Riphal: Ah?
Kiefer: Once again, I’m going to use you. For Ryner’s sake, I’ll use you. And the thought you might get hurt by that… That’s what I’m afraid of.
(Again, whether she’s lying or not, Riphal doesn’t know. But—)
Riphal: I see. I believe you.
(Kiefer smiles sadly.)
Kiefer: I’m sorry.
Riphal: It’s fine. You aren’t a bad person. It’s my principle to believe in the words of a beautiful woman.
Kiefer: Ahaha.
Riphal: But if you think we’ll dance in the palm of Vois’s hand…
Kiefer: (interrupting) No. If you’ll listen to us, then it’ll be fine for you to choose the meeting spot.
Riphal: …
Kiefer: If you’d rather meet with Ryner instead, that’s fine. Either way, there’s no time. For this world, there’s no time.
Riphal: What’s with all this talk of time? Regarding the lack of interference on the gods’ part, what do you all know? If you’re here in good faith, then…
Kiefer: (interrupting) I’ll tell you everything I know. That is, if you choose to cooperate with us.
Riphal: Then, start talking now. Speak this instant.
(She stares at him, looking to be deep in thought.)
Kiefer: A certain incident occurred, preventing the gods from interfering. Sion Astal’s consciousness was returned to him. Ryner’s temporarily lost his powers as the Demon. The Goddesses can’t intervene in this world. What happened to you, I don’t know. Either way, the gods disappeared. Their interference will be stopped for one year. And within this one year, humans must gain the power to resist the gods. That’s why now isn’t the time to fight amongst each other. We need to cooperate.
(Riphal can’t swallow that, particularly the part about Sion.)
Riphal: Who would believe that?
Kiefer: Then kill me. In that case, Vois and Ryner’s relationship will fall apart. The People’s Republic of Sphelliyet will easily be crushed…
| (Riphal grabs Kiefer’s neck.) Kiefer: Guh— Riphal: You do realize I could actually kill you, right? Kiefer: … Yes. So why won’t you? Riphal: … Kiefer: If you truly were going to kill me, then why haven’t you already? Riphal: … Kiefer: The truth is, after hearing this, you should start thinking… (Riphal tightens his hold. She can’t breathe.) Kiefer: Gua— (Her eyes widen in surprise. However, it’s only for an instant, before she loses consciousness. If he wants to, he can easily kill her right now. If he does that, then the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet will easily fall apart. However, if he does that, then any chance of forming an alliance with them will disappear. So, what is the correct choice to make here? As a king, which is the correct option?) |  |
Riphal: … Haa.
(He sighs and lays Kiefer down on the bed.)
Riphal: Lize!
(Lize enters the room. Riphal looks at him.)
Riphal: I know you’ve been standing there, listening the entire time. Isn’t eavesdropping something a pervert does?
(Lize shrugs.)
Lize: Out of his endless concern, the parent had to make sure his idiotic son wasn’t lured away by the evil woman.
Riphal: Who the hell is the parent?
Lize: Of course I’m the dad.
(Lir enters the room.)
Lir: Huh? Does that mean I’m the mom? Then, the mom has appeared~.
(He says with a half-smile. He looks down at Kiefer.)
Lir: Things have become troublesome aga~in, huh?
(Lize nods.)
Lize: It’s easy enough to understand, though.
Riphal: What do you think we should do? Let Kiefer live, or kill her?
Lir: At the very least, I don’t think we need to talk with Vois.
(Lize nods.)
Lize: If we have to talk, it’ll be with Ryner Lute. Apparently, Vois is connected with the Goddesses.
Lir: (interrupting) It’s the same with Ryner. Ryner’s connected with the Demon, and Sion’s connected with the Hero.
(Riphal smiles.)
Riphal: And I, with the Priests? Not to mention our lovely lineage.
(Lize nods with a displeased face.)
Lize: But that’s how it is. If what Kiefer Knolles said is true and the gods can’t interfere, then as fellow humans, we need to gather at least once and exchange information—
Lir: Only so that we can move forward.
(They look at him. Riphal sighs again.)
Riphal: Don’t look at me like that. I don’t know what the right thing to do is either, you know?
(Lize smiles.)
Lize: We know. That’s why we’ll go wherever you go. You’re the one we’ve chosen as our king.
Riphal: And if I make a mistake?
Lize: You’re our goddamn king and childhood friend, so stop acting like we’ll kill you! If you keep that up, I’ll punch you.
Riphal: But you won’t kill me?
Lize: I’m a nice guy, after all.
Riphal: Go die.
Lize: Haha.
(Lize laughs. Lir, likewise, seems to feel the same way.
Riphal thinks—about how to go on from here. About forming an alliance with Roland and Sphelliyet.
It’s matter of timing, though. Sphelliyet’s already made the first move.)
Riphal: Ignore the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet for now. Let’s form an alliance with Roland.
Lir: Hmm. Your reasoning?
Riphal: (something about Kiefer and hostages and her being from Roland used as a spear)
Lir: Ah, that’s how it is.
(They talk about negotiations for a bit, noting on how if Sion really has been freed from the curse of the Hero, then he won’t abandon a hostage.)
Lize: Sounds good to me. Then, I’ll go. I’ll be the one to negotiate with Roland…
Lir: (interrupting) Go to Sphelliyet, Lize. I’ll go to Roland.
Lize: Eh? But…
Lir: I’ve killed Cursed Eye bearers. Ryner probably hates my guts.
Lize: Ah, I see. Then, it’s settled. I’ll go to Sphelliyet as a diversion. Lir will…
Lir: Go establish an alliance. As for Riphal—
Riphal: Continue marching towards the south, right? (stuff about the central continent and picking a meeting point for the negotiations)
(He looks at Kiefer again. Lir lifts up her body and starts carrying her.)
Lir: Then, I’ll bring her with me?
Riphal: Don’t treat her roughly.
Lir: Haha, then I’ll play nice. Though there was a pattern of girls going from Riphal to falling in love with me, wasn’t there?
Riphal: Liar.
(He laughs.)
Lir: Then, I’ll be off.
(He leaves.)
Lize: I’ll be leaving this country as well, to see what the People’s Republic of Sphelliyet has to do with changing this world.
(He’s about to leave, but looks over his shoulder.)
Lize: Will Your Majesty be all right by himself?
Riphal: I’m not some brat, you know.
Lize: Haha, then see you.
(He leaves. Riphal watches him, before sitting back down on the stool. He looks up at the white ceiling.
The gods won’t be here for a year.)
Riphal: … I’ve always wanted that for the world.
(He thinks for a bit.)
Riphal: I won’t find any answers here. Then, where will I?
(He looks to the south—the distant south.
Though he can’t see it with his own eyes, he looks to the very end of the south.
To where Roland lies.
To where the Hero and Demon were shut away so that they wouldn’t destroy the world.)
Riphal: (murmuring) … I should probably head down there myself sometime, huh~?
(Chapter 4: Childhood Friends — End)
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 166-182
(Chapter 5: Afternoon Naps and Dango and the King)
Ryner: Ah—somehow, I feel really nostalgic.
(He’s lying face-down on a bed in a small inn room. Along with the bed is a closet and a stool—it’s a simple room. There’s a window with worn curtains, past which the street can be seen. It’s not a very busy street, but there’s a famous dango shop nearby, hence why they decided to stay here.
And so, the designated meeting spot with Sion is here.
The meeting time is 2 in the afternoon. It’s still 1 right now, so there’s an hour left.
Ryner stares out the window.)
Ryner: (murmuring) … Is that guy really going to come?
(Ferris went out to buy dango, so it’s not like she’s there to answer him.
Wind blows through the window, ruffling the curtains. Today the sky is clear, and the air is warm.)
Ryner: It’s a good day to meet again. The weather’s making me sleepy, though.
(He smiles with half-closed eyes and turns over on the bed, staring up.
But what he’s looking at isn’t the ceiling.
Rather, the magic arts inside his head.
Yesterday, through all of the night, he went through the various magic in his head.
It’s the magic that Lieral left behind.
Like the spell that binds Lucile, it’s a compilation of ancient magic.
It’s highly complex magic. Modern magic doesn’t even compare. It seems to be magic that Lieral himself created—)
Ryner: Dad was seriously a genius…
(He sighs.
He goes through the various spells, noting what Lieral must’ve created/developed the basis for, such as Kuuri, going by his father’s magic’s quirks.)
Ryner: This is pretty difficult stuff. I really can’t slack off if I want to be as good as he was.
(He smiles.
He moves his finger, trying to draw out Lieral’s magic.)
Ryner: Ah, it’s no use. This sucks. I’m sleepy. I’m tired. Even though I said I would work hard, I’m not very good at that—
(He stops analyzing.
Well, he spent all of last night analyzing, and today he’s meeting with Sion, so his body needs to be in good shape anyway.)
Ryner: Ah, geez, this really sucks.
(He holds the pillow around his head and looks out the window again.)
Ryner: (still analyzing the magic)
Ryner: I’ll just sleep for a bit…
(He closes his eyes. After not getting any sleep for the past couple of days, he deserves that much.
In that moment—)
Sion: You’re sleeping today, of all days?
Ryner: …
(He opens his eyes slightly and looks in the opposite direction of the window—at Sion, who’s entered the room. Sion sits down at the stool by the bed and looks down at him.
Ryner looks up at him.)
Ryner: … Yo, Sion. It’s been a while.
(Sion shrugs.)
Sion: Yeah. Since back in that tower, where you punched me.
Ryner: Haha. Are you mad about that?
Sion: No. Well, I probably deserved it.
Ryner: Yeah, you did. You’re supposed to hit misbehaving kids like you, after all.
(Sion smiles.)
Sion: But I wasn’t misbehaving.
Ryner: Is that right? Then, Ferris can tell you.
Sion: Eh?
Ryner: Let’s see if Ferris will vouch for you.
Sion: Ah, that sounds like it could get violent.
Ryner: Heeeey. Then, you’re a bad guy.
Sion: Hum.
Ryner: Now then, apologize. Come on.
(Sion smiles.)
Sion: When you put it like that, I don’t feel like apologizing at all.
Ryner: Haha.
(He laughs and sits up, before looking out the window.)
Ryner: Is it already 2? The time we arranged to meet up at?
(Sion looks out the window as well.)
Sion: No, not for a bit.
Ryner: Ah, don’t tell me you came earlier just to see us again~?
(He laughs jokingly. However, Sion smiles.)
Sion: Yeah, I did.
(Ryner stares at him with suspicious eyes.)
Ryner: What’s with that? You’re being pretty honest today.
Sion: Is that right?
Ryner: Yeah.
Sion: Well, I’m pretty tired. I did get punched by you, go around the country, and go to jail.
Ryner: Jail?
Sion: No, well, that’s… I’ve already been lectured at by my subordinates for that. About how I don’t need to carry everything alone, and that I’m not Perfect-kun, and things like that.
Ryner: Oh, those guys said some pretty good things, then.
Sion: (quietly) Ahaha. Well, that aside… I’m a bit tired.
(Ryner looks at him and thinks about him for a while—about how this is the first time he’s seen Sion act like this and admit to this kind of weakness.)
Ryner: (happily) Finally, you seem human. Your complexion is good.
(Sion looks at him.)
Sion: Ah, well, that’s because the Hero’s interference has disappeared.
(Hero—the name of the monster that had eaten into Sion.)
Ryner: … I see. That’s good to hear.
(He thinks about the Hero and Demon for a bit.)
Ryner: If you’re doing well, then I’m glad.
(Sion smiles but says nothing.)
Ryner: Did you come alone?
Sion: Something like that.
Ryner: Isn’t that kind of careless?
Sion: I don’t want to hear those words from the king of an enemy country and a guy who just takes afternoon naps all the time.
Ryner: The king of an enemy country? Who’s that? I thought we were friends?
(Sion stares at him.)
Sion: … Haha.
(He laughs and looks up at the ceiling.)
Sion: Hey, Ryner.
Ryner: Hmm—?
Sion: Um…
Ryner: Yeah?
Sion: For not confiding in you, I’m sor…
Ryner: (interrupting) You’ve always been that kind of guy, so it’s fine. Don’t apologize.
Sion: But—
Ryner: I said it’s fine. I’m the same, after all.
(Because of his eyes, he tried to run away from Sion, from Ferris, and from himself.
In the end, he was no different.
Someone who wasn’t allowed to laugh with others.
Someone who wasn’t allowed to cry with others.
Someone who wasn’t allowed to be with others and had no reason to live.
That was what he thought before.
And so Ryner speaks.
Why, staring at Sion, he speaks.
The words he’d been told by Ferris and by Sion.
Staring at the tired form of his friend, he says, simply—)
Ryner: Welcome back, Sion.
(Sion looks at him, and with a face like he’s about to cry—)
Sion: I’m home.
Ryner: You sure took your time.
Sion: I guess I did.
Ryner: But you came back. We just had to take the initiative.
Sion: Yeah.
Ryner: The gods don’t know what’s coming, from the humans that they’ve looked down. After destroying each and every one of them, I’ll create a country where you can just take afternoon naps all the time.
Sion: Haha, that’s what you said at the beginning as well.
(He laughs.)
Ryner: Ah, by the way, could you be the king of that country? I don’t like to move.
Sion: Eh? Ah~ well, it’s fine. But if we don’t call it the kingdom of dango and afternoon naps, Ferris will get mad, don’t you think?
(In that instant, the goddess of dango herself appears at the doorway.)
| Ferris: Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey! What are—what are you two doing, having a reunion on your own!? (Ryner looks at her. In both her hands, she’s carrying packages of dango—more than what three people can eat.) Ryner: Yo, Ferris. Welcome back. (Continuing, albeit in a somewhat nervous manner—) Sion: Ah—no, um, Ferris. Long time no… (However, his words stop. Or rather, they’re forcibly stopped. Ferris disappears—or more specifically, she moves incredibly quickly. Sion has no time to react. She then kicks Sion in the face, sending him flying and hitting the wall. Looking down on him—) Ferris: Don’t you have anything else to say, you idiot!? Sion: Um… Ferris: Apologize! Sion: Uh, I’m sorry. |  |
Ferris: Only once!?
Sion: Um…
Ferris: Don’t “um” meeeeeeeeeeeeee!
(She kicks him again.)
Ryner: Uwaa…
(He stares at them, half-smiling.)
Ryner: Well, I guess I can’t do anything, since I punched him back in the tower.
(It really has been a long time since Sion and Ferris last met.
That was back when they were in Roland, where Sion told Ferris that he killed Ryner and to never have anything to do with him again.
It’s the first time they’ve met again since then.
Looking at Ferris, Ryner can see tears springing up in her eyes.)
Ryner: This is love, huh?
(A very violent kind of love, but he laughs anyway.
Sion looks up from the ground.)
Sion: I think this love almost killed me just now?
Ryner: You’re the worst.
(With that, Ryner crushes Sion’s hopeful expression.)
Sion: Hey, save me… gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
(He’s hit again.)
Sion: I-I get it! I’m the worst! So stop hitting me already!
Ferris: Really!?
Sion: R-Really!
Ferris: Really really!?
Sion: Yes. I won’t do this again.
Ferris: Then—then promise to have the Wynnit dango shop expand into the central continent?
Sion: Eh?
Ferris: Don’t just go “eh”–!
(She hits him again.)
Sion: Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?
(He’s sent flying.
Ryner watches the scene with a smile, before looking out the window and flopping back onto the bed.)
Ryner: Well, I’m going to take a nap, so tell me when you’re done…
Ferris: Don’t just take a naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!
(Ryner can feel killing intent.)
Ryner: This really does feel nostalgic… gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?
(And so he’s sent flying.)
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 222-227
(A carriage arrives at Lieral’s laboratory. Ryner turns around. The carriage possesses the crest of the royal family of Roland. Ryner stares at the carriage.)
Ryner: … You’ve come, huh? You’re as conscientious as ever.
(He smiles. Someone exits the carriage.)
Toale: Ah, Ryner-san. It’s good to see you again.
(He smiles back.)
Ryner: Sorry for making such a troublesome request.
Toale: No, it’s fine…
(He looks behind him, in the carriage, where Lucile is, trapped with magic. Ryner looks at him.)
Ryner: …
(He thinks for a bit.)
Toale: Ryner-san.
Ryner: Hmm?
Toale: Er, because of Ryner’s request, I brought Lucile Eris-san here.
Ryner: … Right.
Toale: What are you really trying to do here?
(Ryner doesn’t turn around.)
Ryner: … What am I trying to do?
Toale: I heard about the situation from Vois-kun. Lucile Eris-san here…
Ryner: Yeah.
Toale: He killed your father.
Ryner: …
Toale: Then you told me to bring him here. Without being noticed by anyone, for that matter.
Ryner: Yeah.
Toale: Is it for revenge?
Ryner: …
(He turns around. Toale has an uneasy expression. Staring at that, Ryner smiles.)
Ryner: … Do I seem like the kind of guy who’s into revenge?
(Toale stares at him.)
Toale: I can’t say. A person’s heart isn’t so simple, after all.
Ryner: …
Toale: But right now, I have faith in you. Saying that, I don’t think you’re the sort of person who would betray my trust.
Ryner: …
Toale: So for the time being, I’ll believe in what you say. That you’re not the kind of person who’s interested in revenge, even against someone who killed someone important to you.
Ryner: …
Toale: As someone with so many friends around you, you…
Ryner: (interrupting) Ah, geez, just shut up already. I know everything you’re saying already. So you don’t need to worry.
Toale: But…
Ryner: (something about Lieral and Lucile and magic and the laboratory)
Toale: (basically repeating what he said as a question)
Ryner: Yeah. Well, putting aside what my dad said anyway, as long as I’m with Sion, Ferris, and you, I’ll be fine, but…
(He points to behind him.)
Ryner: But Dad left something behind for me. That’s why I want to go there alone first.
(Toale still looks a bit uneasy.)
Toale: I can understand that.
Ryner: Is that right?
Toale: Well, my father never liked me, so maybe that meaning is lost on me.
Ryner: Haha.
Toale: But is that really it? Is that really your reason for not bringing along Ferris-san and Sion-san?
Ryner: Yeah. That’s right.
Toale: If that’s the case, then it’s fine. Then I’ll be waiting at the inn you’re staying at.
Ryner: Got it. Well, I’ll be coming back in a few hours.
Toale: Then…
(He moves to go back in the carriage; however, from behind, Ryner strikes his neck.)
Toale: Ah…
(He’s knocked unconscious.)
Ryner: Sorry, Toale. I get that you’re worried, but…
(He looks at Lucile.)
Ryner: But I need to have a one-to-one conversation with this guy, without Ferris or Sion. At any rate, he’s my other fragment.
(He places Toale’s body in the carriage.
Thanks to magic, he won’t be waking up for a while.
Ryner turns around. After passing through the doors of the laboratory—)
Ryner: … Close.
(With magic, the doors shut behind him.)
dai denyuuden vol. 13 pg. 252-256
In the darkness, he saw a dream.
It was his memories of a distant, distant past.
Of when the world was brighter than it was now.
Memories of before the curse that held onto him.
In those memories, his sister laughed. She laughed happily. But before he knew it, he could no longer hear that laugh.
After undergoing their parents’ severe training, she lost her expressions. She lost her emotions.
In spite of that, at that time, she still seemed like a child—
—Brother. What is “love”?
She asked that.
—Brother, why are you patting my head?
She asked that.
—Brother, because you’re here, I’m not lonely.
—I love you as well, Brother.
—Brother, because you’re here, I’m not lonely.
—Training isn’t hard. This is only normal.
—I’m weak. I have to become stronger…
—Brother, because you’re here, I’m not lonely.
Each day, she gradually lost the light in her eyes.
It was to the extent that he was no longer able to see her radiant smile.
And so, her smiling face—
“……”
—He wanted to protect it.
He would risk his life in order to protect her.
That was why he didn’t regret it.
Even if he would never again be able to see the beautiful sky.
Even if he would never again be able to see the bright world.
His sister—
If he was able to protect this sister, then…
“……”
The darkness faded.
He became conscious of the feeling of the hard ground, and being held up by something.
And so, he opened his eyes.
Slowly, Lucile Eris opened his eyes.
But he couldn’t see anything at the beginning.
It seemed that after being unconscious for so long, his ability to see his surroundings was weak.
His ability to confirm the world around him was weak.
Nevertheless, he looked around the room.
It was a dim and dusty room.
He looked down.
There was a complex magic circle in place—that, he knew.
His body couldn’t move.
With his arms and legs bound behind him, he was held in a cross shape of sorts.
Lucile looked ahead.
| And from that, he understood what was going on. “… Ah, damn it. So it’s like this?” He said, moaning. Over there, in the darkness, he could see someone slowly walking towards him. Black hair, a tall and lean figure, hunched slightly. In his hands, he carried a thick book, with hundreds of pages. That man looked up at him. In the center of his eyes, a vermillion five-star pentacle rose to the surface. In that star—within the darkness, there was a sinister glow. “… Ryner Lute.” As Lucile called his name, the man grinned broadly. “… Yo, you’re finally awake, Lucile Eris. Then, start talking,” He said. |  |
(Chapter 6: The Return to Roland — End)