Epilogue. Order of Hierarchy

“We could have stayed a bit longer.”

After the festival ended.

Charlotte, looking like she had aged ten years, saw us off to the entrance of The Capital as we returned to Alba.

It was long before sunrise, in the pitch-black dawn, so not many people were with us. Just a few Imperial Knights to protect Charlotte’s person and authority.

Still, I felt like my heart was filled with something.

“No, it’s okay. If we’re around, it feels like all sorts of things will keep happening… Hehehe, I think it’s better if we leave now.”

“Thank you. I only said it out of courtesy, but I was getting nervous that you’d actually say you were staying longer.”

Charlotte shuddered.

Rubia chuckled as she watched Charlotte.

“Are you going to say such a disappointing thing? Still… thank you, Charlotte. Thanks to you, we had a pleasant stay.”

“Y-you’re welcome…”

“…Well, as long as you guys had fun, that’s enough.”

Charlotte, who had turned her back and was waving her hand as she walked away, paused and turned back, speaking in a subtle voice.

“…Still, stop by before you go on your trip. So I can say goodbye, at least. But quietly. Don’t cause any trouble. Got it?”

“Ahaha! Yes, I understand. It seems like it will be a long trip, so, yeah. I’ll definitely stop by before we go.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened.

Then, she closed her eyes, shook her head, and walked away without a word.

“Shall we go too?”

“Yeees…”

We also took each other’s hands and walked towards the carriage prepared in the back.

“Are the goodbyes over?”

“Yes. Is it okay if Heinzel and Hermilla don’t say goodbye separately?”

“Well, I’m planning to visit The Capital often anyway, so it doesn’t matter much.”

“Me too. It’s not as much as Heinzel, but I have to visit from time to time, so it would just feel awkward.”

Heinzel and Hermilla are also returning to Alba with us.

Heinzel volunteered to be the coachman, saying he would clear the way as he did when he came to The Capital.

Hermilla decided to join us under the pretext of returning to her long-lost hometown… well, it’s not really her hometown, but anyway, she’s returning home.

[Hmm, that’s not the only reason. Wasn’t it to keep the promise you made with me, Rubia, and you, Noah?]

For a moment, I almost answered out loud, but with tremendous agility, I raised both hands and covered my mouth.

“Noah?”

“Hmm?”

Heinzel and Hermilla looked at me questioningly at my actions.

“Haa, yawn… I yawned… Hehe.”

I smiled bitterly and hid the existence of Serr, no, the existence of my friends residing in my soul.

I don’t know why I have to hide it so much, but well… Serr said it’s to avoid getting involved in all sorts of troublesome things.

But Serr herself will reveal herself when we go to Alba.

Then… can’t I just say it now?

[You can’t.]

‘…Yes.’

Kartia’s voice echoed in my head, which was still full of questions.

[Hey. This prim and proper lady wants to appear in a more dramatic situation. So you understand, Noah.]

‘A dramatic situation…?’

[Wh-what. No. Do I look like such a fool? I am a genius. A genius would never have such a shabby thought, nor could they even come up with it.]

[Oh, really? Then you’ve been hiding all this time—]

In the middle of that. Kartia’s voice suddenly cut off. Serr’s voice, and all the noises that had been quietly heard from behind, all cut off.

Hmm… I can still feel their presence inside.

Did something happen…?

“Let’s go, Noah.”

“Ugh… Y-yes, ma’am.”

Rubia, who seemed to have roughly guessed what was going on, patted my shoulder and pulled the hand she was holding.

Heinzel and Hermilla are still looking at me questioningly.

I forcibly turned away from their gazes and slowly got into the carriage.

Well, there won’t be any big problems.

They’re in my soul anyway.

“Hyah!”

I threw myself onto the carriage seat, which was adorned with various flower petals and plant leaves. Poosh, poosh—a fragrant floral scent wafted up every time I moved my butt.

I buried myself in the seat and slightly pulled back the curtain drawn over the window.

The faint light of dawn pierced through the curtains.

Beyond that, the sound of unknown birds chirping, or the sound of various plants swaying in the blowing wind.

The gradually brightening sky.

Another day has come.

A quietness that makes me think, ‘What should I do from now on?’

Feeling such peace, which I now believe will not be broken.

I turned around and jumped into Rubia’s arms.

“Oh my?”

“Hehe… I want to go like this.”

Rubia doesn’t answer.

Uh… is it perhaps uncomfortable?

I slowly raised my head and looked at Rubia.

Rubia, with trembling eyes, swallowed hard.

I guess it must be heavy…?

I slowly got up again and slowly returned to my seat.

“…H-hey, am I heavy? If I’m heavy, I’ll sit in the seat— Uhek?!”

In the middle of that, Rubia’s hastily outstretched arm pulled me back into her arms.

“You’re not heavy at all. I was just surprised for a moment.”

“R-really…? I’m really not heavy?”

“Of course. Rather, I’m worried because you’re too light.”

Rubia’s pleasant fingers, running through my hair, made me smile at Rubia with half-closed eyes.

“Uuuung… then I’ll stay here until we arrive…”

A gasp of surprise.

Rubia’s thighs, which were supporting my butt, twitched.

“Rubia…?”

“N-no, it’s nothing. Yes. You can keep sitting here. ”

Nod, nod—

She nodded and leaned against Rubia, releasing the strength in my upper body.

It’s fluffy.

“…Let’s depart, Heinzel.”

Hermilla, who was sitting across from us, glared at us with a bitter look and thumped on the wall of the carriage.

“Mm.”

Soon, —clatter. Along with the feeling of the body tilting for a moment.

The carriage we were riding in headed towards the village where everything had started.

Towards Alba.

In the living room of a huge mansion.

Kartia, who was lying on the floor with a cushion in her arms, watching the screen projected on the wall, the view seen through Noah’s eyes, jumped up from her seat.

“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”

Then, feeling the suddenly cut-off connection with Noah, she glared at Serr.

“Did you do it?”

“…I did not.”

At that, Serr narrowed her brows and turned her head, as if she really wasn’t the one who did it.

“Then, the only one who can do this is…”

Hermilla also moved her gaze, following Serr’s head.

The place where the two people’s gazes stopped.

“This humble one did it.”

There was Sirin, sprawled out on a sofa made of plants created by Laila.

If it wasn’t Serr, it was Sirin.

That was an obvious thing that didn’t even need to be considered.

In the first place, it was Sirin who created this space where everyone could exist in the form of a soul.

Although Serr’s power was added to complete this place, in the end, the owner of this place was Sirin. Sirin’s permission was required to create a connection point to talk to Noah.

“Kartia, even if what you have to say is true, I had no choice but to protect my disciple’s pride. I’m sorry.”

Swoosh—Sirin lifted her leg and wiggled her soft bare feet back and forth, giggling.

“Hmm. Sirin, I hope you know that Serr is my descendant before she is your disciple.”

“Heeem?”

At that, Primavera, who had approached Serr’s side, calmly stroked Serr’s head.

“…Disciple, descendant, what are you all talking about?”

However, crackle—the magic emanating from Serr’s body rejected Primavera’s touch.

“I’ll protect my pride myself. And what’s there to be ashamed of by saying that? This is… yes. This was just a surprise party for a friend. It’s not that I wanted to make a grand entrance.”

“Yes, yes. If you’re my descendant, you can do that for a friend. Hmm, hmm.”

“Shut up.”

Pajijik—even harsher magic emanated from Serr’s body.

“I don’t want to be the descendant of someone weaker than me.”

“…Serr. No matter how much you are my descendant, such words—”

Primavera’s words were cut off by the frivolous laughter heard from behind.

“That’s right. I agree with that self-proclaimed genius brat. There’s no need to follow the words of a guy weaker than me, the laws he set.”

Kartia’s voice, which flowed out like a growl.

That voice was directed towards Sirin, who was lying on the sofa.

“Ahahaha!”

Sirin, who was the target of that, laughed as if she was very happy with this situation and got up.

At the same time, a huge power surged from her body.

Regulations.

Ancient Dragon.

The overwhelming presence of the being who was in charge of the center of this world.

“Do I have to say such a thing to know?”

Sirin’s eyes, which looked at Kartia while showing such overwhelming power, split vertically.

“I know, but it seems like you don’t know, so I’m saying it to see. Did you lose your sense because you’ve eaten so much age?”

Giggle—murderous intent lingered in Kartia’s laughter.

At that, Frey, who had been stroking Carpen and Sonia’s tails in that corner, approached.

“What? What is it? Are you guys fighting?”

“Fight? Who with who? Are you including me!? I want to do it too! What is it! Team battle? Individual battle?”

Carpen, who had hurriedly run after her, also bared her claws with a fierce smile.

“…Annoying, what are you doing…?”

Following behind, Sonia, who had walked over with sleepy steps, rubbed her eyes and shuddered.

“Yeah. I thought something like this was necessary at some point.”

“Necessary my ass. Still, well… that’s right. I was curious too. I don’t know how it would be now, even if I didn’t know then.”

Luissar and Boheuk-Hee, who had been drinking tea in one corner, also walked into the brutal atmosphere.

Everyone gathered in one place.

Kartia, who slowly looked around at such a sight, placed her hand on the hilt of the katana hanging on her waist.

“Damn it. It seems like everyone thinks they’re the strongest. How are we going to set the rules, you losers?”

Sirin, who slowly got up from her seat.

“The one standing last.”

Wooddeuk―!

She spread her wings and answered.

“Let’s make it so that they win.”

At those words.

As if everyone agreed.

At the same time, they moved.

Tingle.

“Uum…?”

While being held in Rubia’s arms and eating jelly, I felt the Divinity and soul in my body boiling fiercely.

“Noah? Is something wrong?”

“Ah, no… Uh, just a moment…”

I grabbed the hilt of the Greatsword that I had leaned against the side, thinking it was a Demon Beast, and spread my [Ki sense], but there was nothing around.

There’s nothing around, but if it’s like this…

Yeah. They must be fighting.

I don’t know why, but it’s not good for friends to fight…

Even if I want to tell them not to fight, everyone is older than me, so they won’t listen to me… what should I do.

Whether it’s sparring or arm wrestling, or something.

Should I… sort out the ranks?