Ch.145145. Beyond Dimensions

The battery that Elise gave me operated with incredible efficiency.

How much energy could be packed into such a small battery?

…If the technology is this advanced.

How did they develop such technology…?

“Don’t be surprised. When you think about it, isn’t it obvious? Even if it’s from a weaker world. This is technology from a group that has conquered other worlds.”

“…I’ve never seen such an intricate mana battery before.”

Though Gabriel was surprised, she seemed to understand after hearing Elise’s explanation.

She used it to open the gate.

“The people crossing over will be Blanc, Vine, and Elise.”

“…Eh? Me?”

“You need to go over and help wake this child up.”

“No… instead of me, what about Arin or Citrus…?”

“Even if they’ve known her longer, do they have the same connection you do? We’re taking Blanc, who has the deepest connection with the villain Vine, and you. You need to do your best.”

“…I understand. But… but.”

“What’s the problem? Do you have some grudge against our world?”

“…No, that’s not it. That… no. It might be better if you don’t know rather than me telling you. Yeah.”

“…Were you perhaps an executive in the Demon Lord’s army?”

“…No, that’s not it, that’s not… how should I put it…? That’s not it, anyway. Ugh…”

“Seems like I’m right… Well, anyway, only remnants of the Demon Lord’s army remain in our world. So even if you were an executive, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“…I suppose it’s still a secret that I periodically wore armor in place of the Demon Lord, revised strategies, plotted battles to extract maximum negative energy, and then scolded the Demon Lord for not providing enough energy? No one found out, right…?”

“…Wait, what?”

“…Honestly, the Demon Lord’s side… had someone who was better at mind games than combat. Someone who could devise good strategies, though inferior to me. So their personal combat ability was weaker than mine, and their strategies weren’t as good as mine… They were basically an inferior version of me, so occasionally they’d send me notes, and I’d reply or command troops in real-time by receiving battlefield layouts and situation reports…”

“The, the Demon Lord…? Weaker than a villain… like Elise…?”

“How should I put it… They designed the Demon Lord’s realm with a barrier-like thing that greatly weakens any mana not of their attribute while strengthening themselves, and then trained daily… so.”

“The one who fought that famous duel with our world’s hero and fell, that… that… calamity… is weaker than this Elise? In both strategy… and combat power…?”

“Well… I’d probably lose if I went there to fight. The conditions there are… specialized for that kind of organization…? Barrier…? Something like that.”

“No… then… that army of despair was…”

“…Probably my doing. All the strategies that bastard came up with were broken through anyway…?”

“…We did suffer many casualties until the contractor arrived… but that was all…”

“That’s right… it became difficult to devise strategies after the magical girl arrived. Magical girls are like cheat keys. Dispatching just a few of them…”

“…I thought our side was more advanced in magic.”

“That’s because you can’t ignore the synergy. Without you all, which of us could have awakened something like magic?”

I offered words of comfort to the dejected Gabriel.

They provide the initial mana to awaken us. We grow based on that here, fighting monsters.

Through that, we learn to manage mana, and are dispatched to their side to help.

Naturally, we’re treated almost like savior heroes in their world.

“Your side uses… less mana. I think it’s a difference in total usage.”

“No… being outmatched in strategy… cuts deep.”

“That… I don’t think even I could beat Elise intellectually. Especially the Elise of the past.”

“…What nonsense are you talking about. Anyway. You’re not going to execute or imprison me when I go there, right?”

“…How could we do that? For now, let’s keep that fact hidden.”

“…Understood.”

With that answer, Gabriel opens the gate.

A gate connecting to the other world.

Large enough for three people and one mascot to pass through.

I carried Vine in my arms and crossed over to the other world.

After experiencing a brief ripple in space.

The surroundings had completely changed.

And, naturally, standing beside me was a small girl.

“Gabriel.”

“It’s been a while since you’ve seen me in this form, hasn’t it?”

“It’s been years since I came over here. Besides, you were too busy to even respond.”

“…It was difficult in many ways, politically too. I’d appreciate if you could understand that.”

“Alright. Who said I didn’t understand?”

She still clings to me as if she were a cat.

…She’s kind of cute in her own way.

I pat her head gently.

I just stroked her like a cat, and Gabriel made a purring sound.

Seeing this, Elise said,

“Pfft. Did you become a real cat after pretending to be one for so long?”

“…What!? No I didn’t…! This, this is an unavoidable instinct of beastfolk that naturally comes out due to high affinity with the contractor, so I can’t help it and that’s why, um, grr…”

When teased, she twitches her ears and shows an embarrassed expression.

“Gabriel always becomes shy when we meet her in human form. Yet when she was in cat form, weren’t you sitting on top of Elise’s head?”

“…That body is, how should I say, lighter? I can move freely… but this is my true form…”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone embarrassed about their true form. I’ve always been in my true form.”

“Right. I only have one true form too. I don’t like stupid cats that just shed fur and call themselves mascots.”

“I don’t shed fur! And please don’t think of me as an ordinary cat! That’s rude!”

Holding Vine in my arms, I followed Gabriel’s guidance while having this conversation until we arrived at a room.

“…Your Majesty.”

“Gabriel. Thank you for your hard work. Is that…”

“…Yes. The child we need to awaken. The one whose brainwashing hasn’t been undone.”

This world, the world where Gabriel lives.

A new united kingdom was established centered around a military power that frequently battled the Demon Lord’s army.

The first queen of this united kingdom stood before me.

And this queen said,

“How does it look to you, Your Majesty?”

“I couldn’t tell at first glance, but this is quite a perverse taste.”

“Perverse meaning…?”

“A person is formed of soul and body. I believe everyone knows that.”

“…Yes.”

“The same applies to monsters. This child… has their soul obscured. By a thick veil.”

“…Is that what we call brainwashing?”

“Perhaps… the appearance Gabriel showed me is the false personality constituting that veil. The real one must be sleeping inside.”

“…How do we extract Vine from within that soul shell?”

“…Gabriel. You did well to bring these two. Aren’t both of you close to this child?”

To the queen’s question, Elise replied:

“…Yes, well. We’re close.”

“Blanc doesn’t need to say anything. We know well enough.”

“Is that so…”

“Then, I’ll prepare. This way.”

The queen guided us to a bedroom.

An antique-looking bed.

Vine sleeping on it.

Truly, anyone would see her as a noble lady.

Except for the necklace that didn’t match her.

The queen prepared for soul access.

One of the queen’s specialties is handling souls.

This is something even the priests of the Holy Nation cannot compare to.

After receiving the signal that preparations were complete.

We decided to enter in sequence.

First, Elise.

Since she volunteered to go first to retrieve Vine.

Indeed, when it comes to Vine, she tries to resolve everything herself.

…In front of such a child.

That madman who talks about what they’ll do to Vine, how they’ll treat her.

I’ll eliminate them with my own hands.

“Then, we’re entering. 3, 2, 1.”

* * *

I need to wake up from this place quickly.

I need to escape from this dark prison-like place.

Then, then I can ask about the things I’ve been curious about.

I try to slam against it.

My body collides with an insubstantial wall that shows no sign of breaking.

Why?

Why can’t I break even this one thing?

I try to slam against it again.

It should break, it should break.

Why won’t it break?

Why?

Why…

Like this, forever.

In this darkness forever.

Unable to think of anyone or anything.

Must I be forgotten like this?

Must I disappear like this?

…

Is this the karma of a villain?

Does it all come back to me in the end?

…

Ah…

* * *

Vine.

In the center of the mental world.

A large sphere.

As if to prevent something from coming out.

It looks solid, without gaps.

Above all.

A wall that feels incredibly massive.

But I can tell.

Vine is behind this.

I just need to get Vine out from behind this.

If I can do that.

If I can do that.

I’ll personally deal with those bastards who see you as a tool, use you, and discard you like a chess piece.

As I approach the sphere, I feel a pulsation.

The resonance of a soul.

It comes from beyond the sphere, but this troublesome wall…

Thud-

Thud—

The periodically heard sound is.

“Vine!!! Vine!! You’re in there! Answer me! Vine!!!”

Thud—

Thud—

“Vine! Vine!!”

What am I supposed to do with this?

Like this.

Like this, there’s nothing I can do.

Leaving only that sense of helplessness, I had no choice but to withdraw.