Chapter 5: Friends reunited (2)

For a wizard who can use 9th-circle spells, the physical distance between places is meaningless.

 With just a word or a gesture, they can bend space itself and travel wherever they wish, so it hardly matters whether a destination is near or far.

 This is why the “Sanctuary of the Night Sky,” one of the seven great wonders of the continent and a dream destination for all explorers, is just another place that Mana can visit anytime she desires.

However, she refrains from visiting too often to preserve the sense of wonder, choosing to come only on very special occasions.

Today was one of those “very special days.”

-“Wow… the entire forest is sparkling. It’s like the stars are shining on the ground too! How is this happening?”

“It’s the effect of a certain flower that only grows here. The pollen they release reacts with natural magic to create this glowing phenomenon.”

-“I see…”

Exia, marveling like a child, exclaimed in awe, while Mana smiled warmly as she explained.

Sion, though not as vocal as Exia, was also quite impressed, albeit for slightly different reasons.

“To think the day would come when you develop an appreciation for beauty… you’ve grown, Mana.”

Back when they used to travel together long ago, Mana’s sense of aesthetics was practically nonexistent. Even Sien, who was a demon, had more appreciation for such things than Mana.

She would dismiss the sight of a polar aurora as nothing more than an eyesore.

But now, hearing that she had prepared a “beautiful scenery” just for her, how could Sion not be moved?

In response to Sion’s praise, Mana smiled and said, “I wanted to be able to talk with you in a place that would make you happy if you ever came back. So, I looked for one in advance.”

“That’s what growth is.”

“Really?”

Five hundred years is a very long time, long enough to turn a once harsh and rigid young elf into a warm and considerate adult.

Mana led the group to a nearby garden, a special place she had cultivated in a corner of the wonder, just in case visitors arrived.

Sitting on a white bench by the starlit lake, Sion remarked, “It’s indeed lovely. But… there’s one thing missing. For instance—”

“Alcohol, right?”

“How did you know?”

Sion was surprised, wondering if she had used telepathy.

“You’ve always liked alcohol, Sion.”

With that, Mana reached into the void, pulling out a small bottle. It was a Blue Mountain, 1403 vintage Red Dragon Breath wine.

“And especially wine. Am I right?”

She truly had grown.

Sion, overwhelmed with emotion, nodded in agreement.

Under a sky embroidered with stars, the two sat together.

 One was a calm red-haired elf wrapped in a loose robe, and the other was a young silver-haired girl who looked no older than ten.

 The elf was drinking warm milk, while the girl was sipping red wine. Though it might seem reversed, to them, this was the correct way.

After all, there was no one here to question why a child was drinking alcohol.

“I see.”

With a voice tinged with bitterness that didn’t match her age, the girl set down her glass.

“Gareum left a hundred years ago, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

The average lifespan of a dwarf is around 300 years. Although much longer than that of a human, it was far too short to span 500 years.

Moreover, Gareum wasn’t exactly young even when he was with the party. So the fact that he died only a hundred years ago means he actually lived quite a long life…

“…I wish I could have come just a little earlier.”

Sion lowered her head with a somber expression.

 She knew, of course, that regardless of whether it was sooner or later, the very fact that she had been given a second life was an incredible stroke of luck.

But knowing that didn’t stop her from feeling emotional.

 Those four people were that precious to her.

“At least it’s a relief that you’re still here.”

She said, gazing quietly at the mage before her.

She truly hadn’t changed at all since back then.

 Her eyes, as clear as a fairy’s, her unique calm elegance that flowed through her entire being, and her crimson hair that exuded a sense of tranquility rather than vibrancy, unlike most redheads—all of it was exactly as Sion remembered.

“I knew elves were a long-lived race, but… is it really possible to not age at all?”

 Sion wondered aloud.

 Given the elves’ long lifespans, it wasn’t surprising that she was still alive, but even so, unless she was a dragon, she should have shown some signs of aging.

In response to Sion’s question, Mana lifted her teacup and replied.

 “Our race tends to maintain a youthful appearance for a long time… and the more magic you accumulate, the more it delays aging. That might be the difference.”

“I see.”

Magic is the very energy that nature emanates. Therefore, the more magic one accumulates, the more they become attuned with nature itself.

And with someone like Mana, a great mage, it was even more pronounced.

As Mana sipped her milk, she asked.

 “So, what do you plan to do from now on?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“You’re carrying Exia around and acting like a hero, so you must have some kind of goal in mind. What is it?”

Ah, right. She doesn’t know the full story yet.

From Mana’s perspective, it would be natural to assume that Sion had some objective she wanted to achieve as a hero and therefore drew Exia.

That would be the logical conclusion. It’s hard to imagine that she just happened to do it by accident due to forgetting about shared permissions.

“…..”

The thought of explaining the whole incident suddenly embarrassed Sion, and her face flushed red.

 But she couldn’t avoid it.

Mana was the only person in the current Elpidion whom she truly trusted and could ask for cooperation. Besides, her reputation and influence were global, so there was no option but to seek her help.

Remember, pride is a liability, a toxic asset…

“You won’t believe it, but I drew it by accident.”

“? By accident?”

“Yes.”

Sion cleared her throat awkwardly before explaining the events of the day.

After hearing the entire story, Mana narrowed her eyes.

“That’s such a typical Sien mistake… and yet, not so typical….”

“What do you mean by ‘typical Sien’?”

“You’re usually meticulous and strategic, but sometimes you make unexpected blunders. Like that time in the Krimvaltz estate…”

“….Please don’t bring that up. I still kick my blankets in frustration whenever I remember that.”

Sion coughed repeatedly, trying to cover up her embarrassment.

“So, what do you plan to do now? Do you want me to help you reveal your true identity?”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

At Mana’s suggestion, Sion shook her head.

“Although it all started as a mistake, I might as well keep up the act of being a hero now that it’s come to this.

There’s no need to dig my own grave by declaring myself the Demon King. Besides, you haven’t revealed that Sien Lenos was the Demon King, have you?”

“That’s right.”

 Mana nodded.

The shocking truth that their long-time comrade was actually the Demon King.

 After their battle with him ended, the four survivors agreed to keep that truth hidden.

No matter how much they defended him, there would always be those who would label Sien a ‘deceitful trickster,’ and none of them wanted to see that.

“As a result, there have been all sorts of interesting theories about your identity.

Some say you’re the sole survivor of a village destroyed by the Demon King, others claim you’re a potential hero candidate blessed by the goddess, and some even believe you’re a human with demon blood mixed in…”

Sion laughed, realizing that the last theory was at least partially true.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to be honest? It might have made it easier for you to carry out what you did afterward.”

“From a purely pragmatic standpoint, maybe, but we didn’t want to.”

 Mana shook her head.

“Even I have things I like and dislike.”

“Is that so.”

Sion mused, sipping from her wine glass.

The ‘afterward’ she referred to was what happened after Sion’s death in her previous life.

The second battle that the hero Lier fought throughout his life after defeating the Demon King and saving the continent—none other than the ‘Demon Migration to the Mortal Realm’ plan.

“I heard the initial resistance was fierce.”

Of course, it was. To humanity, demons were invaders who suddenly appeared from another world and slaughtered people.

 How many had lost their beloved homes, family, and friends because of them?

And now they were expected to forgive these demons and live alongside them? That was a hard pill to swallow.

Naturally, Lier faced intense criticism.

 People accused him of being out of his mind, of being tainted by his time spent in the Demon Realm. Even the most compassionate among them only said, ‘We understand your heart, but it can’t be done.’ The harshest voices even called for his hero status to be revoked.

But Lier and the hero’s party did not waver.

To them, it was the only way to carry on the will of a fallen comrade—a lonely king who sacrificed his life to save his people.

“The fact that the plan involved ‘turning demons into humans’ seems ironic, though. It’s basically just reversing the approach you proposed, isn’t it?”

“As I said back then, it was the only viable solution. Besides, that much is the victor’s rightful prerogative, don’t you think?”

“True.”

The collapse and eventual demise of the Demon Realm were inevitable in the long term. Even Sien had accepted this fate, which was why he initiated the invasion of this world as a last resort.

So, the hero’s party decided to adopt a similar approach to Sien’s compromise: the idea of demonification.

The humanization of demons—injecting human traits into demons to transform their bodies so they could survive in Elpidion.

Naturally, the demons weren’t thrilled about it.

Human bodies were far weaker compared to those of demons. Why would they voluntarily become an inferior species?

Lier’s answer to this was simple.

“If you don’t want to, then don’t. We’ll only proceed with those who volunteer.”

In essence, Lier’s ultimatum to the demons was clear.

 Accept the fate of becoming an “inferior species” to survive, or embrace the pride of an “elite species” and face extinction in their homeland.

 If they rejected both and attempted to invade Elpidion, he would personally cut them down.

 It was a stark, almost arrogant, dichotomy, and he added a final, biting remark.

 “If you didn’t like it, you should have won.”

Surprisingly, most demons found themselves agreeing with his words.

The fundamental rule that governed demon society was survival of the fittest.

 From their perspective, Lier’s assertion that the victors had the right to decide the fate of the defeated was a straightforward declaration of his rightful authority.

As a result, about 70% of the demons decided to undergo the humanization procedure.

“But even if you got their consent, leading them afterward couldn’t have been easy,” Sion remarked.

“You’re right.”

Mana agreed without hesitation.

There were immediate issues with the procedure itself. While the demons had experience in modifying humans into weapons through transformation magic, humans had no such experience.

 Developing a procedure that could reverse the process safely and without side effects in a short time was a formidable challenge.

Mana took on this task, and fortunately, there was existing data on the demonification process from the demons, which she used as a foundation.

“We managed to get it started, but at first, it was a complete mess.

 There were demons who pretended to undergo the procedure only to carry out terrorist attacks, and radical groups and slavers targeted those who had undergone the procedure. The initial chaos was beyond description…..” Mana continued.

The emotional chasm between humans and demons ran deep.

 Imagine encountering your closest comrade on the battlefield, only to realize they’d been turned into a demon suicide soldier.

 How could one not harbor hatred? How could one not seek revenge?

It took a very long time, a very long time indeed, for that hatred to begin to fade.

“Luckily, Esther handled the negotiations, and Gareum took charge of suppressing the crimes.

 Publicly, they appealed to people’s sense of mercy and compassion through religion, while privately, they captured and punished extremists.

 I think it took about 40 to 50 years of continuous effort.”

“That must have been incredibly difficult.”

“Yes, it was.”

Mana agreed, taking a sip from her teacup.

 “And even then, we couldn’t achieve perfection.”

She was referring to the status of the demons.

 Even 500 years later, it was hard to say that the demons had truly integrated into Elpidion.

 While the extreme hatred of the past had diminished, demons were still viewed with suspicion and prejudice.

 Outside of the demon territory of Sanchina, no demon had risen to the leadership in any country. The reality for most demons was that they still bore the stigma of being the descendants of invaders.

“I remember seeing plenty of demons in the undercut.”  

It wasn’t uncommon to see a demon man staggering drunkenly through the slums of Ashtaria with a towel draped over his horns.

The lower class was teeming with demons.

Perhaps Sien himself had a trace of that blood in his veins.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Hmm? What are you apologizing for?”

 Sion asked, pulled from her thoughts by Mana’s sudden apology.

“I’m sorry we, no, I, couldn’t do better. If only I were stronger…”

 Mana said, lowering her head.

 If she had truly upheld Sien’s will, she would have created a society where demons and humans stood as equals, side by side.

She would have avoided the contempt and oppression that still plagued the world. Despite her best efforts, she had fallen short.

That was the one lingering regret in Mana’s heart.

But Sion merely chuckled at her worries.

“You’re fundamentally misunderstanding us demons.”

“Misunderstanding?”

Mana’s ears perked up slightly. Sion nodded.

“Yes. As I told you before, we demons lack concepts like ’empathy for others,’ whether it be camaraderie or friendship.

We were born that way, so ‘racial solidarity’ is just as foreign to us.

 I led the demons to invade the mortal realm simply because it was the only way for me to survive, not out of any special affection for my kin or subordinates. Sure, I had some pride and ambition as a leader, but that was it.

I didn’t feel any particular affection or responsibility toward each individual under my rule.”

It might have sounded like a callous statement, but Sion simply shrugged.

“That’s just the way we demons are.”

Even when I heard that the demons had come to Elpidion and settled, I couldn’t feel anything more than, “Oh? They did well.”

“So, there’s not much need to feel guilty.”

“…… That’s kind of a deflating statement.”

At Mana’s slightly downcast voice, Sion grinned.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand? It’s not that I’m not grateful.

 In fact, when I heard about what you all did to honor me, I was so moved that I secretly wiped away tears in bed.

But that gratitude was solely for ‘thinking of and caring for me throughout your lives,’ not for your achievements themselves.

 That’s why I’m saying there’s no need to feel sorry.”

“…….”

Mana closed her mouth and carefully observed Sion’s expression.

 It wasn’t empty words meant to encourage herself, but a look that truly seemed to believe it. Of course, considering Sion’s acting skills, even that could be fake, but…

“…….”

She smiled slightly.

“You’re still terrible at comforting others. As expected of a demon with low empathy.”

“What? Hearing that from you of all people is very unfair… So, what should I have said?”

“Well. Something like, ‘I’m happy with just this much. You’ve done well.’”

“Isn’t that basically what I just said?”

“True.”

Mana laughed—a rare, bright smile for someone with little emotional change.

 Sion couldn’t understand what was so amusing.

Afterwards, the two of them (more precisely, three including Exia) had extensive conversations.

 They talked about Lier marrying the princess of Salem and being enshrined in the state documents, the various accidents caused by Lier not being able to shake her adventurer habits, the time someone impersonated Sien’s father and got beaten up, Gareum’s tribe drinking all the beer stored in Ashtaria, leading to an emergency alcohol procurement mission, and so on……

While they were happily chatting, Mana suddenly asked, “Now that I think about it, what do you plan to do from now on?”

“What do you mean?”

“You mean, acting like a fake hero. If you’re going to keep up the act, shouldn’t you have a concrete plan for what you’ll do in the future?”

“Hmm.”

Sion folded her arms.

To be honest, she hadn’t really made any detailed plans. Her only thought so far had been something as simple as, “It would be nice to eat well and live comfortably.”

 Now that things had turned out this way, it felt a bit sudden to consider anything else.

“As I mentioned before, this all happened by accident. From the beginning, my so-called goal was just to ‘rise to power.’ But I have no intention of attempting world domination again.”

“Right. First, joining the academy I run…”

Mana started to speak but then looked Sion up and down.

“No, that’s not feasible right now. The minimum age for admission is 15, and your current body is younger than that.”

“Hmm? What’s this academy you speak of?”

“It’s an international educational institution I established for the harmony of the continent. I’ll explain more later.”

By the way,

Mana stared piercingly at Sion.

“For now… Right. I need to worry about your body first.”

“My body? Is something wrong with this body?”

“No, not in a physical sense—more in a chastity sense.”

Chastity sense?

To Sion, who tilted her head in confusion, Mana delivered a shocking verdict.

“You know, if things keep going like this, you’ll be forced to marry the prince of Salem.”