episode_0196

“Ugh… Today was really… Argh…”

Thanks to Kelly guiding us to an inn famous for outsiders having no idea what goes on inside, I hadn’t been able to escape Aria from yesterday until this morning. And because of that, after finally managing to get away from Aria, I was now outside, punching my aching lower back and getting some fresh air… Haaah… Aria’s embrace… It feels stronger than before… Is it just my imagination?

“Ow, ow, ow… I should ask Chief Kelly-nim if there’s any good medicine for my back… At this rate, my back will break first… and Aria definitely won’t readily use her divine power again, just like last time, because of her desire to nurse me… Haaah… It feels like Aria’s mischief is increasing as time goes on…”

“Oh? Zeke? Why are you sitting outside and rubbing your back? Is your back already starting to hurt?” The moment I was sitting on a chair outside, rubbing my back and sighing, Rubaea, who was passing nearby, recognized me and, surprised, asked if it was already time for my back to hurt. So I sighed deeply and told her that I had been caught by Aria since last night… no, since evening, and my back had almost given out. Hearing this, Rubaea burst out laughing and said,

“Pwahahaha!!! Well, the Black Saintess certainly was incredibly strong!!! So your back almost gave out… Oh dear… You’re really suffering… By the way, is the Black Saintess sleeping alone in bed right now?” “Huh? Right? I just came out for some fresh air.” “Then won’t she throw a huge fit when she wakes up and finds you gone? Considering Aria’s personality, it’s bound to happen that she’ll be so distraught she’ll search the whole inn.” “Sigh… I’ll have to go back before that, then… By the way, what brings you around here?”

When Rubaea worried that Aria would throw a fit upon waking to find me gone, I replied that I would go back before that happened. Then, suddenly curious about what Rubaea was doing around here, I asked her if she had business nearby. Rubaea nodded and, grasping her leather top, said,

“This top feels like it’s gotten too small for me. So I was on my way to see if there was a bigger one.” “I see… But where do you guys get that kind of leather…? Before, I only saw fairies wearing clothes made of cloth…” “Oh, this? This is Dergel Lizard leather. Since you know what a Dergel Lizard is, I don’t need to explain further, right?”

When Rubaea said that they obtained leather from Dergel Lizards and asked if she didn’t need to explain further since I would surely know, I nodded and said yes. Dergel Lizard… A mysterious lizard-like magical beast with skin made of leather, known for occasionally shedding its skin-like outer layer. It’s not ferocious and is known as the most docile among the low-ranking magical beasts, but it’s rarely seen due to its small population… So there are Dergel Lizards around here too…? Wait a minute… A magical beast I haven’t seen yet…?

“Rubaea, could you perhaps show me a Dergel Lizard? It’s a magical beast I haven’t seen yet…!!” “…Aren’t your eyes sparkling a bit too much…? Ah, well… Dergel Lizards have small populations and are small in size, so they aren’t easily noticed by humans… It’s understandable that you’d be curious. But I’ve been wondering since earlier, is it really okay if I use informal speech with you like this?” “Huh? Uh… Well, I don’t really mind, so it’s fine… Does it bother you?”

When Rubaea asked if it was truly okay for her to use informal speech with me like this, I replied that I hadn’t really paid much attention to her using informal speech in the first place. At first, it had been surprising how Rubaea’s gaze had sharpened and her words had become rougher, but it was more surprising that she had changed, rather than surprising in a strange way. So it didn’t really matter to me if Rubaea used informal speech, but seeing her bewildered expression and awkwardness, it seemed to be bothering her.

“Ugh… My words did become rough because I changed my personality to stand against the Order… And even though time flowed differently for us since you spent time at the Revalud Facility… I still feel like I’m too young to be using informal speech with you, compared to you…” “It’s fine. There’s only about a two-year age difference anyway, so… we can just be close friends. Anyway, can you tell me where the Dergel Lizards are? Aria and I will go together.” “Oh? Uhh… By the way, your personality really hasn’t changed, has it? You were the one who treated me kindly even when we first met… Ugh… It makes me embarrassed that I just attacked you mindlessly when we met again the other day…”

As Rubaea felt a sense of familiarity that my personality hadn’t changed, then regretted and felt ashamed for attacking us so recklessly the other day, I couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh and agree. Because as punishment for that, I had to suffer immense humiliation… But it worked out well, so I can come out like this, right? That’s a relief. After learning the location of the Dergel Lizards from Rubaea, I woke up Aria, who was sleeping at the inn, immediately packed our things, and we headed out of the inn to see the Dergel Lizards first.

“Yawn… I’m sorry, Zeke-nim. I should have woken up first and made a meal for you… But it seems I felt too ecstatic yesterday…” “Ugh… I have something to say about that… It’s good that you hug me, but… could you be a little gentler…? My back feels like it’s going to give out every morning…” “Hehehe… Zeke-nim’s love is so great, so it can’t be helped. And… if Zeke-nim’s back gets damaged and I get to nurse you… Ehehehe… that would be even better… Hehehe…”

Aria said that her hugging me so strongly couldn’t be helped, then gave a sinister smile, saying it would be even better if my back truly gave out and she got to nurse me. Seeing that smile, I remained serious and just sighed deeply. Sigh… I should only wish for what’s possible… The moment I sighed in exasperation about her and finally gave up, Aria looked at the clothes she was wearing and asked me,

“But Zeke-nim. Don’t you think this looks really unsightly?” “Huh? What?” “These clothes I’m wearing right now… they have golden stripes, don’t they…? Ugh… I hated it when my hair turned yellow when I transformed with Divine Radiance… but seeing these golden patterns, which are the same color as the Saintesses of the Order’s hair, makes me feel… a little more disgusted…” “…I think it’s pretty, so I like it…”

Aria felt a strong aversion to the golden patterns on her clothes, which were the same color as her hair when she transformed with Divine Radiance, and the hair color of the Order’s Saintesses. I quietly mumbled that I liked it because it was pretty. Aria, as if she had heard even my small mumble, flinched in surprise, then stopped complaining and blushed. I carefully took Aria’s hand and said,

“Shall we keep going like this?” “Ah… Yes…” When I carefully took her hand, Aria, who had been surprised, blushed even more upon hearing my suggestion to continue holding hands like this, and nodded in agreement. So, we silently began to head towards the Dergel Lizard’s location. During that time, a slightly awkward atmosphere hung between us, to the point where we couldn’t even look each other in the face. After continuing to walk in that state, we finally came across a field, where we discovered Dergel Lizards that were three times larger than us. Woaaah… Dergel Lizards that big…? Ah, right!

“It’s because we’ve shrunk, so the Dergel Lizards look big… By the way, this is the first time I’ve ever seen one in real life! It really is a lizard with brown leather for skin…!!” “Hmm… I believe they are lizards that cannot be eaten. That means… I could make clothes for Zeke-nim from that leather… It’s so sad that I lack those tailoring skills right now… Someday, I want to develop my tailoring skills and gift Zeke-nim wonderful clothes.” “I’m already satisfied with the brooch made from Magnod Tears… and I’m satisfied with your cooking, so don’t put any more pressure on me than that…” “What?! That’s basic! And this is basic too! I’m a woman devoted to Zeke-nim, so these things are basic!” “Ughhh…”

When Aria yelled into my ear, saying that preparing something for me like this was so natural it was basic, I flinched in surprise at the sound, then covered my ears with both hands and winced in pain as my ears rang. Ugh… If she keeps saying things like that, my head might start ringing next… After spending time observing and recording the Dergel Lizards with Aria, I read the second record book, which was almost entirely written, and headed to Kelly’s house with Aria. Oh… So these things happened here too, right…

“Aria. Look at this. There was a time here too when you hugged me so hard I complained of pain.” “Oh my…!! This was when Zeke-nim worried about the wound on my leg, and I was so touched, wasn’t it? It was just a slight graze, but I still vividly remember Zeke-nim genuinely worrying about me… Aaaahhh…!!” “…You really had an expression as if you had no regrets in life back then, didn’t you…? Anyway, you really… you overreact when it comes to anything related to me…” “That’s just how it is…” “Because it’s your love for me, so it can’t be helped… right?”

When I, who had found the record of myself greatly worrying about her and her being greatly moved by it, said on her behalf that the reason she reacted so excessively was because she loved me so much, Aria just smiled and nodded. I’ve heard it so many times that I can predict what you’ll say now… Aria’s heart truly… never changes, so it gives me confidence… As we continued towards Kelly’s house, looking at the records in the book with Aria, the fairies around us suddenly recognized us and approached us, asking,

“Oh…!! This is a record book, isn’t it?! I know, I read the copy that Zeke gave to our village as a gift before!” “Oh my! These are clothes made in Karizan, aren’t they?! You look so beautiful, Aria-nim!” “Uh… uhhh… H-hold on a minute?!”

The fairies suddenly swarmed us and started barraging us with questions, just like last time, which greatly flustered us. Were there still more fairies curious about us?! So, as we headed towards Kelly’s house, we began to satisfy the curiosity of the persistent fairies following us… just like yesterday. Then, finally arriving at Kelly’s house, we were…

“Oh… Oh dear… Did you get attacked or something before heading to Proserpina…? Why is everyone so…” “Pant… pant… pant… Ch-Chief… You… can’t you properly educate your fairies…? It seems fairies who keep exhausting Zeke-nim have been appearing since yesterday…” “No… I’m fine… Haa… haa… To make Aria so exhausted… I need to reconsider… fairies…”

Indeed… we were utterly exhausted, to the point of losing all energy, and Kelly was greatly flustered when she saw us. As we caught our breath drinking tea at Kelly’s house, we finally sighed deeply, feeling as though we could finally live again. Kelly looked at us and bowed at the waist, apologizing.

“I apologize… I didn’t realize the children would drain all your energy like this… It seems their perception of humans has changed, so their curiosity has grown.” “So… are the preparations complete, Chief Kelly-nim? The preparations to guide Zeke-nim and me to that… Sigh… that forest full of detestable elves.” “Ah… I won’t be guiding you myself… I’m planning to send you to Proserpina by another method.” “Another method?”

When Kelly said she wouldn’t be guiding us to Proserpina herself but would send us by another method, we looked at each other’s faces, bewildered. So, unknowingly, we followed Kelly… and began to descend into the basement down a subterranean staircase that gave off a similar vibe. After descending the stairs, a basement with a softly glowing blue magic circle drawn on the floor came into view, and I, surprised, asked Kelly,

“What on earth is this, Chief-nim…? In former Chief Akada-nim’s workshop before…” “Ah, it wasn’t there, was it? I improved Akada’s magic and created this magic circle. You can move through space with it.” “…!! So you intend to send Zeke-nim and me to Proserpina with this magic circle. But can we really trust this?” “Of course. I’ve already tested it on myself, so don’t worry~!” “…!! Why would Chief-nim herself do something so dangerous…!!”

When Aria doubted the safety of the magic circle, Kelly said not to worry, as she had tested it on herself before. Hearing that, I couldn’t hide my shock. No, Chief-nim, you are the most important person in this village right now!!! Furthermore, if the Chief-nim had died, the Order would surely have swallowed up Karizan… such a reckless act… So, at Kelly’s words that she had tested the magic circle herself, we instantly stopped doubting it and stepped onto the magic circle. As we stepped onto the magic circle, Kelly, who was opening a book, asked us,

“Oh my. You don’t seem nervous, do you? Although you’ve experienced spatial travel when you came to our village… I thought you’d be nervous since this is a completely different magic circle from that one…” “Well, we’ve already experienced something tremendous before…” “…Ah. The Revalud Facility…”

When Kelly, who was curious about our complete lack of nervousness on the magic circle, asked for the reason, we simultaneously replied that we had already experienced something tremendous. Then Kelly recalled the story of the Revalud Facility and immediately understood, beginning to recite the incantation written in the book. It’s not surprising… We’ve already transcended space and time, so long-distance spatial travel is nothing… As we calmly waited, recalling the space-time travel we had experienced at the Revalud Facility, the magic circle began to glow even bluer after Kelly recited the incantation to a certain extent. Then Kelly stopped the incantation and said to us,

“Everyone. It was truly a pleasure to meet you like this. If our Karizan is still intact later on… I will eagerly await the day you visit Karizan again.” “It was a pleasure meeting you too, Chief-nim. Oh! Please send my regards to Rubaea and Saphia, and tell them I hope to see them again.” “Understood, Zeke-nim. When you visit here again later, please take your time to enjoy Karizan’s culture. And… I wish you all the best.” “I hope Chief-nim also doesn’t get attacked by the Order.”

Perhaps it was due to the magic circle’s effect, but as Kelly watched our bodies gradually disappear, she bid us farewell, and we also bid her farewell, saying it was a pleasure to meet her. As our bodies completely vanished in the magic circle’s light, Kelly placed the book on the bookshelf behind her, then sighed deeply and mumbled,

“Even if the Black Saintess-nim and Zeke-nim stand against the Order… they will clearly need other powers… And since living in hiding is also utterly repulsive now… Akada, that ability the Melodian fairies used, the one you researched… I’d better use it now, hadn’t I?”

Kelly predicted that even if Zeke and Aria were to stand against the Order, they would surely need more power, and then she took a purple book from the bookshelf. Recalling what Akada had researched before, Kelly opened the book, took a handful of white powder next to it, and began to chant an incantation.