episode_0320
by fnovelpiaThe warm sunlight slowly melts the snow. My ascension has put a period to the long winter, heralding the beginning of a new season in this world.
I descended to the earth, holding Eve’s cold body close.
The magical energy I felt from the Empire’s army had vanished without a trace. With Tenebris’s death, his influence had also disappeared.
The kingdom’s army, sensing the incongruity, ceased their pursuit. The enemies, half-mad before, had become as docile as lambs, laying down their weapons and surrendering one by one.
“Wh…What is this…?”
“What have I been doing…?”
The memories of the past remained vague. With the killing intent that had fiercely gripped my heart subsiding, only confusion remained.
But the dreadful scene around me spoke volumes. The Ubiette Empire had declared war on the Nifrantz Kingdom, resulting in the deaths of millions.
I stepped forward before them all.
“I… I am a princess of Nifrantz…!!”
“Th-that is…”
Eve lay peacefully asleep in my arms. I held her cheeks, gently wiping away the blood and tears.
As the last officially seen face of Ubiette’s last princess… a slightly cleaner and prettier face would be better.
“To all present here, I declare. My name is Narita Florine Nifrantz… Crown Princess of Nifrantz.”
The ether carrying my voice spread far and wide. All survivors here, even the dead souls who had not yet left this battlefield, could hear my words.
“Nifrantz has triumphed, and Ubiette has fallen. I, the living, and your deceased Emperor, are proof of that.”
I began to see some familiar faces. Aspi and Nyx, who led the army at the forefront. On the Empire’s side, I couldn’t find any familiar faces. The big names were probably all dead.
Only unfamiliar soldiers remained. Yet, somehow, I didn’t feel that estranged. They all had ordinary faces, as if I would see them often in my neighborhood.
I continued to fulfill my role as Crown Princess.
“Hear me, all remaining Ubiette royalty, nobility, and others. As a victory memorial, and as the price of defeat… I demand Ubiette’s subjugation.”
Their faces contorted instantly. Awakening from a nightmare only to find hell awaiting them.
Of course, I’m not trying to take Ubiette for my own personal desires. It’s to manage this war and prepare for the future.
Tenebris is not the only black star in this world. I saw it in the Manager’s memories. The balance has already been broken, and over half the universe is filled with nothingness.
The fight is far from over.
“Let it be known to those who haven’t heard. In a few days, I shall personally visit the Ubiette Imperial Palace.”
As I finished my declaration and was about to leave, I sensed magic from somewhere. But I wasn’t surprised. I thought he would certainly be alive.
Whoooooosh—
I drew upon the ether, spreading a spiritual domain around me. The ordinary soldiers caught within froze in their tracks.
And amidst them, I found a single magical beast emitting a strong scent of blood.
I grabbed the beast by the scruff of its neck and slammed it to the ground. The blood-formed magical beast shattered under the strong pressure, spitting out an old man from within.
“The curtain has fallen. There’s no place for you anymore.”
“…Kkkkk. Do you feel good, having crushed my one and only goal?”
“No, it was always disgusting.”
Duke Darius, who had stubbornly survived, was as good as dead. His hair was white, and his skin was parched and dry like a corpse’s.
“That’s… right…!! I thought that you, of all people, would surely know the truth of this world!! I believed that I was not the only one to receive the grand revelation!!”
“Grand revelation… You still don’t understand. Tenebris deceived and used you—”
“I know…!!”
I narrowed my eyes slightly. It might be more accurate to say that I frowned. The returned answer not only deviated from my expectations but was also exceedingly unpleasant and irritating.
“There’s no reason for him, who is but a mere human, to reveal the precise truth to me… And yet, I believed. In the world he sees!!”
“You… you can’t gain anything from that world. You’ll only be stripped of everything.”
“That’s… that’s nothingness. Kkk… Hahaha!!!”
He laughed madly, his eyes narrowed.
Anger surged. My hand moved on its own, seizing the Duke’s scruff. Moving my fingers a little would have twisted his neck.
But I took a deep breath and barely restrained myself. I had to hear it.
“Why… why did you do this even knowing?”
“Why? Then… I’ll ask the same. Knowing that this universe is already hurtling towards destruction, why haven’t you given up yet?”
“Because protecting the people I love… and the world they will live in… is my purpose.”
“Me… me too. Achieving complete nothingness is… my mission.”
KRRRRACK—
I applied more force to my hand, which I had intended to release lightly. Duke Darius’s neck was thin and frail. I could kill him instantly.
“Even if your own existence disappears as a result?”
“That’s right. Nothingness… nothingness is the perfect ideal of this universe!! In that ideal world, my existence is not needed at all—!!”
“…….”
“The world I desire does not desire me… because it is a perfect world in itself.”
No more words were needed. I threw Darius’s body to the ground.
Even as I turned to leave, his voice continued.
“Princess Narita, you are nothing but a hypocrite. You have only been fortunate in your actions. If you had walked my path… you would never have succeeded!!”
“…….”
“Kkkkk… Yes, run away!! Run away from the truth again!! That’s the end most fitting for you—!!”
I couldn’t wait for someone to shut his mouth. I formed a lump of ether and dropped it onto Duke Darius.
Shadowless Divine Palm.
A giant, pure white hand crushed him. His flesh was torn to shreds, and crimson blood spurted from the gaps between his fingers.
My body absorbed Darius, leaving not a trace of him. There was only one reason. Such evil must not be allowed to reincarnate in this world.
Even as his pure white soul shattered and became mine… his voice did not end.
“You are the cause of the end… soon, all the black stars will gather towards this star…”
It was the most unpleasant and revolting aftertaste I had ever experienced, even more so than when absorbing any other soul.
. . .
Aspi and Nyx approached me, unable to control their gazes. Even though they tried to look at my face, it was natural for their eyes to be drawn to Eve’s body.
“Na… Nari… I… I… that…”
KRRRRACK-
Aspi stopped Nyx, who was about to say something. She quietly shook her head.
“…Nyx. That’s enough.”
“No… No…!! I was Eve’s friend too—!!”
Black mist rose from Nyx’s eyes. Her unusual anger was slightly surprising. She was simply grieving sincerely.
“It’s okay… Nyx, Aspi. Thank you.”
“…I’m sorry. If only I had been a little stronger—”
“Tsk, stop it. It’s not your fault.”
Aspi quietly stood rigidly, following behind me. I felt a surge of emotion at her considerate kindness.
Black mist flickered from Eve’s body. Nyx had tried to check her condition.
“Why… why isn’t this working…”
“Nyx, you stay still too.”
“No, Nari… I’ll somehow…”
“Thank you. But… trust me a little more.”
Nodding while shedding black mist, I gently patted her and continued walking.
In the distance, a saintess bearing a bright light approached. A small magician was following behind her.
“…!!!”
“W-Wow, Your Highness…”
Tier gasped. Seeing Eve, she instantly recognized her condition. Those who can save lives can distinguish between those who can be saved and those who cannot.
Lulu also looked up at me anxiously. I smiled gently at them both.
“Where is Yuri?”
“R-right there…”
Following Lulu’s answer, I looked in the direction she indicated, and Yuri was already standing there. Yuri approached cautiously, as if she was having difficulty taking heavy steps.
After everything was over, I returned. Yuri, as always, lightly lifted the hem of her maid uniform and greeted me.
“Welcome back… Your Highness.”
“…Yes.”
“And…”
Even in the moment of overwhelming emotion, Yuri prioritized what needed to be done. Once I silently permitted her with my eyes, she walked before me and looked at Eve.
“Welcome back… Eve.”
Burying her face in the large hole in the front of Eve’s dress, Yuri began to quietly sob. I embraced her and Eve together.
A faint tremor came over me. I became even more certain of what I had to do.
“Sorry, Yuri.”
“N-No… just being able to see her again is enough…”
“That’s not what I mean. It’s too soon to grieve.”
Yuri looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. I answered her.
“Let’s go home. To our home.”
I can do it. Eve’s story… no, our story is not over yet.
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