The post-battle matters were quite many to handle. Even if more than a week had already passed, the entire world is still in a semi-chaotic state. The introduction of the supernatural side had completely overturned the perception of the many.
Fortunately, I am not one of the people responsible for managing it. I reckon Kazamitsu-san should have gone for these five days without sleep to handle this stuff. As for the rest, such as the collaboration of several magician organizations worldwide plus the establishment of Altair being the 'headquarters' of this war, it was left to Miku to sort.
"Suimei, Suimei… you're definitely going to be swamped with paperworks once you return."
I could, of course, settle everything in one go, but what's the use of it?
Just as I have stated before, this is a chance for everyone to grow. These experiences are necessary for our world to transition into a full-blown 'supernatural world'.
As for Suimei, he and Reiji were left to confront that goddess. It's not that I didn't want to help; rather, the two of them would have defeated it alone. My participation only made things far smoother than the two-versus-one.
That goddess should be bordering my level, though she is still far away from it. With [Lapis Judaicus] and Suimei's fate as the [Singularity] (lit. one unaffected by destiny), they could truly turn the tables on that fight.
In fact, my participation made things easier. If they fell into a more desperate state, Suimei would have straight up upgraded into a [World Magician] on his own.
By the time he returns, I would be able to entrust this world's safety to him.
"The epilogue…"
Thinking about the visions I have seen, I clenched my hands.
The parallel world's Suimei was right. I could not fight against it without the power of a [World]. Even without that knowledge, just the fact that we lost two [World Magicians] before the 'final battle' was something horrifying.
Fortunately, Kazamitsu-san is alive and kicking. As for Lord Nettesheim, rescuing him was the first thing I did after reaching the level of a [World]. I sent him to Frankfurt where he is recuperating.
"That darkness… Was it really the concept of nothingness existing beyond a certain point? If it was merely a stumbling block… it could be surpassed."
If it was an epilogue, there are certainly ways to bypass it, such as writing another book beyond the "epilogue". That would spell a fresh start for the world itself.
The only question that remained was how to do it.
Just then, I remembered that their return was today.
"A familiar visitor… it's been a long time."
The couple who introduced the concept of other worlds to me back when I was eight years old…
It seems they are really married now.
My world was enveloped by a barrier, but Louise-san's dimensional magic was extremely unique. It worked regardless of whether she knew the coordinates or not. It was, in the truest sense, a dimensional magic that worked out randomly.
She could bypass the world barrier I placed if I wanted to, something that I tacitly allowed.
The moment I stood up from the comfortable cushioning of the captain's chair, my surroundings changed.
The change was extremely natural, as if I am already existing at this point, yet I was not until now.
"A lot of things have changed…"
"Seeing a news report about magic surprised even me."
As usual, the two were 'bickering', though I could tell their level of intimacy was far deeper than the norm.
"It is the wonders of time, Louise-san."
The two stopped and paid attention to me.
"You are—?!"
"Akasaka?"
Saito-san seems far more surprised than Louise-san.
"It's been three years since your departure. Do you want to go through everything during lunch?"
*****
Three years ago.
It was the year 2017. After years of disappearance, Hiraga Saito decided to return to Earth. One thing was to inform his parents of his impending marriage, but they came across a magician from the hidden side.
What they could have not expected, however, was the changes that happened during their time away from Earth.
For once, the young boy from the past became a main player of Earth's consecutive changes.
"There are calamities similar to Demon Kings… but they are stronger in this world."
"That's the gist of what happened. It hasn't been a week since the reveal happened, which is why there are people who are out of control."
"I mean, it's magic. There should be many who want to have their fantasies fulfilled."
The usual retort from Louise came.
"Just like you?"
"Ye—I mean, no! I'm way past that!"
"I could still remember the time when—"
"Stop! Stop! Stop!"
Saito frantically crossed both of his arms as he was slowly being reminded of his first week on Louise's world. That was technically the height of his 'delusion' before he was tempered by the war several months later.
In a sense, living through that 'death battle' forced Saito to mature from his prior self. Hence, the embarrassment whenever someone recounts his cringy acts.
"That was in the past!" He said as his ears turned red from the sheer embarrassment. "I will definitely get my revenge later."
The moment he said those words, it was Louise's turn to blush.
"You… You..!"
Seeing the two 'bicker', Nobu's mouth twitched.
'Was this how we were perceived by others? It's quite the experience, indeed…'
"Hm! Anyways… when will the next calamity arrive?"
"It should be in several months. Saito-san doesn't need to worry. Calamities that cause physical destruction are settled swiftly while the ones affecting the human collective are immediately separated."
"No, no, it's not that. Is there… something we can do?"
"..."
To be honest, Nobu thought that there wasn't any need for more 'reinforcements'. As long as the calamities were settled by the current high-level combatants, the rest could be dealt with by the other magicians and sorcerers.
Nevertheless, it is currently showing signs of overwhelming the available task force. The appearance of lower-leveled "Demons" became more frequent due to the reveal of the supernatural side. It caused enough 'dark thoughts' for such beings to manifest.
That was the main reason why an official supernatural bureau was established in one night. IT gave magicians and the sorcerers to act officially.
"The appearance of demons… those wolves that I dispatched back then became more frequent." Nobu said. "It might affect your current life as a newly-wed, but if Saito-san and Louise-san are willing…"
"We're in."
"Yeah." Saito followed Louise's lead. "There shouldn't be many problems on the other side for now."
Seeing their acceptance, Nobu replied to them.
"If that's the case, I will take the chance to welcome Louise-san and Saito-san to our main headquarters."
The usual introduction to Altair began once again.
*****
After introducing the couple to the airship, I came across Miss Jeanne.
"How does it feel to be offered an entire country?"
"Ah… Sir Galahad."
"The impacts of your actions in history… how does it feel?"
"To be honest… it made me certain that what I did was right."
Miss Jeanne was one of the combatants who focused more on 'defending' the masses. She was one of the personnel who received the least rest, mainly due to her constitution as a materialized heroic spirit.
What I offered back then was similar to the Third True Magic. It worked similarly with Mana Furnaces in a way that one's soul is transformed into something more and more inhuman. In Miss Jeanne's case, she received the benefit of having an independent mana source compared to her previous heroic spirit state.
It was not only her but the entire Knights of the Round Table too. That was the reason why they could go all-out despite 'losing' connection with our King.
"My faith was the one who told me to do the right thing. I could not claim that I fully understood the Lord's intentions. But now… it's different."
Once her identity was revealed, the country that had the most explosive reaction was France. For once, she was treated as a national heroine in that country. Meeting her again was simply a fever dream for the people of that country.
"I'm glad you understood it."
Just then, I felt a 'tug' on the connection that I built beyond this world. A split second later, I focused my mind on it, only to hear a girl's voice.
"That was strange… I have never met that man before. Who is he?"
Seeing the girl attempt some 'chants' and talking to thin air, it felt quite cute.
"I will have to leave for a moment, Miss Jeanne." I said to the French heroine. "If there is something I could do, feel free to call me."
"I see. Good luck on your endeavors, Sir Galahad."
With that, my existence delved deep into the 'Sirius' of that world. Using that as the tunnel, I reached the planet where my second student lived.
"Was it just my hallucination? But that dream felt too life-like…"
I waited for her to sleep before appearing in her dreams. At this moment, this is the most cost-effective way to cross an entire world while hiding my existence. Everything that happened here, including my meeting with IX, was a complete coincidence.
Instead of the dreary landscape, I chose to manifest the field of flowers near the castle where we found the grail.
I sat on the huge boulder I previously sat on before notifying the girl of my existence.
"There's no need to talk on the air. We can properly converse in your dreams."
"Ah?!"
She took some time to recover from her surprise.
"Everything I saw was real..?"
"Down to the monster I killed."
"Really…"
It wasn't as if she didn't believe my words, but she found everything to be too absurd.
"You might be wondering who I am." I said. "Well, you can consider me as a foreigner… or rather, a traveler who faced everything your world did."
"You… You faced something similar to the Sovereigns?"
"Yes."
Thinking of the fourteen calamities as well as the fourteen blades that they possess, I can't help but see a small semblance between the two worlds.
"This journey of yours… What I can offer is my assistance."
"Assistance?"
"For example, the sword that split the Leviathan into two."
"..."
For now, I chose to hide her 'original fate'. It was far too tragic, hence the reason why I am willing to impart her some of my strength.
"Of course, you won't be able to do it with your strength." I said to her. "Even your father's strength wasn't enough to perform it."
"...Did you defeat the sovereigns of your world?" She asked after a slightly long pause.
"Technically, yes."
The future is already set in stone. Aside from the final calamity, the rest were sentenced to their doom.
"Currently, your world is against the sixth calamity. The interval for each appearance is quite long."
From the original future that I saw, each sovereign's descent took decades to occur. It made it so that Izumo was able to technologically advance within eight hundred years. In this world's time measurement, it's around ten Amber Eras.
(A/N: One amber era is approximately 80 years.)
Meaning to say, that was enough time for Mei to grow up.
"I will be giving a training routine. Improvements will be slow, but it should be enough for you to become the inheritor of your father's Edict Edge."
"You even know that..?"
"By that time, I will leave a small gift for you."
Your world's weapons… the Edict Edges might have normal mantras to overclock it.
If that's the case…
I will teach her chants that will invoke a part of history.