Inside the ward in front of the church. After Sechs confirmed that Kaito
had passed through his ward, he stopped fighting and clapped his
hands several times.
[Good gracious, I guess we lost. Everyone, I thank you for going along
with my selfishness. Those of you who can use Recovery Magic, please
heal those who were injured.]
[...]
Lilia and the others looked a little confused when Sechs quickly
admitted defeat and ordered the gathered Demons to stop battling as
soon as Kaito passed through, but only Shea pulled back her scythe
without looking surprised.
[…It's hard acting as the "villain", isn't it, Great Sage of the Dead?]
[Hohoho, good gracious, it's the duty of the elders to push the back of
the youth… Did I go too far?]
[I dunno. Well, you acted really bad though.]
[Oya oya, that's harsh of you.]
When Sechs said that with a leisurely smile on his face, Shea told him
such with a faint smile on her face.
It was as if Sechs' actions earlier had all been an act…
[Regardless of whether it's for good or bad, becoming someone's family
makes them close to you… Because of this, things can sometimes be
difficult. I will also have to thank Miyama-dono later.]
[It's still too soon to tell, isn't it?]
[No, I'm sure that Miyama-dono will be able to pull it off… Neun-dono
seems to have actually come to her senses… I guess there is some merit
for my pitiful act. Good gracious, I also have to thank you, God of
Disasters, for your "cooperation".]
[…I don't know what you're talking about.]
[Surely, you jest… If you had fought seriously, you could have
neutralized us in an instant, couldn't you?]
[…Tsk.]
When Sechs bowed his head to her, Shea clicked her tongue with a
sincerely troubled look on her face. However, she didn't deny his words.
It seems she was really holding back in the fight.
[I'm just grateful for your compassion.]
[…Don't get me wrong. I certainly am a compassionate Goddess. I
respond to those who seek help… but I'm not so good-natured as to go
out of my way to save a big idiot who doesn't even ask for help. The only
reason I helped… was because that human asked me to "help him"…To
begin with, the reason I saved "those three" was all because of that
softhearted person.]
[I see.]
[…Well, in the end… It's kind of irritating that even that is "just as that
fellow had expected"…]
[Ahh, I knew that was the case…]
After telling him that she had no intention of getting involved in this
matter in the first place if Kaito hadn't asked for help, Shea spoke about
how someone pulled some strings for this situation to occur.
Sechs seemed to know that too, and nodded without looking
particularly surprised.
[…To begin with, the situation we're in is just too convenient. The
information that my favorite brand would release a new product today
reaching the God Realm, and the location of its launch being
conveniently near here… Then, the depressed Kaito, after being faced
with the antagonism of his friend for the first time, just happened to
walk by.]
[That's right. I'm sure it's easy for that person to get the information to
me. In addition, the perfectly-timed reinforcements… One of them is
even the King of another country.]
[…That's just a misunderstanding.]
[ [ Mhmm? ] ]
As Shea and Sechs talk about the existence that had pulled the strings
in the shadows, the topic of conversation appeared beside them.
A special hood making her face not visible and a multitude of chains
dangling on her robe adorned her body…
[…Phantasmal King, No Face… As I thought, it's you.]
[If it isn't Phantasmal King-sama… And, what were we
misunderstanding?]
[No, no. First of all, you see, the major premise for that not being the
case is that… Hikari-san and Vier-san are both "insignificant people" for
me. Ahh, please don't misunderstand. I certainly have some affection
for them… But well, it's only to the extent that even if they ask my help,
I might only make things slightly advantageous for them.]
As the sound of the chains on her robe echoed, No Face nonchalantly
spoke.
[…There is only one person I would unconditionally side with, not
caring about advantages and disadvantages, and that is Kaito-san.
That's why I didn't prepare this stage to save four people… However,
isn't it obvious that…"I would prepare the stage that would have the
best outcome for Kaito-san"? Everything is for Kaito-san's sake~~]
[…Well, I suppose so. If that wasn't the case, you would have done
something about this a long time ago…]
[Yes, that's right. If I wanted to do something about those three's
relationship, I could have done it before. I just didn't feel like it though.
Well, I owe Kuro-san a debt of gratitude too, so I'm glad that it turned
out this way.]
[…Putting aside the Great Sage of the Dead, you're also quite hasty in
your thinking, aren't you, Phantasmal King? We're still not sure what
the outcome will be yet, right?]
When No Face told her that she is only moving for Kaito's sake, Shea
quietly spoke her thoughts.
However, No Face easily denied Shea's words.
[No, it's already decided… At the very least, it's already confirmed that
Vier will meet with Kuro.]
[…Hohhh, why is that? Excuse my discourtesy, but would you please tell
me what you're basing this on?]
[Yes, the reason is actually simple… If Kaito-san just uses his "trump
card", he's already won.]
[Trump card, is it? Does he have such a thing?]
[Yes. You could say that I might've even saved Sechs-san's life~~ After
all, if Sechs-san had pushed Kaito-san too hard and made him use his
trump card… I don't think that even you would be able to ensure
everyone's safety, you know?]
[For his trump card to be that powe——– Wha!?]
[This is…]
Shea and Sechs looked skeptical as No Face talked about how powerful
the trump card Kaito possessed was but… those thoughts immediately
disappeared.
They felt a tremendous torrent of magic power gushing even through
the ward.
[This is impossible! What is this magic power…]
[C- Could this be… Miyama-dono's trump card… Guhh!? Ju- Just a
fragment of this magic power feels like it would be able to crush me…]
[U- Unbelievable… The grade of this magic power is comparable to
Shallow Vernal-sama… Other than Underworld King… H- How can such
a monster exist!?]
[Oya? I see Shea-san doesn't know about her huh… That should mean
that the Supreme Gods also don't know about her. Well, anyway… You
should understand now, right? As long as this being is on Kaito-san's
side, there's no way that Vier-san can win.]
With the appearance of Eden-san, Dr. Vier moved immediately.
Realizing in an instant that she was no match for Eden-san, she escaped
as fast as she could.
However…
[Disrespect.]
[Gahh… Aahh… can't move…]
As Eden-san muttered a few words, Dr. Vier's body unnaturally stopped
with her posture looking like she's trying to run.
Yes, Dr. Vier decided that she couldn't win against Eden-san and that
she was no match for her, so she tried to run away… but she was
mistaken to think she could.
Once Eden-san showed up, there was no way for Dr. Vier to even fight
anymore.
[…Eden-san. Can you "forcibly teleport Dr. Vier, Neun-san and I to
where Kuro is"?]
[Easy.]
The main reason why I considered Eden-san as my trump card… is
because I remembered how she forcibly teleported Alice when they
fought before.
So, I asked Eden-san if she could teleport Dr. Vier, regardless of her
intentions, without hurting her, and Eden-san said that it's easy.
[…Dr. Vier. I'm sorry for being forceful like this. I'll listen to your
complaints as much as you want later. Eden-san, please!]
[Acknowledged.]
With my words as a key, a flash of light shot out from Eden-san's wings
and the scenery around us instantly changed.
What should have been a church turned into a small hill where the
gentle breeze could be felt… And there stood the person we were
looking for.
A sword was stuck in front of a huge stone monument and Kuro was
standing in front of it, looking at the stone monument. Now then…
Where am I?
[…Could this place be…]
[Neun-san?]
[This is where the Demon Lord's castle used to be, and where the
Treaty of Friendship was signed. For me, and for Vier… This is the place
where the battle began and ended… The place that is now called the
"Hero's Hill". H- However, why is Kuromu-sama here…]
I see, this is… the place that Lilia-san told me about. This is where
Neun-san's message and her beloved katana were placed huh.
This place may certainly be appropriate for our current situation, but
why would Kuro be here at this time?
As these questions came to mind, Kuro spoke without looking back
towards us.
[…Kaito-kun, Neun, and Sechs… I know that everyone is moving around.
That's why I've decided to wait here. I believe in Kaito-kun after all… I
thought it would be best to wait here and not do anything else.]
After calmly telling me this, Kuro looked towards us.
I don't know if Eden-san's magical restraints are still in place, but Dr.
Vier wasn't moving. No, she may be unable to move… but I knew that
she looked very pale and was slightly shaking.
[…It's been a while, Vier.]
[…Kuro… mu… -sama…]
I've done all I could for this moment to happen. I still don't know what
the outcome of their meeting will be… But even if that's so, Kuro and Dr.
Vier, at this moment… for the first time in a thousand years, they met
again.