A Brief Respite
THOOOM—!!
A peal of thunder rolled across the Sea of Souls, a place that had always been silent. It was as if lightning itself had erupted from the depths of the ocean and stabbed toward the sky.
"Ahahahaha!!"
THOOOM-KRAAANG—!!
Joyful laughter carried from the pirate ship floating far out on the water. Kenelm stood on the sandy shore, watching the scene with a soft, contented smile.
The octopus being riddled with lightning bolts was the demon she had dragged here—Nurgle. Ordinarily she would simply have killed him, but a mischievous idea had struck her, and she had put it into practice on the spot. The result was unfolding before her eyes.
One could even call it a surprise event prepared for the Great One.
The Great One looks so happy. I'm glad.
"Uwahahaha!! Fire! Fire again!!"
His laughter rang so freely that it seemed to fill every corner of the Sea of Souls. Guiding the Great One's actions in this fashion from now on, she thought, would be a fine approach.
"Hhh… hhaa… hhaaa…"
Shaaaaa—
Nurgle's body, riddled with holes like a honeycomb, gradually fell still. The pitch-black waters of the Sea of Souls—darker even than muddy sludge—began to reclaim their original color, little by little.
The water brightened, then began to radiate a brilliant, mysterious light, as though it were a jewel that held the entire cosmos within it. Countless galaxies and stars seemed to have fallen into the sea, creating a landscape of pure wonder.
This was the true form of the Sea of Souls.
It was the wellspring of power the Great One was meant to command by right. The more the sea was purified, the greater the range of interventions Kenelm would be able to perform by borrowing His strength.
"Huum—"
Kenelm watched in silence, then let out a meaningful sigh. The restored region was fairly wide, yet compared to the whole of the sea it was still nothing more than the tip of an iceberg.
Even so, Nurgle had been a reasonably powerful demon; that was why this much of the sea had been cleansed.
The pirate ship that had defeated him turned its prow with proud dignity and began sailing back toward the shore.
Kenelm sent everyone except the Great One back out of the Sea of Souls.
The others had been able to take part in this amusement only because the sea itself had served as the medium.
The sea was like a root—an immense root shared by every sentient being. It lay so deep that almost no one ever grasped its true nature.
Dreams are nothing more than dipping one's toes into the shallows of that sea.
To the others, the whole affair would remain nothing more than a fleeting, insubstantial dream.
Like a sandcastle erased without a trace the moment a wave crashes over it, the memory would be swept away by the current of time.
"Whoa, that was fun."
The Great One stepped down from the pirate ship. His body was filled with radiant starlight.
Kenelm smiled brightly and walked toward him at an unhurried pace. He, too, would remember this as nothing more than a momentary dream.
For now.
The time was not yet ripe.
Chirp— chirp-chirp—
Birdsong reached her ears. Bright sunlight fell across her face, and she blinked her eyes open. Her hair stuck out in every direction, giving her the look of a fierce lion.
"Mmm…"
Kenis sat up blearily and stared into space, trying to recall the dream she had just had.
It had felt like something tremendous and incredible… yet the details refused to come. She could not be certain, but she thought she had gone on a chaotic, pulse-pounding adventure.
"Aah…!"
She stretched hard, and her ample chest asserted its presence with aggressive enthusiasm. Still shaking off the lingering drowsiness, Kenis suddenly looked out the window.
Adventurers hurried back and forth. A mother and daughter walked hand in hand with gentle affection. Elderly folk sat comfortably, basking in the sunlight…
It was an ordinary, peaceful midday scene—exactly as it always was.
…Huh?
Kenis bolted to the window and thrust her head outside. Her hair flared in every direction, but that was the least of her worries!
I'm late!
The sun hung high overhead. She dashed out of the room, slapped water onto her hair to flatten it roughly, and began washing at top speed.
With nearly superhuman efficiency she finished bathing, threw on her clothes, and burst out of the inn. They had agreed to meet for lunch—she was far too late.
She cut swiftly across the crowded main avenue. Everyone she passed greeted her in their own way.
"Hero! Good morning!"
"Morning to you too, Dave!"
The little alley boss shyly offered her a roadside flower.
"Oh my, Hero. You're a bit late today, aren't you?"
"Ahaha… I must have stayed up too late last night."
Mrs. Exia, who baked excellent apple pies, greeted her at a leisurely pace.
"My lady Hero! Have a bite of this before you go! I got an absolute beauty in today—it's free!"
"Ugh…! Later!"
Kenis returned every greeting with warm kindness even as she quickened her steps. Please, please don't let me be too late…!
They had promised to meet in front of the fountain that people in the Holy City also called the Plaza of Meetings. The moment the fountain came into view, Kenis paused long enough to smooth her hair with both hands.
She checked several more times to make sure nothing was sticking up, then hurried on.
"Haa…"
There she was, standing in front of the fountain.
Because Kenis was late, the girl kept sighing and glancing around in every direction.
The sight sparked a sudden mischievous impulse. Kenis killed every trace of her presence and crept slowly up behind her.
Very slowly…
Her target still noticed nothing.
Even more slowly, even more quietly…
When the distance had closed enough—
"Wack!"
"Kyaaaaah!"
She let out a sudden shout and startled her. Exactly as Kenis had intended, the other girl leapt into the air with a shriek of pure terror.
Kenis burst into delighted laughter.
"Pffft! Don't you think you're overreacting a little?"
"Ke-Kenis…?"
Priestess Ruel spun around, her big eyes already brimming. She had been so thoroughly frightened that tears welled up at once.
Now it was Kenis's turn to panic; she immediately began trying to soothe her.
"Uh, uh? Ruel, don't cry, okay? I'm sorry."
"U-uuh…"
Looking as though she were about to burst into sobs, Ruel spread both arms and threw herself into Kenis's embrace. Having been the one at fault, Kenis had no choice but to hold her close and gently pat her head.
Ruel buried her face in Kenis's chest and rubbed back and forth, wiping her tears.
"Huuuh… You scared me…"
"I'm really sorry. I didn't think you'd jump that hard."
"Please don't ever do that again…"
"Okay, okay. No more tears now."
After a while Ruel calmed down enough to look up at her.
"Kenis, have you eaten anything yet?"
"Hmm, no? Not yet."
She had only just woken up; food had been the furthest thing from her mind.
Ruel puffed out a little snort of air and planted her hands on her hips, clearly proud of the restaurant she had scouted.
"Then! I found a really good place! We're having lunch there today!"
"Shall we?"
Ruel marched ahead with brisk, determined steps, and Kenis followed. Conversation never once lagged between them.
Mostly it was Ruel talking and Kenis responding.
When they passed through the noisy market district, Kenis took Ruel's hand so the smaller girl would not be swept away by the crowd and get lost.
"So anyway! Lately Great Priest Antonio has started writing the scriptures again—!"
"Wow, really?"
While answering the excited chatter of the girl whose hand she held so tightly, Kenis turned her head.
Clack— clack—
The light, cheerful sound of wooden clogs.
"Hm?"
Someone brushed past Kenis's side, leaving behind an unusual scent. It was something like the fresh smell of grass.
The scent of rain-soaked earth, the musk of unnamed wild animals, the smell of leaves chewed by insects—all of it mixed together into something that felt exactly like…
The kind of smell you'd find in a forest…?
Whoever had passed her vanished into the throng, but Kenis rose onto her tiptoes and scanned the crowd, turning her head this way and that.
She searched with sharp eyes, yet found nothing. For a moment she considered simply chasing after the scent, then shook her head.
No need to go that far.
It was not the distinctive, unsettling aura of a demon—just someone with an unusual body odor. People from every nation gathered here; anything was possible.
When Kenis kept looking around, Ruel tilted her head and asked,
"What's wrong? Did someone you know just walk by?"
"Mm, no. I thought it might be someone I knew, but it wasn't."
"Really? Then hurry up! We're going to be late!"
At Ruel's urging, Kenis picked up her pace a little. Following the girl's lead, they wound through one narrow alley after another for quite some time.
The restaurant Ruel had chosen was a tiny establishment tucked deep inside the maze of back streets.
It was so old and worn that one had to wonder how anyone ever found it. The lettering on the sign had been scoured away by wind and rain until only faint traces remained; a blurred drawing of meat was the only clue that the place served food.
Clink—
The door opened smoothly, without so much as a creak. Clearly someone kept it well oiled.
"Grandpa! I'm here!"
Ruel had clearly visited several times already; she called out cheerfully to the owner as she stepped inside.
"Eh? Is that my little poop-puppy Ruel?"
"Heehee. Look who I brought with me!"
A moment later an old man who was clearly the proprietor emerged from the back. Deep wrinkles carved by the years and a pair of crinkled, smiling eyes left a strong impression.
"Hello."
"Oh my, if it isn't the Hero herself. For someone so distinguished to visit a shabby place like this…"
"Oh, no, not at all."
"Grandpa, I told you! I really am friends with Kenis!"
"So you truly are friends with the Hero? Well then, my little poop-puppy Ruel—want a little snack?"
Ruel stood in front of the old man, puffed out a sharp little snort, and folded her arms. The owner found her utterly adorable and rummaged around until he produced a treat, which he handed over.
"Waaah—! Thank you, Grandpa!"
"Ha, haha…"
Having more or less figured out the situation, Kenis gave an awkward little laugh. She had wondered why Ruel of all people was recommending a restaurant; apparently the girl had made some sort of bet with the old man.
Kenis quietly took a seat and glanced over the menu.
After playing with Ruel for a bit, the owner approached her.
"Hero, this place may be old and rundown, but would you allow this old man to treat you to a dish he is confident in?"
"I would be very grateful if you did."
The old man disappeared into the kitchen to cook. Before long a mouth-watering aroma filled the entire shop.
Given how ancient and humble the establishment looked, its owner was clearly a man of no ordinary skill.
"Wow—that smells amazing. Ruel, how did you even find this place?"
"Heehee. A little while ago the Paladin told me it was delicious! He said I should bring you here sometime!"
"The Paladin? Paladin Demonic?"
"Yes!"
"Hmm… is that so?"
Her father—still someone she felt rather awkward around—had recommended this very shop, and specifically told Ruel to come with her.
Kenis wondered for a moment whether something was going on, then let the thought go.
"Here you are, Hero. And you too, little poop-puppy. Food's ready."
"Wow…"
"Waaah—"
The delicious-looking dishes were more than enough to stop her thoughts in their tracks.