The Aftermath (Camelia's Perspective)
The news of the Heavenly Demon's death spread like wildfire. It was framed as him fighting mysterious enemies, using a great sealing technique to evacuate innocent civilians, only to fall victim to a cowardly trick in the end. Because of that report, all our comrades decided to gather in the Imperial Capital.
Werner still hadn't woken up since that day. Even though the Heavenly Demon had absorbed the side effects of the Grand Magic, the backlash from casting it had accumulated in his body. On top of that, his wounds from other battles had worsened, leaving him hovering on the brink of death. If Melissa—Glacia's mother and my close friend—hadn't arrived in time and used her shamanic arts to heal him, he might not have made it.
Thanks to the healing shamanism, Werner's body had temporarily shrunk and regressed, so he now slept looking exactly like he did when we first met.
"You idiot. Don't tell me you used Ars Magia when you can't even cast normal Grand Magic anymore? And you just let him do it?"
"There wasn't time to think about that. I just figured it was better if we all died together..."
Slap!
Her hand struck my right cheek with a burning sting.
"Huh...?"
"You brain-dead moron! Do you even know what that spell is? It's a magic that stacks Grand Magic of every element to amplify the repulsion reaction and make it explode! If the Heavenly Demon hadn't absorbed it, you would've died instantly!"
I hadn't known. I'd just assumed it was one of the Grand Magics Werner used. Even if I had known...
"You didn't stop him even though he wanted to die? Haah... I really have nothing to say to you."
"Is Werner going to be okay...?"
"For now, I've used multiple layers of shamanism to temporarily shrink and dedifferentiate his body, amplifying the healing effect and boosting his recovery. All that's left is to pray to the gods... If Media were fine, she'd have fixed him in five minutes, but..."
Healing shamanism wasn't her specialty. If Media, who excelled at healing, detoxification, and curse removal, had been here, things would have been different. But she was currently unconscious for unknown reasons and sealed inside a special magical tool.
"The Black Round Table... I thought they were just some group of heretics, but no matter how I look at it, they're no ordinary organization. We have to assume their power surpasses ours."
Melissa bit her nails hard. It was a habit that only appeared when she was truly anxious.
"The Heavenly Demon was one of the strongest among us. If they killed him... there must be those whose skill easily exceeds ours as well."
I couldn't bring myself to say that the person in question was my father. I couldn't tell them I was the daughter of the man who had killed our comrade. No... that man was no longer my father. So... I wouldn't say anything.
"No matter what anyone says, I'm going to annihilate the Black Round Table. Anyone who tries to stop me will die too. I'll gather my entire clan and declare war."
"Melissa..."
The woman who always kept a smile on her face and maintained a relaxed demeanor was now seething with rage, her pupils sharp as blades.
"Calm down a little and think rationally. This isn't something you can solve with such a reckless mindset..."
"Rational...?"
Melissa grabbed me by the collar. She had even forgotten to hide the fangs she usually concealed.
"They stole the meaning of life from my comrade! They killed my comrade! And you expect me to stay rational? Anyone who could stay rational in this situation is the abnormal one!"
Melissa started shaking me by the collar.
"The youngest can't use the Grand Magic he was so proud of anymore! We can never hear the Heavenly Demon's lectures again! And you're telling me to stay rational? If that's what you call rational... then I'll gladly be the biggest idiot in the world."
The situation was spiraling out of control, beyond the point of no return.
"You're awfully quick to talk about staying rational when a comrade is dead. Thanks to you, I've made up my mind. I can't tell you how grateful I am."
She spat out those incomprehensible words and vanished, transforming into a blood-red mist.
Squar's condition was terrible. Ever since hearing that the Heavenly Demon had died, she hadn't eaten, drunk, or even slept. Her once glossy hair had become dry and brittle, and her beautiful eyes were bloodshot, giving her an almost terrifying appearance.
When I opened the door and entered, she looked at me and said,
"It's you, Heavenly Demon... right...?"
I had no idea how many times she'd greeted me with that tragic question already.
"Unfortunately, it's me."
"Haha... right...? No matter how strong the Heavenly Demon is, if he's hurt, it'd be hard for him to come straight here... right...? So when is he getting better...?"
"Squar... the Heavenly Demon is dead."
At that, even Squar grabbed me by the collar. I didn't know why everyone was so eager to grab my collar, but I had to calm her down.
"Calm down a little."
"Aah... it's my fault... it's all my fault... because of me..."
She was crying. The woman who had always maintained her dignified and alluring beauty was collapsing.
"Do you want to hear the Heavenly Demon's last words...?"
"He resented me, didn't he...? He blamed me for causing his death, right...?"
"He said he was happy to have a best friend like you, and after hearing his will, he asked you not to cry anymore."
"What...?"
The Heavenly Demon had worried about Squar until the very end. To him, she was the only friend he could open his heart to.
"That idiot... worrying about me until the end..."
"So get up. Stop sniveling like that."
It was almost time for the leader's summons.
"Wash your face before we go to the strategy meeting."
I took her to the bathroom and helped her wash her face. I really couldn't tell who was supposed to be the older one here.
"There, all clean~"
It seemed like raising a child later wouldn't be too difficult. Being with this party's comrades was no different from childcare anyway.
In the grand conference room, I entered with Squar, who had finished washing up. The leader sat at the head of the table in his usual manner, silently radiating dignity. Just the aura he gave off was on par with my father's.
"It seems everyone has finally gathered. No, not quite everyone."
The fallen Werner, Media who was unconscious and sealed in a magical tool, and... the deceased Heavenly Demon... There were quite a few comrades who couldn't make it here.
I sat down next to Ricardo with Squar. In the somehow ominous atmosphere, both Melissa and Melchior wore expressions that suggested they had made up their minds.
"As you all know, the Heavenly Demon is dead."
At the leader's words, Squar raised her hand and said,
"Wasn't this investigation originally supposed to be handled by you and me? The Heavenly Demon and I were supposed to do the additional search. So why did the Heavenly Demon suddenly take on that role...?"
Now that I thought about it, something felt off, so I too sent the leader a suspicious look. Ricardo did the same.
"Are you suspecting me...? Well, there's no need for pointless misunderstandings. The Heavenly Demon volunteered for the role himself."
"You expect us to believe that?"
"If you weren't going to believe it, there was no point in asking. The Heavenly Demon said he had something he wanted to confirm and asked me to switch roles with him. Whether you believe it or not is up to you."
"Shut up! When you think about how Werner ended up like that, it's your fault too! So what's with that attitude like you have no responsibility at all! Don't you feel even a little sad about the Heavenly Demon's death?!!"
"Ha... 'I don't get angry,' huh..."
The leader slammed his hand down on the conference table. The table, easily over ten meters long, turned to dust and vanished.
"Say whatever you want. It's true that what happened to that child is my fault, and it's regrettable. But the topic right now is the Heavenly Demon. Why do you keep trying to derail the subject with emotional talk?"
"Psycho bastard..."
"...Calling me a psycho already is problematic."
The relationship between Squar and the leader was rapidly deteriorating to its worst. And they weren't the only ones.
Melchior raised his hand and spoke in a voice thick with killing intent.
"From our investigation, there are nations cooperating with the Black Round Table, and even local lords being used almost like their pawns."
Then Ricardo cautiously raised his hand and replied,
"Finding accomplices is important, but... right now, the crucial thing is how we should overcome the current situation..."
"That's exactly what we're discussing. Obviously, it's war. Anyone who offered even a single bean to the Black Round Table will be annihilated."
"You crazy bastard! Don't throw around the word 'war' so lightly! Think about the chaos and aftermath that war would bring! What do you think war is, some bandit extermination?!!!!"
"Hmm, I always thought that since you're the descendant of the family that killed our mother and father based on circumstantial evidence alone... you'd enjoy slaughter. Guess you don't? Though who knows about your children."
"You son of a bitch!!!"
With the Heavenly Demon, Werner, and Media—who always mediated these stupid fights—gone, the relationship between these two had also reached its worst point.
"Melissa, try to stop them a bit."
"Why?"
I couldn't understand the genuine question in her eyes. If things continued like this, catastrophe was certain. She couldn't possibly be unaware of that.
"The vampire clan is planning to participate in that war too, right? We need to thoroughly clean up both the Black Round Table and the insects cooperating with them."
"Melissa!"
"Why are you fighting? Shall we resume what we left unfinished last time?"
The leader, who had been silently watching the fight, let out a sigh and said,
"It seems we've reached a conclusion. It looks like we cannot understand each other."
He stood up abruptly and delivered a cold verdict.
"As of today, I suggest we disband this party."
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
Squar shot up in shock as well. One of the party's goals had been to find a way to heal Media. Disbanding the party would mean...
"We're giving up on Saint Media."