Chapter 247
Chapter 247
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 247
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Promise and Necklace
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Right after the Mad Wizard split into thirty pieces and scattered across the world.
The Violet Magic Tower Master who remained in the Holy City and Yuri Lanster finished assessing the situation through the Promise module.
Just as he had said while flying away, his life wasn't in any danger. It was just a hassle to pick up the scattered data fragments, but reconstruction was entirely possible.
"Phew..."
That was enough. The Mad Wizard was a healthy kid who could thrive anywhere he was tossed. He would surely turn all sorts of incidents into gains in the end.
Yuna and Yuri relaxed their shoulders a bit. They were still worried, but there was no need to rush around like their feet were on fire.
Yuri Lanster asked,
"Is there a way to track him?"
"Yeah. I can detect the locations of the scattered pieces. I even know where the main body is right now. Near the Crimson Magic Tower."
"N-Near the Crimson Magic Tower?!"
Yuna bristled up like a cat spotting a cucumber, hissing sharply. Yuri Lanster tilted her head in puzzlement.
"Yuna, is falling into the Crimson Magic Tower that dangerous? I hear the Crimson Tower Master Vermilion is eccentric but loyal to the Empire."
"...That guy's been targeting him! Magically speaking! She might lock him up in a lavish room and force him to eat gourmet food for life while cranking out spells...!"
"I see. In that case, shall we destroy it?"
It seemed the time had come to execute the Crimson Tower demolition operation.
The two women, who could smash most mercenary bands with one hand, began gathering their resolve. Only we can can him like tuna and raise him!
Around the time a concrete plan was forming—Yuna slapping a massive Subtract on the upper levels to sow chaos, while Yuri sneaked in to extract him.
The Promise in the form of a young boy spoke up softly.
"Um, couldn't we just resolve this through talking?"
"No way. From the moment Crimson Tower Master Vermilion first met him, she stared at him with such obsessive eyes...! Like she was eyeing a dragon heart, all sparkly!"
"And come to think of it... There's no zero chance he could charm another guy or girl in that short time. Even if not the Crimson Tower Master, he could get locked up by some Crimson Tower mage."
"Hmm... For now, leave it to me. I'll talk to them."
With Yuna's help, Promise contacted the Crimson Tower.
"Long time no see, Vermilion."
-You're two people now?
"Circumstances. The main body that came your way has no past memories. So, no old stories, please. I'm counting on you. Got it?"
-Of course. I was a bit disappointed about the amnesia, but now we can reminisce with old tales. So, still haven't recovered your name?
Through research collaboration negotiations laced with nostalgia, things worked out without touching the main body.
If the Mad Wizard stayed at the Crimson Tower, his safety would be assured. Rather than rushing to retrieve him, they prioritized restoring order in the Holy City.
The Holy City was in utter chaos from the chain of events. Tara was handling tasks half-mechanically, but she was clearly distraught over Bennett and Niore's disappearances.
If key forces like Yuna and Yuri left now, it could spiral back into the worst-case scenario.
This was the Divine Punishment the Mad Wizard had barely averted. They needed to tie up loose ends firmly now to avoid aftermath.
The two pushed forward efficiently.
"First... We should start by putting the Reformists in charge. Fill the Cardinals' vacuum and exert influence over the Pope."
"And we need to overhaul the system too. If Tara's okay with it, reinstate her as the Saintess... But what about the Hero? All candidates flew the coop."
"Ah, about that. There's one Hero candidate who wasn't chased off and stayed."
"...Ah, yeah. Sounds useful. Shall we appoint him temporarily?"
And so.
Pin, who was packing to head back to his hometown, got nabbed by the scruff by Yuri Lanster. Pale-faced at the 'temporary Hero' title thrust upon him like a pickpocket's mark, he asked,
"Me, a Hero? Why?"
"Shall I tell you honestly, or give the official justification?"
"I-It doesn't make sense! I'm no Hero material, and I don't even want to...!"
"The reason you must obey me and become a Hero is because you're weaker than I am. Do it."
"...!!!!"
How could a frail mercenary defy an order from a former imperial agent who had ascended to legend? Pin nodded with the world's most aggrieved and sorrowful expression.
"Waaaaah—!! Hero Pin! Hero Pin!"
"I-I'm not qualified for Hero, I'm only temporary...!"
"The true Hero of this era, Pin, humble to boot! Long live!!"
"Temporary, I'm temporary—!!"
He became a Hero, choking back tears like mustard down the throat.
After wrapping up the most critical Mad Wizard issue for the moment, Yuna and Yuri held a meeting with Promise. They set out warm tea and snacks on a round table and sat encircling the boy Mima, observing him.
Young. The form of a young boy.
His face still round and baby-fat cheeks unpuffed. You could spot traces of Mima if you looked closely, but the more you stared, the more he seemed like someone else.
His expression.
That signature warm smile completely flipped his features 180 degrees.
Who knew that body could make such a face. Should note it down and make Mima try it later. Pinbalrez suppressed her wicked thoughts and asked seriously,
"So... What are you?"
"A module."
"We know about modules. But I've never seen or heard of you. I'll ask again. What are you?"
"Hmm..."
The boy propped his chin, pondered briefly, then judged it safe to tell them. Yuna and Yuri loved the main body. No doubt there.
It might even help. The boy reminisced.
The incident in Sangebi Village, the malevolent presence haunting it, the choice made to escape forced fate. Sealing 'that' within himself.
He'd known the side effects from the start.
"The malignancy seeping into my heart was inevitable. My personality would gradually change, and in the worst case... I thought I might become something like Evil God-chan."
"......"
"I'm the Promise I made with myself to prepare for that worst case. If, someday... I forgot the vow from the rooftop and became a being spreading evil across the world. To kill myself."
Self-Destruct Device.
Thus, he was created from his most perfect 'goodness' act. Sensitive to malignancy, ready to act decisively if the main body crossed the line.
Yuna and Yuri reacted simultaneously.
Yuna gathered a Subtract in her palm, glaring at the boy. If this was the bomb around his neck, erasing it now might be safer.
Yuri Lanster subtly amassed mana while restraining Yuna. If Promise was an emergency self-destruct, why reveal itself?
"Why reveal yourself? I don't understand your intent. You must have known how the Tower Master would react."
"Yeah. But... Even so, I wanted to express my thanks. Back then, 'I' was honestly pessimistic. I figured I'd get swept up in the malignancy and fully corrupt eventually."
No matter the path, the odds of him enduring without falling were in the decimal percentages. And reaching a 'happy ending' even lower.
That was the calculation from his intellect, which once felt it could compute the whole world—before 'that' tied up his processing power.
But now.
"He still hasn't fallen, balancing on the tightrope between black and white. That's... thanks to you two. The love you gave him meant a lot."
"......"
"Thanks for loving 'me.' Take care of me from now on too!"
Promise beamed, conveying his gratitude.
It was a strange feeling. That their love... had saved their loved one. Yuna flustered with a faintly flushed face, while Yuri showed no outward sign—but added twenty items to her 'things to do when Mima returns' list.
Yuna and Yuri exchanged glances, smiled, and nodded. Then.
Thud.
"Huh."
Clink.
"Wh-What...?"
They restrained the Promise module simultaneously.
"Um, girls...? What does this mean?"
Promise looked up at the two, flailing his short limbs, but Yuna and Yuri gazed down with cold expressions.
"That was touching, but it doesn't change that you're Mima's self-destruct button."
"Now we'll shower him with tons... of love. So, don't you become... unnecessary?"
"Of course, we won't erase you completely. We know you're serving as the seal for 'that' too."
"B-But. We have to remove your Self-Destruct Device function. Even if he made it himself, we can't let him live with that...!"
The Promise module mumbled in distress.
"This is just going to be a hassle for no reason..."
And it was, exactly.
Actually using Subtract risked damaging something else important besides the module—impossible.
So, like how Mima custom-edited Evil God-chan, they had to remodel Promise with pure Illusion Magic skill.
Promise, delegated most processing power, had defenses so airtight there wasn't a single chink. Rather.
"Ah, when bypassing the mental barrier... It's better to control this part more delicately. I'll remake it, so want to practice once more?"
"Th-This brat...! So infuriating...!!"
"Yuna, deep breaths. Your opponent's basically full-strength Mima. Losing to the strong isn't shameful."
"I-I've reached Sublimation, I'm a Grand Mage?! Why won't you crumble to bits...?!"
After five hours of trials, Yuna collapsed first, marking the failure of Operation Bomb Defusal Phase 1.
A pair of eyes tracked the toddling boy Mima with his short legs. Sharp pupils. It was Evil God-chan.
Having watched the past few days' commotion indifferently, Evil God-chan thought anew: Mima really was the Mad Wizard.
"...He even shoved a Gingo-a into his own head."
A self-destruct device, huh.
Evil God-chan scowled deeply. She couldn't understand.
What was worth protecting so desperately? Death ends everything.
Even if it meant enjoying some mischief... Isn't living and moving around way better? How heavy could morals and convictions be?
And sure, everyone calls it 'malignancy'—but people hurt people, harm other lives. It's natural. Being bound by that pointless morality is frustrating and annoying.
She knew from experience that helping others and getting praise released massive dopamine...
"......"
Thinking about it, it was the same.
Evil God-chan filled with Gingo-a, Mima filled with Promise.
Both living fine until something weird got jammed in their heads. Mima sealed malignancy, Evil God-chan goodness. So alike, yet the resulting shadows differed.
The Mad Wizard had chosen his path. He hesitated and fussed, but seemed to know exactly what to do.
What about her?
She didn't know. She'd always thought to seduce Mima, awaken 'that,' and return to her true body. But that was inertia, not a firm resolve.
Not that she'd fully convert either. What was cute about Mima that she'd do good deeds for him? Imagining herself spreading kindness made her skin crawl.
If escaping Mima, now was the chance. He'd weakened massively, and no one was paying her much attention.
Yet she dawdled. Unsure what to do.
"...Damn it."
Evil God-chan ruffled her hair wildly.
She still hadn't decided what to become.