Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Recap-11
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"You said you could send me back even tomorrow..."
I knew better than anyone that Pashier was the greatest mage of all.
But I didn't like owing her a debt, and it wouldn't be good if the secret of me being the Hero got out. There was no guarantee that her intervening in the ritual already underway would shorten the time.
Still, if she could hasten my return even a little, that was a problem I could bear.
"That's..."
"If you're just saying that to summon me here, you'll truly... be disappointed."
"Ah, no! There must have been a misunderstanding. I didn't realize you wanted to go back this badly..."
"Isn't that obvious? After all the things you've done to me..."
She looked flustered, but she was happy nonetheless.
It wasn't bad. No matter what she'd done to me, this mage was helpful right now.
Having aligned goals wasn't bad. From how she'd tried to humor me, she must have wanted something from me too, but maybe she'd given up on that now.
"Within ten days..."
"Ten days?"
My expression twisted a little. I'd thought I could go back right away, but it wasn't much different from the time the Emperor had promised.
Considering that this mage operated on a different level from ordinary ones, it was a somewhat disappointing result.
"Th-three days!"
"That's... certainly fast."
Looking into her eyes, I didn't think she'd sabotage a ritual that was nearly complete.
At least, ever since learning I was the Hero, the mage had been afraid of me.
"Y-you really wanted to go back, huh. Hah, I was foolish. Yes, it's been years since you've seen your family and friends, so of course you'd miss them."
"..."
"Didn't I promise to do everything I could for you?"
The mage's smile looked forced and crude, but as long as she kept her word, I could smile too.
Every day was boring, every day was painful.
Now I just wanted to go back. I'd devoted enough to this world.
Staying here longer would only torment the people here—and me.
"I'll prepare as quickly as possible! Right now, even..."
Still, I felt a little relieved. Compared to subjugating the Demon King, this easy life was nothing, but it wasn't happy either.
When had it started? When this world stopped seeming interesting, and I began thinking of each day as something to "endure."
"Wh-what do you mean? Leaving?"
"It's none of your concern, Celia."
The mage coldly cut off the Saintess's words.
"Where are you going that you need the mage's magic? Not to a territory? Is it far?"
"A place we'll never meet again."
"Ah, no..."
I glared at the mage with cold eyes.
"Did you come together?"
"No, she's just an uninvited guest. Celia, go. I'll explain later."
"Ah, no. We can't part like this. We traveled together. We have to meet again and make up..."
I hated it. I hated seeing her. I wished everyone would just leave me alone.
"Reconciliation now, Saintess?"
"N-not right now, but later when you're less angry... M-mage! Take that back right now! Take it back!"
It was laughable. How long did she think we'd traveled together?
If it were anger that would fade with time, I would've tried to reconcile first.
I didn't want to say harsh things, but I had no strength left to choose my words.
"Strange, Saintess. You weren't so scared of me until recently. Has me leaving become something that mustn't happen? Who made you think that?"
I didn't expect her to realize it herself. Even this probably wasn't her true will.
"Th-that's..."
Having hit the mark, the Saintess's voice grew small. She didn't like me enough to yell on my behalf.
"The Goddess, right? Again, again, always the Goddess. The Goddess when killing people, the Goddess when cursing them, the Goddess when condemning them, the Goddess when protecting them."
"...."
Even if her words were sincere, I couldn't give her another chance.
"Go. Before I get angrier."
"I'll definitely make it up to you. I'll apologize until it reaches your heart..."
The Saintess ran off in tears. I closed the door again.
/////
Celia returned to the cathedral alone. Her footsteps felt heavy on the ground.
"You... felt heavy too...?"
She was foolish. Stupid. She, who should serve others from the lowest place, had joined in hurting someone.
He was right. The Saintess had realized her mistake because of the Goddess's guidance.
But he was half wrong. It wasn't a voice in her ears, but the Goddess's emotions she'd scrawled down in desperation.
She should have known. More than what she couldn't bear, he couldn't bear it either. He'd just endured.
"I'm such an idiot..."
She'd never once heard the Goddess's voice. In her impatience, she'd tried every way, and eventually pulled out her old diary.
The crumpled diary from when she was a normal child who couldn't hear the divine voice well.
Unable to get proper paper and pens for her status, she'd written on scraps with dirt that barely left a black mark.
When she wrote her dreams, hopes, and daily life as a child, someone who visited at night would leave warm comfort and sentiments.
Now that she was the Saintess, she knew it was the Goddess, but it had been a long time since she'd written in it.
She was the Saintess who could communicate with the Goddess without such means.
But when she opened the diary again recently, it contained the Goddess's desperate cries.
Emotions of why torment him, pleas to stop, wails—even though the diary was in the cathedral, where she wouldn't see it, the Goddess knew.
For several pages, the divine anger, hatred, resignation, and screams were densely written. As if she couldn't endure without venting them.
And at the end, in a clearly different handwriting, one word was written.
-Hello?
/////
"What in the world are you doing?"
Unlike her cold, composed tone, the Princess's actions were filled with rage.
Pashier scoffed as the Princess grabbed her collar without warning.
"Hah, no respect for your elders now?"
"Let him go. That's an order."
"He's extremely dangerous, little one. Can't you see the bigger picture for once?"
The mage flicked her hand once, escaping the Princess's grip.
"Mana spent on a place like this is such a waste. While answering Elenor here, several seconds have already passed."
The mage stood in a massive underground chamber. She was drawing her own blood to control the changes from her intervention in this magic.
"It's the Emperor's property. You can't just use the Imperial Family's assets..."
"I got permission. Of course, I would've done it without it."
"Why!"
"Because we have to send the Hero back."
Pashier glared at the magic circle for a moment, then finally raised her head.
She didn't want to reinforce the magic circle now with a shaken mind. Every material was precious.
"Um, Great Mage? The priests are calling for you briefly..."
One of the participating mages cautiously called to her. Pashier waved her hand irritably.
"Tell them I'll be there soon. Just tell me what the emotions are, quickly."
"In order: anxiety, fear, hope, victory, gratitude."
Fitting for the reverse-summoning ritual capping the Demon King subjugation, the emotions depicted the Hero's journey.
"Got it. I'll handle my part, so you go back."
"But..."
"Then you convince this woman."
As Pashier pointed lazily at Elenor, the mage bowed deeply and left.
"So, what do you have to say?"
"...It doesn't matter anymore."
"What?"
Elenor turned her back coldly, as if she'd lost interest.
"I trust your eyes. With those eyes, you're not swayed by anyone."
Elenor knew from experience. In that state, Pashier didn't see others as people. Even if she listened, she wouldn't respect thoughts or incorporate opinions.
Everything was just a problem. Her goal was to solve the "problem" of the other not listening, by any means. Expecting dialogue to work was a loss for both—especially for the time-conscious mage.
"Well, if you leave quietly, it's easier for me."
"You never intended to listen to others in the first place."
"Thanks for realizing it quickly. It wasn't worth hearing."
"...You'll pay the price."
"We'll talk later. If I don't draw this magic circle now, we'll lose another day."
Pashier fixed her gaze back on the magic circle, ignoring the departing Elenor. Fatigue and tension gripped her, but a faint smile played on her lips.
Anyway, she had succeeded.
The porter she'd seen as a massive mana bomb was walking back to his homeland on his own.
In the worst case, she'd stake the Empire's survival to calm him, and if impossible, stake everything to send him back.
But that bomb was a dud.
"People's hearts are so fickle. Now that it's come to this, the materials feel wasteful."
The magic materials she'd poured here were expensive, only slightly less so than the Imperial ones.
Her research would be delayed by about twenty years. She'd thought subjugating the Demon King had stocked her well, but she'd end up at a loss.
"Well, can't be helped."
Pashier crushed the blue essence of the ancient golem in her hand and sprinkled the powder onto the magic circle.
Inefficient to spend twenty years for a week, but comparing gains and losses, this was ultimately faster.
Despite all hardships, she had succeeded. In dealing with the Hero.
There was no chance of the magic failing now. She had everyone's permission, and any minor mishaps could be handled by her magic.
Pashier smiled in satisfaction.