Chapter 258: Recall (10)
“……Ah.”
Berenistella suddenly stopped walking.
“I nearly forgot to leave these words behind.”
She muttered that softly while gazing steadily at Talia.
“I will deal with the matter immediately and return to this place. So it would be best if you do not even think of leaving your spot or entertaining any useless ideas.”
“……Useless ideas?”
“Our conversation is not finished yet.”
Berenistella murmured in a low voice.
“I am merely leaving for a moment because of this child’s request. Do not forget that our conversation ended only with you revealing your circumstances… and that nothing has yet borne any result.”
“Ahaha.”
Talia let out a small laugh.
Then, with her tension eased, she spoke in a voice tinged with amusement.
“What other thoughts could I possibly have right now?”
“Do you think I have already forgotten how countless Demons, myself included, were toyed with and knocked down by your schemes?”
“…….”
At Berenistella’s interrogating tone, Talia shrugged.
“……You’ve changed a lot, haven’t you?”
“Are you trying to steer the conversation elsewhere again?”
“It’s not like that. I’m really saying this sincerely.”
Even as she spoke, Talia nodded as if she herself could hardly believe it.
“If the you from the past saw this, you would probably snort and tell me not to talk nonsense. Leaving in the middle of a discussion about saving humans and the Capital of the Empire just to help someone.”
At her words, Berenistella flinched for a moment before responding.
“……Even if your character is twisted, at least speak properly. This is not for humans—it is for my Disciple.”
“But that’s basically the same thing, isn’t it?”
“…….”
A faint smile appeared on Talia’s lips.
Berenistella seemed visibly dissatisfied with her relaxed attitude.
“Yes, I understand well enough. I know what you’re trying to say to me right now. But think about it. In this situation, why would I have any reason to play tricks on you?”
“If it were you, you would do it and more. Did you not even stage your own funeral and use it as part of a strategy?”
“Ah, that’s quite a nostalgic story.”
Talia gave a bitter smile.
“But it’s true. If anything, I’m the one who regrets that our conversation ended before it could reach its conclusion.”
“…….”
Even at her complaint, Berenistella’s suspicious gaze did not soften.
Faced with such open doubt, Talia finally let out a sigh and spoke.
“Hmm, so what you want is something like this, right?”
Soon, Talia chuckled quietly.
After distorting her face exaggeratedly and letting out a playful laugh, she looked at Berenistella and asked:
“……You’re hoping there’s some hidden story, right? Like how I was actually the mastermind who incited Sage Arpentia and orchestrated everything, that the Saintess’s prophecy was something I fabricated entirely, and that I revived myself so I could place the continent under my control and rule it… something like that?”
Berenistella frowned slightly as if asking what nonsense she was speaking.
“……The fact that you can make such a joke that ruins the mood is, in a way, a remarkable talent.”
“Is that so? Honestly, I think so too.”
“Are you truly pretending not to understand what I mean?”
“I told you already. At least this time, I have no reason to do that.”
Talia spoke quietly, yet with utter seriousness.
“For the repose of my companions. For the peace of our Youngest. And for the conviction that we all staked our lives upon… your help is essential to me right now.”
“…….”
“In that situation, why would I bother playing petty tricks on you?”
“……If you understand that much, then that is enough. I will say no more.”
At last Berenistella said that and turned her body away.
“While I go with my Disciple to quell the chaos in the Capital, I hope that you will finish what you must do.”
“What I must do… What could that be besides waiting for you?”
“First, perhaps you should restore the body of Valen Zeisho lying there.”
Berenistella looked at her as if asking whether she intended to keep pretending to the end.
Then she glanced at the blood-covered figure collapsed on the ground and muttered.
“How sly of you. Are you truly the noble High Elf you claim to be? Pretending to be dead, pretending to be unconscious while watching the situation unfold.”
At her words, the blood-soaked body twitched.
Soon, the man who had seemed dead—Valen Zeisho—let out a weary sigh and slowly rose.
“……If possible, I would prefer to call it thoroughness.”
Even in his battered state, he moved without hesitation.
Still, it was not as if he felt no pain. His complexion was pale, and cold sweat covered his forehead.
“How did you know?”
“What, that you were not dead but pretending to be?”
“Indeed.”
He nodded.
“Not to boast, but no one has ever seen through this before. This is the first time in all my years.”
“Because your body did not turn into jewels like your spouse’s.”
“…….”
After a brief silence, Valen Zeisho spoke.
“……Were you certain that would happen to me?”
“A foolish question. If you do not undergo metamorphosis, who else would?”
“I see.”
Valen Zeisho nodded quietly.
“Please overlook my disgrace earlier. From the past until now, we have never been in a position to care about appearances or methods between us, have we? If you were in the same situation, you would have done the same.”
“Indeed. I understand your actions.”
Berenistella nodded.
“Depending on the circumstances, you intended to cut off my life—or Talia’s or Arpentia’s. Since it would have been impossible for you alone to face the three of us, that was in truth the wisest choice.”
“Exactly.”
The wounded elf nodded.
“I can only be glad it did not come to that.”
“Then would it not have been better to reveal the truth when our discussion was nearly concluded? I hope you are not about to say something pitiful like you missed the timing while judging the moment, or that you grew embarrassed.”
“Well… there’s always the chance of something unexpected.”
Valen Zeisho sighed.
He slowly picked up his weapon from the ground.
“What if you—or Talia—changed your attitude at the very end? …I had to consider that possibility.”
“You could not even trust your own comrade?”
“Are you saying that because you did not witness with your own eyes why I ended up like this? Or are you simply asking out of mischief?”
Valen Zeisho muttered incredulously.
Then he pointed at his battered body and spoke with a blank expression.
“It was that child, Arpentia, who made me like this. …And Talia, who is smiling at me right now, also had a hand in it.”
“Yoo-hoo.”
Talia laughed exaggeratedly.
“Good to see you alive, Jay. I’m glad you look healthy.”
“You are the same as ever—even as one of the dead. To think you still manage to trouble me this much even after dying.”
At his sharp reply, Talia looked genuinely apologetic.
“Hmm, I really am sorry about that.”
“You remain brazen even in death.”
“That was always my strength, wasn’t it? My charm too.”
“Hah.”
The Archmage gave a wry smile at his old companion’s laugh.
“……It’s good to see you again. Truly.”
“Yes, I feel the same.”
The elf smiled bitterly as well.
“But a prophecy… You really are an extraordinary person, aren’t you? To keep something that immense to yourself without saying a word to anyone.”
“Well, I couldn’t help it.”
She shrugged.
“You would have done the same.”
“I suppose I would.”
Valen Zeisho nodded.
“……Then please heal this body you shattered. The pain is starting to become unbearable.”
“You’ve grown old. Back in the day you fought with arrows stuck in your face.”
“I was young then.”
“I’m still young.”
“That must be nice.”
Talia extended her hand toward Valen Zeisho.
As his wounds slowly began to close, Berenistella turned her head away as if none of it mattered anymore.
“Ah.”
Then her eyes met Lian’s.
She paused for a moment before subtly turning her head aside.
It was clearly an attempt to avoid his gaze.
“……Then I truly will be going now.”
Berenistella nodded as if hastily concluding the conversation.
Then she carefully placed a hand on Lian’s shoulder.
“Yes, go well.”
Talia offered a farewell to no one in particular.
The two figures had already disappeared.
“…….”
She gently lifted the unconscious Arpentia into her arms.
“……We need time as well.”
With that, Talia quietly took something out from her embrace.
An Iron Needle…?
No—something different from an Iron Needle. Something else entirely.
“Talia.”
Valen Zeisho called her.
The bow in his hand had already been drawn halfway.
“…….”
“Explain.”
At this distance, he could sever her neck before she even attempted anything.
Both of them knew that well.
“Jay—no. Valen Zeisho.”
Talia looked at him.
“Will you trust me?”
“…….”
At her words, Valen Zeisho fell silent.
The arrow remained nocked on the bowstring.
Then—
“……Lady Talia?”
Arpentia whispered softly.
At some point she had opened her eyes.
Held in Talia’s arms, she murmured in a dazed voice.
“Lady Talia? Lady Talia… is it really you?”
“You’re awake, our Youngest.”
Talia’s voice was incomparably gentle.
“Ah…”
Arpentia stared at her in disbelief.
Then, in a trembling voice, she asked:
“What about Lord Valen Zeisho?”
At that question, Talia’s smile faded ever so slightly.
“I am here.”
Valen Zeisho answered.
As Arpentia’s gaze turned to him, he nodded slightly.
“Do not worry.”
“Ah…”
Tears quietly filled Arpentia’s eyes.
Watching her with an indescribable gaze, Talia soon whispered softly.
Not to Arpentia—
but to herself.
“……It’s alright.”
She whispered again.
“Everything will turn out well.”
“Lady Talia?”
“Goodbye, our Youngest.”
Now it is truly farewell.
With those words, Talia drove what she held in her hand down toward Arpentia’s chest.
Valen Zeisho did not stop her.
And Arpentia simply accepted it.
The Eight Demon Lords had made their choice.
The knights had made their choice.
Now only one person’s choice remained.