Chapter 261: Ghost Dance Party (1)
Rain fell, and the sky darkened to ink.
RUMBLE-!
A thunderstorm roared through the darkness. Ghosts burned in front of the flashing lights, but only for a moment as their weird faces contorted with rage.
“What a bother. Hey. We’ll get these guys’ attention, so Syrio, take her to her room.”
Jaylon said. At the same time, a group of dozens of Altar warriors rushed in.
“Let’s go~.”
Taking advantage of that opportunity, Syrio took Epherene and Lia in his arms and flew away with the wind.
Bang-!
Syrio sighed as the door slammed open. He set Lia and Epherene down on the bed, smiling softly.
“Thank God. You both look fine.”
“…”
Epherene and Lia looked at him and listened to the sound of rain.
Drip, drip…
“…Why?”
Eventually, Epherene’s voice leaked out.
“Why did you come? Is it… because of that self-proclaimed god?”
“Huh? Hahaha. Self-proclaimed god? That’s funny.”
Syrio chuckled and dragged over a chair. He turned it around and sat down with his chest pressed against its back.
“Well. Anyway, it is because of him.”
“How many temples were destroyed?”
This time it was Lia’s question. Syrio laughed bitterly.
“All, leaving nothing behind. It was a shame. I didn’t even have time to receive Foreknowledge.”
“…So, have you come to assassinate Her Majesty again?”
Epherene narrowed her eyes, but Sirio shook his head.
“Us? What are you talking about? We never killed the Emperor.”
“…Not now. Before regressing-“
“Even before.”
“What are you talking about? You’re lying. No, you guys can’t remember before the regression.”
Epherene pondered a moment. She was doing exact calculations on if she could defeat Syrio with her magic.
“No. I’m serious. I can’t remember everything, but I’ve heard of it. From the self-proclaimed god you speak of.”
“What? Then who killed Her Majesty?”
“Simple. The Emperor killed herself, and we only pretended that she was assassinated.”
“…”
For a moment, Epherene was speechless. Lia watched him silently. It was also quite disturbing to hear from her point of view. Before and after the regression? The assassination of the Emperor and suicide? Both were developments that deviated far from the regular script.
Of course, there were dozens of endings for this world, but… this was a different process.
“That’s bullshit!”
Epherene grumbled, but Syrio only shrugged.
“I mean it. At some point, for some reason, the Emperor realized who she was. So she committed suicide.”
“…”
“But you brought her back to life. No, you made us bring her back to life. You can say that we were coerced.”
Epherene’s face wrinkled.
“Although you think you did it.”
Clap-!
Syrio clapped.
“Oh, my!”
A refreshed smile appeared on his face.
“The script was rigged from the start.”
Then, Epherene’s eyes slowly widened. Did she realize something? As if Syrio found that cute, his smile deepened further.
“Epherene. Still don’t know? It was us who detonated the bomb for you to return. The fact that we desperately killed Deculein and that you destroyed the continent every time you returned is the coercion we have imposed on you.”
To bring the Emperor back to life as quickly as possible, not leave the Emperor dead.
“We needed a body to come down for manifestation? Did we go out to get the materials? Who did it? Did God himself say it? No~. We’ve never been like that.”
Syrio swept his hair back, and his eyes twinkled sharply.
“You interpreted our words and actions. That’s what you mistook for reality. Oh, of course, our believers were sincere. There is a saying that to deceive the enemy, deceive your allies first, right? And well… anyway.”
Syrio stopped and suddenly looked up at the ceiling.
“What’s important is that every step of yours was of his intention.”
His complexion turned pale.
“Even when you were deliberately taking turns walking around, making U-turns, turning around, sitting like idiots and wasting your time… even then, in the end, you were just walking steadily on the path he made.”
He lowered his head again. That smile disappeared, replaced by a calm gaze.
“…The one we speak of is with the Emperor. No, he’s no different than being the Emperor. Now that we have cleared away the regression that hindered their manifestation, it is time to plan for the advent.”
Syrio smiled again. Coldly, as if sneering, the corners of his mouth curved upward.
“Then, why am I telling you this? It’s simple. You, too, cooperate. If you cooperate with us, even if God manifests, you will survive. Otherwise-“
“Hmph. What if the self-proclaimed god can’t manifest? If we win, he can’t come down forever.”
Syrio raised an eyebrow and nodded.
“Then it’s even worse. Sophien’s endless hatred will burn this continent. Because she was made like that from the start.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“Now, her anger is directed at the Demon Blood, but what if they disappear? That’ll probably go to another tribe. And if that tribe disappears? This time to the kingdoms. When they cease to exist, to the principality.”
Syrio let out a sigh.
“Actually, well. The Emperor’s last chance to win then was suicide. We were frankly confused too. We didn’t know the Emperor would die like that. However… thanks to that professor, now the Emperor doesn’t kill herself anymore.”
“…”
“Even the Emperor has a reason to live. Even if she learns that she’s a disaster, a monster that will set the world on fire, she won’t ever commit suicide now.”
Syrio opened his arms wide.
“What do you think? The things you did that you thought was for the best have resulted in this.”
“…No.”
“What, don’t insist it’s not true.”
“It’s not.”
“But I’m right~.”
“Nope.”
“I’m right~.”
“No.”
“…Gosh.”
Syrio laughed and then spread out his palms.
“Anyway. Now you know, right? All of you are in God’s palm. All the things you believed are according to our will.”
-Are they?
At that moment, a voice came from outside. Epherene and Lia looked back to the door, startled.
—It’s not that side.
If not the door, then the window. Each of the three swiveled around.
—Long time no see, Epherene.
“…”
Epherene swallowed hard, and Syrio drew his sword.
—If you are there, move.
A ghost that resembled Deculein but older and colder floated outside the window.
He still had regrets in this life and now wandered the underworld…
“…Decalane.”
—Get up, come here.
He reached out his hand through the window.
—Or will you be swayed by them? These fleas, cockroaches, and pests.
“Wow. You still talk the same way.”
Syrio laughed. Then, he frowned and looked at Epherene and Lia.
“But, still, aren’t we better than Decalane?”
At that moment, Lia poked Epherene in the back. Epherene startled but then cleared her throat.
—Stupid. There is no other being as inferior as you in the underworld.
A red light flashed from Decalane’s eyes. At that moment, Syrio’s armor was transformed. His metal armor suddenly came to life, binding him.
“Huh? What is this disgusting magic?!”
“Epherene! Let’s go! Hurry!”
“Yeah!”
Epherene and Lia rushed through the window.
Claaaank-!
Decalane turned to the two of them as they fell, and Syrio smiled.
“Still, nothing’s changed.”
* * *
Julie was treating her injuries in her room at the old house. Lawaine, Adrienne, and Ihelm were all there with her. Tired of the enemies who wouldn’t die, they retreated for a while.
“Fortunately, Her Majesty is safe. Professor Deculein has sent me a message.”
Lawaine said, fiddling with a crystal ball. Ihelm smirked and sneered.
“You want to report Deculein, but you believe that?”
“…There is no denying that the Professor is a loyal follower of Her Majesty. However, he has committed many sins.”
“No! Rather, why did they call me here? I’m not the kind to get caught up in the world!”
Adrienne placed her hands on her waist.
“I’m so mad right now!”
She snorted. She looked so cute on the outside that it looked like she would calm down with just one pat on the head, but that was a rather dangerous view to hold. Ihelm, Julie, and the knights knew that fact. If she, who reached the pinnacle of destructive magic, grew truly angry…
“Look, Chairman. Living and dead, all will be engulfed in her wrath.”
Ihelm put his hands together. Adrienne’s brow twitched.
“Then do something! Do it!”
Enraged to the point of breathing fire from her mouth… no, she just actually spewed fire.
Whoosh-!
Like a dragon’s breath. Ihelm turned to Lawaine.
“…Um, Knight Lawaine. Send a message to Professor Deculein. He seems to be with Her Majesty in search of a safe place, so if the Chairman could also…”
“Forget it! I’ll just sleep! I don’t even want to see the Emperor’s face now!”
Adrienne lay on the bed, and Julie looked at her map. She glanced over the mark left by Iggyris. Suddenly, Deculein’s voice came to mind.
‘If you go to Iggyris, you will die.’
“…Father.”
A father whom she did not call father. He never smiled once but rather resented her for taking his wife. If he wanted to end her life this time…
“Are you okay?”
Lawaine asked her. Julie nodded and put her map away. Then, after checking her wounds one last time, she stood.
“I will go. Everyone, please rest.”
“Where?”
Lawaine and Ihelm, as well as Adrienne, who buried herself in the bed, looked up at her.
“I have a place to visit.”
Julie left it at that and grabbed the doorknob. Lawaine jumped up and followed her.
“I’m also-“
“It’s something I have to do alone.”
“…”
Lawaine looked at Julie quietly. Her eyes were clear and serious, readied for death.
“…Yes. Please be… careful.”
He couldn’t get any closer than that. There was no way he could ignore the resolve of such a determined knight. Lawaine simply lowered his head calmly.
“Thank you.”
Julie, with a bow, opened the door. However, as soon as she took one step out, she felt a stone under her feet.
“…?”
It was a mana stone
—Dear Knight Julie, from your guardian angel.
A labeled mana stone. She picked it up and continued walking while looking at the map.
…And like that.
[Restaurant]
She reached the edge of a wall that didn’t exist on the map. Perhaps, a passage leading into the underworld.
“Thanks for the guidance.”
Shhhh…
The ghost that was guiding her disappeared, and Julie opened the door. The door opened silently.
“…”
Julie was momentarily at a loss for words. Candles flickered on a long wooden table in a restaurant with Freyden’s style. This was where she used to dine with her father, Zeit, and Josephine.
—You came.
Iggyris was sitting there, looking at her. His form was now clearly visible.
“My lord. Where are we?”
“Don’t you know by seeing it? This is where I stay.”
His voice was clearer, too. On the other hand, Julie felt her spirit gradually becoming distant.
“Sit down.”
“…Yes. Lord.”
Julie sat, facing Iggyris. Iggyris let out a small sigh.
“Julie, you. You must have come to me because you resent Deculein.”
“Yes.”
Julie resolutely nodded. Iggyris asked again.
“Do you hate him so much that you want to kill him?”
“Yes.”
“What is the reason?”
“There’s a lot. However, I have no intention of borrowing your power. I…”
“Who said I would lend you power? You still misunderstand.”
Julie took a deep breath. His rebuke was familiar.
“Take out that mana stone.”
Iggyris pointed to Julie’s pocket. Even the scar on his finger was the same as when he was alive.
“…Is this something you gave me?”
“No. I asked one of my associates.”
Saying so, Iggyris examined the mana stone.
“Julie.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think that it’s Deculein’s fault that your power source was broken?”
Her father’s question shook her heart. The day she didn’t want to recall or talk about returned. Julie shook her head.
“I think it’s my fault.”
“Really? What about Deculein’s fault? He doesn’t hold any?
“…”
“Can you say that?”
She couldn’t answer that. Her lips weren’t moving. Even if it was Julie… no, any great knight, even a saint. It was impossible not to blame him. They couldn’t forgive him, saying it was nothing. They couldn’t blame it all on themselves. Even if she denied it, it would always remain, smoldering in a dark corner of her mind.
“…I might be thinking like that.”
Julie clenched her teeth. Shaking, she lowered her head.
“Is that the cause of all the resentment I have now?”
Julie confessed as she held back her tears.
“No, I think… it was because of that.”
Julie raised her head. Her mana bloomed around her.
“Yes. I don’t know if I was only looking for reasons to resent him all this time. The things from that day are still…”
Tears flowed from her eyes, slowly freezing. Facing that decision, Iggyris firmly shook his head.
“No.”
“…”
Julie still didn’t know what he meant. She looked up.
…And.
“I did it.”
Iggyris spoke.
“No one else but me.”
The thing he did to his daughter…
“I did that to you.”
The worst sin.