Chapter 225: Spring Part 1

When Ariel slammed the Great Warrior into the ground beneath the arena with a storm—

I was watching from a distance.

“Hmmnya.”

Yuna had fallen asleep.

She had her head resting on my leg, clutching my coat tightly as she slept.

She was already sleep-deprived from searching for me, and I had her running around preparing for the stage, so of course she was exhausted.

Being able to sleep right in the middle of a battlefield is a skill in itself, I suppose.

On the flip side, if she can feel at ease just because I’m nearby, that’s a relief.

I’m someone who can hold my own against any barbarian one-on-one.

“Johan.”

“No candy.”

“What do you take me for! Then… do you have biscuits?”

“Nope. Do you think I would?”

“Hmm…”

That brat getting a sense of taste turned out to be twice as troublesome for me.

And what’s with that face… he looks so pitiful, like a puppy caught in the rain.

“Ah! Johan, this is bad.”

“I said I don’t have biscuits.”

“Varg has descended.”

“…Huh?”

For a moment, I didn’t understand what he was saying and just blinked. But then it hit me.

“What did you just say?”

Varg has descended. It was a disjointed sentence, but I could guess what he meant.

Back when Kult had awakened as the perfect prophet through the ritual—

The power he gained as a vessel for a god was truly beyond imagination.

Of course, Varg is nothing more than a lesser deity, unlike the gods of Elysium.

But still, the fact that it carries the title of “god” means…

“Varg has descended! But now that I look again, it’s gone.”

“……?”

“Guess I got worked up for nothing.”

What the hell is wrong with this guy?

Mephistopheles flopped down and pulled a piece of candy from his pocket before unwrapping it and popping it into his mouth. The fact that this bastard had candy hidden away is one thing…

“It disappeared?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

“I don’t really know how to put this… but it seems that barbarian actually killed a god.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t think something like that was even possible.”

It sounded like complete nonsense, so I glanced at Ariel, who was still floating in the air some distance away. Her eyes were wide with disbelief.

Just from the way her expression kept shifting, I could tell.

“…I see.”

The Great Warrior was dead.

He had refused to pass on his will to anyone else, killed a god, and accepted defeat.

How many times has this happened now?

With this, that makes three of the final boss candidates I knew who’ve died.

Kult’s death had been bewildering.

Tillis’s death had been empty.

And the death of the Great Warrior…

“…Yeah.”

I simply accepted it.

I could understand that choice.

Was it because something had changed in me?

Or was it because I could so clearly feel the weight of the Great Warrior’s resolve?

Three times they gave up.

Three deaths.

“I used to think… Is there really anything more important than life?”

Kult Hereticus died.

He let go of his own will and chose death, trusting in Helena’s dream.

Ostilis Liberatio died.

She realized her own sins and gave her life to the guardian who had protected her for so long.

And today, Vidar died.

Unlike the two before him, he died to uphold his will.

The first two had given up and failed, but he was the one who succeeded.

“Well then, I guess it’s time to head back.”

That’s why I didn’t feel sorrow over his death.

***

From atop the city walls, Emperor Abraham watched the Great Warrior’s final moments.

He witnessed the moment Ariel Ether was reborn as a hero.

“What did you think of the Great Warrior?”

Before he realized it, the Black Knight Lannius now recovered from his injuries had come to stand naturally by Abraham’s side, glancing at him as he asked.

“He was certainly a powerful warrior.”

Abraham replied with a faint smile.

He had been gripping the sword at his hip, prepared for the worst, but now he slowly lowered his arm.

“He was stronger than me.”

He wasn’t referring to mere physical strength.

Abraham had no choice but to admit that, as a person, the Great Warrior Vidar was stronger than he was.

A man who killed a god with sheer will.

Abraham, who had been preparing to hunt down a god based on the imperial reports, couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle.

“Isn’t it fortunate you didn’t have to draw that sword?”

“Yes, it is.”

With a soft laugh, Abraham untied the sword from his belt.

It was a relief not to have drawn it.

With that thought, Abraham turned to return the weapon brought out to kill a god back to the imperial vaults.

“Let’s head in. It’s getting cold.”

“Well, let’s go. You’ve got plenty to take care of, after all.”

“Don’t I know it.”

Abraham gave a bitter smile.

The Empire had just suffered its most devastating blow in recent times.

The barbarians’ rampage and guerrilla-style attacks had eaten away at the Empire from within and without. Cleaning up after it all would take at least a month of nonstop work.

“We lack talent. Truly.”

“We simply lack people.”

The harshest winter had passed.

There wasn’t much of the bitter cold left that the Empire still had to endure.

For the sake of a stable future that would inevitably come one day, Abraham resolved to work through day and night once again.

***

The war was over.

In Eden, the pagans had sacrificed themselves in diversionary tactics for their goal, and during Lemegeton, the fighting had little aftermath as it was mainly focused on search operations.

But the battle with the Speartip of Snow Blossoms had been a clash aimed at mutual destruction, and its aftermath was no small matter.

“A school closure… it’s been a while.”

The Cradle had no choice but to shut down due to the effects of the war.

Ironically, unlike during all the previous terrorist attacks, this time the Cradle had suffered the least damage.

Thanks to that, there was nothing Olga Hermod could be blamed for.

Instead…

“Civilian support duty? How is that a school break? It’s no different from regular classes. We’re not even in the military.”

“The Cradle used to be a military facility, you know, Johan.”

“I know.”

I replied while pushing away Yuna’s face, which was poking in beside me.

She’d been nodding off from fatigue lately, but now she seemed energetic again.

Yeah, that’s the Yuna I know.

“I’m just saying. At a time like this, when you never know when or where barbarian remnants might pop out, do we really have to work the students like this?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re probably stronger than most adults.”

“Yeah, good for you.”

“Why are you sulking again…?”

Who asked for facts? I just wanted some empathy.

“Anyway, Lady Ariel looks busy again today.”

I turned to where Yuna was pointing. In the distance, I saw Ariel clearing away rubble with telekinesis.

People around her were showering her with praise. Not so much for being a hero, but more like they were admiring a living legend in the construction industry.

Ariel seemed overwhelmed by the attention, her face flushed bright red as she fumbled with what to do.

Still, maybe because she wanted to keep her promise to Vidar, she hadn’t worn her witch’s hat lately.

Thanks to that, her rabbit ears twitched freely, making her emotions pretty obvious.

“With that level of fame, dating must be impossible. Marriage too, right?”

“Yuna, you’re being way too obvious.”

That kind of petty attempt at keeping me in check was just pathetic.

“And go do your job. Don’t bother me for no reason.”

“The teacher told me to find Johan, who’s slacking off.”

“Just say you couldn’t find me.”

“Then I’ll say I’m still looking for you and rest here with you.”

“Not a bad idea.”

I sat down on a pile of rubble nearby with Yuna.

Slacking off while everyone else was rushing around.

It did make me feel a bit guilty…

“But I’m just one person.”

“Johan, I’ve never actually heard someone say that out loud before.”

Yuna looked appalled.

But really, I wasn’t wrong, was I?

“It’s because people slack off like that that the work’s going nowhere.”

“And who asked you?”

An unwelcome guest had arrived.

And of course, it had to be the guy who’s a pain every time we meet.

“Oracle, you got something to say?”

“The Great Warrior fell recently, didn’t he?”

“So what?”

“Well, he told me something interesting before he died. Something about my predecessor.”

“Predecessor? What are you even talking about?”

“…I mean the Prophet.”

“Oh, right.”

Even though we always call her “Oracle”, I had completely forgotten this girl was actually a prophet.

Can’t really blame me. She doesn’t do anything anyway.

“Johan Damus, do you know what a matryoshka is?”

“Yeah, that nesting doll thing. A doll inside a doll, and then another one inside that… you know, that kind of thing.”

“Did I ask you to explain it? I know what a matryoshka is.”

“Then what do you want from me?”

This girl always nitpicks over the smallest things.

“I just don’t understand why that metaphor was used. What is a prophet, really? Do you know anything?”

“Nope.”

“Can’t you at least try to give a sincere answer? I know we’re not exactly close, but let’s show some basic respect.”

“I’m telling you, I really don’t know. And if you’re gonna talk about manners, maybe start with yourself?”

“Haah…”

The Oracle let out a heavy sigh.

Then she casually slumped into the chair near me.

Looks like she wanted to slack off too.

“So in the end, you’re also living the ‘one person won’t make a difference’ life, huh?”

“…Johan Damus.”

The Oracle narrowed her eyes and glared at me.

Does she have a problem or something?

“Maybe prophets have always been the same person.”

“Yeah?”

“A being that reincarnates endlessly, carrying the same memories.”

“…….”

Reincarnating with the same memories.

That part caught on something in my mind.

Makes sense. I’m like that too. I remember my past life.

Maybe that’s why she even brought this up to me in the first place.

“If that’s the case, then why was I like a blank sheet of paper?”

“No idea.”

I honestly don’t know what to say.

Come to think of it, I don’t really know anything about her.

All I know is that she looks like Alice.

And just that alone is enough for me to avoid her, to dislike her……that’s who I am right now.

“Well, at least a blank slate means you can draw anything on it.”

“……..”

The Oracle blinked, then let out a faint laugh.

“Never thought I’d hear comforting words from you.”

“What exactly do you think I am?”

“A bastard who hates me for reasons I don’t even understand.”

“Hey…”

Well—

She’s not wrong!

Honestly, from her perspective, she does have every reason to feel wronged.

But from mine, it’s something I just can’t help.

It’s a hatred that comes from the heart, not the head.

“Well, even if it’s just words, it still brings some comfort.”

“…That so.”

Well, that’s good to hear.

I’ve been wondering if I was being too harsh all the time, so if this kind of thing brings her a little peace, then good.

“Johan Damus.”

“What now?”

“Looks like you’ll be having a guest soon.”

“Huh?”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll handle it just fine, but you know what they say. Getting hit when you’re expecting it hurts less.”

“Wait, hold on a second—”

“A prophecy from the Prophet. Think of it as payment for that little bit of sweet talk earlier.”

Clink!

With those parting words, the Oracle disappeared, wearing a bright smile.

The usual way she moves. She vanished as if the entire space around her had shattered.

As flashy and over-the-top as ever, though I was only startled for a moment.

“Oh.”

Yuna, who’d been next to me, let out a soft murmur of surprise.

“Just another day.”

“……”

Hard to argue with that truth.

***

The Empire’s been noisy lately.

That’s because the reconstruction effort was in full swing.

The barbarians didn’t discriminate between people and buildings in their rampage to destroy civilization.

As a result, even the students of the Cradle were sent out daily to help with civilian support.

So now, I spent more time out and about than safely inside the Cradle.

“Every single day feels like something’s creeping up on me. It’s driving me nuts.”

So when exactly is this “visitor” supposed to show up?

They say knowing makes it hurt less, but not knowing when just makes it worse.

That damn Oracle definitely knew what she was doing.

So when and where was this supposed ambush going to happen…?

And right in the middle of this uneasy daily routine—

I got an unexpected visitor.

“Huh? Emily?”

“……”

Now that I think about it, I’d completely forgotten about her.

I’ve been running around so much that it just slipped my mind…

“S-Sorry.”

Come to think of it, on the day I was supposed to meet Emily, I got kidnapped by the Great Warrior.

She must’ve waited for me without knowing anything, only to get stood up.

It’s no wonder she might be upset.

“I had a lot going on…”

Emily didn’t know I was kidnapped, or what happened since.

Naturally—

I never told her.

So how could she know?

“……”

Without a word, Emily pulled a helical gear from behind her.

“Emily?”

Wait a second…

Don’t tell me you’re the guest the Oracle was talking about.