A week has passed.
During that time, the world had been moving along in an oddly peaceful way.
Of course, you couldn’t say it was truly peaceful.
“Strategist, cleanup is complete.”
“Good work.”
Still unable to step down from my position as strategist of the Guillotine Knights, I continued to act as the Emperor’s shadowy blade, dealing with what lay beneath the surface of that peace.
There wasn’t much work. It wasn’t particularly difficult either. Most of the tasks were handled by the knights, and as the strategist, all I really did was relay the orders that came from above.
In truth, my presence wasn’t necessary at all.
Even so, the reason they still called me in to work was probably to keep me aware of how things were progressing.
“Oh boy, Eclipse again?”
These days, a new force had been rising rapidly within the Empire.
With Eden, Lemegeton, the Speartip of Snow Blossoms, Ex Machina, and even the Under Chain all gone, the organizations that had remained beneath the surface were starting to reveal themselves.
This new group consisted of shadowy figures operating behind the scenes across politics, the economy, and various other sectors.
Who in the world made something like this?
Count Python, who had already passed away, left it behind.
He had gathered the branches that needed to be cut from the world under a single name.
“So now they’ve gone as far as running an illegal auction house, huh?”
I flipped through the documents, muttering as if I were surprised, even though I already knew.
With this, tomorrow morning’s front-page headline was decided.
“Then I’m heading home now?”
“Good work today, Strategist.”
The cleanup plan conceived by the Emperor and designed by Count Python. I knew where all of this would ultimately lead.
The Emperor Abraham had lived for the sake of the Empire. That much was certain.
A fictional organization called Eclipse.
Thinking about the meaning of that word, it really was a well-chosen name.
“They’ll handle it just fine.”
It wasn’t like they were trying to destroy the world or anything. This was something that had been carefully planned and carried out step by step over a long time.
They weren’t targeting me, nor were they trying to overturn the world like other groups. It had nothing to do with me.
“Glory to the sun of the Empire.”
With that final praise for the Emperor, I finished my work for the day and headed home.
***
While a plan to expose the festering wounds that had built up in the Empire over a long time was unfolding, the world continued to move along peacefully.
The only ones who didn’t find it peaceful were those who had committed crimes as usual.
For ordinary people, there had never been a more peaceful time than this.
“I’m back.”
“Ah! Teacher, you’re here?”
For the first time since the last battle, I visited the Misfits’ place.
Not for a request or to treat injuries, but simply to see my friends.
I don’t even remember the last time I did something like this.
“Helena, you’ve grown a lot since I last saw you. How’ve you been?”
“I haven’t grown at all. It hasn’t even been a week since we last met.”
“Has it already been that long?”
“Seems like something’s wrong with your head.”
“No, I was just joking.”
“Maybe that’s what you think.”
Helena looked at me with pity. Don’t look at me like that with the eyes of a prophet. It feels too real.
“I slept for a full day after I got back.”
“Must’ve been exhausting.”
Helena had pushed herself pretty hard too.
She even used the sacred relic inside her body to pressure Faust, so it was only natural. It must have felt like she had partially regressed back to her weaker days.
“What about Dietrich?”
“He’s probably out swinging his sword like usual.”
“Diligent as ever.”
Even though all the terrorist groups were supposedly gone now, it seemed he was still working hard to get stronger.
He was always diligent to begin with. He’s probably training for his own growth, not just because of enemies.
If it’s Dietrich, he’ll be fine.
“Helena.”
“Yes?”
“The people I asked you to take in?”
“They’re living separately. One of them might find it difficult just to be near me.”
“…Right.”
I had entrusted Ollie and Raven to the group.
I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea for them to spend time with others.
But Helena, being a prophet, was a fatal presence to Raven who had become a Death Knight, so it seemed they were living apart.
“If you head that way, there’s a small cabin. The two of them are staying there. Jeff sometimes brings them side dishes, and they seem to be doing well.”
“That’s a relief.”
A Death Knight harms people just by being nearby.
The only ones who can approach them are dark mages or those who can resist that kind of energy.
But Helena possesses such overwhelming divine power that, in reality, the only people who can interact with them are Jeff and Melana.
“How are Jeff and Melana?”
“….….”
“Yeah, I shouldn’t have asked.”
Seeing Helena hesitate, I shook my head.
It’s something I can check myself.
“You said it was that way, right?”
I turned and headed toward where Ollie and Raven were staying.
“Teacher!”
“Yeah?”
“Will you stay for dinner?”
“Hmm… no, not today.”
I’m planning to stop by the Ether Duchy later in my role as strategist and get a meal there.
Of course, it’s not like I’m going there to eat anything fancy. I’m going to see Ariel. I should take the chance to enjoy a date with her while I’m still officially a strategist.
***
Ollie and Raven’s place wasn’t as far as I expected.
After a short walk, the cabin came into view. It probably wasn’t even ten minutes away.
“……”
I stood in front of the cabin for a moment, gathering my thoughts. What should I say when I see them? Would a normal greeting be enough? Or should I keep a bit of distance?
“Ollie, are you there?”
I decided to set my worries aside for now and check how they were doing first.
Were they still looking miserable, or had things gotten a little better?
Better to see for myself and decide.
There was just one thing I hadn’t expected.
“Gaaaah….”
“Uh… yeah. Good to see you, Raven.”
Raven, the Death Knight, was the one who opened the door himself.
Honestly, it caught me off guard.
How am I supposed to react when I open the door and get greeted by a Death Knight with its neck half dangling, leaking dark energy everywhere?
I know it’s wrong to judge, but it’s hard not to be startled.
“S-So… you doing okay?”
“Gaaaah.”
“I’ll take that as a yes?”
I had no idea what that meant.
“How’s Ollie?”
“Gaaaah.”
Raven quietly stepped aside.
He was inviting me in.
The inside of the cabin felt even smaller than it looked from the outside.
“…It’s cozy.”
“You mean it’s cramped, right?”
“Oh, Ollie. You look… well…actually, not really. I guess it’s good…? No, that’s not right. Sorry, I’m a bit thrown off.”
The greeting I had prepared got completely tangled.
Seeing Ollie’s hollow expression, it was obvious something had happened while I wasn’t around.
“Did something happen?”
“……”
Ollie gave a bitter smile.
I could tell she was choosing her words carefully.
“Nothing really happened. I’m just still thinking about what I should do moving forward. I’m fine.”
“If you’re fine, that probably means someone else isn’t, right?”
“……”
Another bitter smile.
“After hearing from you about my ability, I started thinking about what its true power really is.”
“……”
Ollie’s ability was absorption.
…At least, that’s what she believed.
It made sense. After taking all the chains from the dark mages who attacked her, she was able to wield that power without any cost.
Ollie thought it was because she had absorbed the souls of those dark mages and was using them.
But Yuna said her ability wasn’t that simple.
“My ability is…”
What she had thought was exploitation was actually Raven’s self-sacrifice.
So then, what was her true ability?
The moment I heard the answer—
I realized I didn’t have time to just stand around here like this.
***
I stepped outside the cabin for a moment.
Partly because it still felt a bit awkward facing Ollie, and I needed time to sort out my thoughts.
But more importantly, there was someone else I needed to meet. Someone at the center of all this.
“Oh, Jeff.”
“Johan?”
I ran into Jeff, who was carrying a small basket in his hands.
Just like Helena said, it looked like he’d been bringing side dishes over to Ollie and the others.
“How have you been lately?”
I naturally turned and walked alongside him.
I had just left the cabin, but since I ran into the person I was looking for, there wasn’t much choice.
“Same as always.”
“And Melana?”
“……”
Jeff gave a bitter smile.
Everywhere I go, it’s nothing but bitter smiles. That’s probably how awkward things are right now.
“Since she came back, Melana hasn’t left her room.”
“You should’ve dragged her out, even if you had to force her.”
“She’s probably confused too.”
Melana had shut herself in her room.
Things were a mess everywhere.
From what I heard, Jeff even proposed to her…
“I guess I should go talk to her.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s fine. It’s not like I’m a good person anyway, right?”
Ollie matters too, but right now, I think I need to meet Melana first.
Ever since getting tangled up with the Under Chain, all my friends have been acting strange. That probably just shows how heavy the ideology and symbolism of that group really are.
“Ollie, you come too.”
“……Me as well?”
“Yeah, let’s have a three-way face-off between people who got swept up by the Under Chain.”
“Gaaah.”
“Raven, do you want to come too?”
Oh, right. Raven was here too. Then that makes it four.
“Gaaah.”
But Raven shook his head and went back into the cabin.
I’m not really sure what Raven is thinking. Either way, it doesn’t look like he wants to meet Melana.
With no other choice, I forced a bitter smile and led the two of them back to the Misfits’ place.
“Oh, sir. You’re back? Did things get resolved… what is this combination?”
Helena had been watering the flowers in the garden, but when she saw the three of us, she blinked in surprise. Before long, though, she frowned.
Seems like she caught on to what I was thinking.
“Hmm, should I give you some space?”
“Do whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“……Then I’ll come along too.”
Helena seemed to hesitate for a moment, then scratched her cheek and joined us.
And so, with the odd combination of Ollie, Jeff, and Helena, I stood in front of Melana’s door.
I can sense someone inside.
Just like Jeff said, it seems she’s been holed up in her room without coming out.
“Melana. It’s me, Johan.”
I gave a light knock and let her know it was me.
Judging by the rustling sounds from inside, she wasn’t asleep. Still, no matter how long I waited, the door didn’t open.
A complete shutout.
Yeah, I expected as much.
But Melana doesn’t know.
I’m not as kind as Jeff or Helena.
I came here today fully intending to drag Melana out of her room, by force if necessary.
“Melana.”
Alright, time to start persuading her.
No need to worry. With the tongue that’s taken down every final boss candidate, something like this is easy.
“So you thought you were about to die and spilled everything without holding back, but thanks to Ollie, you got your lifespan restored?”
“Johan Damus!!”
A fierce reaction came from inside.
I told you, I’m not just kind like Jeff or Helena.
“You’re not a kid, so what kind of upbringing has you holed up in your room for days just because you’re embarrassed?”
Ollie’s ability wasn’t absorption.
“Get out here and finish your treatment. Are you really going to die just because you’re embarrassed?”
“Shut up! I’m just going to die like this!”
Her ability was soul regeneration. It restored a soul that had been worn down by dark magic back to its original state.
The reason the Great Sage Faust personally went so far as to secretly recruit Ollie—
It was a contingency plan in case he failed.
“You’ve got to marry Jeff.”
“I said shut up!”
Right now, though, it’s just a great way to tease a friend.
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