Assassin Noct carefully placed the Holy Sword Hagentia that Prince Eligion had in his possession on the ground. From within his robe, he took out something like a gem and muttered incantation-like words.
Suddenly, a dazzling light emanated from the Holy Sword Hagentia.
After a short while, Agetha stood before me.
"Kiska, finally, we meet. I've missed you so much."
The moment Agetha appeared, she embraced me. It was sudden, so I was taken aback, but I managed to catch her somehow.
"Is something wrong, Kiska?"
Suddenly, Agetha asked with a worried expression. It seems she noticed that something was off with my demeanor.
"No… I just thought I might have become disliked by Prince Eligion and his companions. At this rate, the stigma against the Alcus people will likely continue to spread."
Due to Assassin Noct's betrayal of Prince Eligion, the Alcus people's reputation had suffered, and as a result, I was mistreated in the village.
I had wanted to change that fact if possible…
"No, wait a minute. It might still be salvageable."
I had considered looping again, but it might not be necessary to go that far.
"Hey, Agetha. Do you have paper and a pen?"
"I do, but what are you planning to do with them?"
While saying that, Agetha took out paper and a pen from the item box.
"I thought I might write a letter to Prince Eligion."
I knew from experience that Prince Eligion is someone who can understand if the situation is properly explained. However, with the reticent assassin Noct, it would be challenging to convey and make him understand through conversation. So, I contemplated the idea of providing him with a letter to facilitate communication.
Now, what should I write? I gripped the pen.
[An unexpected error has occurred.]
Suddenly, inexplicable characters appeared.
"What is this?"
"No way!"
Agetha shouted loudly, then forcibly took the paper and pen from me. As soon as the pen left my hand, the mysterious characters disappeared.
"Hey, Agetha, do you know something?"
"Well, you see…"
After that, Agetha began to explain.
It turns out that Assassin Noct is apparently one of my ancestors. Indeed, there were many commonalities, such as the same hair color and similarities with other Alcus people.
"So, changing Assassin Noct's fate significantly could jeopardize my very existence,"
I was dumbfounded. There might not be a convenient way to erase the fact of my mistreatment.
But still…
"Even if my existence disappears, if that means saving Namia…"
"That's absolutely not allowed!"
Agetha's voice was piercing.
"Say that again, and I'll be angry."
"Sorry…"
I reflexively apologized. Certainly, Agetha would not forgive me for dying. However, I didn't want to give up on Namia either.
Suddenly, I noticed the ring in Assassin Noct's hand, the one needed for the Demon Lord's revival. If I had this ring, I might be able to resurrect Namia. In that case, there might be no need to forcibly change the fact of my mistreatment.
"Noct-san, can I have that ring?"
"Yeah."
Assassin Noct nodded and handed me the ring.
"I understand, Agetha. I'll give up on erasing the fact of my mistreatment. So, Agetha, what should we do from here?"
"If we wait, he'll show up. Probably very soon."
Who is he?
There are only three people here: Agetha, me, and Assassin Noct. Will someone come from another place? Various thoughts circulate in my mind.
While pondering such things, suddenly, Assassin Noct screamed.
"Ugaaaaaah!"
A fierce cry, unimaginable from his usually taciturn self.
"I instructed Assassin Noct to make contact with 'Chaosism' to obtain the key needed to release my seal. Probably, he got possessed because of that."
Even though someone was suffering in front of her, Agetha calmly explained in a nonchalant tone.
Perhaps, this was within Agetha's expectations.
Is the key the gem-like object Assassin Noct was using to release the seal?
While contemplating this, a significant change occurred in Assassin Noct.
His body expanded, the skin turned green, and he was transforming into something other than human.
"Nice to meet you, Hero Agetha. I am the Tyrant King of Rebellion."
The voice was completely different from the one Assassin Noct had. He introduced himself as the Tyrant King of Rebellion.
Ah, could this be the mastermind that Agetha mentioned, the one who will destroy the world?
"Nice to meet you."
Standing face to face, Agetha calmly greeted.
"First of all, congratulations. You defeated the Demon Lord, didn't you?"
"I didn't defeat him."
"I see. Even so, it's a joyous occasion for humanity, isn't it?"
"Enough with the pleasantries. Let's get to the point."
"How cold. Well then, straight to the point. I've recently detected an unusual wavelength in the flow of time. Have you done something again?"
"I have no idea."
"…You're not willing to answer, huh? Most likely, you're the cause of it."
"I told you, I don't want to engage in pointless conversation with you. Just get to the point."
"I see, you really seem to dislike me. However, it's strange. It should be our first meeting, so when did you start disliking me? Well, if you're a hero, causing such anomalies should be easy."
The Tyrant King muttered something meaningful.
"Hero Agetha, let's make a deal. I want to seal you. After the Demon Lord was defeated, I want to observe what happens when a hero is sealed."
"And if I refuse?"
"I will destroy this world."
With a calm tone, the Tyrant King asserted.
"Oh, it's better not to think of stopping me. You can't kill me. And for me, destroying the world is easier than preparing breakfast. But I understand. Even if I destroy the world, I can't truly kill you. So, even if I manage to bring this to a draw using this method, I can't win."
"I don't see any benefit for me in this deal."
"I am the Tyrant King. I'm only interested in what benefits me. So, what will you do?"
"Fine. As you say, I'll be sealed."
"You're surprisingly understanding."
"That's right…"
Agetha vaguely nodded.
"Hey, can I also be sealed along with Agetha?"
Feeling that this was the only opportunity to bring it up, I opened my mouth to the Tyrant King.
"I'm interested in sealing only the hero, not anyone else."
"Well, I just don't want to leave Agetha alone."
"…I see. Well, having one or two doesn't make much of a difference in effort. Sealing both of you shouldn't be a problem."
Relieved by the Tyrant King's response, I had been worrying about what to do if he had refused.
"Well then, let's proceed with the preparations for the sealing ceremony."
"What should we do?"
"There's no need to do anything. Just stand there."
So, we remained silent. Suddenly, I felt a hand gripping mine. Looking down, I saw Agetha standing next to me, holding my hand. I reciprocated the gesture, holding Agetha's hand.
"Sorry, Agetha."
"Why is Kiska apologizing? If you're nearby, Kiska, I'm satisfied."
"I see…"
I couldn't help but feel accustomed to Agetha's straightforward affection.
"Is the conversation over?"
The Tyrant King interjected.
"Yeah, it's over."
"I see. Well then, let's proceed with the sealing ceremony."
"Hey, Tyrant King. Can I ask you one question?"
Agetha spoke up.
"Sure, I don't mind."
"Are you the leader of Chaosism?"
Chaosism. An organization of unknown origin and purpose to which Holy Knight Canaria and Warrior Gorgano belong. Come to think of it, Agetha mentioned that the reason Assassin Noct was possessed by the Tyrant King was due to contact with Chaosism.
If that story was true, it would make sense for the being in front of us to be the leader of Chaosism.
"Since denying it won't change anything, I'll affirm it."
"I thought so. So, what is your goal?"
"Well, it's not a problem to talk about it to that extent. Our goal is to reach the truth."
"And you're willing to destroy the world for that?"
"Yeah, if that's necessary."
"I see. I don't really care about the fate of the world, but please don't cause any more trouble for me and my important people."
"Got it. We'll handle it appropriately."
Even though the Tyrant King nodded, it's questionable whether those words can be trusted.
"…"
Agetha nodded, diverting her gaze from the Tyrant King as if the conversation were concluded, and she regrasped my hand.
"Now, let's proceed with the sealing ceremony."
Suddenly, light enveloped our surroundings.
I recalled the first time I met Agetha, and a similar light surrounded her as if sealing her away.
"Agetha, I'm here with you."
"Yeah."
Once again, I tightly held Agetha's hand. As long as I didn't let go of this hand, we could overcome any hardship.
Gradually, my body became unresponsive.
Soon, my vision darkened, and I couldn't see anything.
However, as long as Agetha's warmth was in my hand, the flame in my heart would never go out.
[Conditions met. Returning to the original timeline.]
"Huh?"
I involuntarily exclaimed at the distorted characters that suddenly appeared in front of me.
Simultaneously, I remembered something.
The observer who sent me to this timeline had said this.
"When it is determined that the world has been saved, you will be forcibly returned to the original timeline."
"Hey, wait! I don't want to be separated from Agetha! So, please, I beg you, stop returning me to the original timeline!"
Even though I shouted, the place remained silent. Faintly, the distant growls of monsters could be heard.
I didn't even know if the observer could hear my voice.
"Ahh…"
I saw Agetha shedding large, irregular tears.
"Agetha!"
On impulse, I embraced her. However, I knew that such an act wouldn't resolve anything.
"No… I don't want to… I don't want to be separated from Kiska."
With tears streaming down her face, Agetha pleaded.
I shared the same sentiment. Leaving Agetha alone and leaping a hundred years into the future was an unbearable cruelty.
"Hey, Tyrant King! Stop the sealing right now!"
I shouted, but the sealing inside and outside had already become isolated, and my voice wouldn't reach the Tyrant King outside the seal.
Gradually, I realized that my body was becoming translucent from the toes.
When my body disappeared completely, I would be gone from this timeline.
Observing the speed at which I was vanishing, I realized that I had only a short time left to talk to Agetha.
"Agetha, listen to me."
I was in a frenzy. I shouted with the desperate desire to be of any help to Agetha.
Agetha, who heard my words, lifted her face, which had been lowered, and looked into my eyes.
"When I return to the original timeline, I'll be the first to come and find you, Agetha… So, please, stay strong and wait for me."
I hoped that at least these words would lighten Agetha's heart.
"Yeah, I'll be waiting…"
Agetha nodded, but her expression remained filled with sorrow.
No, this wasn't enough.
With words like these, I couldn't alleviate Agetha's pain.
Was there anything else I could do? But I couldn't think of anything.
Damn it, I'm so powerless.
Why can't I save a single girl in front of me?
"Agetha, I will definitely come for you."
Still, persistently, I kept talking.
I wasn't sure if these words were right, but it was the only way to make Agetha believe in me.
Is there anything… anything that could prove my feelings?
▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽
The skill
△△△△△△△△△△△△△△△
An unfamiliar message appeared.
Come to think of it, I had a skill called
As the message disappeared, a light shone down on my hand. When I reached out to the light, there was a ring in my hand.
I recalled that Agetha had wanted a ring, but due to various circumstances, I couldn't prepare one.
"Please take this."
So, in a natural flow, I handed the ring to Agetha.
She extended her left hand, gesturing for me to put it on her ring finger. I obediently placed the ring on her ring finger.
"Thank you. I'm so happy."
Her eyes were red, and her face was tear-stained. Nevertheless, she faintly raised the corners of her mouth. Just seeing that smile gave me a sense of purification, as if my heart was being cleansed.
"Agetha!"
I reached out, wanting to touch her once more, but when my fingertips may or may not have touched her, I disappeared from that place.
◆◆◆