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Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? (Light Novel) - Volume 11, Chapter 8: One Small Step
Volume 11, Chapter 8: One Small Step
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Part 1
April 12, Monday
After watching the fight come to an end, Maki lowered her cane. At the same time, she cancelled a large amount of spells that she had prepared. Maki was prepared to do anything for Koutarou, but if it was revealed that she was his ally, she would find herself in a difficult position. But fortunately, there had been no turn for Maki to enter. Sanae had far more power hidden inside of her than Maki could have imagined.
“Here I was thinking that she was just a poor evil spirit controlled by a necromancer, but boy was I wrong. That power she showed at the end, though it was just for a moment, it was quite clearly on the levels of gods... Just what kind of god is that girl serving...”
In the past, Maki had thought that Sanae was a ghost being manipulated by Koutarou using necromancy. Thinking back to it, she realized what a huge misunderstanding she had made. Sanae was from an old, historical family of priests, and her inherited powers had manifested themselves. She could use spiritual energy, and an extreme amount at that. She couldn't fully control it all, but she was continually exceeding the human limit.
“...She was originally able to use spiritual abilities, but because her spiritual energy had been separated from her, she looked like an ordinary ghost.”
While observing Koutarou and the others, Maki analyzed Sanae's situation. That had been the reason she came to this place in the first place.
“It seems like she somehow managed to return as one, but in this modernized age, it seems even her family has lost their ability to use spiritual energy. That's why, although she has a lot of spiritual energy, she was just an ordinary girl. But once her memories as a ghost returned, she obtained the techniques needed to use spiritual energy...”
If Sanae hadn't recovered her memories, she would have probably just been a normal girl that could see ghosts. The reason she was able to use spiritual energy was probably thanks to her many years as a ghost. Her experience from being a ghost had allowed her to learn how to manipulate spiritual energy.
“The reason her memories returned may have been because a part of herself was still left inside Satomi-kun, or it might have been residual thoughts inside that charm. Or it could be both. In other words, she was in a situation where her memories would return if she was in danger.”
In the case that Sanae came into contact with Koutarou while his spiritual circuits were active, she would be able to indirectly access her own spiritual body.
And the charm she had always been wearing contained residual thoughts. This also made it possible for her to regain her memories.
In other words, Sanae only needed to come into contact with Koutarou's spiritual powers, or the memories contained in the charm. It meant that two backups had unintentionally been left behind.
“...I think I'll put something like that in my report.”
With her thoughts gathered, Maki turned her back towards Koutarou and the others. She couldn't let them know that she had been present.
“But, what a dull report. It was such a trivial matter.”
That had been the conclusion of the magician Darkness Navy of Rainbow Darkness. But Maki found that to be a boring conclusion. And so, Aika Maki came up with a different one.
“She got her memories back because her bond with Satomi-kun was strong. It was thanks to their strong emotions for one another that they were able to break through these hardships... this way is much more wonderful.”
If she said this to her allies in Darkness Rainbow, she would be laughed at. Even Maki herself would have laughed half a year ago. But right now, she knew that to be the truth. And the person she loved wouldn't laugh at her either.
“...It's your win, small evil spirit...”
Maki smiled gently and jumped into the darkness of the night.
“I am a little mortified, but I will let you have Satomi-kun for tonight. Fufufu.”
Nobody was around to hear Maki's laughter, but she was satisfied.
“...Ahh... the moon is very beautiful tonight...”
Maki was a magician of darkness that lived in the dark of night.
But right now, the moonlight turned into hope and gently shone down on her.
Part 2
With the battle over, Koutarou returned Saguratin to its sheath. He then pushed it back into the black hole that had appeared. It wasn't until he had let go off his sword that he was able to relax.
“Haah, it's finally over...”
It wasn't that a lot of time had passed, but a lot of things had happened, so Koutarou was mentally exhausted.
“This is great, Sanae-chan's memories returned!”
“I'm sorry for making you worry.”
“I wasn't sure what would happen for a moment, but now we're all back together.”
“This is truly marvelous.”
“Ho-, HoHo-!”
Amongst the many events, the biggest one was Sanae regaining her memories. This wasn't one of the events that had exhausted Koutarou, but it was the most surprising event of the night. In truth, Koutarou still couldn't believe it. He couldn't imagine being able to speak to Sanae like normal again was real.
“Satomi Koutarou, why do you look so surprised?”
“You wouldn't possibly say that you are unhappy that Sanae has returned.”
Noticing Koutarou's appearance, Theia and Kiriha spoke out.
“There's no way that I'm unhappy.”
Koutarou shook his head. He was happy that Sanae had gotten her memories back.
“But... I'm just a little surprised. To think―”
“To think that Sanae would really get her memories back, huh?”
Kiriha managed to say what Koutarou was thinking before he could put it into words. As a result, Koutarou ended up surprised once more.
“...Something like that.”
Koutarou nodded while hiding the fact that he was shaken.
“You are surprised that what you thought was impossible has happened. It's nothing less or more than that.”
That was when Theia called out to Koutarou.
“You are quick to give up...”
As Theia said that she smiled.
“Koutarou, could you tell me something.”
Her smile at this time was as gentle as a crimson tulip in blossom.
“Yeah.”
“If I were to leave your side... would you feel the same way as you did with Sanae? Would you believe that we would never meet again...?”
“Wha...”
Theia's words shook Koutarou once more. It was just like she had said. That was indeed what he believed. He believed that one day he would have to part ways with Theia, and that they would never meet again.
“Bullseye, huh.”
“...”
Just staying quiet was all Koutarou could do. But looking at gentle Theia's expression was, he figured that she had already noticed how shaken up he really was.
“Listen up, pleb. I promise you that no matter how far apart we might find ourselves, we will definitely meet again. And I will make you believe in that promise sooner or later.”
Theia's eyes were filled with confidence as she proudly declared so.
“Theia...”
“Well then, I will see you later. I will rejoice at my reunion with Sanae.”
Theia left before Koutarou could answer. Theia didn't care what Koutarou believed, because she was going to change that belief.
“Sanae, well done on coming back.”
“Theia! That's right, Theia, look, look! My breasts grew a little bigger, look at them!”
“W-Whaaaat!?”
Once Theia joined Sanae and the others, the group got a lot more noisy. And as he looked at them, Koutarou began thinking about something.
...Do they believe that these days will last forever...?
Looking at the girls, he couldn't imagine that they thought even once of the day that they would have to part ways. The girls laughed as if these days would last an eternity.
“...Hey, Kiriha-san.”
He wanted to confirm it.
And he felt like Kiriha would be able to give him an answer.
“Do you... no, do all of you believe that these days will never end?”
That might have been a question too vague for anyone but Kiriha to answer. But Kiriha knew of Koutarou's circumstances. So, she answered the question that Koutarou had intended to ask.
“At the very least, I do.”
Kiriha easily affirmed Koutarou's question.
“I want you to remember the girl called Kii. She believed that her mere three days of memories would see a continuation and so she waited for ten years.”
“...How can you believe so much? Didn't it ever occur to you that nothing might happen even if you believe?”
“Koutarou...”
Kiriha slowly smiled. It was a smile that was both deeply saddened and gentle. It was an expression made possible thanks to the fact that Kiriha knew everything about Koutarou.
“I would like to ask you the opposite. Why don't you believe? Why do you believe that you will not be rewarded for believing? Why don't you imagine a future with others?”
“That's...”
Koutarou couldn't answer. Speaking the answer to that question would be the same as accepting all of his weaknesses. But Koutarou had forgotten.
“...Koutarou, I want you to think this as a message from Kii.”
He had forgotten that Kiriha had forgiven all of his weaknesses in the past.
“Onii-chan, please... Don't think that everyone will meet such as sad of an ending as your mother...”
And now, Kiriha was forgiving Koutarou's weaknesses once more.
“...”
Koutarou was unable to say anything. That was because Kiriha's words sounded like the truth to him.
“...That is all I can say.”
With that, Kiriha ended the discussion and her expression returned to normal. Sanae and the others who had been amusing themselves by chatting approached the two.
“Let's go home, Koutarou, Kiriha!”
“I am so very hungry.”
“Kiriha, make me food!”
“I almost forgot, we made a promise like that, didn't we?”
“Yeah!”
After exchanging a few words with Kiriha on the way, Sanae ran up to Koutarou. She then extended her arms straight out and jumped as hard as she could.
“Koutarou!!”
Using the momentum from running, Sanae clung onto Koutarou's neck. But shortly after, she separated a little and looked into Koutarou's eyes before speaking to him.
“Let's return to our home.”
Those words left Sanae's words in a very natural fashion.”
“Sanae...”
Hearing that, Koutarou froze up. Sanae was smiling as if days like these would continue on forever.
“What are you freezing up for? She said let's go home.”
While Koutarou was frozen, Theia spoke to him. As she did, Koutarou remembered her words from just a moment ago.
“Listen up, pleb. I promise you that no matter how far apart we might find ourselves, we will definitely meet again. And I will make you believe in that promise sooner or later.”
Theia believed that there would be no end to these days.
And so did Kiriha.
“If we don't hurry home, dinner will be delayed even further.”
Kiriha smiled, and a girl called Kii was always lurking behind that smile.
“Onii-chan, please... Don't think that everyone will meet such as a sad ending as your mother...”
After just three days, that girl had believed that they would meet again and that their lives would continue on forever. Those feelings had guided her to this place, and now she stood here smiling.
“What's wrong Koutarou? Are you not feeling good? Is it because we merged!?”
Worried about Koutarou who wasn't speaking, Sanae poked out her face again.
“You're wrong. It won't end just because you die.”
“And you won't be alone. Someone somewhere out there is watching over you. I know that.”
“Yeah. I don't think this world's god is such a strict person.”
Koutarou remembered the words that had been whispered during the battle. Sanae believed that there would be no end to these days. And it was because she believed that that she had been able to return to Koutarou and the others.
“That's right, Sanae-chan, I recorded the continuation of Love Love Heart.”
“Once we get back, I'll give you those clothes you wanted. You'll finally be able to wear them.”
“Then we'll need to adjust their length a little. I will prepare the sewing set.”
Yurika, Shizuka and Ruth surely believed that as well.
“Really!? Koutarou, let's hurry back!! There's so much to do!!”
That's why an unexpected thought, asking if Koutarou shouldn't believe in that as well, jumped into his mind.
Of course, it might not be possible right away. Changing the way someone lived their life was hard. Changing the direction of something required a lot of work and time.
But Koutarou felt like he should take at least the first step towards that. For the sake of those with expectations of him, and for the sake of his own future.
“...Let's do that.”
“Yeah! Let's go home!”
And as for Koutarou's first step.
“Sanae.”
“Hm? What?”
What he did was the same thing, but the feelings behind it were different.
“...Welcome back, Sanae.”
“Koutarou...”
Koutarou decided that changing his actions all of a sudden would be hard, so he started by changing his feelings.
“Ehehehe, this is the first time you've spoken so lovingly...”
“This is?”
“Yeah...”
Performing the same actions with new feelings.
“...I'm back, Koutarou...”
Embracing the small girl who had managed to return after going through hell in his arms was just a very small step.
Part 3
The invader girls passed through the gate to the Higashihongan family grounds so that they could adjust the clothes Sanae had gotten from Shizuka and to take the measures of Yurika's costume.
Since Sanae was smaller than Shizuka, she couldn't wear the clothes she had been given just like that. And since Sanae had been jealous of Yurika's costume, they decided to take those measurements at the same time. By the way, with this being their goal, Koutarou wasn't going with them.
“Sanae-chan.”
“Yes?”
“Since you have such an amazing home, you don't really need the ownership of room 106, don't you?”
“No way would I give that up. That's that and this is this.”
“That's just unfair~”
It was only obvious that Yurika would grieve; the Higashihongan family grounds were larger than a baseball stadium if you included the hills behind her home. Sanae was actually a rich lady.
Even after passing under the gate, Sanae's home was still a bit away. Her mansion was down the avenue and past a stone bridge. Though land was cheap in the provinces, it was quite clear that the Higashihongan family had quite the financial power.
“My Kurano family's home is about 70% of this.”
“Having 70% of this underground is amazing, Kiriha!”
“The home of the head maid in the resort north of Mastir was about this size.”
“Now that you mention it... it's been awhile since we last met.”
“That's unfair, all of you~”
Theia, Ruth, Kiriha and Sanae all had considerable assets and could be considered rich. There was a large financial gap between them and the self-proclaimed magical girl of love and courage, Yurika.
“Now now, Yurika-chan, there's no need to get depressed.”
“Even you have Corona House, Shizuka-san. I only have a wardrobe. Uuuuhh.”
Yurika held her cane against the chest of her costume and shed tears.
Truth be told, many of the girls around her wanted to live in that wardrobe Yurika was living in. Yurika remained unaware of just how blessed she really was.
As this continued, the group reached the entrance to the mansion. There, a woman in her late thirties wearing a kimono was waiting.
“Welcome everyone. Thank you for always taking care of my Sanae.”
The woman deeply bowed her head.
This courteous woman was Sanae's mother.
“And you even have such a wonderful mom. My mom is just...”
Without even properly greeting Sanae's mother, Yurika started feeling envious. Everything she had seen since crossing the front gate had only served to stimulate her complex.
“Oh?”
Sanae's mother's eyes stopped on Yurika.
“That cane...”
The next moment, her eyes narrowed.
Oh no!? I must have done something again!
Yurika noticed the change in Sanae's mother's expression before anyone else and feared that she had been the reason. She was sure that she had broken some kind of peculiar rule only rich people would have.
“I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for coming to play when I'm poor! I didn't mean any harm!”
And so Yurika apologized while on the verge of tears. Sanae's mother was scary, but Yurika was more scared of being scolded by Koutarou later.
“Could you be...”
However, Sanae's mother's expression soon loosened up. She showed a nostalgic smile as if she had seen an old friend.
“Could you be Nana-chan's friend?”
“Eeeeh? D-Do you know Nana-san!?”
It was a fated meeting.
Yurika and Sanae's mother had a common acquaintance.
“No way!? Mama, were you a cosplayer!?”
“...Eh?”
“Could the reason you were in the archery club in school be because you wanted their outfit!?”
“C-Cosplay?”
However, that fated meeting created an odd atmosphere between Sanae and her mother.
