Published at 18th of January 2020 11:47 pm

Volume 6, Chapter 4: Prequel: The End, the Beginning, and a Meeting

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

It was the eighth autumn after Chrysos and Platina had entered into the world. Those twins, who were born in early summer, were now seven.

As always, their appearances were utterly identical outside of their gold and platinum eyes. But to their parents, who watched over them every day, the differences in their personalities were growing day by day.

There were certainly many inconveniences to this small world, akin to a miniature garden, that they lived in together with their mother, Mov, who was just as much of a spoiled child as her daughters. Smaragdi wanted to show the wide world to those girls, who had only ever known the depths of the temple.

Even so, their days together were happy enough that he also wished to keep on spending such calm, gentle time together forever.

As they entered into autumn, the town of Vassilios was filled with a brilliant, joyful air.

The climate in Vassilios was unrelenting, so the harvest season, when cool winds started blowing and making things more comfortable, was greatly appreciated, even though the country wasn’t very suitable to farming.

“...So it’s time for the Quirmizi harvest festival, is it? To think that it’s already that time of year...” Smaragdi muttered to himself while walking through town and looking around.

The temple of Banafsaj held the greatest influence in Vassilios and was in charge of government. However, it wasn’t as if the country was lacking in faith in the other gods. As Vassilios had a rugged climate, their harvests were always limited. Therefore, they never neglected to hold festivals for Quirmizi, the god who governed the earth and harvests.

The town had a radiantly merry feel about it as preparations for the festival to give thanks to Quirmizi and celebrate the harvest they were given were underway.

The sight inspired an idea in Smaragdi. I’d... like to show this to Chrysos and Platina, too. And in his mind’s eye, Mov too was naturally by his side.

His daughters and their mother weren’t familiar with the normal state of the town, but when they saw the even more brilliant sight of the festival, their expressions were sure to shine, too.

Smaragdi was aware that the circumstances those girls found themselves in meant that they couldn’t let their hair down so lightly.

And so, when Smaragdi casually let that desire slip, Mov stared blankly back at him.

“You can just consider that some idle chatter. I just kind of wanted you to hear it.”

It was just the two of them, as their daughters had already fallen asleep.

This was the only time that she could show her own personal expressions, rather than those of the grand priestess or a mother, and when she heard Smaragdi’s words, she tilted her head at the same angle that her daughters did.

“You are not the sort of person to voice an idea without any reason,” she said, causing Smaragdi to give a strained laugh. However, Mov’s expression was serious.

“Is something up?”

“You see right through me, Mov.”

Thinking on it, the time he had spent together with Mov couldn’t be called short, even for someone who had lived as long as him. And it wasn’t just long, but also a time rich in happiness. And so, he ended up having such

“At some point, I’ll be separated from those girls... I don’t know when that will be, but... I want to leave those girls with plenty of memories before that time comes. And I don’t want them to ever think of those memories as something painful or bitter.”

At some point, he would sacrifice his life for the sake of his daughters. He had been prepared for that for quite some time now. And as his beloved daughters grew more and more utterly irreplaceable to him, any doubt about that fact completely and utterly vanished. Even without Mov’s protection, as their father, he would gladly risk his life to protect those girls.

But he wanted to leave his daughters memories powerful enough that when the time came, even if his death left wounds on his daughter’s hearts, the twins would overcome them. He wanted them both to be able to clearly say that they were happy. That was his wish.

“I may not even get to see those girls become adults. But whenever this season comes... they may end up recalling memories of me. And so I’ve been thinking... if possible, I’d like those to be happy memories,” Smaragdi said with a slightly troubled smile, understanding that he may have been acting purely for his own satisfaction.

What he should prioritize was the safety of Mov and his daughters. And considering the importance of their existence, he should never do such a thing.

But even so, he wanted to tell his feelings to someone, so he had opened up to Mov.

He felt that he would be satisfied just having her listen to his words with her golden eyes looking straight at him, not a hint of maliciousness to her expression.

What Smaragdi had forgotten was that Mov was a natural airhead who was unusually good at taking initiative.

Mov first got ahold of child-sized overcoats with the assistance of an horns, there were cat-ear shapes attached to the hoods. She also dyed her long purple hair.

There really was a limit to how decisively one should act.

When he saw Mov with dark brown hair, Smaragdi was left at a loss for words. If anyone from the temple had saw how the Lady Oracle had ruined that precious color of Banafsaj, they would be liable to faint.

“M-Mov, what did you...?” Smaragdi asked, sounding bewildered. “There are some spots left, but if I wear a headdress atop it, then none will notice in the darkness,” Mov responded, brimming with confidence as she puffed up with pride. She didn’t realize that she hadn’t given an answer to his question.

“Um... Mov?”

“If you say we cannot, then I will take those two outside on my own.” “What sort of threat is that?”

It was the first outing for those naturally airheaded young girls, who knew nothing of the outside world. He couldn’t imagine it would be anything but an incident-filled event.

When he recovered from the initial shock of that, Smaragdi realized that Mov had apparently made plans to take their daughters outside. She had taken action in order to realize what he had muttered about. He was glad for the consideration, but he couldn’t let her do so.

While such sensible thoughts ran through Smaragdi’s head, the confident expression on Mov’s face didn’t crumble in the least, and she continued on, “With my divine protection, I can manage to do so without you even realizing it.”

He wanted to prevent a repeat of the “graveyard incident.” It was no surprise that such a thought would immediately spring to Smaragdi’s mind.

However, when Smaragdi opened his mouth to stop Mov, he looked at her and closed it again.

Mov cheerfully put a silk veil on her head and faced Smaragdi. Such things were a common bit of fashion for women in this hot, parched land, meant to ward off the strong rays of the sun. Even her golden eyes and horns that sparkled the same color didn’t stand out when hidden by the dark colored veil. Surely no one would be able to tell she even possessed those rare colors of the Lady Oracle at a glance.

She was certainly acting out of consideration for Smaragdi’s wish while thinking of their daughters. However, he saw an excitement beyond just that in her expression. At the sight before him, Smaragdi’s words of objection abandoned him.

Their daughters weren’t the only ones who had been raised in secret in the depths of the shrine, not knowing the outside world. It was no surprise that she would have an interest in such things too.

“So, there’s no danger to you, Ryso, or Latina?”

In that case, he should give his all to make things turn out for the best, considering the risks. Having made up his mind, Smaragdi regained his usual calm and smiled. He likely had a tendency to be soft on not just his daughters, but also Mov, who was younger than him.

“I cannot say that there is no danger whatsoever. However, it is possible to make choices to lower the possibility of more dangerous futures occuring, rendering them ineffective. Changing my hair color was one such choice,” Mov replied, holding out the child-sized overcoats she had prepared as she did so. “That is also why I chose hoods that hid their horns rather than ones that let them show.”

It was also why she had made the very important decision of choosing triangular cat ears over round bear ears. It most certainly wasn’t just because they were adorable.

“Come here Latina, Ryso.”

“What is it?” “Huuuh?”

However, it was also a fact that when the twins came over to their beckoning mother and put on the overcoats and hoods, they were even more adorable than Smaragdi had expected. The way that they hopped around merrily, excited by this unfamiliar new clothing, making them look so cute that he could go so far as to declare that real kittens didn’t even compare.

Once her daughters were ready, Mov exited the room as if it was only natural. Having given up on stopping her, Smaragdi took their daughters’ hands and followed behind her.

As someone who lacked such a thing, Smaragdi didn’t truly understand the great power she possessed in the form of her divine protection. It was thinkable that his interference could have a negative impact. With that thought in mind, all he could do was watch over Mov’s actions.

They were normally never allowed to pass through the door connecting the depths of the temple to its other sections. Apparently the girls sensed that they found themselves in a different situation than normal. The two smart girls looked at each other and pursed their lips.

Mov walked with a confident stride, occasionally stopping, and at times taking a detour while progressing through the vast temple. While doing so, they didn’t pass a single priest, even though there should have been many of them about.

Smaragdi didn’t like the temple’s way of doing things, entrusting everything to prophecies and never thinking on their own, but at times like this, he couldn’t help but feel in awe at those words from a god.

There was the power to see through everything within Mov’s golden eyes. That fact was inescapable.

Smaragdi and his daughters followed along after Mov as she smoothly slipped through the vast temple grounds.

The gatekeeper guarding the exterior of the temple did not realize that Mov, with the rare colors she possessed now hidden, was the Lady Oracle herself. That was even more true of the twins, whose very existence wasn’t even known to anyone but a portion of the temple’s elite. They blended in with the throngs of people visiting the temple and headed into town.

What awaited them was a brilliantly colored townscape spreading out wide before them. The sky above it all was colored a gradation from red to had only seen the sky cut off by the walls of the temple, so they both stopped and looked up at it, their mouths opened wide. That alone made taking them outside worthwhile.

Mov suddenly turned around and looked at Smaragdi, an impish smile on her face. Even if she didn’t say anything, it was clear from her expression that she felt glad she had taken action. While looking a little troubled, too, Smaragdi smiled back at her, as her accomplice.

There were artificial springs constructed here and there throughout town.

Rather than being naturally occurring, these springs were filled using magic by those who made their living doing so. Though there was little rain in the country, the people of this town had no need to compete over water. The air by the spring was cooled by the chilly water making it a good place to rest, so a great many people had stopped there to do so. Thanks to the need to avoid the midday heat, this evening hour was the most prosperous one for the town.

The people about town were stopping there now for more reasons than that usual one, though. Numerous pure white flowers were floating on the water’s surface. They were offerings to Quirmizi, as they were thought to be symbolic of the portion of the blessings provided by that god.

The sight of those brilliant large blossoms, of a sort which didn’t bloom in the temple’s garden, caused a look of surprise to appear on the faces of both the girls under their matching hoods. They ran up to the shrine and reached out towards the flowers, which were floating tantalizingly out of reach. The girls weren’t discouraged by that, though, and instead played around by splashing the water. Even just seeing the petals sway atop the water was apparently enough to bring them joy, as the girls laughed in tandem.

Chrysos and Platina turned around to confirm that their parents were still watching over them, gentle expressions on their faces. Their smiles grew all the brighter upon seeing Smaragdi and Mov, and they showed no signs of trust in their parents. So as long as they were by the girls’ side, they had no reason to feel uneasy.

They were full of curiosity by nature and the town was overflowing with thing they’d never seen, and combined with the great excitement in the air, their smiles showed no sign of abating.

Smaragdi called over a person with a basket by the spring’s side and handed over some coins. The four flowers he received in exchange were of the same sort as those floating on the surface of the spring, pure white ones with many layered petals.

“We place them in the spring with prayers of thanks for our everyday sustenance.”

Smaragdi handed one flower each to Mov and his daughters, then placed his own gently into the spring. Chrysos and Platina obediently followed his example, each dropping their flower onto the water’s surface with a serious look on her face.

Finding it strange that Mov didn’t do the same, Smaragdi looked over at her. Mov was holding the flower to her chest, looking a little hesitant.

“Mov?” Smaragdi called out, sounding perplexed.

“I know that there is no helping it, as it is a ritual,” Mov said, letting her flower go into the spring. After thinking on his past actions for a bit, Smaragdi reached a satisfactory answer.

“Now that I think of it, I’ve never given you a flower before, have I?”

Apparently he had hit the mark. She had an unpleasant expression, pouting like a child. Rather than denying her feelings, he hugged her.

“I was wrong. What sort of flowers are your favorite, Mov? I’ve never asked before, right?”

“In the temple, I never had the chance to experience such things...”

“I see. In that case, I’ll have to think on what type of flower suits you best,” Smaragdi said with a smile, moving his hand from around her waist to her hand instead.

“You’re unfamiliar with the town, so I don’t want you to get lost.”

Mov blushed ever so slightly and gripped his hand back tightly. They then each offered their open hands to their daughters. Holding their father and mother’s hands, Platina and Chrysos looked up at their parents with smiles on their faces.

Today, the street corners throughout town were decorated with flowers, creating a gorgeous atmosphere. Even the shadows cast by the walls dyed red by the light of the setting sun added to the beautiful colors of the town.

Platina and Chrysos stopped and stared at everything. They’d point something out and then ask their parents. They lifted and raised their hands while looking at their own shadows in a strange sort of dance. Their parents looked on them with affection all the while as this was going on, finding everything they did adorable.

Before long, they arrived at the temple of Quirmizi. It was a modest building, not even comparing to the grand temple of Banafsaj where they lived. It was decorated with metallic ornamentation. Seeing the many designs there for the first time, the girls were completely captivated.

“Rag, what’s that?”

“Ah, that imagery represents the favor of Quirmizi... There are a lot of plants that don’t exist in this country shown there.”

The sparkle in their daughters’ were clearly the shine of curiosity. The metal relief showed plants from all ages and nations in great detail. Smaragdi was also aware that each relief displayed a season or region, allowing it to serve as an illustrated reference for plants.

“Ryso wants to see more! Rag, pick Ryso up!”

“Pick up Latina, too!”

For someone as slender as Smaragdi, picking up both his daughters at the same time when they demanded it was getting more and more difficult day by day. Even so, he’d never be able to refuse them when they were begging like this.

“Wow, amazing!”

“Over that way, Rag, that way!”

With his daughters chattering away in high spirits as he held them, Smaragdi steadily walked along. Mov walked alongside him, as if snuggling up to him. As both of Smaragdi’s hands were occupied by their daughters, she instead got even closer to him than normal.

Mov gently, affectionately pulled Chrysos’s hood back up, as it was about to fall due to the girl getting overly excited. No matter how one looked at her, she was a kind, caring mother.

As they walked, they circled around the building. It was normally a quiet place without many people around, but as today was a festival, there were a great many visitors.

Since it was a harvest festival, this year’s bounty was piled up atop the temple’s altar. It was precisely because the environment was so harsh, limiting the crops they could obtain, that this ritual was held out of pure faith and thanks to the god.

“I suppose it’ll be starting soon,” Smaragdi muttered. “Hmm?”

“What will?”

The two girls in Smaragdi’s arms tilted their heads. Mov also looked to be confused. Seeing their reactions, Smaragdi smiled and beckoned Mov over to a place a little bit separated from where the crowd was gathering.

“The offering dance is starting. They’ll put on a dance, starting from here and going all through town, to places like that spring where we were before. The dance at the spring will be flashier, but more people will gather there, so I thought this place would be better for taking it easy and watching.”

Not long after Smaragdi finished his explanation, numerous priests started appearing from within the temple. They took command of the surroundings through sheer volume as they wildly played their percussion instruments and flutes, making sounds that differed greatly from what could be heard in the temple of Banafsaj and clearing away any gloom coming from the now very dim natural light.

The twins clung to their father at first out of shock at the loud noises, but when they saw the priestesses in their brilliant outfits, the girls’ gazes grew fixed on them. As they watched the elegant dance, it was as if they had forgotten to even blink.

Smaragdi glanced over at Mov, and found that she was admiring her enraptured daughters more than the dance itself. Noticing his gaze she looked back at him, and they smiled at one another.

It would be difficult to exchange words at the moment, as they would be drowned out by the musical performance. While Smaragdi was thinking that, Mov intertwined her own arm around his. As he was holding both their daughters at the moment he couldn’t do anything in response, but he looked at Mov, whose cheeks were a little flushed with embarrassment at being so close.

“...I’m really glad that I met you,” Smaragdi whispered quietly, thinking he

wouldn’t mind if she didn’t hear. Mov gave a happy smile back. “No matter what happens from now on... those feelings of mine won’t change.”

“...Right.”

Mov closed her eyes and rested her head on Smaragdi’s shoulder. He felt her warmth, along with that ever so slight weight on him.

Hearing their daughters’ shouts of joy, their gazes returned to the dance.

The dance at the temple was reaching its climax. The dancers had been moving in perfect sync, but now they created a slight lag in between their movements. Their hands wearing thin golden rings fluttered as if creating ripples, and their dazzling matching orange outfits, the color of the god they worshipped, spread out like flowers.

The percussion rang out loudly enough to shake one’s eardrums. As the aftereffects lingered silence returned to the temple and the dance came to an end, the extraordinary giving way once more to the ordinary.

They noticed now that the setting sun was already sinking beyond the dunes of the desert. The last vestiges of red disappeared from the sky, and were replaced by a twinkling sea of stars.

The excitement from the dance they had just seen still hadn’t abated, so the two daughters seemed to be more skipping along than walking. So that the girls wouldn’t stumble and trip in the darkness, Mov cast a gentle magic light.

Smaragdi and Mov walked along slowly hand in hand, watching over the girls as they enjoyed themselves.

There was surely a great panic back in the temple around now. Even so, they wanted this time to last even just a little bit longer.

With the power of Mov’s divine protection, it wasn’t a difficult task to return to the temple. Just like when they had left, she easily led them back to the depths of the temple. Thanks to Mov’s ability, it was if she was simply ignoring the chamberlains, who were running around looking for her and the girls who weren’t in their room, as they couldn’t cause an uproar about the matter.

Seeing that the twins had been lulled to sleep, having tired themselves out from playing, Mov was completely detached from the questioning and reprimands.

†

One day, their peaceful, yet isolated, time together suddenly approached its end.

Though the role of highest-ranking priestess had been entrusted to Mov, the previous grand priestess, Epilogi, still held a great deal of authority. The start and end of everything came when she handed down a prophecy.

“It is the light of the sun that illuminates our future.”

Those words from a god were like a fragment of a poem, and told of the future that the people wanted to know.

“The light of the moon will lead to lordly ruin.”

The word sun contained the letter indicating gold. Furthermore the letter indicating platinum was included in the word for moon.

Smaragdi’s face froze when he heard the words of that prophecy.

He had had his misgivings all this time. He had felt keenly many times since coming to live with Mov that those who were affiliated with the temple had blind faith in those words from the god, considering them absolutely just. Fortunately for him, the current highest-ranking priestess in the temple was Mov, who was his personal pupil. Rather than teaching her to immediately confirm or deny the temple’s way of thinking, he had instead made sure that she knew how to think on her own as to whether something was right or wrong.

Furthermore, having served as an advisor in the temple for so many years, Smaragdi had gained quite a bit of popularity himself. The reason someone like himself, who wasn’t even a priest, had heard the contents of Epilogi’s prophecy, was because of his various pupils. They also informed him of other matters concerning the state of the temple. As the grand priestess, Mov was stuck in the middle of the turbulent maelstrom that the temple had become. She was even more busy than she had been, and the time she could spend with her family was quite limited.

“The circumstances seem to have grown rather dire. The Lady Oracle has vigorously objected, but...” Aspida reported on the temple meeting that had been called, and Smaragdi’s face showed clear discomfort in turn. He was calm by nature, and it was incredibly uncommon to see him express such emotions so openly.

“I’m sure it was those geezers saying such foolish things, right? They may have been loyal subjects back in Lady Epilogi’s day, but those rust-headed fools who have given up on thinking entirely should have been dismissed right away.”

“Guru...”

“I know that you can’t speak ill of those old fools considering your position. Just informing me of the state of things like this is plenty. Thank you, Aspida.”

Smaragdi’s sharp words had been only natural, considering the cruel words directed towards his beloved daughter.

With this prediction from Epilogi, the idea to immediately judge the girl a “criminal” was raised by those who were considered conservative even amongst members of the temple.

Those that Smaragdi called “old fools” were making light of the statements from Mov, who should have been the highest-ranking priestess, and though their minds had curdled with age, their positions alone made them difficult to handle.

In this country, the word “lord” indicated the rightful ruler of the nation, the First Demon Lord. Having lost the previous ruler and the candidate that followed, this country had been waiting for quite some time for a new king to be enthroned. As citizens, that was no different for Smaragdi or Mov.

But with that said, there was no way they would ever accept the absurd act of Platina, who hadn’t committed a single crime, being judged a criminal based on a prophecy.

Smaragdi and Mov had Platina and Chrysos remain within their room. Though where they could go had been limited before, up until now, their daughters had enjoyed a certain degree of freedom. It was painful, having to steal away even more of their freedom and shut them away in a single room. However, they had no choice but to do so. There was no telling when the conservative priests would take stronger measures. Their decision was also heavily influenced by a desire to shield the girls from the malice, fear, and hatred that was being directed at Platina since the prophecy was handed down.

However, Smaragdi also understood where those feelings were coming from. The words of Epilogi, the previous grand priestess, held great weight, and so her prophecy that the girl would bring ruin in the future aroused great unease in people’s hearts.

Chrysos and Platina were both sensitive to the ill will held by others.

Sensing that whirlpool of malice swirling within the temple with her at the center, Platina trembled, and seeing her other half that way, Chrysos joined hands with her sister and appeared frightened herself.

Smaragdi and Mov were both aware that appearing nervous only made the girls more unnerved, but even so, neither were able to bring themselves to relax.

When Mov at last returned to their room late at night, she had a look of exhaustion about her. Her expression didn’t brighten even after seeing Smaragdi and her daughters. Sensing clearly that today had not gone well, Smaragdi spoke up to comfort her, saying, “Are you alright, Mov? You shouldn’t push yourself too—”

“It is not a matter of pushing myself too hard or not. In order to protect my child, I will exert every ounce of energy I have in my body,” she interrupted, causing Smaragdi to give a bit of an awkward smile.

“Right. But it’s important for Platina’s sake, too. If you end up collapsing, then you won’t be able to protect her anymore.”

“I understand that.”

While running his fingers through her purple hair, Smaragdi asked, “Mov, are there any records of Lady Epilogi’s prophecies ever proving wrong?”

From his analytical tone, it was clear his question was said not out of desperation, but in order to ensure he was thinking things through using accurate information.

Smaragdi was also having his heart torn apart by anger and impatience.

But it wouldn’t be possible to make things take a turn for the better that way. Understanding that, he decided that rather than letting his emotions show and screaming out, he should do his best to think things through calmly.

Mov, on the other hand, was letting her agitation and unease clearly show.

When she was carrying out her duties as grand priestess, she would never let others see her tremble. The one and only time she would expose her own weakness was in front of Smaragdi. That was the compromise that woman, far younger than Smaragdi, had reached with her own feelings.

“As far as I am aware, Lady Epilogi’s prophecies have never erred,” Mov replied in a hoarse voice, causing Smaragdi to quietly think for a bit.

“With that prophecy you once received, and the open throne... with this prophecy, I think it’s safe to assume that Chrysos will become the First Demon Lord.”

“Smaragdi...”

“Even so, I can’t imagine Platina ever wishing to harm Chrysos. The only way I can think of that occurring...” Smaragdi started, a clearly disgusted expression uncharacteristically showing clearly on his face, “would be after she’d been driven into the depths of despair after being exposed to all this absurd malice.”

These two sisters were currently very close to each other, but there was no guarantee that they would remain that way forever. However, for such naturally kind girls to be warped that greatly, it would clearly require something to happen to influence them greatly. That was why their parents thought they absolutely needed to protect the two of them.

Mov stifled her own anxiety and raised her face.

“There’s a possibility that Platina could harm Chrysos without meaning to do so.”

“...That may be possible. Can you see that using your divine protection?” “Whether I can or not, I will still try... Otherwise, there is no purpose to me even having such a power,” said Mov, driven by her emotions. Smaragdi put his arms around her, holding back his own turbulent feelings all the while. He was well aware that she loved their twin daughters every bit as much as he did.

Even though it was out of love, perhaps she was unqualified to serve as a ruler, being unable to pass impartial judgment on her own daughters.

“I feel the same way that you do.”

Even so, Smaragdi swore in his heart that he would never deny her right to do so.

“For me now, if those girls were placed on a scale with the nation of Vassilios itself, they’d win out handily, after all.”

Even if they couldn’t find a clear answer to the problem, they were both prepared to never stop struggling against that fate. The greatest sources of support for the two parents were their beloved, darling daughters.

The two sisters had been close to start with, but now they wouldn’t leave each other’s side for even an instant. Even now they slept together in the same bed, cuddling as close to one another as they could.

The girls understood that the circumstances they found themselves in had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. And it was hard to imagine that Platina in particular hadn’t noticed that “bad thing” was directed towards her. She was so observant that the word “smart” didn’t even begin to cover it.

Their parents weren’t aware of the ability to detect ill will that the girls possessed, but they knew that their daughters weren’t dense enough to fail to notice something was out of sorts. They never let even a slight change slip them by, after all.

The first one of them to break out in tears was always Platina, who was more of a timid crybaby. But lately, she didn’t seem to be even crying anymore, as if she had forgotten how.

“...Chrysos has been crying, and she’s always holding Platina’s hand. It’s like she’s trying to do it in place of Platina, who can’t even cry anymore,” Smaragdi said in a bitter voice, thinking back on the state his daughters were in. Those girls had been so lively and cheerful, but now they not only didn’t complain about being shut away in a single room, they actually cowered in a corner of that dark room, as if hiding. They were surely sharing in their terror. Chrysos in particular was always hugging her other half, as if trying to defend Platina from that “bad thing” directed towards her. She kept on desperately protecting her sister.

“I never imagined it could be so painful, not being able to take someone’s place.”

It was no surprise that Smaragdi ended up feeling helpless and angry, having watched his daughters remain in such a state. He felt as if he could understand a bit of the desire those demon lords called Calamities held to destroy everything. He even felt like he wanted to drive away all of those who brought harm to his beloved daughter.

“It may be times like this that cause people to wish for power...” Smaragdi muttered, and Mov hugged him a little more tightly with the arms already

Smaragdi had exposed a portion of his true feelings and let the unrest in his voice be heard before Mov, but he didn’t do so in front of his daughters. At the very least, he didn’t want to cause his daughters to be even more frightened. Because it was for the sake of his beloved daughters and no one else, he stifled the feelings in his heart.

“Latina... Ryso... my precious daughters...”

He hugged the girls, who hadn’t moved from the corner of the room that was becoming their normal position. He had taken care to use a gentle, kind voice when he called their names.

“Both Mov and I love the two of you. That much will never, ever change.

No matter what happens, we’ll always be on your side... remember that. Latina, Ryso...” he said, his words filled with love. Those words were unshaken, coming from the depths of his heart. That was precisely why he felt the need to say them, even if they didn’t reach his daughters in their current state.

“Rag...” Chrysos alone said in response, her voice sounding like she was about to break down in tears. Sniffling all the while, she buried her face in Smaragdi’s chest. Even while doing so, she didn’t let go of Platina’s hands.

Platina didn’t really react, remaining silent as she looked down, her face completely pale. Even so, when Smaragdi gently stroked Platina’s horn, as if enveloping it in his hand, Platina reached out and grabbed his clothing. Even from that frail motion, he could see that she was clearly still relying on him, bringing him an extraordinary sense of relief.

What could he do for the sake of this girl? How could he aid his daughters? While thinking on such things, Smaragdi hugged the girls tight.

Epilogi’s prediction, that Platina would someday “lead to lordly ruin,” could not be overturned.

Surely there was someone far more suited to such a destiny than a kindhearted girl like Platina. When thinking such a thing, Mov remembered a

That presence had dyed the whole of the world she could see the color of despair on that day when she was young. That being smiling amidst spurting blood took the form of a young girl, only making her seem all the more warped and repulsize.

The Second Demon Lord.

She slaughtered others with only the act of killing itself as her goal. That demon lord had appeared before a young Mov swinging a blade splattered in fresh blood, an utterly overjoyed smile on her face. Even now, Mov could still clearly hear her voice.

“It’s no fun to kill so easily. Perhaps letting them grow up a bit further makes for more interesting toys... What about you, I wonder?” the demon lord whispered in a voice so sweet it almost felt like it would give you heartburn, reaching out her slender fingers towards Mov, who was unable to even move. “What lovely gold and purple. It’s very rare to see such beautiful colors. I truly, truly adore things that are rare.” Her almost ominously red lips twisted into a grin. “It would be a waste to kill you now. I think it would be better to let you grow a bit further before adding you to my collection... It should be all the more enjoyable, having waited plenty.”

The demon lord’s fingers smeared a good amount of fresh blood on

Mov’s white cheeks. That blood belonged to that child who she had only just recently been talking to...

Mov cut off her recollection there, shaking her head from side to side. She gripped her hand tight, as it had started trembling without her even realizing it.

She couldn’t let herself falter over this level of terror. She wasn’t the same person she had been at that time. She was no longer someone who simply needed to be protected.

There were people she wanted to protect. She wanted to protect them no matter what, even if she was up against a demon lord.

“The Second Demon Lord... if Chrysos is determined to be the candidate for the First Demon Lord, then that girl will surely someday be exposed to the malice of that Calamity...”

There was no way it would be possible to conceal her forever.

Since a prediction that “a new king has been decided” was auspicious news, making it all the easier to become a topic of gossip. It would be impossible to keep everyone quiet. At some point it would come to light. And that time was drawing closer moment by moment.

This time, Mov would protect her.

Alongside that determination, Mov also employed her own power. The complex intertwining web of possible futures were like the shadows cast by the countless branches of a large tree, so even if one attempted to decipher them, it wasn’t an easy task to do so. Even so, Mov gazed at those futures, which only she could see. She pursued the fragments that led her to futures where her beloved daughter came to be called responsible for ruin.

Those many, many possibilities—

And so, she arrived at a single conclusion.

“The Second Demon Lord finding Platina. Amongst the futures I saw, in order to protect both of our daughters, that absolutely must be avoided.”

Hearing Mov’s words, Smaragdi frowned a bit.

“From what I’ve heard, the Second Demon Lord has been seen accompanied by those with mana traits... but Platina doesn’t have one, right? Is it not a requirement that those she seeks for her attendants possess one?”

“That demon lord... she said that she liked things that were ‘rare,’” Mov replied, causing Smaragdi’s expression to stiffen.

“If she learns that the First Demon Lord has a twin sister... the Second Demon Lord will be certain to come after Platina...”

Mov couldn’t deny those words. To someone like Mov, who could see countless possibilities, the word “certain” carried significant weight.

However, as it had an incredibly high possibility of occurring, she couldn’t dismiss what he had said.

“Mov. Can you see what will happen if the Second Demon Lord learns of Platina... that the new First Demon Lord has a twin sister?”

“...she’d be a toy,” Mov replied, shaking with resentment at the future she had seen. “Platina would be taken away, and her mind would be broken. And then, Chrysos would also...”

“...I see. That certainly would be a path to ruin.”

That would surely be a more painful, tragic future than simply being killed.

A broken Platina would be the sort of heartrending sight he’d never, ever want to see. If that happened, Chrysos would also be pulled along by her other half and lose her mind as well. And that surely wouldn’t be the end of things. That demon lord loved bloodshed and slaughter. She derived supreme joy from toying with the lives of others. She would surely force the two to meet and force them to kill one another. No matter which of them was left alive, that was surely a future worthy of being described as “ruin.”

“I’ve lived here for a long time now, but I’m not especially devout... But even so...” Smaragdi whispered with a smile. “I believe in your power, in your words. I know that you love our daughters more than anyone.”

According to Mov’s prediction, in order to protect the two of them, it was an indispensable requirement that the Second Demon Lord not find out about them. In that case, he would have to craft the best possible plan for their sake.

“Let’s get Platina away from this country.”

Mov had likely foreseen those words from Smaragdi as well. She didn’t say anything, simply wearing a pained expression on her face like she was swallowing down all her emotions.

“Let’s accept the decision to judge that girl a criminal.”

Even if that resulted in her being called a criminal and exposed to intense malice, it was far preferable to losing her.

If they took Platina, who was under the care of the temple, and fled, then pursuers would come after them and their names would be known as great criminals. In order to lawfully take Platina not only out of the temple but also the country, then the most reasonable method was to have her be judged a criminal and sentenced to exile.

And so, Smaragdi made a decision that seemed heartless. And at the same time, he made one further decision, too.

“Surely, at that time... it will be a final farewell.”

Mov silently threw her arms around Smaragdi. Smaragdi felt great relief from the way that he could see straight through to her heart from the way that she was slightly trembling.

She was also finding it hard to part, just as he was. But it had been surely decided since the first time they met, that this farewell would come.

“There’s no helping it, Mov. You need to protect Chrysos. I’ll protect Platina. What I can do is limited, but I’ll do everything that I can.”

“Smaragdi...”

“Take care of Ryso, alright. Of our precious daughter, who will be an important leader for our race... I’m sure that’s something that only you can do, Mov.”

She had never wanted to hear those words of farewell, told in Smaragdi’s oh so kind voice, so Mov couldn’t hold back those tears from flowing and streaming down her cheek any longer.

And then, that time came at last.

Chrysos had a look of astonishment on her face as she looked at the hands wrenched away from her. She seemed to give a silent scream to her mother holding her back and her father taking Platina away.

“Latina... It’s time to say farewell to Ryso.”

His two daughters made faces like they didn’t understand their father’s words.

“Why...?” Chrysos forced out in a hoarse voice, staring straight at Smaragdi. He had watched over that child ever since she was born. He most certainly didn’t wish to be separated from her.

“Ryso, make sure you listen to what Mov tells you. You may not understand anything right now, but you’ll surely gain the power you need to get her back... I’m certain you will.”

“...Rag?”

“I love you. You’re my precious daughter, Ryso. Please, grow up to be happy. And never forget that’s what I wish for you.”

Chrysos wasn’t able to understand the meaning of her father’s words. She had thought of her everyday life with her parents and her other half as something that would continue forever, unchanging. She didn’t know anything else. They were clever girls, but they had no idea that something so obvious in their lives could suddenly change like that.

“No...”

Platina, who had been pulled away from her, couldn’t even speak. It was all she could manage to reach out towards Chrysos, who was also stretching her arms out towards her sister while weeping.

“No, no, no!”

All the young Chrysos was able to do was yell out those words of defiance. Tears streaming from her eyes, she reached out towards her other half, trying to get her back. However, her petrified body didn’t possess enough strength to escape from her mother’s arms.

“Ryso...” Platina called out her name for the last time in an ever so faint voice.

That sight of her calling out and holding out a hand that would never reach her just as that door closed was the last time that Chrysos saw her other half. And that was also her eternal farewell with her father, who carried off her other half beyond the door with a sad look on his face.

Smaragdi didn’t let Platina go from his arms up until the very end. And yet, in the end, callous hands still ultimately pried apart the young girl and her father.

In that space meant for judging criminals, there were several elderly high- ranking priests lined up. Faced with such unknown people in this strange space, Platina’s terror grew all the worse. She had been ripped away from her father, her final remaining ally, and was faced with words filled with such hatred that they sounded like a curse. The word “heartrending” didn’t even begin to cover it.

There were no tears in Platina’s eyes as she silently trembled. Her big, gray eyes emotionlessly reflected the faces of those priests looking at her as a criminal with abusive, cold gazes.

Smaragdi let out a groan seeing that normally so expressive girl make such a face, having to hold himself back from wailing. Swallowing down emotions so strong they made him feel like he was going to cough up blood, he simply watched as the innocent Platina was disparaged. Because it was to save his daughters, he desperately endured what would normally be unbearable.

The judgment was announced. Through arguments so foolish he felt the word “foolish” wasn’t even close to enough, his young daughter was ruled a great criminal. And before his very eyes, one of those priests broke off her left horn, the same color as her father’s.

In that way, a young girl was marked with the brand of a criminal.

By the time that his beloved daughter was returned to Smaragdi’s arms, she was in an even worse state than before. Curses that Smaragdi could never let his daughter hear whirled around in his heart towards those priests who could drive a young girl into such a corner and yet still look down upon her as a criminal.

Smaragdi expressed his intention to leave the country alongside his daughter, who had been sentenced to exile. If he hadn’t done so, then he would never have even been able to hold her in his arms again.

Chrysos, who was determined to become the new king, and the grand priestess, Mov, were forbidden from meeting with Platina, who had the disgrace of being a “criminal” thrust upon her. So that neither of their daughters would have to be alone, because of their love for both of them, their parents had chosen to separate.

The anxiety of having lost that other half who had always been by her side only seemed to torment Platina further. She clung to Smaragdi, the only person she had left, like a baby.

“Rag...” Platina said in a voice so faint it was difficult to pick up, but even

so, Smaragdi didn’t miss it. “What is it?”

“Is Latina a bad girl? Do Ryso and Mov... hate Latina now, because the prophecy said she’s bad?”

Smaragdi’s heart screamed out from having his daughter ask him such a question. He felt a feeling that went beyond mere hatred for all of the priests in that place.

Even so, for his daughter’s sake, he hid the contents of his heart and responded in a kind voice, “That’s not it, Latina. Mov and Ryso both love you dearly. You’re precious to them.”

He would guide this girl until the bitter end. He reminded himself that that was the duty he must carry out.

“They both think of you as precious. Just like how you feel about them, you’re every bit as important to them.

“...then... why...?”

While sensing the meaning behind her trembling voice, Smaragdi touched the base of the horn that his daughter had lost.

“To protect you, and Ryso, too.”

They had made this choice in order to protect their precious daughters.

To make it even just a little more likely that the girls would have a happy future.

“I want you to never forget this: Ryso adores you, Latina. And the same goes for Mov and myself, too.”

As she was now, Platina didn’t react much even to Smaragdi’s words.

There was no helping that, though. The wounds she had suffered were simply too great.

Smaragdi once more stroked the broken horn of the girl in his arms, not only unable to move, but not even able to react, and started walking. They exited the temple which he had always wanted to take her out of, though not ever in this manner.

“Guru...”

Aspida and the other pupils who adored Smaragdi had been waiting near the temple’s entrance. Their faces were all full of concern for Smaragdi and his daughter. Though there was of an aspect of disgust towards criminals with only one horn amongst devils, they instead looked pained to see such a young girl as Platina suffer such a great wound which would never disappear.

“Please, take a number of us along with you.”

“This is not something you should bear on your own, Guru.” “So please...”

Hearing his pupils all speak out unanimously, a faint smile crossed Smaragdi’s face. If the era were to come when they held true power, then this temple and nation would change at least a bit.

And so, he couldn’t accept their proposal.

“Rather than worrying about us, I’d like you to lend your aid to Chrysos and Mov from now on.”

The ones who would be responsible for this nation in the future were people equally as precious to Smaragdi as the girl he held in his arms.

“Mov and Chrysos will be in need of as many people they can trust as possible... After all, I’m no longer able to be helpful to them... I’d like you to think of this as my will.”

He knew it was an unfair way of phrasing things. Having been told such a thing, his pupils looked down, seeming troubled as to how to respond.

Even so, he wanted them to support Mov, who would be in charge of the country from now on, and Chrysos, who would become the nation’s ruler, in order to move the country in a new direction.

“As a teacher, I’m truly grateful... to have students such as yourselves.”

Smaragdi looked over his pupils with a gentle smile, then turned his back to the temple and slowly walked away. Even though he felt their gazes on his back, Smaragdi didn’t turn around even once.

He was obviously aware that it was reckless to head off on a journey with his young daughter with such a minimal amount of luggage. To start with, the amount of luggage Smaragdi could carry by himself was limited. It was a journey carried out without a sufficient amount of equipment or provisions. And naturally, there was no way that the sentence of exile faced by a great criminal from the harsh country of Vassilios and the town of the same name would be so light.

Even so, he walked onwards, leading his daughter by her hand.

As Platina was still young and Smaragdi lacked a robust physique, their journey didn’t proceed as planned. Even so, they still advanced onwards, bit by bit.

Smaragdi’s goal was to reach a nation of humans.

In Vassilios, a country of devils, it was impossible to know where the

Second Demon Lord’s retainers could be hiding. It was difficult to tell such things just by looking. That was a big reason why he hadn’t decided to live in hiding in any of the villages surrounding town.

And... if nothing else, rumors would spread.

While Vassilios was a closed off nation, as he had lived close to the central seat of government, Smaragdi had been able to obtain a little bit of information on other countries.

Apparently the neighboring country of Laband currently has a hero, the antithesis of a demon lord... In order to protect this child from the Second Demon Lord, I’m prepared to grasp at any straws that I can.

Surely a hero would have no reason to extend a hand to save a child from another race. Smaragdi wasn’t that much of an optimist. But even so, he would play any hand he could for the sake of protecting his child.

As her father, he intended to do anything he could for the sake of his innocent, beloved daughter, who didn’t grumble or complain even on this long journey, which she was unaccustomed to. Teaching Platina healing magic was one example.

As a sort of play, he even now taught her how to control mana. For devils, who could all use magic, it was deeply tied to their lifestyle.

Even so, it was normally unthinkable to teach a child of less than ten to use magic. But since he had no idea what would happen or when under their present circumstances, Smaragdi constantly trained her in the words making up chants, so that she could defend herself. Rather than simple chants, he had taught her proper, beautiful ones that could be used as a foundation for casting any magic. Using attack and defensive magic was difficult. If she ended up running out of mana and fainting, that could actually place her in even greater danger.

Platina hardly ever even smiled anymore, but at those times, her expression grew just a little brighter, which was another big reason he did so.

Seated atop Smaragdi’s knee, Platina repeated after her father with some difficulty, and a light of the Holy attribute lit up in her hand.

She was naturally curious and desired to improve herself, and so it seemed that even under these circumstances, she still found joy in learning new things. Sensing his daughter’s strong power to live on, Smaragdi praised the girl and hugged her tight.

“You’re amazing, Latina. You really are a spectacular child... I’m so proud of you.”

Smaragdi had started to become aware of her ability, worthy of being called a “power to live.” She was sensitive to ill will. It had been displayed throughout their journey, and helped save Smaragdi, who wasn’t used to traveling. Platina could sense where magical beasts were, and was able to sense when flora and fauna were poisonous.

Smaragdi himself was the one who had raised her and taught her all kinds of things. He was able to sense that rare and unusual power was something akin to the divine protection granted by the gods.

“...That’s right. Chrysos wasn’t the only one who was prophesied to become king,” Smaragdi said with a sigh of realization. She wouldn’t be the First Demon Lord. And he was also aware that the thrones of the other demon lords were all currently filled. However, this girl would also surely also become a demon lord.

Demon lords were chosen by the gods to become one, and were in turn protected by fate.

In that case, he should use all of the time remaining to him in order to guide this girl.

Smaragdi didn’t have an overly strong constitution to begin with, and over the course of the long journey, which he was unaccustomed to doing, he had become out of sorts in various ways. That was to say, he had caught an illness.

Illnesses couldn’t be recovered simply through the use of healing magic.

Knowing that, Smaragdi chose to use magic as life-support for his failing body. It most certainly wasn’t a solution to the fundamental problem. Even so, in order to remain by his daughter’s side until the very end, he kept on fooling his body and pushing himself too far, day after day.

And so, by the time that the end drew near, Smaragdi didn’t even know what his own illness was.

“It’s alright, Latina. You’ll definitely be happy someday.”

He made sure not to show his daughter a pained face.

“I can still clearly remember the day you were born. When you were born, there was a rainbow... a large, beautiful rainbow spread across the sky.”

He spoke words of blessing. Words that were a prayer.

“Rainbows appear in the sky when the gods are looking down over the land. You... both of you were born with the gods watching over you.”

Those words were full of a desire that this girl become happy. They were full of a hope that this girl wouldn’t be driven to the depths of despair and become a “Calamity,” hating and wishing to destroy everything.

“So you’ll be fine. You’ll definitely be happy. That’s all that I want.”

The man once called “Guru” prayed for that, thinking that if he at least had the power to guide her properly through her life, he hoped he had done so.

“It’s alright.”

Even so, he had wanted to be there for her longer. With a smile, he hid those regrets and pain that he couldn’t help but feel. He had often felt that if he gently smiled, it would also help to calm Mov and his daughters. He looked up powerlessly and saw a deep forest spreading out wide.

Between the trees, he could see the sky.

“Ah...” He let out a sigh. He wasn’t especially devout, but he couldn’t help but think of this as a mercy from the gods.

He could see a rainbow.

Even at this moment when he had to let her go, this girl was being protected by the will of the gods. She would surely be saved. That was what he believed.

“See, there’s a rainbow. You’re protected by fate.”

And so, he prayed. He was powerless, unable to do anything else, but even so, he prayed for his daughter’s happiness.

“Please, please be happy.”

Up until the very end.

“From now on, I’ll be watching over you from the other side of the rainbow, as well.”

†

Sitting in front of her father, who had stopped moving, the young girl was at a loss.

She didn’t know what she should do.

Her gentle parents and her twin sister who she was closer to than anyone else, her other half, had been the entirety of her world, and now she had lost everything.

She didn’t even know how to cry. Even if she shed tears, there were not gentle hands around to comfort her anymore. She thought that perhaps it would be best to simply sit by her father’s side and let herself rot away, too. After all, there was no longer anyone left who needed her.

However...

Her father’s final wish was for her to be happy. She didn’t know what she should do, and she couldn’t imagine that she could ever become happy. But to deny that possibility would be to deny her father’s final wish.

And so, she stood.

She decided to try her best to fulfill her father’s last wish.

And then, that girl who had kept on struggling all on her own met him.

That encounter had been the start of everything for that girl, who had had the mark of a criminal thrust upon her.

And thus, our story began.

†

“You are the Eighth Demon Lord’s retainer, yes?”

When she saw the young man also known as the Platinum Hero in that place where she had forseen her own demise, she was incredibly calm.

Her intention wasn’t to be praised as the Purple Lady Oracle, or to be thought of as a saint who would even sacrifice her very life for the sake of king and country.

Those countless expectations were nothing but a heavy burden. She wasn’t looking at things so philosophically, nor was she such an excellent, perfect person.

Even so, she put her very life on the line, risking everything in order to select the best possible future so she could protect her child.

And it was also atonement for having sacrificed that man she loved, who was already gone from this world. If she broke along the way and threw everything away, then she would lose the precious daughter she had with him.

She couldn’t let the loss of that beloved man, who was surely no longer anywhere in the world, be in vain. She would never let that come to pass.

And so, she wasn’t acting as the exceptional Lady Oracle, but as a single mother wishing to protect her child.

She would sacrifice herself for the sake of her country and her people living there. That was certainly also her intention. Her beloved daughter was there, after all, striving to lead the populace as their king. Even if she couldn’t be by her side, she had decided to do what she could for the sake of that child and the country she led.

The youth with the nickname containing the word “platinum.”

Her meeting with him met that she was progressing down the path towards the ideal future that she wished. That they were moving towards a future where those girls could surely be happy. That they were being rewarded, for all the choices they had made, her and him.

When she learned of the existence of the Eighth Demon Lord, which existed outside of the natural order, she had realized the true meaning behind the prophecy that her daughters had received. Just as had been predicted, both of those girls had become “kings.”

Furthermore, the demon lords were being led to ruin. That enemy who was her hated enemy... That daughter of hers would grant the dearest wishes of a great many people.

To her, one with the power to see the future, it was a future she could believe in.

She was also aware that she would never again meet the man who she loved. She sensed that he was no longer anywhere in this world.

She also wanted to meet her beloved daughters just one more time, but she knew that wish wouldn’t be fulfilled, either.

Even so, meeting this youth was a blessed opportunity.

This was the man who was chosen by Platina, her precious daughter she was separated from when the girl was still young. It was proof that she was still living in good health.

And this man was desperately struggling to get that precious girl back.

She felt assured that her daughter was very precious to him. Surely this youth had no way of knowing how much relief that tale spread throughout the human race, “The Tale of the Platinum Hero and the Fairy Princess,” had brought her.

That girl had found and chosen a special partner. She would surely have a happy future ahead of her. That wasn’t a prediction from a priestess with divine protection from Banafsaj, but rather the wish of a single mother for her daughter’s happiness.

The young man in front of her removed the glove on his left hand. She was also aware that that was proof that girl had made him her retainer, a show of her trust in him.

It was proof that one was under the control of the demon lord who was force held over them and the fact that they were a retainer, their lord’s possession, was etched in a place close to their vitals.

However, that girl had placed this man’s “name” on his left hand, an extremity. To any demon lord or retainer of one, it would be utterly obvious just how deep the trust was between these two.

Even while thinking all that, when she saw the “name” engraved there, she was more than a little surprised. Seeing that nostalgic name in such an unexpected place, her expression shook, even though she had grown accustomed to hiding how she felt.

There was no helping that. After all, she had only allowed herself to show her feelings, to be herself, in front of that person.

“You have been my hope all this time. In that noble girl’s future, I saw the results that I sought... And at the end, I met you.”

This young man possessed the same name. The same exact name as that man, who she would never be able to meet again. What a wonderful thing.

“This is my final prophecy: You will see the girl soon.”

She wanted them to be happy. It had only been for a short time, but she herself had certainly been happy.

She wished her daughters would be happy, and felt truly blessed to be able to devote herself to that purpose.

The power drained from her body and she became unable to hold herself up, but the young man caught her before she hit the ground. Feeling the strength of his arms, she was a little surprised, but a smile also crossed her face.

His appearance and the colors about him, and even his race, were all utterly different. And that man’s arms hadn’t been so strong. But even so, she still somehow understood. Her daughter had fallen for a man similar to the one she herself had chosen.

A kind person.

This youth was a good man, just like that man, who had been kinder than anyone else.

That girl would surely be fine now. And so would her other daughter.

Ever since they were born, those girls hadn’t been alone. They would surely be able to walk a path in which they shared their heavy burdens and suffering, and support one another. And surely, the fact that they hadn’t been born alone had been the greatest blessing for those girls.

So—

I suppose it is fine now...

She had tried. She’d really, truly tried her hardest.

Ever since that person who would listen to her complaints was gone, she had endured a great deal. Ever since that man who would call her by her name had gone, she was only ever called by the title of “Purple Lady Oracle.”

Because she wanted to protect the daughters he had left behind, and to fulfill her promise to him, she had tried her hardest.

I hope you’ll praise me...

And so, just like when she was little, she felt arms hug her tight, and heard a gentle voice say, “You really tried hard, Mov.”

Even if the voice she had heard was just an illusion, she felt she had been rewarded for everything.

“Thank you... Smaragdi...”

And with that, her consciousness completely faded away into light.

†

As he hugged her tight, Latina called out, “Dale?” in a flustered voice.

“Ah... I made you recall some painful memories. Sorry.”

Realizing that those words of apology were meant to comfort her, a gentle smile crossed Latina’s face. She cuddled up against Dale like a kitten.

“That time back when I was a child had just been too frightening and painful, so I hadn’t even been able to remember,” Latina said while bringing her fingers together, as if in prayer. To her, Dale’s embrace was the place that she felt the most at ease in the world. When she was young she had felt like she’d been denied by the entire world, but he had surrounded her with great love like this and made her feel relieved.

That hadn’t changed, even now.

That she didn’t doubt the deep love her parents had for her, and she knew now that she was loved, all because this place where she felt safe had remained firmly there for her.

As Latina would always say, she truly felt that meeting Dale at that time and being saved was the greatest bit of fortune in her life. She felt blessed, thinking that it was precisely because Dale had given her a love that was a little different than what her parents had given her, but was no weaker, that the current her existed.

And so, a smile remained on her face.

“I understand fully now. My parents really did care about me. They really did wish for me... for Chrysos and me, to be happy...”

Even now, Latina didn’t fully understand the nature of the prophecy that she would bring about a disaster. She knew that prophecy was the reason she was exiled from their her old home as a criminal.

Even so, she thought...

“I’m happy. Right now, I’m really happy, so... I’m able to properly remember my parents now. I’m able to realize I was happy back then now, too.”

It was precisely because that happiness had been so precious to her that it had hurt so much to lose it. It had been too painful to even remember. But as she was now, Latina could accept even those memories.

That passage of time caused bitter memories to fade, but it also caused those memories you didn’t want to forget to fade.

“I’m glad I could remember... so that I didn’t forget.”

Her parents existed within those happy memories. She didn’t want to forget that. And she also wanted to give her all to being happy from now on.

That was how she would respond to the wishes of her parents, who wanted their children to be happier more than themselves. While Latina thought such things, Dale gently stroked her hair.

Sensing that Dale, who she wanted to understand her thoughts more than anyone else, had affirmed her feelings, Latina stayed leaned up against him as she closed her eyes with a gentle expression on her face.

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