At the same time, I pointed my fingertips at her and drew a magic circle on her source.
Just as Misa’s body seemed to shine particularly brightly as if it was bursting into light, the next moment, it suddenly disappeared.
Misa was nowhere to be seen.
“The great spirit Avos Dilhevia, born from the rumors and legend of the Demon King of Tyranny, made up half of Misa’s source.” (Anos)
Lay turned my way.
Shin, who was behind me, listened to my words.
“If Avos Dilhevia is destroyed, then Misa can’t survive either. So try as we may, there’s no way to completely separate the two of them.” (Anos)
Lay did use the Sword of Three Races to split them into two people, but this wasn’t a permanent solution either. Even if they were separated into two, Misa was still Avos Dilhevia, and Avos Dilhevia was still Misa.
“In that case, by turning Avos Dilhevia into a different kind of spirit while retaining the same name, Misa should be able to coexist with the spirit part of herself. As rumors and legends change, the corresponding spirits will change accordingly. But the problem here is that they’re mostly influenced by the first rumors and legends they were born from.” (Anos)
This was what Reno explained to me when I went back to the past two thousand years ago.
Suppose, for instance, that in the distant future, rumors about the Great Spirit Mother Reno not being the mother of spirits were to spread. That would be the same as death to her.
Rumors and legends that contradicted the ones serving as the foundations of a spirit would only serve to shorten the lifespan of said spirit.
“Unlike demons and humans, spirits don’t reincarnate. In other words, the concept of being reborn as a different person doesn’t exist for them. Which is why rumors that contradict the specific nature of a spirit can only be harmful to them.” (Anos)
Born as a Demon King of Tyranny with a hatred for humankind and an obsession with royalty supremacy, Avos Dilhevia had no choice but to keep on living as an evil being.
“Even if we could do something about it and create a legend completely different from the one that’s currently spreading all around the world, the total number of believers would be absolutely insufficient.” (Anos)
Even if I had tried to get Igareth to spread the rumor that Avos Dilhevia was a kind-hearted spirit, the original rumors would’ve still had the majority of believers.
At first glance, it seemed as if we were at a dead end, but there was a way to save Misa.
“So what do you think we should do?” (Anos)
The answer to that was terribly simple once you came up with it.
“We just have to make a continuation of the legend of the Demon King of Tyranny. Like this: ‘After resurrecting, the Demon King of Tyranny once again fell to the Sword of Three Races Evansmana. Then, Avos Dilhevia was reincarnated. But after receiving the blessing of the holy sword, she regained her original form not as a half-spirit half-demon, but as Misa the full-spirit.” (Anos)
The lore of the Demon King of Tyranny related the past, but set nothing about the future.
Spirits were creatures that didn’t reincarnate, but the Demon King of Tyranny was a result of the legend that she would be reincarnated in two thousand years.
In fact, you could say that this was the basis for the most widespread of legends.
If so, then even if the Demon King of Tyranny was to reincarnate, it wouldn’t contradict with her rumors and legend.
No one talked about what would happen after her last reincarnation, because it hadn’t happened yet. Meaning that there was a gap to fill in the legend. That’s why I ordered Igareth to spread that new legend.
‘Mission accomplished’ he told me.
The more fearful humans were of the Demon King of Tyranny, the more strongly they would support the legend of Avos Dilhevia’s reincarnation into a good-natured spirit thanks to Evansmana, and the longer it would stick.
And when Lay took Misa’s life using the blessing of the Sword of Three Races, I was casting <Reincarnation Silica> on her.
“However, I’m not certain if a spirit, who normally doesn’t reincarnate, can actually reincarnate and come to life based solely on rumors and legends. Her reincarnation would be the same as being born not as Avos Dilhevia, but as a whole new spirit.” (Anos)
I quickly extended my hand in Shin’s direction.
When I sent magic power into the white tear flower he was holding, it flew through the air and came to me.
“Tear flowers give birth to spirits. This flower was born from the teardrop of the great spirit Reno, who wished for Shin and Misa’s happiness.” (Anos)
After I sent my magic power into it, the flower turned into a particle of light.
“O great spirit who went back and forth from the netherworld on this day. After two thousand years, the time has come for your grief to turn into joy.” (Anos)
Reno said she didn’t cry when she was sad.
Yet the tear she couldn’t help but shed back then made this flower bloom.
The light slowly took a human shape.
The shape of a mother and her child embracing each other.
One of the two figures materialized clearly.
On her back were six crystal-like wings. Her hair was as blue as a clear lake, and her eyes were shining like amber.
“…Reno…” Shin muttered.
“The Great Spirit Mother passed away when she disobeyed her own rumors and legend by giving birth to a demon. But now, the great spirit Avos Dilhevia, in accordance with her rumors and legend, has regained her original spirit form.” (Anos)
Avos Dilhevia was no longer a half-spirit half-Demon.
That part was changed to the fact that she was originally a spirit named Misa.
“In that case, there’s no reason for the Great Spirit Mother Reno to die anymore.” (Anos)
The fact that Reno went against her own rumors and legend was now retconned.
Even if they were about to be physically destroyed, as long as their rumors and legends remained intact, spirits would keep coming back to life.
“…M… Mom…?” (Misa)
The light that Reno was holding in her arms materialized clearly.
It took the shape of a girl with shoulder-length chestnut hair styled in a distinctive manner, and big, round eyes: Misa.
“Misa…” (Reno)
Reno gently stroked Misa’s head as she hugged her tightly.
“…Mom…! Mooooom…!” (Misa)
“Don’t cry… It’s okay now. Mommy is here, Misa. From now on, I’ll always… always be by your side…” (Reno)
Reno was also shedding tears as she said that.
Her tear flower bloomed out of a tear of sadness.
But now, her tears unmistakably turned into flowers of joy.
“Hmm. Now everything is settled.” (Anos)
I turned on my heel, and spoke to Eldmed, who was watching everything without a care in the world.
“I’ll deal with you later. Behave yourself until then.” (Anos)
He cordially bowed to me with a grin on his face.
He was unable to attempt anything stupid since he was bound to the <Contract Zekt> spell, but this man was still a pain.
So I had to keep an eye on him.
I left this place without saying anything.
I still felt a bit melancholic, but nonetheless, I got everything back.
If you wished for something from the bottom of your heart, it would definitely come true.
No matter how devastated it was, no matter how widespread the conflicts were, this world she created was full of warmth, love, and hope.
And I will prove it to her as many times as it takes.
Because I’m sure she’s out there somewhere, watching over us.
Isn’t that right, Militia…?
