The Red Garnet Adventure Team was looking around the Hadekain Mansion together. From the front gate to the front door, from the front door to the hallways inside the house, the central garden spread splendidly out, another hallway, and passing another garden…
“…Gosh, it seems that Hadekain is getting bigger~. It’s thriving every time I visit.”
Ganesha admired the size of it. Lia, Leo, and Carlos held similar thoughts.
“It’s Hadekain, after all.”
-Hey. Leo. Stop touching me.
Squeak-squeak- squeak-squeak-
Lia glanced at him, forcing herself to hold back a laugh.
“Huh? What’s that, Carlos?”
—Lia, you stop touching me too. I told you not to touch me.
For reference, Carlos was now a hamster. Disguised as a small hamster, he sat on Leo’s palm, using the natural camouflage method he developed.
“Oh, sorry. You’re so chubby that I didn’t even realize.”
—If you keep touching me, I will bite you.
“Yeah. Sorry.”
Anyway, the Red Garnet Adventure Team was walking through Hadekain’s castle to participate in the test.
“Gosh— fuck!”
Then, a curse rang out. It was obvious who shouted without looking back.
“How long are we going to walk? Will Deculein even come?!
Jackal. The old butler pointed around without saying a word as the man stomped on the floor and complained.
“…What?”
Jackal frowned. The old butler calmly faced him.
“Look at the numbers.”
“…Number?”
Then, not only Jackal but Lia and Ganesha also looked around. The number of adventurers had decreased. There must have been about a thousand people when they arrived.
“…337 people.”
Jackal immediately counted them by reading their mana.
“The trial is in progress. Adventurers who are underpowered are already lost in this mansion.”
“…Is Deculein here? Is that bastard conducting this?”
The butler shook his head.
“The lord is watching.”
“Where-“
-It’s here.
Deculein’s voice echoed through the corridor, sending a wave of surprise trembling through the adventurers. They each glanced in one direction to the windows lining the hall. Deculein stood in each of them.
—I can use mirrors like this to observe you without having to go far away.
Leo quickly hid the hamster. Lia and Ganesha moved to block Deculein’s sight. Deculein looked around them and nodded.
—I guess at this point, the test is ready. Get started.
“Yes. Lord.”
Then the old butler pressed a switch on the wall.
Gwoooh…
A staircase appeared in the middle of the hallway.
“Come down.”
The adventurers filtered down the stairs silently. Soon, they found themselves in another long hallway with private rooms lined up on either side.
“The rule is one room per person. Inside each room, there is a helmet, a chair, and a biosignal transmitter. Put it on, and you can start the test.”
Leo whispered in Lia’s ear.
—If this is the case, the hamster cannot participate.
Lia hurriedly raised her hand.
“Um! What about pets?”
For a moment, everyone’s attention focused on her. Many began to laugh, but the old butler shook his head after thinking for a moment.
“I don’t know what type of pet you mean, but the helmet won’t fit.”
“Yes. It’s okay. I can’t help it.”
Lia gave up easily. Leo blinked and whispered again.
—Is this okay?
-Yes. Carlos has already left.
—…Huh?
Leo looked at his palm. The hamster Carlos had already disappeared. Ganesha laughed softly.
—He just went into that room. He won’t get caught. Jackal helped.
—…Jackal?
Leo asked. Ganesha replied quietly.
-Yeah. I don’t know if the butler noticed, but Jackal counted the number of people by the characteristics of their mana. So, unconsciously, he also counted Carlos. Carlos heard it, too, so he must have gone into room 337.
—…Oh.
The butler continued.
“Now. Let’s get started. Everyone, please go into your room.”
“Yeah~.”
Lia answered vigorously, choosing room number one. Next to her were Ganesha, Leo, and Jackal, in that order.
* * *
Meanwhile, after finishing the adventurer selection through the mirror-
“The Voice… there must be a way. There will be.”
I met Rohakan at the vineyard.
“God? Do you mean the guy at the Altar who wants to become a god? Man~, if I could live ten more years, I would have helped. But, you don’t have to be afraid either. Because if he were a real god, he’d have tried to fight me. But since I’m dead, he’s sneaking out his head, isn’t he? That’s what I was afraid of.”
Rohakan told me this and that.
“Epherene’s regression? Isn’t that over yet? It’s too early to rest assured.”
There was nothing really helpful.
“Let’s stop talking. Just bring me some grapes, you bastard.”
“…”
“Why do you have so many questions?”
I picked ripe grapes, shaking off the dirt before placing them into a basket.
“…If you have a future vision, could you please tell me in more detail?”
I asked bluntly. My body was already wet with sweat from the scorching sun, thanks to Rohakan’s class today. Grape picking, excluding all magic, including Psychokinesis. Only with my bare hands.
“Kuhuhu. It is impossible because of its force. You know that too. In telling the future, the speaker and the person receiving the message are both very important. You are not yet qualified.”
“…”
“And now I am already dead. That’s all it takes to maintain this magical space. I can’t give you the answer. And above all else, would it be fun to walk along according to an answer sheet?”
I stood and brushed the dust off my clothes. I harvested 30,000 snow grapes today; the body of Iron Man was wasted on such a menial task.
“Thanks to you, I’m all dirty.”
“This is the true taste of work. You’re not dirty; you look like a divine worker. Keep it that way until you go back. Also, from now on, the use of magic in my vineyard is prohibited.”
“All right.”
Would today’s lesson end with this harvest? I was disappointed. I shook my head and walked off while Rohakan grinned behind me.
“Kuhuhu. Oh right, you bastard. Why don’t you go like that when you go to the Voice? You look a lot more human now than when I usually see you.”
“…”
But at that moment, a thought ran through my mind. A streak of fire burned down my spine.
“…I figured out a way.”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
In the middle of the vineyard, I spoke as I was buried in the dirt.
“The way to reach the Voice.”
“…”
Now, a magical disaster was raging around Voice Island. Because of this, any vessel approaching was caught up in the waves and tossed around. In other words, no ship could make the trip.
“What is it?”
Rohakan asked. I looked at my dirty hands, feeling my body drenched in sweat. After a while, I looked back to Rohakan.
“Swimming.”
I breathed in the scents of the vineyard. It was fragrant and harmonious.
“Hahahaha. Swimming. That’s good.”
Rohakan laughed brightly. He looked at me as if he were proud.
“Again, you don’t know. But a long time ago, there was a saying in the desert where I lived…”
* * *
“If the body is weak, the head suffers.”
“…What?”
Aboard Rose Rio’s ship, I looked at the Voice Island while delivering Rohakan’s words.
─!
The dead land amidst a raging storm of mana. The cries of Mother Nature were twice as intense as before.
“What does that mean?”
Epherene asked with a frown. I took off my watch and coat, then threw them at Epherene.
“Ugh!”
Epherene, receiving the heavy overcoat, stumbled back.
“No way. Do you intend to swim there?”
I nodded.
“No, it’s impossible. I don’t know if it were another island, but that’s the Voice. It’s a demon.”
“What does that matter?”
Epherene frowned.
“You said it. The wave spreads infinitely. Swim in that? The island will keep moving away, and you will lose your sense of time.”
The sea was drenched in darkness. There were many wizards on Rose Rio’s ship, but they were all asleep. I deliberately picked this time, as it was obvious they would say annoying things like Epherene right now.
“I don’t care.”
As it was, I stood at the railing of the deck. Epherene was flabbergasted.
“No, Professor, still-“
She ran to grab me. I looked down to the roiling surface. The water would be well deeper than a few thousand meters, and no one knew what kind of things lies beneath. However, I didn’t care.
“Come down. Hurry.”
Epherene grabbed my arm. Against Iron Man, however, it held no strength. I looked to the moon in the distant sky. Looking like a steamed bun, it resembled Epherene’s face.
“Ah, come down quickly- ugh!”
I pushed Epherene down the deck. She fell on her butt with a yelp.
“Seriously!”
“Epherene. The ancestors of Yukline had such concerns.”
An autobiography written by the distant head of Yukline… I still remember that one line. Strangely, it remained in my mind.
“…Humans are afraid of demons. Humans are designed that way. However, if that is the case, what should the Yukline reflected on the demon look like?”
This was a question that went through the head of the household called Yukline.
“I have a very simple answer. Humans are afraid of demons, and in the eyes of the demons, Yukline must not be human.”
The family’s purpose provoked Deculein. It led to an intense and passionate desire.
“Nothing human will do.”
Therefore, Yukline wasn’t human. They shouldn’t be human. The most fundamental reason why Deculein’s personality sucked was probably related to that.
“That’s why demons are afraid of Yukline. If they aren’t afraid, I will make them afraid.”
“Um-“
“If not, let me ask. Do you have any other way to save Sylvia?”
“…”
Epherene shut her mouth. For some reason, she seemed to think of Sylvia as a friend.
“You stay with Primienne. You will need her for the post-processing and record-keeping.”
“…Yes.”
She didn’t move to stop me anymore. She nodded resolutely, and I didn’t hesitate.
I dived into the sea.
Splash-!
The seawater rushed into my eyes and chilled my body. I could feel the mana of the Great Sea penetrating my heart. Submerged, I looked to the distant island.
A week, or a month, or a half year, or a year… I didn’t know how long it would take, but the future of the Voice had already been decided. Because of my existence, it was self-evident and natural.
The demon must die. I would make that happen.
* * *
…Sylvia spent time with her mother. As she looked up to the night sky, she counted the stars and felt the warmth of the wind. All of this brought her immeasurable joy.
“Mom.”
Today, Sylvia called to her mother and smiled. Sierra met her smile.
“What~?”
“I wish we could be like this for the rest of my life.”
“…Hmm. Forever?”
Sierra then made a slightly strange expression. She was fiddling with her chin as if troubled.
“Why? We can’t?”
Sylvia felt suddenly terrified. But was it just her imagination? Sierra’s grin soon turned bright.
“Yeah. It can’t be forever~; our lifespans are different. I want you to live a long, long life.”
“…Not that.”
Sylvia puffed out her cheeks. Sierra poked at her.
“Then?”
“…You can stay with me as long as I can bear it.”
She didn’t like bad partings. She liked normal love and separation. One day she’d get married, have a baby, live a happy life, and then eventually, that daughter can bear her own death. At that time, she’ll hope for a natural farewell.
“For me, that’s forever. It’s okay.”
Nevertheless, Sierra shook her head. She placed her hand on Sylvia’s head.
“No.”
“…Why?”
Sylvia felt that was unfair. Why did she keep saying no? Did her mother hate her? A happy ending together, she hoped for that much.
“I am only here until that person comes.”
That person. Sierra always mentioned that person, but she had long forgotten who he was.
“Until that person comes, mom will protect you.”
Sierra’s voice put an end to the discussion. Sylvia looked up at her with swollen eyes.
“When he comes…”
It would mean goodbye. She didn’t want to hear her say that, so she turned her away to overlook the distant horizon of a port city. The sea’s surface glittered under the lighthouse. She stared as it swayed for a moment before glancing at her mother.
Until that person comes… she recalled. And so…
Sylvia made a part of the sea disappear.
