Chapter 262 - The Battle for Migul and the Goddess's Advent
In response to Yuuki’s cry, the square was enveloped in a rainbow-colored brilliance.
At the center of the light above his head, space itself seemed to tear open, and the tip of a spear emerged.
Following it, the goddess herself appeared, perched on the spear’s shaft, her long golden hair flowing in the wind. Her skin was a translucent white. A rainbow-colored shawl, seemingly defying gravity, floated gently around her.
Through a gap in the fabric, she lifted her long, golden eyelashes, her eyes having been closed.
The clamor of battle ceased, and a profound silence fell over the square. Hyakka and her New World group, their enemies, the Wandering People, and the Crimson Brigade all stared, captivated, at the descended goddess. She possessed a magic that charmed those around her. The only ones unaffected were Yuuki and his Messiah group. I worried that Clovis might take this chance to strike Fam, but he too was frozen, his sword pointed at her, his gaze fixed upon the goddess.
“You… are the one who called me?”
Racshell’s golden eyes settled on Yuuki.
Yuuki’s eyes lit up, the corners of his mouth turning up in a faint smile as he slowly nodded.
Then, her eyes turned to me. She tilted her head slightly, an expression of something akin to pity on her face.
“Mash… there is something I must tell youuu.”
“What is it?”
“A moment ago, you were discussing how it must have been some mistake that you and Mizuki were summoned as a pair, were you not?”
Her tone was the same as always—leisurely and relaxed, completely out of place in the current situation.
“You must have a lot of free time. You were watching?”
“I am not free. I am simply watching over you and Mizuki on your journeyyy!”
Racshell puffed out her cheeks.
“So, what is it you wanted to tell me…?”
As I raised my voice slightly, Mizuki strode forward and glared at Racshell.
“If you say it, I’ll be furious. I’ll never forgive you!”
Mizuki shot Racshell a piercing glare. Seeing her profile, I searched my memories, wondering if there had been some connection between Mizuki and me in our original world.
Her hair had been a beautiful black, but it had taken on a bluish tint since coming to this world. Every one of her facial features was beautiful, and their placement was perfect. As I was thinking this, Mizuki suddenly turned her gaze on me, her eyes widening as she took a step back.
“W-what is it?”
“Mizuki, what are you trying to hide? If I’d ever had any contact with a beautiful girl like you, there’s no way I would ever forget it. Did you have plastic surgery or something?”
“Of course not!”
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t want to say!”
As Mizuki and I glared at each other, Racshell clapped her hands, pata pata, to get our attention.
“Ahem! Mash-san, Mizuki-san!”
Racshell gave a self-satisfied smile, closed her eyes, and then raised her index finger.
“The truth isss, Mizuki-san’s partner was supposed to be either Yuuki-san here, or Mizuki-san’s father!”
Mizuki and I stared at Racshell, our mouths agape.
“H-Her father…? So when Mizuki said she had a father complex before, it was—Ugh!”
Before I could finish, Mizuki drove her elbow into my solar plexus. It was a serious blow. A dull thud echoed as I clutched my stomach and crumpled over.
“Ow… Mizuki, why…”
“Mash, you be quiet.”
I looked up at her with a resentful glare, and she looked down at me with an ice-cold gaze. She soon turned her attention back to Racshell.
“I agonized over which one to choose. I got a stress fever and was in bed for three days. And then, believe it or not, Yuuki-san was taken by someone else!”
Racshell continued to talk, completely ignoring our situation.
“Wait, is my dad in this world too?” Mizuki asked Racshell.
“Who knows? I am not able to keep track of everyooone… In any case, the reason it changed to Mash-san was because you two started fighting, and it looked interesting, so I just sort of…”
“The moment Mizuki was about to end my life looked interesting to you?! And answer Mizuki’s question properly! You people summon humans from the same time period in our original world and send them to different time periods in this one, right? If he was sent to the present day, there's a chance of finding him, but if he was sent to the past…”
I trailed off as I saw Mizuki’s face turn pale, realizing I shouldn’t have said that in front of her.
“Very wellll. I will look into the matter of Mizuki-san’s father. But, the truth is, Mash-san was also supposed to be chosen by another god, you know?”
“There’s no need to tell us that now! Besides, that’s strange. There was no one in my original world who had any connection to me! If the system is to choose two people with a connection as a pair, I would definitely be the last one left. I shouldn’t have been chosen at all!”
I knew Racshell was trying to force the conversation back on track. I agreed with that, so I clenched my fists, stood up, and went along with her.
“Don’t say that with such pride!”
Mizuki cried out, looking completely put off. This woman, who had always walked in the sun, could never understand the feelings of someone who lived in the shadows. I let out a long sigh.
“But it’s for the best.”
“It’s not for the best at all! What’s good about it?” Mizuki retorted angrily.
“Well, I fell for you, and you fell for me after we came to this world. It means Racshell didn't twist fate to make you have feelings for me. Our relationship is something we built together since coming here.”
When she heard my words, I thought I saw Mizuki’s eyes dart away for a moment.
“What is it? Is there something else?”
“Nothing! Just, you were really awful to me. If you really liked me, I wish you had been nicer!”
Mizuki shook her head back and forth. Something still felt off. After this battle was over, I was going to get the truth out of her.
“You’re still bringing that up…? So, after hearing what Racshell said, are you going to go to Yuuki?”
At those words, Mizuki slowly shook her head.
“There’s your answer, Yuuki.”
I turned my gaze to Yuuki. He was pressing a hand to his temple, glaring at us. He seemed a little unsteady, perhaps not because he was shocked by Mizuki’s words, but because he was running out of mana.
“Mizuki… this is the last time.”
Yuuki muttered.
“Senpai. I’m going with Mash. I can’t go along with your way of thinking. Sacrificing others is wrong. Can you really be okay with that?”
Yuuki’s eyes widened at Mizuki’s words. Just as he was about to say something else, Clovis intervened.
“Isn’t that enough? We can find a replacement for that woman. If you’re that attached, there are plenty of ways to make her obey.”
Yuuki, who had been listening with his head down, looked up at Racshell.
“Goddess Racshell, slaughter my enemies. Leave Mizuki alive!”
He swung his arm.
“Yuuki, I forgot to tell you something.”
“Your last words?” Yuuki sneered.
“I’ve used Goddess Summon many times, but Racshell has never obeyed my commands. She always does as she pleases and then leaves.”
I said this, then glanced at Racshell, who was looking down at us from above, having not moved despite Yuuki’s command.
“What a terrible thing to sayyy. I believe I have granted Mash-san’s wishes up until now! You are the one who does as he pleases!”
Racshell pouted.
“So, today you’re calling me ‘Mash-san’ so formally. Are you planning on granting Yuuki’s wish?”
When I raised the corner of my mouth, Racshell mirrored the expression, giving me a mischievous smile.
Seeing our exchange, Yuuki’s shoulders began to tremble with rage.
“Goddess! I am the one who summoned you. Obey my command!”
Yuuki’s face contorted as he swung his arm again. Racshell watched him for a moment, then closed her eyes and slowly shook her head.
“Yuuki, send the goddess back.”
Clovis called out to Yuuki.
“Racshell decides that, too, you know?”
As I replied, he switched his weapon to a bow and shot an arrow at Racshell. However, the arrow was deflected by her celestial scarf.
I used that opportunity to signal Fam with my eyes. She gave a small nod and ran to the fallen Sameim.
“Racshell! Shatter the barrier protecting the Messiah group!”
I pointed at Oi, who was crouched behind Yuuki with her back to us.
“Are you sure?” Racshell asked, as if for confirmation.
“Hurry!”
Racshell descended from her spear and landed on the ground. She held out her hand, and the spear flew to her from above.
Clovis shot another arrow, and Yuuki raised his greatsword and charged her. But both of their attacks were caught and stopped by her celestial scarf.
The man who had been fighting Maira clicked his tongue and moved to restrain Racshell. However, Maira, who had been waiting for that opening, made him her mace's next victim, and he fell.
The demon woman had her arm outstretched, about to cast a spell, but her fingertips trembled, and she hesitated, unable to move.
Then, Racshell’s hand swung down.
The spear, launched with incredible force, rained down on Oi’s back.
She was surrounded by multiple layers of barriers, but the spear pierced through all of them.
“S-stop… I’m sorry… please forgive me…”
I thought I heard the faint voice of a young girl.
But the spear did not stop. The moment it reached the final barrier, a deafening roar erupted, and the area was engulfed in a violent shockwave and fierce winds.
As the maddening blast raged, I held Mizuki close, shielding her.
It wasn't necessary, since we were protected by a defensive barrier Racshell had created at the same time, but I felt like doing it. Mizuki, in turn, wrapped her arms around my back and held me tight. I could feel her softness, her heartbeat, her small breaths.
Then, Aira threw herself on top of us, hugging me.
“I went to all the trouble of coming to help you, and you’re only paying attention to Mizuki!”
Then Cecily and Marmie hugged us too. I was worried about Fam and Maira, but they should have been protected by Racshell’s barrier just like us.
I loosened my grip on Mizuki and re-adjusted to embrace them all.
Their warmth was enough. The fate of the world seemed like an insignificant thing.
The blast subsided.
Around where Racshell stood, Clovis and his companions lay fallen. I moved away from Mizuki and the others and looked around. The paving stones that had covered the ground were peeled up and blown away, the windows of the buildings were shattered, and their walls were riddled with cracks. A barrier had been erected around Fam and Maira as well; they were staring this way with dazed expressions. Around them lay the mercenaries of the Crimson Brigade. Many of the mercenaries were still alive, and those who could move were groggily trying to get up.
It was a similar situation around Hyakka and her group. The members of New World were protected by a barrier, but the ones they had been fighting were nowhere to be seen.
I turned my gaze to Racshell, who was standing serenely.
“Did you kill them?”
When I asked, she shook her head.
“That one’s defense was stronger than I expected… However, as you wished, I have removed her defensive barrier.”
Oi was still crouched in the same position as before. A donut-shaped crater had formed around her.
Her body was trembling slightly. Despite being at the epicenter of such an impact, she seemed to be alive.
I was about to ask Racshell if she had held back, but it seemed there was no time. Her body was enveloped in a rainbow-colored light, and she was beginning to fade into it.
“Next time, it’s a promise!” Racshell said.
“A promise for what again?”
At my words, she puffed her cheeks, but then she smiled and pressed her index finger to her chin.
“A date. Don’t you forget.”
With that, Racshell was enveloped in light and vanished.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen Racshell actually leave!”
As I muttered this, deeply impressed, Cecily glared at me.
“This isn’t the time for comments like that! We need to settle things with Clovis and his group and bring this situation under control!”
As she urged me on, pushing my back, Clovis staggered to his feet.
He must have taken considerable damage. Despite that, he pointed his sword at me.
“We will decide the future of this world.”
“Is that so…? But the match is over. We won. The future you envision has no chance of coming to pass.”
At my words, Clovis laughed.
“What makes you think you’ve won?”
Clovis plunged his sword into Oi’s arm.
“What are you doing?!”
Just as I shouted, Oi screamed.
“Special Skill, [Pretty Cure]!”
Her body was enveloped in particles of sparkling stardust, which then flowed into the bodies of Clovis and the other wounded enemies.
In the blink of an eye, their wounds healed, and their vitality returned.
“What?!”
Yuuki remained collapsed, but his companions—the adventurer-like man and the demon woman—also stood up.
The members of the Crimson Brigade also got to their feet one after another.
All I could do was stare at the scene in disbelief.
“The tables have turned. It’s impossible for you to fend off these numbers.”
A click of my tongue escaped at Clovis’s words. But I still had enough strength to use Goddess Summon again.
Just as I was about to use that power, a new group of soldiers poured into the square.
“What now?”
Clovis wore a surprised expression as he looked in their direction.
Leading the soldiers was a dog-eared man—Tursa. And the troops he led were the beastkin mobile unit that had gone to liberate the church.
“These are the enemies of the dog-eared race, the Crimson Brigade! Slay them all!”
His shout, and the responding roar of the soldiers, echoed throughout the square.