kscans

Chapter 73 - Epilogue

"Oh, welcome, Your Highness, the Royal Duke."

When Romel visited Drago's mansion, he was greeted by an exotic beauty with black hair. It seemed that while taking care of the distraught Drago after he lost Chihiro, she had developed feelings for him, and Sakura had married Drago.

As she was an imperial princess, it wouldn't do for Sakura to marry a mere baron for a single generation. In consideration of his achievements in helping and raising Chihiro, Drago was granted the rank of Count.

Spurred on by the spirited Sakura, Drago gradually regained his energy. Blessed with a lovely son and daughter, the two were now a very good couple.

"Are Chihiro and Chihaya well?"

"They are very well. They've become quite mischievous lately."

Romel looked curiously at Sakura's rare, wry smile, and in his mind, he pictured the little person's real name, Chihiro.

Since that time, Romel had learned and mastered the language of Kilfan. Wanting to get even a little closer to the little person, he had studied many things he couldn't understand back then. Frontier, having broken free from the blessings of the gods' magic, was steadily entering a new era without much confusion, thanks to the cooperation of the Kilfan people.

Because, surprisingly, magic had not been lost. The golden magic from the forest was gone, but the magic of the four great elements, which was said to be derived from it, had not disappeared. This was not something given by the gods, but something that Arcadia had created and that people had mastered through effort. That's what the Queen had said.

She too had lost her golden magic, but she had not lost the wind magic of her element. The Forest Master's forest had also changed, and though the number of monsters had decreased, they had not vanished. From now on, the laws of magic would likely be constructed in a new form. Of course, they could not expect the same extraordinary blessings as when the world was filled with golden magic. In fact, the land of Frontier was gradually becoming less fertile, and crop yields were falling. To stop this, they would have to learn from Kilfan and people would have to continue to work hard.

Having broken free from the protection of the gods, the world was finally returning to how it should be.

It's just that you alone are not here.

A small, but most precious, missing piece.

Romel forced his slightly teary eyes dry with a blink.

Then he slowly lifted a large package and handed it to Sakura.

"Here, this is a popular toy in Kilfan. For Chihiro and Chihaya."

"Oh, thank you so much."

Sakura accepted it with a beaming smile.

Today was the birthday of Drago's twins. Last year, a small party had been held, and Romel had been invited as well. The Drago family, Adoris, Romel, and Dolphen. The people who knew Chihiro well gathered and got excited talking about their memories of the little person who was no longer there. The same group had gathered again today for that same casual gathering.

"Your Highness, it's been a while."

Seeing Romel, Adoris gave a small wave. His reddish brown hair, still sticking up as usual, was being grabbed by a small child, causing him to lean to the side. The one grabbing him was one of the twins, Drago's son, Chihaya. He was a boy with brownish hair like Drago's and pitch black eyes inherited from Sakura. His name was said to mean rough and fierce, a parent's wish for him to grow up strong.

Dolphen, who came out from the back, was also laughing at Adoris being pushed around by the energetic child. And then, Romel suddenly realized that Drago was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Drago? And Chihiro isn't here either?"

"Oh, they'll be down soon."

Sakura looked up at the second floor with a knowing expression.

It was then that Romel finally noticed. Though hidden by makeup, the corners of Sakura's eyes were red. Before he could ask about it, Drago came down from the second floor. The three guests, who had reflexively turned around, saw something nostalgic.

A champagne gold dress and an apple accessory. That was the very first present Romel had given to Chihiro.

He had been surprised when Drago named his daughter Chihiro, but to have her wear that dress on top of it.

Romel's eyes twisted with sadness.

I wish he hadn't made her wear it. That belongs to Chihiro, not this Chihiro.

Hiding his complex feelings, Romel patted the head of the small child Drago was holding. Perhaps happy about his child's growth, Drago was holding Chihiro tightly with tears in his eyes. She had soft black hair from Sakura and deep green eyes just like Drago's.

Romel was smiling at the lovely little girl, but the next moment, his eyes widened in astonishment. A golden light shone on the thumb of her small left hand.

"Yaffai, Romel."

And the little girl grinned, a cheerful smile on her face.

Time stopped in the room.

What set it in motion again was the loud sobbing of the bear of a father.

"Uooooh, Chihirooo."

Chihaya was frozen with a surprised look on his face. Sakura smiled with resignation. The butler and maid dabbed at their tears with handkerchiefs, and the three guests were simply dumbfounded.

A petit chaos.

If Katsumi had been there, he surely would have muttered those words.

"Would you mind explaining?"

Romel's smile was a full blown, scheming one, something they hadn't seen in a while.

Ah, that's the royal duke alright, the others thought with a strange sense of relief.

"Where should I start?"

The little girl scratched her hair, looking troubled, and tilted her head.

"Everything."

"Everything?"

"Yes, everything since you disappeared. No more secrets, I'm begging you, really."

Slapping his hand on the table, Romel leaned forward and stared at the former little person. Overwhelmed by his sincere eyes that would not allow any evasion, Chihiro explained in detail what had happened in the celestial realm.

The three of them had been dumbfounded, but after hearing the story, Romel's expression turned serious.

"So? Why are you in this Chihiro's body? Is it that possession thing again?"

"No. This time it was just me from the start. But I had them put a limit on the awakening of my memories."

Yes, at that time, Chihiro had made a choice.

She wanted to be reincarnated in Arcadia. If anywhere was fine, then she asked to be born as Drago's daughter again and be given a continuation of her life.

A continuation of your life?

The gods, not understanding, asked again, and Chihiro declared.

"That's right. Ending a life in just two years is too much, isn't it? Then please give me a continuation, with all my past relationships and knowledge intact."

It was a proposal to justify the inheritance of her memories. If it was a continuation of her life, then they couldn't just purify her soul and reset her memories. It was a clever move. However, what about a child that should be an infant suddenly starting to talk? And Drago, her father, should be allowed to enjoy the time he was supposed to have with his infant child.

After some discussion, it was decided that in exchange for reincarnating Chihiro's soul without purifying it, her memories would be sealed until she was two years old.

Well, that's probably for the best. Being in my late twenties on the inside, I'm pretty sure I would die of shame from being breastfed or having my diapers changed.

As Chihiro's face showed a mixture of expectation and anxiety, she noticed that the gods' gazes had changed.

In that case... you will become a Misaki, is that acceptable?

"A Misaki?"

Come to think of it, I've heard that before.

A proxy for the gods. One who possesses golden magic and rules over the divine messengers. One who receives oracles and conveys the will of the gods, who watch over the world, to the people.

As Chihiro was pondering that this was what she remembered, a high pitched kon sound reached her ears.

Three beams of light pierced through the pure white sky.

You possess golden magic.

You possess servants who will become divine messengers.

You know the laws of the world and the gods.

"Wha?"

The three lights that suddenly appeared were the messengers of the higher beings she had seen in the abyss.

Oh, just as I thought. The conditions are met. A Misaki will be born in Arcadia. How wonderful.

The gods of Earth were clearly delighted.

"What are you talking about? Explanation, please."

According to the gods' brief explanation, when a person who has been given power by the gods is reincarnated, a selection for Misaki is held. If they meet the conditions, they become a Misaki and gain eternity when they are reborn.

"No, wait? I said I wanted a continuation of my life, right? I don't need eternity."

At the fussing little girl, the three lights blinked in confusion.

Then in the next reincarnation.

We will pass this time.

Do not ever forget.

As they said this, the three lights each touched Chihiro with their left hands, and their fingertips emitted a small sparkle. Watching this, Chihiro looked up with a suspicious expression.

"You guys... are you by any chance the Norns?"

There are worlds that call us so.

Our names are meaningless.

For the world is ever changing.

With those parting words, the lights vanished high into the heavens again.

The gods of Arcadia timidly spoke to the dumbfounded little person.

If you are the Misaki of our world, then give us names.

Names.

"Yes?"

I can't keep up with this development.

Noticing Chihiro's thoughts, the gods hurriedly explained.

It is a ritual to entrust everything to the newly born Misaki and to humanity. By receiving names, we become true gods.

We will no longer be able to descend to the lower world, but in return, the effect of prayers will be multiplied, and we can circulate the energy of faith throughout the world.

Apparently, being prayed to with a name increases faith more than just being prayed to as a generic god.

Only a being of that world can give a name to its gods. And only those who have been granted the gods' magic can come to the heavens. It seems the souls of the Forest Masters had visited several times before, but they could not become Misaki.

Fum. Placing a hand on her chin, Chihiro thought of names. For Chihiro, who was Japanese on the inside, thinking of gods' names inevitably brought to mind existing gods from Earth, and it was a heavy burden for the little person with her poor naming sense.

But then, she had a flash of inspiration.

Though it was only two years, those hectic days were filled with complex twists and turns as she ran around.

If she had to put it into words...

"How about Abyss and Chaos?"

Instantly, the gods of Arcadia began to glow. A clear outline appeared around them, who had been humanoid lights, and their limbs and faces became three dimensional.

And standing there were two handsome men.

My name is Abyss.

My name is Chaos.

The golden haired, golden eyed pair happily murmured the names they had been given. It seemed that gods could only take form after receiving a name, and their previous form as humanoid lights was because they were still half fledged gods.

So that's why the gods of Earth and the boyish Legion had proper forms.

However, the gods of Earth, who knew the meaning of the words, had very complicated expressions. The little person pretended not to notice.

There's no other way to describe it. Really, thank you for a life that was short but like a roller coaster.

Leaving behind the ironic names, Chihiro was reincarnated once again in Arcadia.

".................."

The adults were too stunned to speak.

Even the Drago household, who had been ecstatic at the return of their beloved daughter when Chihiro's memories awakened, was at a loss for words.

"Ah... well, what can I say. It seems there are a lot of problems, but for now..."

With a grim expression, Romel pressed his temple, then raised the corners of his mouth into a grin.

"Welcome back, Chihiro."

At those words, the little person's eyes sparkled as she answered loudly.

"I'm home."

Come what may.

Surrounded by people beaming with joy, the little person is as energetic as ever today. There are no enemies in her path.

Overcoming various difficulties, an era without gods begins in Arcadia.

June 21, 2021. Final Draft
Minabukuro Kazuhito