kscans

Chapter 74 - The Defense of Nieren and a Triumphant Return

When I came to, I was in a dimly lit room. A space enclosed by stone walls.

"Ngh..."

Famu was kissing me. She must have been giving me a mana recovery potion. The feel of her soft lips was pleasant.

I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her back, deeply. In response, she hugged me tightly.

Just as I was about to get more heated, I felt a rap on the back of my head. I broke the kiss and turned to see Cecily glaring at me.

"What are you two doing, fooling around? You idiot!"

"What, are you jealous?"

I tried to kiss Cecily as well, but she dodged. Left with no choice, I grabbed her cheeks with both hands and forced my lips onto hers.

Cecily pushed back against me with both hands.

"Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot! Everyone's watching!"

Her face flushed crimson as she turned away.

I took another look at my surroundings. Cecily was in front of me, and Famu was on the other side. Hyakka was staring at me, her mouth agape. Beside her stood the members of her party, silently observing the scene.

The stuffy smell of blood and sweat filled the air. There were knights everywhere—some looked fine, while others were wounded and collapsed, receiving treatment, lying in agony, or not breathing at all.

Perhaps my actions had been inappropriate. Why would Famu choose a place like this to give me a mana potion?

"...By the way, where are we?"

I asked, to no one in particular.

"Inside one of the flanking towers,"

Hyakka answered.

It seemed we had successfully wiped out the monsters with Laciel's power. The soldiers who could still move remained on the walls, keeping watch, but there were no signs of another Big Hopper attack.

After I passed out, Famu had apparently controlled me like a puppet, just as she did after my fight with Wind Blade. Though, just like last time, I imagine her form was perfectly visible to everyone around us.

"I have been practicing with Master while he sleeps for this very day,"

Famu declared with an air of confidence. She'd been doing that to me in my sleep? I hadn't noticed a thing.

"What are you talking about?! He was jerking around so stiffly, it was incredibly creepy!"

Cecily shot back at Famu.

Apparently, even after Laciel had vanished and the monsters were gone, the cheers from the soldiers and citizens hadn't stopped. And Famu had been making me wave back at them. The movements were so unsettling that Cecily and Hyakka had eventually shoved me into the flanking tower at a suitable moment.

"No one noticed that Master had lost consciousness,"

Famu said, puffing out her chest, proud of a job well done.

"Uh, no, no, no, no..."

Hyakka offered a half-hearted retort, uncharacteristic for someone from Kansai.

When I can't move, Famu is the leader. If she's satisfied, then there's no problem.

"Famu, you did well. Shall we head back?"

I gently patted Famu's head. She nodded.

"Wait a moment."

A soldier approached us. It was the commander who had collapsed on top of the tower. He bowed his head deeply to me.

"We were on the verge of annihilation. Thank you for your help."

Unsure how to act, I looked around for help. Hyakka was talking with her companions as if it had nothing to do with her. I decided to push everything onto her.

"N-No, I was just responding to a request from Hyakka here. You should thank her."

"Huh?!"

Hyakka let out a strange cry. With that, everything that happened today was her achievement.

The man extended his hand, and I shook it. It was all so awkward and uncomfortable that I cut it short and left the tower. Famu, Cecily, and Hyakka's group followed me.

Outside, the townspeople had gathered around the tower. The moment they saw me, a great cheer erupted.

I recoiled at the unfamiliar sight. I wanted to go back inside the tower, but it was the same in there. Not knowing how to react, I started walking toward the church where Mizuki and the others were.

The people in my path quickly parted to the left and right, creating a path for me. I walked through it.

Everyone was smiling. It didn't feel bad, but this place was just as uncomfortable. All I'd done was call Laciel and then, until my mana ran out, I'd just watched her incredible power with the same awe as the cheering crowd. It was all her doing.

The people formed a procession behind us. They cheered as they danced, swinging their arms to a strange rhythm. It resembled the convulsive twitching of someone being electrocuted. It had an eerie intensity, as if I might be cursed or have my mana drained.

"Is this the popular dance in this town?"

"They're all copyin' you. You were dancin' like that on top of the tower!"

Hyakka retorted, though I hadn't been trying to make a joke.

"...Famu-san?"

I couldn't help but look at Famu.

"...I will practice more so I can do better next time."

"That's not it, that's not what I mean! Mash, stop her, don't just stand there smiling!"

Cecily replied to Famu. Since she seemed to be reflecting deeply on her actions, I decided to have high hopes for next time.

We reached the plaza in front of the church. The procession, with us at its head, continued. The wandering folk were in front of the obelisk. In their center was Kalpana, wearing her usual black hood. When she saw me, she and her people knelt on one knee and bowed their heads. The volume of the cheers from the crowd behind me rose at the sight.

"Mash-sama, congratulations on your victory. We watched Lady Laciel's battle from afar."

I took her hand and helped her to her feet.

"You're not fond of this sort of thing, are you?"

I offered a wry smile at Kalpana's words. If she knew, I wish she'd stopped them, but she was probably doing it for the sake of the wandering folk who fought. They decided to join the battle because I decided to fight. I had to respond to that.

"It was only because we had the wandering folk to watch our backs that we were able to fight at all."

At my words, Kalpana and the wandering folk bowed their heads deeply once more. Afterward, Kalpana raised her head and lifted her veil just enough for only me to see her face. For some reason, seeing her face brought me a sense of relief.

"Is everyone, are the wandering folk, all right?"

"Did you think we would fall behind against mere insects?"

Kalpana smiled. I gave her a vague nod in return. I'd keep quiet about the fact that we'd had a terrible time against those insects and had to flee into the church.

"However, we did have some injuries. Myra-san and Aira-san, who were in the church, healed them for us."

She smiled mischievously. She knew we'd struggled and was teasing me about it. Her expression seemed much softer than when we first met.

So Myra was awake. I hoped Mizuki was up and about as well. I wanted to see them both soon. I remembered I had something to ask of her.

"I need you to come to the church tomorrow morning,"

I whispered into Kalpana's ear.

"Yes. Is something the matter?"

"Apparently, the hero from a hundred years ago is sleeping in the crypts below. Did you know?"

Kalpana shook her head.

"That was the goal of the ones who caused this whole mess. I want to confirm it with Hyakka and the others here."

"Understood,"

Kalpana nodded.

We passed by Kalpana and continued onward. At the entrance of the church stood Mizuki, Myra, and Aira. I was once again relieved to see Mizuki and Myra safe. Suppressing the urge to run to them, I deliberately walked slowly toward them.

As I approached, Myra knelt before me and assumed a prayer pose.

As I got closer still, she raised her face.

Standing before her, I struck a cool pose, placing the back of my hand on my side. Next to Myra, Aira furrowed her brow. She was looking at me as if I were some strange creature. I guess it wasn't very cool after all.

"Welcome back, my hero,"

Myra said. Despite her playful tone, her gaze was sincere.

"You know, living up to your feelings is a real pain."

"Yes, but you will overcome everything, with us by your side,"

Myra replied, a smile playing on her lips. It sounded like a joke, but was it really?

I couldn't tell which was the real her, so I decided to tease her a bit to see her true intentions. It felt a little frustrating to let things end on her terms.

"Given my views on the church, you must be disappointed in me."

"Mash, you are tolerant of my faith. I, too, will accept your way of thinking. But let us argue, from time to time. We are not gods. I want us to connect through our actions, as people."

I refrained from pointing out that even gods fight in their myths, since now wasn't the time for an argument.

"Actually, the sight of you and Famu is a little dazzling,"

she added playfully.

Feeling like I'd been outmaneuvered by her serious reply, I wanted to deflate her ego, no matter what, even if it changed the subject.

"I went to all the trouble of summoning Laciel, and you were asleep again."

"I apologize for my delayed arrival."

"I don't forgive you. As punishment, you'll accompany me on my adventures from now on."

With that, I opened my arms.

"Yes!"

she exclaimed, standing up and leaping into my chest.

I caught her and held her tight, so she couldn't go anywhere.

"This might be the first time we've ever done this,"

she said, resting a hand on my chest and leaning her cheek against mine from within my arms.

"Mash. Right now, I'm living in the fairy tale I've always dreamed of."

I let Myra go and looked at Mizuki. Amidst the joyous crowd, she alone stood out, refusing to blend in. No... there had to be many others with faces like hers, people who were hurt or had lost family and loved ones. But those people weren't part of this gathering.

"Y-You don't have to hug me here,"

Mizuki said. "When we're alone is fine."

"You don't have to hold back,"

I said, playfully opening my arms.

"I said it's fine,"

Mizuki replied. I placed a hand on her shoulder. She twisted her face, trying to force a smile.

Her reaction worried me. I wanted to get somewhere we could talk soon.

"Alright. Let's go somewhere else for now."

Mizuki nodded. When I looked back, the crowd was still surrounding us.

"Let's stay at the church tonight. The priest has given us permission to use the guest rooms,"

Myra said. We can't do anything naughty at a church, can we? Even I would feel hesitant. But if we went back to the inn, we'd just get mobbed.

I nodded to Myra, then gave a final wave to the assembled crowd. A great cheer came back in response, and then they all started doing that dance. Myra and Aira's expressions hardened as they watched.

"Have they been cursed? I hope a healing spell will work..."

With the cheers and dancing at our backs, we entered the church. We parted with Hyakka and her group here.

The building still bore the scars of the recent battle. The destroyed doors had been removed, and holes in the walls were patched up with temporary fixes. A broken pillar lay where it had fallen, but the ceiling didn't look like it was about to collapse.

The floor, however, had turned into a field hospital. The injured lay waiting for treatment.

"I'm going to help. Mash, you should go to the guest room and rest."

I nodded, and Myra and Aira went to join in treating the wounded.