The sound emitted from the door being vigorously opened was reverberating within the dim and silent hall.
The white light from the outside went inside the dark room. It drew bands of light on the stone floor.
"We did it! We finally did it! We managed to make the miracle no one could've ever done into reality!"
The first footsteps that vibrated on the tall ceiling sounded to be light, as if the owner was dancing.
The light that came from the door slightly made the dim room to be visible. There was a slim woman turning around. Her exceedingly tall heels made a joyful rhythm.
Together, the dress and mantle that was decorated with luxurious fur depicted the silhouette of her supple legs. A necklace holding large gemstones on her chest lightly bouncing as she was still being emotional.
"Aah, it still gives me thrills recalling it now. What tremendous strength! It repelled the nemesis of humanity, the monster that terrorized the whole world in one blow. Can you believe it? We did all that...!"
The feminine voice was lively. She clapped her hands and held it as if praying. She put her words together while letting her unbearable excitement out. It looked like her cheeks were reddened from her spirit even in the darkness.
"With this, the UN and Orbis Librarius Norma will no longer ignore our complains. No, that won't be all. The Mage's Guild, the other Ten Sages... and that girl. Did you saw Nine's face back then!? It was the best!"
At the end of the sight of the talking woman was the owner of another footstep.
A man with refined looks, golden hair flowing on his back, and sparkling ice blue eyes behind the thin lens of his glasses.
The man had a truly composed pace, contrast with the joyful smile from the brilliant lips of the woman. He treaded the constant band of lights on the floor to the shadow of the door.
"That is not something to speak out loud. It does not mean everything is over."
The composed answer from the man made the woman snorted her nose in discontent.
"Why do you look so calm? You should be glad even for a little."
The woman's teasing voice had a tone that implied that they at least had the right to do that.
The man didn't answer and only took a glance with his composed look. But there was a faint smile on his mouth.
——Black Beast.
It put the whole world in the brink of destruction. The colossal black monster that clearly showed the meaning of despair to humanity. Whatever the latest weapon humanity had was unable to hurt it. They had been driven to corner toward destruction by the nightmarish demon... until now. They finally managed to repel it successfully.
An achievement that was obtained by none other than the pair of man and woman who had purple hats on their heads.
The world had discovered a hope. It had secured the power to fight. Destruction wasn't the only end they had anymore. They could fight from now on.
It was them who had showed it to the world.
"I don't know if she's a real genius or not. But in the end, that girl couldn't use her strength properly. If she can't arrive at the essential judgment within time of necessity, then she can't guide the world."
"Hmph... I will agree with you regarding that point."
"Don't talk so cynical. But whatever. After all, I'm in extremely good mood today."
Directing both hands toward the sky like when a stage actress singing, the woman spun once around the spot. Her loud voice was absorbed by the tall ceiling as it rung.
Suddenly... another voice could be heard there.
"It seems you're in a very high spirits."
The voice was even deeper inside the dim hall. It could be heard coming from the direction of some obscured shadow. A voice that was cold like the surrounding stone wall, but was also lukewarm that it invited unpleasant chills.
Uneasiness instantly passed over the woman's face as she turned around.
The figure was blended in shadow. However, she soon understood the situation. She recognized the owner of the presence that shouldn't have been there until just now.
The number of people who could appeared in this place without them noticing it was very limited.
"...You."
It was the man who let out a somewhat unpleasant voice.
Presently, there was a clear sensation that someone was standing at the location where the presence suddenly appeared. The figure was invisible since it was deep within the shadow. But there was no question regarding the person, no, the you that the man spoke of.
The woman furrowed her brows in suspicion and also took a gaze at the shadow. Her excitement had already lost its fever. It could have been easily overlooked but presently, a cautiousness toward the person in the shadow sparkled within her eyes for a slight moment.
The man calmly passed beside her with composed manner. He continued on until he was just beside the shadow of the hall.
"For the time being, I should declare my gratitude. It was thanks to your cooperation that we have managed to summon it successfully."
He confronted the visible darkness that looked like no one was there. That demeanor looked bizarre at a glance.
"Your gratitude is too much. I, too, was able to see something so precious."
What the man inside the shadow was smiling about was reflected from the presence. There was no facial expression to see, but an eerie feeling was drifting somehow.
"Nevertheless, Takemikazuchi sure has amazing power. Much like the rumor."
"Naturally. It was invented in order to bring down the Black Beast. Back then, an unnecessary device was in the way... but it will not be the same way next time."
"Unnecessary device? Ah, you’re talking about the doll?"
The voice from the shadow whispered softly as though talking to their hearts.
Slight hints of annoyance passed over the man's serene ice blue eyes.
"...She is an irritating woman all to the end. We missed a great opportunity because of it."
"That's right. If not for that, there won't be anything for humanity to be afraid of by now."
The woman grimaced with a face full of frustration compared to the man. She brushed off the hair on her shoulder to shake off her annoyance. At the same time, the large earrings on her ears jolted.
The presence inside the shadow let out a short laugh. It was unclear whether to soothe her or instead agitate her.
"Now, now. You shouldn't be rushing like that. The ownership of that thing... Takemikazuchi is certainly in the hands of the two of you. The opportunity should arrive soon. Isn't that right?"
The tone of voice that was like testing their feelings made both the man and woman wrinkled their brows.
Rather than a trap that was cleverly hidden, the presence's invisible real motive was more like a cryptic text that was casually thrown off as if to dare them to read what they could read. The person who couldn't predict it wouldn't be able to grasp whether what was lurking there was hostility or the exact opposite.
The people who were confronting the shadow were those unable to predict.
"...Can I ask you a question?"
Withdrawing her thorny fury that had been going on until now, the woman calmly asked. Her high heels hit the hard floor and made a noise as she glared at the unseen figure in the shadow.
"Yes, anything."
"How did you get the Orbis Librarius Norma to act? Just who you really are?"
"Oh no, you two. Don't be so cautious towards me."
The sharp gaze was not only from the woman, the man also attentively narrowed his eyes to ascertain the attitude of the presence lurking in the shadow.
Shrugging his shoulders as if they were being exaggerated, the presence in the shadow weakly laughed.
"In all sincerity, I ask of you to let me tell the necessary things during the times of need. Didn't it go smoothly because of that?"
"I wonder. You smell fishy for some reason."
The woman coldly muttered toward the freezing atmosphere.
But it didn't necessarily change anything for the presence that was blending in the shadow.
Shadow was still a shadow. The hands of mankind couldn't touch nor directly interfering with it. The owner of the presence was exactly similar to it.
The presence laughed again. With faint gentleness, without any ambition.
"Oh, how terrible. Please, put your trust on me. Haven't I been cooperating with you all this time?"
"Okay?" he said. The voice somehow made the woman shivered for a moment.
It was the outskirt of a wasteland.
There was no shadow of any vegetation. Not even a dead branch was lying around. It was nothing but scorched ground on and on.
Wind was inexistent. The air was really dry and mercilessly denied the land of moist. Not even a piece of cloud was floating in the sky.
However, the sky was unnaturally clear compared to the rest of the world. And not just of life, it was naught of any kind of pollution. ...The place was literally devoid of anything.
A few days ago, the place was a battlefield.
Between humanity and the Black Beast.
Currently, no soldier remained within this land that had forsaken the presence of any living being. Only cold void was drifting about in the vicinity.
But there were four figures standing, as if they had been left behind at the end of the world.
Standing on top of barren soil at a small hill, a silhouette was gazing forward. It was Hakumen. The white mask-wearing man had fought and swung his sword faster than anyone toward the approaching threat.
His expressionless face was looking down at a huge hole that spread on to the wilderness.
Before the battle from a few days ago, there was a flat cliff that acted like a wall. But along with the Black Beast, the former shape of the terrain vanished as it was scorched by a flash of ray.
There was a small figure around the edge of the odd, large hole. It was a beastkin warrior who had the appearance of a cat, Jubei. Wearing his war attire, he was also looking down at the scrapped ground.
"...No one’s gonna believe there was a town if they’re lookin’ at this."
This place was already abandoned a few days before the battle begin. But no matter how many traces of people remained... it surely had been turned to dust by that strike.
“If the angle had been slightly different, it might have decimated an actual town.”
The person who groaned bitterly was also standing around the edge of the hole like Jubei. The person was Valkenhayn, a middle aged man who was also a werewolf. Warping his exquisite looks into a grimace, he fixed his eyes on the empty space that had been scraped off.
On their west side was a range of rocky mountain. Beyond it was a small town that was still remained. The residents had already been evacuated, but it was fortunate that the town hadn’t met the sad fate of losing its form which had been built by the effort of mankind.
Contrarily speaking, there was a great chance of it happening.
"If it can be said as the effort of mankind... then what is the difference with Black Beast, along with those weapons humanity has created?"
Valkenhayn's deep voice was hoarse. The words he spat out contained anger.
Those words clouded the expression of a girl who stood behind Jubei and Valkenhayn in sadness.
The girl wore a robe that had a hood, with her fluffy platinum blonde hair flowing from it. The girl's name was Trinity Glassfille.
She held out the palm of her hands in front of her chest. There, a small magic circle appeared. She was analyzing the seithr on her surroundings.
Substituting for a measuring device, the magic indicated that there was no presence of seithr in the whole region of the wasteland.
"Nox Nyctores... Takemikazuchi."
The words that Trinity had spelled was the name of the weapon which had repelled the Black Beast and altered the wasteland's appearance.
The outrageous black titan came out from a magic circle that had appeared all of a sudden on the battlefield. It overturned the war in a single blow.
And somehow, it also wiped out the seithr on the vicinity along with the gust of flash.
The tremendous power she witnessed back then still vividly remained in Trinity's memories.
It wasn't just Trinity. It was the same for the awe-struck Jubei and the enraged Valkenhayn.
Hakumen was the only one who didn't give any hint of emotion. He had been silently gazing at the traces of the giant that remained on the ground.
"By the way, what's going on with Nine and Terumi?"
Valkenhayn asked the question while facing everybody.
The answer was given by the one who was nearest to him, Jubei.
"Nine's comin' back to Ishana while bringin' Celica. And Terumi should be goin' with them. What happens after that, I dunno."
"Celica-san... I wonder if she's alright..."
After she dispelled the observation magic, Trinity pressed her chest down as she was bothered by anxiety.
There were two other people who was involved in the battle that happened a few days ago. The two people were girls whom Trinity was well acquainted with. One was her best friend, Nine. The other was Nine's younger sister, Celica A. Mercury.
But Celica had completely lost her magic power and fainted.
It was still unknown if she would regain her consciousness.
"We should head back to Ishana at once. There is a need to discuss the reports and the next step that should be taken."
"Yer right. ...Just like Trinity, I'm worried about Celica too."
Agreeing to Valkenhayn's proposal, Jubei turned his back from the hollow ground.
The post-investigation that had started after all the army were withdrawn had also come to a point where there was nothing left to gather. No reason to stay in this place anymore.
But at that time, as if waiting for the right moment, more presences surrounded them simultaneously.
Even though the area was an open ground, there was no visible figure or silhouette.
Valkenhayn reflexively put on his guard.
Hakumen stepped down from high ground to protect Trinity. The long sword on his back brushed off the dust.
Jubei also drew his sword. However.
"...We're surrounded."
Jubei muttered while making a wry smile. Like he said, there was no escape for them.
——Once she came to, she was standing on a white room.
There was nothing there. Not even floor, wall, or ceiling. But strangely, she was standing firmly as if her feet stepped on something.
It didn't feel cold.
But it didn't feel warm either.
No one was there. Celica looked around her surroundings within the vast, completely white room...
Where could this be?
Could this be a dream?
It felt like something she had seen before. But there was also a feeling that denied it.
As she was slowly taking a look, a rectangular object stood in front of her unnoticed.
A mirror.
Large enough for Celica's whole body to be reflected. Like it was made for her.
The Celica inside the mirror was wearing a familiar school uniform. It had light brown that was bundled at the top. There were also her favorite leather shoes on its feet. It was how she would look normally.
But sensing how strange it was somehow, Celica began to take a step forward.
From the other side of the mirror, the gentle brown eyes that resembled wet soils were looking at her.
It was bizarre.
Because... Even though the figure felt the same as her, she wondered if the reflection was her true self.
What is this?
Her question didn't get transformed into a voice. It dissolved into the whiteness of her surroundings while she was thinking.
She wanted to be sure. She thought she would understand if she touched it.
She raised an arm very slowly, reaching her hand to the mirror.
The figure in the far end side of the rectangular object even extended its hand.
The moment their outstretched fingertips tried to touch each other...
Celica woke up.
Feeling light shining from the other side of her eyelids, Celica slowly opened her eyes.
It seemed she had been sleeping.
But strangely, she wasn't sleeping in her own room. She was on top of a single bed in an unfamiliar square room.
The room had one window. The white lace curtains were shining bright as they received the light from outside. The weather outside seemed nice. Plenty of sunlight was warmly shining into the room.
The showering light was tranquil, and the blanket was cozy. Still feeling sleepy as she just woke up, Celica rubbed her heavy eyelids while straightening her body.
Then she immediately noticed. Her hand was being squeezed by someone.
There was no need to make sure who it was. There was a woman with long hair who had fallen asleep on top of the blanket that Celica had been sleeping in.
Hair that could make anyone envious. Shoulders that were unexpectedly delicate. The sleeping breadth that sounded peaceful.
She was Celica's older sister, Konoe Mercury, or otherwise known as Nine.
"Onee-chan..."
Celica reflexively made a wry smile as she softly called out to her.
She recalled the time when she was a child. She suddenly got struck with a fever and had to stay in bed.
Nine worried too much and ended up crying. She would be right beside her like this and gripped Celica's hand the whole time. Starting from the night until dawn arrived, Nine would still grip her hand even though she had fallen asleep. Just like this.
(She's still forcing herself, even though she should be busy.)
As for Celica, she was more concerned if Nine's body would get ruined. Furthermore, Nine usually would become much worrier than this.
There was one more figure in the room. Someone was standing in silence.
A female robot was standing at the corner of room and stared at her. Celica gave her a bright smile.
"Good morning, Nirvana."
Celica spoke in whisper as to not wake Nine up. Nirvana slightly pulled her chin. The gesture made it seemed like she was nodding.
The relief made Celica's cheeks slackened.
Everything would be okay if Nine and Nirvana were on her side. There was no hint of uneasiness in her. She couldn't prove it, but she had that hunch for some reason.
Nevertheless, just where could this be? The simple question made Celica looked around the room.
It wasn't just the location. She couldn't remember any reason why she had been sleeping here.
When she was considering what to do next... the door slowly opened as if reaching to her.
"Oh, Celica-san~. I'm glad. Looks like you have awakened."
The person who appeared was a girl that had fluffy platinum blonde hair, white skin, and large round eyeglasses that would draw attention. She was Trinity.
When she saw Celica, Trinity's face turned meek. She gave a smile that was full of relief before she rushed to the side of the bed. There were faint tears on the green eyes beyond her glasses.
"Trinity-san. Umm... good morning, I guess?"
Lacking knowledge of the circumstances, Celica responded Trinity's arrival with a bright face while making a concerned smile.
Because Nine was sleeping beside her, Celica couldn't raise her voice and was dropping its volume instead.
Noticing it, Trinity put the robe she had been wearing onto the shoulders of the friend who was breathing lightly in her sleep. She made rustling noises in the process, but there was no indication of Nine waking up.
Seeing Nine's unusual looks, Celica and Trinity unconsciously looked at each other. They couldn't hold their laugh.
"Then again... I'm really thankful that you're alright. If you're still in a coma, everyone would get worried."
Putting her hands on her chest again, Trinity let out a deep, long breath as if she was hit by relief. Her glasses were slightly unsteady as she used her white fingertips to wipe the tears that appeared on the corner of her eyes.
"How is your condition?"
"Mmmm. My body feels sluggish, and my head feels a bit light. But there's nothing else to add."
Celica put her hand on her head and made a cheerful face telling that she was fine.
It was natural since she just had been sleeping, but her hair had become disordered. The feeling of bed hair on her hand made Celica slightly embarrassed.
"That's right, I should inform the doctor..."
"Ah. Wait, Trinity-san!"
Trinity, who was feeling nervous because of her relief and joy, was about to get out of the patient room. Celica quickly stopped her. Because she unconsciously made such a loud voice, Celica instantly checked on Nine.
Nine was still sleeping soundly. After dropping her shoulders from relief, Celica raised her face toward Trinity.
"Before you go, I want to ask you a lot of things. Umm... To begin with, where is this place? Why am I here?"
"Oh my... well, I guess that should be obvious. My apologies, I was in complete panic~"
She didn't appear to be that flustered, but it seemed it made Trinity upset as she was self-conscious about it.
Covering her blushing cheeks with both hands, Trinity returned to the side of Celica's bed. After taking a breath, Trinity's pink lips opened.
"We're at the general hospital in Ishana. Celica-san... you probably don't remember about it, but you fainted when we were battling the Black Beast. Afterwards, you were carried here."
Trinity calmly informed Celica. Listening to the tone of her voice slowly made Celica to understand the situation. Like streaming water, her memories got restored little by little.
The scenes she had seen happened just before she fainted were passing by her mind like a sequence of photos.
"The Black Beast... That's right, there was a weird magic circle and light... And then, my mind suddenly went blank... So, what's next? What's happened to the Black Beast? And how's everyone else?"
"Please calm down, Celica-san. Everybody is okay~. As for the Black Beast... it wasn't defeated yet, but we were able to repel it. I think the resulting damage is very low."
Celica leaned her body forward and rapidly asked a series of questions. Trinity softly answered her questions calmly.
Trinity properly straightened her back. Anyone who saw it would naturally feel relief and become composed.
"Nine spoke about this before. Celica-san. The moment that magic circle appeared, your magic power got completely absorbed. That should be what was making you unconscious~. ...Although since Nine quickly brought you to Ishana by teleportation, I haven't heard the details about it."
"I see... Huh? Teleporting to Ishana? Wait a minute, you said she teleported from the battlefield to here? It can't be right."
Even for Nine, it was something she shouldn’t have been able to do. Never mind the distance, the environment wasn't exactly teleportation-friendly.
In the first place, there was a barrier on Ishana. It was fundamentally impossible to teleport directly into it.
Trinity glanced at Nine who was sleeping. Then she smiled tearfully before making a happy look.
"Yes, it seems she did~. She probably used teleportation continuously to bring you here."
"She teleported continuously... Oh, Onee-chan."
Celica also made the same face as she looked at her sister.
The teleportation magic required a great deal of magic power and concentration compared to other type of magic. It also needed unusual amount of stamina and will. The consumption would be unfathomable when used consecutively.
(You'd be angry if I got reckless, but you did the same thing.)
The sisters were alike. Once their mind was filled with something, they would ignore any circumstances and rush forward immediately.
Celica thought that the one who probably had been worrying the most wasn't Nine, but Trinity.
Trinity, who pulled up the robe on Nine so it wouldn't slip down, then gracefully faced Celica.
Across those large, round glasses were green eyes filled with kindness.
"Five days have passed since the repulsion of Black Beast, or in other words, after you collapsed. Celica-san, you were in a coma in the meantime."
"So perhaps Onee-chan has been here all this time?"
"It looks like so. I've only just returned this morning, so I have yet to hear on how she was doing then."
Trinity made a strained smile while she was speaking.
They figured it out even if they didn't actually witness it. They knew that kind of person Nine was. Also, it was also possible that she didn't get enough sleep.
"But still, five days? ...So I've been sleeping for so long."
It was no wonder that every part of her body was sore. Her stomach must also be very empty.
After she muttered alone, Celica held her knees while they were still under the blanket.
The memories from five days ago felt just like a dream she had while sleeping. The voices from a lot of people. The advance of the Black Beast. Then the large thing she saw just before she fainted...
"...Trinity-san. About the large magic circle..."
She wondered if it would be okay to ask that. Celica opened her mouth to ask about it. But before she was finished with her inquiry, Nine, who had fallen asleep on the bed, suddenly raised her face.
"CELICA!?"
It seemed Nine was still half-awake as she looked around for Celica while still in daze.
Nine found out that Celica was sitting up on the bed with her hand still being gripped. Then the eyes of the fatigued Nine were blinking as if her spirit had returned.
Her lips that looked slightly worse than usual were trembling as they moved.
"Ce... Celica...?"
"Good morning, Onee-chan. It seems you've slept we..."
"CELICA~~~~~~~~!"
She was like a lost child who had found her way home. Or even a mother who had finally found her child. Nine casted away her composure and determination to jump at Celica while making tearful voice.
She hugged and hugged Celica's slightly thin shoulders. Nine's hands grabbed Celica's sleepwear and were trembling as she wept.
"...Thank goodness... you're awake... I was worried, really worried..."
With her thin shoulders still shaking, Nine spoke so many times while sobbing.
Her large tears were overflowing and instantly soaked the top part of Celica's shoulder. Her wet sleepwear felt sticking onto her skin, but it didn't mean it was unpleasant.
"O... Onee-chan. I can't breathe..."
Her embrace was strong enough that one mistake might strangle Celica and cause her to faint again. Celica could only make a wry smile as she spoke.
After that, she gently patted her sister's head.
"I'm sorry I've made you worried. But I'm alright now."
Nine had been truly worried. But she was still glad that Celica had awakened. Nine cried with the tears of relief.
Celica also took breath of relief and raised her face.
There, Trinity was still standing with a look like she could break into a cry anytime.
Celica shrugged her shoulders while making a strained smile. She soothed Trinity along with her sobbing sister before asking them in low voice.
After the doctor who was brought by a nurse arrived, he determined Celica's condition by doing the established procedure.
As he was finished with the basic examination, the doctor ended it with measuring the approximate amount of her magic power with some kind of thermometer. After that, he got up from a chair near the side of the bed.
"Your progress has been more favorable than I thought. But you still need to rest for another two or three days."
After the doctor said that, he left the patient room.
The door was closed shut.
"Aaah... It seems I can't go home yet."
Celica dropped her shoulders and collapsed onto the bed.
"Too bad. We can't have a tea party even though Onee-chan and Trinity's here."
"What are you talking about? You shouldn't force yourself to do the usual stuff until your magic power stabilizes. Don't do anything unreasonable even when you're in a hospital."
Nine, who had finally stopped crying, softly lectured Celica while wiping her red, swollen eyes with her fingers.
She usually would do it with menacing looks, but her teary face snatched her coercive vigor away.
Since her sister was speaking not as a Ten Sage, but as a girl, Celica got in a pleasant mood and replied with a smile.
"Okaaay."
Trinity giggled as she watched from the side. Next to her, Nirvana stared at Celica with her transparent eyes.
If only the situation was different and they weren't in a hospital room, it would looked their usual, friendly chat. But even if she was smiling, there was something that had been stuck inside Celica's chest.
"Hey, Onee-chan. Can I ask what's really happened when I fainted?"
She wondered about what happened and what became of it. Celica thought that the only person who could tell it accurately would be none other than Nine.
But as soon as she asked, Nine's face changed as if to stop Celica from continuing.
Her face didn't look stiff or restrained. But Nine mildly shook her head with the deadpan expression that had silent refusal within.
"Celica. We will speak about that next time. For now, you must prioritize to get a rest."
Celica got a hunch that it was the kind of face she would make when she was hiding something.
Usually, she would pester Nine to tell her.
But when she thought of how Nine had fallen into deep sleep due to her fatigue, she decided to swallow her selfishness inside.
Even Celica would prefer if Nine put a thought into taking a rest herself.
"Then tell me when I got out of the hospital, alright?"
"...Sure. If I got time."
Nine's reply felt unfair, but Celica nodded in her mind thinking that her answer was good enough.
After she took a breath, Nine brushed the hair on her shoulder to her back. The glint on her eyes that soon appeared was unlike the kindness she would show to Celica.
But the older sister's expression quickly returned to usual as Nine displayed a slight smile toward Celica.
"Well... Now that Celica has awakened and Trinity returned, it's time to go."
"Onee-chan. You have another work?"
"Yes. There are other things that I must attend."
Nine spoke as if it was nothing concerning. Hearing that, Celica's face slightly clouded. She unintentionally pointed her lips like she was pouting.
"I think it'd be better if you stay a bit longer. Aren't you still tired?"
"She's right, Nine. How about getting home for today?"
Together with Celica, Trinity also spoke worryingly to Nine.
However, like Trinity and Celica had expected, Nine didn't have the same agreement.
"It's alright. Once I've done the usual stuff, I'll be sure to get a rest. Then let's go, Trinity. Nirvana, I'll leave Celica in your care."
As soon as she finished speaking, Nine, fully resolved, turned her body around.
Trinity could only sigh and lightly drop her shoulders.
Celica frowned from being both worried and astonished. Really, she thought, she won't listen once she started speaking.
In exchange of nodding, Nirvana went beside Celica as ordered by Nine.
Once she confirmed that by taking a glance, Nine opened the door and turned back to Celica.
"Get a good rest, okay?"
"You too, Onee-chan."
Although she got a reply, Nine didn't pay a slightest attention to it and came out of the patient room as her long hair fluttered.
That was why Celica put a word to Trinity instead.
"Trinity-san, please take care of Onee-chan."
"Yes, of course~."
Trinity gave a slight bow and disappeared to the hallway as she followed Nine.
When the door silently closed, the sound of footsteps became distant.
"I don't want Onee-chan to get hospitalized, too... Right, Nirvana?"
Celica and Nirvana were left alone within the white and simple hospital room.
Nirvana stood still beside the bed with her large, clear eyes looking at nowhere.
Looking at her inorganic but feminine face from the side, Celica let loose the strength in her shoulders and smiled.
"Thank you, Nirvana. You're also always on my side."
Nirvana answered with a breathless, silent reply. But instead of words, her large eyes looked at Celica.
They were artificial eyes that didn’t carry any thought, but Celica felt a sense of security within them.
Celica rotated her shoulders that were stiff because she had been sleeping too much, and then put her head on the pillow.
Her mind was still in daze, but this way, her memories would slowly and steadily become clear if she put enough time to think it through.
That day. The day when Black Beast put an end to the white sky by materializing itself. The day when humanity challenged the absolute despair with their strength.
What was happened? What did she see? What did she sense at the endless wasteland?
That time, the Black Beast approached Celica until it was really close to her. Inside its ridiculously large body... Inside those glowing red eyes in the darkness...
Celica felt his presence without a doubt.
"I think... I'll sleep for a bit."
She pulled her blanket and rubbed her cheeks to the pillow. While closing her eyes, Celica spoke to Nirvana who was on her side.
Although she should have slept for five days, Celica was immediately hit with drowsiness. It made her eyelids heavy.
"...Thanks for saving me back then."
After she softly whispered and closed her heavy eyelids, Celica slept like an infant as she got overwhelmed by the wave of drowsiness.
There was almost no people inside the hallway of Ishana's general hospital. It was a clear and sunny noon. A gentle mood was drifting about even inside the hospital.
Within such situation, Nine was walking while clad in grim atmosphere that made her hard to be approached.
"...Nine."
Trinity followed after the footsteps of heels that were advancing with constant pace.
Trinity called her in moderate manner, but it was also filled with determination.
But Nine didn't lower her pace nor look at Trinity. Instead, she answered while making a tense and expressionless face.
"I'll explain it later. So don't ask anything right now."
Since Nine spoke so, Trinity didn't press it any further. When Nine didn't want to speak... When she decided not to speak... then she would shut her mouth like a clamshell. Instead, if someone wanted to open it forcibly, then they should drive her into a corner.
Like a clamshell that got passed through fire over and over again, until Nine opened her mouth herself, Trinity had no choice but to wait.
"I understand. But Nine, please don't bear everything on your own~."
Nine didn't give a response.
However, Trinity's words made Nine frowned in pain for a moment. Seeing it made Trinity concerned.
Five days ago, the Mage's Guild was suddenly in uproar after a large-scale battle with the Black Beast took place. It had resumed its activity for the first time in a year.
The number of people who were coming and going became increased. The amount of the gathered intelligence skyrocketed. The total visitor from foreign countries grew frequently.
Every day, debates and consultations were being taken all over the place... The gathering of people was stuffed with opinions so many that it looked like a whirlpool.
With what was going on in Mage's Guild, the Cathedral was the only sole location that had remained in peacefulness.
Nine rapidly walked toward the Cathedral along with Trinity, pushing her way through the glaring sunlight that went through trees. The savagery called war that was happening in the world was completely irrelevant to her.
There was no guard or even a figure of person in the surroundings.
Nine treaded that sight of fairy tales in long steps. Then, she opened the double door of the Cathedral gently.
When she entered, she was served with the view of the upper floors that completed the appearance of a church's hall. It was well suited with Cathedral's outward looks. Faint lights were coming in from the small windows. They painted the hall with light ashen tint.
There were already visitors inside.
They were Jubei, Valkenhayn, Terumi, and Hakumen.
They should have entered her vision, but Nine acted like she didn't see them anyway and kept walking forward.
She was heading to the inner side of the hall. A statue of beautiful woman wearing long gown was standing there.
The Mage's Guild called her as The Creator. Nine got down on her knees and bowed like what a pilgrim would do in front of the statue.
She closed her eyelids and prayed.
"…Heh. So you pray to god? Interesting."
Terumi, who was discreetly leaning on the wall near the door, sneered at her. But his words didn't reach Nine's consciousness.
Watching attentively to her best friend's gesture, Trinity also joined her hands together and offered a prayer.
During that very moment, the Cathedral received a worth of virtue that befitted its name.
When her prayer was finished, Nine slowly stood up.
That moment marked the end of the calming tranquility.
A genuine sense of urgency appeared as the replacement.
It was still quiet all the same, but the rigidness had changed.
"Well then, let us hear it."
Valkenhayn spoke gloomy while facing Nine's back.
"Just what is causality weapon... and Takemikazuchi in that regard?"
That was the main reason they gathered here presently.
The only person who had the answer was Nine.
But those lips of her didn't immediately tell the truth even while being showered with expectations and stares from her vicinity. Rather, they were shut tightly as she dropped her gaze toward the deep color of wood grain under her feet.
The dubious silence was because of her hesitation.
Trinity sensed it as easily as she would breathe. But since she herself desired to know about it, Trinity urged the friend who was grinding her teeth with a smile.
"I think it was created by Nine... She said it not too long ago, didn't she?"
They heard it on the battlefield.
Nine spoke of it while holding the fainted Celica as all of her magic power got absorbed. It happened after Takemikazuchi, having done its job, vanished after its target, the Black Beast, escaped.
Thinking back at that moment made Trinity's chest slightly painful.
If the titan was created by Nine, then what had caused her precious sister to stay unconscious for a few days would be her own creation.
If that was true, then she must be blaming herself. Actually, there was no mistaking that she was blaming herself. Trinity thought that it was understandable that she wasn't very communicative.
However, they needed to hear it in order to get an understanding on what they should do from now on.
"...Yes, I made it. Rather, it might be better to say that it's been revived."
A refreshing air blew. Nine suppressed her emotions and answered with stiff voice.
Still facing Nine's straightened back, Valkenhayn took a large step forward. His gaze was very stern.
"What do you mean by revived?"
"Simply put, causality weapon is an imitation of a technology that had existed long ago. What I did was reviving it."
The floor was hit by Nine's heel and made a small noise.
When Valkenhayn continued to walk a few steps away from Trinity, Nine finally turned around.
Her gaze gradually regained its composure.
"...Remember the place where the Black Beast was born?"
Like a teacher, Nine started by asking a question. Her intelligent eyes followed after the question by looking at every one of them. It was Jubei who answered.
"It's the Cauldron, ain't it?"
"That's right. So if we're going to investigate the Black Beast, then inspecting the Cauldron is also necessary. I don't really know about it and it isn't something I should reveal, but... there's one in Ishana, or Mage's Guild to be exact."
When she said it, Nine looked at her feet.
"It's beneath this Cathedral. Even then, the location is considered as peculiar."
Intrigued, Trinity also dropped her gaze down. She looked baffled.
"So there's a Cauldron underneath the Cathedral... I've heard rumors about some important secret that's hidden in Mage's Guild before. Is it referring to that Cauldron?"
"I think so. A lot of things are being kept in this Cathedral, but the Cauldron is the most confidential among them."
It was a violation to speak of the secret to outsider even if they were comrades in arm.
But the situation right now was special. After all, the people in this place who didn't know about the Cauldron were just Trinity and Hakumen.
Including Nine, the other four had learned the existence of Cauldron by their own circumstances.
Before continuing, Nine stole a glance to the two people who had previously trespassed inside and making an outrage.
The two people she was glaring at were Valkenhayn and Terumi.
"I've been looking into that Cauldron during the one year Black Beast was dormant. I thoroughly examined the plausible materials that's hidden by Mage's Guild, from the Great Library up to the books that are buried within the Cathedral. Anyway, I've gone through all of them."
"All... of them?"
Trinity sighed with great admiration.
Even focusing on those 'plausible materials' Nine spoke of, the number of books should have passed over what a person could read in a year. The book collection of Mage's Guild was just that colossal.
In addition, Nine had been comprehensively reading that many books while developing Armagus at the same time.
No, those weren't all of them. Nine completed the topic of this conversation, Takemikazuchi, over the course of her investigation.
Thinking about it again made it seemed impossible.
"Anythin' interestin'?"
Jubei turned his head as he asked.
Nine folded her arms under her voluptuous chest as if embracing herself.
"Long time ago... during the era that's called as the beginning, humanity was in a war with something. And so, I've found the records regarding it. The opponent seems a nuisance since common weapons couldn't hurt it. Then, although the scale is smaller than the previous one..."
In the middle of her story, Terumi made a big yawn. Nine gave a scornful glance at him and attempted to brush his rudeness away by continuing regardless.
"Although the scale is smaller than the war in the beginning, there was a same kind of war between humanity and something several hundred years ago. It resembles our current battle with the Black Beast."
Nine removed her gaze from Jubei to the wolf man who had a firm physique. Her blinking eyes had profound significance.
Her lips slightly made a smile. It was too sharp to be a simple smile.
"...Perhaps we might have someone nearby who's familiar with the incident."
Valkenhayn wasn't that oblivious to not understand what her words and gaze meant. His already sullen face grew even more sullen as one of his brow was lifted.
Because of the angle, a diagonal shadow was taking place on his masculine face.
"I do not know what you are expecting, but Clavis-sama never told me everything. I have been serving Clavis-sama for almost a hundred years. I have no opportunity to learn what happened before that."
"Hmph. I see."
Nine replied with an emphasis that was far from agreeing. Valkenhayn turned his grim face away from her. Meanwhile, Terumi watched them and grinned while leaning on the wall.
The chapel within the Cathedral was wide. Any voice would get absorbed by the ceilings.
Nine's voice didn't reach the ceiling and vanished. As if following after it, Trinity asked a question while having uncomfortable expression.
"That war existed? ...But I've never heard anything about it until now, even within the Mage's Guild."
"Yes. It wasn't something that's written in your everyday history of Mage's Guild. I found the description inside the books which are stored in the Cathedral."
"Then, it must be something that's hidden from the world."
"That seems to be the case. But in addition to the book's description, I found the legacy of the war."
Nine gently spoke and gave a nod to her friend. Her expression got a bit stiffened when she said the latter words.
Legacy. In other words, the evidence of history.
Nine brushed away her long hair with the back of her hand.
"I've found the weapon that had been used to fight that something in Ishana."
A weapon created by humanity to fight the something that couldn't be damaged by conventional weapons at start.
"Your village has the same kind of weapon, doesn't it?"
Her question was directed to Jubei. He was deeply aware that Nine didn't have any ill intention, but Jubei unconsciously frowned.
"Hihi'irokane..."
The ancient weapon itself originated from the age of beginning and had been handed down within Jubei's family.
It wasn't currently in the possession of Jubei's family for a reason, but Jubei never knew that it was intended to fight that something which resembled Black Beast.
"The one I found in Ishana was more recently made. According to the few remains of record, its name is..."
Before Nine could tell the name of the relic...
"...The Sealed Weapon Izayoi."
Hakumen murmured and shook the heavy atmosphere.
His monologue collided with Nine's words that had been flowing until now.
"Wh-. How did you..."
How did he know its name?
Nine was supposedly going to say that, but she was interrupted by the sudden noise of door being opened.
Several men stormed in... along with a pair of man and woman with triangular hats on their heads. They were Seven and Nine.
"Bringing outsiders to the sacred Cathedral? How could you even be this thoughtless, Nine?"
Dragging a long mantle, Eight took a large step forward. Her lips that were painted with glossy lipstick smiled calmly as if in triumph.
Then she lightly jerked her chin, ordering the men to surround Nine and the others. Judging from their uniform and air, they were all from Mage's Guild.
Hakumen lowered his posture and grabbed the long sword on his back.
But before he could declare his intention to strike, Seven spoke indifferently.
"You must have known what will happen should your comrades do something foolish like struggling... Don't you, Nine of the Ten Sages?"
Seven was implying that any resistance would make her regretted it.
Since Hakumen seemed to disregard it and ready to plunge anytime, Jubei held him back with his hand.
Although Hakumen didn't show an immediate reaction, he eventually stopped showing his hostility and took his hand off of the long sword.
To make sure of it, Seven lightly stroke the air with the palm of his hand.
A metallic noise rang. Circles with dull light appeared and restrained Nine's body and both of her wrists. In addition to restricting her movement, the magic could prevent her from using her own magic.
"You've been summoned by the Committee of Hearing."
"The Committee of Hearing?"
Eight said it while blinking her long eyelashes. When she said that, Nine finally opened her mouth and asked. Her gaze stayed composed, not showing the fluctuation of her emotions. But her voice had deep suspicion.
There was no organization within Mage's Guild that had a name like Committee of Hearing. Even if there was one, then it would be the Ten Sages.
But since Eight, who was a Ten Sage, deliberately mentioned a different name... It seemed there was another organization separated from Ten Sages that had the position to influence the management of Mage's Guild.
Nine frowned for a moment.
"I shall be your escort."
A Mage's Guild personnel told Nine in a somewhat stiff voice and started walking to urge her to do the same.
Before they went, Trinity stood in the way by butting in and spread both of her arms.
"Please wait. Why did you cast a binding on Nine? Can you just take her normally?"
"There is no need for you to know. It would be wise to abide the instruction from Ten Sages, Platinum the Trinity."
"But...!"
Seven talked like it was a common sense. Trinity glared at him, which was unlike her usual self.
However, as if pushing her best friend away, Nine stepped forward.
"It's okay, Trinity. I'll be fine, so don't be concerned."
"What do you mean by fine? You are a Ten Sage. Even if they're one too, they can't treat you like a criminal without telling any reason..."
Nine of the Ten Sages wasn't someone who should get that kind of treatment. Nine had more achievements than anyone else in the whole world in regards to the fight against Black Beast.
Trinity complained while clutching both hands to fists. A grief could be heard in her words.
Nine made a strained smile and shrugged her shoulders.
"There's just going to be some awfully old folks complaining at me. If I bothered myself with these guys every single time, I'd only get tired."
Guessing that she was included in 'these guys' Nine spoke about, Eight got irritated and urged Nine to get hurry.
After taking a glance at Eight, Nine slowly got her face closer to Trinity as if to hug her. Nine smiled at her while pretending not to hear herself being called. Then, she got close to Trinity's ear so that she would be the only one who could hear her instruction.
"This is a good chance to investigate this organization. If anything happens..."
If there was one thing Nine would be worried about during emergency, it would be Celica.
"...Understood."
Trinity also made a mild expression so as not to give off tension.
Nine brushed off her long hair to her back with her restrained hand and started to walk. Soon, she was surrounded by the men from Mage's Guild to block any escape route.
Then, Nine Looked over her shoulder from within the small ring of people and left some words of warning.
"I'll say it again: do not make unnecessary commotion. Understand?"
The tone of her voice was mainly emphasized toward Hakumen.
However, she couldn’t tell whether the person in question noticed it or not since he didn't give any reaction.
"Be careful, Nine."
Jubei warned her with a low voice. The bridge of his nose was wrinkled, showing his discontent. Nine gave him a smile. After that, she started to walk like she was bringing along the Guild members around her instead. Then she left the Cathedral behind, along with Seven and Eight.
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