Isekai Mahou wa Okureteru! (LN) - Volume 6 - Chapter Ep2

Epilogue II 

After Suimei’s party returned to the Nelferian Empire from the Saadias Alliance, they headed back to the house they used as a base. It was just as they’d left it. The alabaster that Suimei had heavily plastered on the walls of the surrounding buildings was still a nice, pure white. The characteristic dankness of such backstreet neighborhoods was nowhere to be found in this place, which radiated an aura of cheer and brightness. With the sunlight shining down into it from overhead, it was almost like a park. 

Looking around, several of the cats that Suimei had made his temporary familiars were settled on top of the tables and chairs that had been left in the patio area. They were purring and relaxing as they lay spread out. Some were lazily scratching themselves, some were snoozing away, and some were sunning themselves up on the balcony. 

“Kitties!” 

The moment she saw all this, Liliana cast aside her parasol and made a beeline for the felines, her reddish-violet twintails bouncing through the air after her. Since she’d been away for a while, she needed a refresher session of quality time with some small, furry friends. Thinking back on it, Suimei remembered that Liliana had been somewhat reluctant to part with the cats when they left the Empire. 

“Hug...” 

“Meeeow!” 

After capturing several cats, Liliana pressed them against her cheeks all at once. Because Liliana had made friends with them back when they were temporary familiars of Suimei’s, they didn’t at all seem to mind her affection. The only one who seemed to think anything of it was the tiny Lefille. Stooping over to grab the parasol that Liliana had cast aside, Lefille scooped up a cat herself and began talking to it. 

“I guess you guys aren’t going to return to where you came from, huh?” 

“Meow.” 

Even as she continued to poke the cat’s cheek and question it, the only reply she received—of course—was meowing. She’d known that would happen, but still felt like she had to try. It was Liliana, who was next to her while gently petting as many cats as she could, that replied for them. 

“It’s pretty here... and it’s easy to take an afternoon catnap... so they come around once in a while.” 

“Cats love clean places, after all. So I suppose in their roaming around, they enjoy stopping by here to nap and relax.” 

“Meow.” 

The cats meowed as if to agree, and Liliana listened to them intently. It looked like she was having a conversation with them, but it was just a method Suimei had taught her to come to a mutual understanding with animals. 

After the incident in the Empire had been resolved, the cats’ job was fulfilled. So in accordance with their contract (which had been cooperation in exchange for food and a place to sleep for a finite period of time), the magicka that partially enhanced their intelligence was dispelled. That returned them to being normal cats, and they all returned to their regular haunts. But there was no erasing the knowledge they’d gained of this place—which was indeed a wonderful place to take a catnap—so many of them returned quite frequently. 

“At this rate, it’ll become a gathering spot for them at night, huh?” 

“I imagine so, Suimei-dono. It is often said that cats like to gather.” 

Felmenia seemed quite happy about it. She was also rather fond of cats, so the tranquil sight of so many of them together was like food for the soul. 

“B-By the way, um...” 

Felmenia then glanced back and forth between the cats and Suimei. She’d gone from seeming cheerful to embarrassed as she fidgeted restlessly. 

“Hmm? Ah, the cats, right? Go on.” 

“Yes!” 

Her silver hair streaking behind her, Felmenia practically leaped towards Liliana and began petting the cats as well. Time passed like that peacefully for a while, but then Suimei and the others heard a familiar voice from down the alley. 

“Ah, they’re here!” 

It was a young man’s voice—one Suimei knew particularly well, and one that was somewhat reassuring to hear. When Suimei turned around, he spied Reiji and his party, who should have been in the Saadias Alliance. Titania then called out to him with her usual composed expression. 

“So you’ve returned?” 

“Yeah, we just got back.” 

As Suimei shrugged his shoulders, Felmenia came running up from behind him carrying a cat. She immediately fell to one knee and properly greeted Titania like a princess. 

“Your Highness, it is wonderful to see you in good health.” 

“White Flame-dono, it is also nice to see you in such good spirits. Do you like cats?” 

“Huh? Um, well... yes...” 

The sight of Felmenia courteously kneeling with a cat in her arms was too much for even the self-possessed Titania, who began giggling. After Felmenia replied in an embarrassed tone, she moved the conversation onward. 

“Your Highness, if I remember correctly, was it not your plan to reassure the citizens of the self-governed state?” 

“Indeed, we have just returned to the Empire this morning.” 

“Actually, we got called back by that noble again,” Reiji announced, admitting the real reason for their return. 

“That noble again, huh?” 

“Mm...” 

As Reiji replied with a grim expression, Suimei realized that the person in their group who was usually the loudest hadn’t made an appearance yet. 

“So, where’s Mizuki? I haven’t seen her yet.” 

“U-Um, Mizuki is...” 

“What’s up?” 

Suimei cocked his head to the side as he asked for the details, but Reiji awkwardly looked away. And just as he did... 

“FUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” 

Suddenly, an excessively tense, high-energy laugh rang out from behind Reiji and the others. Hearing it, Suimei’s heart sank. 

“Say, Reiji... Why is it I’m getting such a terrible feeling about that laugh?” 

“Don’t make me say it...” 

As Reiji answered him in a tired voice, Mizuki arrived on the scene—her odd eye shining gold. 

“It has been a while, Dark Crimson Hider whose darkness is deeper than that of the universe I inhabit! Oh, my eternal rival!” 

“Ahhh... I see.” 

Just hearing what Mizuki said, Suimei seemed to figure out what was going on. Looking at Reiji and Titania, he could tell that the two of them were at their wits’ end. As Mizuki strode over to him confidently, Suimei beheld her with a complex expression. 

“You know, Mizuki... didn’t you stop doing that?” 

“What are you talking about? Besides, I am not Mizuki. I am a unique existence between all heaven and earth, the Holy King of the Heavens, Io Kuzami.” 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah... None of that’s real.” 

As Suimei gave an apathetic response, Felmenia looked at him bemusedly. 

“Suimei-dono, just what is even going on here? I am having a hard time understanding.” 

“Even if you ask me... Hey, Reiji, what’s up with this?” 

Reiji then explained what had happened in the self-governed state. About how they’d attained the weapon left behind by a hero of old. About how a demon general had appeared. And about how Mizuki had ended up like this. 

“I see... So she started acting like this after getting that weapon.” 

“Mm. That’s why it’s my fault. If I’d properly protected her, then...” 

Reiji’s expression was tense. He’d said he’d protect Mizuki from the very beginning, even before they’d left Astel. That things had turned out like this weighed heavily on him. 

“Well, don’t worry about it.” 

“But—” 

“Mizuki’s also responsible for saying she would go along. Besides, nothing will come out of brooding over it now. Spilled milk and all that. Also, if she suddenly got weird again, isn’t it possible she might just suddenly go back to being normal?” 

His burden perhaps allayed by such optimistic words, Reiji’s expression lightened. 

“You’re right.” 

“Though I have to say, I’m pretty floored by this turn of events...” 

“Yeah...” 

Reiji looked at Mizuki for a moment with a complicated expression. He likely wanted to say that he wished this hadn’t happened. And he wasn’t the only one in his group who felt that way. 

“Well, whatever. Let’s head inside for now. We actually just got back ourselves though, so I don’t have much to offer you in the way of hospitality.” 

“You needn’t pay us any mind. We’re primarily here to exchange information, after all.” 

Following up on Titania’s polite reply, Io Kuzami—previously known as Mizuki—took a haughty attitude. 

“Hmph. Then let us go to your damned castle.” 

“Mizuki, you wait out here for a bit.” 

“I am Io Kuzami.” 

“Yeah, yeah, I got it, Io Kuzami-san. Menia, get Lefi and Liliana and go inside with Reiji and the others.” 

After waiting for everyone else to enter the house, Suimei turned to Io Kuzami. 

“Now then... Well, so? You’re seriously not pretending here, right?” 

“Do you still not believe me, bastard?” 

“Just checking. Come here for a bit.” 

“I refuse.” 

“Of course... Actually, it’s faster for me to just get closer. Lend me your head.” 

Looking like he was more than ready to pick a fight, Suimei drew closer. As he did, Io Kuzami put on a smile like she was toying with him. 

“Did I not say that I refuse?” 

“Can’t hear you.” 

Promptly ignoring Io Kazumi, Suimei placed his hand on her head. He hadn’t been able to do anything for Hatsumi because she couldn’t remember who she was supposed to be, but in the case of a split personality, it was possible to return the original personality to dominance without any trauma. And so, despite feeling guilty about it, Suimei prepared to cast his magicka. But just as he did... 

“Bastard, do you intend to tamper with this little girl’s head again?” 

“!” 

Io Kuzami smirked like she knew exactly what Suimei was up to. Gripped with surprise, he took a step back. Io Kuzami then flashed another smirk—a much darker one. 

“What’s wrong? That’s not really something to be so startled over, is it?” 

“...What are you? And how the hell do you know that?” 

Suimei questioned her with a severe expression. What he’d done was supposed to be his secret and his secret alone. How could a split personality that had just suddenly appeared possibly know about it? Doubt and suspicion began whirling around in his head. Meanwhile, Io Kuzami simply continued smirking. 

“You’re making quite a grim face, but am I wrong? It’s something that happened before you bastards came to this world. Yes, this little girl had fallen in love with you, but you trampled on that love. Using your damned powers, you shifted her infatuation to a different target.” 

“...Yeah, that’s right.” 

It was true. At first, Mizuki was seriously interested in Reiji. But while Suimei was helping her approach Reiji, she’d ended up falling in love with him instead. And just as Io Kuzami said, Suimei had used magicka to deflect those feelings onto someone else. Being confronted with this now, Suimei gave Io Kuzami a dubious look. His eyes asked her how she knew all that. 

“It’s a trifling matter, really. When I possessed this little girl, I simply had a little peek at her memories. Of course, I also had a look at those damn memories that you sealed away.” 

It was then that Suimei somehow came to a vague understanding of just who Io Kuzami really was. 

“Answer me. What are you? What kind of spirit?” 

“There’s no need to be so angry. I have no intention of making any mischief. The reason that I am borrowing this little girl’s body is simply because our interests coincided. Besides, you are unable to remove me, correct?” 

“Don’t underestimate a modern magician. We’ve been exorcising things like you for ages with all kinds of magicka.” 

“Enough. You might even be able to do so with me, but the burden on this little girl will be considerable. It may just break her, you understand?” 

“...” 

Suimei was unable to deny that. If what had possessed Mizuki was indeed a powerful being and he forcefully drove it out of her, it would come at a significant cost. And since he couldn’t argue, Suimei simply scowled at Io Kuzami. 

“What? Don’t make such a frightening face. There’s nothing to worry about. I have no intention of bringing any harm to this little girl, though she may yet go through some painful experiences.” 

“Is that the truth?” 

“I don’t lie.” 

That much he could be certain about. By their very nature, spirits did not lie. There were occasions that they avoided telling the truth or tricked people, but if a spirit wasn’t the mischievous type, they could be taken at their word. So if this being guaranteed Mizuki’s safety, Suimei had every reason to believe it. And so Suimei gave up on trying to drive whatever it was out by force. Io Kuzami then looked at him with a curious expression. 

“If this little girl is so precious to you, then why do you keep her at a distance?” 

“Shut up. I’m a magician, and Mizuki is a normal human. I have to draw a line to keep her safe.” 

“I see.” 

After a brief reply, Io Kuzami smirked once more. 

“Also, don’t mention any of this to the others. You hear me, bastard? This is a secret between the two of us.” 

And with that, whatever had possessed Mizuki laughed with her mouth.