Epilogue
Part 1
---[Underwood Underground City], New dormitory.
The next morning, the person who came to meet Yō and the other [No Name] was none other than that masked female.
She had already completely washed off the blood stains that had spurted over her body during the Battle with the Titans. And today, she continued to wear the pure white armor that seemed to exude a sense of prudence from her as she waited for them in a practiced and courteous manner. Whereas Jack had spread his arms as he introduced her to them in his usual 'Yahoho' laugh.
"This is [Faceless]--- the knight who obtained the favor of [Queen Halloween]! You can address her affectionately as 'Face'!"
"……Is it so? She's……"
Asuka who had retreated to the back was watching Faceless with mixed feelings. After all, Asuka had seen it for herself, the strength of Faceless. It was no wonder that she would have second thoughts and doubts about getting close to the other party without her guard and getting all friendly was out of the question when they had only just been introduced.
Kuro Usagi, for whom it was her first time meeting Faceless, she could also immediately understand that there exudes a unique atmosphere from the person who stood before her.
"I see……Since she's the favored follower of [Queen Halloween], she should be able to borrow the Celestial powers of the Celestial spirit[103] who governs the boundaries of the world to summon the headphones right?"
"Yahoho! You're right! She's the new face whom we of [Will-O'-Wisp] have invited over as a guest member! If it's her, she should be able to summon a replacement!"
Hearing Jack's affirmation, Yō's expression had brighten up significantly.
However, she frowned as a slight worry crept over her heart.
"But……if we summon from another world……the cost should be very expensive right?"
"Yahoho! Let's not talk about the cost first. In fact, in normal circumstances, such requests are supposed to be completely rejected. But taking into account that we will be maintaining a steady relationship with you [No Name] for days to come……This time, we'll just count it as a friendship price."
"Nn. I've also decided to make a contract that from today, all daily necessities that we use will only be ones that are produced by [Will-O'-Wisp]."
"Is……Is it……Jin, thank you."
Yō looked towards Jin and expressed a smile of relief.
Jin waved his hands frantically.
"This……This isn't anything much! All of you have given me countless favors! This kind of small thing isn't anything much to talk of……and in fact, there's still another problem that has to be solved."
"……problem?"
"Yes. Strictly speaking, we aren't using the power of [Queen Halloween] to do the summoning this time, but we are borrowing the control over the star trajectories to change the causality[104]---In simple terms, we need it to be a resummoning ritual with the condition that [Yō-san had brought the headphones over to Little Garden right from the start]. So if there isn't a pair of headphones in Yō's house, this method will be unable to be established……" Jin carried a worried look as he followed up with the explanation.
In contrast, Yō's eyes were alight with joy.
"……No problem. I have a pair of headphones that is similar in brand to the one Izayoi uses, lying in my house."
"Rea…Really?!"
"Nn. And my dad said that it's an antique piece that was a classic product in its time. If it's those headphones, Izayoi will be sure to forgive me."
"Ei? But those headphones should be Kasukabe-san father's item right? Is it okay to take it without permission?"
"Nope, it's okay. Since the whereabouts of my dad and mum are still unknown."
Yō honestly spoke of her past.[105]
But for Asuka who had lost both of her parents, she was tongue tied by that revelation and had an expression that showed those feelings as she bent her head down.
"So…Sorry, I didn't know that it was like this……"
"No, it's because I've never talked about it before……and…"
Yō took out the pendant that her father had given to her and squeezed it tightly.
"We……the three of us were never willing to talk much about ourselves, so there's no way that we could have known."
"……Nn. You're right."
"So I plan to use the opportunity when I return the headphones to have a talk with him to get to know each other better. After all, it's a friendship that I've gotten with hard work, so I will have to take the initiative to maintain this relationship through my efforts."
Yō seemed to change her mood as she looked forth.
---"Abandon your family, friends, wealth and all that you have in your world and come forth to Little Garden".
Since she had answered that invitation letter that denied all responsibilities, overbearingly demanding but was better than everything else…
Then,she might as well try to slowly be more aware of the surroundings and show concern to others. Bringing her heart that has forsaken her past and become much lighter to take the initiative in getting close to others---
Part 2
---When Izayoi woke up, the sun had already sunk in the western horizon.
Perhaps it was during the course of reading the last will and testament that he had carelessly fallen asleep? He had actually lain on the table and drooled in his sleep. And that was the first time in Izayoi's life that he had experienced such an unglamorous side of himself.
"……18:15 already? Ah, damn it. Why am I feeling so hungry."
"Oh! Then would you like to go eat dinner, Iza-nii?"[106] Suzuka leaned her whole body on Izayoi's back.
When was it that she managed to stealthily get behind me? Izayoi who didn't notice her presence until the last moment was quite surprised. But of course, he did not let it show on his face.
"Suzuka, get off me! How many times do you want me to repeat before you understand? If you want to hug me, at least come back when you have a D cup."
"Oi……What's up with that?! I, Suzuka-chan, am sure that in the near future, I will be a voluptuous hot babe with all the curves filling out nicely! It's more worth it to do the pre-orders now while the offer is still available, you know?!"
"Yeah, Yeah. Near future means that it isn't confirmed. Anyway, just get off me."
Izayoi grabbed the back of her collar and pulled her off his back.
Suzuka pouted her cheeks angrily and rushed out of the small room.
"Hmph~! I won't care about you, Iza-nii! It would be good if you just starved yourself to death here! You big Baka![107]"
"No, that will be quite a problem. Help prepare dinner for me too."
Izayoi gave a very big yawn.
Suzuka suddenly kept away her unhappy look as she looked at Izayoi in earnest.
"……Nn, I got it. Iza-nii, I will be waiting for you to come over okay?"
Suzuka gave an unnatural pause before leaving the room.
It was then for a messy haired bespectacled youth, Homura, to walk into the room.
"Iza-nii, you awake?"
"Yea……Wait, why is it still another headphone?"
"Nn. I've already adjusted and modified the cat ears portion. It shouldn't be too tight now."
"Really? Nevermind. I'll just pick it up later tonight. I want to finish reading the remaining portion of the last will and testament for now. You can go join Suzuka to prepare the dinner first."
"……Okay, I got it. Iza-nii, you'd better remember to take it later okay?"
Homura had also given an unnatural pause before leaving the room.
Sending him off with his gaze, Izayoi then turned back to flipping through the last will and testament on the table.
"Izayoi-chan, you actually drooled when you slept. Ew, so dirty."
Stop nagging, you smelly Oba-san!
"Stop your tantrum. Don't look at me like that. In fact, I really am relieved after having worried for you for such a long time you know? After all, the possibility for you to be trapped in the game wasn't zero. Hence, at this point in time when the last will and testament is still in your hands, it makes me feel really happy……Congratulations, Izayoi-chan. Having successfully reached this point, you have finally earned the rights that you are entitled to."
"……"
"Nn. Looking at your expression that says "I don't know what you're talking about", it doesn't matter whether or not you know of it, for everything up till now can be said to be the work of fate. But to open the huge doors with the hands of Man, it will always require the intersection of several possibilities and their separation as well. The intersection is originally a random occurrence that appears in a very small range[108]……Ah, forget it. The explanation of the theory portion shall be left to Croix to do the honors. The problem that I should address right now is regarding that invitation letter that's to be passed to you."
"Invitation letter?"
Not understanding what letter it was referring to, Izayoi had tilted his head in puzzlement.
Just then, a letter slid out from beneath the last will and testament.
"That's the invitation letter and it will surely change your fate. It's a letter that will allow you to experience a daily life like the one you had today……but even if you do not open that letter, there's also the possibility that you can find your happiness in this world. You have the right to forget the invitation letter and continue your current life. In this world, the future for you to live together with Homura and Suzuka in a nice and cozy environment is still open. I would like you to re-confirm all these and hence arranged for that game."
Izayoi had obtained a shelter, a family and memories in this world.
Canaria's purpose was to allow Izayoi to slowly reminisce the past and make the comparison. And so, [Baron Croix] had been sent to test him.
"……but the guy you've sent sure is a bit too crazy to handle. Thanks to you, I sure had quite a bit of cold sweat flowing down my back."
"How can you be that useless? The you at the age of ten would probably have happily beaten the opponent till he's barely alive right?...... Forget it. It was me who had brought you up that way to make you become incapable of those acts. In contrast to your haughtiness in your way of speech, you have actually grown too biased towards the common sense. To the point that you can still find a common ground to compromise with this world when you actually hold such a power that defies common sense……Hence I had wanted to give you the right to make the choice. I believe that no matter your choice, it will still leave some regrets. So the last choice should still be made by you."
"……"
Izayoi solemnly turned to the next page.
"As I've already said earlier, it is also possible for you to find your happiness in this world. That I can guarantee to you.
But all it takes is just to open that invitation letter for this guarantee to completely disappear.
I believe that many hardships await you.
And you will meet many situations where you will be shamed.
However, you may save a large number of people that's beyond your grasp.
……So, I hope that you will really think this through.
If you can set your heart down to abandon your family, friends, future and everything in your world---Then, you may open that letter."
And at that, the last will and testament had ended without any other words to say her farewells.
For Canaria, when her time in the world had ran out, she had already counted that as saying her farewell to Izayoi.
Izayoi picked up the invitation letter and re-confirmed the words of the last will and testament.
"……This means to say that there's no turning back after I open this letter?"
Of course, there wasn't a reply but Izayoi was quite sure.
---A long time ago when they had gone to see the battlefield, she had told him that if he wanted to go to a battlefield again, he would have to do it based on his own will and depend on his own two feet to advance into the region. He was sure that those words she had said were words that she had offered to him beforehand for this current situation.
Though the huge pile of last will and testament that spanned 600 pages did not talk about it, but Izayoi could sense the turmoil of her many emotions while she wrote it.
"……Ha! Actually, there's nothing much for me to consider about!"
To prevent himself from sinking into sadness, Izayoi gave up all thoughts.
---That's right. He had met a very interesting experience today.
And Canaria had also promised that tomorrow, and the day after……This sort of situation will continue to occur. If that's the case, there is no reason for him to reject.
Izayoi stood from the table and reached for the seal of the invitation letter.
Before he undid the seal, he turned to look at the room door.
"---Goodbye then, Suzuka, Homura."
Following that, he slowly opened the wax sealing and read the contents of the letter.
Part 3
The group of people followed the spiraling stairway of [Underwood] as they walked to the higher grounds. Following that, they climbed the tree roots that had a web like pattern to reach the surface of the ground beside the river. And there stood a circular array depicting the [Ecliptic path of the Twelve Zodiacs] that Faceless had prepared beforehand.
"To…To actually use the ecliptic pathways……I didn't expect it to be that formal. But are you sure that you can really handle?"
"……"
Faceless only replied with a sliver of a smile at her lips. Although she seems to be much more laconic in character than Yō, it would seem that she was quite confident.
Sitting Yō down in the centre of the Twelve Zodiac circular array, she took out a sword that had the [Queen Halloween] flag carved upon it. Then, the rays of the sun began to converge on the markings of the Twelve Zodiacs that were depicted on the ground, causing them to start glowing.
Standing to a side while watching the ritual, Asuka decided to break the tension as she asked Kuro Usagi:
"Um, Kuro Usagi, why does Halloween, the Sun and the [Ecliptic path of the Twelve Zodiac"s] have a relation?"
"Eh……Halloween originally referred to the ritual and Festival that were hosted to mark the split between the Sun cycles into two. And during the time when the cycles are being in transition, the veil between the worlds will also begin to crumple."[109]
After Kuro Usagi finished her explanation, Jin also came to the rescue by adding clarifications.
"The Celts were quite skilled in their astrology, and even had their own lunar calendars. Just that they do not have the explanation for how the cosmos came about……and Halloween is one of the Festivals which has influence from the Celtic culture that is still surviving."
"Oh……I see. Then, what of the [Ecliptic path of the Twelve Zodiacs]?" Asuka asked timidly.
Jin gave a deliberate cough before starting on his reply:
"What we term as the ecliptic is actually the [Trajectory of the Sun's movement], while the Twelve Zodiacs are the horoscopic signs that are observed along the trace of the Sun's path across the skies. In Little Garden, there's also a rite to determine the Sovereignty of the Sun[110] with accordance to the number of the Authorities of administration over the Twelve Zodiac. It can be said to be a very important thing."
"The ritual that is being held now is with the use of [Queen Halloween]'s power to break through the veils of the worlds and borrowing the power of [Ecliptic path of the Twelve Zodiacs] to act as the complex stabilizer ritual……But even if it were to be borrowing the power of [Queen Halloween], Kuro Usagi hadn't expect to see Humans being able to do the summoning……"
In contrast to Kuro Usagi's reaction of awe and respect, Asuka sucked in a breath.
"That person…… is a human?"
"YES. Although she has a lot of weapons equipped onto her body, she's definitely a human. And she also possess a very strong talent. In fact, it should be almost equal to you guys. Looks like the saying that [Will-O'-Wisp] being the strongest Community in the North Side might not be wrong."
"Is that so?" Asuka replied.
On the other hand, Yō who continued to be seated in the middle of the circular array was desperately maintaining the image of the headphones in her mind.
[My dad's headphones…… My dad's headphones……]
If it were to be said as a ritual to [Change the Causality], it would definitely seem like a large scale rite. However, putting it simply as describing it to be only an act to slightly change the event before Yō was summoned to the world of Little Garden, it would still be not quite true.
Yō only needed to spend half a day keeping the image of the headphones in mind while leaving all the rest to Faceless to think up a solution.
[Due to the problems caused by the Titan tribe, Izayoi will be coming over to the Harvest Festival by tonight. So I must succeed no matter what……]
Yō continued to mutter about the headphones like a possessed individual as she waited for the ritual to end.
After a period of time had gone by, when the circular array that depicted the [Ecliptic path of the Twelve Zodiacs] came to a state of completion with its power levels filled to the brim, Yō's consciousness was transported back to two months ago---The time when the invitation letter from Little Garden was held in her hands.
---It was the end of Autumn and its frequent autumn rains. Coincidentally taking my dad's headphones to wear on my head, I had received the invitation letter from Calico Cat who had rushed into the room after picking it up from the outside. And I reached my hand to the seal of the letter.
Although I looked quite nonchalant, I was actually quite excited. Because a letter addressed to me had actually fallen from the skies……In this day and age, this sort of event that was filled with a sense of fantasy and adventure was definitely quite unbelievable.
However, at the moment when I, Kasukabe Yō was about to unseal the letter, a wave of doubt washed over my heart and mind.
[…… What happens if I do not open this letter now?]
If I tore the letter to shreds just like that, would it become a situation whereby [Kasukabe Yō did not go to Little Garden]?
If it were like that, several of those painful memories could be just erased without a trace.
There won't be the experience of being torn by the claws of a ToraNingen[111].
Won't contract Black Death and suffer the pain of getting close to death.
And won't feel the pain that's like someone squeezing my heart because of the first relationship that I've established with others as friends---
[……If I stayed in this era, I would not need to experience all those right?]
Thinking of that, I also felt a sense of pride that welled up inside me.
Having arrived in the world of Little Garden, in a short time of two months, I had already faced so many painful and tiring experiences but I had also gained many happy memories.
The balancing scales that weighted my life had tipped to the left and right many a time but there was still an undeniable fact about the feeling that I have in my heart.
---The 'me' who had decided to move forth to Little Garden had made the right choice. Holding confidence in my thoughts, I unsealed the invitation letter in my hands.[112]
Part 4
Boys and girls with wondrous talents and much distress, I address thee:
If thou strive to test thy Gifts,
Thou shall cast aside thy family, friends, possessions, everything in the world of thinest.
And come forth to thy [Little Garden].[113]
Part 5
Izayoi's vision was unfolded before his eyes in a breath. The floor beneath his feet had turned to rubble and he was tossed towards the skies of a distant place.
Bearing the pressure of the air rushing up at him as he fell, Izayoi also stared at the jaw-dropping grand view before him in amazement.
[This……]
It was possible to see the cliffs that would make one think of the end of the world.
It was also possible to see great cities that would even make one mistakenly see as a model made to an architect's scale.
Everything that far exceeded Izayoi's imaginations was presented before his very eyes.
[Where the hell is this place!]
That was the thought that sprouted in Izayoi's mind as he continued to bear with the wind pressure brought from the fall.
This unknown world that seemed to stretch out infinitely was filled with a strong sense of vitality. It was so great that it could even make the miniature world that [Baron Croix] created to pale in comparison.
Watching the strange birds that he had not seen before fly pass his falling body and towards the far off lands, Izayoi couldn't keep it within him anymore as he shouted.
"Whe…Where the Hell is this?!"
The doubts and suspicions of his heart had finally took the form of his words as they escaped from his mouth.
And following those feelings, a bubbling sense of glee was bursting forth from the deep recesses of his heart.
The soul that had originally lost hope of finding contentment was now being injected with a sort of growing warmth at this moment.
And he could definitely feel it. The hole in the deepest recesses of his heart that shouldn't have been able to be filled up ---In that very moment, Izayoi felt that he was being completely destroyed in the very best and craziest style.
"Ha…… Ha……Wa Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! AiYaAiYa, This sure is very exaggerating! No matter how you look at it, this sure is too out of the common sense! That stupid mom!"
By the time Izayoi came back to his senses, he found himself to be laughing like crazy as he continued his descent.
After all, all he could do now was laugh.
To be actually summoned to the world that was like the treasure trove that he had spent all his entire time searching for in the past, the rush to laugh upon finally reaching the destination was completely irresistible.
If he did not take the chance to laugh the seventeen years worth of his efforts to find such a place, how else and how long would he be able to dissipate this joy?
Izayoi spread his arms wide as he gave a roar using all the air in his lung capacity and the muscles from his abdomens where the diaphragm has expanded to give the loudest words:
"BYE, My world!
Good afternoon, New world!
From now on……THIS WILL BE MY WORLD---!"
Finally arriving in the world that matched up to his standards.
Izayoi who held this sense of awe and appreciation[114] in his heart could not stop his wild laugh.
"HaHa……… HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaWaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa
YaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaYaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaWaHaHaHaHaHaHa
HaHaHaYaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHeiHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaYaHaHa
HaHaHaHaHaHaHa HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHeiHaHaWaHaHaWuahya!"
*Splash---!* Izayoi suddenly dropped into the water and caused an amazing pillar of water to from due to the sprays.
Izayoi, who had previously been laughing out loud with is mouth hanging open, had almost lost his life due to the large amounts of lake water that rushed into his lungs. But to face such a life threatening situation upon arrival in the new world, it was like a good omen to him. After all, this was also one of the first experiences in Izayoi's life.
He then set his determination to make it his goal to find the person who came up with this sort of random summoning to make sure to "thank" the person properly.
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