Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 11 - Chapter 8

A Small Step

Monday, April 12th

After watching the fight reach its conclusion, Maki lowered her staff and released all the spells she’d prepared. She was more than prepared to step in and help Koutarou, but if it was revealed that she was allying with him, she would find herself in a difficult position. Fortunately, however, with how things had gone, none of that was necessary. It turned out Sanae had far more power hidden inside of her than Maki could have imagined.

“And here I was thinking that she was just a poor evil spirit controlled by a necromancer. Boy was I wrong. Considering how many evil spirits they forced to pass on with a single strike, that power she displayed at the end—even if it was just for a moment—was quite clearly on the level of a lesser god... Just what kind of being is that girl serving?”

In the past, there had been a time Maki thought that Sanae was merely a ghost being manipulated by Koutarou’s necromancy. Looking back on it now, she realized how wrong she’d been. Sanae was from a long line of priests, and she’d inherited great power from her lineage. She was a psychic, and her abilities were on the extreme side at that. She couldn’t fully control them, but she was continually pushing the envelope with her power.

“She was always a psychic, but because her spiritual energy had been separated from her, the two sides of her appeared as an ordinary girl in the hospital and a ghost.”

Maki analyzed Sanae’s circumstances while observing Koutarou and the others. That was the real reason she’d come in the first place.

“It looks like they’ve somehow managed to merge her again, but in this modernized age, it seems even her family has lost their ability to use spiritual energy. She was born a normal girl with generous amounts of it, but once her memories from being a ghost returned, she remembered the techniques needed to control it...”

If Sanae hadn’t recovered her memories, she likely would have just stayed a normal girl that could see ghosts and auras. The talent she had with her psychic powers now was a result of spending years as a ghost and learning how to manipulate her spiritual energy. Sanae as a normal girl knew nothing about that, but once her selves truly merged, she recalled everything about her life as a ghost—including how to use those powers.

“The reason her memories returned may have been because a part of herself was left inside Satomi-kun, or it might have been the result of coming into contact with the residual thoughts inside that charm. Or perhaps a little bit of both. In other words, she was poised to regain her memories from the start. It just took being in a pinch like this to bring them out.”

In the event that Sanae came into contact with Koutarou while his spiritual circuits were active, she would have been able to indirectly access her own spiritual body. And the charm she’d worn for so long contained her residual thoughts. That also would allow a way for her to regain her memories. In other words, Sanae only needed to come into contact with Koutarou’s psychic powers or the memories stored inside the charm. It meant that two backups had unintentionally been left behind.

“...I think I’ll put something like that in my report.”

With her thoughts gathered, Maki turned away from Koutarou and the others. She couldn’t let them find out she’d been present.

“But what a dull report. It was such a trivial matter.”

Her business as Darkness Navy of Rainbow Darkness was concluded, but Maki personally found it to be a rather boring ending to such an eventful story. She had her own theory on the matter.

“Sanae regained her memories because her bond with Satomi-kun was just that strong. It was thanks to their unbreakable bond that they were able to band together and overcome such hardship... It was truly wonderful.”

If she said something like that to her allies in Darkness Rainbow, she would have been made a laughingstock. Even Maki herself would have laughed at it half a year ago. But things were different now. Neither she nor the man she loved would ever laugh at something like that.

“It’s your win, little evil spirit...”

Maki smiled gently and slipped away into the darkness of the night.

“Though it pains me, I’ll let you have Satomi-kun for tonight. Heehee...”

Nobody was around to hear Maki’s laughter, but she sounded satisfied.

“Ahh... The moon is so very beautiful tonight...”

Maki was a magician of darkness that lived her life in the shadows. But right now, her face was illuminated in the glow of the moon—or perhaps it was the light of her hopeful smile.

With the battle over, Koutarou returned Saguratin to its sheath. He then pushed it back into the black hole that had appeared. It wasn’t until his sword was properly stowed that he was finally able to relax.

“Hahh, it’s over at last...”

Not all that much time had passed, but enough had happened that Koutarou was mentally exhausted.

“This is great! Sanae-chan’s got her memory back!”

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“I wasn’t sure what would happen for a minute there, but now we’re all back together.”

“This is truly marvelous.”

“Ho-oh!”

Out of everything that had happened, nothing was more important than Sanae regaining her memories. That wasn’t part of what had exhausted Koutarou, but it was certainly the most surprising event of the night. In truth, Koutarou still couldn’t believe it. He was there talking to Sanae like normal again, but it hardly felt real.

“Satomi Koutarou, why do you look so surprised?”

“You wouldn’t dare say you’re unhappy about this turn of events, would you?”

Seeing the bemused look on Koutarou’s face, Theia and Kiriha called out to him.

“No, there’s no way that I’m unhappy.”

Koutarou shook his head. He was ecstatic that Sanae was back.

“I’m just... in awe. To think—”

“To think that Sanae would really come back to us. Is that it?”

Kiriha managed to say what Koutarou was thinking before he could put it into words. He was quite taken aback all over again.

“Something like that, yeah.”

Koutarou nodded while trying to hide his surprise.

“You’re amazed that something you thought was impossible has come to pass. It’s as simple as that. You sure are quick to give up...”

Theia smiled as she said that.

“Say, Koutarou, could you tell me something?”

Her gentle smile right now was as sweet as a crimson tulip in full bloom.

“Sure.”

“If I were to leave your side... would you feel the same way about me as you did Sanae? Would you just take it for granted that we would never meet again? That a reunion would be out of reach... that it would be impossible?”

“Wha...”

Theia’s words shook Koutarou up even more. In her own way, she was calling him out. He did believe he would have to part ways with Theia one day, and that they would never meet again after that.

“Bullseye, huh?”

“...”

Just staying quiet was all Koutarou could do. But seeing the look on Theia’s face, he imagined she already knew how much her words had affected him.

“Listen up, pleb. I promise you that no matter how far apart we might find ourselves, we will definitely meet again. That’s a promise, and I’ll make sure you come to trust in it sooner or later.”

Theia’s eyes were filled with confidence as she proudly declared her intentions.

“Theia...”

“Well then, I will see you later. It’s time to rejoice in our reunion with Sanae.”

Theia left without waiting for Koutarou’s answer. She didn’t much care whether or not he believed her right now, because she fully intended to make him believe her in the future.

“Sanae, well done on returning to us.”

“Theia! That’s right, Theia, look, look! My breasts are a little bigger now! Look at them!”

“Wh-Whaaat?!”

Once Theia joined Sanae and the others, things got a lot noisier. As he watched them from a distance, Koutarou began wondering something.

Do they believe that these days will last forever...?

Watching the girls now, he couldn’t imagine that they had even considered the day might come that they would have to go their separate ways. They were laughing together right now like these days would never end.

“Hey, Kiriha-san...”

Koutarou wanted to confirm it. And he felt like Kiriha would be able to give him an answer.

“Do you... No, do all of you really believe that we can spend the rest of our lives together like this?”

That might have been a question too vague for anyone but Kiriha to answer, but she knew what Koutarou was really asking. And so she answered honestly, just the way he was hoping.

“At the very least, I do.”

Those words came to her easily.

“I’d like you to remember a little girl named Kii. Three days was enough to make her believe that she could be happy with the people she loved, and she held on for ten years to see things through.”

“But... how can you believe so blindly? Didn’t it ever occur to you that nothing might happen even if you did believe?”

“Koutarou...”

Kiriha slowly smiled. It was a gentle smile, but one of profound sadness. It was the result of Kiriha knowing everything about Koutarou, including his dark past and the fears in his heart right now.

“I would like to ask you the opposite. Why don’t you believe? Why are you so certain that you won’t be rewarded for having hope? Why is it that you shy away from a future with the people you love?”

“That’s...”

Koutarou couldn’t answer. If he did, it would be the same as accepting all of his weaknesses. But Koutarou had forgotten.

“Koutarou, I want you to think this as a message from Kii.”

He had forgotten that Kiriha had already forgiven all of his weaknesses in the past.

“Onii-chan, please... don’t cut yourself off and be sad all alone because you think everyone will meet the same fate as your mother...”

And now, once again, Kiriha was forgiving Koutarou for all of his flaws and weaknesses.

“...”

Koutarou was still unable to say anything. He knew what Kiriha was saying was the truth.

“But that’s all I’ll say.”

And with that, Kiriha ended the discussion and her expression returned to normal. Sanae and the others who had been happily chatting with each other now approached them.

“Let’s go home, Koutarou, Kiriha!”

“I am so very hungry.”

“Kiriha, make me food!”

“I almost forgot. We did make a promise like that, didn’t we?”

“Yeah!”

After exchanging a few words with Kiriha, Sanae ran up to Koutarou. She then extended her arms straight out and jumped towards him with all her might.

“Koutarou!”

Using the momentum from her flying leap, Sanae clung to Koutarou’s neck. But she soon stepped back a little and looked into his eyes.

“Let’s go home together.”

Sanae spoke those words as if they were perfectly normal.

“Sanae...”

Hearing them, Koutarou froze up. Sanae was indeed smiling as though she seemed to think these happy days would last forever.

“What are you waiting for? She said let’s go home.”

Koutarou was frozen, but Theia gave him a push. When she did, he recalled what she’d said just minutes ago.

“Listen up, pleb. I promise you that no matter how far apart we might find ourselves, we will definitely meet again. That’s a promise, and I’ll make sure you come to trust in it sooner or later.”

Theia too believed there would be no end to these days. As did Kiriha.

“The longer we stay here, the longer it’ll be before we can have dinner.”

Kiriha had composed smile, but Kii was always just on the other side of it.

“Onii-chan, please... don’t cut yourself off and be sad all alone because you think everyone will meet the same fate as your mother...”

Three days was all it had taken to convince her that happiness was attainable. That she would get to be with the people she loved one day. And that belief—that hope—had guided her to where she was standing now... And it was true. She was happy and smiling, together with the people she loved.

“What’s wrong Koutarou? Not feeling so hot? Is it because we merged?!”

Worried about Koutarou who hadn’t said a word, Sanae peered into his face again.

“You’re wrong. Death isn’t the end.”

“And you won’t be alone. Someone somewhere out there is watching over you. I promise.”

“I’m sure of it. I don’t think the god of this world is that unforgiving.”

Koutarou recalled how Sanae had comforted the fading ghost after their fight. He didn’t even need to ask her. It was obvious she believed that there would be no end to these days. And it was exactly because she believed that that she’d been able to return to Koutarou and the others.

“That’s right, Sanae-chan! I recorded episodes of Love Love Heart for you.”

“Once we get back, I’ll give you those clothes you wanted. You should finally be able to wear them now.”

“They’ll need a bit of hemming, so I’ll prepare the sewing set.”

Yurika, Shizuka, and Ruth too. Surely they believed it as well.

“Really?! Koutarou, let’s hurry back! There’s so much to do!”

And in that case, if they all did, shouldn’t Koutarou too? It was something that had never crossed his mind. Of course, it might not be possible for him to believe right away. Changing your ways wasn’t easy. Changing the way you thought about things was even harder. It would take work and time. But Koutarou felt like he should take at least the first step towards that. For the sake of the people who already believed in him, and for the sake of his own future.

“...Let’s do that.”

“Yeah! Let’s go home!”

And as for Koutarou’s first step...

“Sanae.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

He would start with something simple. Something he knew how to do.

“Welcome back, Sanae.”

“Koutarou...”

Koutarou decided that changing his mind all of a sudden would be too hard, so he would start with changing his heart. Even if he couldn’t think differently yet, he would feel differently.

“Heehee, that’s the first time you’ve ever said it so lovingly...”

“Is it?”

“Yeah...”

He would do the same things he always had, but with new feeling and meaning.

“It’s good to be back, Koutarou...”

That small step was hugging the girl who had fought her way back to him.

The invaders passed through the gate to the Higashihongan family property. They’d come to make adjustments on the clothes Sanae had gotten from Shizuka, and to take the measures of Yurika’s costume. Since Sanae was smaller than Shizuka, the clothes needed to be hemmed and taken in a little. And since Sanae had always been envious of Yurika’s costume, they’d decided they would make one for her while they were at it. To that end, Koutarou wasn’t with them this time.

“Sanae-chan.”

“Yes?”

“Since you have such an amazing house, you don’t really need to fight for room 106, do you?”

“Yeah right. That’s that and this is this.”

“That’s just unfair...”

It was only natural for Yurika to be disheartened. The Higashihongan family property was as large as a baseball stadium if you included the hills behind their house. Sanae was actually the daughter of a rather wealthy family.

Even after passing through the gate to the property, it was a bit of a walk to the actual house. The mansion was down the avenue and beyond a stone bridge. Though land like this was cheaper outside of big cities, it was quite clear that the Higashihongan family was well to do.

“The Kurano family home is only about 70 percent the size of this.”

“Having 70 percent of this underground is amazing, Kiriha!”

“It’s like the head maid’s resort villa in northern Mastir.”

“Now that you mention it... that brings back memories.”

“All of you, this is just unfair...”

Yurika was growing more and more dispirited. Theia, Ruth, Kiriha, and Sanae all came from families that could be considered rich. There was a wide gap between them and the self-proclaimed princess of love and courage, Yurika.

“Now now, Yurika-chan, there’s no need to get depressed.”

“Even you have Corona House, Shizuka-san. I only have a wardrobe. Waaah...”

Yurika held her staff to her chest and wept bitterly. But despite her discontent, the truth was that any of the other girls would have happily traded places with her to live in room 106. Yurika remained unaware of just how blessed she really was.

Chatting as they walked along, the girls eventually reached the entrance to the mansion. There, a woman in her late thirties wearing a kimono was waiting for them.

“Welcome, everyone. I’d like to thank you girls for always taking care of my Sanae.”

The woman lowered her head in a polite bow. This courteous woman was Sanae’s mother.

“And you even have such a wonderful mom. My mom is just...”

Without even properly greeting Sanae’s mother, Yurika went off on another envious tangent. Everything she’d seen since setting foot on the property had only made her feel even more inferior.

“Oh?”

Sanae’s mother looked at Yurika curiously.

“That staff...”

The next moment, her eyes narrowed.

Oh no! I must have done something again!

Yurika noticed the change in her expression before anyone else and began to worry she’d already done something wrong. She was sure that she’d broken some kind of rule only rich people would know about.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I’m sorry for being poor and coming over to play! I didn’t mean any harm!”

Distraught, Yurika apologized over and over on the verge of tears. Sanae’s mother was scary, but Yurika was even more scared of being scolded by Koutarou later.

“Could you be...”

However, Sanae’s mother then smiled at her fondly. The tension left her face and she looked at Yurika nostalgically, like she might an old friend.

“Could you be a friend of Nana-chan’s?”

“Whaaat? D-Do you know Nana-san?!”

It was a fateful encounter. Yurika and Sanae’s mother had a common acquaintance.

“No way! Mama, were you a cosplayer too?!”

“...What?”

“Is the real reason you were in the archery club because you just wanted to wear that outfit?!”

“C-Cosplay...?”

However, that fateful encounter created a misunderstanding between Sanae and her mother.