Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (LN) - Volume 7 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue: Ost Horai 

I turned back to Ost. 
She wavered, like a fragile mirage, but she looked satisfied. 
“Thank you. Shield Hero, you finally defeated me.” 
“Don’t thank me. I didn’t want to do this.” 
I wasn’t happy at all. I felt awful. I kept thinking of ways I could have changed things. My mind flooded with “what ifs.” 
“Ah . . . heh . . . I thought you might say that. We didn’t have a lot of time together, but I feel like I know you.” 
“Shut up.” 
“Mr. Naofumi, you don’t need to speak that way . . .” 
“You’re right. We haven’t spent very much time together, but in that short time, I realized you were a friend that I could trust.” 
“A . . . friend? I am destined to be destroyed by the heroes, but I became your friend instead?” 
“That’s right. My friend. Even if you are a crazy monster.” 
She’d put herself at risk to protect me in all the battles we’d faced together. I wasn’t sad to lose her because of her skills. I was sad to lose her as a friend. That’s how much I had come to trust her. 
Damn it! Why was it that every time I started to trust someone, they turned out to be my enemy? 
“How’s the turtle lady?” 
 
“Filo . . . calm down. Ost is finally free from her mission. We have to see her off—you see?” Raphtalia said, patting Filo’s head. Filo was just starting to realize how sad everyone looked. 
Filo had been pretty upset when our journey with Melty ended. I didn’t want to think about how she would react to the death of a friend. 
“Do we have to?” 
“Yes.” 
“Where are you going?” 
“Nowhere . . . I am . . . part of the world.” 
“Really?” 
Ost smiled as she cushioned the blow with kind lies. 
Maybe they weren’t lies. 
She was the Spirit Tortoise, a benevolent beast that absorbed sacrificed lives to protect the very world itself. Maybe she really was part of the world. Maybe the world needed her sacrifice to go on surviving. 
“Please express my gratitude to the queen of the filolials. It was because of her that we were successful today.” 
“Okay!” 
Ost turned to Rishia next. 
“Thank you very much. We were only able to destroy my core because you distracted the enemy. Our success is due to your efforts, and the efforts of the queen of Melromarc.” 

She was right about that. It was Rishia and the queen that first realized the Spirit Tortoise was the cause of the calamities. They were the ones that read through those thick, ancient reports. We never would have made it this far without their research. 

And of course, Rishia’s actions during the final battle were decisive. 
“Feh . . .” 
“Don’t look so sad. The Shield Hero is alive because of you. The power of your will, and your passion, paved the way for our victory.” 
“But I . . . I was never able to help the way I wanted. I wish I were stronger. If I was the . . .” 
Rishia looked even sadder, more despairing, like she had after Itsuki expelled her from his party. She thought that if only she’d been stronger, we’d have secured a better future for ourselves. If only . . . 
And so she faced her regrets. Was there no other way forward? Did we have to overcome our regrets to make progress? It sounds like a joke, but I was starting to realize that it was true. There was nothing left to do now. There was nothing that could change the harsh truth of what was happening. 
People say that you have to keep moving forward. But I was never going to forget what had happened that day, and I felt like doubts and regrets would always plague me. It felt like a curse, something I would always have to deal with. Ost—I mean, Spirit Tortoise! Damn you! 
I tried to hate her, thinking it would alleviate my guilt. But it didn’t work. I had to accept it. 
“It is okay. I’m happy. Besides, I was destined to stand against the heroes to guard the earth. I’m supposed to be an enemy. Do not let my death sadden you.” 
 
She was asking for the impossible. How could she even ask that of us? Who could watch a friend die without feeling sad? 
“And if you have the time to spend worrying about me, please, spend it on the heroes that were held captive.” 
“Oh! You’re right! Master Itsuki!” 
“I’ll accompany you.” 
“Me too!” 
Eclair and the old lady accompanied Rishia to go check on the other three heroes. 
Ost had managed to change the subject. I glared at her, and she smiled back at me. 
Damn her! She had such evil-looking eyes, but she was so selfless and pure. Why couldn’t she just present herself honestly? 
“Good, they’re still breathing.” 
“That doesn’t mean they’re out of the woods yet. We better hurry! It could be a matter of life and death.” 
“I will try to supply them with energy to help heal!” 
Rishia and the others looked after the three heroes. 
They’d taken a real beating, so I couldn’t say for sure, but still, those three seemed to survive everything they went through. They would probably be fine. 
“Ost, if you don’t want people to be sad when you die, then you should treat them worse. Why can’t you just pretend to be a jerk? Have you thought about how we are supposed to move on after you’re gone?” 
 
“I’m sorry. But if I had done that, Shield Hero—no, Naofumi—could I have earned your trust?” 
She hit me where it hurt. 
She was right, too. With those eyes, if she had been nasty or cold, if she’d run around barking orders at me, I never would have teamed up with her. 
“I guess you’re right.” 
“Mr. Naofumi. Please, think about the words you use,” Raphtalia said, chastising me. I guess she was right—I shouldn’t criticize the personality of a dying woman. 
“He got away.” 
“Yes. That is my one regret,” Ost said, nodding. 
“I tried to follow him through the portal, but it wouldn’t let me through. Do you know why?” 
“The holy heroes must protect this world. They are not allowed to invade other worlds. That is the role of the vassal weapons.” 
Were the vassal weapons for invading? That didn’t sound like anything I’d heard before. Weren’t the vassal weapons supposed to lend power to the holy weapons? 
“Ost, it doesn’t look like we have much time.” 
“That’s correct. We are almost out of time. I know it is impossible, but can I ask you to take care of the enemy?” 

“If I can find him, then yes. If it’s within my power, I won’t let anyone that abused you walk free.” 
 
“That’s just like you, Naofumi. You’re a kind person.” 
“Yes, he is,” Raphtalia agreed. 
Ost continued. “If you can find a way to reclaim the energy that man stole from us, then you may be able to produce a barrier to buy yourself time in the next wave.” 
“Is that really possible?” 
“Yes, it was originally energy that I created. You will be able to absorb it with your holy shield.” 
The Spirit Tortoise Heart Shield responded while she spoke. 
If we could get the energy back, we could create the barrier that the Spirit Tortoise was originally trying to make. 
“The hourglass wasn’t full, so I do not know how much time it will buy you, but it should extend the time until the wave comes.” 
“That’s not a bad idea.” 
“And when I die, the seal on the next benevolent creature—the Phoenix —will break.” 
“Really?” 
“Yes. The Phoenix is an even more powerful guardian than I was. If the heroes are worn down, I do not know if they will be able to survive the encounter.” 
That didn’t sound good. 
How were we supposed to fight a monster like that? The Spirit Tortoise Heart Shield gave me access to the energy beam attack, which was certainly powerful. But I didn’t know if it was possible to shoot more than one beam in a row. 
 
“Therefore, I will try to keep word of my death from reaching the Phoenix. That may buy you additional time.” 
“Thank you.” 
“Do not thank me. All of this is my fault. I never should have allowed myself to be taken over by that man.” 
“First things first. We’ll try to get back the stolen energy—that will buy us some time, right?” 
Ost nodded and reached out to touch my shield. 
“The Spirit Tortoise requests special approval. Allow the Shield Hero to pass through the portal to another world.” 
My shield reacted, and a flashing icon appeared in my field of vision. 
Special request approved. 

The holy heroes may now conditionally invade other worlds. 
“Now you should be able to chase after him.” 
“Thanks. I’ll see to it that your wish is fulfilled. That guy won’t know what hit him!” 
“Kiddo! That gate is connected to our world now!” 
“Oh yeah?” 
“We’re going after that guy. And when we find him, we’ll take back the energy he stole from this world’s guardian beast.” 

“This is all we can do to demonstrate our sincerity. Please, wait for our return.” 

L’Arc and Glass were speaking to me from the entrance to the portal. 
But I couldn’t leave it like that. “Wait. We’re coming too. It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s that I want to do it myself.” 
I knew that L’Arc and Glass were powerful enough to follow through. 
They were my enemies, but I’d had enough experiences with them to know that they were trustworthy. 
I knew they were powerful, but I didn’t know if they were powerful enough to take on that insane man and win. So there was only one thing left for me to do—I had to go with them. 
“I don’t like anything about that guy. I don’t like what he’s done, how he talks, how he thinks. I want to make him pay for what he’s done to this world. That’s not all though. I’m going to take back the energy he stole from you, and I’m going to use it to buy us more time, before the next wave comes.” 
“Thank you. Really. Thank you.” 
Ost was holding my hand, but suddenly, I wasn’t able to feel her. I looked down to find that her legs were already vanishing, dissolving into light. 
We were out of time. 
“Ms. Ost!” Raphtalia shouted. 
Rishia heard Raphtalia’s shout and came running over. 
“Ost! Feh . . . no!” 
There was no time. 
 
Ost smiled. She looked happy. “Perhaps it isn’t fair, but I’m a little . . . glad.” 
“Glad that you’re leaving us?” 
“No. I was fated to destroy life, to be hated and scorned. People were to cheer when I died, and yet here you are, sad to see me go. I cannot help but feel joyful.” 
Her eyes brimmed with tears. 
Mine did too. Maybe I was just tired. 
Filo understood what was happening, too. She wiped at her eyes with balled fists. 
“So please understand that this was all I could have hoped for. I was a scourge on the earth, but here you stand, crying for me. It’s . . . I . . .” 
Ost—the Spirit Tortoise—dissolved into beads of light, leaving us with only her words: “If I had another chance at life, I . . . would spend it . . . with you.” 
She vanished, leaving nothing behind. 
And that was the end of the Spirit Tortoise. It was extinguished along with the tortoise’s own heart, with its soul. 
“. . .” 
There was nothing I could do. I just stood there, watching the light filter in from outside, through the hole I’d made using the energy blast. 
The world asked for sacrifices from everyone. It was a terrible place. 
It summoned heroes to save its people from the waves of destruction, and then it forced them to fight. 
 
If it meant saving itself from the waves, the world would sacrifice all its life to the Spirit Tortoise. And so to protect the lives of the people, we had to take the life of the tortoise. 
The tortoise even begged us to kill it. The world begged the heroes to save it from the waves. The world would sacrifice anything to save itself. It would sacrifice its life to the tortoise or its heroes to the waves. Wasn’t there any other way to save it? 
I wanted to turn on it, to scream at it, to yell that it wasn’t fair. But I knew it wouldn’t help. I knew that I had to face the reality of what we’d done. 
I didn’t want to sacrifice myself for anything. I didn’t want to ask anyone else to sacrifice themselves either. 
That’s what heroes were for—fighting. What did I know about people like Trash, who sat back in safety while other people fought on their behalf? 
 
 
The Spirit Tortoise fought for the world. So did everyone who fought against the tortoise. Everyone was fighting for what they believed in. 
And I wasn’t going to forget it. 
“Kiddo!” 
“We will soon close the portal to our world. You must hurry!” 
Glass and L’Arc yelled. 
Eclair shouted back, “If we don’t get the heroes to a hospital soon, I cannot guarantee they will survive!” 
What should we do? 
“We’re going after him! Eclair, old lady—you two take the heroes to the closest hospital!” 
“Understood! I will tell the queen what has happened here!” 
“Do so! Also, tell her I’m sorry to leave her with all the clean-up.” 
“Understood, Mr. Iwatani. I expect to see you again, safe and sound.” 
“You will. Oh, and make sure you look after Keel too, okay?” 
“Yes. He’ll be a decent warrior by the time you return.” 
I turned to Raphtalia and Filo. They would have to serve as my attack squad. 
“Mr. Naofumi, we’re going, aren’t we?” 
“Yeah. You’re coming, right?” 
“Of course! I’ll always follow you!” 
“I’m coming toooooo! Imma kick that guy good—for the turtle lady!” 
I liked Filo’s enthusiasm. 
 
“Alright! Let’s get going!” 
“Just a minute!” shouted Rishia. “Please, take me with you.” 
“I thought you would want to watch over Itsuki’s recovery.” 
“As you say, there is a part of me that wants to remain and watch over Master Itsuki’s recovery. But the sense of justice he instilled in me will not allow me to let that man go! I must see to his punishment!” 
Her emotions were probably overpowering her judgment, and I wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to make it back alive. But I wasn’t going to tell her she couldn’t come. 
“I have to leave Master Itsuki to bring justice to that man. I have to!” 
Rishia had a power that still slept within her, and she’d used it to get us out of a pinch in the last battle. She might prove useful again. And besides, I’d promised her that I’d help her get stronger. I couldn’t turn my back on her now. 
“I get it. Rishia—you come too.” 
“Alright!” 
“How long are you going to keep us waiting? Hurry up!” 
“We’re coming! Everyone, goodbye!” 
And so we joined forces with L’Arc and the others to chase after Kyo, in hopes that we might recover the energy he stole from our world. 
We were about to enter the portal connected to the world that Glass was from. 
What would be waiting for us on the other side? 
What were the waves? 
 
What was this other world? 
I didn’t know the answers, but I knew the name of my enemy. 
I knew his face. I knew his voice. I knew what he’d done. 
I knew what to do. 
There was only one thing to do—I had to kill him. 
I was the Shield Hero, so I couldn’t do it on my own. But I wasn’t alone. 
If I couldn’t swing my fist, one of my friends would step in on my behalf—and I would be there to protect them. 
In the end, we were coming back with everything he stole from the Spirit Tortoise—with everything he stole from my friend Ost! 
We slipped through the portal to take back what was ours and entered a new world. 
“Naofumi Iwatani, the possessor of the holy shield . . . and of a kind heart . . .” 
A spirit floated in the air above where the Spirit Tortoise’s body lay. 
“Please save the lives of this world, just as you saved mine.” 
The queen of the filolials stood back to watch it. 
A small rift to another world opened, became a pillar of light, and flew away. 
Fitoria, the queen of the filolials, clasped her hands in prayer and watched it sail away. The soul of the Spirit Tortoise watched with her. 
“I hope the Shield Hero’s destination is a fortunate one.” 

“Thank you, Naofumi, the Shield Hero. Had I the opportunity, I’d protect you with this world. For what it’s worth . . . someday . . . together.”