Epilogue
After using every probing and analysis spell I had to scan the area and eliminate any possibility that Naoise survived, I returned to the Gephis domain. Epona had successfully pulled Mina away from the city of Geil, and they were still fighting elsewhere. Magic knights employed by House Romalung marched into the city, wiping out the monsters. I heard that Dia and Tarte accompanied and fought with them. Naoise leading most of the Gephis-troops-turned-snake-people away undoubtedly helped the Romalung forces triumph. The enemy would have been too strong otherwise.
I visited the strategic headquarters set up by the knights to report the details of Naoise’s plan and that I’d killed him and his followers. Then I went to an infirmary.
“I need to treat my left arm.”
The limb throbbed in agony from injuries I inflicted on myself to trap Naoise. Rapid Recovery only sped up the natural healing process and didn’t work on wounds that couldn’t mend on their own. The left shoulder fracture from Naoise’s sword would heal fine, but the heavy burns and compound break the Fahr Stone explosion left would never improve without treatment.
Instead of trusting the doctors on hand, I intended to deal with the injuries myself. None of them could beat my Tuatha Dé medical knowledge.
I readied myself and summoned my artificial arm divine treasure. First, I removed my broken bones and produced metal with magic to reinforce and shape the remaining ones. Next, I tore off my burned and dead skin and implanted living tissue removed from elsewhere on my body. Magic and Rapid Recovery made this possible. Once I completed the basic treatment, I wrapped my arm with special tape and created a metal cast to hold the snapped bones in place and protect them.
Rapid Recovery would handle the rest, likely requiring three days. Unfortunately, the arm would never truly be as it was before.
“Lugh! I heard you were seriously injured!”
“Are you okay, my lord?!”
Dia and Tarte ran into the infirmary covered in mud and dust.
“There’s no need to worry. It was just my left arm, and I’ve already treated it.”
“Thank goodness. Everyone was freaking out about your injury when we got here. It scared me,” Dia said.
Tarte frowned. “I knew I should have gone with you.”
Dia hugged me, and Tarte teared up. The sight of them eased my tension somewhat.
“I was worried about you two as well. The Gephis knights were really strong. I’m glad you’re all right,” I responded.
“Forget about us. You’re in much worse shape.”
“Yes. Please leave matters to everyone else and get some rest.”
I tried to stand, but they pushed me back into bed.
“…Let me go. I need to leave after an hour of rest. I want to get ready,” I protested.
“What are you planning to do in your state?” Dia questioned.
“Help Epona against the snake demon. They’re still fighting.”
Any battle involving Epona meant destruction on the scale of a natural disaster. She and Mina were fighting far from the city, but the sounds, light, and heat of the struggle were perceptible from here. No knights could help, no matter how elite they were. Mina seemed Epona’s equal in strength now that she’d consumed a Fruit of Life. I couldn’t beat her alone, but I could tip the scale by supporting Epona.
“Don’t be absurd! Trust Epona and stay put. You’d only be a burden like this.”
“That’s right. No one can heal a broken arm that quickly. Not even you, my lord. And I can tell that you’ve exhausted your mana.”
They were both deeply concerned, and honestly, they were also correct.
“That’s why I’m going to rest for an hour. That’s enough time for my wound to close and for me to regain some energy.”
My broken bones needed a few days to heal, but they were safe in a cast. Thanks to the skin graft, the wound would close, and the pain from the burns lessened with every passing moment.
Dia sighed. “We’re not stopping you. I see it on your face.”
“I want to know if Naoise was right, or if he was deceived… And most importantly, I need to make Mina pay,” I declared.
Killing Naoise was my crime, but she was the one who forced me to it.
“Okay. Fine. But you have to take us with you.”
“We’ve gotten stronger. We won’t get in the way.”
“Do you realize what you’re volunteering for? This is a battle between Epona and a demon who has taken a step toward becoming the Demon King. It will be dangerous, even for you two.”
“Trust me, I’m scared. But I’ve made up my mind.”
“We’ll make up for the injury to your left arm.”
I could tell from the looks in their eyes that they were determined, no matter what I said. They would probably follow me if I tried to leave them behind. And that was much more dangerous than allowing the pair to tag along.
Hold on, I have a better solution.
“…Dia, Tarte, why do you two look ready to fight me?”
They eyed me warily, as if expecting me to attack them. I didn’t stand a chance of getting a hit in—if I tried, they’d undoubtedly get the best of me, given my fatigue and the state of my left arm.
“Because we know you. You’re thinking of knocking us out and then leaving without us.”
“Lady Dia’s right. You can render us unconscious with one blow to the chin. We wouldn’t be able to stand for three hours.”
“Right? One pop, and the whole world is spinning. It’s terrifying.”
They saw through me. I shouldn’t have used that trick on them before.
“Fine. You win. Let’s go together,” I conceded.
Dia grinned. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”
“I’ll get our equipment,” Tarte announced.
Dia sat on my bed while Tarte rushed out of the infirmary. Tarte went to get our things alone so Dia could keep an eye on me. It was no use trying to stop them, so I reached for my desk, grabbing a pouch full of nutritional fluid. I emptied it and ate the rest of my preserved food. When finished, I lay down, hoping to sleep and recover as best I could.
Dia patted my head.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Because you seem sad. You look like you could cry, Lugh,” Dia said.
“I killed a friend. Of course I’m sad. There was no other choice, and I thought I’d made peace with my decision… But I guess not.”
I killed countless friends in my past life. On orders from my organization, I eliminated any who betrayed us. These were necessary deeds, and I felt nothing committing them. Those people were mere tools. The current version of me could never behave that way.
“It’s natural to be sad. I know that was hard for you, Lugh.”
Dia stroked my head again. I felt my grief wane, but I felt guilty for it.
“Rest. I’ll stay by your side.”
“…Thank you. That’s a real comfort.”
I closed my eyes to the warmth of Dia’s body heat. I’d force Mina to confess everything. Then I’d kill her. Such was my duty as a noble assassin. My job was to remove all threats to the kingdom, but this time…I truly hated my target.
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