Epilogue
Roughly a month later, I was visiting the location once known as the Demon Lord’s castle. The castle which was basically just ruins at this point maintained a tranquility to it that was unchanged from when I last visited. However, this time, there wasn’t anything unsettling in the atmosphere.
“I think it was around here where I was stabbed right through my back.”
“I’m sorry. I should have gone with you.”
“Didn’t you play a very active part in the defense battle? I think that’s more than enough.”
Apparently, Patrick had even taken down a dragon by himself, though he claims that it was a dragon much smaller and weaker than Ryuu. I would have preferred that he didn’t compare a savage, wild dragon to my mild-mannered, adorable Ryuu.
“I still don’t think it’s right that they’re just being confined, and that’s it. There should be a more appropriate—”
“I’ve already had a lengthy discussion about that with His Majesty. It’s fine.”
To the public, Alicia and the others were currently having their wounds treated, but they were actually confined somewhere in the royal palace. Having them publicly judged for their actions would be inconvenient for various reasons, but it wasn’t right that they would walk around freely as contributors to the Demon Lord’s end. I also wouldn’t be able to have a clear conscience if they were to be secretly killed. I figured things settled into a comfortable state.
“It might be fine if you’re just thinking about it rationally, but how about your feelings? Don’t you resent them?”
“Hmm, I guess I resented that it was only His Highness and myself at the ceremony. Because it was just us, everyone came up to me too.” A kingdom-level ceremony was held in celebration of the victory against the Demon Lord. Prince Edwin and I were the only members of the party in charge of defeating the Demon Lord who participated in the ceremony and swarms of aristocrats came up to me to give congratulatory words as well. Some people made me feel like they were genuinely grateful, while others were suspicious of Alicia’s absence, which made the event endlessly nerve-racking.
Patrick rolled his eyes upon hearing my tale of resentment.
I’ll have you know that ceremony was really rough.
“I guess if that’s how you feel... So, why did we come out here today?”
“I thought I’d dig a grave. I’m sorry for making you tag along when it’s not your problem.”
I had come all this way to prepare a grave for the man known as the Demon Lord. I couldn’t save him. All I could do for him was give him a decent burial.
Patrick tagged along without saying a word. The spot I picked was a small hill overlooking the castle. Without using my magic, I dug a hole with my hands and buried a memento—his broken Kabuto helmet. After finishing the preparations, I put my hands together and closed my eyes.
Many thoughts spun around my mind as I prayed, and by the time I opened my eyes, it was already evening, and the sunset was illuminating his grave.
“Patrick, the person who was called the Demon Lord was...”
I wanted to at least tell him the truth. I wanted him to know what I had done, but my mouth wouldn’t move the way I wanted it to. I was unable to get another word out. Patrick stuck with me through a long silence.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” he said from behind me.
I wonder what kind of face he’s making right now...
I manage to continue without turning to face him. “The person who was called the Demon Lord was just a person. He was just a person who thought about others, worried for others, and resented others.” I couldn’t even tell how my voice sounded right then.
“I see.”
“So, um, I...a person...” I killed a person. Those were the words that weren’t coming out. I couldn’t handle that truth. I was afraid of Patrick hating me, and I hated myself for worrying about him hating me. Before I knew it, there were tears flowing down my face, blurring the beautiful sunset. “I, him...”
“I get it. You don’t have to say any more. I understand,” Patrick said gently as he hugged me from behind.
He’s warm.
“I think you did the best you could, Yumiella. But even if you made the wrong choice, I would still love you and would still want to be with you forever.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t know what else to do for you... Telling you that is the only thing I can do.”
“Okay, I understand.” I didn’t know if there was more that I could have done for the man known as the Demon Lord. My actions may have been for the best or for the worst. But regardless of morality, Patrick was on my side. “Thank you. I’ll do my best from now on.”
“Don’t try too hard. Things go south when you try too hard.” I slipped out of Patrick’s arms and turned to find Patrick smiling like he usually did. I was probably smiling as well.
Everything’s okay now.
There were lots of things I had to do moving forward—the county that my parents had neglected was probably full of problems, and I had to do something about the social climate of contempt toward people with black hair.
What do I need to handle these things? What am I currently lacking?
“I need to get stronger. My level won’t go up anymore, so maybe I should train a new ability.”
“Like what?”
“Maybe I could learn to stop time? There’ve been many situations I could have handled better if I was able to stop time.” It wasn’t that difficult. I didn’t have to stop time itself. I would just have to stop people’s movement, stop natural phenomena from occurring, stop the stars from moving, and then finally hold a clock’s hands in place—then I could say I stopped time.
Oh, I’m getting kind of excited.
Patrick was silent for a moment before responding. “I’m glad to see you’re back to your usual self.” Though he said he was glad, there wasn’t an ounce of happiness on his face.
Does Patrick prefer warping to stopping time?
But I was probably correct in thinking he seemed to be having a bit of fun as well.
“Aren’t you curious about it?” I asked. “Stopping time and everyone’s movements, I mean.”
“If I were to stop time, would you be frozen as well?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want that. Let’s say that you can choose what you want to be frozen.”
“Then I’d like you to stay still for a second.” Without giving me a chance to ask why, Patrick hugged me, this time from the front. Time wasn’t stopped—if anything, it felt like time was passing by faster. My heart was beating incredibly fast, so that had to be what was happening. I raised my head that was buried in his chest, and our eyes met.
“Patrick...”
“Yumiella...”
Just saying each other’s names filled me with happiness.
If we can spend our time together, then I have no need to stop time—
“Yumiella! I found a pretty rock! I shall gift it to you!”
Never mind. I want the ability to stop time after all.
I escaped Patrick’s arms to see Eleanora running toward us while waving.
Eleanora had been very worried about my going to battle the Demon Lord. When I returned to the Royal Capital, she embraced me, partially in tears. Since then, she has followed me around everywhere without leaving my side.
Even today, she forcibly came along with us.
Shouldn’t you be worried about the prince, not me?
While I was digging the grave, she was off somewhere nearby playing with Ryuu. She was carrying a round stone she had found somewhere. Ryuu followed after her, giving off an atmosphere of fatigue.
I’m sorry, Ryuu. That must have been tiring.
Eleanora finally reached us and held up the rock. “Isn’t it so perfectly circular?! I found it over there, and... Oh?” She was proudly talking about her rock but stopped and looked back and forth between Patrick and me before realizing something. “Oh! I will keep my distance for a bit! Please take your time!” She ran to a nearby tree and hid behind it.
No, wait, she’s poking her head out and looking over here.
Patrick and I looked at each other—it wasn’t the right mood to continue.
“Lady Eleanora, please come out. We’re going home.”
“I’m not here! Please continue what you were doing earlier!”
What a pain...
As I grumbled to myself, Ryuu laid down next to me and closed his eyes. It appeared to be bedtime for the good boy.
“Ryuu, don’t sleep just yet! We won’t be able to go home! Hey, what are you eating, Lady Eleanora? Is that piece of fruit you found on the ground? Please spit it out right now! Hey, why are you laughing, Patrick?!” Patrick seemed to be having fun, laughing at my disarray, and, drawn in by his laugh, I began laughing too.
Maybe commotion like this isn’t so bad every now and then.
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