“I’m so sick of riding this carriage.”
After the competition ended yesterday, it was time to say goodbye to the city of Bairn, which I had spent longer in than expected.
I was happy to finally be done sharing a room with Ares, but the thought of riding the carriage all the way back to Aios felt daunting.
“Please sit next to me, I’ll lend you my shoulder.”
Eve smiled and offered, but I politely declined.
“You’re just trying to keep an eye on me while I read, aren’t you?”
“…No, I’m not.”
Look at her sneaking glances and pouting her lips. Seeing Eve shrink back from her usual forgiveness punches gives me a strange sense of relief.
“Students! Grab some drinks and sandwiches! You’ve earned it!”
Before boarding the carriage, the Dean’s face lit up with a big smile as she handed out simple meals. Was winning the competition that uplifting?
Aios Academy made a stunning comeback, claiming victory in the big matches of Mana Volleyball and the large-scale battle on Day 2.
Not only did they break the legendary 13-game losing streak, but it was also a day showcasing Aios’s true potential.
Especially since the disguise of having a broken right hand was blown, I, who was packed with reserves, participated in almost all the matches.
I heard the Dean of Pales made a face, suggesting they should limit the number of reserve players for next year.
“Hmm.”
Sen sneaked up beside me. The medal hanging from her chest was awarded to the team victorious in Mana Volleyball.
Sen, who had jumped in as the perfect joker pick in the game.
Though it would have been tough for her to win alone, things changed when Elise, a reserve player who hadn’t participated in the competition, joined midway.
She says it was because of me that Elise competed, making her reputation as a princess who interacts with citizens quite favorable.
As for the large-scale battle, it was obvious we won since I was in it.
“Sen! That medal on your chest looks really pretty.”
“Thanks.”
“How many times has that been since yesterday?”
When Eve compliments her, Sen responds with a satisfied, subtle smile. Tana points at the two, asking, but I pretend not to see.
While Sen has teamed up with many people before, it seemed this was the first time she felt a sense of accomplishment in something other than assassination.
I heard she accepted an invitation to join the volleyball team, which must be a good thing.
‘Well, good things are good.’
Seeing Sen move away from the shadows of the Chokugen Faction and enjoying being with people, I thought her future wouldn’t be so dark after all.
“Hey, let’s switch spots.”
At that moment, I noticed Mei half-threatening one of our E-class male students.
As the bully suddenly approached, the boy didn’t know what to do, and I slipped in between them.
“…”
Mei, like a kid caught stealing, immediately averted her gaze and tried to whistle nonchalantly, but the lollipop in her mouth didn’t let her do it properly.
“What are you doing?”
“Will you let me go if I tell you?”
“Just say it.”
“I was going to get on the carriage you’re in.”
“Go back.”
Sighing, I pointed to the A-class carriage, and Mei stuck her tongue out, pouting as she walked away.
I can’t let my guard down for even a moment.
“Master, Master.”
Elise, who had quietly approached, offered me her sandwich.
“Eat this.”
“Are you giving it to me? What about you?”
I thought that was today’s lunch.
If she gives it to someone else, she’ll have to skip dinner. Did she eat a lot for breakfast?
“It’s fine, just eat it.”
Now that her identity as a princess is revealed, she whispers, aware of the attention from surrounding students. I look over at Bertia, feeling uneasy about the offer.
“Princess skipped breakfast…”
Bertia gave only fragmented information. Though she couldn’t betray her master right in front of her, she made it clear she understood the situation.
“You must be really hungry, huh?”
At my question, Elise’s eyes sparkled as she exclaimed.
“That’s the good part! If you eat my lunch, the hungrier I get, the more pain you’ll cause me!”
“Bertia, stay close to her and make sure she eats that sandwich. Feed her anything else you have too.”
“…You’re making a difficult request.”
Though she says that, Bertia nods in understanding. I managed to dodge Elise’s insane plan.
Normally, accomplishing something brings about satisfaction or a sense of achievement, but I was only accumulating fatigue.
“Ah, I think I’ll just sleep right in the carriage.”
The other students still had some time left and were chatting outside, so I quietly entered the E-class carriage, sat in the corner, and leaned my head against the wall.
Since the carriage wasn’t moving, sleep soon overwhelmed me.
*
“Cough.”
In the depths of the Forest of the Demon Realm.
The ancient beast Kurika, sitting quietly in perfect posture, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze radiating a gentle light began to read the unusual energy surrounding him.
Heading outside, joining elves, dwarfs, beastmen, and even witches.
He returned from completely obliterating a rather unique party and was basking in the faint post-battle heat he hadn’t felt in a long time.
However, it seemed it was time for his claws to meet the moonlight once more today.
A sound unlike the soft passing of the wind, a heavy rustling through the underbrush echoed.
This place was the deepest part of the Forest of the Demon Realm.
He had no idea how other ancient beasts ignored this place and came here, but he was prepared to welcome a guest.
A woman, dressed in a black priestess robe different from before.
All the pocket watches and the minute and hour hands that had once adorned her were burnt away, leaving the right arm empty.
From the aura alone, Kurika realized she was a formidable opponent he hadn’t met in a while. Just the fact that she made it here unharmed spoke volumes of her extraordinary capabilities.
“I am Kurika, the Keeper of the Forest.”
A grave declaration slipped from her small lips.
Kurika, without realizing it, furrowed his brow as he looked at her.
“You dare speak of things unfit for your tongue.”
In response to Kurika’s warning, the Priestess of Time smiled kindly.
“It is my duty to spread the wisdom bestowed upon me by the gods, even if it is a secret buried deep within the world.”
“Are you discussing gods in front of me?”
Slowly raising his great form, Kurika revealed his claws.
In an instant.
Like a predator crouched before pouncing on its prey, Kurika lunged forward and completely tore apart the Priestess of Time.
The body of the Priestess, ripped to shreds, would soon become a simple delicacy for the nearby magical beasts.
That’s how Kurika thought.
A darkness deeper than the dark shroud thick in the Forest of the Demon Realm oozed from the Priestess of Time.
The darkness began to absorb her body, quickly reassembling before the eye.
Eventually, the Priestess of Time returned to her original form. However, the one difference was the imprint embedded in her forehead.
As Kurika opened his eyes wide for the first time, he clenched his fist.
“Goddess of Death?”
I can’t remain still.
Thinking that the author is none other than ‘The Earliest Apocalypse,’ Kurika was ready to go all out for the first time in a while.
Yet, something felt off.
Calling it ‘The Earliest Apocalypse’ seemed far too feeble.
“The gods have made their choices. I do not know their intentions, but I have received the choice of the Goddess of Death according to the will of the Goddess of Time.”
“The Goddess of Time wanted this?”
Kurika, who had lived for a long time and kept countless secrets in this world, found it hard to comprehend what the Priestess of Time was saying.
However, the Priestess simply smiled mysteriously and didn’t elaborate further.
Slowly, she reached out her hand towards Kurika.
“Oh great beast who has become a magical beast due to overwhelming power, and valiant guardian of a forgotten storehouse trapped in this miserable forest due to the reckless pleasures of several gods.”
“…”
“I need your help. I am a savior who has come to save this world. I am the messenger of the gods, where the Goddess of Time and the Goddess of Death coexist.”
The two goddesses coexisting within one body.
Kurika wondered if that was truly possible, but it was clear she knew something unknown even to him.
“Join my crusade to kill ‘The Earliest Apocalypse’ that will consume the world.”
“Are you saying you know where ‘The Earliest Apocalypse’ is?”
In a growl, Kurika asked, and the Priestess of Time gave a peculiar smile.
“Did you know the King of Insects was dead?”
“Yeah, I understand he left the forest to uphold the covenant with the witches and died.”
Though he was the same ancient beast, they didn’t share a camaraderie, so Kurika replied indifferently.
In fact, he was glad that the large insects crawling around the Forest of the Demon Realm had reduced in number.
“According to the covenant, that witch proved her strength. Considering her ability to handle taboos, we no longer fuss over it.”
If a witch, who had broken a taboo, killed an ancient beast that had come to execute her, she would qualify to wield the taboo regardless, and so they didn’t pursue further.
Of course, Kurika didn’t know that the witch he had defeated not long ago was Adriana, who had broken a taboo.
However, the Priestess of Time clicked her tongue while shaking her head.
“Apviel was not killed by a witch.”
“Not killed by a witch?”
Following the flow of the story led to the obvious conclusion. Kurika’s eyes widened as he asked.
“Could it be that ‘The Earliest Apocalypse’ is related to his death?”
With a twisted smile, the Priestess responded as if commanding.
“Great beast, let’s go together.”
