Episode 26
Ultimately, the story of what happened afterward was quite complicated, yet simple at the same time.
Waiting for us as we returned to the city were Monica and a few knights. Apparently, they had intended to rush to our aid at the first sign of trouble. That was a reflection of their kindness, and perhaps simply good judgment on their part. In the worst-case scenario, they would have been the ones to defeat the demon lord, and indeed, I could see a brief flash of tension cross their faces when they saw us coming back.
Before the knights could be given any orders, Monica looked to me to gauge my reaction. I bowed my head and said, “It’s all right. Everything has been resolved.”
“We’ve defeated the demon lord. He is no longer in this world.”
“Certainly, that terrifying demonic power can no longer be felt anywhere. But how on earth…?”
“Um—”
Would anyone ever believe an explanation like, “I transferred the power into a random pebble and smashed it”? Even to me, it sounded utterly absurd.
“E-Excuse me!”
As I was trying to figure out how to explain it, Teresia anxiously piped up.
“It’s… it’s true. Yurina put her life on the line to defeat the demon lord’s power. Please believe her.”
Her tone and expression were serious in a way I hadn’t seen before. Monica blinked in surprise, then murmured softly.
“If you’re going to plead that desperately on her behalf, well, I suppose it must be the truth.”
With that, Monica gave some instructions to the knights. They filed away somewhere, and once I was sure they were completely out of sight, Monica turned back to us with a wry smile.
“As for the specifics of what happened, the decisions you made, and how it all turned out, you can explain it to my superior later.”
“Your… superior?”
“Needless to say… That being said, you two must be exhausted by now, right? Let’s put troublesome matters aside for the moment. Why don’t you just get some rest today?”
“Monica…”
“Oh, it’s not like I’m doing this out of concern for you—well, okay, maybe a little. A friend of mine just made some heavy, difficult decisions, and as a human being, I can’t help but want to acknowledge and reward that effort.”
For Monica of all people to show concern for Teresia and me like this was unbelievable, given how she’d acted up until now. But I suppose she was capable of worrying about people after all.
She was just deeply sketchy.
Deeply, deeply sketchy.
“Well then, since that’s settled, I’ll take my leave for now. You two go ahead and rest however you like.”
As we watched her wave and walk away, we both wore complicated expressions. Somehow, I had expected her to deliver some grand, fitting closing remark for our journey, so being left behind like this left me a bit at a loss.
Still, changing my mindset with the thought that I needed to say it to her once more, I looked over at Teresia and spoke.
“Hey—”
We spoke at the exact same time, our voices overlapping.
An awkward silence hung in the air before we launched into a comedy-routine-like exchange: “Ah, um… After you?” “No, no, please, go ahead.”
“U-Um. Well then, let me go first… First of all, I’m sorry. Again. Even though I genuinely thought ‘that’ was the best course of action at the time, I chose to throw away my life right in front of you.”
“That’s… already fine. I understand that was a decision born of your resolve and courage.”
“Even so, it doesn’t change the fact that I hurt you, Teresia. I’m apologizing again. I’m sorry.”
“…Yeah.”
Teresia gave a small nod, then said, “Well then, my turn.”
“I’m sorry for keeping things secret from you, working behind your scenes, and then launching a surprise attack to steal the demon lord’s power. It’s pretty pathetic how it all ended in failure anyway.”
“…Yeah. It’s okay, I understand your feelings properly, too.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
“…”
“…”
We fell silent and stared at each other.
It was a strange moment. It was awkward, but it certainly wasn’t uncomfortable.
I was simply happy to realize the fact that the two of us were sharing this quiet time alone together.
“Hey, Teresia.”
“What is it, Yurina?”
“…Um.”
“What’s with the sudden hesitation?”
“Well.”
Since it was something I said all the time, the hurdle to actually saying the words should have been low. But for some reason, it felt embarrassing right now. Feeling my cheeks grow hot, I spoke to her once more.
“Teresia, I love you.”
Her eyes widened, then softened into slits. Teresia offered a faint smile, her cheeks flushed pink.
“…I love you too, Yurina.”
Ultimately, it felt as though the story had ended right where it began, and that afterward we had just rambled on about inconsequential things. But even so, for the two of us who had finished our journey, this ordinary routine might just have been more precious than anything else in the world.
Hand in hand, we set off on our way home.
Tonight, I felt like I’d sleep soundly.
Or so I had thought.
“Hey, Yurina. You don’t have to do anything anymore. I’m going to take care of you completely, so just relax right here, okay?”
With a huge, beaming smile, Teresia approached me, holding out a hand towel. I had no earthly idea how things had ended up like this, but apparently, something inside her had snapped—or rather, something had driven her to this.
“I’ve realized something.”
“W-What did you…”
“I want to do more and more things together with you, Yurina, side by side.”
“I feel the same way, you know.”
“Oh good, we’re totally mutual then.”
“Y-You think so…?”
While I forced a twitchy smile, Teresia beamed brightly.
“So, um, Teresia… what’s with that hand towel?”
“I’m going to wash every single inch of your body for you.”
I knew it, dammit!