Chapter 46: The Fallen Sun (2)

Precisely because I let many slip through, I want the remaining everyone, the everyone who remained, to become happy.

"My lady—"

"Oh my, what is it?"

For the usual maid, it is impossible to interrupt in the middle of conversation with her younger brother.

While feeling suspicious she received the letter the maid handed over—

"——Leas!"

——Paa.

Naturally putting on a smile, she received that letter.

Leas.

Leas Lot.

The precious friend who continues fighting Monster Villains in the other world called Earth.

Disliking even the time to take a paper knife she produced flame from her fingertip, and while carefully not burning the letter inside she cut the seal.

The content began with a simple greeting and was a recent report including a battle from a little while ago.

At the sentence that she was able to rescue a male teacher who was about to become a Monster Villain, her face naturally bloomed.

She is truly working hard. Only a few years ago she was a child who chased after Grace’s back like her younger brother, yet now she is a splendid swordswoman of justice.

"Fufu... At this rate I cannot treat her like a little sister as before."

Long ago she was a child who only swung her sword, her handwriting was dirty, and she often came crying that she did not understand how to write documents.

Did adversity change her?

If so, I cannot lose either — there is no way I can stop.

I must go further ahead, show everyone an even more radiant form.

Because — the Flame Spirit Grace contracted is an existence that manipulates the flame of the sun.

I must become an existence that shines more than anyone and protects and warms everyone.

If the sun clouds over, no one can live.

"...Onee-sama! There’s something like a picture inside too!"

"A picture...? Ah, come to think of it, I read in a letter that over there there is a technique called photographs that directly copies scenery."

More than the doubt she held at the somehow deliberately cheerful voice, she was interested in the enclosed photograph.

What was inside was — an unfamiliar girl pointing her right hand this way and making a peace sign with her left hand. Probably this is Sacred Knuckle.

And the girl nestling close to Knuckle while putting on a bashful expression — the figure of Leas Lot.

At the copied form of her friend whom she sees for the first time in a year, she held joy and surprise at the same time.

Because long ago she gave the impression of an innocent girl, yet now she is suitable to be called a cool beautiful girl. Combined with the silver hair and azure eyes she gives a cold impression, but the figure looking this way — probably at the tool for taking the photograph — warily is small-animal-like and cute.

At the figures of both of them looking cheerful in school uniforms, as if in the middle of going out to play after finishing classes, Grace let tears seep into her eyes.

(——Ah, I’m glad)

I had wondered if she was properly able to live alone in an unknown world, but from this state it seems she is all right.

There are beings who accept humans who came from Calmate in that world as well. Daily necessities are probably supplied by them, but the mental side cannot be helped.

Is she not lonely alone, is she properly eating meals — is she not overworking.

Thinking that I was so anxious I could not rest... but I feel as if my shoulders have lightened a little.

(...Shall I also rest a little)

Lately I have been working continuously. But the Leas I was worried about also seems safe, so is it not all right to relax a little?

Grace breathed a sigh of relief — pasari. She dropped it from her hand onto the table.

It was one photograph. Apparently it had been stuck to the back of the previous photograph.

Dangerous, dangerous, I almost missed it — Grace chuckled and took it in her hand—

"——Hi"

——She witnessed a photograph of Sacred Saber standing shoulder to shoulder with a Monster Villain.

Knuckle is not there. Probably she is the photographer.

But that does not matter.

Next to the abnormal monster whose entire body is completely covered in tentacles, Leas smiling bashfully.

——Ah, ah, why, what is happening.

——Why is Leas laughing together with a monster like that!?

Her abdomen ached. The place where the sword was stabbed, even though not even a scar remains, ached dully.

Her vision blurred with tears, and the breakfast she ate earlier is rampaging trying to come out from her mouth.

She understood someone was shaking her shoulder. But she has no energy to react to it. On the back of the photograph, separately from the letter, Leas’s writing was written.

’This photograph was taken by my junior — Sacred Knuckle. She said that if reporting recent events, having a photograph is better than just text.

The one next to me is Atel Octo. As you can see he is a tentacle Monster Villain — yet he maintains his reason, calls himself a Vigilante, and protects me and Knuckle. His mouth is bad and he is a pervert, but he is not a bad person... somehow, writing it like this makes me look like an innocent girl being deceived by a bad man.’

She remembers. One year ago, the transformed existences in the throne room, the many Monster Villains, the ones Grace burned away.

Among them there was also a tentacle Monster Villain. A monster that aimed at good-looking women, pinned them down, and defiled them.

The figure of her friend acting familiarly with a Monster Villain of the same type as such a monster, as if it were a friend or something.

The black-shining tentacles gleaming slimily. A shape that inspires physiological disgust. And yet Leas, even while close, is directing not disgust but affection.

What is this. What is this, what is this, what is this...!

’Grace. When you come, when we fight together, you will surely be able to meet him. I am looking forward to that time.’

"U—gu, u"

Her vision twisted gunyari.

Nausea and tears overflow and will not subside.

Ah, why — why do I always let things slip through.

Even though I intended to work hard to help everyone, before I notice it has become too late.

(Ah, no good, no good, Gahel — my younger brother is watching)

Finally she could recognize that the human shaking her is her younger brother.

Ah, late, late, too late. Why do I always notice only after it is too late.

I cannot continue exposing this figure.

"...O-oh my... what is it, Gahel. Do you want to be spoiled by Onee-sama? It’s fine! You’re still a child, o-hohohohoh!"

"Onee-sama—! ...U-n. That’s right, sorry."

"No no, what kind of older sister would I be if I did not respond to my younger brother’s selfishness!"

She manipulated magical power. She decomposed the Sacred armor and tightly embraced her younger brother.

Ah, warm — he is alive. My younger brother, Gahel Wayne, still is.

That is surely the same for Leas as well.

At the very least she has not yet died, I think.

(——It’s all right, still, it’s all right...)

I want to rush over right now and cut down that Monster Villain.

That Monster Villain is surely lying. Hiding desire and aiming for the critical timing. It must be so.

——Because, is that not what a Monster Villain is.

What floats in her mind is the figure of her older brother clad in black armor.

Now he has apparently become an existence on par with a Monster Villain and Diabolic under the queen of Lemora.

Her older brother was planted with a Seed of Desire, had the blooming promoted by the Diabolic’s barrier, and even so endured — yet in the end fell into being nothing more than a Monster Villain.

And yet — some unknown nobody accomplished something even her older brother could not?

Wrong, wrong, there is no way.

Because if I acknowledge such a thing — it would mean my older brother gave up on a torment that could have been endured if he worked hard, and betrayed us—

"Onee-sama...?"

"...Perhaps because I saw the figure, I have come to want to meet Leas."

Did it show on my face?

I must not; if a Sacred is making a dark face, whom on earth can the innocent people rely on.

Therefore the expression becomes a smile full of confidence.

With that smile unchanged from long ago, she covers over the melancholy and anxiety.

Desperately covering up the self from one year ago.

"Lately I have been working continuously, and the situation has also settled — I shall apply to the princess for a little leave."

"...Yeah, I see. Take care, Onee-sama."

"Yes, I will properly bring back souvenirs, so wait while expecting them."

At that time I will also buy books from Earth and return.

With movements as if floating, at a quick pace. While suppressing the desire to dash out right now, she walks, walks, walks.

"It’s all right — wait for me, Leas"

Family, friends, everything everything.

This Grace Wayne will protect them.

For that, I must defeat that Monster Villain — the tentacle Monster Villain calling himself a Vigilante.

"Wait for me, Atel Octo or whatever...!"

Parting from her younger brother, entrusting the house to the maid — alone, Grace strongly strongly clenched her fist.

I will not let the likes of you have your way; this time I will make it in time — yes, strongly determining.