Chapter 428 – Encouragement and Tears

000

It was a black space.

Like tumbling down into hell, consciousness fell into a deep and dark place.

Saw everything

Heard everything

I could feel everything.

A demon born connected to his own dark emotions opens his eyes and takes over his body.

Even when it dyes the sky of the royal capital gray and raises black waves to swallow people.

Each one of those screams.

Every one of those lives.

Each one of those pains.

Becomes a thorn, piercing his own limbs.

The blood did not flow out, and it turned black from the pierced part.

In the book I read earlier, it is said that a person who arrives in hell has his eyelids cut off to see that horrific sight, preventing him from turning his head.

As he was now, he thought he had fallen into hell.

No screams of pain, no tears of sorrow came out, his eyes his dried up and his throat his burned.

He wanted to tell Rubera to run away and ask Aruru to forgive him.

Amelia tried to twist her whole body to the reality that she had become the enemy of the kingdom—the world, so she had no choice but to fight them.

What and where did it go wrong?

In a situation where everything she has ever done as a Saint Princess is being denied.

When the outstretched hand of her, hoping for her helping hand of her, was thrown away.

When their roar is directed this way.

When the spark of life of a precious person goes out next to you.

When her shoulders she trembled at the helplessness of her own inability her to do anything.

When her heart was almost broken.

What held her back was her promise her to Cleon.

When the world pushes us into the swamp of despair and tries to laugh at it by pressing our heads against it.

It’s okay to cry, it’s okay to get angry and scream.

He had promised not to break.

That is, to not lose oneself even in despair.

Carrying on the ‘heart you had at the beginning’, penetrating your convictions and completing them.

Little by little, her dark feelings her, which had eaten away at her, disappear as if they were not hers in the first place.

If she said she ran around the royal road night to gain someone’s approval, she did n’t even have to hide her identity of her.

Even if the absolute majority did not acknowledge his existence his, he had allies.

“Ah… Uh… Ugh…”

Finally, a voice came out of his captive mouth.

The body, which had not been moving, moved little by little.

As the thorns are vibrating as if they were fixed to a mold, she tries to fix Amelia, who is trying to move, to it even more strongly, but-

Little by little, Amelia’s mind her, regaining control of her, forced them to tear-

Even though she’s ripped like flesh, pierced through her muscles, punctured through her bones through her.

Slowly, straighten her knees, move her arms forward-

I hear something breaking and being torn apart.

Perhaps, something is wrong with the body.

However, this is, after all, an illusion created by her.

Then she was frightened by this, and there was no reason not to move.

“——Ugh!”

Parching-! With the sound of breaking glass, Amelia’s arm her snapped completely free.

And, starting with that, she moves her body almost completely, supporting herself with her bloody arms as she nearly falls forward.

Finally able to stand up, she stumbled in the direction of the light-

Heading towards the spectacle of the real world, displayed by her black crystal demon occupying her own body her.

Blocked by an invisible wall, she saw a being beyond.

‘Cleon…!’

Amelia raised her voice as she watched him approaching this way, holding the pure white holy sword in her hand.

“Cleon…! Please don’t lose…!”

As he had encouraged him, Amelia’s voice her turned to Cleon this time.

It’s okay even if you can’t hear this voice.

And, even if her own body her is broken, okay.

Because I never lost ‘Amelia Chaldearis’.

“So-! Please don’t lose to the unreasonableness of the world…! Cleo-oh-on!!!”

And the next moment.

A gigantic pillar of light created by manifesting the maximum magical power of Cleon’s holy sword.

It becomes a slash that is swung to erase even the deep darkness.

The moment that covered Amelia’s body her.

As the blackened space crumbled like a crack.

The black space in which she was confined was actually like a cramped egg.

The moment he realized that the pure white space that appeared behind him was the original space of Amelia’s own image of her.

“Ooh, ah…Wow!”

The huge shock and wind that suddenly came after that blew Amelia’s body her backwards.

And, in the next moment, for some reason, the invisible floor that I was able to stand on normally until now does not exist.

Her body was about to fall down.

I didn’t feel anything like gravity.

Perhaps Amelia’s body her was no longer functioning due to the shock from before, and her mind was trying to leave her body her.

She gets to think that way.

If you think about it, her black magic-tainted body received a blow that compressed that amount of divine magic.

Yes. Even if she died somewhere because it was ruined, she wasn’t strange.

However, she could feel the warmth of Amelia’s body as she returned to the light, freed from her cold darkness.

Somewhere, comfortable, sleepy and cozy enough to make me yawn.

Even as she unknowingly fell, she closed her eyes, waiting for the collision with the ground that would come one day, the next moment.

Bang! And feeling someone grab her hand her, Amelia opened her eyes.

“Whew… How far are you going to fall?”

Somewhere, at the sound of a sweet woman’s voice, Amelia raises her head and sees the person holding her.

There, a woman with blonde hair like the sun and blue eyes like the sea was looking down at her with her wry smile her.

She only closed her eyes for a moment, but before she knew it, the space surrounding her Amelia her, countless stars twinkled in a blue space like the night sky.

Somewhere, it had changed to a space like a dream or fantasy.

And, Amelia’s her first relationship with a woman who holds her own hand… Even though it’s her first time meeting her with her.

Naturally, I could say her name her.

“…Lessia-sama?”

“Yes?”

As if it was her surprise her that her own name her was called, Lecia looked down at her, then nodded her head as if she knew her ‘Ah…’And pulled up her Amelia her.

Even though it was her one hand her, she could lightly lift Amelia’s body her, so Amelia thought that she was Lesia, who had a reputation as a golden warrior.

Of course, Amelia herself had some light points.

And, if you put her down next to her own her, her bottom her she thought was missing is back. Like Lecia, Amelia is able to stand on her land her.

“…Le, Lesia-sama. It’s an honor to meet you, I-“

Even in her confused situation, Amelia tries to bow her head towards the hero she admires—

“Amelia, right?”

“Uh, why… My name…?”

As mentioned above, Amelia has never met Lesia.

It’s just that Amelia had read several of her books about Lesia, so she only knew one-sidedly.

Seeing her face her and being able to call her name her right away was for a different reason.

Even so, according to Cleon, it was strange that she, exiled to the rift of her other dimension, knew her own name her.

“Huh? Ah… That’s right… First of all, I’d like to talk a little bit about where this place is. Right now, what state Amelia is in?”

Lesia thought for a bit, then moved her hand her.

Then, the appearance of her around her changed a little, and she showed Amelia the appearance of a wider space, as if the distance from the sky had increased.

As the scenery around her suddenly changes without any preparation, Amelia is so surprised that she forgets for a moment what has happened to her.

And then, what appeared was a huge space where you could see cracks everywhere like broken glass.

In the landscape resembling the ‘universe’ I had read about in previous books, there were several passages leading to somewhere.

“Could it be that this is a gap in another dimension?”

“That’s right. Even within the rift of another dimension… A much deeper space. Normal humans can’t come here, but people who are strongly connected to me, or those who are a bit special like Amelia can come here.”

Amelia opened her eyes wide and clenched her fists.

“Well, then. If you ask Lesia-sama how to get here, bringing Cleon here…!”

“Ahaha… Amelia seems to like her. Yeah… I wish I could. Sorry, this isn’t the real world. It’s the spirit world.”

Lecia snaps her fingers as she says that.

Then Amelia, feeling a little dazzled in her eyes, turned her head in pursuit of the source of her light her.

There, standing as if guarding a huge statue, stood a figure clad in golden armor.

As if she, her ornaments were also her, holding a holy sword split into seven in her hand.

He was standing there without moving at all.

“This is the world of reality. It’s a little strange that there is such a distinction in the gap between the two dimensions, but the real me, right now, guards that statue without any will. It’s in a state of separation. Because of ‘Nemea’s request.”

“Nemea…”

It was definitely a name that Cleon had spoken about before.

“I made a contract with Nemea. In exchange for lending her her power to protect the world and the stars. A contract to allow ‘Lilith’ to exist forever in this space.”

In this space, which is clearly a two-dimensional gap, two human beings needed a corresponding means to protect themselves from erosion.

If that’s the case – could that statue be Lilith?

“And. This is a space that is deeply connected to Nemea. So, it is originally forbidden for outsiders to enter. No matter how small it is. If you arrive here alive, you will fight with me. Just like last time.”

“…Like last time?”

“Huh? Ah. No, it’s our story, so don’t worry about it.”

Lecia covers her mouth as if she made a slight mistake in her words.

“But… How did I come here?”

“Yeah… Maybe. That’s when Cleon used the power of the holy sword to blow away the parasitic demons in your body. In the aftermath, your mind was separated from your body. The source of the holy sword that child possesses is ‘ It’s the ‘key that opens the passage’. It must have been unintentional.”

Amelia blinks in surprise at her words her.

“Ah. But don’t worry. When your body is healed, you’ll be able to go back to normal. In a way, you can say that I came here by great coincidence.”

“Yeah, that’s right…”

As Amelia talks with Lesia, she senses that she is somewhere in her, similar to Cleon—but more of a conversationalist.

Unlike Lubera, who maintains a slightly stiff attitude, and Cleon, who treats Amelia as a child who needs to be protected somewhere, and who is a little shy.

She didn’t particularly look down on Amelia as a child, and she didn’t even give up. No, she could be called considerate.

And in her subconscious her, at the part where she calls Cleon ‘that child’, Amelia unknowingly flinches and reacts.

She didn’t quite look like that…But she was in her early thirties when she was blown into her other-dimensional chasm.

Even after that, she didn’t know how much time she would have spent in this chasm.

She looks like she’s in her mid-twenties now.

If you look at her a bit young, even though she is in her late teens, she was a believable good-looking person.

“So – as for how I know Amelia.”

Lesia continues her story as if bringing back Amelia, whose thoughts run wild after meeting Lesia, back to reality.

“…Until now. I’ve been watching that child’s adventures. I guess.”

She turned her head away with a somewhat forlorn expression somewhere.

Amelia didn’t know where her gaze her was going.

Perhaps, that end may be the place where Cleon is.

“Me and Cleon… Are strongly connected. That’s it. At the level of the soul. I’m the one who killed Cleon’s previous life. And, Cleon is the one who was led by me and restored the light to his soul.”

She clenched her fists and placed them on her own chest.

“That’s why. I was able to watch that child even in the gap of another dimension that transcended time and space like this.”

“…Cleon-san, you always received Lesia-sama’s protection.”

Cleon’s adventures so far, and the reason he was able to somehow survive without dying might be because Lesia was protecting him.

When Amelia thought so, Lesia shook her head as if it were a little different.

“God bless you… Yeah. It’s a little different. I really had no choice but to watch. As a defender of the world, an opponent of ‘destruction’, I can only use that power to protect Nemea. It’s a pity , but… Here It is impossible to lend power to Cleon.”

Lesia seemed a little resentful, and made her clenched fist even stronger.

“When Cleon’s heart was almost eaten by the darkness. When Talchek died. When everyone was forgotten by the great devil. When he fell into the rift of another dimension… And then, Amelia, when he fought the black crystal demon that tried to rule you. At that time, I thought over and over again how great it would have been if I could have helped.”

Lesia puts her hands down with her wry smile.

She just shook her head as if she couldn’t help it.

“But. Cleon got through it all, on his own. He got his hands on everything-sword skills and magic, but with more important things.”

“…”

Amelia nods her head at her story her.

“And. Ever since he met you, Amelia, you’ve been watching too.”

“Me, me?”

Amelia’s face her blushed in embarrassment at Lesia’s sudden story of her.

“Yes. I was a comrade who fought alongside Aurelia during the war. And I still vividly remember infiltrating the camp to rescue your mother. So, I was surprised when I found out that you were her daughter. I was surprised to see Cleon grow up. When I was watching, I didn’t really feel the passage of time.”

It was her shock when she found out that she and someone her age had given birth to her child and that the child was over 10 years old, Lecia said.

“What kind of heart did you have and how hard you worked for this world. And how hard it must have been. …To say that I understand all of that may be a bit presumptuous.”

“That, that! For me, Lesia-sama just said that…”

Amelia was about to say that, but she could hear that her hand was raised with a ‘knock’ above her head.

“…You did your best. Amelia. Really, for a lot.”

“Sss… Uh… Uh… Yes…”

The longed-for object that saved the world acknowledged himself.

Although she wasn’t Amelia, who wielded a hammer and fought demons to gain recognition.

Even so, there was nothing else that made me happy.

“If it’s you, you can definitely do many more things with Cleon. Please, continue to be with him.”

“…Yes Yes…!”

Amelia nods her head broadly and smiles at Lecia.

Lecia smiled at Amelia, then she said, “Ah!” She put her hands on her hips as if she had remembered something, and she pretended to be serious.

“But! Until your body grows properly, you can’t do that with Cleon!”

“…Yes?”

When Amelia’s thoughts her fail to keep up with her sudden words her and she blinks, Lecia lets out a sigh while resting her chin with one hand.

“That child. It’s good that he grew up to be a great adventurer… Should I say that heroes like colors? No, should I say that colors like heroes? Every woman I meet has a relationship like that…”

“Ah, uh… Uh, that’s right…”

Feeling something in her, her shame her, Amelia lowered her head.

In her visions of the Frost Queen’s realm she had seen before, her face blushed as she recalled the relationship she and Cleon had had.

She thought that Cleon and herself would have a relationship like that… It was a story that could only be fulfilled in fantasy, so it was considered unrealistic.

It was then.

Whiik, the wind blows once again.

When Amelia stumbles, Lesia grabs her arm her and supports her.

“Go, thank you.”

“Yeah. I guess it’s about time.”

Then, he pulled it towards Amelia’s own side of her, and lifted it up like a princess hug.

“Le, Lesia-sama!? What!?”

“It’s time to go back to the real world. Tell Cleon I’m doing well. And- if you can…”

The wind that blew even stronger after that, and Amelia couldn’t hear it properly.

“Understand?”

“Yes, yes!?”

Then, Lesia took her steps as she was.

Whiik, he throws Amelia.

“Wow!?”

Unlike before, the strong gravity pulls her body downward.

The moment her body her, which had been falling forever and ever, touched the light that appeared beneath her before she knew it…

Courage! With a groan, Amelia opened her eyes.

“…Ugh…”

The situation where her body is sore, she is in the first room she sees, and she notices that she has rolled off the bed.

Amelia slowly raised her body her.

“This place…”

At that time, the sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway, squeaking… Squealing, as they approach.

Amelia hastily climbs back onto her bed and leans back against her back to calm herself.

… Even though she must have slept for a few days, her mind went wild, and she looked out the window for no reason.

And—as the door opens, Amelia slowly turns her head toward the visitor.

“Ah, Cleon.”

001

Amelia told Cleon everything about her meeting her with Lesia, except for the part her about her falling out of bed.

Of course, the story related to ‘such and such’ was cut.

After hearing her story of her, Cleon cautiously asked Amelia.

“Yeah… The last ‘if possible’ part is…”

“Sorry, I thought that part was probably the most important.”

“No. It can’t be helped that I didn’t hear it. Thanks for telling me this story, Amelia.”

Cleon bows her head to her.

Then, when Amelia saw Cleon like that…

She carefully reached out and rubbed her hand over Cleon’s head.

“…Amelia?”

Amelia, who suddenly stroked herself, flinched at Cleon’s words her! Then, he removed her hand from her.

“I’m sorry! Cleon… I think I’m tired somewhere…”

At her words her, Cleon raised her head and rubbed her own eyes with her finger.

“…No, it’s okay. What I’m more worried about is you.”

Cleon’s words her remind Amelia of her own situation her, which she had forgotten for a while.

She, who used to be a confined princess, is now being pursued in the royal capital.

Even if the false accusation was cleared, it would be difficult to overturn the fact that the perception of the people of the kingdom had gone to the worst.

Maybe- if you think that you might not be able to step on the land of the kingdom for the rest of your life.

Amelia can’t help but shrug her shoulders, a little downcast.

“…Because I’ve done terrible things to everyone. …Not being able to go back may be a natural punishment.”

Even if it was not his will, it is true that the devil who borrowed his body did such a thing.

However, Cleon talks while holding Amelia’s hand.

“It’s okay. Amelia. I’ll make sure… I’ll take you back to the capital.”

Amelia lowered her head for a moment at Cleon’s words and looked at his hand her holding her own her.

“Thank you, Cleon. I, to Cleon, no matter how much I thank you, I think it’s not enough.”

“…I couldn’t protect you in the end, that’s the story-“

At Cleon’s words, Amelia rarely raises her voice her.

“It’s not so!”

“… Amelia.”

“… Cleon sacrificed himself for me and was pierced by a knife instead… He helped me and saved me many times. That’s why. I want to be of Cleon’s help too. …Even when I go to find Lesia -sama.”

As Amelia said so, she looked at Cleon’s face her.

And, he smiles quietly.

“…I’m fine. I promised. I will never, ever break it.”

“I’m sorry…”

Cleon looked at the girl’s smile and felt something heavy on his chest her.

Yes, this child does not despair easily and does not blame others.

She is the kind of girl who thinks that if there is something she lacks, it is her own mistakes her and what she needs to fix is ​​herself.

To the girl who pushed herself like that, he thought that he might have made an absurd promise, and the self-blame weighed down Cleon.

However. Because of that, Cleon wears to protect her all the more.

She said that she would never let her heart her, like a pure white armor, be dyed black again.

Cleon, hesitantly, reached Amelia’s hand her toward her head her.

Then, he quietly stroked her hair.

“Uh, Cleon…?”

“…It’s a reward from earlier. Amelia… You, did everything you could. …That’s not something anyone can do. Not even me or Lesia.”

“…”

When Cleon spoke like that, Amelia blinked her eyes, and soon after, tears flowed from the corners of her eyes her eyes.

“Uh, uh. …Heh, me… Why… Huh…”

Then, as something beyond her control her continues to erupt, Amelia uses both of her hands to wipe her own eyes.

Soon, her tears didn’t stop, and Amelia opened her mouth and let out her voice.

Cleon held her carefully in his arms her, protecting her so that her voice her would n’t spill out of her room.

In the moonlit eastern country, Asteris.

It was raining out of season.