Chapter 818 – Last Wish (Part 1)

000

When Aisha’s light came into her eyes, she thought her own seal had been broken.

Since she fell asleep thanks to Cleon’s magic, her vague sense of body remembered the gentle touch of the tree trunk surrounding her.

The warm energy, like a mother’s embrace, that I had long since forgotten made me think that perhaps staying here for the rest of my life might not be bad for me.

It was the inside of someone who accepted me without discrimination and without rejection.

But suddenly, when that sensation ended, and what surrounded her changed to something far from calm, the cold night air, the heat of the festival, and the loud voices of people walking among them, she slowly opened her eyes. It took off.

Once again, she was in her original place and slowly turned her head towards the clock.

This is to confirm that the time has returned to the same time as last time, with not even a minute difference.

＂… Why…?＂

─, She would say reflexively.

That’s because Cleon found a way to end this loop through a conversation with Lila, and in order to execute it, she was sealed.

Could it be that things went wrong and couldn’t be resolved even after entering the temple?

… If they can’t solve it in the temple, will they never be able to be released from this prison of time?

As those thoughts continued to arise, and her head began to ache, Aisha suddenly heard her name being called and turned around.

Then, Noctis and Cleon were approaching there waving their hands.

＂Aisha!＂

＂Thank goodness, even if you are sealed in the temple, you are affected by time reversal.＂

After hearing Noctis’ words, Aisha wondered if she could say that was a good thing, but Cleon spoke.

“Sorry. I decided to go back on my own.”

＂… According to Cleon’s will?＂

Just as he had told Noctis, Cleon heard from Tokoyo that it would be difficult to unseal her, and thought that it would be better for her to go back to before she was sealed.

Once again, she was conveying the fact that time had gone backwards.

＂So… Because of me…?＂

“… Of course. You’re a colleague who worked hard to get out of this loop together, right? We are. It is unacceptable for even one person to fall in and escape.”

Cleon said this as if it were obvious, and then took out something that looked like an amulet from his bag.

There are usually symbols or letters with magical meaning written on them, so the average person would not be able to tell what they were written on.

What is written here is written in a handwriting that can be read normally by anyone who has studied the writings of Eastern countries.

＂… This?＂

＂It’s like a pass to enter the temple. If we have this, the three of us can go in together without Aisha being sealed.”

Aisha was impressed when she saw Cleon saying that he had asked for it from Tokoyo before going back in the previous timeline.

“… You are completely familiar with the law of time reversal. Mr. Cleon.”

“I know. It wasn’t my intention, but after experiencing it many times.”

Cleon scratched his head as he spoke and put the precious pass back into his bag.

“… Then. This time, let’s go together as a group. Inside the temple – We will free Nayuta and get out of this prison.”

Aisha and Noctis nodded to his words and then walked towards the base of the huge sacred tree that stood not far away.

001

＂… Confirmed. Well then, let’s go inside.”

As the guard guarding the entrance to the temple said this, he bowed his waist and removed the crossed spear.

Last time, they were adamant about not letting you in by crossing the window, but if you use the method that applies within the rules, they too will obediently get out of the way.

The guards looked suspicious when they saw the amulet they received from Cleon, but they knew it was a problem they could not handle on their own, so they immediately called her shaman to respond.

At first, Cleon was also worried that if Tokoyo saw this talisman, he would throw it away, saying that he had no memory of using something like this.

It seems like it was unfounded.

“… Then follow me.”

And, the one guiding them is Nagi, who also guided Cleon in the previous timeline.

Could it be that she is more free than other shamans?

I couldn’t express such rude thoughts in my mouth, so I kept quiet.

“I was surprised. While the Great Shaman was performing the purification ceremony, she made an appointment to meet someone else. No matter how much you are the protagonist of the exorcism, something like this has never happened in the past.”

Cleon answers Nagi, who talks like that while walking.

“Because she had a reason to meet somehow.”

“─Is it because of Kuon?”

Cleon thought for a moment about Nagi’s somewhat meaningful question.

It may have been true last time, but not this time.

Tokoyo will tell you to use yourself as Nayuta’s vessel, just like last time.

“No. It’s to meet Tokoyo. Really.”

In response to Cleon’s answer, Nagi closed her mouth once again and then quietly asked.

“Are the rumors going around the temple true?”

＂… Rumors of the temple?＂

When Cleon asks her what’s going on, she answers.

＂Actually, there is a rumor that the protagonist of the exorcism at the fortress temple is also dating Tokoyo… ＂

＂Haa?＂

Cleon reacts as if this is just nonsense, but Noctis, who was listening to the story behind him, stops him when he sees him follow his instinct and take out a notepad.

＂Ahaha…＂

Noctis smiles awkwardly and puts the notepad back as he looks at Cleon, who tells him not to even dream of becoming a knight.

＂I already know that Kuon-sama is related to another great priestess, and that the protagonist is Kuon-sama’s companion. It is said that such a relationship developed not only with Kuon-sama but also with Tokoyo-sama, the shrine maidens of the generation above me…”

＂… For your information, I… No, how old are you, shaman?＂

Cleon had almost called her by her name without her knowledge, but even though it was her promise from her previous time, her promise was a promise.

He quickly changed his vocabulary and asked her age.

“… I’m 12 years old.”

Cleon spoke to her, who seemed a little dissatisfied with her voice.

＂Then the older generation is… 14 to 15… It’s definitely the age when people are most interested in dating.”

Cleon answers while scratching his head.

＂Then, what is that rumor?＂

“It’s a complete rumor. If the rumor is true, it means that I am an adulterer.”

＂Why?＂

When Nagi tilted his head as if he really didn’t understand Cleon’s answer, Noctis was secretly giving him a tip from behind.

“… Polygamy is not illegal in Eastern countries.”

＂…＂

Cleon fell silent for a moment at Noctis’s words, then her expression became subtle, and she continued what she was planning to say to Nagi.

“Anyway, you can rest assured. Because I don’t have that kind of relationship with Tokoyo. It just feels like a friend or colleague.”

When Cleon says that, Nagi closes her mouth for a moment, then nods her head.

“… Is that so? If you say so, I am also relieved.”

Was he really worried about Tokoyo?

She nodded slightly at Cleon’s answer and seemed truly relieved.

＇Tokoyodo’s network is thick.’

When Cleon thought so, Nagi soon stopped at the same place as the last loop – at the entrance of the main temple.

＂… We have arrived. Tokoyo is inside.”

“Ah. Thank you. Shaman.”

When Cleon called Nagi like that, she would sigh and clear her throat.

＂… Ho, by any chance you don’t know who I am?＂

In response to her unexpected question, Cleon pauses, looks at her, and speaks as if asking what she is talking about.

＂Who… Is this the temple shaman that I always see? They told me not to call them by their names, so I just didn’t call them by their names.”

“Yeah, that’s right! As expected, you are the protagonist of the exorcism. I’m glad you remember the temple’s rules well.”

She pretended to be surprised by Cleon’s answer, then bowed her head and ran away.

＂…＂

Cleon was staring blankly at her back, and Noctis and Aisha were looking around as if they were amazed that they had come to the main hall of the temple for the first time.

Then─

＂Cleon? When you arrive, come inside quickly.”

A voice calling for Cleon was heard from inside the main hall, and Cleon and her companions flinched and started heading towards the place where the purification ceremony was being performed.

As soon as Aisha and Noctis arrived at the ceremony location, they were momentarily entranced by the sight of Kuon dancing a sacred dance.

In a place without music, Kuon was moving her steps, her eyes were half-open – completely taking in the voice of the divine tree. Her shrine maiden’s clothes were spread out like wings, with a subtle halo.

With her cloth and hair floating due to the flow of her magical power, it may be natural to be overwhelmed by her, as she looks like a goddess with her own mysterious powers.

It didn’t bother me at all that it was a provocative outfit, with her armpits exposed and the side of her breasts completely exposed.

“Thank you, Tokoyo. For letting me into the temple.”

“I don’t remember writing such a talisman, but it was definitely my handwriting, and it was the paper for my talisman. Where on earth did you get it? That is.”

Did Cleon need to meet himself to do that?

Tokoyo put one hand on his waist as if she was concerned about that part and looked as if she was shocked.

＂That’s… So to speak, it’s long. Tokoyo, you wrote it.”

“I? … Have you ever had a drink with me?”

If not, by brainwashing yourself?

Tokoyo, who looked even more suspicious of Cleon’s answer, Cleon waved his hand and explained the whole story.

This is the second time I’ve explained it to her, but it’s her words.

“… Indeed. If all that is true, then it must have been written by me.”

Tokoyo listens to Cleon’s explanation and nods her head as if she has no choice but to accept it.

“… I trust you this time too.”

“That’s right. It doesn’t make sense for Cleon to prepare such a fake and come here just to play a prank. Since this is a situation where I have no choice but to believe, all I can do is believe.”

Tokoyo says that and shrugs.

＂So – it is necessary to possess Kuon with the thoughts of Nayuta, the great shrine maiden of the past. You mean…?”

Tokoyo asks that question.

Cleon deliberately explained to Tokoyo that she left out the fact that she had told her that she would become a vessel.

If you say that, she says, ‘If it was me in the previous time, I can’t help it…’, And she thinks that she may accept it even if her true feelings are not like it.

One of the reasons may be that Cleon didn’t like the idea of ​​possessing Nayuta, either for Kuon or Tokoyo.

But-

“Didn’t I, in the previous timeline, say that I would become Nayuta’s vessel?”

＂…! “How did you know?”

When Tokoyoga asked herself that question, Cleon nodded, widening her eyes as if she was a little surprised.

“Well, it’s natural to be able to read one’s own thoughts. But Cleon doesn’t even talk about it, he’s such a soft person.”

She smiled slightly, shrugged her shoulders, and spoke to Cleon.

“Then let me say it again. That duty of accepting Nayuta into her body and becoming a vessel. I, the great shrine maiden, will take care of her.”

Tokoyo answers like that without any doubt or wavering in her resolve.

It was an expression of her brilliant determination that we saw in the last episode.