Chapter 820 – Last Wish (Part 2)

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Apart from Nayuta’s sacrifice, he was able to stop others before they got caught up in Rakshasa’s rampage and a huge tragedy occurred.

In order for the souls of Nayuta and Rakshasa to find rest, they needed to be together.

Nayuta died with the desire to protect Rakshasa, and Rakshasa died with the desire to protect Nayuta, and that must have been her strongest thought.

How nice it would have been if the two of them had been together forever.

However, tragedy came suddenly.

Because an incident occurred where the tree that had grown surrounding the two people was cut down.

The Oberti family, at the instigation of the Enlai family, intended to revive Rakshasa for their own purposes.

In the process, trees were cut down, and the trees were used to make Rakshasa masks.

However, when this was discovered by Gaius, the family was cursed and magic power was no longer released from the spiritual veins where their family lived.

Unable to survive in a barren land where no life could grow, the Oberti family fell down the stairs and ended up living in a situation where people avoided them.

Just before the fall of the Oberti family, the Rakshasa mask made contained only the soul of the Rakshasa rescued from that tree.

Nayuta’s soul was treated as an ‘unnecessary part’, torn to pieces and thrown away.

When the tree, which could be said to be a vessel, disappeared, Nayuta’s soul was liberated within it, but it became a dead body without even a proper self.

As with other souls, some were absorbed into the spirit vein, and some ended up wandering this world.

Rakshasa was separated from Nayuta and sealed in Oberti’s warehouse, and the two were so far apart that they could not feel each other.

Hundreds of years later, in a state where it would not be strange if one of the two turned into a ghost.

While Rakshasa’s thoughts were slowly getting worse, wondering if we would never be able to meet again.

As the magic power accumulated in the spirit vein of the sacred tree, more and more ghosts began to appear.

Someone searched the Oberti family’s warehouse and, thanks to someone wearing the Rakshasa mask, the Rakshasa soul was given a body and released into the world.

Someone summoned a strong ghost and used a spirit with strong thoughts to eliminate the protagonist of the exorcism.

And there was a magic tool that somehow gathered and united those strong residual thoughts.

Some of Nayuta’s soul was gathered in the sacred tree, some in the spirit vein, and some in the dominant cylinder.

The common perception among Asteris people is that the largest firecracker that explodes with the magic power of the sacred tree is ‘the belief that wishes will come true’—

In other words, it resonated with the ‘belief’ in the sacred tree and the five elements, and Nayuta’s wish was truly granted.

Her wish is to go back to the time when we were together, even if it meant turning back time.

After so many coincidences and so many twists and turns, Nayuta and Rakshasa, borrowing each other’s bodies, came together here, in one place.

＂… Bird, the accident wasn’t as big as I thought. ＂

Noctis sighed as if she was relieved, and looked at Cleon and Tokoyo, who were quietly leaning against each other… – No, at Raksha and Nayuta.

I was thinking of Tokoyo saying that if Nayuta really became a nobleman who couldn’t control herself and went on a rampage, the barrier they were in might disappear.

＂… Aisha?＂

However, Aisha shows no reaction to Nayuta’s reassuring voice and just stands still and looks at the two people.

Aisha Oberti.

The last survivor of the Oberti family, which had completely collapsed, a girl who was cursed by Gaius and born as a noblewoman.

To see two people who had been robbed of their rest because of the sins committed by her ancestors meet again and be happy.

She thinks of herself as a historical figure, and the sins of her family, which she was aware of but did not truly feel, weigh heavily on her heart.

It is said that ‘Oberti’ took away their final rest and happiness.

She was so disgusted by her ancestor’s evil deeds that she hid her mouth because it made her feel sick.

While Aisha is weighed down by guilt, Nayuta slowly rises from the swamp of emotion she had with Rakshasa and looks around her.

The familiar main hall may have undergone a few renovations, but the space hasn’t changed that much.

The girl who became a vessel in which she could enter and feel warmth – Tokoyo’s body.

Nayuta was in her body, and she let out a small sigh as if she had read all of her memories.

“In today’s Asteris, the damage caused by ghosts is to this extent…”

“It’s not just that. There are also some called the Exile Church. They are trying to destroy this Asteris.”

＂And Gaius used his power to save a girl and chose to disappear himself… This is the worst situation without a guardian for this land. ＂

To Nayuta’s words, the Rakshasa shook her head slightly and responded.

＂No, there are guardians. Including Cleon and Tokoyo, who lent their bodies to us. Countless people – although the power of each person may be small compared to Gaius. Even without Gaius, we are trying to protect this world with only human power.”

The Rakshasa saw many things while it was in Cleon’s body.

Each person had their own mission, some were running away from their complicated fate, while others were obeying.

However, the Rakshasa came to believe that the relationship they built after meeting Cleon would become the spark that would protect Asteris.

So, while inside him, he gave up control of Cleon’s body, thinking that it would be okay to leave the fight against the Exiled Church to those living in the present.

“So, Nayuta. Now it’s time for us to go to the back of the stage.”

When the Raksha said that, Nayuta looked at the Raksha for a moment and then nodded slightly.

“… Huh. I know. The fact is that it is not good to stay in this world forever. The souls of the dead go to the world of the dead. But─ I wanted to meet Rakshasa again, just one last time.”

She herself probably knows that turning back time is unforgivable.

Even though it is said to be the work of a thought body in a state where desire is stronger than will.

＂Something. You’ve become a little more mature. Rakshasa.”

“Yes, hundreds of years will pass.”

The Raksha shrugged her shoulders and answered Nayuta, and Nayuta smiled as if she was somewhat proud of the Raksha.

“… But I think there’s something I can do before I go.”

And when she turned her gaze, she would make eye contact with Aisha, who was still looking at them with vague eyes.

In Nayuta’s eyes, there was a light that seemed to see through everything about what kind of person Aisha was.

“Poor child. Suffering now because of the sins of our ancestors is so cruel.”

While saying that, Nayuta slowly walked closer to her.

＂Eh. Why this way!? “

Noctis steps back from Nayuta as if he is troubled by such behavior, but Aisha does not back down and stands there. She thinks that Nayuta will take out her resentment on her, so she just stands there.

In order not to hear her hand shaking slightly, she held her wrist with her other hand.

When Nayuta placed her hand on the barrier surrounding them, the barrier passed through her hand without any resistance.

And what her hand was pointing at was Aisha’s forehead.

“Don’t be scared. If Gaius punished us for our sake, even if I forgive him, he won’t be able to complain.”

Nayuta said that while smiling a little mischievously.

Nayuta closed her eyes and searched for the curse of demon fire contained within her. Soon, Nayuta unleashed her power of purification and began to wash away the curse of demon fire from within Aisha.

The warm light that fills the inside with her heart gently flows out and surrounds Aisha.

It was her first sensation.

Aisha felt the sensation of something heavy slowly falling out of her body.

And when she opened her eyes again, the curse of demon fire no longer remained on Aisha’s body.

Inside her body, her evil curse, which had tormented her and deformed her body, fell away and-

In fact, in Nayuta’s hand was a mask that seemed to resemble a female ghost that has been handed down since ancient times.

＂… Should we do it with the curse Gaius created? I just took the curse out of my body, but it took on such a distinct form.”

As Nayuta herself looked at her mask in her own hand in a bit of surprise, Aisha shrugged her shoulders and fell to her knees.

＂Eeh…!?＂

When Nayuta was embarrassed by Aisha’s appearance and didn’t know what to do, Aisha lowered her head and asked.

＂Why…? The Oberti family committed an unforgivable atrocity against you…”

She doesn’t know why she is showing her mercy, Aisha asks.

Then, Nayuta smiled slightly and answered with her hands on her head.

“I think I have already received enough punishment. And – you are a child who knows how to sacrifice herself for her comrades. It would be too harsh to continue to bear such a heavy curse on a child like that.”

Aisha let Cleon in and chose to be sealed in order to end this loop.

Apparently, she even read Tokoyo’s memories of the story she heard from Cleon.

“It would have been nice if I could purify all nobles… But is this much possible now?”

As Nayuta said that, she took her hand away from her and returned to her Rakshasa’s side.

“If you don’t leave here before the fireworks start.”

As she said that, she held both of her hands together with the Rakshasa.

“Ah. And the two people there?”

When Nayuta calls out to Noctis and Aisha, the two raise her head and make eye contact with her.

“Tell this to Tokoyo, the owner of this body. Witchcraft is the power of the mind. If there is hesitation in your mind, you will not be able to do everything. And, our shaman’s magic is…”

She spoke proudly, taking a deep breath and placing her hands on both of her waist.

“It’s a spell that makes you stronger through the power of love.”

At Nayuta’s declaration, Noctis blushed slightly, but Aisha nodded her head as if she understood.

If it’s her two people, I’ll tell her properly.

Thinking like that, Nayuta lets out a small sigh of relief and looks back at the Rakshasa standing next to her.

“… Then. Take me away This time, we can never be apart – to a place where we can be together forever.”

As Nayuta said that, the Rakshasa carefully placed her hand on her face.

“Ah. … Without anyone’s curse or interference. To a place where we can be together forever.”

As Nayuta gently closes her eyes, the Rakshasa carefully brings her face closer to Nayuta and kisses her on the lips of her beloved lover.

When the power of the Rakshasa gently enveloped the two, the souls of the Rakshasa and Nayuta slowly fell away from their bodies, and Tokoyo’s changed body began to return to its original state.

For a moment, if you think that the lonely yet warm magical wind has stayed in that place-

Soon, the barrier surrounding Noctis and Aisha disappeared, and at the same time, the presence of Nayuta and Rakshasa also disappeared from that spot.

─And…

＂… Umm… Huh…?＂

The first to come to his senses was Tokoyo.

She noticed that something was covering her own mouth, and her eyes widened as if she realized something was strange-

With her eyes closed, she looked at Cleon’s face as he kissed her, and in an instant her face turned as red as a heated kettle.

＂W-what are you doing!!＂

Paang! As a cheerful sound rang out, the blow that brought Cleon to his senses was given as a gift.