Chapter 946 – Like the Stars of the Night Sea

000

＂It doesn’t open…＂

As the girl says that, she rubs the stone gate with the mural on it again with her hand.

The door that was standing in front of them had opened obediently when Vivian told it to open earlier, but when they tried to open it from this side, it wouldn’t budge.

Kuon, who had exhausted his stamina from walking down the long stairs, took some rest and tried to move his feet to follow the group that had gone ahead.

However, the stone gate blocking the path she had to take did not open even if she tried to push it with her strength, search with magic, or imitate Vivian’s vocal cords, but instead stood still.

＂Not Doorwood…, Mr. Doorlock! Please open it!”

Once again, Kuon turned to the door and spoke like that, but no face appeared at the door, no voice or answer came back, and he just stood there in silence.

＂Haa… I’m in trouble. If this is the case, should we just stay here and wait for those who went before to return?”

＂Maybe so…＂

Kuon frowned a little as she placed her hand on one of her cheeks, and Nagi nodded her head at Kuon’s words.

“We came here to train, but we’re the only ones left outside like this…”

“Sorry, Nagi. Because of me…”

When Kuon stayed here due to his low stamina, he bowed his head, feeling sorry for Nagi, who stayed with him and was divided.

Then, Nagi was so surprised by Kuon’s words that she shook her face.

“Oh, no, no! It’s not Kuon’s fault! It was mine that decided to stay with Kuon, so you don’t have to apologize!”

＂Thank you…＂

After apologizing to Nagi for comforting him, it was Kuon who expressed gratitude.

In any case, unless this door opens, you can’t move forward.

Still, it was a strange story to just sit here and spend time.

At least, if you don’t do something productive.

As Kuon thought so, he pondered for a bit and then looked at Nagi and spoke.

“Yes. If you have any questions, I’ll answer them. It may or may not be in a temple. Instead of training, how about a class…?”

＂Are you okay? You don’t have to find a separate way to move forward.”

“It’s a little disappointing, but it’s okay. More than that, we haven’t had many opportunities to talk together like this.”

When Kuon said that and gave a small smile, Nagi nodded as if doing as Kuon said.

Nagi is an apprentice shaman who trains.

And Kuon is an honored guest of the temple who can be treated on an equal footing with the great shaman.

When Nagi meets Kuon, it is usually when she comes to her shrine and shows her the way to her main temple, or when she does some pastime under the direction of Tokoyo, who was training her Kuon. It’s probably like when you’re running errands.

Even though they were in the same space, there were fewer opportunities for the two people to talk separately than expected.

Then, Nagi will think a little.

There were many things I wanted to ask Kuon.

How can she become a shrine maiden like Kuon? From the same formal questions to slightly snobbish questions, such as how she can have a body like Kuon’s, which is a concern that a girl of that age would have.

Or-

Among the memories that pass through Nagi’s head related to the Kuon within her, there is one that is a bit special.

A scene where Kuon and Cleon are walking together, looking at each other and smiling kindly.

I knew they were lovers, so there was nothing strange – but looking at that scene, Nagi felt a little envious.

I still don’t really understand what love is or what dating is.

When I look at Kuon’s happy face, I have a faint hope that such a day will come to me one day.

As her cheeks turned cherry blossom color without her knowledge, Nagi carefully clenched her fist and asked Kuon.

＂Um, um… Kuon, how did you get to know Cleon?＂

＂Eeh!? What, is that what she’s asking?”

When Kuon was asked an unexpected question, she was embarrassed and thought, “Hmm…” And was a little worried.

“Was it a difficult question?”

＂No… Should I say it’s difficult or embarrassing? I’ve known Cleon for about 4 years now…”

＂4 years!?＂

Nagi raised her voice as if she was surprised by Kuon’s words.

“Oh, sorry. 4 years haven’t passed yet, it’s only 3 years and a few months. Although it has been more than half a year.”

“Are you saying it’s shorter than 4 years…? I think they have been together for over 10 years because they have a good relationship with each other…”

“Yeah, really? Ahaha…”

The very comment that she liked her geumjutsu made her smile shyly and put her hand behind her head, as if she didn’t like it.

“The person I’ve known for over 10 years was different, but…”

Kuon says that with a bit of bitterness.

Nagi looks at Kuon’s expression and is worried that there is something she doesn’t want to talk about.

On the other hand, Kuon must have read Nagi’s eyes and shakes her head, and she begins to tell her the story of her meeting with Cleon.

“The reason I stayed with Cleon was in Elesia, a country town in a kingdom a little far away from here. After leaving my hometown and having just debuted as an adventurer, I was looking for a party to go on an adventure with…”

If you think about it, that fateful day that completely changed her life and destiny –

At the time, I couldn’t even imagine that our relationship would become so tightly intertwined.

001

How much time has passed?

At first, Kuon was going to end the story about her and Cleon’s past by simply answering Nagi’s questions, but as they talked-

No, because Nagi was listening with so much interest, he unconsciously forgot the right time to stop, and ended up telling the story of his breakdown and reunion with Cleon.

＂… Like that. Cleon stopped Albain and had him arrested by the kingdom.”

After talking about everything up to that point, I unconsciously say ‘Hot’ and come to my senses and look at Nagi’s expression.

Because she, in that story, was such an ugly woman.

Because she couldn’t make excuses and was even aware of it, Nagi kept her mouth shut, thinking that there was nothing she could do even if she was disappointed, and Nagi spoke to Kuon like that.

＂Such a past for Cleon and Kuon… It was a story that we cannot imagine now.＂

“Yeah… Right? Should I say it’s all thanks to Cleon…”

As Kuon said that, he scratched his cheek as if he was a little embarrassed.

＂So, Kuon, you have been on an adventure with Cleon. In order for Master Cleon to forgive Master Kuon and to repay the favor of saving him from Albaine.”

“Huh. Yes. I-“

To Nagi’s words, Kuon nodded and tried to answer, but was a little speechless.

It was clear that he had a debt to repay to Cleon.

But, it’s definitely not just that.

Even though he was like that, Cleon showed him affection.

And, Cuon himself knew very well that a certain feeling – an arrow of irresistible passion called ‘love’ – was pointing towards Cleon.

But even if he didn’t have the grace he received from Cleon, or even if he didn’t love him-

… Even if he had been a simple party member with whom he got along well, he would have remained in this party and acted with them.

Maybe, it really could be ‘just by chance’.

If you stay with Cleon, you will eventually share his fate.

But – in that fate, he was clear about what he had to do.

Together with Cleon, stop the rule of evil will that is trying to spread in this world, and follow through to the end what you think is right.

It’s not a noble sense of justice or anything like that.

‘Quon, you must take good care of Alvain.’

Because I already know full well what it is like to live a life of coercion and lack of freedom.

Because it was clear that it was something I had to do in order to never go back to the way I was back in those days.

Therefore, he would have fought by Cleon’s side against the Exiled Church and Adam.

“… Clearly, the trigger may have been Cleon.”

That’s why he stopped nodding at Nagi’s words and instead shook his head horizontally.

“But it’s different now. Even if my existence is rejected by Cleon, even if he ceases to be my lover. I will adventure with them and fight against the Exiled Church and Adam until the end.”

It was a great sense of purpose within her, as much as the biggest purpose of atonement to Cleon.

Kuon himself was able to realize this only after organizing his thoughts in sentences in front of Nagi.

＂… So even more… Originally, I might have had to go in there and build up my strength. ＂

As Kuon said that, he looked at her stone gate.

As expected, his expression seemed like he couldn’t erase his regret.

It was that time.

＂… Then, I ask.＂

Another voice rang out in the entrance space where there had been only two people until now.

Since the voice was not as high as Nagi or Kuon, it was obvious that it was not the voice of those two.

Then Kuonnagi would be startled and raise her body and look at the door.

＂Bah, what I just did-＂

As Kuon spoke, unable to hide his embarrassment as she gulped and swallowed, her voice rang out once again.

“Do you have a goal to overcome or someone you want to catch up with?”

＂…!＂

And soon she realized that the voice she heard was the stone gate blocking her in front of her.

＂… By any chance, Mr. Door Lock…?＂

When Kuon cautiously looked towards the door and asked, a human face appeared in the door, just as when Vivian had spoken.

It was the face of a stern old man, a little more grim than the face of Doorwood that had appeared in the throne room.

Perhaps that facial expression also represents personality.

“The reason I did not respond to your call was because I judged that you had nothing to gain by coming in.”

The door lock was still talking while looking at Kuon with a frown.

“There’s nothing to gain… What does that mean?”

Kuon asked back as if he didn’t quite understand Moon’s explanation, and Doorlock slowly continued speaking to answer her question.

“This place is ‘mainly’ used by the Fairy King to increase his power when he is newly crowned, but its original name is ‘Labyrinth of Overcoming’. It is a ‘simulator-type training center’ that existed even before the human world and the Fairy Village were cut off.”

＂Poetry, simulation?＂

When Nagi was confused by the sudden, incomprehensible words, Doorlock silenced her for a moment and then explained again.

“In other words, it is a place that matches the will of the visitor and helps them develop the abilities they want to develop.” However, in order to prepare for training for him, it was necessary to read a ‘strong image’ from the person to be trained.”

For example, Lila had the desire to know more about fairy magic, as well as the unconscious expectation that if Hero Lesia’s party visited here, there might be something related to Sage Sophia. Maybe.

Luckily, just as Lila thought, Sophia had visited this place before and deciphered the same grimoire that Lila had read.

So, her training was easier to prepare than she thought.

“But. From them – I could vaguely feel the will to become a better version of myself than I am now. “I couldn’t clearly understand what direction I wanted to take it in.”

Doorlock says so and looks at Kuon.

“Even if you go inside, all that greets you is a long, boring passage. In order not to send you to that place, I did not respond to your call.”

The person you want to become, someone you want to surpass, someone you want to catch up with, someone you admire.

It was meaningless to go in without such an image.

“But if you – of your own will. If you can envision a vision for becoming a better version of yourself. I will open the door for you.”

This is probably the first trial.

Unlike others who have thrown themselves into struggle, Nagi realizes that he has lived in a somewhat peaceful place.

Because of his kindness, Kuon did not have a clear image of ‘enemies to be defeated’ or ‘walls to be overcome’.

The two think for a moment about the words they received from the door lock.

And then, he nodded as if he understood.

Thanks to his words, I was able to picture it in my head.

A young shaman dreams.

She becomes a full-fledged shrine maiden like Tokoyo, and brings peace to Asteris and the people of the Eastern countries.’

And- the girl who walked behind him, as if being led by the magic swordsman, thinks.

Cleon had a clear goal.

Just as a navigator sailing the sea at night uses the stars in the sky as a guide to reach his destination.

For Cleon, a being called ‘Lesia’ became his star and guided him.

If so-

If you too want to go to the same place.

As a priest and a saint.

There will be something you must aim for and overcome.

＇Esca Tology…＇

In the past, he was a hero who traveled with Lesia and defeated the empire, and is currently the Pope of the Church of the Protection of Saints.

And once, a person who was Cleon’s family.

… Furthermore, she even hurt Cleon once.

As her Kuon, that alone was reason enough to surpass her.

Then, the door lock speaks while looking into the eyes of the two people.

“I will acknowledge the will of the two people and the fighting spirit that exists within them.”

With those last words, the face disappears.

Instead, the stone gate blocking his view opened, showing the path leading inside.

Without deciding who should go first, Kuon and Nagi looked at each other and then started walking.

No matter what was waiting inside – now I was prepared not to hesitate.