Chapter 947 – Like the Brilliant Sun in the Sky

000

It took a few seconds for Cleon to be shocked to see who had crashed into his leg.

When she suddenly came to her senses, she pulled her face away from herself and looked up.

The reason she was standing there was because she was a girl who seemed to be about 10 years younger than she had known.

Her red hair is tied with a black ribbon and falls in two braids.

A girl’s dress that looks a bit luxurious.

And, when her blue eyes looked up at Cleon, she was talking.

“I found Cleon! Now Cleon is the tagger!”

＂La, Laila…?＂

Even though that voice was young, it was that of a girl Cleon knew well.

Apparently, she and Cleon were playing hide-and-seek, and she was proud of capturing Cleon and gave him the job of tagger.

＂Guys! I found Cleon!”

＂Are you sure…?＂

When Lila shouts that, one of the doors in the house opens and another girl appears.

A girl with orange hair like the color of the sunset, with a slightly frightened expression on her face.

＂Sasha…＂

She also looked much younger than the woman Cleon was used to seeing – but when she appeared in front of her, looking at a similar age to Laila, Cleon felt dizzy for a moment.

“It’s true. It’s not a lie this time.”

“Everything, I’m glad. Last time, I was tricked by that…”

As Sasha said that, she carefully walked out of the room.

When Cleon looks at the two with a slightly blank expression and says nothing, Lila and Sasha look at each other for a moment and then talk to Cleon.

“What’s the matter? Cleon. Did you really forget the rules of hide and seek?”

“No… It’s not like that… What is this…”

While Cleon was confused and could not properly answer Lila’s question, Lila looked up at him with her arms crossed and spoke to Sasha.

＂It would be best to ask Kuon to cast a recovery spell! Let’s go find Kuon!”

＂Yes, yes!＂

After Lila said that, she took Cleon’s hand and led him to the sofa in her living room.

Then, they force them to bend their legs and make them sit there.

“Cleon is resting here! I’ll bring Kuon!”

＂No, wait… You don’t have to do that-＂

“I don’t want Mr. Cleon to be sick…”

At Lila’s words, Cleon still has a hard time accepting this situation, so he tries to calm her down by telling her to bring Cuon, but when she sees Sasha holding Cleon’s arm while she is crying, she is unable to say anything more.

In the end, Cleon had no choice but to sigh as he let the two go.

“… What on earth is going on… I was obviously playing tag with the rocks a while ago. Why are those guys suddenly this time…”

Let’s organize our thoughts one by one, step by step.

He ran around the endlessly repeating course, avoiding stones, and succeeded in escaping by understanding the structure of the course.

And the voice that had let him inside moved him, saying that this time it would be a more difficult ordeal.

I went through the door that told me to go in, and found myself standing in a house I had never seen before, and I met the two people from earlier.

Two people who have become younger…

Lila and Sasha. And I have a feeling that the Kuon they visited will probably be similar.

＂… You mean this is an ordeal…? “Seeing them younger?”

Cleon speaks as if he doesn’t understand.

If the goal is to develop one’s mental strength, it may be a bit persuasive.

[That’s right.]

＂Wow!?＂

When Cleon sighed and sat down on the sofa to cool his head for a while, a voice suddenly entered his head.

Cleon was surprised and raised his voice, but the voice continued as if he was not concerned about Cleon’s situation.

[This is the place to train yourself to control your desires.]

＂… My desire?＂

Let’s repeat what the voice said, and the voice continues.

[Okay. This world is a world created according to your desires.]

＂…＂

[How much can you resist your impulses here-]

“Is that possible?”

Bang! And Cleon raised his voice.

Of course.

It was clear that anyone would be angry if he said that the world his colleagues grew up in was the world he had hoped for.

Sometimes, there are people who make fun of or suspect that he is a lolicon, but that is just a joke, and no one would really think of Cleon as a ‘lolicon’.

… Maybe.

＂Change! This isn’t an ordeal or anything, it’s defamation!”

When Cleon raised his voice like that, his voice spoke quietly as if he was asking Cleon.

[… Are you giving up?]

＂…＂

[You said you didn’t like the ordeal and asked to change it to something else. Hero Lesia did not do that.]

Cleon had no choice but to sit there speechless for a moment at those words that seemed as if they were provoking him.

[If you give up here, I will send you back to the entrance of this labyrinth. But you won’t be able to come back in. Because you have already given up on this ordeal once. It will never be possible to do what Lesia did.]

Once again, silence flows between the two.

Cleon seemed to be thinking for a moment about what to say to the voice in his head, and then he sighed.

[What are you going to do? Take your pick. Should I stay and continue the ordeal? Or should I just leave like this?]

＂… Kuh… Okay. You can do it…!”

As Cleon answered, he stood up from the chair he was sitting on.

“… So? How on earth can I pass this ordeal?”

[It’s simple. Your young companions embodied in this… All of them-]

＂… Power on?＂

[You just have to let him sleep.]

“──Ha? “That’s all?”

[That’s all…]

When given a task that was completely different from what he had imagined, Cleon’s brain stopped once again.

It was because they asked about temptation and gave the assignment in a completely different direction.

It was that time.

＂I brought Kuon! Even the kids I met along the way!”

At the sound of Lila’s voice coming from the door, Cleon reflexively turned around.

Then, there are Lila, Sasha, and of course-

Kuon, Amelia, Aruru, Rubera, Iona, Bea, Herti, Illenu…

＂What…＂

As he watched the women rushing in, Cleon felt goosebumps running down his spine and cold sweat breaking out.

[Do you understand now? What you have to deal with is every child there. Of course, it’s your karma.]

Even though they are young, these children still have traces of themselves to the point where they know who is who.

They were gathered at the entrance, looking at Cleon.

Then, among them, Kuon will step forward and approach Cleon.

“Cleon, where does it hurt? I’ll fix it.”

Kuon, who looked much older than the childhood she knew, approached her holding a staff as tall as her.

“After treating Cleon, let’s all play outside together! You promised to play all day today!”

Aruru, holding a ball in her hand, speaks in a confident voice.

[It’s good not to look down on putting children to sleep. Their stamina is monstrous. Even if you were you, would you be able to deal with all of them? Kissisit…]

“… Huh?”

Cleon was half terrified of the children who were approaching him in a daze.

However, the last laugh of the voice echoing in his head brought Cleon back to reality.

＂That sound of laughter… Could you possibly be…?＂

[Eh, ah, hmm. Anyway. Do your best… I will be rooting for you to succeed.]

She was visibly embarrassed by Cleon’s comment, and the presence of her disappeared from her mind in an instant.

＂Wait, wait…!＂

Cleon tried to catch the voice, but Kuon, who was close to Cleon, flinched and was surprised.

＂Okay, Cleon… What’s wrong? “Where does it really hurt?”

“Oh, no! It’s okay, Kuon! Look!”

Seeing Kuon starting to cry, Cleon stood up and moved his body without realizing it.

“I feel like I’m overflowing with energy for no reason.”

“You’re lucky if it doesn’t hurt, right?”

Rubera is still spouting harsh words, and Iona is scolding Rubera.

This ordeal… I felt like I might have a harder time than any of the requests Cleon had received so far.

001

“Whew… I almost got into big trouble.”

When Vivian placed her hand on Amelia’s shoulder and wiped her forehead, Amelia briefly expressed her doubts.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, no, it’s okay. Rather, it was during the explanation, right?”

＂… Yes.＂

As Amelia said that, she glanced to her side.

There, as if time had stopped, was the frozen black Amelia.

No, ‘as if’ might be a bit absurd.

Because Vivian used the Fairy King’s power to really stop Black Amelia’s time.

This is because if you are attacked by an enemy during the explanation, it will interfere with the explanation.

However, since time has been stopped, it is impossible to attack the opponent from this side as well.

As she got closer to her, her attacks slowed down, and soon time stopped.

“Ruler. Then let me explain. Why is there a difference in the strength of the weapons you create and the weapons she creates?”

As Vivian said that, she was asking Amelia, who was standing in front of her, a question.

“I’ll ask. What do you want to do with her?”

“Yes? … That’s right… I want to win. I want to jump over it… Furthermore, I want to take it down, I’m thinking.”

Amelia, who said that, nodded her head as if to confirm her feelings.

Vivian would also nod her head after hearing that answer.

＂Are you sure?＂

＂Yes.＂

Amelia’s unwavering eyes.

Vivian, who was looking at those correctly opened eyes, soon closed her eyes as if she understood, then opened them and smiled.

“I see. So what does the other person think of you?”

“Yes? That’s…”

Black self – What does the black crystal flower self, born parasitized by the devil, think of its original self?

Probably, it’s the same as yourself.

For her, who she was – a fool who did nothing until she was betrayed by her people.

Or, she was a fool who let something precious slip from her hands because she risked her life for what was right.

… There are enough reasons to hate and ignore.

The feeling of denying each other will be the same.

＂Are you thinking that they will be the same?＂

＂… Yes.＂

However, Vivian shook her head after hearing Amelia’s answer.

“Your feelings and those over there are never the same. The target point is different.”

＂…?＂

＂Then… I would like to ask you a slightly mean question.＂

Vivian smiles and asks Amelia a question.

＂Do you want to kill her?＂

＂──＂

It was a mean question, just as she had predicted, but Amelia couldn’t open her mouth again, as if she was a little shocked by her words.

That’s because she was a little shocked by what she said.

＂How about it?＂

＂I…＂

For Amelia, the enemy is ‘an object that must be defeated and subdued.’

When it came to the option of taking her life, she turned her eyes away if possible.

That was a perception she had continued since she traveled around her kingdom as a Saint Princess with Lady Tromaia.

Amelia’s enemy is the ‘devil’. For them, there is no such thing as ‘death’, and it would be correct to say ‘extermination’.

Even if the body in reality is destroyed, the soul is returned to the hell dimension and waits to be summoned back to this world.

So, in a way, it was natural that when entering a fight, the bloody feeling of ‘killing’ the opponent did not arise.

In my head, I even understand that I can’t kill them.

Even in a life-threatening battle.

“I didn’t even think about wanting to kill myself.”

But of course.

It is natural for humans to not want to take someone’s life if possible, and it is natural for Amelia, who belongs to the category of good people.

Besides… She’s still 10 years old.

If a 10-year-old girl needs the concept of ‘killing’ others, then such a world is wrong.

If it were Cleon, he would have said that.

“No way. That difference in thinking is what creates the difference in skills between me and her. Is that what you’re saying?”

When Amelia asked that question, Vivian looked at her for a moment and then nodded.

“Yes. That’s right. The reason you can’t beat her is that she definitely thinks she wants to kill you.”

At those words, Amelia felt her hand holding the hammer lose some strength, and her face darkened.

＂… Is it true that her ideal of not fighting with her murderous intent is that she cannot defeat her…? ＂

If possible, she did not want to take anyone’s life.

If she loses because she fails to harbor murderous intentions toward her enemy.

It’s definitely your fault.

Even though I know.

I know it’s a soft idea, but Amelia didn’t want to be that kind of person.

＂Huh? No. “

However, Vivian opens her eyes wide as if asking Amelia what she is talking about.

＂?＂

Of course, Amelia’s expression will be full of doubts, to the point where a question mark will appear over her head.

＂Wrong. This is one of the misconceptions that many people have. The idea that you can’t win if you don’t have the will to kill your opponent is the same as the theory of grit. In the sense of ‘not hesitating’, it may be true, but you are already not hesitating, right?”

If you do not have the intention to kill, you will unconsciously control your strength to avoid taking the other person’s life.

But, at least Amelia wasn’t doing that while dealing with the enemy in front of her.

When Amelia nodded her head, Vivian smiled and continued her explanation.

“It’s simple. Magical power is strongly influenced by emotions to exert its power. And what she uses is ‘dark magic power’. We gain strength from negative emotions. Jealousy, murderous intent, hatred, anger. From those black, dark emotions. Compared to that, how is your magical power?”

Amelia’s magic power is divine magic.

It is strongly influenced by bright emotions that are contrary to dark magic.

From emotions such as a sense of accomplishment, courage, love, friendship, and trust.

“In other words! You are dark!”

＂… Yes!?＂

When Vivian spoke while pointing her finger at Amelia, Amelia looked surprised.

＂I know that there are many worries that you have as a member of the royal family. And there are circumstances that make it necessary to go with an adventurer.”

Vivian says that and takes a step toward Amelia.

Then, as her fingers came closer to Amelia, Vivian continued her words.

＂A little brighter! Sunny! Like the sun rising in the sky! Or, like brightly blooming flowers! Move your emotions to a ‘brighter side’! Something like ‘responsibility’ or ‘guilt’. If you continue to be weighed down by such heavy things, you will never be able to use your full strength!”

Tuk. And Vivian’s index finger touched Amelia’s chest.

＂…!＂

It felt like something, like an arrow, pierced Amelia’s heart.

Vivian’s strong voice and will seem to have washed away the things that had been weighing down and frustrating Amelia just a moment ago.

“The title of Princess of Misfortune is nice and not bad, but you know what your real role is, right?”

At her words, Amelia nodded and held her hammer in her hand once again.

＂Yes!＂

“… That’s a good answer. Then – shall we start again?”

Vivian walked away from Amelia as she said that, and then she snapped her fingers.

Then-

As the black time that had stopped began to flow again, she rushed towards Amelia.

Amelia, who was looking behind her, put strength into her hand holding the hammer and adjusted her timing-

Her own hammer collided with her giant scythe once again.

Then-

Quad deuk!

A sound is heard, and the opposite result from before comes into view.

She shattered the scythe that was swung at her with one powerful blow, and swung her hammer once again at Black Amelia, whose posture had collapsed.

Bang!

Amelia cries out as she looks at her being blown away to the point of being thrown against the wall of her arena.

＂I, Amelia Chaldearis… As the Saint Princess. I will surpass you. Not for anyone else, but for myself!”

A firm resolve makes the divine magic flowing from the heart even stronger.

As light begins to flow through her armor, the halo above her head glows.

It was like another sun, emitting brilliant light.