There was a grand parade Rashtia Kingdom. It was to celebrate the Heroes who defeated the Demon race’s leader.
All of the people waved their hands as they rejoiced on Mayuki’s party’s triumphant return. However, Mayuki knew the truth and was unable to honestly respond to them.
After all it wasn’t them who defeated the leader. Everything had ended when they arrived. Although she was glad it had become peaceful, she couldn’t just obediently be glad about it.
It was the same for Seila, she’s always beside Mayuki because she felt uneasy. Just one person, only Kazuto, as if he was a mochi from a shelf, he smiled cheerfully as he waved back at the spectators. It was mostly aimed at the women though.
“Come on, you must respond them too!”
Because of Kazuto’s words, the two looked at each other and smiled wryly. Then they reluctantly raised their hands. Following that, the shouts of joy grew further.
They met Rashtia VII who was obviously in a good mood. It was natural, after all the heroes his country summoned had splendidly accomplished the Emperor’s Imperial Command.
With this, the Emperor’s trust would be deeper. It was extremely natural for Rashtia VII to show a joyful expression.
Although Rashtia VII said he wanted Mayuki’s party to partic.i.p.ate in the party, Mayuki was exhausted from the long journey and returned to her room after sayingtill next time. After that, Seila followed suit.
Rashtia VII didn’t say anything to the leaving heroes, he easily understood them.
Mayuki and Seila returned to the prepared room, and their silence continued for a while. Seila was the one who broke the silence.
“Wi-With this, we can return to our original world!”
“... ….”
“By the time we defeated the leader, Laki-san said he’d find the method to return us to our original world, surely soon….”
Seila worked hard to behave cheerfully, but she was worried about Mayuki who still silent even now. However, Mayuki’s hardened expression was as if she’s always in deep thought.
“... … Ma-Mayuki-san? What have you been thinking about? It is painful to lie to everyone after all… … something like that?”
Seila thought Mayuki wasn’t energetic because they weren’t the one who defeated the leader and because of the misunderstanding by the people. As she worriedly asked her, Mayuki finally opened her mouth.
“Uun, that’s not it… … though some of it is about that, what I am concerned about is the one who defeated the leader.”
“E… … ah, now that you mention it, I wonder who that is. He’s truly strong.”
“... ….”
“... … Mayuki-san?”
Then, Mayuki showed Seila the thing she took out from her pocket.
“Missanga? Ah, is it cut?”
“Un, nee Seila, missanga will be cut if the wish is fulfilled, right?”
“Well, there’s such saying.”
“That’s right… … once the wish is fulfilled… … it’ll be cut.”
“... … h!? … ..Don’t tell me, Mayuki-san, was your wish fulfilled?”
Seila realized it and asked her.
“... … … … I have said it, Seila. My, uun, our wish is just one.”
“A… … b-but, that’s… … eu.”
For a moment there’s shadow in Seila’s expression. However, Mayuki continued her words.
“... … nee, if, it’s only if. If the wish is truly fulfilled… … what will you do?”
“... … eh? That’s… … wh-what do you mean?”
Mayuki stared at Seila’s eyes that showed her perplexity.
“You know, that red-haired person’s voice… … is similar to him. Uun, it’s not only similar. … … it’s the same.”
“S-Same...?”
“That’s right… … it’s the same… … the same voice… … as Sou-kun.”
“eh!?”
Seila was surprised and opened her mouth.
“Also, at that time, the missanga was cut.”
“Eh, but… eh?”
“Un, I understood what I was saying. That’s impossible. But… … even so, I can feel it somehow. That person is… … surely someone I know.”
“Mayuki-san…”
Seila watched Mayuki who strongly grasped the missanga with both hands as they trembled.
“I understood. I knew. Sou-kun is dead. He couldn’t be in this world any more… … but although I knew it-”
Following that, potapota, tears began to fall as they flowed from Mayuki’s eyes, and fell into the missanga.
“I want to meet him after all… … to meet Sou-kun….”
The desire that had been buried until now exploded as her tears overflowed. Seeing such Mayuki, Seila was determined about something as she slightly nodded.
Following that, her hands overlapped Mayuki’s hands.
“Then, let’s confirm it.”
“... … eh?”
“To confirm whether that person is really Asakura-san.”
“B-But, that’s….”
“That’s why we are going to confirm it! Fortunately, Laki-san still haven’t find the method to return us”
“... … e-even so, I wonder is it okay?”
“It is! After all we are heroes now. Certainly we didn’t defeat the leader, but I think we have contributed greatly towards this country! They should at least allow our selfishness!”
“Then, should we ask the King?”
However, Seila shook her neck.
“No, that person had said it. To forget about the matter or something.”
“Now that you mention it….”
“Following that, even if we immediately run away from here, I think that person will not publish that we are gone to the public.”
“I-Indeed.”
“That’s why, so as to not trouble that person, it’ll be better if we are then only ones that move. After all it’ll be a big deal if we asked the King.”
That’s the truth. After all it was someone the Heroes were looking for. It’d likely become a grand investigation if they asked. Even if they asked to be secretive, they’d fully investigated that person’s ident.i.ty, and that’d trouble that person.
“... … Seila is amazing, you have a good head.”
“Eu… … it embarra.s.sing.”
Seila’s cheeks blushed as she smiled in embarra.s.sment.
“Un, but thanks! Is Sheila also going to help?”
“Of course! If that person is really Asakura-san, even Sheila wants to meet him.”
That’s right, she wanted to meet and thank the one who helped her.
“... … un, I knew.”
Mayuki was rea.s.sured as she grasped the missanga, they matched their gazes and nodded.
“Let’s find him, Mayuki-san! Then, let’s confirm it!”
“Un, that’s right. A wrong person… … is also a possibility, but even if the possibility is close to zero, it’s necessary for me to meet that person again.”
After the party was over, the maid came to Mayuki and Sheila’s room to check on them, and it was already emptied. There was only a message.
『We are leaving because of a private reason』
Rashtia VII and Ninomiya Kazuto’s expression turned aghast when they saw that paper.