Epilogue
Ten days had passed since the Liberators’ fierce duel in the desert.
Miledi and the others had fully recovered, and were planning on departing today.
Now that their business in the desert was concluded, their next destination was the western ocean.
Susha and Yunfa showed up to see the party off. They were accompanied by a few members of the Liberators. Miledi had seen to it that Susha and Yunfa be guided to their secret base.
The two sisters accosted Naiz while Oscar was busy thanking the Liberators for bringing him a heap of ore he could use to transmute new Artifacts.
“Naiz-sama. No matter how far apart we are, my feelings for you won’t waver.”
“I-I see.”
“We’re going to train hard so we can travel with you too someday!”
“O-Okay.”
“I promise I’ll be come the kind of woman you like, Naiz-sama!”
“U-Umm...”
“We’re the only girls you can marry!”
“I think there might be a bit of an... age problem—”
“Farewell for now, Naiz-sama! Please don’t forget about us!”
“We love you, Naiz-sama!”
Before Naiz could even say anything the two hopped onto their irak and rode off. The other Liberators noticed the girls leaving and hurriedly chased after them. “Wait, why are they going on ahead? They don’t even know where the village is, do they!?” They yelled as they rode off.
“Hey, Nacchan.” Miledi had that devilish smile on her face that Naiz had come to dread.
“Hey, how do you feel right now? You just got proposed to by two preteen girls. You gotta tell me, does that make you happy? Did Sue-chan’s knockout body make your heart skip a beat? Even though you’re in your twenties? Come on, don’t be shy now—” Naiz grabbed Miledi’s head in a death grip. Her skull creaked from the pressure.
“Oscar. Looks like it’s going to be just you and me.”
“Perfect. We’ll be able to move faster that way.”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I won’t do it again! Please forgive me! My head’s—”
“Sorry.”
He let Miledi go.
She fell limply to the ground.
“Our next target is the ‘Saint of the Western Ocean’ right? What do you think of the rumors Susha and Yunfa heard at the bar?”
“No clue. But the Fairy of the Desert rumors turned out to be real. So I think it’s at least worth checking out. From the start, our journey’s had little chance of success. It’s like chasing after mirages in the desert.”
“So you go into each new lead expecting to come away disappointed?”
“Let’s just have fun and get stronger on the way. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been to the ocean before. I want to try the seafood they have there too.”
“Likewise.”
Oscar and Naiz chuckled.
“Umm, did you guys forget about me again?”
Miledi was still lying on the floor like a discarded piece of trash.
Oscar and Naiz looked at each other. Then they walked off without a backwards glance.
“Heeeey wait for me! Stop ignoring me! People can die from loneliness you know that!?” Miledi hurriedly chased after them.
Despite what she was saying, there was a smile on her face.
Because Oscar and Naiz had left enough space between them for her to join in.
The three off them walked off into the desert, toward their next journey.
The Holy Church’s great cathedral sat eight thousand meters above the ground, atop the Spirit Mountain.
A single woman kneeled before the cathedral’s altar. It was raised atop a massive limestone pillar.
She was missing and arm and had burns all over her body—Hearst.
“Are you certain, my lord?” Her voice echoed through the large cathedral.
“As you wish, my lord.” Though she appeared to be talking to herself, she was actually conversing with someone.
The pillar was radiating a divine energy.
“I am not worthy of such praise. Yes... Their powers clearly marked them as Atavists. At present, however, they are not much stronger than regular men.”
Hearst, who had kept her eyes closed and her head bowed low until now, looked up in surprise.
A second later, her arm was restored, and her burns vanished. Even her clothes were restored to their former glory.
“My humblest thanks, lord. As always, I live to serve.” Hearst bowed low. When she finally rose to her feet, the divine presence was no more.
She turned on her heel, and walked out of the cathedral. The cathedral opened up to the elements. A steep staircase cut directly into the mountain descended into the distance. Only a few were allowed to climb this hallowed staircase.
Though this place was normally devoid of people, there were quite a few here today.
Though perhaps it was wrong to call them “people.”
Each and every one of them looked identical to Hearst.
They said no words. But the light in their eyes spoke volumes. That was all they needed to converse.
Hearst stretched out a hand. She pointed to a boulder in the distance.
Silver light gathered in her fingertips. Once she’d gathered enough, she fired a silver burst at the boulder. It vanished without a sound. There was no impact. It was as if the boulder had never existed. Tiny particles of dust flew off in the wind.
Satisfied, Hearst turned back to her doppelgangers. Without a word, all of them flew off in separate directions.
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