Around the same time, in the sky far above where Rio fought the golem...
The Dragon King’s power is as dreadful as always, I see. It seems a little weaker than before, but more than what two golems can deal with...
Reiss had been watching the entire thing unfold from the start.
That aside, this barrier’s effect...
Reiss observed the barrier that enveloped the capital.
“Haven’t seen you in a thousand years, Fenris,” a girl’s voice called out.
Reiss turned in the direction of the voice. “So it was you after all.”
A woman was floating in the air. It was Lina. For some reason, her current appearance was completely different from Miharu. No, perhaps this was the original appearance of the Wise God Lina all along. She looked to be around twenty years old, and her doll-like face was beautiful like that of a goddess.
“It’s nice to see we’re both in good health, huh?” Lina greeted with a light shrug.
“So it seems. I thought you were dead all this time, so I didn’t expect you to show yourself like this. What business do you have here?”
“There was no way of hiding it any longer, so I came to give you a warning. It also serves as a nonaggression pact—don’t lay your hands on this place anymore.”
“Hmm.” Reiss hummed without any change in expression.
“In exchange, we won’t touch the labyrinth. Of course, I’ll let the boy down there know of this too,” Lina said, one-sidedly notifying Reiss of the pact.
“What’s so important about this place that would make you deploy such an outrageous barrier sorcery to protect it?” Reiss asked, eyeing the capital below.
“Oh? If you’re going to ask that, then I want to know what you wanted to accomplish here by using two of the tiger child’s golems,” Lina replied, completely unaffected.
“Hmm. Did you think those two golems were the only golems we have?”
“Either way, you weren’t able to use them to their full potential. And I still have more tricks up my sleeve too.”
While the two were bantering with each other with lighthearted words, their eyes weren’t laughing at all.
Reiss sighed internally and narrowed his eyes.
Goodness. Just how much is she aware of our forces?
“In fact, why don’t we fight it out right here? Our side has the invincible Dragon King and myself. Meanwhile, you’re considerably weakened in your current state.”
“You say that, but the Dragon King also seemed to be considerably weaker than one thousand years ago. And you should be too, no?”
“Oh? Have you really gone that blind?”
“Who knows?”
Reiss looked back down at the Galarc Castle beneath them.
The strength he showed at the end of that battle was indeed like that of a transcendent one, but...
He ascertained Rio’s current strength. On the ground below, Rio was just suffering from the recoil of assimilation and using the transcendent power.
The problem is how this woman has found a means of completely ignoring the rules of god. Although it appears to be restricted to the area within this barrier...
She hadn’t been missing for a thousand years for nothing, it seemed.
“Besides, we’re both done with preparations, no?” Lina said as though she could read Reiss’s mind.
“So you’ve seen through our plans after all.”
The look in Reiss’s eyes turned dark. He was ready to fight at any moment.
“Yes, a thousand years ago.”
Without breaking her aloof attitude, Lina grinned at Reiss to provoke him.
“I won’t fall for your provocations. We are all variables against you—you cannot predict our future accurately.” Reiss sighed and calmed down.
Lina tilted her head. “Are you sure about that?” she asked boldly.
“Well, whatever. If all you wanted to do was give that warning, I’ll be going now.”
“Oh, are you done analyzing this barrier already? There are more questions you want answered, no?”
“I should be the one saying that. Didn’t you come all the way here to give your ‘warning’ to find answers yourself? I’m not about to give you any information.”
Reiss sighed tiredly, sounding like he would like nothing more than to leave right away.
“You haven’t responded to my offer.”
“The one to stay out of this land in exchange for you staying out of the labyrinth? Very well. I’ll agree to that for now.”
“I see. Then it’s a deal.”
“I shall excuse myself now. Transilio.”
Reiss took a teleport crystal from his pocket and uttered the spell. He disappeared, leaving Lina behind.
“I hope I managed to fool him...”
Lina looked down at the Galarc Castle while removing the earring on her left ear. Her body glowed, and her appearance returned to that of Miharu’s.
“Conditum.”
Miharu didn’t possess a Time-Space Cache, yet Lina was able to manipulate space to store the earring.
“Transilio.”
She then used teleportation magic and vanished from the spot.
◇ ◇ ◇
Back in the rooftop garden of the Galarc Castle...
“Are you okay, Onii-chan?” Latifa asked worriedly, clinging to Rio who had nearly fallen backwards just now.
“I’m fine, just a little tired,” Rio said, attempting to stand on his own. But he couldn’t muster any strength in his body. When he tried to support himself with his own feet, his body swayed beyond his control. The burden on his body felt worse than the first time he assimilated—was it because he used his power twice?
“Haruto,” Aishia said, materializing behind Rio to support him.
“Aishia!” Latifa called with a beaming smile.
“Lady Aishia!”
“Aishia!”
The familiar residents of the mansion surrounded Rio and Aishia.
“Long time no see, everyone,” Aishia said, looking around with a gentle smile. She seemed to be unusually happy for once.
“Hehe.” Celia joined the circle, watching the reunion happily.
“Hmph, taking the best part as always...” Hiroaki snorted, watching everything unfold from a distance. However, he seemed to appreciate the situation, as he didn’t appear to be all that displeased.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join them, Lord Hiroaki?” Gouki asked heartily, watching everyone from the same distance.
“Hah? I’m not the type to do that. I’m not even that close to him to begin with. Shouldn’t you be the one over there? He’s your master, no?”
“It’s because I’m his retainer that I will go last. Besides, Sir Haruto is beloved by everyone. A shabby old man like me has no business cutting in line. The young ones can have the spotlight,” Gouki said with a laugh.
Nearby, King Francois nodded in agreement.
Hiroaki shot a disgusted look at Rio, who was being tugged in all directions by attractive girls. “Young ones? You mean the women. Tch.”
“How’s Satsuki doing? Is she okay?” Rio asked, seeing Satsuki still lying on the floor.
“Yes. Her life is in no danger, just like you said. Her wounds have healed and her breathing has stabilized,” Charlotte replied.
Rio sighed in relief. “That’s great. Thank you, Princess Charlotte.”
“I should be the one thanking you. Please worry about yourself first.”
Charlotte blushed somewhat shyly before showing concern for Rio’s condition.
“Ahaha. I’m fine, really.” Rio chuckled awkwardly.
Aishia hugged Rio from behind. “You really shouldn’t push yourself.”
“A-Aishia!” Sora yelled.
She had been watching on with a slightly uneasy look until now, unable to join the circle surrounding Rio. But she couldn’t overlook Aishia hugging Rio from behind.
“Stop! Don’t press those excessive lumps of fat against Master Rio’s back!”
Sora forced herself into the circle surrounding Rio and tried to yank Aishia away by force. Her dragonkin form was already lifted, so she looked no different from a little girl right now.
“Haruto needs support right now.”
“Then Sora will do it!”
“You’re not tall enough.”
“Sora has more strength than you, so Sora is the most qualified!”
Sora and Aishia argued noisily; everyone else watched Sora curiously. The residents of the mansion had met her before. Celia had once brought her to stay with them for a few days. The rules of god had removed those memories from the residents of the mansion, but they could remember everything right now.
However, Sora only joined Rio’s journey after everyone lost their memories of him, which was why no one knew what relationship she had with Rio and Aishia. It was only natural for them to feel curious.
Just then, Sora noticed all the attention on her. She wasn’t used to being in the center of attention and quickly hid beside Rio.
“Wh-What’s with all of you? Don’t look at Sora.”
“It really is you, Sora! Do you remember me?” Latifa asked, staring into Sora’s face.
“Huh? S-So what if Sora does?” Sora said sharply out of shyness.
“I remember too! It’s so nice seeing you again!” Latifa grinned and clung to Sora tightly.
“Wh-What are you doing?! L-Let go! Release Sora!” Sora screeched, wriggling and squirming.
“Ahaha, stop struggling.”
“H-Hey! Don’t lift Sora! Stop treating Sora like a child!”
It would’ve been easy for Sora to break free with her strength, but she didn’t attempt to force her way free. Her lack of resistance suggested that she was either holding back out of thoughtfulness, or she didn’t actually hate it that much.
“Hehe. Good for you, Sora,” Celia said with a smile. She was referring to Sora making new friends.
“How so?!”
And so, Sora immediately adapted to the circle. The noisy commotion brought back memories for Rio, who chuckled in amusement.
“Ahahaha.”
Thanks to that, he finally regained the energy to walk on his own again. He stepped away from Latifa and Aishia, supporting himself with his own feet.
Hmm?
Rio reached up to his chest to put his mask away when he recalled something.
Come to think of it, wasn’t I stabbed earlier?
During the earlier battle, the golem had pierced right through his heart. But there was no hole in Rio’s body. In fact, there wasn’t even a hole in his clothes.
“What’s wrong, Onii-chan? Are you still feeling bad?” Latifa asked worriedly, staring into Rio’s face.
Rio shook his head slowly. “No, I’m fine. I should go greet the king. See you in a bit.”
He approached King Francois.
“You’ve done well,” Francois said warmly, welcoming Rio back with a smile.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you earlier.”
Rio placed a hand against his chest and started to bow his head respectfully, but—
“No need for that. You may stand at ease. You can even lie down if you need,” Francois said jokingly.
“Thank you for the consideration, but I’ll be fine like this. There are many things I need to inform you about,” Rio said with a wry smile, wondering where to start.
“I’m sure there are. Let’s find somewhere to talk in the castle—no, in your mansion.”
“Thank you very much.”
Just then, Miharu descended from the sky, wings of light extending from her back like an angel. She landed near Rio and the wings disappeared.
“Miharu?!”
“Just where have you been this whole time?”
Sara and the others ran over to her while shouting questions. They had watched her use magic she shouldn’t have been able to use to fend off the golem before vanishing through teleportation magic, so it was only natural for them to be curious.
Miharu? Or is that Lina?
Rio tilted his head.
Miharu ignored everyone else and marched straight up to Rio. She slowed down a little once she was right before him.
“Huh?!”
With a charming smile, she clung to Rio without saying anything. Rio and everyone else watching were startled, but that was just the beginning of their surprise.
“Wha...?!” Miharu beckoned Rio’s face closer, then stood on tiptoe to kiss him. Rio froze in wide-eyed shock—a kiss was the last thing he had expected.
“Ngh...!” When he felt Miharu’s tongue slip into his mouth, he quickly tried to back away. But Miharu’s arms were firmly wrapped around his neck, refusing to let go. On top of that, Rio still wasn’t in top condition and couldn’t muster any strength.
“Wh-Wh-What...”
While everyone else was frozen in astonishment, Miharu continued to make a show of kissing him passionately. Eventually, the light disappeared from Miharu’s eyes.
“Wh-What?!” Everyone yelled, unable to keep up with the situation.
Immediately after, light returned to Miharu’s eyes.
“Huh...?” Miharu tilted her head in confusion, lips still attached to Rio’s.
Haruto?
Like everyone else, she clearly remembered who Rio was.
So warm...
His face was oddly close. Was she dreaming? He really has a pretty face, she thought in a daze. However...
“Hmm? Huh?”
Eventually, Miharu realized she wasn’t in a dream and moved her mouth. With that, she finally noticed that she was hugging and kissing Rio.
And not just a regular kiss—a deep one.
Huh?! Why?! What?!
That had been her first kiss...
Well, she had kissed Haru-kun before when she was a kid, but...
She was in a complete panic. Multiple thoughts flashed through her head one after another until her mind went completely blank.
Sometimes, when people become confused to the extreme, they forget to avoid the immediate situation. That was the state Miharu was currently in. She remained in the kiss with Rio, unsure what to do, frozen as her face turned bright red.
“Wh-Whoa. Miharu’s an adult...” Masato mumbled in awe, blushing as well.
“Sh-Shut up, stupid!” Aki covered his eyes to stop him from looking. However, she looked a little conflicted at Rio and Miharu’s kiss.
The last time Aki had met Rio was during the banquet. And right now, she knew that Rio was Amakawa Haruto in his past life. It was only natural to feel all kinds of bitter feelings even in this situation.
The others around them gradually unfroze one after another.
“Miharu?!”
“Miharu!”
“Ayase Miharu!”
They all yelled Miharu’s name.
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