Chapter 57 – And So,
For a while, Alice-san stood silently in place.
Her eyes closed as if in prayer, her thoughts reaching out to the sky.
By her side was her closest friend, Color-san.
She neither spoke nor touched her, simply remaining by her side in silence. A little farther away, Four Seasons-san watched over the two of them with a gentle gaze.
Behind me, Mother was held tightly in Karen’s arms.
I couldn’t see Mother’s expression. She buried her face in her adopted daughter’s chest, her body trembling slightly. Karen wrapped her arms firmly around her adoptive mother’s back, closing her eyes with a faint, comforting smile.
Ji Liz appeared to be observing a moment of silence.
He lay low with his limbs folded beneath him, his head lowered. He remained still, cloaked in a solemn atmosphere.
Perhaps he was letting himself linger in the echoes of the roars returned by his family.
And so, I—
「Chocola」
「Bark」
I sat down on the ground and stroked my loyal companion’s back with my whole body leaning into the motion.
「Kuun…」
Chocola didn’t act overly playful. He simply let out a soft whimper, absorbing the weight of my emotions. This overwhelming, uncontainable feeling that made me want to scream.
This battle—
I wasn’t really one of its key players.
For Alice-san and her comrades, it was the resolution of a two-thousand-year grudge.
For Mother and Karen, it was a fight of retribution for Luis-san and Exea-san.
For Ji Liz, it was a ritual to bid farewell to his ancestors.
Everyone had their reasons for fighting, and their victories had meaning to them.
But for me—
I had only brushed against those reasons, lingering on their outskirts. Not a bystander, but not quite a participant either. I stood in a strange position, connected yet distant, watching over everyone.
And because of that, I couldn’t help but feel this way.
Because my own sense of fulfillment was faint, I found myself thinking—
Thinking about all that they had lost.
Ji Dia-san, Luis-san, Exea-san.
Those who had passed, and the losses their deaths had brought. These were all connected to this very moment, continuing into the future, and surely they weren’t meaningless. Yet, if tragedy could be avoided, that would always be preferable. I want the people I care about to live, to smile in happiness. That’s what truly matters most.
There was another reason I felt this way.
It was—
「…Well then」
—Alice-san broke the silence, addressing everyone.
「It’s about time we get going. Miyako and the others are waiting outside, and we’ve restricted the citizens from leaving their homes. We need to let them know everything’s been resolved without a hitch.」
The time for silent reflection came to an end.
Color-san, Four Seasons-san, Mother, Karen, and even Ji Liz, each with their own thoughts, nodded to Alice-san and began walking toward the exit.
No one looked back.
The battle was over.
Swallowing any lingering regrets, we moved forward toward the future.
※※※
In the end, the reinforcements who had no chance to fight instead welcomed us back with resounding cheers.
The martial law in the Elf Nation of Alfheim was lifted, and the elves returned to their daily lives.
Soon after, discussions about the future—the management of the nation itself—began. Alice-san and the elders stayed behind in the council hall to handle it. I thought they could’ve taken at least a day off, but apparently, politics didn’t allow for such luxuries.
As for Color-san and the others, they returned to the Fairy realm of Tir na Nog to replenish their magic power. Even so, they would continue to watch over Alice-san, likely reuniting with her by evening.
And as for us—
We rode on Ji Liz’s back toward the Forest of Quioy.
The purpose was to report to Karen’s biological parents at their graves.
「Luis, Exea. It’s done.」
Standing before two gravestones side by side, Mother began to speak.
Karen stood next to her, while Chocola and I stayed back to watch over them. Ji Liz, unable to sit on the narrow hill, waited partway down the mountain. Sorry about that.
「I don’t know if you’d call it revenge, but I doubt you two were holding any grudges to begin with. So, let’s just say it’s settled.」
Mother’s tone was casual.
She wasn’t here as our mother but as their friend, standing before their graves.
「And don’t worry about this country. Emishi and Yuzuriha will handle things well. They wouldn’t want to disappoint you two, after all.」
A sharp, slightly jaded girl with a bit of a twisted personality.
Before she became my mother, when she had just opened her heart to her lover and friends, she was Viole Mucare.
「…What remains now are just the promises we made to you two.」
But her voice softened, the tone lowered.
It became calm, filled with affection, and solemn. She spoke as a grounded, strong woman who had realized what she must protect—Viole Mucare Hatano.
「Have you reunited with Kazu-kun? You must have, right? But as for me, it’ll still be a long time before I join you over there. That’s why I’ll keep my promise. Look, Luis, Exea. Your daughter has grown up to be so wonderful.」
Mother gently nudged Karen forward.
Encouraging her adopted daughter.
Karen smiled faintly—though I could only sense it from her back—and crouched down, tracing her hands over her parents’ gravestones one by one as she spoke.
「Father, Mother. I’m happy. I’ll surely keep being happy. So, watch over me, okay? Uncle, you too.」
The earring shimmered in her ear, a mark of her real parents—the holes they had pierced for her, now adorned with Color-san’s tears.
The bracelet on her wrist glimmered, the final gift her father had given her.
Watching this scene, I thought to myself.
Only in my heart, I spoke.
Luis-san, Exea-san, whose faces and voices I’ve never known.
But I do know the promises you made with my parents.
I’m with them too.
With Chocola, Pochi, Mint, and Grandma Seralinde.
With neighbors like Four Seasons-san, Color-san, Ji Liz, and the people of Sidera, like Berde-san.
And with this girl’s old friends who live in this country.
It’s not just Mother. Together with everyone—especially me—
We will keep your promise.
Until the very last day, the very last moment that comes, we’ll make sure your daughter’s happiness never fades—
※※※
Eventually, the two of them turned to me, smiling.
「Sorry to keep you waiting, Sui-kun. Today’s a free day now, so what do you want to do?」
「Hmm. With Father and Mother right here, I probably shouldn’t say this, but… honestly, all this political stuff in this country? I couldn’t care less. I just want to get back home and see Mint and the others.」
「I feel the same way, honestly. But unfortunately, we’ve still got reports to hear and things to take care of. Looks like we won’t be heading back for a few more days.」
To the two of them, I broached the subject.
Taking out my smartphone, I checked the calendar as I spoke.
「…About that. Actually, there’s something I’d like to talk with you about.」
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