“Sorry about that, I got sidetracked. Hey Burn, Euralia, standing around chatting here isn’t getting us anywhere, why don’t we go somewhere to have a meal and talk more leisurely?”
I pulled away from Tia, who I had been hugging, and asked the two. But their reactions were anything but positive.
“What are you talking about!? There’s no way I would have a meal with the Demon King!”
“Sorry, I… just ate a little while ago.”
“Oh, that’s right, now that you mention it.”
Thinking back on it, we indeed had breakfast just before coming here. From my perspective many years had passed, so I completely forgot, but at this time, food and drink were out of the question.
“So, what do we do? It might be good to have some time to think, so how about we meet and talk again tomorrow?”
“There’s no room for discussion-“
“That’s fine. I don’t know what conclusion we’ll come to, but it’s super! Unknown…”
“That’s fine. You go your own way. Struggle and do your best, Hero Burn!”
“…Thanks, Ed.”
With a smile and a thumbs-up, Burn passed by me with a wry smile and left the church. Euralia followed in a hurry, leaving just Tia and me.
“They’ve gone, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Was it okay to let them go?”
“It’s fine.”
Depending on Burn’s answer, this could be the last farewell in this life. Or there might be a future where we become enemies and fight to the death.
But, I have conveyed everything that needed to be conveyed. Then, as the Demon King, I will simply accept the hero’s choice.
“Well, let’s go too.”
“Yes. There are lots of things I want to ask you! I won’t let you go until you tell me everything!”
“Hahaha, that’s scary.”
With a genuinely joyful smile, I feel like I can’t escape even if I’m separated by the walls of the world. We returned to our newly-booked inn, and Tia sat on a chair in the room while I settled myself on the bed.
“So, let’s exchange information again… But first, let me make sure. What do you know, Tia? What do you remember?”
“Hmm, well…”
Asked again, Tia tilts]ed her head adorably in thought.
“Hey Ed, do you remember the first time I went to see you?”
“The first time? You mean when your butt fell on my head… OUCH!?”
As I recalled the events of that time, a fist, not a butt, fell on my head this time. It should be like a pebble falling compared to Gonzo’s fist, but it hurts for some reason.
“You don’t have to remember that part! Ed, you pervert!”
“Guu, it’s unreasonable… well, anyway, I remember, but what’s the matter?”
“It feels just like that time. When I saw you catch Burn’s sword, memories flowed into me that weren’t mine but were definitely mine…”
“Is that so…”
There’s no choice but to believe her when she says that. Then and now, it must feel like my memory pulled Tia’s memory. And if that happens…
“Perhaps, Tia and my souls are connected?”
“Eh, what’s that!?”
“Well, actually…”
I explained to her that when I saw her off, my soul mingled with her soul because I used my power to restart the loop. Then, Tia excitedly approaches me, her ears twitching.
“Fufu, Fufu!! I see, so that’s how it was.”
“Ah… It’s odd for me to say this, but aren’t you bothered by it?”
“Eh? Why?”
“Why, you say… It’s because of me that Tia isn’t Tia anymore, you know?”
It’s obvious, but the soul was the core of the mind and body. Even if it’s mixed in just a little, it naturally affects the heart.
“Maybe the affection you show me is because our souls are mixed… Ow ow ow!?”
As I said this somewhat dejectedly, Tia repeatedly flicked my forehead at high speed. Although it shouldn’t be a great force, the oddly resonating pain almost brought tears to my eyes.
“What are you doing!? It hurts!? Can you please stop!?”
“It’s because you said something stupid! A child like that needs punishment! Te-yah!”
“Guha!”
With a finishing blow, I fall onto the bed. Then, watching me, Tia showed a triumphant smile and puffed out her chest.
“How? Was it effective? Fufu, this is payback for before.”
“Before? When was that…”
“Well, when was it? But now the naughty child has been vanquished. Right?”
“…………………..”
“You know, Ed. Just because our souls are mixed doesn’t mean I’m not myself. Sure, there might be some influence, but it’s not like it makes me unconditionally like you or anything, right?”
“Yeah, probably…?”
“Then it’s fine. My feelings now have grown through our journey together… Haven’t we talked about something like this before?”
“Eh? Ah, no, I feel like we might have… When I confessed that I was the Demon King?”
“That’s right, that! See, I told you then? Even if the original you was a personality created by a God, the current Ed was born from the experiences you’ve had as Ed. It’s the same for me. I might not be the pure Lunaritia from before, but I’m still myself! Rather, I’m thankful to you for enabling me to use mysterious powers and travel through various worlds!”
“…Haha, I see.”
The words Tia gave me that day now affirm her. I feel a strange fate in it and can’t help but laugh. The worry that I thought was serious was already solved before we talked… Ah, this is quite the funny story.
“Come on, rather than that, tell me about you! What kind of adventure did you have to change the future?”
“Huh? What, are you interested?”
“Of course, I’m interested! I couldn’t get to you, but how did you come back here?”
“Oh, that is—”
With an interested face, Tia lies down next to me, and I begin to tell her slowly, looking up at the ceiling.
About losing all my memories and powers, entering the third round. Becoming allies with Alexis and others, challenging the Demon King and being wiped out. Everything taken from me, and then the hope that Tia left for me appeared.
Traveling the world to hunt the Demon King, gathering strength, breaking through walls and reaching here… When I finish telling everything, Tia, who had been quietly listening, opens her mouth with deep emotion.
“Muu, it seems like it was more of a grand adventure than I imagined… Aah, I wanted to meet Alexis and Gonzo again. And I wanted to meet Rouge-chan too.”
“Ah, you don’t know about Rouge?”
Rouge was standing in that place because Tia did not exist in that world. However, it’s not like Rouge herself never existed in the first place, so I thought maybe she would at least know the name…
“I think I’ve heard the name… It was rumored there was an amazing magician’s child… But since I had already joined, we passed her by because we had enough magic… Was that it? Sorry, it was too brief, so I don’t remember much.”
“Hahaha, that’s understandable.”
It would be natural if she joined the party, but there were likely dozens of candidates. Especially since they didn’t even meet her because Tia was already there, it’s only natural she wouldn’t remember.
“But then again, if I’m not there, Rouge-chan will become a companion, huh? And it looks like you’ve gotten quite friendly with her?”
“Is, is that so? I thought it was just a general errand-boy treatment, though…”
“Are you serious?”
“………………..”
Staring at me with reproachful eyes, I turn my face away slightly. I’m not completely insensitive either. I can understand some subtleties of emotion… Well, you know. There’s also the delusion of a self-conscious man? Speaking about that openly is embarrassing, you know?
“Hmm, well, it’s fine. But… hehe, it seems fun if I could travel with Rouge-chan someday. Ah, should we invite Riel too and travel as a group of four?”
“Please spare me, seriously.”
Three women with one man, I can foresee the troubles that words can’t describe. Those who call this a harem and rejoice are either someone with a lot of guts or an idiot who doesn’t think.
(T/N: Wise words my friend)
“Hey, enough about me, alright!? What about you, Tia?”
“Me? My side… Unlike Ed, there’s no fun story.”
“It’s fine. If you don’t mind, I want to hear it.”
It’s not out of mere curiosity, but rather a responsibility I must bear. If it’s something that Tia did at my request, for my sake, then I must know it and carry it with her. It’s not enough to have read it in the {Record Of The Hero’s Story}, I must hear the truth from Tia’s own mouth.
“…Alright. Then, I’ll talk.”
Receiving my earnest gaze, Tia began to slowly tell her story.
“Sorry about that, I got sidetracked. Hey Burn, Euralia, standing around chatting here isn’t getting us anywhere, why don’t we go somewhere to have a meal and talk more leisurely?”
I pulled away from Tia, who I had been hugging, and asked the two. But their reactions were anything but positive.
“What are you talking about!? There’s no way I would have a meal with the Demon King!”
“Sorry, I… just ate a little while ago.”
“Oh, that’s right, now that you mention it.”
Thinking back on it, we indeed had breakfast just before coming here. From my perspective many years had passed, so I completely forgot, but at this time, food and drink were out of the question.
“So, what do we do? It might be good to have some time to think, so how about we meet and talk again tomorrow?”
“There’s no room for discussion-“
“That’s fine. I don’t know what conclusion we’ll come to, but it’s super! Unknown…”
“That’s fine. You go your own way. Struggle and do your best, Hero Burn!”
“…Thanks, Ed.”
With a smile and a thumbs-up, Burn passed by me with a wry smile and left the church. Euralia followed in a hurry, leaving just Tia and me.
“They’ve gone, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Was it okay to let them go?”
“It’s fine.”
Depending on Burn’s answer, this could be the last farewell in this life. Or there might be a future where we become enemies and fight to the death.
But, I have conveyed everything that needed to be conveyed. Then, as the Demon King, I will simply accept the hero’s choice.
“Well, let’s go too.”
“Yes. There are lots of things I want to ask you! I won’t let you go until you tell me everything!”
“Hahaha, that’s scary.”
With a genuinely joyful smile, I feel like I can’t escape even if I’m separated by the walls of the world. We returned to our newly-booked inn, and Tia sat on a chair in the room while I settled myself on the bed.
“So, let’s exchange information again… But first, let me make sure. What do you know, Tia? What do you remember?”
“Hmm, well…”
Asked again, Tia tilts]ed her head adorably in thought.
“Hey Ed, do you remember the first time I went to see you?”
“The first time? You mean when your butt fell on my head… OUCH!?”
As I recalled the events of that time, a fist, not a butt, fell on my head this time. It should be like a pebble falling compared to Gonzo’s fist, but it hurts for some reason.
“You don’t have to remember that part! Ed, you pervert!”
“Guu, it’s unreasonable… well, anyway, I remember, but what’s the matter?”
“It feels just like that time. When I saw you catch Burn’s sword, memories flowed into me that weren’t mine but were definitely mine…”
“Is that so…”
There’s no choice but to believe her when she says that. Then and now, it must feel like my memory pulled Tia’s memory. And if that happens…
“Perhaps, Tia and my souls are connected?”
“Eh, what’s that!?”
“Well, actually…”
I explained to her that when I saw her off, my soul mingled with her soul because I used my power to restart the loop. Then, Tia excitedly approaches me, her ears twitching.
“Fufu, Fufu!! I see, so that’s how it was.”
“Ah… It’s odd for me to say this, but aren’t you bothered by it?”
“Eh? Why?”
“Why, you say… It’s because of me that Tia isn’t Tia anymore, you know?”
It’s obvious, but the soul was the core of the mind and body. Even if it’s mixed in just a little, it naturally affects the heart.
“Maybe the affection you show me is because our souls are mixed… Ow ow ow!?”
As I said this somewhat dejectedly, Tia repeatedly flicked my forehead at high speed. Although it shouldn’t be a great force, the oddly resonating pain almost brought tears to my eyes.
“What are you doing!? It hurts!? Can you please stop!?”
“It’s because you said something stupid! A child like that needs punishment! Te-yah!”
“Guha!”
With a finishing blow, I fall onto the bed. Then, watching me, Tia showed a triumphant smile and puffed out her chest.
“How? Was it effective? Fufu, this is payback for before.”
“Before? When was that…”
“Well, when was it? But now the naughty child has been vanquished. Right?”
“…………………..”
“You know, Ed. Just because our souls are mixed doesn’t mean I’m not myself. Sure, there might be some influence, but it’s not like it makes me unconditionally like you or anything, right?”
“Yeah, probably…?”
“Then it’s fine. My feelings now have grown through our journey together… Haven’t we talked about something like this before?”
“Eh? Ah, no, I feel like we might have… When I confessed that I was the Demon King?”
“That’s right, that! See, I told you then? Even if the original you was a personality created by a God, the current Ed was born from the experiences you’ve had as Ed. It’s the same for me. I might not be the pure Lunaritia from before, but I’m still myself! Rather, I’m thankful to you for enabling me to use mysterious powers and travel through various worlds!”
“…Haha, I see.”
The words Tia gave me that day now affirm her. I feel a strange fate in it and can’t help but laugh. The worry that I thought was serious was already solved before we talked… Ah, this is quite the funny story.
“Come on, rather than that, tell me about you! What kind of adventure did you have to change the future?”
“Huh? What, are you interested?”
“Of course, I’m interested! I couldn’t get to you, but how did you come back here?”
“Oh, that is—”
With an interested face, Tia lies down next to me, and I begin to tell her slowly, looking up at the ceiling.
About losing all my memories and powers, entering the third round. Becoming allies with Alexis and others, challenging the Demon King and being wiped out. Everything taken from me, and then the hope that Tia left for me appeared.
Traveling the world to hunt the Demon King, gathering strength, breaking through walls and reaching here… When I finish telling everything, Tia, who had been quietly listening, opens her mouth with deep emotion.
“Muu, it seems like it was more of a grand adventure than I imagined… Aah, I wanted to meet Alexis and Gonzo again. And I wanted to meet Rouge-chan too.”
“Ah, you don’t know about Rouge?”
Rouge was standing in that place because Tia did not exist in that world. However, it’s not like Rouge herself never existed in the first place, so I thought maybe she would at least know the name…
“I think I’ve heard the name… It was rumored there was an amazing magician’s child… But since I had already joined, we passed her by because we had enough magic… Was that it? Sorry, it was too brief, so I don’t remember much.”
“Hahaha, that’s understandable.”
It would be natural if she joined the party, but there were likely dozens of candidates. Especially since they didn’t even meet her because Tia was already there, it’s only natural she wouldn’t remember.
“But then again, if I’m not there, Rouge-chan will become a companion, huh? And it looks like you’ve gotten quite friendly with her?”
“Is, is that so? I thought it was just a general errand-boy treatment, though…”
“Are you serious?”
“………………..”
Staring at me with reproachful eyes, I turn my face away slightly. I’m not completely insensitive either. I can understand some subtleties of emotion… Well, you know. There’s also the delusion of a self-conscious man? Speaking about that openly is embarrassing, you know?
“Hmm, well, it’s fine. But… hehe, it seems fun if I could travel with Rouge-chan someday. Ah, should we invite Riel too and travel as a group of four?”
“Please spare me, seriously.”
Three women with one man, I can foresee the troubles that words can’t describe. Those who call this a harem and rejoice are either someone with a lot of guts or an idiot who doesn’t think.
(T/N: Wise words my friend)
“Hey, enough about me, alright!? What about you, Tia?”
“Me? My side… Unlike Ed, there’s no fun story.”
“It’s fine. If you don’t mind, I want to hear it.”
It’s not out of mere curiosity, but rather a responsibility I must bear. If it’s something that Tia did at my request, for my sake, then I must know it and carry it with her. It’s not enough to have read it in the {Record Of The Hero’s Story}, I must hear the truth from Tia’s own mouth.
“…Alright. Then, I’ll talk.”
Receiving my earnest gaze, Tia began to slowly tell her story.
