[When will Eris return?]
[…it’s almost time. In about an hour or so.]
[That’s amazing. How do even know that?]
[I think you should’ve known the answer already.]
[Ee…]
Even if you say so I still don’t know. Seeing me shaking my head, the White Knight laughed at me.
[You really don’t know anything, do you? Hasn’t Greed told you anything at all?]
[That twisted soul, do you think it’s easy to make him divulge about anything?]
[Indeed… I’ve heard from Eris-sama once before, that Greed is actually even worse than Envy.]
[It’s the same as you and that Aaron Barbatos. No, I suppose it’s something a bit more advanced.]
[You mean a bond with Eris?]
[Yeah, it’s merely a story of old times. I still won’t forget the day when the two of us vowed to serve Eris-sama with our life.]
[As you know, Eris-sama is very kind. It was originally a promise she made to the previous holder of Gluttony skill. She led the Gallian survivors here, and built a Kingdom.]
[About that… what kind of person the previous holder of Gluttony skill was? You see, Greed is always like this. Eris wouldn’t tell me as well… and Myne kept pretending that she had forgotten!]
[That person was everyone’s hope. But…in the end… I don’t really want to remember it. For some reason you have a similar appearance to him. When Eris-sama looked at you, I suppose she would be reminded of the past.]
[What was Eris and that person’s relationship?]
[I was also saved by that person when I was still a child. Even then, Eris-sama had always been together with that person. Eris-sama tried to shape this Kingdom in his ideal. But without the person in question even present, then it’ll just be empty shells.]
For better or worse, the Kingdom that Eris had built, became a sanctuary to those who had lost their place.
[Of course, it’s impossible to satisfy everyone.]
[Even if something went wrong, it’s not over yet. You can start over from now on.]
[No way… I did not expect that you’ll say the same thing as that person.]
That person said a similar thing to Eris in the past. Back then, the girls had already swore their fealty to accompany Eris till the end.
[I feel like I have some understanding of why Eris-sama roots for you now.]
[That was something Roxy told me. I simply borrowed it]
[So it’s a borrowed words… but if you truly take it to heart, then it too, will be yours.]
[Right. Eris-sama and us, we were able to change after meeting that person as well.]
The White Knight stopped looking at the palace, and resumed walking.
[Perhaps, you are…that person’s…]
[Nn?]
[No, that shouldn’t be the case. Please ignore what I said just now.]
When we entered the palace, Aaron and Mimir greeted us. The other White Knight was also there.
[O Fate! I heard that there is another ruckus happening at the military district. I tried to go there as well but…]
[Aaron Barbatos is to wait in the Palace for the time being. According to the record, he rampaged quite a bit at the hobgoblin forest.]
[But…]
That Aaron was reprimanded like a kid by the white knight. This might be the first time someone treated him this way.
[You are one of the individuals that will assure the future of the kingdom. You should stop acting so ridiculous.]
[That is…]
For the battle maniac like Aaron, that would be a very restricting order.
I saw him drooping his shoulders in defeat as I turned to Mimir.
[How did it go?]
[Yes, I got pardoned this time. I’m relieved that they unexpectedly received the reasoning well.]
[That’s good to hear. Otherwise it’ll be tough on me…]
[AAaa… because it’s Fate-sama after all. Am I right, everyone!]
The two White Knights nodded in agreement. And surprisingly, Aaron nodded too!?
[Well, I guess I should just nod as well. Un un!]
[Oi!]
[I think so too.]
[Eris!]
[Hi, I’m back. Somehow, a lot of things happened while I’m gone. You really are a troublemaker, aren’t you?]
[I felt a bad premonition coming from the direction of the Capital. That’s why I hurried back… but it seems that I did not return in time.]
[Oya oya, it seems you’ve become fast friends while I’m away.]
[ [ We didn’t !! ] ]
I guess the answer to that would be impossible.
In the first place, the White Knights were following Eris who is somewhat an eccentric herself. She hugged me, thinking that I felt troubled.
[Why the long face? Ah, I get it. It must be because you were lonely while I was away!]
[Please stop.]
67879473_473881076744473_5511918984804433920_n
[What the, that’s such a one-sided interpretation!]
Peeling away the clinging Eris from me, Aaron coughed and spoke up.
[Eris-sama, there is more important thing to do now. Please save it for later.]
[I guess there is no helping it~]
It was decided that we’ll have the talks in the palace’s first floor. Mimir tugged on my sleeve a little as we walked.
[I feel like I’ll only get in the way…]
[No, I want Mimir to stay around.]
[Eh, will it be okay for me to do so?]
[Of course. Because we’ll be talking about what we will do from now on.]
[…Yes]
[Well then, let’s begin the talking.]
[Alright. First of all, about the change in the goblins’ behaviour. Me and Roxy went to investigate it.]
[The battle happened in the hobgoblin forest. And there was a Gallian laboratory hidden underground?]
[Yeah, Eris seems to know that already.]
[No, I only know the gist of it. Most likely, if the facility is underground, then it’s got to be more than a simple laboratory. I’d like to investigate it, but I guess it’s impossible for now.]
[The place was sealed away by unmelting iceberg. And it was my father who did it.]
Aaron reacted quickly to those piece of news.
[Did he not die already… could it be.]
[Yes, probably the same thing that happened with Roxy’s father.]
[I see… if it’s iceberg, then the accident at the military district was also his doing.]
[That was indeed my dad’s doing. He took away the philosopher’s stone and Raine… I’m sorry.]
Eris remained silent. She then looked up to the ceiling and sighed loudly.
[The dead came back to life. Extinct monsters returned. It’s going faster than I thought. But we still have time. It hasn’t opened completely yet.]
[Does the Door to That Land have the power of resurrection?]
[That’s just one of many. Nobody knows its real limit.]
[The goblin shaman, Roxy’s father, and my dad… do they have something in common?]
[Simple. All of them had their soul lingered in this world because they still have something they regret.]
[Earlier, you said that resurrection is just one of its power. What about its other power?]
[Unfortunately, I have no idea. Because last time, the previous holder of Gluttony skill closed it back before the Door could open for too long.]
[My predecessor…?]
[Yes. He did so at the cost of his life.]
『It appears that you’ve decided.』
[Yeah…]
[Is it really a reliable info?]
[You can count on me with that. Envy is especially adept in manipulating an individual’s psyche. I used this ability to interfere with the link Shinn had with the stone and track his whereabouts.]
Eris patted the black bayonet hanging on her waist. By now, apparently they’ve made up to each other and have become a partners once more.
[I actually wanted to study it more thoroughly in the capital. But I guess it’s impossible now.]
[Then, where is it?]
[Please don’t be surprised. Aaron and Mimir as well.]
[Shinn, is in the vicinity of… Barbatos territory Hauzen.]
[I understand that your territory is in danger, but I want you to stay here to protect the capital.]
[But then.]
[I know. But many more things will happen in the future. What if more monsters like the ogre were to reappear around the capitol? The white knights may not be enough to handle them all. That’s why I want you to stay and protect the capitol as it would be the evacuation area for refugees.]
[I’m the one who will be going there. I’ve recovered most of my power back.]
[Eris-sama herself!?]
[Un! Therefore I want Aaron to protect the capital in my place.]
[Eris-sama, I have but one request. Before this Aaron Barbatos agree to undertake the order, I would like to have a duel with my son Fate. And I wish that Your Majesty can bear witness to our battle. Would that be fine?]
[Very well. Regarding the location, we’ll need a wide place. Right, the Goblin Forest should do. The time would be tomorrow morning.]
[Thank you for the considerations. Does Fate have any objection?]
[Aaron…]
[I’ve told you countless times, we are warriors. We do not speak our heart with our mouth.]
