Chapter 70: Reunion

Ho...

I was wondering where that well-fed pig had run off to, and here you are, lazing about in the sunshine.

.....!

M-Morgana...?

How did you get here...?

Ethan!!!

Gah?!

Waaah...

I'm so glad you're safe...!

...Fate really is strange.

Just hearing that you were alive... I thought that would be enough...

I never imagined we'd meet again like this.

Ethan. Thank you... for protecting us.

Congratulations... on making it home.

......

No... I don't deserve thanks like that.

Hm...?

The only reason I was able to come home...

was because of Elizabeth.

If anything... I've been searching for some way to atone to all of you.

For my sake... Elizabeth...!

Gah?!

That stupid face of yours... makes me angry even after all this time.

M-Morgana!

Ethan is just an ordinary human now... pranks like that are dangerous!

Hmph. A hero who saved the world isn't going to go down from something like this.

Isn't that right, Ethan?

...Right.

If this helps vent your anger... then as much as you want...

Ghk...?!

You stupid pig...!

Why are you this dense?

I don't know what happened between the two of you, but that doesn't matter anymore!

We've already found a way to save Elizabeth.

......!

...You're a monster too, you know.

To think you deciphered those vile research records yourself...

Hehe. Did you forget who I am?

I may not be quite what I was in my prime...

but I'm still... a great wizard whose name deserves to be remembered in history.

Besides...

this is the final request... that idiot disciple of mine left behind.

No matter what happens, I want to grant that wish.

Merlin...

Now then, if you go through this portal, you'll be able to reach the Sea of Stars.

But don't stay there too long.

I can't predict how long my mana will last, either.

...Okay.

Then all of you... go carefully.

And remember this.

Mana can be restored...

but if you end up trapped in the Sea of Stars as well... there'll truly be nothing left we can do.

So this is... the Sea of Stars.

...It's exactly as I heard.

The concentration of mana is much denser here.

An ordinary human... would have trouble enduring it.

......

So I wasn't the only one who felt this unpleasant sense of being crushed by something.

Hmph, but our plan is the same either way, isn't it?

Time is short for us too.

Let's find Elizabeth and get back quickly.

Yes, Morgana! I'll look for traces of the Princess!

...I'll deal with the monsters around us.

The enemies' presence... doesn't feel normal.

Princess...!

I'm so glad you're safe...

I'll guide you to where the portal is, so please hurry...

...Bedi.

I'm fine, so go back.

...What?

Wh-What are you saying all of a sudden, Princess...!

If you stay in a place like this any longer, Princess, you'll...!

...Yes. I know.

But I'm here by my own will.

So... please don't come looking for me anymore.

Princess...

...Tell the others too.

And...

Ethan is safe, so you don't have to worry.

......!

...Goodbye, Bedi.

Take care of... the kingdom for me.

W-Wait! Princess! Come with me!

...Bedivere.

Bedivere!!!

......!

Get a hold of yourself!

Do you have a death wish, sleep-talking in a place like this?!

S-Sorry, Morgana...!

You're drenched in cold sweat...

What exactly did you see?

......

Just now... for a moment, I connected with the Princess's consciousness.

......!

Elizabeth... is she safe?

Yes. She still looked healthy for now. But...

The Princess kept telling me to go back.

She said that staying here... was her own choice.

...That's hard to believe.

Even with the Fire Dragon's protection, she shouldn't be able to endure for long.

And...

She told me not to worry... because Ethan is safe...

Is that true?!

Ah?! Y-Yes...

There's no way I could mistake Ethan's name.

......

Hmph. So something must've happened with that well-fed pig.

Then now that we've gotten some useful information...

let's head back for now.

Huh? Already?

The portal's energy is getting weaker and weaker.

That means Merlin has run out of mana.

Just knowing Elizabeth is alive is already a huge gain.

...Right. Like I said before, we can't afford to get trapped here too.

M-Morgana! There's something wrong with the portal...!!!

Urgh...!

I'll open a portal somewhere nearby for now.

Everyone... if you don't want to die, hold on tight to me!

...So that's how you all ended up here.

Have you realized now just how foolish you've been?

You don't need to worry about Elizabeth.

I, the Fairy Queen, will take responsibility and save her.

So... wipe that gloomy look off your face already.

The more happily you live the rest of your life, the brighter Elizabeth's resolve will shine.

......!

Hehe. Morgana is right.

You're not a sinner, Ethan...

You're the hero who saved Britannia.

So please...

keep our journey with you not as regret, but as a memory.

...Even if we end up walking different paths,

the terms of our contract don't change.

I'll definitely come to collect someday... so until then, make sure you're doing well, okay?

...Yeah.

Everyone... thank you so much.

I'll never forget the journey I shared with all of...

Wait... don't tell me...

......!

Ethan! Watch out!

......

Th-That's... a slime, isn't it?

Why is that thing here...?

Kyaaaah!!!

M-Monster! Run!!!

The slimes... are attacking people!

...We have to stop them. Now.

Urgh...! Why is it that trouble never stops wherever you are?!

T-This time I really am innocent too!

After coming back to Earth, I seriously haven't done any...

...! That's a King Slime!

Morgana, we'll move first!

W-Wait...! Bedivere!

Hide your appearances with magic first!!!

If you go wandering around the city looking like that... I might die socially!!!

...I think we've handled most of them now.

Still, this is really strange.

A world that doesn't use magic... and monsters show up here...

Ethan. Do you have any idea what's going on?

This is your home world, after all.

Even if you suddenly ask me that...

There's a mountain near here... where people sometimes go missing.

So the area has been closed off now.

...Yeah. It's suspicious at a glance.

Hmph. You're finally saying something useful for once.

Then we'll head that way, so you go get supplies.

...Supplies?

She means dessert.

She's been staring at the desserts in those shops this whole time...

W-What are you talking about?!

We still don't know what's causing all this, so I'm just trying to make thorough preparations!

It's not because I'm curious about Earth's desserts or anything!

...You basically already said it.

Ugh! If you've got time to mouth off, hurry and go get the supplies!

Gah?!

A-All right...! I get it, so stop swinging that staff around!

...How does it feel, fighting again after so long?

...This may sound strange, but it was fun.

It felt like the old days... like we were all out on an adventure together again.

Hehe... I feel the same way.

I realized just how enjoyable it is... to fight alongside my contractor.

......

Eva. Would it be okay if we took a short break?

Maybe because it's been so long since I moved around like this, I think the exhaustion is finally catching up to me.

Mm... sure.

All right then... shall we see how it tastes?

That's... the dessert Morgana asked for.

Are you sure that's okay?

Relax. If it's just one or two, no one will notice.

Mmm! Britannia's parfaits were good too...

but when it comes to ice cream, nothing beats this.

......

Eva. You should eat some too.

We both worked hard. We've earned at least this much, right?

...Feed me.

There are other tasty things too... huh?

D-Don't get the wrong idea.

It's only because... I don't know how to eat it.

O-Oh...! R-Right! It's your first time trying it... that was my bad.

......

Th-Then...

Here... say ahh?

......

...Ahh.

Mm...

Yeah... it's good.

Can I... have a little more?

Uh... y-yeah. Of course. Here!

Hehe... thank you.

Come visit my house next time!

I'll show you ice cream that sparkles like a rainbow!

......!

...Ethan?

Hm? Ah, it's nothing...

Then... shall we head back now?

...I can feel powerful mana up ahead.

Everyone... you'd better prepare yourselves.

Something that strong?

If we're judging by the amount of mana alone, it might rival even me, the Fairy Queen.

...Got it.

Then I guess I'd better steel myself.

Ah-ahh?!

A-A human...?

N-No one's ever found me before now... how did you...?

......

Morgana... is this really who was behind the powerful mana?

No matter how I look at her... she seems human, just like me.

...That's strange.

The flow of mana definitely led this way...

Wh-What do I do...

Sh-Should I... get rid of them right now...?

B-But if I do that and the forest catches fire... my paradise...!

......

Didn't she just... say some pretty terrifying things?

Hah. Hah! As expected, the instincts of I, the Fairy Queen, never miss.

This isn't the time to be bragging!

This absurdly scorching heat...

Karishara... so it really was you.

You've changed so much since I last saw you. I didn't recognize you at all at first.

H-How do you know... my name...?

Did you really not recognize me after seeing my sexy figure?

I am Morgana, the Fairy Queen!

The very Fairy Queen who once subdued you with one hand!

......!

I-If you're the Fairy Queen, then don't tell me...

you're... Morgan le Fay...?

Hmph. Looks like you finally remember.

Do you have any idea how much trouble I've been through today because of you...?

I don't know why you're here, but you need to hurry back to Britannia too...

S-So cuuute...!

Gyaah...?!

That arrogant Fairy Queen... got th-this cute...

Ehehe... sh-should we go to my room?

Th-There's an outfit I want to dress you in...

It would suit you way better... than a plain robe like this...

E-Eek...!

Ethan...!!! Why are you just standing there watching?!

Get over here and calm this creepy woman down already!!!

......

The Red Dragon, Karishara...

The legendary Dragon Lord really is incredible.

I've never seen Morgana look that flustered before.

...Yeah.

This feels like a once-in-a-lifetime sight. Maybe we should watch just a little longer?

Ethaaaan!!!

S-So it was because of me... that the monsters...

I-I'm sorry...

I had no idea... my mana would have this much influence.

Hmph. Now you're finally making some sense.

If you've realized what a nuisance you've been, then hurry up and get ready.

G-Get ready for what...?

To get ready to go back, obviously!

This isn't where you belong!

......

I-I don't want to...

What did you just say...?

B-Because if I go back... I won't be able to read manga anymore...!

And that person... would never leave me alone...

I-I hate pain more than anything in the world!

B-But... it's different here.

Games... manga... anime...

there's so much fun stuff... and there aren't any fairies or humans here to bully me.

I-I promise... I'll protect the humans.

So... please just go back...

I promise... I'll keep living quietly from now on...

...Karishara.

Right now it's only slimes, but later on, who knows what kind of monsters might appear.

With those uncontrollable flames of yours... do you really think you can protect humans?

Th-That...

Now and in the future...

humans will keep dying without ever even knowing why.

Just like how you were unfairly dragged into humans' power struggles.

......

I'm sorry, but I can't allow this.

This is the homeland of one of my companions.

If you refuse to go, then I'll drag you back by force!

O-Okay...!

I-I'll go back... so stop hitting me...

Hmph. You've finally come to your senses.

Morgana... somehow it feels like we're the villains here...

Grr...! Be quiet!

What, are you saying we should just leave this dangerous lizard here?!

...Sniff...

There are still so many series... stacked up like a mountain... that I haven't seen the ending for...

S-So... it really, really pains me...

but if someone... l-like an author died because of me...

then a lot of readers... would be sad...

......

If I go back... I'll be all alone again... won't I...?

Sniff... c-can I really endure that...

Just imagining it... is so lonely...

No, you don't need to worry.

I'm going back to Britannia too, together with all of you.

......Huh?

......!

Ethan... are you serious?

...Have you finally gone insane?

You've lost all the Holy Sword's power, so where exactly do you think you're going?!

...Fighting again today made me realize something all over again.

Waiting around really isn't my style.

I'm going too... to save Elizabeth.

Karishara. I'm sure... we could become good friends.

The world you love so much...

I've been hooked on it for the past fifteen years.