I separated from Miyuki after our dubiously legal endeavor and was now on the way to the House. In this case, I think the ends justify the ans. We got rid of a monster that was supposedly gonna kill soone, so I don’t think anyone can complain.
Given how the PSF treats us at the House, there’s a good chance we would have been the ones called to fix the ss sooner or later regardless.
But this little adventure also revealed sothing interesting… The monster turned into a painting after it died. Just like the lizard in the cruise turned into a mirror… There has to be so kind of connection. Monsters turning into objects… Maybe the separator Endell talked about has sothing to do with it.
“That’s unlikely.” Huh?
Next thing I knew, Endell appeared in front of
in the streets of Three Records. She was leaning forward with an overly cutesy pose, winking, and with her fingers forming a V over the open eye.
“Endell? What? Pffft. You get sillier every ti I see you.” Her appearance was sudden, but with that pose, I couldn’t help but crack up a bit.
“Don’t complain. This is your fault.” With a satisfied smirk, she stood up normally and approached .
“Wait, what are you doing here?! You can’t suddenly appear out in public like this! What if soone sees you?”
“*Sigh…* Not a problem.” She placed one hand on her waist. “You’re the only one who can see .” Ahh… Okay… That makes sense… She did say she was like a fignt of my imagination… Like, she can only exist as a manifestation of my perception.
“That’s good…?” Huh? But if that’s the case, there’s a big inconsistency! “Is that really true? What about last ti? Why did you check I was alone before showing up?”
“It was funny?” Haahh!? “Well, I also wanted to spare you from talking to yourself in public…” She corrected herself after seeing my reaction. “Either way, I never said it was because other people would see . You jumped to conclusions on your own.”
Guess I did… Well, it’s not a bad ti to talk right now, so I let it go. “Fine… Co with .” I was still heading for the House so the two of us walked side by side. She’s so small that it’s like I got a little sister. “So? What was that you said earlier?”
“You were wondering if the Separator created that monster, right? I don’t think they can do it.”
“That’s a pretty bold claim… Why not?”
“Do you know how monsters co to be?” Endell looked up with an inquisitive look. I shook my head and let her explain. “Monsters, as is the case for most life from my world, are born by combining the power of the three pillars. Magic and matter from the Pillar of Essence, life from the Pillar of Void, and a soul and intelligence from the Pillar of Silver.”
Okay… Follows the sa logic that the big Endell told
in my dream… “All the pillars are needed to make monsters, but the Separator is just one. They represent a force like one of the pillars, so it’s unlikely that they’d be able to do what the three pillars can do by themselves and still have the power to interfere with the Pillar of Silver.”
“So… Basically, the Separator’s not strong enough on their own to create monsters? Is that what you’re saying?” Endell nodded.
“Pretty much, but I can’t say for sure… It’s possible that the force behind the Separator is actually much stronger than the three pillars combined. It’s just that if that was the case, why are our worlds still rging? Why would that force create an avatar, the Separator, to handle that task? This is why it’s unlikely that this is the Separator’s doing. Those monsters are born from the power of the pillars.”
“I see what you an… So, what’s up with the monsters that turn into things? I don’t think they’re normal… I’ve never seen anything like them in the other world.” And I’ve killed a lot in the other world.
“They don’t co from our world.” Endell said calmly. “They’re not natural monsters after all.”
“Wait… Does that an soone is creating them? Soone from this world?”
“Maybe… The reason the monsters turn into objects after they’re killed might be because their existence depends on the object. They’re probably created by a skill that creates monsters using objects as catalysts.”
“A skill? On a person from Earth?!” I’m a bit of an exception… And at this point, I guess Carol is too, but does this an we’re not the only ones?!
“I don’t think you understand how skills work…” Endell looked a bit disappointed for a second, but she was glad to flaunt her knowledge. “You see, the Pillar of Silver is the one responsible for giving living beings the ability to use magic through the use of skills, and it doesn’t discriminate. Any being with a soul developed well enough is eligible to receive skills as long as they’re in range.”
“In range? What does that an?”
“It ans that anyone in the other world can receive skills. With more holes connecting our world, portals, all it takes is for soone to step into the other side. Even for a second. If they’re fit, the pillar will automatically grant them a skill.”
“Wow… So is it really soone from this world that’s creating those monsters?” We had walked for long enough, and the House was now in sight.
“It’s possible. I just saw you struggling and wanted to clear it up for you. It’s my job to support you…” Oh… How adorable… Endell must have noticed the way I was looking at her, or perhaps she was able to sense my thoughts.
“Ah!” She blushed, let out a small gasp, and disappeared.
“Co on… You didn’t even give
ti to thank you.” I tapped the sword hidden by my hip. So there’s soone creating those monsters… How can I explain this to the others? It’s not like it solves any of our problems right away, so I guess I can wait to tell them… I’ll keep it in mind.
…
I stopped by the House, but my goal for today was the other world. When I was with Miyuki, I received a ssage from Ririna.
Ririna t with Flanne, and Flanne left a letter with her. A letter for . It seed like it was important, so I decided to head there right away.
Unfortunately, I was right. The letter I received was a beautifully written passive-aggressive letter. It called for my imdiate presence, and at the bottom was the signature of Ebrilyon’s beloved princess, Beatrize.
“Hey, Bea! Hey, Flanne! It’s been a while, huh?” I decided to try to keep things friendly. I don’t think my head’s gonna roll right away this way.
Flanne opened the door to Bea’s office after I knocked. This was a different room from when I t her with Galene. A room less grandiose, less fit to receive guests. Goes to show where I stand on the totem pole. Bea sat behind the desk and smiled as I entered.
“It truly has been a while. Please, take a seat.” Well, she’s still being nice to . That’s good. Flanne closed the door behind
and started preparing so tea as I sat across from Bea.
“Sorry for not contacting you for so long… We’ve been busy cleaning up after you and Carol drove the demons away from Ebrilyon.” Bea was talking politely and calmly but then leaned over and whispered naughtily. “All the scumbag nobles that supported them have been really quiet since then. They’re all quivering in fear that the princess’s shadow will go after their heads. While it has been a lot of work, it’s been much smoother.”
“Princess, refrain from calling noble families that have supported Ebrilyon for generations scumbags. I’m afraid you’ll slip up in public one day.” Flanne calmly took a sip from a cup of tea.
“Again with this? There aren’t going to be any accidents, and it’s true, isn’t it? Also, what are you doing relaxing by yourself without serving us first?” Flanne did as she was told and got up. She’s the sa as always… Flanne is kind and gentle and pretty serious when on duty. I don’t get how soone like that can get so… lazy? Carefree?
“Uhmm… Is the shadow you talked about… ?” I tilted my head while pointing.
“Correct! The blonde girl who single-handedly and rcilessly massacred dozens and dozens of demons. The princess’s shadow.” Wow… They’re giving
weird nicknas now… There’s just one problem, though.
“Blonde? How do they know I’m blonde? Did one of the demons escape?” At my reaction, Bea giggled.
Flanne joined our conversation and placed two cups of tea between
and Bea. “We may have spread so rumors around. To keep bad actors in check. Everything else, they ca up with on their own. A body double, an evil twin, or even just a dark side of the princess. Without any definitive answers, they settled on fearing her shadow.”
“Since, you know, we’re both blonde, they started assuming we were connected sohow.” Bea shrugged.
Makes sense… We’re actually quite different if seen side by side. The shade and shine of our hair are completely different, and her eyes are green, unlike mine. But that only makes it more believable that I’m Bea’s hidden, ruthless side… My red eyes, in the right context, would probably look kinda evil… And cool! Maybe…
“Your and Carol’s help was greatly appreciated, but I don’t know if I can say the sa for this ti…” Bea continued on with a smile, but this ti, I felt sothing sinister from seeing her face.
“What were you thinking? Why did you pick a fight with the Hero of Humanity, with Galene, of all people? Do you know how much of a risk it was to defend you? Can you not do things that jeopardize our friendship? It’s not easy for a royal to have those!”
Bea let it all out with a single breath. She inhaled and stood up straight again. Prim and proper. Like nothing even happened.
“Uhmm… Sorry… That was my bad.”
Bea let out a sigh, then rested her chin on her hand while looking away, bumd out. “You’re lucky you and Galene managed to kill the monster there and then…”
Flanne had returned to a couch in the corner of the room with her cup. “Thanks to your quick action in joining forces, Bea didn’t have to take any additional asures regarding you. Not that it would have been your first ti with your head on the chopping block.” She was so right! And whose fault was it last ti, hmm? That’s right! It was hers!
Kinda… It was my fault for trying to save Ririna, if you can even say that. But I don’t regret it.
“Well… It’s settled then, isn’t it? We’re all good? From the letter you sent, I thought you were really mad. Ahahahaha…”
Bea showed a troubled smile. “I needed to let out so steam. That’s all. But don’t think we’re done here. When you showed up with Galene, you gave
a big fright. I took a big risk to defend you, and I expect this favor to be repaid…” Bea leaned over with a cunning grin.
“And with that, I have a little job for you.”
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