Chapter 95: Holy Night Showdown (Conclusion)
"Hey, you alive?"
I kept my support magic fully active and cautiously peered down at the fallen Aymok. Hit by lightning magic strong enough to leave an ordinary person as nothing but ash, Aymok’s body was charred and battered, yet still retained a human shape.
"I yet live... though that’s about all that can be said."
Surprisingly, he answered. Even in this state, that same arrogant tone—it went past exasperating and was almost impressive.
"...So you’re alive."
Honestly, I felt relieved. At this point, I didn’t hesitate to take a life when necessary, but if possible, I wanted to avoid killing in this world.
"Has God abandoned me, I wonder? No... from the beginning, perhaps the will of the gods lay with you, not me... I played the fool well enough, didn’t I?"
"...This has nothing to do with divine will. I defeated you of my own will, that’s all."
People of this other world, where gods felt real and close, tended to be devout. At times, it seemed like they surrendered their fate to the gods’ will, and that was something I found frustrating now and then.
"So, what’ll it be? Do you want to keep going? Or are you ready to admit defeat?"
"I admit it. My loss... now, go ahead and finish me."
Aymok spoke in a tone that almost sounded satisfied. But I wasn’t about to indulge him.
"...Alicia?"
I looked to Alicia for confirmation. She quickly understood what I meant and responded.
『It’s fine, Ikuto-san. His words just now fulfilled the oath magic.』
Hearing that, Aymok frowned suspiciously. I had opened the telepathic channel with him now that the battle was over, so Alicia’s words reached Aymok as well.
"What meaning does an oath hold now...?"
It made sense—what was the point of an oath with someone who was about to die?
I answered his confusion while quietly casting a spell.
"This is what it means... Highest Heal."
Warm light enveloped Aymok, and his scorched skin began to heal rapidly.
"...What are you... doing?"
"The fight’s over, and your ambitions are crushed. There’s no reason for us to keep fighting. Though, if you’re still up for it, I won’t hesitate."
"...No. There’s no way I could defeat the Hero who even brought down the Demon Lord. And pointless resistance isn’t to my taste."
Aymok slowly sat up. His eyes, hollow and unfocused, looked as though something had finally let go of him. He wouldn’t be putting up any more resistance. Besides, now, no matter what trick he tried, I felt confident I could handle it.
『Ikuto-san, let’s close the gate.』
Seeing that my exchange with Aymok had reached a pause, Alicia made her suggestion.
I looked up at the sky, where that black hole still hung open—a sphere about two meters wide, ominously floating.
『Leaving a link to that world open won’t bring anything good to this one.』
She had a point. There was no guarantee future invaders wouldn’t come through, or even people from this side trying to cross over. I agreed it was best to shut it down.
"But... are you sure? I mean, going home and all..."
That hole led to another world—the world Alicia had been born and raised in.
She’d been raised in a temple as an orphan, so she didn’t have blood relatives there, but she must have had people she considered family, people she was close to.
『In that world, I’m most likely already treated as someone who no longer exists. A new shrine maiden must have been chosen by now, and if I were to return, it would only cause unnecessary confusion.』
Alicia refused my suggestion with those words.
『And besides... before, your body served as the key that helped maintain the connection to this world. Now that your body has been lost, Ikuto-san, I must say the chances of being able to return here are very low.』
"...I see."
Hearing that, guilt weighed on me. I could still live with my family, yet Alicia couldn’t even hope for a brief visit home.
『Please don’t worry. Your family treats me as if I’m truly part of theirs. So... I’m not lonely at all.』
"...Thanks, Alicia."
I thanked her.
"...So. What about you?" I turned to Aymok, the other person from another world. "As you heard, we’re about to close this gate. If you’re planning to return to your world, now’s the time."
"Even if I returned, there’s no place left for me—a traitor to humanity. My clan surely no longer exists."
Aymok said this as he gazed up at the gate, his expression distant.
A lot had happened, but personally, I didn’t hold any particular grudge against Aymok himself. The troubles with those delinquents hadn’t been on his orders. Even during our duel, he never used hostages or targeted incapacitated opponents. My impression of him wasn’t all that bad.
That’s why... I wasn’t against the idea of letting him stay in this world.
"Fine. But if you’re staying here, there’s one thing I need to make clear."
"...What is it?"
"This world has no magic. If magic were discovered, people would panic, and chaos would spread. That would count as interference in this world—the very thing you just swore not to do. So, you have a duty to keep magic secret. Understood?"
"...Understood. I swear it upon the gods."
『Now then, I’ll close the gate. Please recite the spell along with me.』
Following Alicia’s lead, I began chanting the spell.
『O gate born from the rift between light and shadow...』
The structure of this spell resembled the one I’d seen half a year ago when we returned from the other world. The words felt like solemn verses being sung.
"――Thus, in prayer, I shall close this door. Close Gate!"
And then—the magic activated.
The black sphere shuddered, then slowly shrank, and eventually vanished.
I felt the connection to the other world sever, and the blessings within me fading.
Even back when I’d first returned, I remembered thinking how strange this sensation was. Losing the blessing felt like something had been quietly drained from within me, leaving behind an empty, hollow feeling.
『Thank you... Lady Minstia...』
“Thank you for everything up until now... goodbye.”
I bid farewell to the gods who had granted me strength all this time.
The magic swords I still held in both hands shimmered and vanished.
“...The blessings of the gods have faded.”
Like me, Aymok stared blankly at his own palms, having lost his blessings.
“That’s right. With this, all ties to the other world are severed... You’re free now to do whatever you want without clinging to the gods.”
“Do whatever I want... huh.”
“Isn’t there something you want to do?”
“...I don’t know. I only know how to live as a priest of Dakurihipos.”
『If that’s the case, then I think you should find out from now on. There’s nothing left to bind you anymore.』
“...A priestess of Minstia, huh. Have you found your way? How to live in this godless world?”
『...Yes!』
“...I see.”
Aymok stood up and turned his back to us. Then, quietly, he gazed at the setting sun sinking beyond the horizon.
“Hey! Are you alright!?”
A voice called out from a distance.
It was Sota, who had been told to keep his distance to avoid getting caught in the fight.
Souta was carrying Suzuka on his back. I could see Suzuka’s ample chest pressed against Sota’s back... what a lucky guy.
“Is it over!?”
Souta’s repeated questions came.
I responded with a wide smile and a victory sign.
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