Volume 2 - CH 5

The atmosphere of the funeral was too heavy.

A single coffin laid inside the vast Golden Sanctuary.  The people inside the sanctuary were Markus, Wies, and Shulavis – the family of three; also a bothersome pig was mixed in as well.  I had no choice but to attend the funeral.  After all, this person was my benefactor.

King Markus proceeded calmly without expressing any particular emotion, and the funeral ended quickly.  According to Shulavis, commanding the maintenance of Mestria alone is hard enough work, but now with the additional worries of the Northern Forces’ invasion and the immortal mage’s attacks, the king and queen couple are being strained to the extent that they’ll go bald from all this stress.  That’s why they kept the funeral as simple as possible.

I was reminded of the evening on that beautiful sunny day when I first said my goodbyes here.  Just like that time, the dazzling sunset streamed through the stained glass windows, projecting colorful images onto the floor of the dim sanctuary.  I looked at them carefully, and for the first time, I realized they were depicting a kind-looking woman ascending to heaven.

“It seems like traces of the curse refuse to disappear no matter what, so the corpse will be burned until only the bones are left.”

Shulavis spoke plainly while we were returning from the funeral.  Shulavis and I were climbing up the wide and long white marble steps that were decorated with sculptures.  The capital's a stone city built on a mountain.  Looking behind us from the steps, I could see the dark green color of the Forest of Needles spreading out beyond the grey cityscape below.

(…You normally don’t burn them?)

“That’s right.  Once, when I was a child, I saw Vatis-sama’s corpse during a ceremony…  I still remember how it wasn’t dried up or decayed, but instead retained her lifelike appearance with frightening vividness.”

Shulavis was speaking faster than usual.  Possibly to avert his eyes from death.  I kept him company.

(But isn’t she someone from over 100 years ago?)

“Yeah.  However, powerful magic can sometimes transcend even death…  Though, of course, there haven’t been any instances of dead people coming back to life, barring cases like yours.”

Was it because it was just after the funeral?  Shulavis conscientiously supplemented those words.

(There’s magic that prevents you from dying, isn’t there?  Like what that surreptitious sorcerer is doing.)

“That looks to be the case.  But what kind of magic it is, I have no idea.”

After a sigh, Shulavis continued.

“Having said that, knowing the enemy’s characteristics is a big deal.  That old man is protected by some kind of magic and can’t be killed through physical destruction.  On top of that, his curse can only be applied at a relatively close range.  According to the analysis of the long staff that was left behind, I’m told it only has physical strengthening and basic transformation magic applied to it.  There was a tunnel hole where the staff passed through in the Crown Stone Castle’s stone pavement and underground.  That attack doesn’t ignore distance, which means he needs to have direct contact through something to be able to land the curse.  In other words, you’re dead if you get hit, but measures can be taken to prevent it from hitting.”

Shulavis seemed to be talking to me, but he kept staring ahead while speaking.  It looked like he was organizing his thoughts on his own.  What a diligent guy.

(At the end of the day, it looks like that old man’s goal wasn’t to kill Nott, but to kill the mages of the royal dynasty.)

“That seems to be the case.  Since he can’t die from physical attacks, from his point of view, Nott shouldn’t pose a threat at all.  If he wanted to kill Nott, he could've done it at any time.  His goal must have been to steadily reduce the number of pawns available to the royal dynasty first.”

Shulavis turned his head back towards the sanctuary.

“…And he’s already succeeded.”

(Right.)

Silence.  Shulavis finally looked over towards me.

“Pig, how about we head to Jess’ room for a bit?”

(But she’s-)

“It’ll be fine.  I have something to show you.”

I was guided by Shulavis, and the two of us headed towards Jess’ room.  The living room with a study desk was empty.  The window was open, and the breeze quietly blew into the room.  Further inside was a bedroom with a bed.

Jess was there, slumbering peacefully.

(She still hasn’t woken up?)

“There’s no precedence for this, so no one knows when she’ll wake up.”

Shulavis answered while glancing at Jess.  Her sleeping face no longer had the cursed bruise.

To be honest, it was a miraculous coincidence.  Soon after Jess’ body was covered by the curse, Jess triggered ecydessa.  Ecydessa is a phenomenon that can be considered a mage molting.  All magic, including that of the person in question, becomes a blank slate at that time.  The slow-acting death curse on Jess simply vanished as soon as her ecydessa happened.

“Though I don’t think it was a coincidence.”  Shulavis commented.

(Huh?)

“That was my internal monologue.  Ecydessa is something that suddenly occurs to young mages due to a rapid increase in magic power.  The reason for Jess’ surge in magic power in the face of death was most likely because you were by her side.  She was convinced that the sealed memories were about you, and wished to regain them, even if it was only for a moment before she died; in order to break Grandfather’s sealing magic, this resulted in a huge wave of magic power.  That’s why ecydessa happened at that timing.”

Is that so?

(Don’t tell me your grandpa predicted this…)

“Who knows?  The truth is already in the coffin.  It’ll soon be turned to ashes.”

Shulavis and I exited the bedroom, returning to the living room.  Shulavis then closed the bedroom door.

“…Though it wouldn’t surprise me if Grandfather predicted this a long time ago.”

A king with outstanding foresight.  Because of his death, Mestria is once again plunged into an era of turmoil.

However, this is also the first step towards rewriting this failed world with our own hands.

(So what did you want to talk about?)

“Have a seat.”

Shulavis pointed at the floor while he sat down on Jess’ study chair.  What are you, a super sadistic prince?

After I obediently sat down on the floor, Shulavis took out a book from Jess’ study desk.  It was bound in a dark brown leather cover, and was about the size of a paperback book.

“You’re able to read our language, right?  Have a look.”

Saying that, he opened the first page and placed the book in front of me.

Thanks to Jess’ magic, I had no trouble with Mestrian.

Beautiful black pen lettering was adorned to the cream-colored pages.  It looked to be a diary.

Year 129  Month of 7  Day 7  of the Royal Calendar

Memory, is a very unreliable thing.  I felt that I should leave my memories at a definite place somewhere, so I started keeping this diary.

It felt like I was waking up for the first time this morning.  A chain of surprises threw my mind into disarray.  What I can be certain of, is that I have arrived at the capital before I knew it, I’m now able to use magic, and shockingly enough, I am being welcomed as the fiancé of the king’s grandson.  I could have never imagined such a warm reception, and I am overjoyed by it.  But I get the feeling that I’m forgetting something important.  Like there’s a bookmark stuck in an unknown place in my mind.  It’s a very frustrating feeling.

The king informed me that, because of something he can’t tell me, my memories were sealed.

Without touching the pages, Shulavis used magic to turn them.

Month of 7  Day 14

Today, I learned how to move objects using magic for the first time.  It was easier than expected.

As for my journey, I’m still not able to recollect anything.  I can only recall that it’s something I should never forget, yet I forgot what I should be able to remember.  It’s very painful.  Why did Evis-sama do something so cruel, even though he’s a thoughtful and kind person?

He flipped through a few pages.

Month of 8  Day 1

Starting this month, I will be learning magic for creating things.  In order to do this, I will need to study the structure of things.  Thinking about how complex the world is made my head spin.

During my self-study, I dozed off and had a strange dream.  It was a dream where I was in a dark forest, and someone by my side promised to be with me forever.  I was extremely happy, and just as I was thinking about how to thank that person, I woke up.  I was by myself, reading a book.

A bunch of pages were flipped all at once.

Month of 8  Day 28

I managed to create dephlogisticated air today.  Just as I had learned, when I add a gust of it to the fire, it burns extremely brightly.  I feel like the way my body relies on it to survive is similar to how the fire relies on it to burn.  Could they be related?  I will look into this tomorrow.

At night, when I looked at the beautiful starry sky, I started crying for some reason.  Why was that?  But I get the feeling that, no matter how much I looked into this, I won’t be able to find an answer.

Several pages were turned.

Month of 9  Day 3

Today, I continued practicing how to manipulate water.  It’s quite hard to grasp, so I had a hard time.

Just when I was troubled over this, Ms. Wies brought me to the top of the capital where I could see everything far off in the distance.  I was told that the dragon Mr. Markus created takes off and lands here.  It was a beautiful view.

When I looked at the mountains in the direction of Quiltli, tears fell from my eyes again.  I’ve been crying a lot lately.  It’s time that I become stronger, I thought to myself.

Dozens of pages were flipped in one go.

Month of 10  Day 9

I haven’t been able to write because I traveled to Niabel, so it’s been a while.  Really, a lot of things happened.  I can’t write all of it down, so I’ll only note one thing.

Yesterday, a Mister Pig suddenly appeared in front of me.  Even though he’s a man, he appeared to have been turned into a pig for some reason.  He’s a strange person.  He seems to know a lot of things, and I get the impression that he also knows me.  Although he himself denies it.

During the battle at Niabel, Mister Pig tried desperately to protect me.  And when Mister Pig let me sit on his back, for some reason, tears began welling out then and there.  It was the same strange feeling I got when I looked at the starry sky or mountains.

It seems like Mister Pig will be by my side from now on.

Shulavis picked up the diary and returned it to its place.

“Although there are a few pages that were only about her studies, most of what Jess wrote about is like this – it’s about you.  Isn’t that touching?”

A pair of long legs turned back to face me.

“…Who would want to marry this kind of girl?”

His voice, with a sigh mixed in, made me raise my head.

(Are you planning on breaking off the engagement?)

Shulavis shook his head.

“We weren’t formally engaged in the first place, but… I don’t intend to end this relationship right now, for the sake of Jess.  Now that Grandfather is dead, the only thing keeping her in the royal dynasty is the verbal promise to marry me.”

(Then why did you show me her diary?)

“Just like Jess, I’m a lonely person.  It’s fine to keep me company with some small talk, right?”

Underneath those bushy eyebrows of his, Shulavis’ eyes didn’t smile; though his mouth smiled awkwardly.  It felt to me like he was forcing himself to create a cheerful atmosphere.

(You’re worried about how to face Jess, right?)

“Yeah.”

He paused for a while before resuming.

“To be honest, if I could, I’d gladly be with a woman like Jess.  There aren’t many who have such a serious, enthusiastic, and kind-hearted personality…  Plus, her breasts aren’t too big either.”

Eh…?  What did he just say?

While I was being dumbfounded, Shulavis blushed.

“That was a joke.  You should’ve laughed there.”

Wow, what a terrible joke.  For a moment there, I honestly thought that I found a kindred spirit and got excited over nothing.

Shulavis cleared his throat before speaking again.

“Let’s get back to being serious.  Regarding Jess’ future, there’s one thing I need to decide on.”

(What is it?)

“I’m talking about her memories.  The ecydessa triggered by Jess not only lifted the surreptitious sorcerer’s curse, it also dispelled the final sealing magic that Grandfather had placed on her.  So the next time she wakes up, I’m afraid all her memories will have been returned.”

I see… that’s certainly true.

(So what’s the problem?)

“When that happens, is it really alright for you and Jess to stay the way things are right now?  Do you think it’s okay for Jess to remain as my fiancé?”

……

(Before he died, Evis told me to go back.  He wanted me to stay by Jess’ side until the time is right, and to return to my world when that time arrives.  If I don’t, I’ll never be able to go back.  I can’t stay by Jess’ side forever.)

After a bit of hesitation, I firmly conveyed this to him.

(When I’m gone, I want you to take care of Jess.  So please keep this as is.)

Shulavis’ eyes looked like they were wavering.

“I see.  In that case, I have a proposal from Father.”

Seemingly restless, he repositioned his legs again and exhaled heavily.

“The ability to seal memories is a very advanced magic that only Grandfather is able to use.  There’s no one left that can do it.  However, if it’s erasing memories, that’s something done very often to Yesmas and the citizens of the capital.  Father, Mother, and even some special citizens of the capital can cast that kind of magic.”

I got goosebumps.

(…So you want to erase Jess’ memories?)

“I’m saying that as a possibility.  Jess’ memories with you is too heavy for her to bear with for the rest of her life.  If you’re going to disappear, then it’s surely better for her to not remember them.  From the time you left until her memories were sealed, Jess was practically crippled.  If her memories are erased, Jess won’t have to experience those feelings.”

Shulavis let out a deep sigh.

“But it’s different from the seal in that the erased memories will never return.  No matter how much you regret it, they won’t come back.  And she won’t recall that ‘something happened,’ like with the seal.”

I recalled the conversation about the bookmark.

—If all my memories are like a book, my current state feels like the pages, from when I left the house to when I started living in the capital, are all wet and stuck together.  But there’s a bookmark firmly placed inside, and only the feeling that I must revisit it remains…

Erasing her memories would be like tearing out the pages and throwing them away.  The bookmark that’s placed inside is also tossed out, so she won’t be tormented by it.

I thought back to Jess’ diary.  I’m happy she thought about me like that, but on the other hand, the bitterness of not being able to stay by her side stabbed at my heart like thorns.  And when I return to Japan, that pain will last until Jess dies.

If I could pretend it never happened.

If I could make it so that Jess and I never met.

I never could have imagined that my life would be given a pure-love-novel-like option.

However, the answer was already decided.  I didn’t return to Mestria to flirt with Jess and then go home.  Isn’t that right?  Of course I didn’t.  I came back in order to make sure Jess achieves happiness, and to take care of my unfinished business.

I made up my mind and conveyed it to Shulavis.

(Erase it.  Erase all the memories that Evis sealed away.)

“I see,” Shulavis muttered, and raised the corners of his mouth even further.  This time it was a genuine smile.

“I’m relieved to hear you say that.  I understand your determination and your feelings for Jess.  I’ll advise Father to make sure he doesn’t erase her memories.”

That night, before the sky started to brighten from the sunrise, Jess woke up.  I was curled up asleep next to the bed when Jess stirred with an “Nn…” and roused me.

In the dimly lit room, Jess, in her nightgown, silently got up from her bed and returned with a small silver box and large gold key.  She stood in front of me with a serious expression.

“Um… Mister Pig.”

(What is it?)

“Could you take this key and insert it into the keyhole of this small box?”

Jess knelt down on both knees, leaned forward slightly, and handed me the key.  She was wearing a thin, white negligee that would make anyone looking at her feel troubled.  If the room was lit, it would’ve been a strikeout.

(Erm… I feel like I might see a lot of things, so can you get changed first?)

“I can’t wait any longer.  Please.”

I figured it would be a bad idea if Jess leaned forward any further, so I quickly took the key with my mouth.  Compared to the front half, its handle was so large that even a pig’s mouth could hold it easily – or rather, it felt like the key was made so that even a pig could hold it.

—I finally understand why the key was so big.

The words Jess said when she took over my curse crossed my mind.  When she resigned to her death, she remembered this key.

The girl with disheveled clothes and hair held the small box in front of herself and waited.  I walked over there and looked at her face.  Her clear brown eyes stared straight back at me.

“…Please, come here quickly.”

Jess held the box further out towards me, pointing the keyhole at me.  I took a step forward and clumsily lined up the key with the keyhole.

I felt strangely nervous.

I gingerly inserted the key.  A soft click happened as the small box open.

Jess carefully opened the lid and immediately took out its contents.  Inside was a folded, light green scarf, and a glass pendant.

She looked through the pendant.  The image of a girl and a pig were reflected in her watery eyes.

With trembling hands, Jess wore the pendant around her neck.  The memory on the glass touched the soft skin on her chest.

“I remember everything.”

A soft voice said.

“This is the box and key that Evis-sama gave me the last time he spoke to me.  He said the box could only be opened by the one deeply related to my sealed memories.”

(The seal has been lifted, huh.)

While conveying that, I placed the key on the carpet.  It must be Evis’ kindness to prepare a special key that even a pig can hold.

“Um… I don’t know what to say at a time like this…”

Jess said in a mosquito-like voice while still clutching her scarf.

I have to agree.  It would be nice to say something witty, but it also doesn’t sound right to be saying something like “Please don’t eat me” here.

I simply conveyed what I thought at that moment to Jess.

(We meet again.)

Jess’ eyes moistened, and she silently nodded.

—Sorry, I feel like I’m going to cry if I say anything.

(Me too.  I feel like I’m going to cry if I raise my voice.)

>TL Note: Pun with shouting also meaning cry.

My inappropriate joke made Jess smile, revealing her teeth.  However, what came out of her throat was not laughter, but sobbing.

“Mister… Pig…”

Jess touched my pork cheeks with both hands and pressed her forehead against mine.  Her slender eyelashes before my eyes were wet.  “Uu…”  Her sobs were transmitted through my bones.

“…You were by my side after all.”

Hearing her say that in a trembling voice, I held back my tears.

(I figured it was too soon to say goodbye.)

Drops of water fell from the tip of her lashes and shattered on my nose.

“…That was so mean of you.”

Her voice sounded like it was being squeezed out from the back of her throat.  And as if I was under a sleep paralysis, I couldn’t move.

“Why… why did you have to leave?”

Her blunt question left me speechless.

(Well… it’s as I had told you.  In front of Evis, I had no choice but to accept that.)

My reply was anything but straightforward.

“No matter when, Mister Pig would always support me without giving up, so why…”

I had nothing to say in response to Jess’ sobbing.

Jess rubbed her forehead against my hard skull.

“Do you understand how painful it was for me, thinking that I would never be able to see you again, Mister Pig?”

(Sorry…)

“Furthermore, when we met again… you pretended to not know me…  How could you do something so cruel?  You should have known what kind of feelings I was going through when I was trying to remember about you, Mister Pig…”

There was a reason for that – was not something I could say.  There’s a reason for everywhere.  Her question was whether or not I was using it as an excuse.

(It’s my fault.  I prioritized my own convenience over Jess’ feelings.)

“That’s right, Mister Pig is the one to blame.  It’s all Mister Pig’s fault.  I’ve been-”

I didn’t hear anything after that.

Jess didn’t let go of my cheeks, and simply kept her forehead pressed against mine as she started crying her heart out.  Surrounded by Jess’ scent, I felt the reality of finally being reunited sink in, and all I could do was shed tears.

After breakfast, Jess finally calmed down, and she guided me to the laboratory.  The laboratory was like a cave that was carved out from the rock, and was divided into a room with various things displayed on shelves, and a simple room with a stone desk and chairs.  The light from the small windows and magic lanterns hanging on the walls dimly illuminated its rough interior.

“I’ve been practicing magic here during the three months that Mister Pig was away.”

Jess, who was touching the stone desk, had already changed into her daytime attire.  Her hair was fixed, and her clothes were straightened.

“What’s wrong, Mister Pig?  Do you prefer me in my sleepwear?”

(Of course not.  I’m not a pervert after all…  And don’t read my monologues.)

Giggling, Jess placed the glass cup in her hand onto the desk.

“I’ve been wanting to show off.  I wanted someone to see just how much I’ve learned and become able to do…  Is it okay if I ask Mister Pig to be that person?”

Hearing her say that so happily, I nodded.

(Of course.  I’d love to see you use magic, other than the one which involves spraying fuel and making it explode.)

“Erm… but that’s the magic I practiced the most…”

I became concerned when she said that slightly sulkily.

(Why did you practice that magic so much?)

“Because, I want to become strong.”

You’re sounding like the protagonist of a shounen manga…

“‘Please use your own strength to find happiness.’  It felt like someone had told me that before, so I practiced a lot of powerful magic that could protect myself.”

(…So that’s why.)

Who’s the person that told her to use her own strength to find happiness in this kind of unreasonable world?  Really now, what a totally irresponsible bastard.

Jess happily placed her hand over the glass cup, and a clear, colorless liquid gushed out from the bottom of the cup.

“This is water.”

Jess turned her hand in my direction, and the cup floated until it was directly over me.

“Like so, I learned how to move things without touching them.  It’s not that difficult to manipulate objects with shapes.”

I had a foreboding feeling.  Right after that, Jess tilted her hand slightly and flipped the cup over on me.  The water that filled the cup poured over me – is what I expected, and pulled my ears back in anticipation, but the water swirled and floated just above my nose.

“I’ve also learned a little on how to manipulate things that don’t have shapes.”

When Jess extended her arms out, the swirling water above me became a thin stream which began to spiral around her.  Wrapped in a veil of water, she stood on her toes and spun in place for one loop like a ballerina.  Her fine blonde hair danced in the air.  The water turned into fine droplets before disappearing without a trace.

“Mister Pig, your mouth has been open this entire time.  Were you entranced by that?”

Hearing her say that mischievously, I closed my mouth.

(That’s amazing…  It was pretty.)

“Thank you very much.  I have other magic as well.  Please take a look.”

With child-like excitement, Jess showed me a lot of her magic.  Magic that heats up water and boils it in the blink of an eye.  Magic that creates an orange flame by burning alcohol – also known as ethanol.  Magic that creates a dark blue flame by burning a substance that is a mixture of alcohol and water – probably methanol.

“For this dark flame, if you mix it with salt, it can produce various colors.”

While explaining it like we were in an experiment classroom, Jess dyed the flames burning on the desk red, yellow, green, blue, and purple.  The varying colors of flames flickered in the dimly lit laboratory and made Jess’ brown eyes sparkle.

(How beautiful…  That’s an amazing skill.  Do you enjoy studying magic?)

Jess nodded emphatically.

“I do!  This world is incredible.  It’s as if someone had decided on the rules, even the smallest of details have been meticulously determined.  The more I learn, the more I’m able to utilize those rules for myself…”

Seeing Jess speak so fervently convinced me.  She definitely isn’t someone that is fine with just being a slave.  My expectation that she would become a brilliant scholar wasn’t wrong.

(If you continue working hard like this, I’m sure you’ll become a full-fledged mage in no time.)

Despite her shy but joyful-looking face, Jess slowly shook her head.

“No, I’m still only at the doorway.  There are things in this world that can’t be learned within a lifetime.  The library alone contains more magic books than I can finish reading…  Not to mention how there seems to be worlds that can’t be explained through current theories alone…”

It’s probably been a long while since I’ve seen Jess looking this happy.

(That’s great.  I’m relieved to see you living such a fulfilling life.)

“Yeah.  I really enjoy studying.”

After answering that cheerfully, Jess slightly lowered the tone of her voice.

“…Um, I know I said some unreasonable things earlier, but I know it clearly in my heart.  The happiness that I have right now, it’s all thanks to Mister Pig…  I understand that it was necessary for Mister Pig to choose to leave Mestria so that I could stay here like this.”

Jess extinguished the flames and looked at me.

“Please let me thank you once again.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you so very much.”

Jess bowed her head.

“…And, I’m sorry…  I was a bit distraught earlier…”

Suddenly receiving a thanks and apology left me bemused.

(No… that’s alright.  For me, I’m happy to hear that you’re able to convey your feelings so straightforwardly.  If you don’t say it outright, an otaku like me that hasn’t taken any classes on a woman’s heart won’t get it.)

“Is that so…?”

Jess murmured before walking over to me, kneeling on the floor, and looking me in the eyes.

“Then, let me say one more thing.”

(Ok… go for it.)

“I’ll be alright from now on.  Just as Mister Pig told me, I’ll use my own strength to find happiness.  I’ll work hard to be able to live a proper life without relying on Mister Pig.”

(…That’s good.)

My heart was pounding because I didn’t know what she was going to say, but I was relieved to hear her say those words.  Now that I’ve completed my mission, I won’t have to worry when-

Jess suddenly hugged me tightly.

“So, Mister Pig, please… don’t go anywhere.”

The laboratory door opened, and the silence was broken.

“Oops… excuse me.”

Wies’ gaze fell on Jess, who was embracing the pig.  Jess hurriedly let me go.

“S-sorry, um, this is…”

Even though we didn’t do anything bad, there was a strange sense of guilt.  The prince’s mother turned towards me with a nuanced smile that seemed to say “It’s a good thing you’re a pig.”

“Jess, I’ve been looking for you.”

“Sorry, it’s because I suddenly wanted to practice a bit of magic…”

Wies looked at me.

(It’s true.  We weren’t doing anything shameful…)

Wies placed her hand over her mouth and smiled elegantly.

“I understand.  I didn’t come to reprimand you for being here.”

With a serious expression, Wies looked at Jess.

“Evis-sama’s body will be cremated tomorrow.  Since you weren’t able to attend the funeral, Jess, why don’t you go and say goodbye to him today?”

Following her suggestion, Jess and I headed to the Golden Sanctuary.  The sacred building that enshrines the ancestors of the royal family is located at the bottom of a long flight of stairs from where Jess lives.  It’s a huge sanctuary with gold decorations on black stones, so it’s hard to miss.

There was no one else in the sanctuary but us two.  I was told the citizens of the capital are normally not allowed to enter.  Underneath the large, domed ceiling, Jess folded her hands towards Evis’ coffin.  Next to her, I also lowered my head.

Jess closed her eyes and prayed for a long while.

“Shall we leave?”

As Jess said that, she started walking towards the main entrance of the sanctuary.  The footsteps of Jess, and the clopping of the pig’s four legs, echoed through the quiet hall.

“Evis-sama was an unfathomable person, wasn’t he?”

(Yeah.)

“It felt like he had foreseen everything.”

I looked up at Jess.

(For example?)

“The most notable one is my memories.  Evis-sama didn’t tell me why he sealed them, but… when I was cursed and on the verge of death, you tried to reveal your true identity, Mister Pig, and the key that Evis-sama gave me acted as a hint which convinced me that Mister Pig was my bookmarked person.  As a result of struggling desperately to break the seal on my memories, ecydessa happened…  If all of this was within Evis-sama’s expectations, then the fact that I’m alive right now is thanks to him.”

(That’s certainly true.  And to be honest, I don’t think it’s out of the ordinary for him to have planned everything to this step.)

“To think a person as incredible as him allowed the existence of the structure known as Yesmas.”

Hearing that, I pondered.  Evis was by no means lacking in imagination, and he held substantial power.  But even with those in mind, he had assessed that the race of Yesmas must continue to exist in Mestria.  Is it because that’s the foundation of this country?  Or, more terrifyingly, the foundation of this world itself?

—I’m sure the same is true of your society.  Provided that humans continue to exist, there will always be someone that is oppressed.

I recalled what Evis once said.

(Jess, what do you think of the structure of this country?)

When asked, Jess slightly lowered her head.

“I don’t think it can continue on like this, but…”

(You don’t know if it’s a good idea to break the current system either, right?)

“Yeah.  Perhaps… there isn’t an answer to be found.”

(Maybe so.  But that’s all the more reason to question the status quo and continue to think of an answer.)

We reached the entrance.  Jess placed her hand on the heavy metal door.

After looking back at the coffin, Jess lowered her gaze to face me and smiled.

“Yes.  It would be nice if we could make the world a better place, even if only slightly.”

“While we’re here, there’s something I want to show you,” said Jess, as she led me to the cemetery next to the sanctuary.

It’s still early morning, and no one was here.  The cool autumn wind caressed the ground underneath the invigorating sunlight.  White, black, and grey tombstones were neatly lined up on the grassy square that was a mixture of green and light brown color.

“Um… Mister Pig, can I ask you a strange question?”

Jess asked while slowly walking along the passageway that looked like stepping stones.  A strange question?

(…What is it?)

“Erm… Mister Pig, you said that you recently got a super cute, angelic girlfriend with boobs that aren’t too big… was that true?”

So that’s what you wanted to ask, I thought, and looked at Jess.

(Of course that was a lie.  It’s rare to meet that kind of girl to begin with, and even if I did meet one, there’s not a single chance in hell that she would be with a scrawny four-eyed shitty virgin.)

“Is that so…?”

Did she notice me looking?  Jess quietly raised her left arm over her chest.

“Ah, over here.”

Jess stopped and pointed at a pure white tombstone.  The epitaph was inscribed in golden letters.

Here lies Yris

84 ~ 124

Wife of Casey, and Mother of Ys & Jess

“I found my mother’s grave.”

Hang on a second, you’re-

(Jess, you're Ys’ younger sister?)

“Eh, Ys…  Oh!”

Right.  From the time she discovered the tomb up until today, her memory of Ys was sealed.  It’s not surprising that she wasn’t able to link the two memories together.

Ys.  The woman who Nott continues to endlessly yearn for.  She was killed as a Yesma five years ago, and a lot of people regarded Jess and being somewhat similar to her.  I didn’t think these were coincidences at all.

(That explains why Nott almost seriously fell in love with you.  I didn’t expect you to be her sister.)

“…That was surprising.”

(Were you able to find Casey – your father?)

“No…  I did some research, but I wasn’t able to find anyone who met the criteria…”

(I see.  That’s a shame.)

That means there was no way to strictly confirm whether or not the Ys mentioned in this grave was Nott’s beloved who was killed five years ago.  It’s possible another person had the same name.  That being said…

(Hey Jess, this calendar is the so-called Royal Calendar, right?)

“That’s correct.  The Royal Calendar has been used in Mestria since the year Vatis-sama unified the land.”

(It’s currently the year 129, right?)

Though I won’t say where I learned that from.

“Yes, that’s right…”

(Jess’ mother, Yris, died in year 124, which was five years ago.  And Nott’s beloved, Ys, also died five years ago.)

“You’re saying my mother died the same year Ms. Ys was killed?”

(Right.  Naturally, I can’t rule out the possibility that this was all just a coincidence, but…)

If it’s true, it’s a big deal.

—He’s short-tempered and very extreme.  He was the one to burn down the entire Bapsas monastery. 

I remembered Shulavis’ words.  Does Jess know?  The one who burned down the monastery was-

“Yeah, I heard Markus-sama was the one to burn down the monastery.”

……

(Are you okay?)

“What do you mean?”

(I mean… if this is that Ys, then your sister died because of Markus.  And you might have lost your mother as well because of the impact that it had on her.)

Jess gave me a troubled smile.

“But I don’t have any memories of my family at all…  At this point, it doesn’t seem right for me to be feeling angry.”

(Is that how it is?)

“That’s how it is.  Of course, I doubt Mr. Nott will be able to forgive Markus-sama…”

The alliance established through Shulavis and my quick wits, and a common formidable foe, the immortal mage – even with these important factors, we can’t forget the possibility of a fatal rupture between the royal dynasty and the Liberation Army.  The royal dynasty is fighting to maintain the mages’ reign based on the Yesma system, and the Liberation Army is fighting for the Yesmas’ freedom.

And the cause of the leader of Liberation Army’s beloved’s death, can be attributed to the fact that the current king, Markus, burned down the monastery.  The current alliance that was formed like forcing two repelling magnets together will crumble in an instant.

(If only there was a good solution to this.  I hope some kind arrangement can exist so that the royal dynasty and the Liberation Army are able to work together in the future.)

While her hair swayed in the wind, Jess opened her mouth and blurted out an “Oh.”

“Speaking of which, I heard Markus-sama has a younger brother named Mr. Hortis.”

(Is that so?  Does it have something to do with the Liberation Army?)

“No.  I haven’t heard the details, but… it seems Mr. Hortis disappeared from the capital five years ago in opposition of Evis-sama’s and Markus-sama’s policies.  If he was around, he might be a reliable person who could connect the royal dynasty and the Liberation Army.”

Five years ago?  Don’t tell me…

“Yes, I’m afraid it’s probably about the monastery.”

(That guy called Hortis, is there any hope in finding him?)

“He might be dead already, or he might have changed his appearance…  I was told that he was never spotted by the hecklepons’ surveillance network, so there’s no news of his whereabouts at all.”

Hang on a minute.

There’s two mysteries that both have a strange coincidence.

Have you all noticed it yet?  It’s a fact that fits too well to be dismissed as merely a coincidence.

—It’s said that hundreds of years ago during the Dark Ages when mages were still fighting, they would use their power to turn people into vultures for spying purposes, or fat seals and punish them.

There exists magic that can transform people into animals.

—I heard they met five years ago while Mr. Nott was journeying to rescue Ms. Ys.  It’s a bit of a strange story, isn’t it?

I thought back to Celes’ words.  He had a miraculous encounter with Nott five years ago.  He’s closer to Nott than anyone else.  He’s incredibly smart, and very human-like.  He showed interest in Shulavis for some reason.

Perhaps this was all just a coincidence.  Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but want to be sure.

(Jess, it’s been decided what we have to do next.)

“What is it?”

Jess crouched down in front of me with great interest.

While staring at those panties, I was filled with mysterious confidence.

(We might be able to find Hortis.  Let’s go meet him – that perverted dog, Rossi.)