Ankoku Kishi Monogatari (WN)

MVP of This ACT : Let's give applause to Rena for being "subtle".

===

When the light finally receded, Zarxis, Diadone, Labrys, and the Roc had long since vanished.

「What was just now?」

「That's Diadona's petrification gaze, Kuroki. Not even a member of the Divine race can withstand that gaze. That aside…」

Rena looked out towards the direction of where the Roc had been as she spoke.

「They managed to get away huh… Never expected that Diadona will come out of nowhere in this place.」

Rena showed a gloomy look on her face.

But it couldn’t be helped now. They’d already gone this far.

「Cheer up, Rena. Labrys' plan has failed and he will not disturb you anymore. Victory is yours. That's why you should smile and enjoy this victory, at least for now.」

Rena’s lips bloomed into a sweet smile when I told her so.

「You're right… I should be happy. That's why, please protect me if they appear again, okay.」

Rena’s face leaned in so close to mine as she spoke those words.

「Errr, that's…」

I became extremely flustered at seeing her beautiful face so close up.

Meanwhile, Rena was smiling happily, clearly enjoying my reaction.

「Well then, it's about time for me to go down and look at those children. I've to meet Reiji no matter what. See you later, Kuroki.」

Rena descended from her ship after saying her farewell.

As I looked down, I saw the scene of Reiji being surrounded by so many girls. Reiji was smiling in the middle of the group of girls that were surrounding him.

They were celebrating this reunion.

Naturally, Shirone was amongst those girls.

Shirone embraced her comrades too. She looked really happy at their reunion.

I gave my blessings upon seeing that.

Her happiness was what I wanted in the end, after all.

Shirone might not get enough attention since there were so many beauties around Reiji, but it was the path she’d chosen on her own. All I could do was pray for her happiness. Most of all, I didn’t want to have a quarrel with Shirone over this matter again.

Rena arrived at their group a moment later.

The girls opened a path for Rena upon seeing her arrival.

As soon as she approached, Reiji took Rena’s hand in his own.

When they were standing together like that, the scene was picturesque like that of a match made in heaven. I couldn’t help but feel jealous upon seeing a scene like that.

After getting his hands on Shirone and the other beauties, he’d also gotten the beautiful Goddess Rena.

I couldn’t help but feel sad at seeing this scene.

「Uuh… Let's stop this… Seeing more than this will only make me feeling more miserable inside.」

I activated a flying spell as I muttered those words to myself.

I couldn’t help but be jealous of Reiji.

But, I also know that I should be chasing after my own happiness.

I started flying towards Nargol’s direction.

Wait for me, Kuna.

I flew alone under the lonely dusk sky.

===

◆Black Haired Sage; Chiyuki

「Chiyuki-san, what is the thing that was shining just now!?」

Nao asked with a loud voice.

「I don't know… maybe it's some sort of magic but…」

The snake woman had suddenly cast brilliant light as soon as she appeared and Labrys’ figure had vanished as soon as the light receded.

It seems that they’d retreated.

「Look! The angels are…」

When I turned around to look at the direction Rino was pointing at, I saw the angels becoming transparent, as though they were sculpted from gems.

「Petrification curse… they're still alive. But we've to restore them later…」

Upon a closer look, the angels really were turned into gems.

Though it wasn’t a deadly curse, the petrification curse was still powerful. There should be a way to turn them back still though.

「But, that curse is so terrifyingly powerful. To think that it's still this powerful even with Rena's protection…」

I shuddered in fear.

I seems Rena had activated her defensive spells before that snake woman used her demon eyes. I still remember being protected by the pale blue dome at that time.

Though we were protected from the effects of the curse, the angels, who had less magic resistance compared to us, were still petrified.

But it was a normal petrification curse that would turn the target into stone. In this case, the target was turned into gem.

The petrified angels looked as though they were sculpted from emeralds. They might still be alive, but turning them back was going to be a great deal of problem.

「We've to fight against that kind of opponent huh…」

Nao spoke with a weary look on her face.

I also wanted to be spared from fighting against a monster like that.

Everyone’s expression turned gloomy.

「Geez, stop spitting such disheartening words already!! Look, at least everyone is save right now!!!」

Shirone embraced me when I declared loudly.

「Shirone…」

「Thanks you for being safe!!!」

Shirone’s face was messed up due to her endlessly flowing tears. It seems that she’d been extremely worried about us.

「Ah, sorry Shirone… I've made you worry so much.」

Everyone was smiling when the di*ck head said so with a smile on his face.

「Most of all, you're safe and sound, Reiji.」

Rena was walking towards us.

「RENA!!!」

Reiji quickly went over towards Rena too.

「My bad, Rena!! I've made you worry so much!!」

Reiji took Rena’s hand while apologizing to her.

「I know that you'll be okay. But still, I can't help but to worry, Reiji. I always think that something bad might happen to him…」

Rena spoke with a sorrowful look on her face.

I felt that something was off about what Rena had said just now.

I mean, she should’ve said 「Something bad might happen to you」in that kind of situation, right?

But it seems that it was a trivial matter for Reiji since he didn’t notice nor care about it. On the contrary, Reiji looked like he was deeply moved by Rena’s speech just now.

「My bad, Rena!! But, no need to worry anymore!!」

When Reiji was about to embrace Rena, she suddenly dodged his arms from wrapping around her.

「Reiji… It's true that I'm glad upon seeing you safe and sound but, you've to calm down for now. That's why, let's meet again later on.」

Rena looked seriously at the petrified angels as she spoke.

It wasn’t like all of them were turned into sculpted gems. Some were safe, while others were partially petrified.

Rena ordered the angels who were safe and sound to carry their petrified and half-petrified comrades back to her ship before returning to Elios. Rena and co. left us behind to return.

「Let's go back to the Republic of Ariadya, Reiji-kun.」

「 Yeah.」

Euria had moved to the Republic of Ariadya before our expedition in Labrys’ labyrinth. That’s why all of us were returning there.

According to Shirone, both Kyouka and Kaya should’ve been waiting for us at the Republic of Ariadya as well.

「Come to think of it… Kuroki?」

Shirone surveyed the surroundings.

There was no one but us left in this place.

「Come to think of it, where did he go, Shirone? You should've managed to take him back from Nargol, right?」

I was also looking to spot his figure. I had yet to thank him for saving my life.

But Shirone shook her head upon hearing my question.

「Uurhm… not yet… he might already be on the way back to Nargol…」

Shirone was already on the verge of crying again.

「Let me hear the details later after we arrive in the Republic of Ariadya. Kyouka-san and co have been waiting for us there, right?」

There were so many things to ask Shirone regarding what happened to her when we weren’t around. In addition, I wanted to know more about him too.

I recalled the matter of Shirone’s childhood friend, Kuroki, again as I recited the chant for the teleportation spell.