At Least This Much

Humanity had to wage total war against the Seven Sin God.

Gender? Forty percent of the war dead were women. Age? Fifteen percent of those in the Imperial National Cemetery were minors from each race.

Anyone who could use mana fought and died.

No matter how hard I tried, troops were ground down.

The lives of honorable warriors disappeared at a sickening pace.

So then those without mana volunteered.

They wanted to join a war where even fifth-rank knights and sixth-rank warriors vanished like dew.

I understood their spirit, but no matter how short-handed we were, I couldn’t accept them.

Without mana, they would just become shields.

That was when the dragons began their support.

Mana potions.

Medicine that could awaken those without mana.

This miracle medicine that only dragons could make was provided generously to enlistment volunteers.

The gap left by the countless deaths of those with mana — those without mana drank mana potions and filled it.

Those who had lived honorably with power fell first. Those who were honorable squeezed out power and followed after.

The stubbornness of all humanity refusing to live as beasts raised by god.

After a desperate bloody battle, the empire…… defeated the god.

I explained to Lang Ei.

“If there had been no mana potions, we would have lost. The servants of the Seven Sin God know that and are trying to cut off the supply in advance.”

“N-no. Right now……”

“I’ll prove who I am later. Listen to the explanation first. We can’t trust mana potions anymore, but we don’t need to fear them recklessly. What Dierk showed today is likely improvisation.”

I spoke matter-of-factly.

“Why? If he was going to set this off, it would be better in front of more witnesses. Originally it was given to Luke for that purpose, but things went wrong and it ended up at the police station. So he’s baiting us to fear the possibility of mana potion contamination.”

“……”

“We can ignore it. If we rush into a full inspection like now, he wins big. In other words, Dierk can’t overuse the performance he showed today either.”

I pointed out.

“Relay this much to Dragon Princess. She’ll understand.”

“……”

“However, you must not reveal that I’m Sirik. It’s an uncomfortable topic, but I’ll just say it. I suspect you may have collaborated too.”

The Empress ruling the empire colluding with terrorists?

Common sense said it was impossible.

But you truly never know what’s in people’s hearts.

“……That can’t be.”

Lang Ei reflexively shook her head.

Was she unable to believe I was Sirik?

Was she denying that I suspected the empresses?

But I spoke mercilessly.

“Before things are exposed, everyone denies it. You did too back then, didn’t you?”

“……”

“I didn’t think you’d participate in that business. I didn’t think even you, who’d been with the two of us longest, would do that.”

Lang Ei’s complexion turned deathly white.

Pitifully so.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

This was why I hadn’t wanted to face my wives again.

Hurting them wasn’t pleasant for me either.

They were still the children’s mothers, women I had once loved.

“……”

No — I might still love them.

The moment I judged Lang Ei was in danger, I’d boiled over like when I saw Orca or Lisera.

I pressed against the window and said,

“Though the matter is urgent, I was too one-sided. I’m sorry, Lang Ei. Now, verify me.”

“Wh-what.”

Lang Ei made a choked sound.

“You can’t believe I’m Sirik Karakas. Some servant of the Seven Sin God might have picked up information somewhere and used wicked tricks. In the first place, how ridiculous that this pretty-faced guy is Sirik. Even I think it’s laughable.”

“……You used telekinesis.”

“Abilities aren’t proof. If some idiot claims one day that he’s the emperor’s reincarnation, he’s crazy and should be burned to death.”

Lang Ei reflected in the window stared vacantly at me.

A face suppressing words and emotions that had risen to her throat.

Even when I turned my gaze away to avoid her, even when I closed my eyes, Lang Ei remained the same.

That socially inept tiger would wait forever.

For me to look back at her.

“……Sirik.”

Unable to endure, I slowly turned around.

Face to face.

Lang Ei spoke in a locked voice.

“……Do you still love us?”

“Is that confirmation that I’m Sirik?”

“Answer me.”

Lang Ei was practically begging.

Still, I couldn’t answer with words I didn’t mean.

“I promised to take time away from you.”

“……Mm.”

“That was ten years, and then a hundred more passed.”

“……Mmm.”

Lang Ei watched me anxiously, reading my mood.

Ah.

Before being my love and wife, Lang Ei had been my comrade-in-arms.

A woman who would charge into an army of thirty thousand at my command, drenching herself in blood.

That comrade was begging me so pitifully and desperately.

That she was wrong.

That she hoped I could treat it as if it never happened.

“I thought about it for ten years, and even after a hundred more, I still don’t know.”

“……”

Lang Ei froze.

Her eyes stopped blinking, her breathing stopped.

But I didn’t stop speaking.

“Listen, it’s not that you’re not precious to me. You’re my children’s mothers, and you were my comrades. And I would gladly give my life for a comrade.”

“Th-that’s not what I want to hear……”

Lang Ei trembled.

I continued.

“But after being reborn and going through various things, and experiencing this matter, one thing became clear. You and I were never resolved. I just happened to die in the middle of it all.”

“……”

We agreed to separate and take time.

Ten years without seeing each other’s faces.

I died and another hundred years passed.

We’d dragged it out too long.

“Everything needs to be resolved. So while I’m sorting out this chaotic empire’s affairs, I’ll reach some kind of conclusion with you too.”

“……”

“Right now, that’s all I have.”

Lang Ei had an anxious face.

Watching my expression uneasily, I deliberately smiled.

“I’m done talking. Relax your shoulders.”

“……Shouldn’t you be angry?”

“Getting angry and flushing now won’t resolve things. I’ll cover up personal matters and postpone them. Let’s handle national affairs first.”

I organized myself and walked to sit on the sofa.

When Lang Ei stood there staring at me blankly, I pointed to the opposite sofa.

Sit.

Thud, thud.

Lang Ei sat.

Next to me.

“……”

When I pretended not to notice and slid my hips sideways, she followed by the same distance.

The tiger who had been watching to see if her master was angry was now gauging whether it was okay to sit a bit closer.

An awkward atmosphere.

Let’s change the subject.

“……You lot really wrecked the country, huh?”

“I-I don’t know about that.”

“Know a little. No, at least pretend to know. Why did you make Byorn the Chief in the first place? You have appointment authority, don’t you? In the end, you’re the one who seated him, right? Did you properly evaluate personnel?”

“……”

Lang Ei averted her gaze.

Obviously she’d just skimmed the documents coming up from below and approved them.

Since her subordinates all said he was a good person, she must have thought ‘I guess so~’.

“Didn’t the other girls stop you? I told them to stop you when you do strange things.”

“……They didn’t stop me.”

“Then it’s joint responsibility. ……Why are you so happy?”

Lang Ei had lowered her head, but her tiger tail was swinging left and right mindlessly.

A reaction when happy and excited.

……She’s happy being scolded by me?

Lang Ei stammered.

“I-I thought it really was Sirik……”

“Don’t confirm it with this. Be more suspicious. Ugh, and have people with you. Watching you makes my insides burn.”

“No one can keep up with me……”

“Just don’t run. Who can follow when you run?”

“……?”

A face asking why she should walk when she can run.

Brilliant talent for making the person next to her frustrated.

“On the battlefield I told you so many times…… Ah. Never mind. I feel like I’m just nagging. Let’s stop.”

“……”

When I closed my mouth, Lang Ei gently grabbed my sleeve.

A swaying tail.

Earnest eyes.

“……Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I want to hear your voice more.”

“Don’t go into reminiscing mode with this voice. I don’t like how delicate it is.”

“Sirik.”

Lang Ei called out vacantly and rubbed her cheek against my sleeve.

A gesture that came out instinctively because she couldn’t contain her feelings.

Unable to push her away, I sat there awkwardly, and now she pulled my arm with both hands and rubbed up and down.

Even while doing this, she kept stealing glances at me.

……I can’t pry her off.

I couldn’t decide my feelings toward my wives in one word either.

But after experiencing this matter, I confirmed that affection remained.

I didn’t want my wife to die or get hurt.

“Just whether to stamp or not……”

“What?”

I was thinking about divorce stamps when Lang Ei suddenly stopped rubbing her face on my arm and asked.

Before I knew it, she’d placed her chin on my shoulder.

Her face was close.

“What?”

“Hey, move aw……”

I tried to push, but Lang Ei grabbed and pressed down my wrist.

……My wrist won’t move?

“……”

I was momentarily shaken.

Ah, right now Lang Ei is stronger than me.

If we entered a contest of strength, Lang Ei would notice that fact too.

I just said indifferently,

“Move away.”

“……”

“You’re close. It’s burdensome.”

But Lang Ei was looking at me clearly.

I spoke firmly.

“Lang Ei.”

If she kept being stubborn, I’d get angry too.

We agreed to bury the past for now, but was she going to act like this?

But Lang Ei shook her head.

“……I don’t want to.”

Each time she shook her head, her black and white hair fluttered dazzlingly.

“I don’t want to. I don’t want to separate anymore. I kept, kept regretting. How much I wanted to regret and beg……”

A sobbing sound.

She wasn’t crying toward me right now.

The past years.

She was doing this while recalling the hundred years after I died.

“……”

Hadn’t Lang Ei assumed I was Sirik’s successor and flinched and watched carefully even when just spoken to?

She must have been tormented by guilt considerably.

Lang Ei couldn’t hide her feelings and use schemes to begin with.

……That’s why my disappointment and shock were great, but anyway.

“Stop, I understand. I won’t run away.”

Even when I soothed her, Lang Ei sobbed while crying hard.

Each time her shoulders shook, tears dropped onto the sofa, soaking it.

That tiger who had been so brave and upright was suffering so much — it was painful to watch.

“Come on, stop crying.”

I lifted Lang Ei’s chin with my free hand and lightly tickled it.

Like tickling a cat’s chin.

A prank I’d often played in the past.

After repeating it a few times, Lang Ei looked up with tear-filled eyes.

“……Sirik.”

“Call me Rigen in front of others. If it really doesn’t stick, call me special officer. I’ll say it again — don’t reveal my identity to the other empresses.”

I could trust Lang Ei at least.

But the other empresses?

Right away, the Third Empress, Queen of Assassins Iselen, had given up on the empire’s survival.

As a ruler, abandoning responsibility — a great sin.

Who knows what the other empresses might be thinking or plotting over a hundred years.

In extreme cases…… even the Seventh Empress Dragon Princess could be in league with Dierk.

“Yes, mm-hmm, okay. I absolutely won’t say anything……”

Lang Ei said it several times while watching me carefully.

A face frightened and hesitant — I lightly pressed Lang Ei’s shoulder.

Lang Ei curled up and buried her face in my thigh.

Like an affectionate cat.

Like before.

Like when we loved each other.

“Sirik, really…… it really is you.”

When Lang Ei choked up, I said,

“Don’t say you’re sorry. Right now I can’t give any answer.”

“……”

“Just stay quiet.”

Lang Ei obediently nodded.

Sobbing sounds.

My thigh got wet, but I said nothing.

I just stroked the back of Lang Ei, who trembled with regret and suffering.

At least I could do this much.

That person who had taught me psychic abilities and more.

I couldn’t say I forgave causing my teacher’s death.

But as a comrade, I could comfort her.