"Please wait!" (Francette)
However, while the others were unable to move due to the intimidating waves that erupted from Celestine's body, as if she had a physical substance, someone recklessly tried to stop Celestine.
"You are definitely..."
"Yes, I am Francette, the guardian knight of Kaoru-sama!" (Francette)
Celestine glared at Francette.
"Well, during the distortion, you said a lot of arrogant things..."
"Ugh!" (Francette)
Apparently, at the time, she had listened obediently to what Kaoru had to say, but she was still annoyed and seemed to hold a grudge.
"So, what kind of interesting lecture will this lowlife, who couldn't even protect KAORU-chan but still shamelessly calls himself a 'guardian knight' give us next?"
(I'm so angry!!) (Four Walls, x4)
The Four Walls and the Fernand were shaking with fear, but the annihilation of the continent was already decided. No matter what happens, the situation couldn't get any worse... unless Celestine threatened to destroy not just this continent, but the whole world.
And as expected, as a Goddess, she didn't think she would go that far, no matter how angry she was...
So no one tried to stop Francette.
Perhaps it's possible for two followers of Kaoru, and two people who were raging and losing their minds, to come to an understanding. The possibility was not zero. They held on to that faint, sliver of hope...
"That is not what Kaoru-sama wants! Kaoru-sama has no mercy for those who oppose her and seek harm, but she has shown mercy to innocent people, even if they are from an enemy country. It is inconceivable that Kaoru-sama would wish the deaths of innocent people, and those who were her friends! She will surely be sad when he finds out about this... The reason Kaoru-sama came here was to try to reduce the number of lives lost needlessly, even if just a little. If this were to be wasted, and even more lives were to be lost, then Kaoru-sama would..." (Francette)
"Ugh..." (Celes)
Celestine flinched at Francette's words.
She didn't care much about lower life forms. But she had a special feeling for Kaoru, and even now that she's dead, she still wanted to respect her feelings, as she was her friend and helped her out in many ways with that person.
Celestine knew that Kaoru was dead, that was, completely extinguished, but Francette believed that Kaoru had simply lost the physical body that was the temporary form she used in this world, and had simply returned to the world that she managed. Therefore, now that her temporary anger has subsided, she was calm, and was desperately feeling a sense of duty to somehow persuade Celestine, as she was resistant to her.
After all, the fate of all living things on this continent depends on her...
"We respect Kaoru-sama's wishes and ask for your mercy..." (Francette)
Saying this, Francette knelt down, and the others hurriedly followed suit.
"...I understand. Let's respect Kaoru's feelings and avoid a situation where a lot of people die because of Kaoru..." (Celes)
Hearing these words of Celestine, Fernand, Four Walls, and Francette trembled with joy, though they did not show their feelings on their faces, but only in their hearts.
They had long since come to terms with the fact that they would die here. All they wished for now was that this would not affect the people of their own country or those of other countries. They hoped that they would be the only ones to take responsibility for this situation and die...
"How blessed we are! Then, with the lives of us here, may we appease your anger..." (Francette)
And then, from his kneeling position, Francette sat down. The others followed suit. They probably wanted to avoid falling in a weird position after their lives were taken by the Goddess, and to die in a beautiful position.
In contrast, Celestine...
"You fools! You said that this was going against Kaoru's wishes, that it would make Kaoru sad, and now you're telling me to kill you, the people she trusted the most... Are you an idiot?" (Celes)
Now that she mentioned it, that's true.
Completely astonished at her own stupidity, Francette slumped her shoulders in despair...
"That's enough! You guys must dispose of all the main culprits. I won't tolerate anyone being left behind!" (Celes)
And with that, Celestine disappeared.
Perhaps, now that she had lost Kaoru, Celestine had lost most interest in anything in this world.
And, just like before, she would likely not have much to do with humans, and would continue to work on jobs related to distortion. Just like before Kaoru came to this world...
"…………" (Everyone, x6)
And then, with glum faces, Francette, the Four Walls, and Fernand's group.
The former priests of Rueda were rolling around on the floor groaning, while Ghislain was sitting on his throne muttering how he was saved, how he was saved. ...Even though he wasn't saved at all...
"...Should I make this, this fact, known to Roland-sama, and to His Majesty, and the people? And to Emile, Bell, Layette and the others...? Even though we have been able to prevent so many lives from being lost in the war, the cost is far too high..."
The four walls, and Fernand and his companions, were speechless and could only hang their heads...
"Am I dead...?"
White place.
I'd been here once before, a long time ago.
"It's been a while."
Then a young figure dressed in white appeared.
Yes, he called himself "God-like", and his true identity was apparently a highly advanced lifeform that makes humans seem less than water fleas...
"How is Kyoko doing?"
"She is still alive. She is quite old and is almost bedridden, but..."
We were classmates, so I knew her age. The reason we hadn't been in contact for a while was because we were both barely able to move from our beds. I was hooked up to an IV drip and oxygen pipes, and all that...
I see, I'll be the starter...
"How is the fragrance going?"
When I asked that, the self-proclaimed "god-like being" suddenly bowed her head.
"I'm so sorry! Kaoru Nagase has passed away..."
"Eh……"
That's ridiculous!
"How?! That child has the protection of the goddess of that world! Sickness, injury, and old age have nothing to do with him! What is going on?!"
When I questioned him and demanded an explanation, he gave me a detailed explanation of the situation.
"So, she couldn't be reincarnated again, and just disappeared completely, in other words, she died?"
"...Yes. I am truly sorry... Therefore, your purpose for being reincarnated into that world has been lost. So, if you would like, as an apology and compensation, we can give you the option to be reincarnated into one of several other worlds of your choice..."
"No, I'm going to the same world as Kaoru as planned. I have no other choice."
"But, Kaoru has already..."
"But still!"
I didn't back down.
"Because I'm Reiko Kuon. I'm Kaoru Nagase's best friend! Even if decades have passed since we were separated. And even if Kaori is already dead. So, there's only one world for me to go to. It's the world Kaoru went to, Verny!!"
Saying that, I gave a terrible smile.
I didn't believe it at all. That Kaoru Nagase would die so easily, twice.
Yes, even if it was a word from God.
"I'm so sorryyyyy!!"
I didn't know where she learned it, but the goddess suddenly started doing the Japanese dogeza.
Well, I knew the reason. I heard it all from that god-like being who manages the Earth.
"For now, I've got the same body as Kaoru, an item box, and the ability to understand languages. This is the basic equipment, right? And the bonus cheat ability is, 'unlimited use of all kinds of magic'!"
"Gyaaa! An incredibly brazen person has come!!"
Translator's Comment
This series could end here, but it's not.