I feel like I’m slowly falling into an unending ocean.
There is a gloomy darkness covering this prison of darkness, but I can still look around normally. What a strange place.
“Well then.”
I can look around, but I don’t find anything. I just know two powerful beings are clashing far away.
I turn my attention there, and slowly walk that way.
I need to get used to this sensation that’s different from floating magic, but I feel like I’m slowly figuring out how to move.
“Is that power coming from the fire and earth great spirits?”
I continue staggering my way forward, and feel strong power getting near.
It feels close to Suzaku and Wil’s power, and it sends a chill down my spine.
“Ah…”
I can see beings covered with magic energy in the distance. At the same time, I feel like the owners of that power notice my presence, and I feel bloodlust being directed my way.
“I’m not here to fight or anything.”
I raise my hands to show I’m not hostile, and the bloodlust from that side subsides.
I feel relieved, but then suddenly, a giant flame and meteor fly out from the darkness.
“Wai…!”
I’m flustered because each carries about the same power as Tiltue’s destruction beam, but I manage to smack them down.
I turn to where the magic came from, and the two beings I think are great spirits seem surprised.
“I haven’t seen that reaction in a while.”
I feel like lately people just say ‘well, it’s Arata’… It’s actually kind of depressing.
The great spirits immediately start preparing their next attacks, but I get close before they can.
“Stop stop! I’m not an enemy, please calm down!”
““Wha…!?””
“My name is Arata! I’m just a regular person Miss Sheryl threw in here without warning!”
This situation must be strange to them too, so rather than risk doing something wrong, I think I should just explain everything right away.
With that in mind, I tell them about myself. I guess it works, because it doesn’t feel like they are going to keep attacking.
Eventually, the fire great spirit, Mister Guen, speaks while his flaming hair that makes me think of a lion shakes.
“…So you came here to stop us?”
I don’t know if it’s the big body or the power inside it, but even though he’s just standing there, I feel like the sun is right in front of me.
There’s a contradiction in that he has a human form but he’s like an avatar of flames, which makes it feel even stranger when he’s standing in front of me.
The casual kimono covered in flames and the sword hanging from his waist make him feel like an old-time heroic guy. It’s actually really cool.
“What is Sheryl thinking, sending a human here…?”
Says the earth great spirit standing next to Mister Guen, Mister Giarth.”
He looks less like a spirit and more like a robot though…
He’s like a robotic weapon from the future.
He’s covered in metal, but his slender frame and cool air around him make him feel like he was custom made to be what a guy thinks is cool. I half expect him to shoot drills from his arms.
There isn’t a guy that doesn’t like robots, and I’m no different, so looking at Giarth gets me kind of worked up.
“Leaving aside that I don’t think we should lump him in with humans, I agree.”
“No, I am human.”
“Humans don’t take our attacks and live.”
Isn’t that kind of mean? We just met.
“So, how did you know we were here?”
“I didn’t actually. She just told me to talk you down, so I don’t have a clue what’s going on.”
“And that was enough for you to enter the prison of darkness?”
It’s not like I chose to. But there’s no point in arguing about that, so I let it go with a vague smile.
“That means I don’t know what’s going on with you two. Please tell me.”
“…”
“…”
“Oh?”
They’ve gone quiet all of a sudden.
I feel like Miss Sheryl said something about it being a pointless reason…
“Are you two just having a fight?”
“Of course not. It’s just…”
“There are times, when I can’t back down.”
“Hum…”
So basically, neither wants to back down about something, and they’re fighting over it?
So that’s why Miss Sheryl commanded me to talk them down.
I’ve already broken through a prison of darkness by force, so I could do it again, but…
If I do it again, she might actually try to kill me.
I feel like rather than her pure strength, I get the feeling from her that she’s simply scary if I get her mad.
Reina’s scary too, but in that same way that a mother is scary when she’s mad. Miss Sheryl is like the anger of an empress glaring down at you.
Not that I can compete with either.
“I can’t just leave after what Miss Sheryl said either.”
“…Ah.”
“…Hm.”
It feels like my words left both feeling a little awkward.
Could it be that they also think Miss Sheryl is scary when she’s angry?
“Guess there’s nothing we can do.”
“…”
Mister Guen scratches his head like he gave up, and sits cross legged.
Mister Giarth also sits down. It seems like they’re willing to talk.
They look at each other for a moment, and then turn to me with serious expressions.
It feels like their reason might not be as pointless as Miss Sheryl says.
“Let’s explain.”
“Yes.”
I match their mood, and sit down with a serious expression on my face.
“Basically, Giarth and I decided the winner will be the grandfather of the next spirit to be born.”
“…”
“I want to be called grandpa.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
They’re both quiet, like they’re waiting for my response.
But hold on. I want to really think about what I just heard.
Be the ‘grandfather’ of the next spirit that will be born.
Want to be called grandpa.
“Is that so?”
Yes, I shouldn’t get in the way.
I mean, they’re both so serious about it.
And I feel like if I stay here, it’s going to be a huge pain for me.
“Well then, I’m leaving. Although I don’t really know how.”
I get up before they can respond, and turn around.
Then I see a silver haired girl wearing a simple white dress, looking up at me.
“…”
“…”
Our eyes meet.
I’m getting a really bad feeling…
“Daddy!”
The girl points at me with a smile on her face, and it feels to me like a huge bomb just went off.
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