"Mother… It's been a while." (Eugene)
A small angel -my mother, Laila- appeared in the sky at the same height as the goddess statue. She smiled sadly.
"Eugene, you've grown up so well." (Laila)
She slowly descended from the sky.
She wasn't moving fast, yet she was cradling my head in her arms before I realized it.
My body was enveloped in a warm light.
Even though it was a gentle light… I felt a strange sadness. I sensed instinctively that it was my mother's feelings.
(I wish I could stay like this forever…) (Eugene)
I was tempted to let myself be spoiled.
But that's not why I came here.
There's something I have to ask. Something I must know.
"Mother… I want you to tell me what happened to Pops." (Eugene)
"..."
No response. Mother's small body trembled slightly.
That alone…gave me a sense of understanding.
For a while, silence ruled the chapel.
Then, as if making up her mind, Mother opened her mouth.
"Eugene… your father is............…" (Laila)
The words that came from Mother's mouth were so faint, I could barely hear them.
"I see…" (Eugene)
Hearing that, I calmed myself once again.
I prepared myself for this.
I didn't come here to grieve.
What I need to do is move forward.
—Hardships may await you after this…but do your best.
Those words from Principal Uther came back to me.
Unlike the Principal, I survived. That means there's still something I can do.
"Mother, I have a request." (Eugene)
"Eugene?" (Laila)
I spoke while looking straight into my confused mother's eyes.
◇Sumire's POV◇
"I wonder if Eugy-kun's okay… He didn't look so good."
I said.
"Well, he'll be fine. He's Eugene, after all." (Eri)
But the Demon Lord-san said this positively.
Rather than not being worried, it felt more like she had faith in him.
She had the confidence of an adult.
If Eri-san says it's okay, maybe it really is.
"Oh, that's right! I have to tell Airi-chan and Sara-chan that Eugy-kun is back. Eri-san, can I borrow a desk, paper, and pen?" (Sumire)
"Why not go back to your own room? Why use this place?" (Eri)
"Because Eugy-kun said he'd be coming back here." (Sumire)
"Then I'll entertain Eugene while you're gone☆" (Eri)
"Nope." (Sumire)
"You're so stingy." (Eri)
We exchanged lighthearted banter.
This kind of casual talk is only possible in this 7th Sealed Prison, so it feels comforting.
When I told Captain Isolde that, she gave me a look of utter exasperation.
I sat at the neatly organized desk and picked up the paper and pen.
"To Sara-chan…" (Sumire)
I began writing in the language of this world.
Technically, the language used in the Holy Nation of Caldia is slightly different from what we learn at the Lykeion Magic Academy, but Sara-chan understands both.
The Lykeion script is apparently the common language of the South Continent, used in the Grandflare Empire.
I didn't write anything detailed.
"The seal on the Zenith Tower has been lifted, and Eugene-kun has returned. He's doing well. He was surprised when I told him about recent events on the continent. Waiting for your reply." (Sumire)
That's all I wrote in the letter.
"Pretty simple wording. She's your best friend, right? Don't you have more to say?" (Eri)
Eri-san peeked over my shoulder and commented, quite reasonably.
"But Sara-chan's current position is as a Holy Maiden. If I write long messages, it takes forever to get through the security checks for hidden codes." (Sumire)
"Huh, I see. That sounds like a pain." (Eri)
"Totally." (Sumire)
I sighed.
Sara-chan isn't an upcoming Holy Maiden anymore. She's one of the Eight Holy Maidens, the highest leaders of the Holy Nation.
After the war began, most of the older Holy Maidens retired and were replaced by younger ones, according to reports.
The oldest one now is said to be the Destiny Oracle, Orianne-sama.
I remembered a letter I got from Sara-chan that said, "Sorry, Sumire-chan. I may not be able to see you for a while."
Since then, we've kept in touch regularly through letters.
When I sent updates about the current state of the Dungeon City, she'd write back, "I wish I could go back too," and it was clear how tough things were for her.
I then wrote a similarly simple letter to Airi-chan.
"You're sending one to that imperial girl too? Even though she never sends anything back?" (Eri)
I nodded at Eri-san's remark.
"Yeah… I haven't gotten a single reply from Airi-chan since she became Empress. I think all the letters are stopped at the censorship stage and never reach her." (Sumire)
"Then what's the point?" (Eri)
"Still…maybe someone will check the contents and pass on the message…" (Sumire)
"Doubtful." (Eri)
"I know. But I still have to tell her that Eugy-kun's back." (Sumire)
Saying that, I wrote a short note.
Just before Airi-chan left the Dungeon City…
— "I'm sorry, Sumire. I really wanted to wait for Eugy with you…"
I'll never forget the look on Airi-chan's face, holding my hand with tears in her eyes.
I'm sure she's praying for Eugy-kun's safety back in the Imperial Capital.
I believe that.
I placed both letters in envelopes.
I sealed them with a simple magical protection spell.
That way, they won't break easily.
"Well then, I'm off to send the letters." (Sumire)
"Okay~ Take care." (Eri)
Eri-san waved lazily from the bed.
I left the 7th Sealed Prison and headed toward the center of the Dungeon City.
Currently, transport in the city is handled by the former Dungeon Guild.
Well, since the seal on the Last Dungeon is lifted, I guess they've returned to being the Dungeon Guild again.
(It might be crowded…) (Sumire)
I had a feeling it would be, but I wanted to let them know Eugy-kun was back as soon as possible, so I headed for the guild building.
◇◇
"As expected, there were so many people…" (Sumire)
I was worn out from the crowd and made my way back to the 7th Sealed Prison.
Word of the seal on the Zenith Tower being lifted had already spread throughout the Dungeon City.
The normally empty building was overflowing with people wanting to explore.
Everyone had been waiting for the chance to enter the Zenith Tower.
The materials and treasures found in that tower are highly valuable on the South Continent.
They used to be the main exports of the Dungeon City.
(Maybe people will start returning to the city now…) (Sumire)
For the past three years, I could feel the city gradually withering, and it made me sad.
I missed the bustling atmosphere from when I first arrived in this world.
Back then, Eugy-kun showed me around the Lykeion Academy, and Principal Uther was still alive…
Thinking about that made me feel sentimental.
(But now Eugy-kun is back!) (Sumire)
I headed toward the deepest underground prison.
Maybe he's back already, I thought hopefully as I opened the sealed door.
Just as I was about to enter the room where Eri-san was…
"Mmm… Eugene, you're so rough♡"
(Huh?) (Sumire)
A strange voice came through.
That was a cute voice, but definitely Eri-san, right?
Wait, what are you doing without me!?
"Eugy-kun! Eri-san!" (Sumire)
I rushed into the room.
"Suuu… suu…"
All I found was the Demon Lord soundly asleep, making cute little breaths.
"H-Huh…?" (Sumire)
Eugy-kun was nowhere to be seen.
The earlier voice must have been sleep-talking.
Eri-san was sleeping with such a happy expression.
(Such a cute sleeping face…) (Sumire)
I sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroked her long silver hair.
(Maybe I'll rest a bit too.) (Sumire)
I lay down next to Eri-san.
It was a big bed, so there was plenty of room for the both of us.
As soon as I lay down, I drifted off to sleep.
◇◇
(…Hmm? What time is it?) (Sumire)
It's hard to tell time down in the dungeon.
"You awake, Sumire?"
Eri-san woke up next to me.
Looks like she just woke up too.
Her always-silky hair had a little bedhead, and her face looked sleepy.
"Good morning… Eri-san." (Sumire)
I replied, still groggy.
I looked around, but Eugy-kun still wasn't back.
Maybe he went somewhere else?
But the Lykeion dorms are gone now, so I don't think there's anywhere else to sleep…
As I sluggishly tried to figure that out, I felt a gaze.
"..."
Eri-san's red eyes were looking at me.
"What is it, Eri-san?"
I asked.
"Sumire~, I'm gonna take some of your mana, okay?" (Eri)
"Huh? …Mmmph!" (Sumire)
My lips were stolen before I could even answer.
You just took some yesterday!
I flailed in resistance, but there was no way I could overpower Eri-san.
My body grew warm, and my mana began to flow out through my lips.
(Geez, you're so forceful…) (Sumire)
I gave up resisting and let her do as she pleased.
Eri-san was leaning over me.
While we were locked in this mana transfer kiss, I had nothing to do, so I reached out, thinking I might as well grope Eri-san's huge chest…
"…What are you doing?"
I heard someone's voice.
""!?""
Eri-san and I quickly turned around in a panic.
That said, there are only two people in the current Dungeon City who can enter the 7th Sealed Prison.
One of them is me. The other is…
"I-It's not what it looks like, Eugene!" (Eri)
"Y-Yeah! It's not like that, Eugy-kun!!" (Sumire)
Eri-san and I sprang apart from each other.
"…Not like what?"
Eugy-kun had the expression of someone who had just seen something he really shouldn't have.
After that, we explained to Eugy-kun about the Mana Link we were doing, and he finally understood.
"You two…sure have gotten close." (Eugene)
Eugy-kun muttered quietly.
Huh? Is he…weirded out?
Um…you did understand, right?
After we finished explaining, I decided to ask something that had been bothering me.
Because, I mean…Eugy-kun came back in the morning.
"Eugy-kun, where were you? What were you doing?" (Sumire)
"Oh, I went to see someone. After that, I went to the Zenith Tower." (Eugene)
""Eh?""
It wasn't just me, Eri-san also gasped in surprise.
He was finally freed after being sealed away for three years, and he already went back into the Dungeon?
"What were you thinking, Eugene?" (Eri)
"Yeah, you should take it easy for a bit." (Sumire)
When we said that, Eugy-kun gave us a slightly troubled smile, then quickly turned serious.
"Sumire, Eri." (Eugene)
"What is it?" (Eri)
"What is it, Eugy-kun?" (Sumire)
Called by name in a serious tone, we both responded.
"I want to stop the war. I need your help." (Eugene)
After being sealed in the dungeon for three years and finally getting out, this is what Eugy-kun said.
Eugy-kun…do you ever plan on resting?