Volume 9 Chapter 58 Day Three (A Strange Ceasefire)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In McGaref, the Eternal Witch Cartera reunited with Kadokura Hikari.
Hiding a trace of hesitation, she pulled Hikari into an embrace.
”Hikari… I truly wished to see you.”
Those words of longing were no lie.
Hikari, who had once been empress of the Quvarian Empire, had ruined her health through overwork. She died soon after giving birth to the crown prince, never knowing the blood-soaked history of the empire nor the tragedies caused by Livia.
That was why Cartera hesitated now.
”But… what have you been doing until now?”
”It seems I incarnated before you all. I was frightened in the depths of the labyrinth, so I first escaped to the surface… then came to McGaref to study things.”
”I see. His Majesty too looks forward to meeting you, Hikari-sama.”
”Yes. I want to see Takumi-kun as well. But Cartera… end this war now. You even killed Suenaga-kun.”
Cartera remembered the name Suenaga Tatsuhiro, who had lived relatively long and once joined Grano’s mercenaries.
At Hikari’s firm tone, Cartera’s back straightened.
For the world’s strongest witch Cartera, the greatest fear was losing Takumi’s love. The second was disappointing Hikari.
”I met myself here in McGaref, and we spoke. Strange, but we share our memories. So I know all about your Ghost Army’s rampages.”
”Hikari-sama… we do not think we are doing good deeds. Yet even so, we must commit these evils, these slaughters. Please, understand…”
”No. We return at once. If you cannot end this war, then at least stop it now.”
”I ask the same, Cartera-san.”
A voice came from the shadows.
Cartera froze. That voice, that face—like twins. Flowing black hair, white ribbon, strong brown eyes.
She had learned from the First Emperor that copies of Takumi and others had appeared through the ages.
But more than that, Cartera’s very soul recognized it: this too was Hikari.
”Hikari… you as well are Hikari?”
”Yes. I am meeting you for the first time, but I already share memories with the other me. I know you well, Cartera-san. Ask me anything.”
”No need. You are Hikari.”
Narrowing her eyes at the second Hikari, Cartera voiced the question she most longed to ask.
”Then, are there also two Takumi-sama in this world?”
”Yes. Though right now he is traveling from Seron, not in McGaref. Cartera, Takumi-kun is the ruler of McGaref—your enemy’s commander. Will you kill him?”
Cartera felt dizzy at the words.
She had cared nothing for her enemy’s information, only for destruction.
But now… it was as if her soul itself had refused to know.
The man she loved, Takumi.
The one who saved her soul, Hikari.
She could betray neither the First Emperor nor the present Takumi.
Even as Livia’s poison crept to cloud her mind, Cartera no longer cared.
Since Hikari’s death, Livia’s venom had taken root in her heart. But the living Hikari’s words drove it out, her magic power dispersing it to nothing.
”Yet… yet, Hikari. The bodies here are all by my magic. To stop the war now…”
”Stop it anyway. If someone must die, I will take responsibility as empress and die with you.”
Met with her unwavering gaze, Cartera fell silent.
She was weak against Hikari.
If they argued, she would yield. She knew well that Hikari truly meant to die if needed.
”…So be it. Once Hikari speaks so, she will not be stopped. But forgive me. I was ordered by His Majesty… by Takumi-sama… to fall together with Livia.”
”That is just it. Neither I nor the other Hikari understand why you see Livia as such a threat. So, please explain more.”
”I will come too. Is that all right?”
”Ah, yes…”
There was no choice but to agree.
Cartera nodded repeatedly, then flicked her finger, loosing a small bolt of lightning.
It was enough to kill any normal person—but was blocked by Martial Arts.
”You heard, didn’t you, Naje. I know you lurk there, ready to ambush me. Whatever your reason for betrayal, you heard: I return with Hikari.”
”…I move for Takumi-sama.”
With guard captain Amira at her side, Naje stepped from the shadows, her eyes on Hikari.
”Are you Takumi-sama’s wife?”
”Yes. I was wife to Takumi-kun, known as the First Emperor.”
”I am Takumi-kun’s slave. His wife is Nyx.”
”Nyx… I see. Much has happened while I was dead.”
”You are… Naje of the Lesta Kingdom?”
During the war with Lesta, Hikari had been absent and so did not know her.
But she had heard from Chinatsu and Shion of the princess’s tragic love and death.
”Takumi-kun works hard to save your country too. Let us talk as we move.”
”…But I killed Lord For-Elda…”
Dazed, Naje trailed off—cut short by Cartera.
Her presence scattered all others, leaving the center of McGaref strangely empty around them.
”Enough. It is ceasefire now. But Hikari, McGaref’s gates remain closed.”
”Fine. If it stops more deaths. If the gates opened, panic could cause a stampede worse than war.”
With over a million citizens, McGaref had only four gates.
If all rushed to escape, the disaster would outstrip battle itself.
”And if someone must die to take blame, let it be Raphastia. A fitting task for that slacker~desuwa.”
”Oh, so Raphastia is incarnated too? On the second day, I saw Commander Grano at the east gate. I waved, and he held back for me.”
”The first day was tricky, with the Lucky Charm Skill… but now we’re fine.”
”Yes. The finishing stroke, we’ll leave to Takumi-kun.”
”Just remember—you mustn’t let Takumi-kun embrace you.”
”Of course. Only you will be embraced by Takumi-kun.”
”Ufufu, if this were an essay, it’d be marked incoherent and fail. Takumi-kun’s actually quite pervy, so if he can’t embrace us both at once, he might pout.”
”…Is that surprising?”
Thus Cartera, the two Hikaris, and Naje halted the fighting and withdrew from the west gate.
Leaving Raphastia to seal it, they moved on to the second army.
A strange ceasefire was born.
Notes:
• McGaref – Fortress city, adventurer hub.
• Cartera – Eternal Witch — The First Emperor’s mistress and a resurrected sorceress of immense power. Cruel and seductive, she takes pleasure in destruction and defilement. Her loyalty to the Emperor is absolute, and she shares his desire to end the world. First appears in v9c3.
• Hikari – 4th Division leader. Stressed, relies on Takumi.
• Quvarian Empire – Ruling kingdom. Harsh world, restricted freedom.
• Livia – 8th-ranked imperial witch, heir of Cartera and friend of Lilus (Neige’s sister), whose death drove her to hate Quvar. Austere, sharp, and feared, she opposed the Ghost Army and toppled Emperor by using then betraying Gritch, secretly backing Princess Sheryl. First appears v9c3. Reminder: Brilliant witch who twists loyalties to save the world.
• Suenaga-kun – Classmate, Kahoru’s customer.
• Suenaga – Classmate, Kahoru’s customer.
• Tatsuhiro – Classmate, Kahoru’s customer.
• Grano – The Black Flame General, a legendary figure from Quvar’s past, now resurrected as part of the First Emperor’s ghostly host. Known for his ruthless tactics and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, Grano commands a significant portion of the undead army. He is disdainful of the living, particularly those who oppose the Emperor’s plans, and shows no mercy in battle. His presence, alongside other legendary generals like Belhart, underscores the immense threat posed by the Emperor’s forces. First mentioned in v9c7.
• Naje – First princess of the Lesta Kingdom and deputy commander. The tragic princess of the Lesta Kingdom who was executed for her country.
• Amira – Captain of the guard who complies with surrender terms.
• Nyx – The First Princess of Celon Dukedom, who escapes to McGaref; next in line to the throne after the Queen’s expected death.
• Lesta Kingdom – A kingdom neighboring the Quvarian Empire; currently at war with the Seron Dukedom and potentially the Empire.
• Chinatsu – White Wall — Black hair, B-cup. Adventurous, masochistic, Takumi’s first slave & lover. Master of Asakura-ryu Iaijutsu, wields cursed sword Chisame (blood-powered). 12th-ranked fighter, close to Hikari. First appears in v1c1 Prologue.
• Shion – Ginga’s GF. Archery, healing.
• For-Elda – Undead ‘Magic Bullet General,’ 4th Division commander of the Ghost Army and creator of the Magic Cannon that toppled fortresses. Obsessed with weapons over lives, treats soldiers as expendable fuel, and resents youthful-looking specters like Naje. First appears v9c8. Reminder: Wrinkled war-genius who replaced witchcraft with cannon fire.
• Raphastia – A once-renowned general who now serves the First Emperor in the underworld army. He is referred to as a ‘Holy Corpse,’ indicating his undead state. Raphastia retains his self-awareness and will, which is unusual for the undead, and his loyalty to the Emperor remains unwavering. He is described as having a raspy voice and is one of the key figures in the Emperor’s command post. First appearance in v9c8.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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