Far from Avangarde, in the Imperial Capital of Ganthar, Sky Magic Palace, Top Floor Stairs
How long did it take to get here? Back in the Village, I couldn’t even defeat small, timid monsters and had nearly died countless times. Yet, everyone called me the “Child of Destiny.” What about this weak and twisted girl makes her a Child of Destiny? That’s what I thought.
“Lyuk, are the others okay…?”
“We can only trust them…”
To crush the ambitions of Emperor Jagel of the Ganthar Empire, countless people have lent us their strength. The villagers, the people of the kingdom, the Lizardfolk. The resistance fighters battling in various regions. And our comrades who challenged the Empire’s greatest forces, the Seven Demon Lords, to clear our path.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? We were all so scattered at first… I was celebrated as the ‘Child of Destiny’ and hated it so much that I kept running away…”
“…Uul also envied Lyuk at first. Being called the ‘Devil’s Child’ was a disgrace… I can’t count how many times I tried to cut off these horns on my head.”
“I didn’t understand your feelings at all and said terrible things… ‘You, Sheep Girl, have it easy. You’re free because no one expects anything from you,’ I said… I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Now I can proudly say it clearly. I am a Sheep, and I am the child of the Devil Baphomet. I am not anyone in this world, but Lyuk acknowledged me. That alone fills me with joy.”
“Uul…”
The way we were treated was like night and day. I was the “Child of Destiny,” while Uul was persecuted as the “Devil’s Child” just because he had horns like a sheep. When I was driven by my own power and the expectations of others, I couldn’t help but envy the girl living freely on the outskirts of the Village. I was a girl too, so why was she the only one allowed that freedom? But that was a huge misunderstanding. It wasn’t freedom; it was just the only way she could live. Because of the blood of the Demon Race that existed long ago, I couldn’t feel the happiness that others did.
“When I learned that the ‘Child of Destiny’ from long ago was killed by Uul’s ancestors of the Demon Race, I couldn’t help but laugh. What kind of ‘Child of Destiny’ is that? The ‘Demon Calamity’ Aboro, said to be the strongest among the Demon Race… I don’t even know what kind of being he was, but a Child of Destiny is not something that trivial.”
“Lyuk, if you’re saying that to yourself, you’re mistaken. You are you, and you are different from the past Child of Destiny.”
“The ‘Child of Destiny’ you all expect is losing to the ancestors of the ‘Devil’s Child’ whom you despised so much. It’s honestly laughable…”
“Lyuk! You are here now by your own will! Not as the ‘Child of Destiny’!”
Uul’s fluffy short hair swayed. With a small body that could easily be mistaken for a little girl, he was delivering a fierce speech that didn’t match his appearance. Perhaps due to his Demon blood, he was quite short, even though he should be around my age.
“…Let’s stop. We should have discarded notions of destiny and demons. Let’s go, to the final battle…”
“After this is over, I will marry Lyuk.”
“Eh?”
“Is that not okay?”
“But… we’re both girls?”
“Even though we discarded destiny and demons, you would still be bound by the common sense that others have imposed?”
“…Let’s go.”
I intended to affirm silently. Everything would be settled after we defeat the root cause of this battle. I would make the true demon, who has spilled so much blood, pay the price.
Imperial Capital of Ganthar, Sky Magic Palace, Top Floor Terrace
“What a breathtaking view.”
“Jagel…! We’ve cornered you!”
Emperor Jagel of the Ganthar Empire, who invaded and subjugated numerous countries under the pretext of “national unification.” Instead of allowing countries to exist as individuals, he sought to eliminate conflicts between nations by consolidating them. By becoming a larger entity, he believed it would ultimately strengthen both internally and externally, but it was nothing more than simple invasion.
“I tremble now. Soon, there will be no more bloodshed on this vast land.”
“If you want to achieve that, waging war is pointless.”
“You foolish girl who cannot see the bigger picture. The process is not what matters; the result is. It is inevitable that blood will flow for a better outcome. If that is the only means, there is no room for hesitation.”
“If you just want to wage war, then say so. Your words are too light and do not resonate at all.”
“Ha… Perhaps it is the cursed intuition of the Demon Race. Filthy blood like yours has no place in this land. You shall perish here, along with the Child of Destiny.”
His fierce aura cracked the floor and pillars, causing fragments to begin to fall. In the past, we wouldn’t even have been able to stand in this place. He commands the Seven Demon Lords, said to be equivalent to an army of thousands, capable of destroying small nations single-handedly. I don’t think victory will come easily.
“Do not falter. Surely, you do not see a chance of victory?”
“Do you think I believe I will lose?”
“Hahaha… Then let us first strip you of that bravado. Behold this!”
“What is that…?”
“This is the Divine Orb you have been searching for. Look closely.”
“No way…!”
The Divine Orb. Its origin and everything about it were unknown, but it was said that whoever possessed it could wield the power to destroy the world. I had been entrusted with the mission of searching for the Divine Orb as one of the duties of the “Child of Destiny.” In the end, I couldn’t find it and had given up, concluding it didn’t exist.
“That’s a lie! It must be a fake!”
“Then behold… Gah… This is… Gah, Gah… the true form of the ruler who will govern the entire world!”
【The Demon God Emperor Jagel has appeared! HP 60000】
The Emperor’s body transformed, with veins-like lines running all over him. His muscular physique sprouted skeletal wings from his back, and his limbs and body were covered in a black metallic substance.
“Hahaha! It surges! This power! Magnificent!”
The silhouette of the raging Emperor had completely deviated from humanity. Not only was his massive form looking down on us, but the aura emanating from him was otherworldly. This was not mere domination; he would trample any being that did not stand on the same level as him. He would not allow their existence, killing and killing until he was the last one left standing. Yes, I felt an insanity from him that would not disappear even if he destroyed the world.
【The Demon God Emperor Jagel unleashed Evil Punisher! Lyuk took 4879 damage! HP 241/5120】
【Uul took 4750 damage! HP 55/4805】
“Uwaaaaaaaah!”
A black aura shot from his hand, striking us in a fan shape. My vision darkened, and even as I was hit, I felt my body breaking in multiple places, rendering me unable to move. I was tossed around like a rag doll, and when I regained my senses, I was staring up at the sky from the terrace.
“Ugh… my body…”
“I understand now. The heart of Vandalsia, the King of Destruction, who once reveled in the Dark Age…”
Just one strike. With that alone, I couldn’t even move a finger. Was he enamored with his own power? He gazed at his hand as if licking it. No, I couldn’t breathe; it was becoming difficult. My chest hurt, and I was even coughing up blood.
“To press down from above, this must be what it feels like. Just as a human does not care for a bug on the roadside, I too have become indifferent.”
Until I arrived here, I had a certain confidence. My honed skills, my body, and above all, the feelings entrusted to me. All of those were my strength. Now, what do I have inside me? Frustration, despair, whatever it may be. I felt like I was being crushed by negative emotions.
“Until just now, I had a slight sense of threat towards the ‘Child of Destiny’…”
What is this? It’s ridiculous. I approached with confidence, only to find myself in this state. There was nothing special about being the “Child of Destiny”; I was just a powerless human. Perhaps it was inevitable that he obtained the Divine Orb. Just as I was born as the “Child of Destiny,” he too was destined to become this way. Then, it’s hopeless. If it’s fate, there’s nothing I can do.
“Child of Destiny. It seems the outcome has already been decided. You will no longer be able to move.”
“G-gah… cough… cough…”
“This is reality. It is not a world where the hero entrusted with hope must always win. A hero is a hero only because they left a name… How many heroes have failed to become anything but corpses beneath them?”
He approaches leisurely, narrowing his stride to deliver the final blow. It feels as if he is granting me a reprieve to instill the fear of death. At the very least, I hope Uul will be spared.
――――Lyuk, do not worry
“U-Uul…?”
Uul speaks to me in a voice that seems to fade away. Though he can barely speak, it is clear that the flame of his life is flickering.
――――Lyuk is strong, even if not the Child of Destiny. You will surely win.
“W-what do you mean…?”
――――I will give all my strength to Lyuk.
“Eh…?”
――――I hated the blood of the Demon Race… but since you saved me, now I will save you.
“W-wait… you idiot…!”
“That’s no joke. Even if you win by doing something like that, what will be left? You said it yourself just a moment ago. You were the one who suggested getting married. Why break that promise?”
“No… no way…”
—Thank you for everything until now.
“I don’t want this… I’m not happy…”
I want to scream, but I can’t. I want to reach out, but I can’t. Even if I say it’s no good, it doesn’t matter. The Child of Destiny, it turns out, can only save the world at the cost of the life of someone I love dearly. I’m truly cursed; I don’t want a fate like this. If that’s the case, then I might as well—
“Angel Recover!”
“…Huh?”
Not only did the intense pain throughout my body wash away, but even the feelings of discomfort and despair were swept away. Lying on the ground, I opened my half-closed eyes.
“That was close. The people fighting earlier were about to lose too… Kurinka, is that the boss over there?”
“That’s Jagel, the Emperor of the Gantahl Empire, the ‘Calamity’ that has been wreaking havoc around here. I had been putting him off because he was human, but I never expected him to be a monster…”
Even with my body restored, I still couldn’t accept reality and couldn’t stand up. Jagel had been observing the two girls who appeared before him for a while. What had happened? Who were these two? The expression of disbelief on his face was truly fitting.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Rua, and this is Kurinka, my bride. We’re here to take down calamities like you.”
“…What? What am I even hearing?”
I couldn’t believe my ears. The girl had just declared the other girl to be her bride. But Jagel’s interest wasn’t in that; it was in being called a calamity and having a victory declaration thrown at him. I could sense his anger building up, albeit a bit late. His mouth twitched in irritation.
“I am Jagel, the future ruler of the world. If someone without the fate of the ‘Child of Destiny’ dares to pose as a hero, then let me teach you a lesson.”
“Kurinka, how many of these calamities have we faced now?”
“About twelve? But most of them weren’t even human, so it might be better to count them as monsters.”
“What do you call this?”
“Self-importance…”
【The Divine Emperor Jagel unleashed the Evil Punisher!
It had no effect on Rua!
It had no effect on Kurinka!
It missed Marty!】
I hadn’t noticed it because the presence of these two was so overwhelming, but there was another girl. A young girl in a white dress with neatly trimmed gray bangs. She looked even younger than the other two, and she wasn’t holding any weapons—what was going on?
“What…? Nonsense! My attack, empowered by the Divine Orb, doesn’t work?!”
“Jagel and others like him were far worse when they were human. I’ve been thinking lately, if their actions aren’t human, is it okay to kill them?”
【Rua’s attack! She dealt 8,433,029 damage to the Divine Emperor Jagel!】
“W-What…?!”
【The Divine Emperor Jagel has been defeated! HP 0/60,000】
“I spared him from destruction because the King of the Underworld would be angry. Make sure he goes to the Underworld properly.”
What just happened? I saw her draw her sword, and then Jagel vanished with a faint dying scream, while that girl slowly sheathed her sword. What, what just happened?
“With this, the Gantahl Empire has been defeated, right?”
“You’re both safe now. There are no more bad guys left. But, about that girl…”
“…Are you talking about me?”
“The worst thing you can do in this world is to disappear from the sight of someone important to you.”
“Ah…”
“If we hadn’t come, there would have been no hope…”
Uul flinched for just a moment. That blonde girl seemed to be gently admonishing her, but I could feel a sharpness beneath her kindness. The one who healed us was this girl named Kurinka. She shouldn’t be much older than us, yet who is she really? The one who defeated Jagel had blue hair, so perhaps the true Child of Destiny is this girl.
“I’m sorry for saying something so presumptuous on our first meeting…”
“Now I regret it; if I had died back there, Lyuk would have surely cried his eyes out.”
“Y-Yeah! I really… don’t want to feel this way again.”
“I almost lost the chance to get married.”
“…Married?”
This is bad. Uul is still a child, and she’s not good at reading the atmosphere. In general, girls marrying each other isn’t considered normal, so it’s guaranteed we’ll be looked at strangely. Just imagining the scornful gazes piercing through me makes me feel like I can’t breathe, even though I was just saved.
“Hey, are you two getting married?”
“No! We’re not! There’s no way girls would get married!”
“…You’re not getting married?”
“Uh, no. I mean, we shouldn’t be talking about that here…”
“You’re not getting married…”
With tears streaming down her face like this, I can’t worry about appearances anymore. I had just decided not to be bound by something like the Child of Destiny. If I don’t stand my ground here, then where will I? Am I going to keep hiding and living in fear of what others think?
“I will! Let’s get married!”
“Yayyyyy!”
“…Congratulations!”
What have I done? Wait, what?
“Kurinka, so these two are getting married too!”
“Yeah! It’s not just us!”
“Um, could it be…”
“We’re getting married too.”
Without a hint of shame, they stood proudly. Speaking of which, that blonde girl is quite well-endowed. Uul is out of the question, but she’s even bigger than me. But that doesn’t matter, or maybe it does, but I can’t focus on that right now.
“Girls… together, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right! Oh! But there’s one important thing!”
“An important thing?!”
“Actually… girls can’t have children together.”
“I know.”
“…Huh?!”
I later learned that those two were traveling the world, defeating dangerous monsters known as calamities. Along the way, they were searching for a way for girls to have children together. Destruction and rebirth, if miracles combine, something might happen. There might be an item somewhere in the world that allows same-sex couples to have children. If Marty’s miracle is combined, it might be found. They told me they learned this from someone they knew.
Honestly, I had no idea what they were talking about, but it was clear they were serious. Those girls were also living their lives as they wanted, free from fate and common sense. So from now on, we will live boldly as a pair. We will help those who want to marry but are held back by societal expectations, just as those two are doing. I’m done with being the Child of Destiny. From now on, I will live as I please. To support love between girls, we have established a group.
Its name is the White Lily Society.
Let those two, Rua and Kurinka, handle the bad guys. I’ll leave the back to them. I will help the budding lilies in trouble bloom and one day make them realize that it’s not strange for girls to love girls.
◆ East of the Avangarde Kingdom, Former Satanakia ◆
“Phew… I think that’s enough work for today. Now then… I did end up confronting those two with a cruel truth, but… well, it shouldn’t be a problem. I can also casually encourage that kind of research.
Yes, if a method for women to have children together is discovered, it would be a historic breakthrough. If that happens, my status and honor will be solidified without effort. With more resources and talent gathered, the reconstruction of Metallica will speed up as well. I must say, I want to praise myself for this. You can use anything, even scissors.”
“I recorded that.”
“Huh, Platiu? You were here? With Rua and the others? And what do you mean you recorded it…?”
“I’m going to let Rua and the others hear it.”
“Uh, wait a moment. I’m not doing anything shady, okay?”
“Using scissors on a fool is a good idea.”
“I didn’t call you a fool. I said you were foolish.”
“Then teach me the meaning.”
“Ah, wait a moment, seriously!”
◆ Shin Report ◆
This time for sure, the end.
Thank you for reading this far!
If you’re interested, please check out my new work, “The Tale of the Easygoing Spirit User Mai”!
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4401ew/