Giving a Name
Whether in the memories of a past life or in this world, the importance of "naming" is the same.
It's because I understand that that I'm at a loss.
"Me? ...Are you sure it should be me?"
"Yes. Please give me a name."
"Well, well. Now that is a serious matter, eh?"
The witch was beaming with undisguised glee.
Damn it. The wine always tastes sweeter when it's someone else's problem, doesn't it? Sure does.
"A name, huh..."
I had actually named something before.
In my past life, though.
Based on my past-life memories, I once named a dog.
"Nekia."
The word slipped out.
"Nekia. That's my name...?"
"Yes. How does it sound?"
"Nekia... Nekia..."
"Well? Do you not like it?"
"Not at all! Nekia—something about it resonates deep in my heart. I love it! From today on, I'm Nekia!"
She seemed overjoyed.
"Well, well. Nekia. That has a lovely ring to it, eh?"
The witch gave her seal of approval as well.
"Yes, I'm so happy. Thank you very much, Wof."
Surveying her new body with a satisfied sigh, Nekia smiled warmly once more.
It was the kind of captivating smile that made my heart skip a beat.
The truth was, Nekia...
...was the name of a cat belonging to an old tobacco-shop lady in my past-life memories.
That cat had a warm, fuzzy resemblance to her, so the name had just slipped out before I could stop it.
Incidentally, the cat's name apparently derived from "Phoenicia."
Which then got slurred into "Nekia."
But why Phoenicia? Phoenicia is a region, isn't it?
And an ancient one, at that... I don't get it.
But more importantly—I had actually made her wish come true.
It had actually been possible.
Back then, the white sphere—the queen's wish—had been "I want to become human."
She had dreamed for so, so long of becoming like her subjects. If she was reborn, she wanted to be human.
Normally, that would be impossible. Only a god could grant it—wishes on that level.
But I had the means to make it happen.
An empty body and a Phoenix's resurrection egg.
I went and did it.
And because the means existed, I succeeded.
Well, that was a good thing, but having it go so smoothly actually made me uneasy.
I had done something that monumental so matter-of-factly.
"Nekia. Nekia. Nekia. It's my name!"
Nekia repeated her own name with an innocent grin.
There was something childlike about it, and the contrast with her adult body created an inexplicable allure.
Ah, right. She looked so much like Megadia that I kept seeing the two of them overlap.
"Now then, Nekia. I'm going to need you to stay with us for a little while."
"...Who would that be?"
That was when Nekia noticed the witch's presence.
Had she not been aware of her until now?
"Oh my, that's right. How rude of me. I'm a witch."
"...Wof."
The witch introduced herself.
Nekia turned to me with a troubled look in her eyes.
"It's fine. She's my master."
"Mm-hmm. That being the case, I'll need you to cooperate, eh?"
"...Wof."
Her eyes glistened as she looked at me, the witch's words sinking in.
I gave a wry smile.
"It's all right, Nekia. But witch—'cooperate,' what exactly do you mean?"
"Hmm, well, at a time like this, we need to observe whether her body and soul have properly settled. With a Phoenix there's probably nothing to worry about, but there's always a small chance, eh?"
"I see. Nekia, is that all right?"
"...I understand. If that's the situation, then I'll cooperate as well."
I was relieved she understood.
"Much appreciated, much appreciated."
"Oh, pardon me. We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Nekia. The queen."
She gave a small bow.
"Mm-hmm, pleased to meet you. Oh, and—Nekia, your appearance is rather conspicuous, you know."
"My appearance is conspicuous because I'm the queen."
"That's part of it, yes. Being a queen is rather... physical, eh?"
"Well, that's true..."
"Actually, there was someone else who had been using that body. That person went and did all sorts of attention-grabbing things."
"Ah, Laada..."
I had completely forgotten. That's right—there was the risk of being mistaken for Laada.
Well, it wasn't entirely wrong, since she had used Laada's body at one point.
But now it would be a mistake. Hmm. It was complicated, and hard to explain.
"But putting all that aside—the remnants of the Jinryu might come after your life, eh?"
"Come after me... The original owner of this body was that kind of person?"
Nekia looked a bit shaken.
"Well... there were various circumstances."
I wasn't confident I could explain the details about Laada properly.
Nekia lowered her gaze. I was sorry about this one, at least.
"So that's why I'd like you to stay here and keep out of trouble for a little while."
"...I can't say I fully understand everything... but if that's how things are, then I suppose I have no choice."
Her voice was faint, but I was glad she understood.
It was unfair to Nekia, but there was nothing to be done about it.
"Just bear with it a little longer, and you should be free."
"Yes. I trust you all."
Nekia smiled faintly.
I left the rest to the witch and went, as planned, to meet Torquetam.
I'd been told he'd be at the house I was borrowing, given the time.
I'd met Pakira that morning, but there was something I needed to give her.
A letter I'd received from Harus.
With everything that had happened, I'd completely forgotten about its existence.
When I'd pulled out the Phoenix resurrection egg earlier, I'd happened to find the letter.
That's when I'd remembered.
So I was heading over to deliver it before I forgot again.
On my way there—
"It's been a while. Wof, have you been well? Of course I have!"
Right.
I was standing in the hall of the Grand Temple, before the girl statue of "Generous."
Just ahead of me, Narcissus stood with her arms folded in a heroic pose, wearing a fearless grin.
Same outfit as before—the shrine maiden getup.
"Well, more or less."
"Good. Congratulations, by the way. You took care of that dungeon anomaly."
"That was Nabel."
"Was it? Either way, the commission was completed."
"That's true, but I wasn't really much help."
"That's how it goes sometimes."
"True enough."
"Now then, as promised, I'm giving you a ship. How lovely!"
A ship... ah, I'd forgotten about that. Well, whatever.
Coming here had actually been anticipated. Time to bring up the real topic.
"Um, may I ask you something?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"Would you consider building a normal dungeon?"
"A normal one? What does that mean? Huh—sounds interesting!"
Narcissus was as headstrong as ever.
I'd been thinking about this for a while. I spoke the words I'd organized in my head.
"What if, instead of an above-ground dungeon, you had Heizen build a regular underground one?"
"Why? That sounds fun! Sure, let's do it!"
I knew Narcissus would say exactly that.
I knew she'd agree on the spot without even asking the will.
But the one who had to give the go-ahead was the will.
"Um, may I explain my reasoning?"
"Of course."
"When the above-ground dungeon's balance collapsed, I was teleported into the sky. Honestly, I thought I was going to die. If it happens again, there will definitely be casualties."
"But deaths in dungeons aren't exactly rare."
"That's true. I'm prepared to die at the hands of monsters or to traps. But I'm not prepared to be killed by a malfunctioning dungeon. That's just absurd."
"That's fair."
"And besides, we can't just leave the Junkyard as it is."
"That's also fair."
"So why not have Heizen build a normal dungeon?"
"All right. Let's build one!"
"Great. Thank you."
That settled it. Heizen would have a normal dungeon.
The will had agreed, so there was nothing more to worry about.
"So, with that settled—Wof, I have a new commission from the will of Heizen's dungeon for you."
"Huh? A commission?"
Why so sudden?
Narcissus let out a light laugh.
This woman had a habit of grinning fearlessly for no reason.
"The commission: build a magnificent dungeon in Heizen!"
"Wh... What?"
I stared blankly.
A commission!?
"No, no—wouldn't that be built by the will of Heizen's dungeon itself?"
I'd somehow assumed the will would just conjure it up on its own.
That's why I'd made the suggestion so casually.
"If that were possible, it would've been done ages ago. That's true!"
"You mean... you can't?"
"Can't do it. We don't know how. In that case, I suppose that's that!"
They don't know how... Seriously?
But then again, if they could, it would've been done already.
"Wof, you who quelled the dungeon anomaly—surely you can do it. That's right! Wof can do it! I've acknowledged you, after all!"
"...No, even for me, building a dungeon is—"
"Of course, the reward for this commission will be something extraordinary. What will it be? A secret? How exciting!"
"Um, ah—"
"If you need any assistance, I'll provide it. That's settled!"
"Well, no, even so, building a dungeon is way beyond—"
"I'll be cheering you on, too! When you're ready, just call. I'll clear that dungeon for you, all right! So next time we meet, it'll be at the dungeon!"
"Wait, hold on?!"
I was back in the alley again.
I was stunned. W-Was I really going to build a dungeon?
---
A few days later.
A cave in the forest, far from the city.
"Finally made it. So this is the place, guv?"
Thousand Faces surveyed the surroundings.
Currently in his true form, he wore the eerie bird mask and a black robe.
At his waist hung a white sword.
"There's nothin' here, guv."
*(Not quite. Guv. Look over there.)*
His partner—that is, his beloved sword—moved its hilt on its own, as if pointing toward something.
Looking in that direction, something lay on the ground.
"Could that be—?!"
He rushed over. It was a cracked red mask.
Faded and dirty, blackened in places.
*(There's no doubt. This mask... that accursed thing—the red mask!)*
"This is what we've been chasing... the red mask... Having only the mask here and nothing else—there's no way the original is still alive, guv. That means... Biggs is already..."
Thousand Faces trembled violently.
He didn't want to think about it. The worst, most terrible conclusion had already crossed his mind once. He didn't want to entertain it.
*(Guv. It's only the mask. So I won't rule out the possibility that the main body survived. But at this point... he's probably dead. Given the deterioration of this mask, it's been quite some time.)*
"T-That's just too much, guv!!!"
Thousand Faces collapsed to his knees.
His anguished cry echoed through the cave.
And so the quest concerning the Red Masked Man—Biggs, the true mastermind behind it all—came to its end here.
Thanks for reading.