On the way to the log house "Wind at Will."
A group in obviously black robes had blocked our path.
There were more than ten of them.
Two wore white robes.
And right in the center stood a single man in a red robe.
He was the only one wearing jangly accessories, looking all self-important.
And somehow, I could tell what these guys were.
"You're kind of in the way, you know."
Narcissus boldly complained.
"How rude of us."
The man in the red robe said that.
Bearded face, suspicious-looking.
"You sure are suspicious-looking, you know."
I said it just like that.
"These guys. Aren't they from that? The ones who caused trouble at the audition."
"A Parade... and that one looks like the boss, too."
"I'd prefer you call me the Founder."
The man in the red robe grandly spread both arms wide and spoke in a resonant baritone.
"How noisy. I don't care."
Narcissus shaped Banish into a massive scythe and charged forward.
Two white-robed figures moved to shield the Founder, forming a line before him.
They raised mirror-like shields, and Narcissus's attack was deflected.
"Hah!?"
At the very moment the blow was blocked, the mirror-like shields shattered into pieces.
Narcissus leaped back.
"Those shields are…"
"Rare, aren't they? That's a Relic Shield—a Legacy that can block a single Relic attack."
Ambrosius spoke with a hint of admiration.
"Any Relic at all?"
"That's a Perfect Relic Shield. They're mass-produced, though."
"But precious nonetheless, no doubt about it."
"They're not something you can toss around lightly, though."
"Exactly! We do have a number of them, but we'd rather not use more than we have to."
The Founder raised his hand, and the black-robed figures closed in around us.
The two white-robed figures readied their Relic Shields.
The Founder flashed that same disreputable grin of his and spoke.
"We have no desire to spill needless blood. Hand over the vessel of the cat-folk beside you, and the girl you hold—do that, and we will quietly withdraw from this place."
"You mean hand over Pakira and Anemos?"
"Precisely. Witch's apprentice. I'm pleased you understand."
The Cult Leader laughed in a way that screamed suspicious.
Hmm… I asked.
"Um, can I say something?"
"What might that be?"
"Could it be that your real name is Stupid?"
"…What do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean? Well, from the look of you, you don't exactly seem like a genius, so I thought maybe your real name was actually Stupid. Am I wrong? Then is it Idiot? Or maybe Moron? Oh, I got it! Your full name must be Stupid Idiot Moron!"
"………………"
"Could it really be that your real name is Stupid Idiot Moron?"
"…Witch's apprentice."
"My name is Wof, by the way. Mr. Stupid Idiot Moron."
"Kill them."
Mr. Stupid Idiot Moron said in a terribly low voice.
The black-robed and white-robed figures surged toward us all at once.
On top of that, they were seething with rage after being mocked.
Well, how touchy.
But you know, being touchy — that's something I'm guilty of too.
"Quasi-Deification Relic — Generous!"
My eyes and hair turned purple.
"Wha—!?"
The dopey fool Manuke was showing his dumbfounded face.
"Circle Round Fantasmagoria!"
Countless Banish Chakrams tore through the group of black-robed figures, and even though they blocked with Relic Shields, more Banish Chakrams kept coming one after another.
"Damn! This! Nobody told me about this! Fine. Do it, Jemi. Nia."
Manuke was surprisingly good at dodging.
"Fusion!"
What happened? The two white-robed figures merged?
They grew taller, and in their hands appeared a huge, twisted, eerie greatsword.
"GRAAAARGH!"
Groaning, they swung the sword and smashed the Banish Chakrams to pieces.
That sword. An OOPArt?
"Nice, nice!!"
They merged suddenly, but those white-robed figures. They're strong.
Even though I could tell they were strong, I didn't feel like losing at all.
Besides — Narcissus was heading straight for the merged white-robed figure.
In both hands, she held massive cleaver-like blades imbued with Banish.
"Your opponent is Urara!"
She slid into position in front of the merged white-robed figure and unleashed a furious barrage of strikes.
I happened to glance at Sword's Sword.
Sword's Sword was lying on the ground, suppressing a yawn.
I thought he must be bored, but he stayed right next to Pakira.
Now they couldn't lay a finger on anyone.
Huh, the idiot Manuke is gone!
He ran! I won't let him get away!
"Sorry, Anemos. I'm counting on you."
I handed Anemos over to Ambrosius.
As he accepted her, Ambrosius gave me a piece of advice.
"Be careful. He's cunning."
"Right."
He gives off such a shady vibe — his true nature is probably that of a con artist.
I activated the Ring of Fortune and Danger Discernment.
Huh, I was a little surprised.
That idiot Manuke cult leader… he was a blue light.
The other one, naturally, was red, since they were hostile.
And one was emitting a mix of blue and red.
Either he was slow at running, or he was setting some kind of trap.
Either way, I headed toward where the blue and red lights pointed.
Halfway there, it returned to normal, but I didn't pay it any mind.
Where I caught up was a highland just outside the forest.
The idiot Manuke cult leader was waiting.
He laughed when he saw me.
"Oh my, looks like you've run out of time."
"And how is that a problem?"
Was there something wrong with that?
When I made that expression, he scowled in irritation.
"Good grief, that witch's disciple really is something."
"It's a fact that she's a clueless airhead, though."
"You brat, you never shut your mouth!"
"It's more embarrassing to turn red over a child's petty insults, you know."
"Shut uuuup!! You... I'll make sure of it... I, the great Saica, will bury you!"
"Can you actually do that?"
"Keep blabbering! I am the leader of the Paereido faith! I'm Saica!"
Saica let out a slimy laugh.
In that instant, I had a bad feeling.
"I'll show you. My serious side. I'm the type who goes all out even when hunting rabbits."
"What a coincidence. I'm the same type."
Huh? What was with that exchange? It felt strangely familiar.
Then Saica's body swelled up rapidly, his red robe tearing apart in shreds.
"A Relic [Transformation]!"
"No! It's a Relic [Transfiguration]!"
The color of his body turned a vivid, fresh crimson, changing with strange noises.
"BOOOOOOOORRRRRRR!!"
"………………"
"GORRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!"
"…………"
"SKREEEEEEEEE!!"
So noisy. And while transforming — completely wide open.
With this many openings, I figured it'd be fine to attack.
But I didn't.
Attacking during a transformation is a breach of etiquette.
If I did something like that, people would really think I was heartless.
So I waited.
But this whole exchange... it definitely gave me a sense of déjà vu.
And then, seeing what the cheater — or rather, Saimaka — looked like after finishing the transformation, my mind went completely blank.
"……………………………Huh?"
That was — no matter how you looked at it — an Anomalocaris.
An actual Anomalocaris. And a big one, at that.
Big or not, it was still an Anomalocaris.
No matter how you looked at it, it was an Anomalocaris.
Besides, when it had been a Phantom Unit it was dark red, but this one had the coloration of the real thing.
So it was a real Anomalocaris.
The size was absolutely ridiculous, but honestly, I had no idea what the official size of an Anomalocaris was.
But this was a genuine, one-hundred-percent, bona fide Anomalocaris.
It was Anomalocaris from every conceivable angle.
Yes. It was Anomalocaris.
Yep. Anomalocaris.
It was Anomalocaris.
"............———ANOMALOCARIS!?!?!"
I howled.
The Anomalocaris flinched.
"Anomalocaris, are you serious! Anomalocaris, you're kidding! Anomalocaris, you've got to be kidding me!? Give me a break, give me a break, give me a break. Why is it an Anomalocaris of all things right now!! Why an Anomalocaris of all things! Why, of all the things it could be, it has to be an Anomalocaris!? Of all the times, of all the places, of all the situations — it's an Anomalocaris!? Are you making fun of me? Are you stupid? Are you an idiot? Are you seriously, genuinely, actually stupid!?"
I howled like a storm surge.
"I'll never... I'll never forgive this. I'll never———— Ah, I've lost it."
Something———it was like a snapping sound inside me.
I understood instantly.
This was from that time... My body was transforming in an instant.
My hair grew and turned purple, manifesting the cosmos within.
It was as if[
Universe
of
Arms
].
Galaxies and nebulae floating in purple darkness were reflected in my hair.
Deep, richly glowing purple eyes.
I could feel something major changing on my forehead too, but I couldn't tell what it was.
But one thing I could tell.
I was truly, genuinely angry.
I could sense Anomalocaris cowering in fear.
I moved my lips with pity.
"You really were a fool, an idiot, and utterly hopeless."
If it weren't for Anomalocaris, I wouldn't have become like this.
I wouldn't have felt this level of anger.
If it weren't for Anomalocaris.
I don't know why this cult leader became an Anomalocaris.
But the world is vast, and the universe is profound.
A person's soul is infinite, but their life is finite.
I hear the sound of waves.
Coming in and retreating, advancing and departing.
The sound of waves on the sea of souls.
Everyone yearns to return, and someday they leave again.
My heart is perfectly still, like the depths of some vast universe.
Even without using Blue Saint, I've gone calm and composed.
If you became a universe and came to know its endless depth, your heart would probably be wrapped in silence.
You'd find peace. Tranquility.
That said, I won't forgive the Anomalocaris.
Absolutely not.
"Th-that... that form... of yours...!?"
"Go back. To the Sea of Souls. [Banishment Ocean]"
"...Ah... I can see... the sea..."
The Anomalocaris returned to the Sea of Souls.
I come back to normal and mutter, still calm and composed.
"It talked."
Then again, maybe that wasn't an Anomalocaris?
"No..."
I shook my head slightly and denied the thought.
That was an Anomalocaris.
It was an Anomalocaris.
It was an Anomalocaris after all.