Case 115: Upon homecoming.

*****

My endeavor ended in failure.

''Hah... hah... ugh...!''

''Cecily!''

I didn't know how I was alive.

As the great demon's wrath descended on me, swallowed me, I truly believed it was all over. In the split second before the end, I couldn't even muster a thought.

But then... Lucy must have intervened somehow. Perhaps it was thanks to her.

I could barely hold my consciousness. Drowsiness drowned the searing pain across my wounds, and a sense of heaviness pressed on me. In my bloodied vision, I could make out a white silhouette.

Yuria... so she survived, too.

''Cecily! You can't die here!''

''...Calm down. The fact that I am still speaking... means that he let us go.''

''But...! You're bleeding!''

''I know... I won't die from this.''

I felt the arms holding me tremble. Did Yuria... care about me that much...?

As a mere acquaintance, I thought she would have escaped the instant Astaroth showed his fangs. Fleeing from mortal danger was a righteous thing to do, after all.

''Cecily, does your luggage have first aid?! I'll stop the bleeding right away, so hang in there!''

''Ah...''

...I didn't even have the chance to answer.

Still, it was true that I brought a small kit. I was pretty certain it wouldn't be enough to cover such large wounds that I had, but... if it would help the princess to stabilize, then.

Feeling the frantic movements around my body, I fell unconscious.

When I opened my eyes again, the pain had soothed significantly.

It was most likely because of my excellent regeneration, but whoever bandaged my wounds also contributed considerably.

I was nearly covered in bandages.

Yuria must have used one of my shirts to substitute for many of them. I clearly didn't bring this much...

''Oh, you're already up...?''

Speaking of, I was still in her arms.

Seeing her much clearer despite being in the dark, I perked up, smiling, ''See? I told you I would be fine.''

''If only you saw how much you were bleeding, yeah?'' Yuria replied angrily, pointing at my white dress that wasn't quite a white dress anymore.

It was torn at multiple places, and, of course, drenched in my blood. At least, I assumed so.

I could only smile awkwardly.

''Ah, but... are we still in the palace?''

Our surroundings were terribly dark, but I saw her shining eyes looking cautiously around earlier. Besides, this cold marble texture that I was feeling... it must be true.

''That guy didn't go after us earlier.'' She said. ''Without you guiding us out, I reckoned it would be better to hide somewhere here than get caught.''

''Mhm. Good call.''

''Should we escape now? I'll carry you through.''

''Okay. I've recovered a bit, too. Aside from Asraroth, no one can hurt me now.''

Yuria's brows were knitted as she stared at me doubtfully, ''Recovered? I wouldn't be sure about that.''

''Well, well...''

Nonetheless, she easily picked me up, princess carry style, and took a deep breath. I fulfilled my part, hugging her neck so that I wouldn't fall off.

''...!''

Yet, that seemed to have triggered something in her as she wobbled slightly.

''Yuri?''

''You... do you know how you look right now? Doing this?''

''Doing what...?''

Did she forget that, unlike her, a cat, I couldn't see in the dark? I mean, I could if I used magic, but not in this state. Belatedly realizing that fact, Yuria nearly slapped herself on the cheeks, but since she was holding me... oh, well.

We got to moving right away.

Since I already had the layout of this castle memorized, and there really was nothing getting in our way, the escape progressed smoothly. Perhaps thanks to the immense power radiated from the fight earlier, there wasn't a soul left in this place.

Being carried by Yuria felt reassuring. She had gone this far for me without taking advantage of me, even at my weakest, so it was only natural that I was more at ease.

''...''

Getting out of here and coming back home was one thing, but I supposed I had to accept the truth at some point.

The possibilities I had clung to... vanished.

It was a perfect dead end, one without a path for retreat.

I couldn't resort to killing hundreds of people every day just to sustain my singular life, no matter how miserable my time was. Moreover, even if I wanted to stay still and die quietly, Astaroth would probably force this body to act out his will at some point.

There was no option for me but to sacrifice myself. To end this life as the last boss of this story—the heroic tale in which my precious little sister, Lyra, was the protagonist.

I must set up a way to kill, or at least heavily wound Astaroth upon my death. He and I were linked through a powerful curse, so there had to be something.

If not... I'd just die normally. That way, many people could be saved... hopefully.

''Hahah...''

What was this feeling?

Even though I was casually thinking about my death, my mind was strangely calm. Perhaps that I had prepared for this since my transmigration... or that I still couldn't accept my eventual demise.

Death was an abstract concept.

''You're thinking something bad, aren't you?''

''...Hm?''

As we passed through the stretching hall, I finally noticed the moonlight pouring on us. Yuria gazed at me ambiguously, her steps steady, ''Hold it tight. I'll get us all the way out.''

''Ah, okay.''

I did as she said.

''Emerald.'' Yuria called.

[Nya!]

Upon her Soul Guardian—a gorgeous white cat—'s descent, the princess's wind magic swelled, fluttering our hair. With each stride, her speed rapidly increased, as if a breeze was taking her along its path.

''Hup...!''

We boldly flew out of a balcony toward the entrance we entered. Being suspended in the air in this state wasn't something I'd expected to experience, yet here I was. Taking invisible spots as stepping stones, Yuria nearly flew forward on her own.

For a moment, I was dazed at the surreal sensation.

''...Ah.''

The cat nested in my arms, waking my consciousness.

I felt the wind tearing by, the moon's gentle light, and the person holding me... her heat.

This was reality, and I would be leaving it soon.

What kind of thoughts should I have?

I wasn't sure.

About everything.

But for the moment... I was sure I wanted to embrace this uncertainty.

Yeah. I decided. I would act as I saw right. No one could shake this conviction.

No one.

We were out of the city after an hour.

Yuria, despite working so hard for so long, showed little fatigue. We quickly found our parked vehicle hidden nearby. Thankfully, everything still worked perfectly.

''Phew... I could finally take a breather.'' The princess sighed. ''What a hellhole that was...''

''Oh, should I give you a shoulder massage?'' I jokingly quipped.

The reception was a bit strange, though.

''You should change your clothes first, you know...''

''Huh?''

Only when I looked at my own body did I understand Yuria's attitude since earlier. I had large wounds all over my body, so my flimsy dress was torn at those places, and Yuria herself must have made them worse trying to bandage me up, so...

I was wearing very little clothing, let's just say.

''Hahah...''

I changed into a fresh dress.

In the meantime, the car's engine roared to life, and we began to head back, taking the same way we used to get here. For a while, I tried to crack jokes intermittedly, but... it wasn't really that mood between us at this moment.

''...Thank you.'' I bitterly said after a while. ''And sorry for pulling you into this mess. I must have looked so pathetic.''

''No way. You were... beautiful. You might not believe this, but I admire you a lot.'' Yuria replied. ''I don't have the courage that you have.''

''Thanks...''

''So... what are you planning to do now?''

The answer immediately came out of my mouth, ''...Coming home.''