Chapter 183: Artema Menace (1)

Outside the castle. I used Healing Magic on Princess Tiana’s right arm as I walked through the paved streets of Tarmine. I did it to heal her hand, which had become swollen after she had done something “stupid”.

「Thank you! I didn’t know the goddess could use Healing Magic too! 」

I sighed as I saw Princess Tiana laughing.

Colt was pushing Celseus’ wheelchair while I was healing her hand. Next to Colt was Eich and John Dae. Seiya was walking at the very back. Somehow, it seemed like he was intentionally keeping his distance from Princess Tiana.

…Seiya already hated getting involved with people from the Twisted Worlds. But it must be even worse with Princess Tiana…

Princess Tiana was my past life, and also Seiya’s ex-lover. Of course, Seiya didn’t remember that past, but he knew it after hearing the story from the Great Goddess Isister. He probably didn’t want to get involved with Princess Tiana as much as possible to avoid upsetting himself. That was what I thought.

「This is a park! It’s a place for everyone to relax! 」

Princess Tiana spoke cheerfully, not seeming to care about my complicated feelings. I turned my gaze to the tranquil park. There were a few people walking around.

…Huh…?

Suddenly, I noticed something was off. When I first came to Tarmine, I thought it had a peaceful atmosphere, unlike Galvano. But when I looked more closely, I saw that the expressions of the people walking around were all gloomy.

「Everyone looks depressed. 」

When I muttered those words, Princess Tiana’s face became a little serious.

「They’re worried. After all, we’re in a cold war with Galvano. There’s also Gaston Empire across the sea to the south, and the magical nation, Balaktoria, is also aiming its fangs at Tarmine.」

Princess Tiana said while looking down.

「In reality, all the countries need to join forces in order to gather the Artema’s four types before the rise of Artema Menace. 」

「The Artema’s four types…」

John Dae joined in as I mumbled to myself.

「Tarmine’s “Resurrection Artema”. Leon of the Principality of Galvano’s “Thunder Beast Artema”. The Ceremonic Sisters of the Gaston Empire’s “Curse Artema”. And the superpower Balaktoria’s “Power Artema”. Only when we have all of these together can we deal with the rise of Artema Menace. 」

We had passed the park by the time John Dae finished speaking. Princess Tiana smiled sadly.

「The anxiety and fear have made almost everyone in this world go crazy. 」

「Yes…I mean, I think you’ve gone crazy too…! 」

「What! That’s not true! Ahahaha, you’re funny! 」

Princess Tiana seemed to find it really funny and slapped me on the back. No, I wasn’t joking.

After a bout of laughter, Princess Tiana continued to talk with a smile.

「That’s why I laugh! I wish there was more enjoyment! That’s why I’m practicing it! 」

「Ah, I see…that’s why you’re behaving like this…」

I nodded slightly, scratching my cheek. It seemed that she was trying to get rid of her gloomy feelings by being super happy…laughing like crazy. Well, I could understand it a little if that was the reason.

As we walked, Eich looked around and spoke.

「But you know, the city is beautiful, and it is thousands of times better than Galvano. I’m jealous.」

But then, it happened. Our view got dim.

「Huh! Wha…What? 」

The sun was suddenly blocked by rain clouds. Colt muttered quietly with a serious look on his face.

「False peace crumbles easily. Look, there it is…」

I also looked toward the sun after following Colt’s gaze as he looked into the sky…and I was at a loss for words.

Above Tarmine…Far above the ground, a huge, winged object was flying. Its size was indescribable even from this distance. I focused my eyes on the object, which must be the size of an island. It looked like trees were growing on most of its surface. Actually, its surface was a large, swollen belly. Its limbs had suckers…it was a gigantic frog with wings.

While I was staring, it continued to fly, and it finally came over our heads. The air trembled with a thunderous roar, and the people around us ran away screaming loudly.

Colt muttered.

「This is Artema Menace. 」

No…no…no!! Wa…Wait!! Was Artema Menace really that big!?

「But I heard it was not revived yet!? 」

Celseus shouted in fear. John Dae looked up at the sky and explained.

「It has no intention of attacking right now. It feels like its sleeping. 」

「It feels more like sleepwalking. It floats in the skies all over the world like this. 」

Eich said nonchalantly by following Colt’s explanation.

「Sometimes it even comes to Galvano. 」

「Is…Is that so…! 」

It was a relief if it was just floating around. But even so…

…Could we defeat that thing…!?

I gasped at its size and looked at Seiya. Seiya took out a piece of paper and seemed to be writing something down while glancing at Artema Menace.

I approached Seiya and spoke in a low tone.

「What are you doing? 」

「I’m writing down its length and characteristics. After all, that must be the cause of the distortion that affects the Twisted Exfolia. 」

「You believe in what the Underworld King said, don’t you? 」

「…Egzation is reacting. 」

I looked down at the sheath on Seiya’s waist. The strongest holy sword, Egzation, had probably sensed the cause of the evil distortion and it was telling its owner, Seiya.

…If that was the case, then we must defeat Artema Menace! First, we needed to get hold of the Artema’s four types!

Even though it had no intention of attacking, a deep thunder roared from the sky. There was not a single soul around us. But then…

「There’s nothing to fear! Artema Menace is the savior! This world needs him! 」

Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out. I turned around and saw a middle-aged woman in white clothing shouting at the head of a group of people dressed in the same outfit.

「Don’t even think about defeating Artema Menace! That would mean the destruction of this world, Exfolia! 」

A dozen of them were praying to Artema Menace, who was flying in the sky, as if it were a god they worshipped.

I felt a complex feeling that I couldn’t describe as I listened to the woman’s voice. If Artema Menace got destroyed, the twisted world of Exfolia would disappear. In other words, those who were already dead in the original world, like Colt, would cease to exist. For them, the destruction of Artema Menace could indeed mean the “end of the world”. Of course, there was no way they could know that.

John Dae spoke as he stared at the group.

「What are you talking about? When Artema Menace rises, it will unleash lightning, fire, dissolving fluid, and dark magic…it will throw the world into chaos. How can something as devastating as that be the savior? 」

Colt spoke next to me while staring at the group.

「That’s “Free Lives”. It’s an international organization that was recently formed. Apparently, it has believers in Galvano as well. 」

「Strange teachings often spread when the world is in turmoil. 」

Celseus, in his wheelchair, nodded at Eich’s words.

「Come to think of it, there was also a Holy Angel Cult in Geabrande before. 」

「That’s right…」

I muttered in agreement. Eventually, Artema Menace gradually became smaller and moved into the western sky. With it, the group known as “Free Lives” walked away from the scene.

We just stood there, stunned, when…

「Hey, hey! Let’s go! 」

Princess Tiana said cheerfully and started walking.

I thought as I watched her back.

…Princess Tiana would disappear too if we destroyed Artema Menace…

It made me sad. At that moment, I felt a gaze piercing my back. Seiya looked at me with a strong gaze, as if he could see through my feelings. He seemed to be saying, 『Don’t be sentimental to those in this twisted world. 』to me.

I shook my head from side to side to change my mood.

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Lista is too sentimental. She needs to be more rational in order to save the world…

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