Trinitas Mundus

Around 7pm on March 3rd.

The Rays were in Rowni, which hit the entrance to Luberna, the capital of the Moon Demons.

Luna's heart is still beaten by the disturbances that took place in Luberna at noon that day. Ellis, who was in the carriage with her, desperately comforted her, but her heart remained sinking and silent.

While encouraging, Elise didn't understand the nature of why Luna was depressed.

(The junior guard just made an incredible lapse and took responsibility. I wonder why you're so sad? Even in western countries it is normal to be punished if you work disrespectfully for royalty...)

If you try her, you worked disrespect for the Son of the Moon, who is more than the ruler of the country, so it's natural to make amends with your life.

Ione, the healer of the people, was unable to speak to Luna. Sometimes Ealis, a powerful man, was always talking, but because he was beginning to wonder if he might not be worthy of a companion to the Son of the Moon.

She heard stories of the guards harming herself, lowering her drinks inside, although she didn't give it to her expression. But Luna is depressed as if to deny the idea.

(I couldn't help you in the guard's quarters... and I don't know what your son wants. Just bother yourself if such a person is around......)

Ray, who was in the carriage with him, has consoled him several times along with Ehlis, but is about to be crushed by self-blame for being his own failure. Still, if I miss this time, I have a sense of crisis that I will allow the invasion of the godless Vanitas.

(If you miss now, it will be a big deal. If we get the upside-down ghost tribe closer to Luberna, we should open the end of the battle to get the Moon Son back, no matter what you say. So we have to convince the ghost tribe here and bring them back to Zalesche. Sorry for Luna (Tsukiya), but I need you to hang in here...)

Luna was cold somewhere, listening to the comfort words of Elise and Ray.

She herself, where the spirit damaged by Vanitas had not recovered, was depressed by information that the guards had harmed herself, but the shock was too strong and somewhere unrealistic.

(As many as five people died because of me. But if I say that, it's my fault too, the battle of Periclitle, and it's my fault that the village of Thysek has been wiped out... I guess I call for misfortune. If this is what Vanitas is after too, it's starting to feel good for this world to be gone...)

It was Ashley's words that reached her heart the most like that.

Don't you think, "If it weren't for you"?

"What?"

Suddenly, she is told her heart, and Luna is bewildered.

"You must be certain that the existence of you is necessary to the gods. Lord Ehlis and Lord Varma took it into account this time..."

Luna is unsure how to answer, unable to open her mouth.

"... and I'm sure Vanitas is after me even more. That would have caused some battles. In fact, Periclitle and Millis Valley were battles to take away the Son of the Moon..."

Luna didn't know what she was trying to say. For that reason, I tried to put my doubts to my mouth. But Ashley ignores it and keeps talking.

"... so I don't know if I want to think that everything will be better without you. But are you sure? I don't know how to put it, but now it's not like those who died because you lost your life will come back to life. Besides, what are we going to do now? If we go to Jill Saul, we might be able to prevent the world from collapsing. Do you know that much and throw it out? Die here and it will be easier. Certainly would be. But what do we do with those left behind? If you die, many will be even more unhappy. Think about it."

I said that and quietly meditated my eyes without waiting for Luna's answer.

Luna became angry at her words.

"I didn't become" son of the moon "because I wanted to. God called me on his own and pushed me into such a role. Still telling me to live for strangers!

Ashley quietly opens her eyes to those angry words.

"Not everyone lives the way they want. Neither do I. I have resented Hamish Marcutt many times for being born to his only daughter..."

Luna's anger vanished for a moment at the words Ashley uttered. Because she thought she was a much stronger woman than herself.

"... you certainly deserve sympathy. I think so, too. So when it comes to choosing death, that would be good too. But there are those who grieve for your death. Someone put his life on the line to help you. If you don't forget that, that's fine."

Luna no longer knew what to do with Ashley's words.

(Saint Hijiri, you risked your life trying to protect me. That's true...... but that's why it's weird that I have to feel painful. Because I didn't ask for it...)

And I alternated between Ray, who looked worried, and Ashley, who meditated on her eyes in a flash somewhere.

(Saint is worried about me. I haven't heard the details, but it should have been tough coming after me this far from Periclitle. So, Mr. Ashley is angry. Because my loved ones are risking their lives trying to protect the world and I'm not the key to it...... but I was just a high school student. And no matter what I did, it didn't work... so I can't...)

Luna can't sort her mind out about the guards who lost their lives herself.

(as many as five people have died... without the presence of me, those people would still have lived happily ever after... some loved ones, even my family... but I don't know what to do...)

There are zero tears in her eyes.

"You don't have to worry about what Ash said. I'm sorry about this. This wouldn't have happened if I kept my mind a little tighter. So I'm responsible."

Luna's heart warmed slightly to his expression, desperately trying to comfort him.

(He said the same thing. When I get a little depressed, it's my fault... I'm a kid. I would have lived more than thirty years if I had included my life in Japan...)

I remember the old days. Luna bows her head small to Ray.

"Thanks, but it's not your fault. I don't think this is someone's responsibility... it's true that I'm depressed, and I still can't sort my mind out, but I'll try my best."

And bow your head toward Ashley.

"Thank you. Mr. Ashley. I'm not as strong as you are, but I don't do anything to throw away what I have to do. For now...... you guys helped me. Until I return the favor, I will face the mission I have been given."

Ashley slowly opens her eyes.

"You don't have to bow your head to me. I'm just helping Ray do what he does. Hey, Stella?

That's what I tell Stella.

"Yes, sir"

Suddenly she is told the story and Stella is impoverished with answers.

She didn't understand why Luna was depressed and even felt angry that she kept worrying about Ray. But I realized I was trying to encourage Luna up to Ashley, and I was just feeling sorry for my lack of self.

"We just followed Ray. If you just think a little bit about how worried he was, that's fine. Right, Stella?

Ashley says so and talks to Stella again.

Stella finally understood what Ashley intended when she came here.

(Master Ashley has noticed that I am angry with Mr. Luna. But that doesn't suit Lady Ray's mind. So you also cared for me while encouraging Mr. Luna...... all for Master Ray. I really am no match for this one......)

When Stella says yes to Ashley, she turns back to Luna.

"Master Ray has been unscrupulous many times to help you. You will continue to be impotent in helping your mission. I hope you don't forget that I'm here for you."

Luna thought again that the two women loved Ray wholeheartedly.

(Saint you have someone who loves you so much. These three are bound by strong bonds. I really envy you...... I have no one who thinks so much of me. That's because I didn't trust people. That's what happened then. I just wanted to monopolize. Now that I think about it, I feel like I could have wanted to be that guy's family. Everything is due to my weakness...... I want to be strong like these people......)

Seeing Ashley and Stella, I began to think I had to be strong, too.

"Looks like you're feeling a little better. Then why don't we have a tummy before the ghosts get here? Mr. Ione, give me the lunch I brought you."

Ray speaks to Ione in a bright voice. Ashley and Stella also brightened their faces and began to prepare their meals.

After finishing the meal, Ray had a final meeting with Luna to persuade the Ghosts.

"I think it's best to be honest and talk about how you feel. But the order in which you speak is important."

"I wonder what that means?" Luna leans her neck.

"The ghosts arrive here in an angry state. What they're most worried about is whether you're coming back to Zalesche, right? So first, we have to tell them about it and calm their anger."

"Right. If I tell you about the first time I was caught, the Middle-Ghost could ignore my story and head to Luberna."

That's what I say and chuckle. Although Ray was relieved by Luna's return to grin, his expression continued to explain without changing.

"The order of what we need to talk about is going to Zalesche, that the Moon Demons were being manipulated by Vanitas, that they were about to be swallowed up by Vanitas themselves, and that they want us to work together to protect the world from Vanitas. I think if we talk this far, the ghosts will settle down too. At that stage, Lord Elise apologizes and tells my story."

"What are we going to do about going to Jilsol?

"It depends on what happens, but I think we can talk about it after we go to Zalesche. Maybe if you don't acknowledge my presence, they'll think I'm trying to get you back west."

Ashley nods loudly at it.

"You sure do. You are the natural enemy of the Ghosts, the White Mage. It will be difficult to be trusted, but if we don't win some credibility, we can cut it out to the west."

"Right. I know exactly what Mr. Ashley is saying. Because Varma has always cared."

"Certainly the name" White Mage ”was a big one for us too. Or I have one more concern..."

That's what Elise said and cut it out.

"From what we've looked into, it looks like the Black Demons are involved in this matter. Saul Ingvar, the chief, excels both as a warrior and as a spellman. And we are finding traces of him summoning the demon general Archdemon..."

The Black Devil tribe is a race belonging to the same demonic tribe as the Moon Devil tribe, with a magical talent comparable to the Moon Devil tribe and a physical ability comparable to the Medium Ghost tribe warriors. Until a thousand years ago, he was in the leadership position of the Demonic Nation, but many lost their lives during the Great Invasion, losing power within the Demonic Nation.

The Demon General, on the other hand, is a first-class equivalent demon and is so dangerous that it is said that together we can wipe out all the fortified cities. Magic in particular can be used by all but light attributes, and its magic holdings greatly outweigh even the Moon Demons, a race that specializes in magic.

"Lord Ray may be able to counter it, but if Saul and the Demon General are thinking of capturing your son, it's very dangerous."

Ray listened to the story and was convinced that Elise was in a hurry to abduct Luna. But he himself did not think that the Black Demons or Demon Generals were after him.

"Are you sure you're after her? If that's all there is, there must have been as many opportunities as there were. If you were on the west side, you would have easily abducted at the foot of Aquila, and even if you were on the east side, you would have had as many opportunities as you could during your trip from the village of Leriche. I think it's too unnatural to make you feel any signs at all. I think there's a possibility of Vanitas' ploy."

Listen to Ray and think of Elise as well.

(Surely there was no evidence that Saul was nearby. Besides, it's been a long time since I've summoned a demon general. Even I noticed your son's descent. I don't think he'll miss it. It's more natural to think that something's happened somewhere... maybe Vanitas is still the reason I haven't noticed this before...)

Still alarm that it is dangerous to be alarmed.

"I understand what Lord Ray has to say. But this could also be one of the hands that Vanitas hit. If Lord Ray hadn't shown up, your son would have been swallowed up by Vanitas."

"That's true. You might want to think I was hitting the fabric stone for when I failed. Either way, it's safer to think you might have a strong enemy."

Ellis nods loudly at Ray's convince.

"But I don't think we need to tell the ghosts about this. If I say this, I won't be able to go to Jill Saul."

Luna said, "Right. I'm not gonna tell you about this," but I was thinking about the incident that happened about a year ago in Periclitle.

(Speaking of which, about a year ago, there were rumors that a demon god had appeared ahead of Rickadale. It's close in time, and maybe the demon god was the demon general... I heard the Periclitle adventurers exorcised, but I think we talked about the body disappearing and whether it was really the demon god after all. I don't remember much because I wasn't in a mental state to care about that back then...)

Luna told the story to the Rays.

"As your son said, I can't believe that the Adventurer defeated the Demon General. Unless you're a magician like Lord Ray, but I don't think you have as many magicians."

Ealis says so and denies it reluctantly.

Luna gives a visionary look and denies the word even more.

"Not really. Back then, there were three magicians in that city comparable to Ray. He was such an amazing adventurer."

"I've heard it too. Indeed, there must have been a party led by an awesome magical swordsman known as the" True Dark Demon Swordsman ”. I'm about my age, but I'm talking about knocking down a first-degree equivalent of undead when I was a mid-teenager. If they were black demons and demon generals, they wouldn't be late."

Ashley had visited Periclitle several times on escort duty and had heard rumors of that awesome adventurer. Though they used the same inn, they didn't know each other because of adventurers and mercenaries who left the city for a short time, often in the woods.

"That's two amazing names," Ray laughed, "Well," Luna said, recalling the old days.

(He looked terribly nasty when he said his name. I miss you...... what are you doing now?

Ray closes the story while Luna is immersed in memories.

"So you're not going to be alarmed in any case. Same goes for this one, but you should think you don't know where the enemy is."

Everyone on the spot nodded loudly.