Return and Departure

I returned to Alf Town with Marisa in tow, though it was hardly by choice.

I didn't think it had been that many days, but why did I feel like I'd aged a decade? The answer was obvious: Marisa. The woman hadn't stopped talking since we left.

“So this is the Land of God…” Marisa whispered, her eyes sparkling as she took in the City Wall.

“It’s just a town. More importantly, things look a bit chaotic.”

I’d stationed people at the gate for defense—mostly children who were Orphans—but today, they were running around in a frantic blur. I managed to catch one of them to find out what was going on.

“You look busy. Did something happen?”

“Ah, Yuri-sama! Welcome back! Um... the town is about to be attacked!” the child cried, using his whole body to emphasize the gravity of the situation.

“That is horrible!” Marisa interjected. “To attempt to attack God is more than just sacrilege!”

Really? You’re the one saying that? The same person who was ready to die a moment ago just to trigger a cosmic war?

I gave a weary, wry smile at Marisa’s sudden display of motivation.

“If you wish, shall we repel these attackers for you?” she proposed.

As much as I lacked military power, the offer was tempting. But I didn't want to create a debt. If I let her help now, I’d have to pay it back eventually, and I didn't even want to imagine what a lunatic like her would demand as payment. My best bet was to do her a favor and then have her "repay" me by leaving as soon as possible.

“No, that won’t be necessary. You’ve taken proper countermeasures, right?” I asked the boy.

“Even if you ask me, I don't know!”

“Fair enough. Is Emilina taking Command?”

“Emina-sama and Sasha-sama are!” he replied with total confidence.

“You mean... Emilina, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Emina-sama.”

I see. They’ve been calling her that for so long that the name has stuck. Asking again won’t change the answer.

“I understand. Where are they now?”

“I think they were gathering at the inn.”

“Right. We’ll head there immediately.”

We entered the town and made a beeline for the inn.

---

Despite our haste, it took an unexpectedly long time to reach our destination. The reason was simple: Marisa wouldn't stop bombarding me with questions about the town’s infrastructure.

“Um, God? What is that?”

“I’m not God. For the last time, call me Yuri. And that? That’s just a Fountain.”

“I-I see. Then I shall call you God Yuri-sama.”

I wished she wouldn't bow so ostentatiously in the middle of the street. We were lucky the streets were mostly empty; otherwise, we would have been the center of a very awkward scene.

“A Fountain... Water is so abundant in this country that you can use it freely. But I didn't see a water source nearby?”

“Ah, that’s because we’re pulling Water from a distant source through Water Pipes.”

“Doesn’t that require an astronomical amount of labor...?”

“Everyone worked hard, that’s for sure.”

“I thought so... I can’t even imagine how many decades that took to build.”

Decades? It only took a couple of months.

“Ah, what about that over there?”

“That’s a warehouse. Look, just follow me for now.”

“Of course! I will follow you anywhere, no matter how far! Forever!”

Maybe I should have told her "don't follow me."

With that heavy thought hanging over me, I stepped into the inn. The moment I crossed the threshold, Sasha lunged at me.

“Big brother! You’re safe!”

“Yeah. I hurried as much as I could, but it took some time. Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. More importantly... who are these people?”

“I’ll explain one by one. This is the Sage, Melty, and the Fanatic, Marisa.”

Melty hid behind Fritz, looking mortified. “U-Um... may I go get some clothes...?”

“Right. I’ve finished the introductions, so go ahead. Do you know where the place is?”

“...No.”

“Sigh... I get it. Just wait behind me for a second.”

Melty nodded weakly, and I turned my attention to Emilina.

“I heard the gist of it at the gate. Is the aggressor the Beast Kingdom?”

According to my Presence Detection, they were the only ones approaching. However, I was on good terms with the Beast King. Why would he attack a territory belonging to the Kingdom of Inraku? Either he was a fool, or my father—the Mastermind—had already gotten to him.

Even without the protagonist, the pieces were moving. The Hero, the Saint, the Sage... the very people my father would eventually find troublesome were all gathered here.

“Um, well...” Emilina said with a strained smile. “It’s not just the Beast Kingdom. The Holy Principality of Ames and the Demon Kingdom are... also involved.”

I noticed Emilina’s gaze shifting toward Marisa.

“What? How did that happen?”

“I-It’s a misunderstanding!” Marisa cried. “I only did it for God’s sake—”

A misunderstanding? No, this is just the result of her being a delusional runaway train.

“Well, the Holy Principality of Ames is no longer a threat. You can see why,” I said, gesturing to the local fanatic.

“God... I see. So that’s how it is. As expected of Yuri-sama. That is a relief...” Emilina murmured, drifting into thought.

“More importantly, what’s the status of the other attacks?!”

“Lucille-chan took care of the Demon Kingdom.”

Lucille did?!

She was likely of the Demon Race, so perhaps she’d simply told them the territory was peaceful. I couldn't imagine her repelling an army alone. Only someone like the Demon Lord could drive back a demonic host single-handedly. And no matter how I looked at her, the girl I’d seen happily munching on snacks in my town didn't fit the profile of a Demon Lord. She looked like a literal child.

Still, if the demons were gone, that was one less headache.

“So that just leaves the Beast Kingdom.”

“It seems there’s a way to settle that peacefully as well. Apparently, Elu-sama was told how to handle it by Yuri-sama before.”

“By me?”

I had no memory of giving military advice. I’d only ever talked about local development.

“Yes. And so, the Beastmen headed out earlier... carrying Shovels.”

Shovels? Why Shovels? Are they digging trenches?

“Also,” Emilina added, “the Hero has already headed out to the front.”

“What?!”

That was the real shock. She had incredible Aptitude, but her Level was still low. She was just a girl with her whole life ahead of her. If she died here, the timeline might snap back toward the tragedy of the Original Game. Besides, she’d been a huge help in developing this land. I couldn't just stand by.

“Right. I’m going! Fee, Fritz, with me!”

“Understood!”

“Yeah, naturally.”

“I’m coming too!”

“Clothes...”

I think I heard two extra voices in that mix.

“Emilina, sorry, but could you find some clothes for Melty?”

“Of course,” Emilina said, smiling happily as she approached Melty while flex-wiggling her fingers.

“U-Um... I-I—”

“It’s okay. I won’t make it hurt. Oh, and I’ll be coming along as well. I’ll leave the town to Sasha-sama.”

“I-I want to go with big brother, too...” Sasha pouted.

“No. The only person I can trust with this town is my sister. Sasha, can I count on you?”

“I-I understand. If big brother puts it that way, I guess I have no choice.” Sasha looked away, clearly pleased despite herself.

With Sasha seeing us off, we prepared to leave the territory. However, between the hour-long clothing montage and Melty wailing, “I can’t get married now...” it took a while before we actually hit the road. That, I suppose, was just par for the course.