Thanks to Sage Nyau's Teleportation Circle, we managed to make it back to Kataroff Village in one piece.
The villagers welcomed us with open arms, hailing us as saviors for defeating the Demon King. None of them had any idea what had actually transpired inside the Dungeon. They didn't notice that our numbers had dwindled or that a new woman named Ageha had joined our ranks.
That was largely thanks to Sage Nyau, who kept a cool head and smoothed over the details for us without making any accusations.
There was no banquet to celebrate the Demon King Subjugation—at least, not yet. The man of the hour, Hero Eligion, was still unconscious. We had explained to the villagers that he was sleeping off injuries sustained during a fierce battle with the Demon King, so the festivities were postponed until he finally woke up.
"Hey, Kiska. What's the plan from here on out?"
After dinner, we retreated to the rooms the villagers had prepared for us at the inn. I was just about to settle in for the night when Ageha dropped by.
"Well..." I trailed off, thinking as I nodded along to her question.
I’d been certain that defeating the Demon King would trigger my return to the world a hundred years in the future, but there wasn't so much as a glimmer of that happening. I wondered if there was some kind of time lag involved.
For the time being, I decided to try explaining the specifics to her.
"—And that's how it happened."
"Hmm, I see."
I had already told her that a mysterious entity known as the Observer had sent me a century into the past. However, I hadn't shared the specifics of our conversation until now.
"So, for the moment, I want to find a way back to my original era."
"I don't think there's any need to go back, though."
"Eh?"
"I mean, I'm here, you're here, and I'm incredibly happy. I think we're better off staying in this era together."
"Well, maybe you're right..."
Hearing her say it made me start to feel that way too. I didn't have any family left, so there wasn't much reason to force myself back to the future...
If I had any lingering attachments, it was only Namia.
If I didn't return to my original timeline, I would never find out if the ring I’d obtained could actually bring Naruha back to life through Resurrection. But then again, I wasn't entirely sure if trying to revive the dead was the right thing to do. Even if I did return to the future, I didn't know if I would actually go through with it.
"But the Observer was clear," I said. "He said that once he judged the world to be saved, he would forcefully return me to my original time. Even if I want to stay here, it might not be up to me."
"Maybe so..."
"Come to think of it, what will you do, Ageha?"
I realized I didn't know what would happen to her. Would she be able to come to the future with me? Ageha was originally from this era, but she had survived for a hundred years because she’d been sealed. It would be natural for her to remain in this time. If that happened, we would be separated.
"I think I can probably go with you," she replied.
"I see. That’s a relief."
I had come to this past specifically for her sake; it would be lonely if I couldn't see her anymore. Her answer brought a genuine sense of peace to my chest.
The next morning, I woke up in my bed at the inn. Even after a full day, I hadn't been pulled back to the future.
"Once I can judge that the world has been saved, I will forcefully return you to your original timeline."
I repeated the Observer's words in my head. Come to think of it, he’d said 'if the world is saved,' but he never specifically said 'if the Demon King is defeated.' Did that mean the world was still on the brink of destruction even with the Demon King dead? If so, I needed to figure out a plan.
"I'll try asking Ageha."
I headed over to her room and knocked.
"Ageha, I need to talk to you."
I opened the door as I spoke.
"Ah!" she gasped.
In front of me, Ageha was in the middle of changing. She was half-naked—underwear, her chest, and plenty of other things I definitely shouldn't have been looking at were on full display.
"Sorry!"
I tried to slam the door shut immediately. I really should have waited for an answer before barging in.
"Why are you trying to close it?"
Somehow, Ageha caught the door, her grip preventing it from shutting.
"Because seeing someone change is a problem, obviously!"
"It's fine if it's you, Kiska."
"It's not fine!"
I put all my strength into trying to pull the door shut, but Ageha was far stronger than me. I didn't stand a chance.
"Fine, I surrender."
I gave up. No matter how hard I tried, I wasn't going to win a contest of strength against her. I suppose that was only natural for a Hero.
"You can come in."
I did as I was told and entered the room.
"So, what did you want to talk about...?"
I sat on the edge of the bed, and she sat down right next to me.
"Hey, put some clothes on first!"
She was still just in her underwear, making it impossible to look her in the eye. Since she’d been in the middle of changing, the least she could do was finish the job.
"Hmm, I'll finish later. I'd rather hear what you have to say."
"Most people wouldn't want to be seen like this."
"Like I said, I don't mind if it's you. Oh, I get it. You're blushing because of how I'm dressed, aren't you? Well, I guess it can't be helped. You were always a coward—you couldn't even bring yourself to touch me after I seduced you that much."
A chill ran down my spine. I never expected her to bring that up.
She was clearly referring to the time I’d rejected her advances when she sneaked into my bed back when we first met in the Dungeon. After that rejection, Ageha had committed suicide. To be honest, that incident was still a major source of trauma for me. It was the reason I still felt a lingering sense of unease whenever I was around her.
"And yet, when another woman made a move on you, you were ready to go along with it so easily. You really have no idea, do you? You don't know how much you hurt me."
She likely didn't know about my relationship with Nyau, so she was probably talking about Eudite.
"I'm sorry..." I whispered reflexively.
"I don't want an apology," she countered.
When I looked at her, she looked as if she were on the verge of tears. She was stronger than anyone else, yet her heart was so fragile it felt like it would shatter the moment I left her side. That was why I had to stay close to her. I had to support her.
"Ageha, I love you."
I realized I hadn't properly said those words to her yet.
"I'm so happy," she said, her lips curling into a smile.
I still hadn't found the absolute answer as to whether I truly loved her. But in that moment, I felt like saying it was the right thing to do.