A week had passed since the Ludain Federation began its invasion of Kyokutou.
While we remained on high alert for a follow-up attack, the Federation had yet to make another move. Meanwhile, the Federation soldiers we had taken prisoner provided us with several pieces of information regarding the current state of the continent—news that had been kept from us by an information blockade.
The most significant revelation was that the Great Labyrinth of the East, located within the Ludain Federation, had been conquered.
With its fall, only two Great Labyrinths remained in this world: the ones in the north and the south.
The Great Labyrinths served as the maintenance devices for the world, as well as the sealing devices for the Evil God. This meant that once the final two were cleared, the time for the decisive battle against the Evil God would finally arrive.
That moment was drawing closer with every passing second.
"Orun, you’re making that troubled face again."
I was pulled from the depths of my reflection back to reality by Shion's voice.
I looked up to find her peering at me, her silver hair shimmering faintly as it caught the autumn light against a backdrop of vibrant red leaves.
"……Sorry. I was just lost in thought."
"I figured as much. I understand how you feel, but why don't we set the worries aside and just enjoy ourselves for now?"
The gentle smile on her face as she looked at me was incredibly soothing.
"You’re right."
I let the tension drain from my shoulders and exhaled slowly.
As I looked around, I saw trees dressed in their seasonal colors stretching out in every direction. Every time the wind blew, autumn leaves danced through the air before settling into a soft carpet upon the ground.
At Fuuka’s suggestion, we had come out for a day of autumn leaf-viewing. In one corner of the clearing, Fuuka and the others had gathered fallen leaves to start a fire and were beginning to roast sweet potatoes. The dry, crackling sound of the fire filled the air, and a sweet aroma wafted toward us on the breeze.
Fuuka’s eyes sparkled as she caught the scent.
"Haruto, is it ready yet?"
"Not yet. Wait just a little longer."
Haruto-san, who was tending the fire, held her back.
"It smells wonderful, Big Sis Fuuka! But you really can't overeat today, okay?"
"……? I’ve never overeaten in my life."
Katina and Huey watched the interaction—which was rapidly becoming a daily routine—with amused, warm smiles.
"This is quite easy to drink."
Luna smiled softly, cradling a steaming sake cup in both hands.
A short distance away, Luna, Oliver, and Kiryu-san were enjoying some Japanese sake. The scent of the warmed liquor drifted through the gaps in the maple trees.
"I am most pleased to hear it is to your liking, Lady Luna."
Kiryu-san narrowed his eyes gently and tilted his flask to refill her cup.
"Yes. It’s strange how it tastes so much sweeter when it’s warm."
A small smile played on Luna’s lips as she took a slow sip.
"Still, it’s rare to see Luna drinking of her own accord," Oliver remarked with a surprised laugh.
"True. Until now, I’ve only ever had a little to be social. But now that I’ve turned twenty, I thought I’d like to learn how to enjoy it."
As Luna spoke, I noticed a certain mature composure in her profile.
"Does being twenty really matter? You've been legally allowed to drink since you reached adulthood at fifteen," Oliver said, tilting his head.
Luna gazed into her cup, appearing to choose her words carefully. "Yes. But for me, it is a significant milestone."
Her voice was soft, eventually melting into the crackling sound of the bonfire.
"Lady Shion, Master Orun, shall I bring you something to eat?"
A gentle voice called out, and I turned to see Teruche standing there with a tray.
"Thank you, Teruche. But it’s alright for you to relax and spend your time however you like today," Shion said with a kind smile.
Teruche narrowed her eyes slightly and shook her head.
"I am grateful for your consideration. However, spending time serving the two of you is what brings me the most peace of mind."
At those quiet words, Shion blinked in surprise and then smiled.
"I see. Thank you. We're always being helped by you, Teruche."
The red glow of the bonfire illuminated our cheeks as the scent of burning leaves drifted around us. In that peaceful atmosphere, a sudden smile touched Teruche’s lips—the look of a child about to play a prank.
"……Ah, I see. My apologies for failing to read between the lines."
"……Hm?" Shion tilted her head.
"You wanted to spend time alone with Master Orun, didn't you?"
"Eh!?"
Shion’s shoulders jumped. Her cheeks turned crimson instantly as she began to stammer.
"I-I didn't say anything like that! I feel at ease when you're here, Teruche, and I’ve never thought of you as being in the way!"
Teruche smiled happily as she watched Shion desperately try to explain herself.
"Fufu. My apologies. I teased you a little too much."
"Oh, honestly……"
I couldn't help but chuckle as I watched them. Then, a voice that usually echoed only inside my head reached my ears from a distance.
"……Now, 'paw.'"
"I keep telling you! I’m not a dog!"
Sakuramochi, the pale cherry-blossom-colored fox, was bristling with anger, while the White Chalk Girl, Pixie, simply tilted her head.
"……You sure worry about the small things."
"It's not a small thing! Listen, okay? I am a Great Youkai who devoured every single youkai trapped inside Hakuyou—the Nine-tailed Fox!"
Sakuramochi puffed out his chest proudly, his single fluffy tail standing on end. But Pixie just blinked, unimpressed.
"……It was like a Kodoku, right?……When Hakuyou's formal Master was decided, the youkai inside the blade fought, and you were the one who survived to become Fuuka's sole attendant. You did your best, Sakuramochi.……Good boy, good boy."
"What do you think you’re doing, stroking me like that, brat!"
The moment she patted his head, Sakuramochi’s fur stood straight up. Pixie ignored the reaction and shook her head.
"……I'm not a brat. I am 'Pixie.' I have a proper name."
"……You say the same kind of stuff as Fuuka, don't you."
Sakuramochi snorted and looked away. Pixie continued in a quiet tone.
"……A name is a precious gift given by one's parents, after all."
Her voice was small, yet it resonated deeply. Sakuramochi lowered his eyes for a split second, then clicked his tongue.
"……Tch!"
He didn't pursue the subject of names any further. An awkward silence seemed ready to settle, but then Pixie held out her hand again.
"……In any case, 'paw.'"
"I ALREADY TOLD YOU I’M NOT A DOG!!"
The voices of my friends echoed across the mountain.
Fuuka, looking blissful as she stuffed both cheeks with roasted sweet potato, and Nagisa, who was scolding her with an exasperated expression. The casual banter between Luna and Oliver. Teruche’s teasing and Shion’s blushing. Pixie’s innocent voice and Sakuramochi’s indignant shouting.
To anyone else, it was just a mundane scene. But I knew that these moments were irreplaceable.
We would surely continue to fight. We would repel the encroaching malice and protect the future of humanity.
—All so that one day, we could spend peaceful days like this without a single shadow of worry.
I looked up at the sky with that wish in my heart. The sun was beginning to sink behind the ridge of the mountain, bleeding into a golden hue. Surely someone, somewhere, was looking up at this same sky at this very moment.
Crimson leaves danced through the air, sparkling as they caught the sunlight. I softly closed my eyes, savoring the warmth in my chest.
—But at the same time, a small stir of unease remained deep within me.
Only two Great Labyrinths were left. The state of the world was such that their conquest was now inevitable. In the near future, every Great Labyrinth would be cleared.
That was the future I desired.
However, the conquest of the Great Labyrinths was merely the beginning. Once released from the seal of the labyrinths, the Evil God would undoubtedly move to exterminate humanity.
To protect these peaceful daily lives, I could not let the conquest of the labyrinths be the finish line. Defeating the Evil God that stood beyond that point was my true role.
To ensure that human history continued and to carry it into the future.
The signs of the approaching final battle were quietly, surely, beginning to saturate the world.