Following Teruche-san’s words, I shifted my focus from seeing off my disciples to the recapture of Kyokutou.
We were scheduled to depart the Hitia Duchy for Kyokutou shortly via long-distance teleportation. Coincidentally, today marked the start of the Reibu Festival in Kyokutou. This festival was a massive annual event that drew crowds from across the borders. It was the time of year when the flow of people in and out of Kyokutou was at its peak.
Our plan was to blend into the surge of travelers to slip into the country unnoticed and assess the situation on the ground. Once we had a firm grasp of the current state of affairs, we would devise a strategy to purge the Cult from the nation.
Currently under the Cult’s thumb and geographically isolated as an island nation, Kyokutou was effectively a black box. Most of the information reaching the outside world was fragmentary at best, with no way to verify its authenticity. That was precisely why we needed to go there ourselves and use our own eyes and ears to gather reliable intel. Only then could we finally make our next move.
In an ideal world, we would expel the Cult and Fuuka would reclaim her title as princess. If she returned to her status as royalty, we could openly investigate the Phoenix Shrine—the very foundation of the World of Principles of Magic.
However, that was merely a plan for my own convenience. Fuuka herself wasn't attached to the idea of reclaiming the throne. What she desired was to take back Kyokutou from the Cult’s evil clutches; that was all. We would do everything in our power to make that wish a reality.
Fuuka had saved me more times than I could count. Even if she had originally reached out to me just to use me as a pawn for Kyokutou’s sake, it didn't matter. Fuuka was a precious companion to me. If that companion truly desired something, and if she said she needed my strength—then I wanted to give her whatever help I could.
"Understood. Then, shall we go?"
After organizing our next steps in my mind, I called out to Teruche-san and Luna. Just as we were about to leave the manor, Teruche-san spoke up.
"Master Orun, before we depart, may I ask you one thing?"
"Something you want to ask? I don't mind."
I stopped and turned toward her.
"In that case, I'll excuse myself," Luna offered.
"No, it isn't something I’d be troubled by you hearing. You may stay, Luna-san."
"...I see. Understood."
Luna had tried to step away out of consideration, but Teruche-san stopped her.
"So, what did you want to ask me?"
"I wished to ask about my foolish sister."
Her foolish sister? Ah, she meant Rain.
I had asked Teruche-san to remain stationed in Tsutrail for several months to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, and she had only just returned to the Hitia Duchy this morning. I wondered why she was bringing up Rain now, but the two of them must have traveled together on the journey from Tsutrail.
Something must have been weighing on her mind during the trip.
"Master Orun, have you truly forgiven that thing for providing the catalyst that led to the destruction of your hometown?"
The "catalyst" she referred to was likely the incident ten years ago, when Rain fell for the Cult’s sweet talk and teleported Beria and the others into the Village of Dawn.
The Village of Dawn was protected by teleportation interference barriers and numerous other security measures against outsiders. Normally, it would have been impossible for the villagers not to notice intruders. However, Rain’s Space Leap was able to bypass every one of those obstructions.
That was because she was a Singular Mage.
Back when I was unaware of my own Special Ability, I’d forced myself to believe Momentary Super Ability Boost: Impact was nothing more than a "Bug of Magic" just to make sense of it. But it wasn't a bug at all. The real "bugs" in the system were the Singular Magic spells wielded by the likes of Rain or Princess Lucila’s guard, Loretta.
...I was getting off track. I needed to answer Teruche-san.
"Yes, I’ve forgiven her. To be honest, I’ve never once felt the urge to blame her."
"...I know you are a magnanimous person, Master Orun. But why? How can you forgive someone who committed such a foolish act?"
As she asked, Teruche-san’s eyes seemed to harbor a storm of complex emotions.
"Let’s see... It’s difficult to put into words, but I suppose it’s because Rain had no malice."
Teruche-san listened intently, her expression serious, as if she didn't want to miss a single syllable.
"Consider a hypothetical. What do you think would have happened if we had managed to repel Beria and his group the day they arrived at the Village of Dawn?"
"That... the Cult would have suffered a staggering blow. Conversely, we would likely be in a far more advantageous position than we are today."
"Exactly. And in that scenario, the one who created that opportunity would have been Rain. She would have been hailed as the hero who dealt a decisive blow to the Cult."
"?! B-but, in reality—"
"—Yes. We were defeated and forced to taste bitterness. What I’m trying to say is that while that incident ended in a near-worst-case scenario for us, it was ultimately just a result. Since Rain had no malicious intent, I can’t bring myself to blame her for it more than necessary."
"......"
"History and the past are just an accumulation of results. It’s my own personal theory, but I’ve always believed that 'results' are simply what lie at the end of the 'process' we call the present."
Everyone is living their best through a process—the now—the outcome of which is unknown. Whether the result in the future is good or bad, you won't know until you get there.
"Some say results are everything, but I... I want to keep my eyes on the process as well. After all, wouldn't it be a shame if my entire life story could be reduced to a single word like 'result'?"
"So that is how you see it, Master Orun," Teruche-san murmured, her expression shifting to one of understanding. I was glad my perspective had reached her.
"Yes. But that's just my way of thinking; I don't intend to force it on anyone. If you feel you can't forgive what Rain did, I respect that."
I had memories of spending time with Rain in the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky before I regained my past. Because of those memories, I knew she lacked malice and didn't feel the need to blame her. Teruche-san surely had her own memories of Rain from their time as sisters. Whether those memories were good or bad was something only she could know.
"If there is one thing I can tell you, Teruche-san, it's that Rain has a 'process'—a past—that she’s built from the day she left the Hitia Duchy until now. A past that you don't know yet. If you're curious, why not ask her? I'm sure she’d be happy to talk to you."
"...Thank you. Hearing your thoughts has helped me sort out my own feelings. I am grateful you gave me your precious time before your departure."
It might have been unasked-for advice, but Teruche-san accepted it with a small smile.
"Not at all. I'm glad we could talk."
A gentle atmosphere lingered for a moment, but it shifted instantly with her next words.
"—Then, allow me to guide you to the trading company's main store."
The air grew sharp. We turned and headed straight for the teleportation room within the Downing Trading Company Main Store.