Antagonist Protection Service

After a short while, Joádin's familiar, Cael, arrived at my location.

Similar to before when I was waiting, he jumped into my arms and curled up, his body quickly beginning to distort and warp the air around me.

He had explained this teleportation magic as being unique―by using the familiar as an anchor point, and his own body as another anchor point, he could effectively transport himself or others between the two locations, and I'm pretty sure he had other anchor points located in important places too.

When I thought about it, it was extremely similar to the way our Library transportation system works.

The Library is set as one anchor point, my last location on Earth is set as another, and a third is set whenever I leave or enter a Contract, right?

Anyway, I just thought it was interesting, and that, perhaps, the general theories of magic were more similar than I first thought, despite varying across worlds.

With such idle wonders floating about in my mind, I swiftly set them aside as my surroundings changed to that of the Imperial Palace. Since there was no need to wear it anymore, I also dismissed the Villain's Vizard.

'Where is this, the Imperial Gardens...?'

Somehow, the place I had been transported to felt familiar.

It seemed like Joádin had already left to return to his own business. I know many people were busy after the expedition, and he likely had a lot of research he wanted to do himself with the Demon's body I'm sure collected after we all left.

Anyway, this place...

"...Ah."

As I turned to look around the place, I saw the fancy marble balustrades lining the edge of the garden terrace. Approaching them and gazing out over the edge, I realised we were on a level that overlooked the lower levels of elegant greenery below.

'It's the same place as last time...'

"―You came."

Whipping my head around at the abrupt voice, I saw Lucretia approach. Again, she was wearing one of those neat royal dresses that didn't seem to flaunt much and yet one that wasn't 'too simple' at the same time.

Watching her approach and stand next to me, just as we had done all that time ago, I replied.

"Of course. Well, you're not going to execute me this time, are you?"

"We shall see."

"If you try, I'll just kidnap you again."

"My. How scary."

Although her voice was the same as usual, almost completely expressionless, I could tell that her internal feelings didn't exactly match it. To be honest from how I knew her, they rarely did.

She was a heartfelt girl like any other, just not able to express it very well.

"...I do not wish to keep you for long."

Following a pause, she muttered that.

"You're not going to ask me to stay here?"

"You wouldn't even if I pleaded on my hands and knees."

Well, she was right about that.

It's not like I had a choice in the matter, though.

"There's something I have to do."

If I didn't return to Earth and protect the Tower, the world would quite literally end. Not only would it spell the death of everyone I ever knew, but even if I took refuge in another world, the end would try its damned hardest to catch up with me, too.

That was the story of Leinth Eupraxia, after all.

"You're not the only one who needs saving, you know?"

Throwing her a glance and a smirk as I said that, I wasn't sure what she felt upon hearing my words, but her response was surprising.

"Yes. I understand. There are many others who require your assistance too... That is why, next time, I shall be the one to rescue you when you are in trouble."

"...Hah. Really now..."

Taken aback for a moment, I honestly wasn't sure what to say.

Nevertheless, a single glance into Lucretia's eyes told me all I needed to know about how serious she was when she said that.

"You don't have to do that."

"I will."

"You're a princess. The empire needs you more than I do."

"Irrelevant. I can always return should they require me."

"..."

Why was she stubborn?

'...Eh, whatever. It's not like she'd be able to travel to other worlds anyway without World Stabili--'

All of a sudden, what I had previously seen on the news on Earth flashed in my mind.

About a certain dragon and doggirl duo who had appeared.

"..."

'Fuck...'

Without a doubt, it was possible. I had witnessed it with my own eyes, after all.

Sparing the bold girl to my side a glance, meeting her intense, crimson eyes head-on, I reluctantly opened my mouth.

"If that's really something you're intent on doing... I guess I'll be relying on you to help me out, then."

However, Lucretia was just a princess. I didn't think there was anything she'd be able to do to help me by herself if my life was threatened, but... Well, I guess it didn't matter.

"Give me your hand."

Abruptly saying that to me, she held her hand out.

"Why?"

I raised an eyebrow and asked, but did as she said anyway.

"Let me borrow a small portion of your divine energy. It may be important."

"Uh, okay."

'You can do that?'

Bringing forth my divine energy, I gently took her hand and passed some through, letting it easily slip away and become controlled by her.

Perhaps it only worked because we shared the same divine energy, but it was even easier than I thought.

Thereafter, I let go of her hand, followed by her letting go after a strangely lingering moment, and she nodded, keeping the divine energy I passed her contained within her hand.

"This should work."

"Work how? Are you gonna use it to track me down or something?"

"..."

"Lucretia?"

"...Mm. Perchance, there may or may not be a method which could possibly require that sort of uncertain thing. Potentially."

"Right..."

Well, I'm sure it wasn't too dissimilar from what the other two did to locate Earth... Although, I'm not sure what they would have used to find me, since it's not like I left all that much behind...

'...Ah, no, that's right. My blood...'

In any case.

"Is there anything else you needed? I didn't expect to spend so long here, so I should probably get going soon."

Asking that while looking at her, I watched Lucretia gaze wordlessly out over the gardens for a while.

Unlike the last time we were here like this, it was the middle of the day, so the lush gardens were beautifully lit, and from this high up you could even look out over the rest of the city, bustling with citizens.

High in the azure sky, rather than our own Winter Mother, the Holy Sun loomed above.

I could feel it when passing some to Lucretia, but my divine energy was substantially weakened in this kind of environment. That was the important information she had to discuss with me a while ago.

This Blessing grew stronger at night and weaker at day. More precisely, it was related to the presence of the moon in the sky versus the presence of the sun.

My divine energy would naturally be more powerful at night, and if it happened to be a full moon, then even more so.

And then, if there was a Lunar Eclipse that dyed the moon red, everything would be over.

"...There is one thing... A selfish request."

Jolting me out of my unrelated thoughts, Lucretia's small voice sounded.

"What is it? Doesn't matter if it's selfish or not, so long as I can do it now before I leave, I won't have a problem with it."

"...Do you promise?"

"Sure."

Saying that without hesitation, I watched her suddenly turn to me.

"...!"

Out of the blue, she moved, and as I blinked rapidly a few times to try and figure out what was going on, she stopped.

Before I realised it, her torso was almost pressed against mine, and her arms were wrapped around me.

Taking a moment to process it, I almost laughed.

"If all you wanted was a hug, you could have just said so."

Patting her back a few times, I couldn't see her face from this position, but I'm sure she must have felt embarrassed. Although, this was definitely unlike her, so I could certainly understand why.

I also couldn't deny that it was strange for me, being the first hug I've had in a long while.

Never would I have thought that I would share a hug with an Antagonist, a supposedly evil existence... But at the same time, I guess I also never thought I would experience any of the things I have recently, huh...

We stayed like that for a while, my hand softly patting Lucretia's back and looking out over the Imperial City simultaneously.

Eventually, she withdrew her arms and shrunk back, gazing up at me with a slightly flushed face, similar to when I met her properly for the first time after returning.

'That's not fair...'

"Hey. If you keep looking like that, you'll make me feel bad for leaving."

"...How terribly rude. I don't look like anything."

"If you say so. Anyway, you didn't want me to disappear behind your back again, right? So will you say goodbye while looking at me this time?"

Saying that, I couldn't help but feel a smirk arise on my face, eliciting a contrasting frown from her.

Even though I didn't actually go home when she turned around last time, something we both know, I'm sure it must have felt quite sad to turn around and see me gone.

"...This will not be the last time."

"Somehow, I believe you. That means it's not a big deal to say goodbye then, right?"

'Librarian, bring me over.'

[Roger! Transporting~!]

Following her enthusiastic declaration, the air around me slowly began to distort.

"Lucretia. See you."

"...Farewell. Enki..."

Giving her a smile right as she said it, I promptly vanished at that moment.