The Returnee Wants Peace

‘…What does this mean?’

Let it in to the trial of the Sacred Relic?

She didn’t understand what it meant right away.

Was the trial of the Sacred Relic a place where others besides the applicant could enter?

“Hmm… I suppose there’s no reason it can’t be done.”

“Rosha?”

Froy looked at her with an anxious expression, but Rosha pondered while looking down at the silver gun.

‘I’ve never heard of a case where someone took others into the Trial of the Sacred Relic, but since it’s a message from the Guide God, it shouldn’t be impossible. If I let the Emperor into the Trial of the Sacred Relic… the situation here would turn in our favor.’

There were still countless flowers and trees in the indoor garden.

Not only that, the flower beds outside the palace couldn’t be ignored, and who knows how many more such areas there were in this imperial palace.

There was no need to hesitate. Rosha suddenly raised her head and said:

“Your Majesty. If I know the way to paradise, would you come with me, leaving everything here behind?”

At her words, the Emperor, who had looked bored, smiled for the first time.

At the same time, someone grabbed her wrist tightly.

“What are you saying?”

Froy muttered as if grinding his teeth.

A fierce light glimmered in his eyes, which rarely showed emotion.

“Do you intend to handle the Emperor alone?”

“If the Emperor is gone, we can gain the upper hand here. I have a way.”

“Ah, the Trial of the Sacred Relic. You intend to take the Emperor alone to that place where the Door to Paradise is?”

The man, glancing at the glowing Hildor, seemed to have roughly guessed the situation. However, as time passed, the strength gradually left his grip.

It was understandable. He wanted to stop her, but there was no better option.

Given that the Emperor was currently the biggest obstacle, what Rosha was saying was rational.

“You promised you would definitely avoid it if your life was in danger…”

Froy muttered weakly.

“…I have a very bad feeling about this.”

“I’ll be back soon. Are you going to send me off with that face?”

That wouldn’t do. He quickly smoothed out his expression.

“As I am now… I have no choice but to trust and wait. I’ll somehow resolve things here, so you must come back as quickly as possible, alright?”

“I promise.”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. But you’re saying you’ll return safely, right?”

“Yes.”

Nodding to Cedric’s question, Rosha looked around.

Cassis, endlessly swinging his sword at the front, was already bleeding considerably, and the same was true for Marian. Nardil seemed fine thanks to his body enhancement ability, but his face was quite dark.

‘Yes. This is the only way.’

As she caressed Hildor, which was flickering light as if urging her on, a blue window appeared.

Do you want to retry the Trial of the Sacred Relic?

At the same time, the silver light that had been swirling around Rosha quickly approached the Emperor. The Emperor muttered with interest:

“…So this is how it works. I don’t mind either way, but is it true that you know the way to paradise?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Let’s get ready.”

“Finally, you’re saying something I like.”

The Emperor was relaxed. As if he had no lingering attachments to this place.

Even though it was clear that once he left, the Imperial Knights would no longer be able to revive, he didn’t care.

…But how long would that composure last?

The Trial of the Sacred Relic begins.

After briefly making eye contact with Nox, who had been standing there unable to do anything, Rosha smiled as she looked at her family and Froy in turn.

Unlike the Emperor, she had a place she absolutely had to return to. So no matter what happened, she would definitely return home.

Flash!

Soon, her vision inverted along with a white light.

Into the Trial of the Sacred Relic.

* * *

As the light faded and Rosha lost consciousness, Froy hurriedly embraced her.

Cedric asked the white parrot beside Rosha, who was particularly sparing with words:

“Does she normally lose consciousness like this?”

“That’s right. She won’t wake up until the Trial of the Sacred Relic is over.”

“When will she wake up?”

“Even this one doesn’t know that.”

Beyond their conversation, the atmosphere of the battlefield, which had become noticeably more chaotic, could be felt. Unlike Rosha who had merely lost consciousness, the Emperor had already disappeared.

With the situation turning out like this, the traitors who had been targeting her also withdrew one by one.

And then.

“Let’s go!!”

“Waaah!”

With Cassis at the lead, their allies charged at the Imperial Knights, riding this momentum.

Regardless of that.

Froy gazed down at the sleeping Rosha while protecting the non-combatants with his ability.

With her previously bright eyes now closed as she slept deeply, she finally looked her age.

When would she open her eyes?

The last trial took about half a day, would this one take longer?

It was then.

“Ahem. It might take longer than expected.”

“…What do you mean?”

As he was laying Rosha down on his outer garment spread on the floor, an unwelcome conversation was heard.

Koko, fluttering over to Froy, continued:

“The Trial of the Sacred Relic is a test to determine who is qualified to use the sacred relic. It takes place in the mental world, and the content of the test varies greatly.”

“Don’t just recite what I already know, get to the point.”

“Tch, how rude. Anyway, unlike ordinary trials, the test contained in Hildor is… actually real.”

“…What did you say?”

Froy sharply turned his head to glare at the parrot.

The bird, clearing its throat unnecessarily, quickly added:

“This one only learned about it recently from the god. Of course, it’s not dangerous for Rosha. While it might be real for the Emperor, for Rosha it’s just a test.”

Come to think of it, this parrot had stayed in the shrine Rosha created for a while, saying he wanted to ask about paradise.

He thought there hadn’t been any special results since he hadn’t said anything, but that wasn’t the case.

“So… does that mean the ‘Door to Paradise’ Rosha saw in the Trial of the Sacred Relic is real for the Emperor?”

“That’s right. But do you think paradise really exists? At least, the paradise the Emperor thinks of doesn’t exist.”

The bird sneered, saying the Emperor would surely fail.

But only for a moment.

“The problem is… the Emperor is an ability user who can manipulate time.”

Koko, muttering softly, stared at Rosha. Froy, who seemed to have realized something, also looked down at her with a serious expression.

With them in the background, the Imperial Knights, realizing they no longer had anyone to protect, were fleeing one by one.

* * *

Surprisingly, the rebellion succeeded.

Although it was a rebellion that County Aper, identified as one of the main instigators, only learned about on the day itself, nonetheless.

Fortunately, there wasn’t much resistance. Most of the Imperial Knights who could transform into demonic beasts had died in the palace, and the knights who remained in the Imperial Palace without knowing anything could be persuaded thanks to Marian.

Moreover, the existence of a legitimate successor also played a role.

“Thanks to the Princess, even the pro-Emperor nobles who had been uncooperative are changing their attitudes one by one. Although the Emperor’s disappearance seems quite confusing, they have no justification to openly oppose the Princess’s enthronement.”

“…”

“…Duke?”

“It’s already spring.”

Froy, muttering softly, gazed out the window blankly.

Even in this fortress located in the cold north, new buds were already growing on the trees.

“Is there any news from the Count Aper family ?”

“Ah. I hear the light from the Crystal of Life he wore around his neck has gone out. This is the second time.”

“Bring more elixir.”

“But surely that’s enough already…”

“We have enough on our side too. If anything, we have too much.”

The Aper family was regularly using elixir for Rosha’s sleeping body.

Although they didn’t know what was happening inside the Trial of the Sacred Relic, the elixir taken from the Emperor’s secret storage was as good as hers.

Froy unconsciously clenched and unclenched his fist.

He still regretted not stopping her then.

‘One more time. Then Rosha will return.’

The Crystal of Life guarantees three lives.

Since the necklace must be part of her calculations, they couldn’t touch it carelessly, but once she returned, he would never let her bear it alone again.

However, the remaining one chance was not easily consumed.

Seasons changed fleetingly like that.

Exactly twelve times.

“Miss, it’s spring again.”

Berri whispered as she carefully drew the curtains.

Many things had happened in the Marcia Empire and Aper County during that time, but still, when spring came, the white petals of the flowering trees planted in the mansion garden fluttered unchangingly.

And the morning sun slowly rising over the mountains as well.

“The sunrise is beautiful. But I want to see the young lady’s reddish eyes.”

Berri, who had been standing blankly in front of the window as if lost in thought, soon said ‘Oh my, look at me,’ and hurriedly left the room.

And a little while later.

“…”

Rosha’s fingers, lying in bed with the blanket pulled up to her neck, moved slightly.

Then slowly, very slowly, her eyelids lifted.

Her eyes, revealed to the world after 3 years, were a complete golden color.