Maydare Volume 7 Chapter 3: A World Without Regrets

 

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I never thought I’d end up bathing with the Queen of Frezier in this way…

I wasn’t particularly skinny, but after seeing the perfect proportions of the princess, well…

I didn’t have the confidence to boldly expose myself. I fidgeted in the corner of the changing room.

“Come now, don’t be shy. Hurry up and strip.”

“Gyaah, please stop!”

Princess Shatoma, who was already completely naked, took off my clothes.

As my face turned crimson with embarrassment, Princess Shatoma’s eyes widened as she opened my shirt.

“...Huh?” she made an uncharacteristically confused sound, and her face tensed.

“Princess Shatoma…?”

“Makia, your crest is on the verge of disappearing.”

“Huh?”

At first, I didn’t understand what she was talking about.

I looked into the changing room’s mirror and checked my chest.

Indeed, the “Crest of the Four Lights,” which only appeared on the people chosen to be Guardians, was fading away from the edges. It was overall faint, and there was no sense of light or presence as there used to be.

Normally, it would have a more eye-catching and absolute presence.

But my current crest was none of that. It was as if I was looking at a scar that was beginning to heal.

“...It’s true. Why is that? Is it because I Returned?” I stroked my disappearing crest, tilting my head.

Ordinarily, Lord-class magicians weren’t chosen as Guardians. I was pretty sure Bishop Eska had said something like that before, so I just assumed it was because of my Return, but…

However, in contrast to my blank expression, Princess Shatoma knitted her brows together and looked grave. She put her clothes back on. 

“Put on your clothes as well. I will summon Kanon,” she said decisively. There was a quiet dignity in her voice that made me think that she was no longer in princess mode, but queen mode.

At that time, however, I had not yet realized the seriousness of the situation.

Later, General Kanon was summoned to the room Queen Shatoma and I were in.

It was the middle of the night, and he was dressed in casual clothing instead of his uniform, which reminded me of our days in the Salt Forest. With everything that happened in the morning, I felt very awkward.

“Forgive me for summoning you this late, Kanon. It’s an urgent matter.”

“It’s no problem. What is it?”

Queen Shatoma gave me a sideways glance. General Kanon also turned his gaze towards me.

“Makia, show him your crest.”

“Huh? O-oh, yes.”

I unbuttoned my shirt, a little embarrassed, and showed him the crest on my chest.

“This is…”

General Kanon’s eyes slowly widened.

His reaction was similar to Queen Shatoma’s. Soon, his eyes narrowed.

“Makia O’Drielle, I’ve seen enough. Button up your shirt.”

“Y-yes!”

While I was fastening the buttons at my chest, General Kanon was looking at Queen Shatoma.

Queen Shatoma met his gaze and gave a small nod.

“Makia O’Drielle, listen closely.”

And then, General Kanon told me this in a low voice.

“You are most likely about to be possessed by the <Blue Jester>.”

At first, I think I was confused. My eyes blinked rapidly.

“...Huh?”

It didn’t seem real.

“Huh? Huh? The Blue Jester…huh?”

The <Blue Jester>, one of the great magicians with a colored title.

He was a bizarre being who hid his face behind a clown mask and was on Hermedes’ side–our enemy. I had encountered him several times. I also learned from the incident from Professor Batiste that he was a master of the “puppet magic” that could take over people’s bodies.

Indeed, at that time, Professor Batiste, originally chosen as a Guardian, was taken advantage of by the <Blue Jester> and taken over by him. Because of this, the Guardian’s crest left his body and transferred to me. That was how it happened.

But, wait, hold on…

“W-wait. What are you saying? I’m definitely Makia. I wouldn’t be able to Return if I wasn’t, right? And the Guardian’s crest…is still here.”

If the <Blue Jester> took over my body, would I be able to Return?

Or was I taken over after my Return?

No, that wasn’t possible. I only had contact with a limited number of people after I Returned.

“Calm down, Makia. Right now, you’re still Makia O’Drielle. You’re on the brink of being taken over completely by the Blue Jester.”

“On…the brink…?”

“I suppose you can remain yourself as long as you have the Guardian’s crest. No, but, who…!” Even though Queen Shatoma told me to calm down, she herself was confused, holding her head in her hand.

General Kanon was the only one who was as unruffled as ever, but his eyes were slightly clouded, and his lips were pressed tightly together.

I was sweating unpleasantly.

It didn’t feel real, but the agitation of the two big shots in front of me made me realize how serious the situation was.

They weren’t lying about what they were saying.

“Listen closely, Makia O’Drielle,” General Kanon explained in Queen Shatoma’s place, as she was still badly shaken. “Basically, you’re already under the puppet magic of the <Blue Jester>. That magic takes a week or two to fully activate.”

Just as it took time for a sown seed to take root, sprout, and blossom…

Puppet magic seemed to be a magic with a time lag.

“But I’m certain that someone has cast puppet magic on you in the past few days. It could have been someone on the ship at sea, the flying ship, or in the Holy Land.”

“...”

“Think back. Has anyone made any strange contact with you?”

“Strange contact…?”

I’ve been on the move a lot these past few days, and came into contact with many people, familiar or not.

In fact, the <Blue Jester> must have taken advantage of this tumultuous time to make contact with me.

Who was it–?

“The Blue Jester’s puppet magic consists of a ‘dialogue of words,’” General Kanon continued. “Basically, he will ask a question, and you will give him the ‘answer’ he wants. But, he cleverly conceals it so that you won’t be able to determine the nature of that conversation. Do you remember having any conversations in the past few days that seem off? If you know what that dialogue of words is, then maybe…”

Was he about to say that I might be saved?

General Kanon stopped talking and stared at me.

There was a strong message in his gaze. It was only now that I was able to have a conversation with him by eye contact. 

And so, I thought, Aah…

“When will the Blue Jester’s ‘puppet magic’ activate?”

When will I end up like Professor Batiste?

“I don’t know. But at least once your crest is gone, I’ll know that you’ve been completely taken over.”

“...”

Having my body be taken over by the Blue Jester. I tried to imagine it calmly.

Like Profesor Batiste in the past, I too would have my body taken over and manipulated by the <Blue Jester>, and my soul would be expelled from my body. To sum it up, I would die. Only my body would survive.

It was believed that this body, which had achieved a Return, was already able to use all of the <Scarlet Witch’s> magic.

The Scarlet Witch’s magic held a destructive power strong enough to blow open a giant crater in the center of the world.

To think that power would fall into the hands of Hermedes—

“What do we do? If that happens, Ruschia and Frezier would suffer the consequences. Hermedes might capture the Holy Land…!”

My body was trembling. I was terrified.

It wasn’t that I was afraid to die, but I was terrified that “I,” who was able to use such destructive magic, would be handed to the enemy.

War would break out soon. My magic might wipe out all the precious people I met so far. I had to avoid that…!

“Are you…surprised?”

I thought I could hear that Blue Jester’s infuriating voice in my head.

Did I just imagine that voice? Or was it really the whispering of the Blue Jester as he was taking over my body…?

Afterward, Queen Shatoma and General Kanon summoned Vabel’s Bishop Eska to the room.

They seemed absolutely certain that his body would never be taken over by the <Blue Jester>. Therefore, it was deemed safe to inform him of the situation.

Come to think of it, the Blue Jester had said something about that before. Something about how his luck value was too high because he was loved by Vabilophos, or something like that…

“You’ve summoned me, Wisteria Princess?”

“Your Excellency…”

Bishop Eska looked at Queen Shatoma’s expression, then me and Kanon, and seemed to sense the serious mood in the room.

And then, after it was explained to him that we were in the worst possible situation, that my body was about to be possessed by the Blue Jester, he stared at me for a while with an uncharacteristically tense expression. “...Hah? She’s being taken over by that clown bastard?”

My head was hanging down all this time with an indescribable expression.

Bishop Eska was ordered by Queen Shatoma to watch me from now until the end of the Holy Festival. Also, the fact that I had puppet magic cast on me was a secret between the four of us.

Although there was a grace period, there was no telling when the <Blue Jester> would take over my body and cause untold amounts of damage.

The Holy Festival was starting soon. The prophecy ceremony was scheduled to take place.

Hermedes was likely to take over my body and plan something in conjunction with it. 

“What if the Blue Jester does completely take over my body…?” 

I didn’t think there was any need to ask. But I did anyway.

“I’ll kill you when that time comes. In fact, I would rather kill you right now and put your body in the coffin,” General Kanon said without hesitation.

“Father…!” Queen Shatoma turned to him, looking like she was about to say something. However, she was stopped with a look from him.

General Kanon’s words were so decisive that I understood, to a certain extent, my future. Something that was looming right around the corner, even though it still didn’t feel real to me.

Clenching my hands, I managed to speak.

“There’s no way for me to be saved, is there?”

“No, that’s not true, Makia. If we can find the Blue Jester’s ‘true body’ and kill them, then the puppet magic will be broken. …Right, Kanon?” Queen Shatoma said, then glanced at General Kanon.

The indescribable expression on her face was like that of a child who wanted to hear the opinion of her parents in the face of something she couldn’t make a decision on by herself. This was the first time I saw her like that.

“Yeah. But they have never exposed their ‘true body’ in public in any era. The person who came in contact with you is probably also a puppet…”

Bishop Eska, who hadn’t said much until now, continued where General Kanon left off.

“In our past lives…three hundred years ago, the <Blue Jester> outwitted us, and we desperately searched for their true body.But they weren’t so easy to find. I don't think they'll be in a place where they’d be easily caught now…”

Intensity filled Bishop Eska’s eyes.

I could sense a quiet hatred and anger emanating from him. He and the others must have some kind of connection to the <Blue Jester> in their previous lives as well.

He took a small breath, then turned to me again.

“At any rate, Makia, without you, the ‘prophecy ceremony’ will not be able to take place. Without all four of the people who have the Guardian’s crest, the Green Priestess will not be able to give the prophecy. If your body is taken over, the crest will be transferred to another person. In short, the Savior will have to search for the fourth person again.”

“Ah…!” I instinctively covered my mouth.

That’s right. If the possession of my body succeeded at this time, the enemy would also be able to have this prophecy ceremony postponed as well.

In short, until the ceremony was completed, Kanon and the others wouldn’t be able to kill me either.

I was still not allowed to die. With the ticking bomb in my body, I must maintain my ego and survive the Holy Festival’s prophecy ceremony.

Kanon spoke to me matter-of-factly. “Listen up, Makia O’Drielle. Don’t use magic. As the magic power travels through your body, it will rapidly accelerate the growth of that seed of puppet magic and cause it to activate faster. If you want to maintain your ego for even just a day longer. If you don’t want me to kill you yet…”

If I didn’t want Kanon…to kill me…

I looked up and stared firmly at Kanon, while keeping the feelings of Makirié in the back of my mind. Makirié, who didn’t want to force Kanon to kill her. 

“Hey, what should I do?” I asked.

“...”

“Tell me, Kanon.”

I felt that there was no point in trying to patch things up with Kanon anymore.

The expression on my face, my gaze, and my tone at that time might have been different from the usual Makia’s, and more like the <Scarlet Witch>.

Perhaps Kanon sensed this as well, for he fell silent for a moment and looked at me once again.

Then, he gave me this instruction.

“Remember all the people you have talked to in the past few days in order, and look for any unusual exchanges. Which one of them was the Blue Jester’s exchange that planted the seed of puppet magic inside you…suspect everyone at least once, no matter how much you trust them.”

“...Even the people I trust.”

I was hoping that it would be someone I wasn’t very involved with, if possible.

But I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the case because of the <Blue Jester’s> magic…

“But, aside from looking for the culprit, prepare for the worst-case scenario. You don’t have much time left. Do the things you want to do so you don’t leave behind any regrets. Think about what you haven’t done yet.”

Regrets…?

Things I haven’t done yet…

I wondered what I could do with the limited time I had.

After that, I returned to my room.

I undressed in the dimly lit room with only one lamp on and stared at my disappearing crest in the mirror.

“...”

This Guardian’s crest was the only thing the <Blue Jester> couldn’t take over.

When it completely disappeared, I would cease to be me.

If I was taken over by the Blue Jester, that meant the Scarlet Witch’s magic would fall into the hands of Hermedes.

That would lead to the defeat of Frezier and Ruschia in the war to come.

“Everyone is keeping their eyes on me. Even Kanon…”

I had been told not to tell Thor or anyone else about this. Not even Professor Ulysses. …Because we didn’t know who the <Blue Jester> was.

I wonder why.

Upon my Return, I was supposed to have remembered what I should do and the person important to me. I was supposed to have realized who I loved the most. 

And yet, numerous misfortunes and incidents chased after me and Thor. Death lurked in unexpected places, and none of us could prepare for it.

No. Somewhere in my heart, I had a premonition.

From the moment I saw the empty coffin of the <Scarlet Witch> at the base of the World Tree, I knew that one day, in the not so distant future, I would enter that place…

How many days would I have left to remain me?

It was only now that I was becoming stricken with fear.

Was I going to force Kanon to kill me without being able to do anything about it?

Even though Makirié was so against that?

No matter how many times I’m reborn, if you’re happy in the place you arrive at in the end, then that’s all that matters. That was what she wanted.

But then, for what purpose was Makia O’Drielle born into this world? What was she supposed to accomplish in this world, and what was she supposed to leave behind…?

For who was this all for?

“Thor…”

The first thing that came to mind was Thor’s face. As soon as I spoke his name, tears began to well up in my eyes.

That was the moment I realized that Thor was the most important person in Makia O’Drielle’s life.

For Makirié, that might have been Kanon.

But for Makia, the most important person was Thor.

I was sure that Makia was born in order to meet Thor—

“I want to see Thor…”

I vigorously wiped my tears with my hand.

I had to go and see Thor right now and tell him “I love you” one more time.

I wanted to apologize for hurting him, clear up the misunderstandings, and tell him that he was the most important person to me. I only had time for that, after all.

But then, I suddenly realized something.

“...What’s the point of telling him?”

If I was going to die soon, wasn’t it better not to tell him?

Because if I died, Thor surely wouldn’t be able to live.

This wasn’t vanity speaking. If I died, I knew that Thor would never be able to move on and live with regret for the rest of his life. He might drive himself to the limit.

And yet, if I told him “I love you” at this time and they became the words that would bind him for the rest of his life, I would…

What do I do? What do I do? I wanted Thor to be happy.

I wanted him to have the most blessed life of anyone in this world.

How could I make him happy in a Maydare without me?

What could I do for Thor in the time I had left?

“...The diary…”

I suddenly remembered its existence.

Then, I took out the <Scarlet Witch’s> diary from my magic basket.

When I was about to open it, I felt a burst of magic, and I turned the cover a little cautiously.

Until now, the diary and its magic had been hidden among the salt apple cooking recipes. But perhaps because I’ve Returned now and touched it, all that was hidden was revealed.

“...”

The Scarlet Witch’s diary.

The inner workings of the hidden heart that belonged to the witch who couldn’t be honest.

Reading this book, I felt as if I was following the life of the <Scarlet Witch> that I saw a few days ago when I touched the World Tree.

The Scarlet Witch’s love for the Black Demon King. The pain of unrequited love. The sorrow of loneliness…

However, the Scarlet Witch met the boy “Kanon,” who she named herself.

By meeting Kanon, the Scarlet Witch’s daily life changed and gained brilliance.

The events of her daily life with Kanon, their conversations, and even the kinds of wild flowers he gave her were written down in detail. Eventually, however, her handwriting lost its vitality, and she began to write down the mumblings of her lonely days without Kanon…

Eventually, the Scarlet Witch became the second wife of the Black Demon King.

She gave birth to twins and raised them.

Her gratitude towards the Black Demon King and love for her children remained here in writing.

“Torc gave me everything I wanted. I want to convey my gratitude straightforwardly towards him one day. Thank you for letting me meet my beloved children…”

As I read the last sentence of the last entry, tears silently spilled down my cheeks.

The next day after she wrote this entry, the Country of Demons collapsed.

Torc, the Black Demon King, had foreseen his own death and left a letter to Makirié, the Scarlet Witch. He had written very precious words in it.

I got it.

I learned in my previous life what I could do for my loved one after death.

I picked up a pen and started writing a continuation of the diary.

In order to leave behind the final spell of Makia O’Drielle. 

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