“Is this really a good time to be travelling back?” Risti asked.

Dia looked at her once, and her eyes shifted to the backpack that had been neatly packed, and then at her outfit. Her lookalike was more than ready to leave, so what kind of nonsense was she spouting? Of course, she wasn’t going to expose Risti, so she clamped her mouth shut and smiled enigmatically at her.

Besides, there was the issue of her identity that needed to be taken care of. Since everyone was heading over to Lustre, which was pretty much unfamiliar territory by now, Dia knew that she would need to confess her identity when they arrived. Since she was intending to renounce her succession rights, however, Dia could only hope that they wouldn’t be fearful of her…

I really doubt that, though. Fearful of me? You must be kidding. They’ll be more scared of a wooden sword than me… Shaking her head, she glanced at the others, who made funny faces back at her.

Clearly, they wanted her to address this issue.

“Well, the Red God died,” Dia replied. “We’re safe.”

“Yeah, but the Red God died a day after he tried to kidnap a certain half of a lovebird pair,” Schwarz pointed out. “I mean, it’s plenty suspicious, in my opinion.”

Dia looked behind her. They were all standing around the gate of Claud’s little house, with the Holy Son of the Black God and the great Dark’s Bearer of Destiny within the multiple defences that surrounded the little house.

“Dangerous.” Kemata looked at her. The Thirteenth Bearer of Destiny had warmed up to her quite a bit after they fought off the Red God together, but that didn’t stop her from reverting to her usual mode of speaking in very thrifty methods.

“It’ll be fine,” Dia replied. “And…well, I really need to head back, now that Emperor Grandis has pardoned…never mind. I have to handle some stuff, anyway.”

“Hmm. You’re resigning?” Risti asked.

“Maybe,” Dia replied. “Anyhow, I wanna continue my adventures with you guys. It’s more fun…and I think it’s cruel to retract my freedom after I experienced it in its glory.”

“Fair enough,” Schwarz muttered. “Better get you back before your mistress marries you off to some punk, right? Once you resign from your double role, it’ll be smooth sailing from there on…but I’m happy that you want to stick with us.”

“It’s fun, living like this. We don’t really have many worries,” Farah added. “Right, I’ll need to stop by Farah County for a while, so I’ll catch up with you guys at Lustre later. That fine?”

“Oh. Okay.” Dia nodded. “We’ll be fine.”

Farah smiled. “Thanks. I need to check on the county and reassure them that I’m still alive.”

Dia thought about the time she visited Farah County with the countess, and then smiled. “Yeah, they’ll definitely give you one heck of a reception. Heh.”

“Right?” Farah sighed. “I owe Overseer Agni a lot, though. Without his help, Farah County wouldn’t have recovered this quickly…but it’s weird, though.”

“What’s weird?” Schwarz asked.

“Well, when I sent him a letter of gratitude after learning that he was administrating the Julan Barony after its current rulers died, he sent me back a letter telling me that he didn’t recall helping me,” Farah replied, a frown on her face. “I’m a bit worried for him. Maybe he’s growing old or something.”

“He’s a penta-folder, right?” Dia asked. “I don’t think that’s possible. Maybe you misidentified him or something. Is there an Overseer Igni or something too?”

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“Uh…I don’t think I’ll make such a low-level mistake,” Farah muttered.

“Sure.” Dia shook her head. “Anyway, let’s get moving.”

She turned back to the duo, and then smiled at them. The others made their own farewells too, before the four of them turned and walked away from the house.

“Dia, are you nervous?” Schwarz asked. “You’re returning to resign, after all. They might not let you leave.”

Dia chuckled. “Yeah. There’s a very high chance that the duke won’t let me leave, you know. Fortunately, I’m incredibly powerful right now; he can’t stop me if I want to shake my butt and leave. My mana is the sharpest sword that will cut through all barriers, cultural or otherwise.”

“And we’ll get to see what the Lustre palace looks like too!” Risti rubbed her hands. “I’m really nervous to see your mistress. Would she give me an autograph?”

“Heh. I’m still waiting for our Dia to offer me a job in her palace as Lustre’s number one bartender,” Schwarz quipped. “No, I haven’t forgotten your promise.”

Dia could vaguely recall that she indeed did make such a promise to Schwarz, but considering that he hadn’t returned to his bar for nearly a year, the fact that he still remembered was probably an impressive feat.

“Do you still want that job?” Dia asked.

“Of course not. I’m perfectly fine without needing to bootlick people or anything,” Schwarz replied. “And my brews will probably murder the entire palace. I’ll be condemned and maybe dragged out for execution.”

“I’m glad you know your place, at least.” The four of them turned onto the main street, which was full of people gathering around and looking up at the sky. The corpse of the Red God’s half-descended form, the sphere, still hung above the sky, a gigantic gaping hole through the entire sphere.

It was a sight that sent chills down Dia’s spine whenever she saw it. The Red God’s corpse was still hanging in the middle of the sky, an unmovable, eternal monument to the power of the Fourth Bearer of Destiny.

The Thief of Time, the Saboteur, the Omen…everyone knew those names. As of yesterday, a new name had gone around the town.

The Godslayer.

No one could deny Tot’s feat, especially since the proof that the gods weren’t unkillable were hanging in the skies. The fervour that young men and women worked themselves up to when they proclaimed their desire to subjugate the legend had completely died away overnight, the pressure from a dead god, slain in their time, weighing down.

“At least I don’t need to find Tot anymore,” Dia muttered.

“What’s that about finding Tot?” Risti asked.

Dia chuckled. “Remember? I joined the Moon Lords originally to look for Tot to clear my…mistress’ name, before I dropped the idea. Well, now that he’s a god-slayer, I am very, very pleased with my choice not to go after him. Not going to lie. I’m a bit traumatised by how I nearly killed myself.”

The others bobbed their heads seriously, and Dia looked around the small town. Monsville was so small that everyone liked to crowd together into small groups and gossip when they had nothing to do. Furthermore, in the light of the Red God’s sudden appearance here yesterday and His subsequent murder, the baron of Monsville had also recommended that people stay within the city and help out with things like building or in-city farming instead.

“Heh. Still, the Red God died a day after visiting us, and even if he didn’t die…” Schwarz shook his head. “You’d think that the baron would be checking on us now, right?”

“Why do you think I’m in a hurry to leave?” Dia replied. “Within the next three days, everyone’s going to surround Claud’s little house. It’ll be a major pain in the ass. Last I checked, the bigshots’ ceremonial processions are all on the way here, and—”

She looked up as a gigantic shadow appeared from the horizon. Dia had never seen it before, but she had heard Nero describe it just a few days ago.

The Northshore Gumption. The personal flying ship of First Lady Cecily, leader of the Nihal Senate, ruler of the Nihal Continent.

“See what I mean?” Dia added. “One bigshot is already here. She’ll likely land nearby and talk to Baron Mons for a while, and then bring her entire entourage to disturb the lovebirds.”

“You sound very gleeful about that, though…”

“Heh.”

The four of them trotted through the city gates before the flying ship could reach Monsville, and Dia watched its sleek silhouette. For some reason, the flying ship was reminiscent of those artefacts that Schwarz had purchased in Celestia. It was nice, shiny and sleek, something that screamed elegance simply by its appearance, and Dia found herself wanting one very, very much.

In fact, it was probably the first time in her life she wanted something this much.

“Do you think the Senate will declare war if I knock everyone on that boat out and steal the thing?” Dia muttered.

“Oi, what are you thinking about?” Risti asked. “Don’t say such scary things so nonchalantly, alright?”

“I’m just kidding…but I really want one, though.” Dia looked at the sleek flying ship, and then wondered if she could get one somewhere.

“It’s daytime. Stop dreaming,” Schwarz cut in. “Alright, let’s move. With our current mana, I think we can make it to Licencia before the day is out…assuming we don’t face any problems crossing the border, anyway.”

Dia put aside her dreams, and then channelled her mana.

It was time to go home.