One morning, Xei opened her eyes.
It had been a long time since she had slept so deeply without tension. A pleasant languor enveloped her. Her shoulders throbbed with a dull ache, and her entire body was sore from muscle pain. But precisely because of that, this deep sleep was all the sweeter.
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Time to wake up. Roused from sleep by her body's internal alarm, Xei suddenly turned her head at the presence she felt beside her.
Hewz was asleep, facing her.
Perhaps because he was the King of Humans? His face was handsome without any sharp edges. There was a somewhat roguish vibe about him, but that was merely an atmosphere Hewz deliberately cultivated. A strategy to maintain distance between himself and others, both physically and emotionally. Something only he, who could read minds, could accomplish.
However, when asleep, he couldn't project such an atmosphere. It was a fact Xei had discovered only after watching him for a long time, and even Hewz himself hadn't noticed this subtle difference until he read Xei's mind.
Xei silently savored the sight of his sleeping face and smiled from a long-held yearning.
He is gentle. Because he understands hearts. But he is also ruthless. Because he also understands the hearts of others, not just mine.
Perhaps the two were inextricably linked like two sides of a coin. It might be an inevitable trait of being the King of Beasts... And that might be why he couldn't fully give his heart to Xei.
Even so, Xei's heart belonged to him. That remained true through countless regressions.
I want to embrace him. I want to press our lips together. I want to fall asleep held completely in his arms. I want to be touched. I want to share the same breath. I want to be comforted. I want to reveal everything and have my heart read.
But that wish...
Stop, Xei.
The Heavenly Wheel Sutra whispered to her. As vitality circulated through her body, her emotions, memories, and yearning gradually became numb. This overwhelming feeling faded.
Hewz refused to reveal his mind-reading. It was to respect the thoughts of others. If people knew their minds were being read, they would fear the very act of thinking. That was something the King of Humans would never want.
Therefore, Xei too, when meeting Hewz, had to seal her memories. She had to return to the Xei of the 14th regression—the one who first met Hewz... A weak yet precious Xei. A foolish and dishonest Xei who kept raising her guard and did many things she regretted.
But it didn't matter.
Because even the Xei of the 14th regression with sealed memories was still Xei.
Without fail.
They would reach the same conclusion.
***
'What? What's going on? Why? Why is Hewz sleeping next to me?!'
Ugh, so noisy. Who keeps babbling in their mind? I can't even sleep.
I woke from sleep amidst the noisy thoughts in her mind. Opening my eyes, I saw Xei still asleep with her eyes closed.
No, it was Xei pretending to sleep. Xei, having woken up, saw me and was so startled that she closed her eyes and stayed still.
'How did this happen? Why didn't I notice until he got into my bed? No, why did Hewz crawl into my bed?! Don't tell me he was tired enough to fall asleep without knowing anything?'
You grabbed me, so I had no choice but to sleep. You still haven't realized you're gripping my sleeve tightly? Hah, really. How annoying. Let's see when you figure it out yourself.
'Should I wake him? Should I hit him? Or should I cut him with Cheon-aeng? Uh, what should I do?'
Hit? Cut? No, your thoughts are way too extreme!
Having almost been struck by a window blind while sleeping, I deliberately stretched. Xei's hand, which was still gripping my sleeve, was pulled up along with my arm. Only then did Xei sense something was off.
'...? Why is my hand? Grabbing Hewz? Huh?'
It wasn't me? You should know! Putting it nicely, I could say we've become close enough that you unconsciously rely on me.
Anyway. The reason I ended up sleeping here against my will is because of you. I made sure to drive the point home with a mutter, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
"Hmm? Xei hasn't woken up yet. Still grabbing my sleeve. What kind of grip strength doesn't weaken even while sleeping?"
"...Umm."
'F-for now. I don't understand what's going on. But if I release my grip...'
The grip on my sleeve gradually began to loosen. She was probably trying to play dumb and let go, but that's no fun if it's that easy.
"Well, I guess. The grip that held on all night wouldn't loosen now. Unless Xei is actually awake. I wonder when she'll wake up."
"..."
The grip tightened again. She must think it's strange herself, right? Fine. Let's completely eliminate any suspicion from Xei while I'm at it.
"Still, mumbling 'Mm, Hewz. Let's sleep together...' while lying in bed was kind of cute."
"I never said that!"
Xei jumped up and shouted. Tch. Was distorting the truth this far too much of a stretch? I feigned ignorance and asked back.
"What, you were awake?"
"I just woke up! And there's no way I would say something like that!"
"Huh? How can you be so sure about that, Xei?"
"Sure or whatever. I know myself! I'm not the kind of person who would say such things!"
Right. She didn't say such things. But what are you going to do if I fabricate it?
"Then who was it that grabbed my sleeve and wouldn't let go?"
"T-that's...! How would I know!"
"If you don't know, then who would!"
She's impossible to figure out. Her affinity seems to have risen quite a bit. But even reading her thoughts, she doesn't seem particularly conscious of me. And yet she's still clinging to my sleeve?
It feels like I'm being pushed and pulled. Difficult, so difficult.
"Xei. I'm also the type who doesn't turn away those who come and doesn't hold back those who leave."
"...? Didn't you leave plenty of women behind?"
Why is that coming up now?
I'd prefer you call it a beautiful parting, not leaving them behind. Anyway.
"If you're lonely, tell me anytime. If you were a man, I would have refused. But you're a woman now, right? That barely falls within my acceptable range."
"I was a woman from the start!!"
The brief morning commotion passed without any major issues. Xei hissed at me like a cat whenever we crossed paths, but that too was momentary. True to a regressor, she soon recalled other matters and brought up her business.
"Hewz. We need to meet the Demon King."
I couldn't read much of Xei's memories from the previous regression since they cut off midway. While I was curious about the previous regression too, Xei chose to focus on what lay ahead rather than recall the 12th regression she barely remembered.
"Above the Floating Castle, there is a calamity."
And the moment I heard those words, I had no choice but to focus as well.
"What? Above? Not the Floating Castle itself?"
"Yes. Even higher than this. The Star of Great Sin, 'Pride,' floats there."
The Floating Castle alone was already a structure above the clouds and sky? The Floating Castle, hovering higher than anything else on this planet—there's something above even that?
"'Pride' is the Floating Castle's ultimate weapon. When the war intensifies and the Floating Castle is attacked, the Magic Federation drops Pride upon the Empire. That is the Great Descent."
Just recalling it made Xei shudder. A certain scene surfaced in her mind.
The Empire was located in the northwestern part of the continent. Northwest was just a word—over half of it fell within the Empire's domain—but it was undeniable that it was quite far from the Military Nation.
But that massive destruction was visible even from the Military Nation.
Flames falling across the sky traced a steep trajectory. Deviating from the paths where stars and suns roam, they plunged diagonally toward the earth below.
Xei could do nothing but watch the crash of a star that desired the end of civilization—something that could be neither stopped nor evaded.
And the Earth Mother Goddess's scream shook the entire continent.
Xei later heard that both the Empire and the Holy Court had resisted it, with some degree of success. However, even the aftermath alone brought terrifying disasters. The Military Nation, situated on the exact opposite side of the Empire, also suffered from successive earthquakes and storms.
After finishing a recollection she didn't even want to recall, Xei continued speaking.
"...Whether you persuade the Demon King or somehow stop the fall of 'Pride,' it's useless."
Naturally, both Xei and the Holy Court had tried to prevent that as their top priority. And apparently, in some regressions, they succeeded. But the problem didn't end there.
Xei bit her lip until it bled and spoke.
"Because the King of Sin seizes 'Pride' and pronounces a death sentence upon the world."
Even if he was the King of Sin, he was merely a single human—how could he destroy the world? I had such curiosity.
But what if Xei's words were true? Even without being the King of Sin, the Demon King alone could destroy the world!
"We must deal with 'Pride' to prevent the world's destruction."
I listened well to the story. Hmm, must have been quite busy.
But still.
"Xei. But how are we going to do that?"
What can I do?
"From what I heard, 'Pride' is the Floating Castle's ultimate weapon, something to be used only as a last resort. What are you going to say to the Demon King? 'Abandon Pride and surrender its power'? If I were the Demon King, I wouldn't even give it a second thought. In fact, I didn't."
"...That is a problem."
"Even if that's the problem, it's still a problem. What if he just executes us on the spot, thinking 'how dare mere riffraff'?"
"...That is also a problem."
I couldn't even read the Demon King's power. He wore an immense space around himself, so my reach couldn't touch him. And yet he had easily dispersed the Blue Tower Master's Innate Demon Art.
Just how strong was he? At the very least, neither Xei's power nor mine could even gauge him. It would take someone like Nevida to even contend with the Demon King.
...However, was the Innate Demon Art the Demon King's full power? I wonder if that's really the case.
In the end, Xei couldn't come up with a proper solution either. The two of them sat at the desk in silence, merely worrying, when—
"Hello. Good morning."
The door opened and the Blue Tower Master barged in. Striding into the quarters with her long legs, the Blue Tower Master lightly smiled and held out an outer garment to me.
"The one you gave me back then. Thanks, I used it well. I washed it clean, so don't worry."
"You didn't have to wash it."
"Don't mind it. I was simply upholding basic courtesy and dignity as a woman."
"No. The fact that it was draped over the Blue Tower Master's shoulders gives it more collectible value."
"Heheh. I'm not sure if I should feel pleased or offended?"
Lightly laughing, the Blue Tower Master sat across from me, creating a chair out of crystal and sitting down. She hadn't knocked, and I hadn't invited her in, yet there wasn't a trace of awkwardness. A natural intrusiveness, as easy as breathing.
Xei, who was far from sociable, was bewildered by the Blue Tower Master's unreserved attitude.
'That's strange... I was the one who traveled with Hewz, and I met Elisha first. But they both seem closer to each other than to me.'
That's because you... No. What's the point of saying it. Leaving the sullen Xei behind, I greeted the Blue Tower Master.
"Where's Lankart?"
"Lankart went down to the lower realm for a bit. Because he's been neglecting the investigation of the Tree of Vice. Bringing you all here is fine, but without objective data, there's nothing to submit."
"He's smart but not meticulous. A typical genius trait. Being unable to explain things to others."
"I'll send a few assistants to help him, so it should be fine."
"You've already learned how to use Lankart."
"You naturally pick it up. Anyway, a few subordinates are away, so I have some free time. I was thinking of making a proposal to you two."
The Blue Tower Master rested her chin on her hand and gazed quietly at me and Xei as she spoke.
"How about you two learn magic from me and try to climb the Gate of Ascension?"