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To understand exactly what that ‘big event’ was, one needed to go back in time.
Specifically, to exactly one week ago.
When Rohan made his wish, the ‘divine arrangement’ broke. Though he wouldn’t have known it at the time, simultaneously, another divine arrangement in the imperial palace also shattered to pieces.
Using up one more arrangement to rewind the time of the broken Demon Sword—that was the will of this world.
Surprisingly, right after that, the ‘Demon Sword’ returned to its original form. Without even a trace of being broken, completely clean. When Rohan picked up the sword with trembling hands, he noticed one anomaly.
The spectral energy he used to feel from Arpel had completely vanished. Even though the holy artifact that normally concealed it had fallen to the floor. However, there was no time to question why.
“…Arpel?”
There was no answer. Feeling like the nightmare was starting again, Rohan tightened his grip on the sword. An anxiety far stronger than anything he’d felt before swept over him.
Ah. Aah. He lamented, losing his senses. Was it because I made a mistake? Because I didn’t try hard enough? Is that why I lost Arpel?
What stopped his endless self-blame was the Demon God’s voice resonating in his head.
<Temple… to the temple…>
Though the words were broken and difficult to understand clearly, the word ‘temple’ came through distinctly. Rohan immediately jumped to his feet and began running frantically while holding Arpel, firmly rejecting any voices calling him or hands trying to stop him.
By the time he reached the temple, his body was a mess. That was natural given the considerable distance. Dionel, who hurriedly greeted him, had no choice but to offer Rohan the prayer room in the deepest part of the temple.
Rohan, who had been acting like someone who had left his mind elsewhere, finally regained the light in his eyes. He placed the sword on his knee and clasped his hands together. He looked like a devout priest offering a reverent prayer.
“Arpel…”
Come back to me. Please. I beg you. Don’t die. I miss you.
Along with the name, fragmented words filled with intense emotion filled his mind. Rohan squeezed his eyes shut, hoping that when he opened them again, Arpel would have returned to him.
He didn’t know how many minutes he stayed like that. No, was it hours? Or days? Having maintained the same position for so long, the feeling in his body was gradually disappearing. Still, Rohan remained steadfast.
Then, at some point, weight began to increase on his knee. Ah. Feeling that unfamiliar sensation, he sighed, choked up, and rejoiced. His tightly closed eyelids trembled, revealing brilliantly sparkling golden eyes, as if gold dust had been sprinkled over them.
“Rohan.”
Arpel, visible before him, reached out his hand. The face smiling with slightly curved eyes was so familiar. It was that lovely smile he had been yearning for in his heart countless times.
“I told you. That I believed in you.”
Thank you for saving me.
It was a touching moment, a reunion. Numerous words he wanted to say if Arpel ever returned were bubbling up inside him. Yet Rohan couldn’t utter a single one of them.
They say when you’re overwhelmed, your mind goes blank. That was part of the reason. But the main reason Rohan couldn’t speak immediately was… because Arpel, sitting on his lap, looked considerably different. His trembling eyes reflected the indecision in Rohan’s heart about what to say first.
“Hand…”
The word he finally managed to say was just ‘hand.’ But Arpel seemed to realize that something was wrong just from that.
Instinctively lowering his gaze, Arpel looked at his own hands. Small. Tiny. Miniature. Nothing but those expressions came to mind—they were the delicate hands of a child, covered with soft, downy hair.
“Eh…?”
The moment he realized it, he let out a foolish sound. That’s how surprising the situation was.
Hurriedly feeling his body with his hands, he assessed the situation. His cheeks and body were smaller than usual. He was undoubtedly… in the form of a young child.
“This, this wasn’t mentioned,” Arpel muttered with a pale face. He quickly tried to recall his remaining memories. The Demon God’s words, which he had disregarded at the time, suddenly came to mind.
‘It’s almost like suddenly pulling out something that was fused with your soul, so for a while, you might face some, um… troublesome situations. Well, don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine soon enough.’
Is this the ‘troublesome situation’? Arpel vaguely moved his lips. What he had dismissed had returned as an unimaginable, unwanted result.
Meanwhile, Rohan was experiencing a strong internal conflict. Seeing Arpel’s confusion only intensified it. He quietly raised his hand and repeatedly rubbed his face.
He needed to say thank you—for enduring, for coming back, for believing in him. He should say sorry for not protecting him, that they should be together forever from now on, that he loved him… He should say those things. But one irresistible impulse kept surging repeatedly.
“Rohan? What’s wrong?”
That internal conflict didn’t last long. It ended cleanly because Arpel, concerned about Rohan’s strange state, hesitantly patted his shoulder.
Finally unable to resist, Rohan abruptly embraced Arpel. His round, large eyes couldn’t hide their surprise and widened like saucers. All Rohan could do was whisper while hugging that body as if in pain.
“So cute…”
He clung to the frozen body and indulged in all sorts of affectionate behaviors. Even as the child’s cheeks turned the color of balsam flowers, he couldn’t stop.
It was much later when Rohan collected himself and shared the words he had been keeping in his heart. In return, Arpel told him about the conversation he had with the Demon God while unconscious. The assurance that his body would return to normal soon was an added bonus. Rohan was a little, just a little, disappointed.
The whirlwind surrounding them had not yet stopped. The emperor must disappear, must be killed for all the fighting to end. Neither of them was unaware of this fact.
Nevertheless, Rohan was unreservedly happy at this moment, and Arpel was satisfied with Rohan’s reaction. It was a somewhat early happy ending for the two, but that alone was enough.
“Rohan. Hey.”
They needed to check on the state of the imperial palace. That thought kept asserting its presence in his mind, but Arpel deliberately ignored it. Just a moment, a very brief moment would do. There was something he really wanted to say.
Was it because he had died and come back to life? Or because he had watched Rohan suffering while talking with the Demon God? Something kept welling up in his chest, and an inexplicable impulse fueled it.
“Yes, Arpel. You can tell me.”
Even as Arpel couldn’t say what he wanted immediately and just moved his lips, Rohan remained consistent. He continued to poke and knead the soft cheeks.
Having been swept up by overwhelming emotions, he had been dropping tears throughout his confession. Despite his eyes and cheeks being completely flushed red because of it, he still coveted the softness of those cheeks.
Some might consider it a comical sight, but not to Arpel. He was just entranced, taking in Rohan’s face. Cute. That thought unexpectedly popped up.
Perhaps that gave him courage. Arpel, who had been blankly staring at Rohan, finally added a brief statement.
“I like you.”
“…!”
“I love you.”
These were words he had heard from Rohan before. What answer had he given when he first heard these words? Though vague, one thing was clearly remembered.
Rohan’s words about wanting to teach him love.
Now he felt he could tell him. He was convinced that this feeling could be nothing other than love, affection.
The eyes that met his wavered greatly. Arpel gazed steadily at Rohan’s reaction. He was immensely happy, and also trembling. Seeing him like that, Arpel became convinced once more. This was definitely love for him.
“Ah, really…”
“…You don’t like it?”
“No, that’s not it… it’s unfair.”
But before long, Rohan hung his head. Arpel hesitated as he realized the clear emotion of regret flowing from Rohan. Did he say something wrong? Should he have spoken in a more romantic setting? As various concerns began to arise, Rohan spoke in a barely audible voice.
“How can you say that in such a form? I can’t give you a peck, I can’t kiss you…”
“Why not? You can.”
“I can’t.”
It was an unyielding response, uncharacteristically serious. Arpel silently clicked his tongue. Feeling a handful of lingering attachment, he fidgeted with his fingers for no reason.
He was glad that Rohan seemed happy, but now he wished his body would return to normal soon. As soon as possible. He pressed his lips together firmly.
At that moment, the door burst open.
“Lord Rohan! Are you alright… Lord Rohan?”
The one who flung open the prayer room door was none other than Dionel. Perhaps he was worried because Rohan hadn’t come out for so long. His face was as urgent as his voice.
But that expression soon crumbled. It was because he discovered Rohan, who was smiling broadly despite his haggard appearance, and a child preciously nestled in his arms. Moreover, one who strongly resembled someone.
“…Lord Arpel?”
Dionel, who had been unable to accept reality for quite some time, finally reached a conclusion. His trembling voice was quite pitiful.
Receiving his obvious gaze, Arpel glanced back at Rohan. Eyes forming a beautiful arc had been looking this way all along and immediately entered his field of vision. Instead of answering Dionel, Arpel chose to touch the corner of Rohan’s eye.
It was regrettable that it would take time to return to his original body, and there was lingering attachment… but he was happy. The emotion that had been carefully refined and finally found its fitting name seemed to shine in a rainbow of colors.
When his body returns, he should tell Rohan again. That he likes him, loves him, that he’s happy to be with him. Picturing the not-too-distant future, Arpel mirrored the bright smile of the one he was looking at.
<End.>
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
