I was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but that World is at Peace (WN)-Chapter 2255: Intermission: Tears of the Ice Oni - Part 1

<Author's Notes>

I'm having a bit of trouble writing the next chapter, so I'm going to go ahead with the intermission chapter about Miyabi and Epsilon, which I had originally planned to do a bit later. It’s planned to be a three-part arc.

Tendouin Miyabi, 88 terms before Kaito and the others were summoned as the Hero Actor…… In many ways, she led one of the most extraordinary lives among all the Hero Actors.

Miyabi was the first person, aside from the First Hero Kujou Hikari, to express a desire to immigrate to Trinia. She also had a deep connection with Epsilon, one of War King's Five Warlords.

Chronologically, Miyabi belonged to a generation relatively close to that of Neun's…… Kujou Hikaru's era. She herself was a member of Japanese nobility, someone who could be rightfully considered a noble in Japan. At least, that was the case on paper……

Miyabi was the child of a noble patriarch and his mistress, more a consequence of circumstance than a wished-for birth. Although she was officially acknowledged for appearances’ sake, she was treated as though she didn’t exist. Her home life was far from ideal.

Her mother disappeared after taking off with another man, leaving Miyabi behind. From early childhood, Miyabi lived under a cloud of alienation.

The only person who ever truly stood by her was her grandmother. She alone gave Miyabi love and attention, teaching her martial arts like the way of naginata and various manners and traditions. Miyabi cherished her deeply…… But that precious grandmother passed away when Miyabi was 15, leaving her once more in a world that could only be described as lonely.

Living with the belief that there was no place for her in that household, Miyabi found a kind of salvation in the Hero Summoning.

Of course, she was bewildered at first, she even considered the possibility that she was being tricked by a kitsune. But with time, she calmed down, accepted her role as the Hero Actor, and set off on the pilgrimage…… where destiny awaited her.

It happened during a festival held in one of the cities of the Hydra Kingdom, where she participated as the Hero Actor. There, by chance, she met Epsilon, who had come as a representative of the War King.

There wasn’t any dramatic event that brought them together. They simply exchanged words, and found themselves strangely in sync.

One might say their wavelengths aligned perfectly, just the usual conversation felt comfortable and pleasant for her, and Epsilon felt the same.

Epsilon, holding great interest towards Miyabi, accompanied her on her pilgrimage. As they traveled together, their bond deepened, and by the time the Festival of Heroes came around, they had become so close they could truly call each other irreplaceable friends.

[……I see. So, Miyabi, you're not going back to your world?]

[No. I have no place in that world anymore. I haven’t fully decided what to do here, but I don’t intend to accept any noble title. I just feel a strong aversion to them. It seems I’ll be given a fair amount of financial support, so I plan to manage with that.]

[Fumu……]

Having no fond memories of her days as a noble, Miyabi had no intention of accepting a title. She planned to live quietly among the common folk.

Hearing this, Epsilon gave her a contemplative look before speaking.

[In that case, why not come live with me?]

[Eh? With you, Epsilon-sama?]

[Yeah. I may not look it, but I hold a reasonably high position as an Executive of one of the Six Kings. I have a house far too large for one person.]

[That would be more than I could ever hope for but…… Are you sure?]

[Of course. The lifespans of humans are short…… Since I’ve finally found someone I get along with so well, I don’t want to waste time we could have spent together. This benefits me as well.] 𝖗АＮ𝐨ВЕ𝐒

To Epsilon, who had lived for tens of thousands of years, the lifespan of a human, less than a hundred years, was all too brief. Blink, and it would pass. That was why inviting Miyabi to her home offered Epsilon the chance to spend more of that precious time with a kindred spirit.

Miyabi accepted Epsilon’s offer…… and for the first time in her life, she had a place she could truly call her own.

While she had some skill in martial arts and had even learned magic under Epsilon’s guidance, she didn’t have the strength to join the fiercely combative ranks of the War King camp. Instead, she took care of Epsilon’s household duties in their life together.

The days spent with Epsilon were filled with joy and contentment for Miyabi. She taught Epsilon the way of naginata when she became curious about it, helped her choose traditional Japanese outfits that suited her, cooked meals they ate together, and shared drinks at night. Time seemed to fly by in a blissful haze.

Truly, before they knew it, the years had passed, and Miyabi had grown old…… so much so that she could no longer even get out of bed. Her end was near.

[……"Ix-sama"…… Thank you…… for everything. The days I spent with Ix-sama…… they’re my most precious treasure.] ƒreewebɳovel.com

Calling her not with her title as the War King's subordinate, "Epsilon", but with her true name "Ix Nirva"…… moreover, with an affectionate nickname derived from it that she was allowed to, Miyabi spoke words of gratitude as she felt the flame of his life gradually fading.

In response, Epsilon gave her a gentle smile and softly spoke.

[The one who should be giving thanks is me. The days I spent with Miyabi were truly wonderful. Seeing you off in death, those beautiful memories will forever remain in my heart, never to be forgotten.]

[……If that's…… how you feel…… then I’m glad…… Even if this body perishes…… my soul will always…… be with my beloved Ix-sama……]

As those words were exchanged, Epsilon quietly watched over Miyabi's passing. She had lived a long life. Of course, not all Demons were immortal, on the contrary, the majority had finite lifespans.

Compared to Humans, many did live longer lives, but even so, Epsilon had already seen the deaths of countless acquaintances.

She did not grieve death’s parting. The days they shared would become eternal memories, remaining in her heart. That was why she saw off death with respect. Just as she had done before, Epsilon sent off Miyabi with quiet reverence.

Yes, at that time…… Epsilon still had no idea of the events that would one day come to pass, events that would change her own future forever.

Even after Miyabi passed away, Epsilon’s daily life didn’t change all that much. The rhythm of her days shifted slightly with the absence of her housemate, but that was about the extent of it.

She returned to her days serving under the War King, and she believed she had come to terms with Miyabi’s death…… at least, she thought she had.

That was until about half a year had passed since Miyabi's death.

While out in a port city, Epsilon, on a whim, bought some fish to take home. For her, eating wasn’t a necessity; usually, she only nibbled on snacks during banquets or drank alcohol.

However, during the decades she had spent with Miyabi, who, being human, needed regular meals, Miyabi had cooked for both of them, and it had become natural for Epsilon to eat daily meals as well.

That habit should’ve ended with Miyabi’s death…… but seeing fish on sale triggered a thought "Miyabi used to love grilled fish, didn’t she?", and acting on that small impulse, she bought the fish and decided to cook it at home.

[……Hmm. Even though it’s just grilling, I can’t get it to look as nice as when Miyabi made it. I suppose this is what inexperience does……]

Relying on memory, she tried to mimic Miyabi’s method of grilling fish, but Epsilon, who hardly ever cooked, couldn’t quite get it right.

Still, she hadn’t burned it. With practiced ease, she picked up her chopsticks and brought a piece of the grilled fish to her mouth.

[……The taste is completely different too…… Cooking really is…… quite difficult.]

How could she describe it? It wasn’t as though anything significant had triggered it. Just like a cup slowly filling drop by drop without even the owner noticing until it overflowed…… a tear fell.

[……Ahh…… That’s right…… I really did…… love the food Miyabi made……]

Murmuring those words aloud, her tears spilled forth. The house, now without anyone to greet her, felt unbearably large and empty.

At that moment, Epsilon finally came to realize just how immense a presence Miyabi had been in her life.

She thought it would be the same as before.

She thought it was like all the other deaths she had seen, something she could accept and treasure as a memory. But when the lid was lifted…… what did she find? Just imagining the reality, that she would never see Miyabi again, plunged her into a deep, unfathomable despair.

[……I’m unbearably foolish. If she meant enough to me to mourn her death and shed tears like this…… then why…… why didn’t I tell her so while she was still alive……]

An indescribable emptiness, as though a gaping hole had opened in her chest, consumed her. Regret surged, asking why hadn’t she cherished their days more…… And so, Epsilon wept alone, in the now-empty house.

And before long, unable to endure the days without Miyabi, Epsilon reached out her hands…… toward a forbidden art……

<Afterword>

Makina : [Ah, it's the story about my child and Ix Nirva.]

? ? ? : [……Unn? You actually remember her name?]

Makina : [Ahh~~ Unn. Well, I think it'll probably make sense in the later parts, but I had a little talk with her right before my beloved child's birthday party…… so, well, you could say she showed me a little bit of her worth?]