Zero no Tsukaima-Volume 22 Chapter 1

"Saito and the rest are so slow... It's already been a while since they entered the water."

"Well, would you like to sacrifice yourself to feed the sharks?"

Malicorne leisurely yawned and answered Guiche's nervous question.

It was the second day of the third week of the ninth month. The members of the Ondine Knight Corps were waiting for the return of Saito's group on the deck of the "Ostland", which was anchored in the sea near the "Dragon's Nest".

It had been two days since Saito and Louise had reunited in the free city of Eumenes. Saito, Louise, and Tiffania all accompanied the group with Romalia's Pope Vittorio, as they went to the resting place of the "magic device" supposedly left behind by the Founder Brimir - The "Holy Land", on the seabed.

As long as they had gathered the "Four of Four" bearers of the Void, and obtained the "magic device", they would be able to stop the destruction of Halkeginia from the "Wind Stones" going out of control.

A steady breeze blew across the sea, and the light of the two moons reflected as shining silver sparkles.

"Saying something like that right now, isn't that a little too reckless?"

The serious-faced Reynald wrinkled his brow.

"It's just a joke, but aren't they a little too slow?"

Malicorne responded.

"No, after all this "magic device" is the legacy of the Founder. It could take a while to start up...In short, we should patiently wait."

Listening to his students' conversation, Mr. Colbert stood on the deck while looking dignified.

"The Founder's 'magic device', huh...?"

Having reached a peace agreement with the Elves, and successfully arriving in the "Holy Land", there was nothing to worry about now... Saying this, there was still an inexplicable feeling of unease in his heart.

After all, Colbert was one of the rare realists in Halkeginia. He really didn't believe such a beautiful "magic device" could exist in this world that could prevent the "Wind Stones" from going out of control.

"Please, what's wrong? You look so serious."

Kirche, standing at his side, worriedly looked at Colbert's expression.

"Nothing, just thinking about a little something at the moment...."

"Hey, even if you have no hair, you're still the #1 man in the world."

Kirche straightened her back a little and kissed Colbert's forehead.

"Ms. Zerbst, I'm also not thinking about those things... well."

Tabitha, with her back to the side of the ship, was sitting at the feet of the two, and reading a book with a "Light" spell floating above her head. But since a moment ago, there had been no sign of her reading the page, and she occasionally looked up uneasily towards the direction of the sea.

"Worried about Saito?"

Kirche mischievously asked.

"...."

Tabitha suddenly blushed and covered her face with her book.

Seeing her taciturn friend acting so cute, Kirche couldn't help but smile.

"Everyone, I've brought some simple snacks."

Siesta informed everyone as she stepped out on the deck. They saw she was carrying a large plate with many sandwiches, and she divided them amongst the members of the Knight Corps of the Water Spirit on the deck. Kirche and Colbert also accepted them gratefully.

"Excuse me, Mr. Colbert."

Siesta asked as she looked at the sea Saito's group had dove in to.

"With this, Halkeginia will be saved. Since there is a peace agreement with the Elves, there won't be any more war in the future."

"Hm... if what his Holiness the Pope said isn't empty words, this is true."

Siesta sighed in relief.

"Oh, that's wonderful, truly... So Ms. Vallière isn't going to have to use that terrible power, right?"

"...Hm."

Colbert nodded with a complicated look on his face.

Louise's newly learned void magic... with destructive power that seemed to far exceed that of the "Explosion" that destroyed the Elven fleet in one attack.

Fortunately, his students won't need to use such a terrible power... although this would relieve the weight on his heart... Really, he felt an unspeakable anxiety.

Ignoring Colbert's anxiety, Guiche and the other members of the Knight Corps of the Water Spirit were leisurely fishing while chatting casually.

"I can't believe that last place Louise, will actually save Halkeginia."

"Our Lord, the vice-captain, as well. When we return to Tristain, let alone becoming Chevaliers, we might even receive a peerage. Things like a commoner receiving a peerage, that's outrageous isn't it."

"A baron... no, a viscount peerage wouldn't be surprising. Saito's achievements truly deserve such a title."

"Please, speaking of returning to school, we're all heroes also."

Guiche looked up at the two moons hanging high in the night sky.

"School...huh, I really miss it. It's clearly only been a short two weeks since we left Tristain, but it feels like it's been forever.

After that, he reluctantly whispered, "Ah, I want to meet with Montmorency again soon."

"This is the long-cherished wish of our ancestors, the 'Promised Land' that the 'Clan of the Magi' should return to."

The steady voice of Vittorio, the Pope of Romalia, resounded through the huge hollow on the seabed.

Saito blankly stood in front of the shiny "Door", and couldn't control himself for a while.

That was no wonder. After all, the location of the "Promised Land" that Vittorio is pointing to... is undoubtedly Saito's home, an image of "Earth".

"How can this be... What the hell is going on...?"

In fact, Saito had been vaguely aware for a long time that the "magic device" with the power to destroy wind stones basically was a folly. However, the scene in front of his eyes was beyond his imagination.

Louise and Tiffania's eyes opened wide, and Henrietta was also speechless. Josette looked at Julio in surprise, and Turuk and Bidashal had an unwavering expression.

After taking a deep breath, Saito trembled as he spoke.

"What is going on exactly? 'Earth'... How can my home be the 'Promised Land'...?"

"What?"

Hearing what Saito said, Louise finally reacted.

"Saito's home? It's there?"

Saito nodded silently. Henrietta covered her mouth in surprise as she listened.

Vittorio, who reacted to Saito's line of sight, spoke with him not moving his eyebrows even once.

"The 'Promised Land' is what it means, Sir Saito. For those of us, the people of Halkeginia, your home, this piece of land is the real 'Holy Land'."

"What...!"

Saito was lost for words. Vittorio's crystal clear eyes, without a trace of any lies, overflowing with devoutness and zeal.

Facing the Pope's line of sight, Saito couldn't help but shrink back.

"Excuse me, your Holiness."

At that time, Henrietta opened her mouth to speak.

Henrietta fearlessly glared at Vittorio.

"Can your Holiness please explain this in a way we can all understand. You have this obligation, your Holiness."

"Of course. This is the purpose as for why I led you all here."

Vittorio looked around at everyone's expression, as he stood in front of the "Door" with the image of Earth shining out of it.

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

"Well, before I reveal the truth about the 'Holy Land', I'd like to ask a question first. Queen Henrietta, in the present Halkeginia, do you know why some people can use magic and other can't? That is to say, why there are nobles and common people?

"...?"

What's the point of this question... Henrietta frowned, but then answered.

"The so-called nobles, are people who have inherited the blood of the Founder Brimir."

"That's right, you're correct. The systemic magic that exists in Halkeginia, came with the arrival of the Founder Brimir 6000 years ago."

Vittorio nodded his head,

"So, where did our great Founder actually come from?"

"Now isn't the time for a theological quiz your Holiness."

Henrietta responded bluntly.

But Vittorio still revealed a steady smile,

"No, this isn't a theological quiz. Queen Henrietta, I'm about to reveal the truth that has vanished from the long history of Halkeginia... that is, the truth from 6000 years ago.

"The truth from 6000 years ago?"

"That's right. That is, the truth that through the many years the Romalian Vatican has hidden to this day."

Vittorio's voice buzzed in the giant cave.

"The Founder Brimir is a god sent from heaven to the world... this is what is written in the scriptures."

Louise said. This "Truth" is not only circulated in Tristain's Magic Academy but is also widely circulated in all the countries of Halkeginia.

"Correct, that is indeed what is recorded in the Romalian scriptures... but, that isn't the truth."

Speaking to here, Vittorio's line of sight turned to the "Door".

At that moment, Saito had an epiphany. All the clues connected in his mind.

The "gun" sent from "Earth" by Brimir... In other words...

"...It can't be!"

Seeing Saito's appearance, Louise and Henrietta seemed to follow his epiphany.

"You guessed right. Our ancestors came from the other side of this 'Door', that world. In other words, the Founder Brimir, like Sir Saito, was a resident of a different world."

"What did you say...!"

Louise shouted in surprise. Henrietta and Tiffania looked at each other.

Saito opened his mouth wide in surprise and asked the Pope.

"Meaning that the Founder Brimir and I are the same, that we both are Earthlings?"

"Yes, properly saying, Brimir and his people are a group called 'Magi'."

"Magi?"

Louise's group was completely unfamiliar with this term.

But Saito always felt, a vague familiarity with the term. Where exactly had he heard it..?

"The 'Magi' are a minority group that specializes in the use of magic. 6000 years ago, they were led by the Founder Brimir and emigrated to this world. Those 'Magi' are the ancestors of our Halkeginians."

"Our ancestors, are actual people from another world...."

Louise whispered with her dark brown eyes wide open.

"Even though you're saying this, Your Holiness, it is hardly convincing."

Depressed, Henrietta responded in bewilderment.

"Of course I know this. If I tell you the truth, I'm sure it'd be laughed at as some ridiculous fairy tale. However, I swear to the Founder and God, this is without a doubt the historical truth that has been passed down through the 'Founder's Round Mirror' since the age of St. Forsythe, the founder of the Romalian Empire."

Vittorio drew a sign on his chest. This was the action that a sincere believer of Brimir would do when they swore to the Founder and God. For a believer of Brimir, lying after making that sign was the most serious of sins.

At this time, Julio told Saito:

"Saito, you should have already noticed. All of the 'guns' of 'Gandálfr' sent by the Founder Brimir, came from your world. This is the best evidence, evidence that the Founder was from your world.

Saito listened to Julio's remark in silence.

The large underwater cave was plunged into silence. The shocking "Truth" that came from the Pope's mouth, left even Louise and Henrietta speechless.

Among them, Tiffania gingerly opened her mouth.

"Ex-excuse me...."

"What is it, Ms. Westwood?"

"This... why did Brimir come to this world?"

"Of course there was a reason for this."

Vittorio nodded his head and explained.

"The 'Magi' in their old world, were subjected to racial persecution by a group without the power of magic, called the 'Varyag'."

Hearing the Pope say this, Saito suddenly understood. 'Magi' and 'Varyag'... now he was reminded where he heard these two words.

"Right, didn't I hear this in that rune dream...?"

Before the war between the Kingdom of Gallia, led by King Joseph, and the coalition of Halkeginia broke out... Louise had tried to send Saito back to Earth. At that time, Saito experience a memory, deep from within the "Gandálfr" runes, of 6000 years ago in a dream. Remembering that time, Brimir called himself "Magi", and Saito fought the terrible "Varyag" forces that attacked the village in his dream. And the "Varyag" that fought with Saito, didn't look like a monster or a sub-human... but the same as a human being.

Since the "Varyag" didn't have the power of magic, they feared the "Magi". They persecuted the "Magi" and tried to destroy the entire race. Although the "Varyag" couldn't use magic, they possessed an overwhelming superiority in numbers, and a dreadful weapon built with excellent technology... Even with the power of magic, the clan of the "Magi" was basically out of luck. In order to escape the persecution, the Founder Brimir could only open a "Door" and lead his clan to Halkeginia.

A moment later, Vittorio looked around.

"In other words, the other side of the 'Door', that world is our homeland, the place our soul returns to. The descendants of the Founder Brimir and the 'Magi', the people of Halkeginia have a legitimate right to return to the 'Holy Land'."

"How come...."

Tiffania's face suddenly went pale. Facing the first revelation of this secret of history, Louise and Henrietta were completely dumbstruck.

"Precisely because the Elven Council has long been aware that your true target wasn't the 'Desert', that is why we could reach a peaceful resolution."

The Elven Consul Turuk calmly said.

"If you barbarians reclaim the 'Holy Land' on the other side of the 'Demon's Door', no further dispute will occur in the future. For the peace of the desert, of course, we'll do our best to help."

"Ple-please wait!"

Saito shouted.

"What do you mean return... you don't mean to send all the inhabitants of Halkeginia to Earth?"

"Of course, we intend for all the people to migrate. The nobles and the commoners, the rich and the poor, everyone has the right to return. Because of the dilution of the pedigree, the people whom we call commoners who are yet to awaken to the power of magic. Because sooner or later, the blood of the Magi which has changed into a draw-back will soon be gone."

"This... it's impossible!"

The anxious Saito said in defense.

"How is it impossible?"

"Because there hasn't been a place on Earth to accommodate all the people of Halkeginia for a long time!"

The number of residents in Halkeginia was unknown. However, it would be simply impossible to immigrate to Earth and establish a new country now.

Then chaos would surely come to the world... Even Saito, who didn't score well in school, could easily predict this.

But Vittorio's face didn't change and continued to say.

"Of course, I know that co-existence is impossible."

"Then...."

"Therefore, to be accurate, this won't be called a 'Return'. Right, if we were to borrow the words of the traitors from Albion to describe it, we should call it a 'Reconquista'^[1]."

"What did you say!"

"Your Holiness, what exactly is going on!"

Henrietta sharply questioned.

"This means that we have a legitimate right to reclaim our homeland through 'Holy War'. This is the sacred mission given to us by the Founder."

Saying such a terribly earth-shattering thing, Vittorio's expression didn't change.

"Holy War... You want to start fighting 'Earth' with Halkeginian forces?"

"Correct. We've already made proper preparations for this goal."

Seeing Vittorio's clear eyes, Saito couldn't help but be shocked.

"This man really plans to conquer Earth...."

Saito racked his brain, wondering how to convince this man whose mind was filled with madness.

"This is impossible, Halkeginian forces basically have no way of winning. You also know the quality of Earth's 'Weapons', right? Not only that 'Tank' or 'Zero Fighter', there are those that are even more terrible.

Weapons... saying this, Saito suddenly went silent.

What emerged in Saito's mind was the "Nuclear Submarine" that was sunk on the seafloor of the "Dragon's Nest." It would be best not to mention that.

"Correct, in the last several decades, the 'weapons' of the 'Varyag' have developed to a degree that can't be believed. Therefore, they must be destroyed before they can acquire even more devastating weapons."

"What you're saying is impossible! It's useless, no matter how many powerful magics you have, the weapons of Earth can easily kill a person before a wizard pulls out a wand.

Saito desperately shouted. In fact, even if Halkeginia's "Coalition Army for the Restoration of the Holy Lands" were to aggressively attack the Earth now, it would be counterattacked in a few moments and would have tragic results. Once it would come to this, it would be impossible to predict Louise's and the others lives and safety.

"Yes, the 'Varyag' are a terrible enemy. However, God and the Founder Brimir have given us a great power capable of confronting them."

Hearing Vittorio's words, Louise suddenly looked up. Seeing this, Vittorio nodded with a steady smile.

"That's correct, it's the 'Final Void' given to Ms. Vallière."

"What's this...!"

Louise opened her mouth in surprise.

"Life."

Capable to cause devastating destruction, the "Final Void"... Not to be used to fight the Elves using the "Jewel of Fire", but the trump card to conquer Saito's homeland.

"You actually deceived us, Your Holiness!"

Louise, with her voice trembling and her eyes burning with rage, stared fiercely at Vittorio and Julio.

"Logically speaking, Void Magic is a countermeasure when the Elves used the 'Jewel of Fire'. Since we reconciled with the Elves, we have no need to use the 'Void'."

"Ms. Vallière, I didn't lie. But I didn't speak the whole truth, I apologize for that."

Seeing Vittorio uncaringly bow his head in apology, Louise tightly clenched her lips.

"Although you say this, do you really think I'd do such a thing as destroy Saito's homeland? If yes, you've made a mistake."

Louise spoke decisively.

"I swore on the La Vallière name, and promised Saito that I would return him to his homeland."

"Louise...."

Hearing Louise's courageous declaration, even in the face of such a crisis, Saito felt inexplicably moved.

Ah, Louise, my beloved master...

The resolute Henrietta also confronted the Pope.

"Your Holiness, don't tell me you still want to sacrifice more of the people of Halkeginia?

But Vittorio calmly shook his head.

"Then I ask you, are you willing to helplessly face destruction?"

"This...."

Henrietta was suddenly dumbfounded. With Halkeginia still facing the major problem at present, the Pope asked himself.

"In the near future, the 'Wind Stones' will surely go out of control and engulf all of Halkeginia. Ultimately, for the sake of a barely existent pebble of land, a pointless conflict will begin repeatedly... all of the nobles will probably survive the process, but what about all the other people living on this land?"

"We certainly need to think of a solution for the 'Wind Stone' problem. However, to conquer Sir Saito's homeland, for this reason, is definitely not right."

"This isn't a question of right or wrong. Queen Henrietta, on the brink of destruction, we can only try to find ways to survive."

The only thing in Vittorio's eyes was the will to persevere.

Saito had faced many powerful enemies before. Like Fouquet, Wardes, Sheffield the Mjöðvitnir, King Joseph, and Aishmail of the "Steel-Blooded Party"... but seeing such eyes, filled with purity, he felt that none of those powerful enemies were as formidable as Vittorio.

He must be stopped... That man was too dangerous.

"Don't think that's possible, I definitely won't let you conquer the Earth!"

The rune on Saito's left hand lit up as he pulled Derflinger from his back.

"Saito!"

Louise shouted.

Julio immediately pulled the saber from his waist and guarded Vittorio from the front.

"Don't do anything stupid, Gandálfr."

"Get out of my way, Julio."

Saito shouted. Of course, he didn't plan to take the Pope's life, just to grab him temporarily as a hostage, and try to force him to give up on that plan... thinking this, while Saito was preparing to knock Julio, who was facing him.

"Ah...uh...!"

Suddenly something odd overcame Saito's body.

A sharp pain escaped his chest... closely followed by the feeling of his whole body collapsing.

Saito knelt to the ground as Derflinger fell from his right hand, then his head fell to the floor.

"Saito, please, what's wrong! Saito!"

"Saito!"

Louise and Tiffania hastily supported Saito's body from both sides.

Feeling Saito, all the blood in his body gradually became as cold as ice.

"Your Holiness, what have you done to Saito!"

Louise glared at Vittorio, as she held Saito's arm.

"I haven't done a thing."

Vittorio showed a look of pity as he looked at Saito.

"Sir Saito is the 'Final Familiar', and bears the greatest role in the mission to recapture the 'Holy Land'. If I were to open the 'Door' to the Holy Land, it's normal for there to be a reaction."

Hearing this, Louise was shocked as she looked at Saito's chest. She saw the strange 'Lífþrasir' runes glowing under his jacket.

"How come... Tiffa and I have obviously not chanted a void spell... Saito, please, pull yourself together, Saito!"

Loudly hearing Louise's crying voice, Saito's field of vision faded. A terrible sensation smothered him, it was as if some unseen hand grabbed his heart, and was gradually extracting all the life from him.

"Louise...Loui...se...!"

1. A reconquest.