The kingdom of Colchis – Belmor city.

Residence of Duke Luxembourg.

Two weeks later.

Arielle and I stood at the front gates.

I held her hand since she was sweating nervously next to me. Nate went back to their territory which is near the borders. Erica went back to the academy dorms. They still keep the dorms open to those that can’t afford housing. It’s sad that she doesn’t have any relatives. I should probably ask if she needs anything.

That light spirit is still following me around, though. I now know why I can see it. It must be because I can control light spirits to a certain extend.

Anyways…

As for Charlotte and Helen... Well, since Helen doesn’t have anywhere else to go, Charlotte said she’ll arrange proper preparations for her once they arrive at the palace.

We stopped by our village first when we came back. Although, the house was empty. My neighbours were so emotional when they saw me back. It was a happy moment for me knowing they prayed for my safety.

I asked where my parents were and they told us that mother and father came to the Duke’s residence in the capital.

“Let’s go.”

She nodded and linked her arms with mine. The manor and its property looked just as majestic as always, not even a single stone is misaligned. The grass was neatly trimmed and all kinds of flowers bloomed this spring.

“Young Lady!!”

A scream then came from the manor’s backyard. I looked over and saw a beautiful brown elf with her typical long dress maid uniform.

She had tears in her eyes as she ran up to Arielle.

“Forgive my rudeness!”

She said so and hugged Arielle tightly. The latter didn’t seem to know how to react.

“Young master Clyde. I am glad you are safe.”

She bowed respectfully to me and held my hands. This woman rarely showed any emotion in the past but it looks like that’s changed after Arielle’s absence.

“Lithia, is everyone inside?”

We walked around the glorious fountain with an angel spitting out water.

Lithia nodded with a smile.

“Yes. The entire family is gathered in the living room, awaiting your return.”

She opened the door with a proud smile.

“”””Welcome back, Lady Arielle and young master Clyde.”””””

Servants were bowing on each side of the long hallway. Some were crying but hid it with quiet sobs.

Arielle went red in the face as she greeted them all.

We walked the long row of servants that eventually stopped by the huge living room.

There they are. I spotted our entire family inside when we entered the room.

It was quiet for a second.

“... We’re back.”

Both me and Arielle cried as we headed into our families’ embrace.

◇◇◇

Outside in the garden.

“My little boy! You look so healthy! Ah, you’ll be a handsome young man when you grow up!”

Mother hugged my head tightly with tears in her eyes. I was the same. I missed them so much and thought about them every night.

Father also had tears when he hugged me but it looked like he was restraining himself from crying like mother.

“He really has grown up.”

He stroked my head with a smile.

“Ah, girls!”

Mother then waved to the two girls that just arrived.

‘Is that Chloe and Jessica?’

The two twins have gotten so big since the last time I saw them. Naturally I hugged them like a good big brother. Jessica is the eldest and has a darker shade of brown hair than Chloe. The two are twins but it seems they dislike wearing matching outfits.

They were so uncomfortable around me. That’s understandable. The last time we properly spent time together was when I was 8 years old.

Now I’m constantly disappearing to somewhere.

“So that’s what happened.”

My parents explained what happened on that day of the incident. The people call the phenomena the ‘Divide’. They call it as such since about 50% of the entire kingdom’s land and resources disappeared. Many people also disappeared like we have. Some returned and others are still missing.

The king managed to recover all that land in a matter of months with the help of the neighbouring Empire. I wonder how the land looked like back then. The White Order released an official document that explained who did this.

The individual doesn’t have that much information but they at least know his name.

Zero. Apparently he himself said he’s a descendant of the past immortals that lived on this planet.

‘That word again.’

Immortals. My future self mentioned them in that void he summoned me to. So they are the threat we’re up against. No, their descendants are.

The bizarre fact about this Zero person is that he could cast God Rank Magic.

I couldn’t believe my eyes as I read the article my parents showed me.

Shouldn’t this guy be treated as a national threat? They say that the surrounding nations refuse to get involved with this mess. They weren’t targeted like we were after all.

Selfish bastards.

Another bizarre fact is that Aunt Kimberly is missing. Arielle’s sister Kenia is expected to become head of the household. Eric will take up a position of lord in one of their territories.

All I can say is that Kenia is a terrifying person. She even won against her older brother.

This means that Arielle already lost.

How must she feel about this?

“Oh, right. Where’s Arthur?”

It’s been so long since I’ve seen my best friend.

To my question, my parents had troubled expressions.

“Well, you’ll have to–“

“Clyde!!!!!!!”

A thunderous roar came from the castle gates. My entire body shook for some reason.

When I looked towards the entrance from my seat, I saw a silver haired beauty looking around the premises.

“W-Who’s that?”

Can such a beautiful woman exist? She beats Sadith in terms of pure beauty.

Our eyes then met.

My mother broke the silence.

“T-That’s Arthur…”

“Eh?”

‘Did I perhaps mishear?’

“Clyde!!!”

I blinked only once but then saw her right in front of me.

‘Ugh!’

Her arms were strangling my body.

She kept screaming my name as she rubbed her face in my hair.

‘W-What the hell!?’

It felt pointless to try and escape from her arms. How could a woman be this strong?

“…Clyde….”

She then held me at arms reach and looked into my eyes.

“!!!”

Before I knew it, her tongue insulted my throat wildly.

She kissed me as to not let me go.

“Ahem.”

A sharp cough came from my parents. The woman then released me with a red face. Her blue eyes looked like it’d be hearts if this was an anime.

“Introduce yourself… Properly…”

She let me go in a fluster. How idiotic must my expression look like?

“It’s me… Arthur…”

“Huh?” I stepped back with my hand on my mouth.

I just kissed a guy.

“W-Wait!”

This girl who calls herself my best friend, Arthur then grabbed me as I attempted to run away.

“It really is Arthur, dear.”

Mother had a wry smile on her face.

“…”

I sat down on the seat, awaiting an explanation.

◇◇◇

“The sword from that time?”

‘Artoria’ nodded.

Heaven Piercer. That sword was the cause of all this.

After the disaster happened, Arthur went up to the pillar in the academy that held the Heaven Piercer sword and took it out. She said that she didn’t really know why she did it. It’s just that she had a feeling that she must.

The result? Her unlocking her true form, as she calls it.

Arthur brought me to a secluded spot and began explaining to me.

“I’m Artoria, the last survivor of the Archangel race. The Valkyries.”

“What? Then how did that sword…”

“It’s the last known divine relic on the planet. Divinity is needed for us to take our true forms. And also, there’s something else I want to tell you.”

She took a deep breath and looked into my eyes. The wind blew so strong that I had to close my eyes.

“I’m…”, I opened my eyes. “I’m a Regressor. This is my eight time–Hey, d-don’t look at me like I’m insane…!”

Artoria had tears in her eyes and hit my chest.

“I’m sorry but this sounds ridiculous.”

“T-Then how do you explain how I knew that divinity would be able to gain my true form!?”

“Research? Or maybe requesting the Cardinal or the Pope to ask the goddess.”

“The goddess would never tell anyone where Divine relics are being kept! Plus, that sword’s output was so weak that the church didn’t notice its divinity. The sword was only treated as an artifact that the first king wielded.”

“Can you make any more sense?”

Artoria looked like she was about to cry.

‘Stop that. It invokes the sadistic nature within me if I see a beautiful girl cry.’

“But…”

I scratched my head.

“I believe you.”

“Huh? You do?”

“Yeah. A lot of crazy things happened after all. That guy that can cast God rank magic, the phenomena, my spirit core and mana core that coexist. And also…”

I hesitated if I should tell her.

“And also?”

“I met my future self.”

“Already?”

“What? You knew about this!?”

How long!? How long have I been brooding over this to tell someone else!?

“A-And I’m a reincarnated person–“

“I know that as well.”

“…”

Either she can read people’s minds or she really isn’t insane and is actually a Regressor.

“Do you believe me, Clyde?”

She held my hand.

I nodded to which she sighed in relief.

“So we were together in your previous lives…?”

“Y-Yes. We even had children together.”

I cringed.

“I had children with my childhood friend who is also male?”

“I wasn’t actually male, Clyde. There was a malfunction in the transmigration. I’m not really sure who keeps regressing me.”

“H-Huh? Then you’ve seen me naked…”

Artoria’s face flushed red.

“D-Don’t be embarrassed. Hey! Where are you going!?”

‘Embarrassment is not the issue here.’

I ran at full speed using wind magic. This is too much to process. A girl that was also my best friend who was a male saw me naked countless times.

Who wouldn’t feel overwhelmed by confusion?

Nonetheless, I ran away even as Artoria kept chasing me.