A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

Chapter 259: The Girl in Birdcage

The girl drugged her with the intention of killing her, the girl’s face contorted as if in fright.

That she didn’t feel angry or sad was a surprise even to herself

She was just, surprised, and――\'ah, it’s ending’, she thought.

She just comforted the tearful girl, thinking that she had made the girl do something bad, that she had made the girl suffer.

The girl showed Bery tears that was as beautiful as the girl’s older sister’s.

Distorting her beauty that was like a work of art, and pressing it against Berry’s chest.

She didn’t think she was worth that much.

But their faces, their tears, were like rainbow-colored gems――as if to show that Bery was worth that much, they sold themselves off just like that.

Though both sisters were smarter than anyone else, they were hopeless at business.

Taking such beautiful things from them felt like fraud.

She who deceived these pure girls was exactly their opposite, impure.

Tainting, clouding the world’s most brilliant, pure gemstone, without end to her greed.

Even their sadness, their pain――even that seemed dear.

Or maybe that was just what it is to be a human.

Smiling at the stubborn girl’s kiss.

Wondering what to call that sensation.

There was no feeling of being killed, no feeling of dying.

‘ah, it’s ending’, just that.

Even though she felt had done something wrong, what she felt in her heart wasn’t guilt, it was a fulfilled feeling.

Even still, she was greedy to the core.

She wanted to love the grieving girl until she forgot about grief, she wanted to wait for the girl who had just departed to return .

She felt that the girl shouldn’t have to cry alone in her absence.

Those tears were meant for her, and it was not anyone else but Bery’s role to accept and comfort them.

She was sinful and greedy to the core.

Self-righteous affection, like keeping a lovely little bird in a cage.

Having wings that could fly freely anywhere, yet forgetting the freedom outside the window, just flitting around loving the small world, rubbing their body against her hand while resting their wings.

Ending must surely not be a bad thing, she thought.

She had repeated enough days of happiness.

Days of fulfillment continued.

Precisely because she thought it would be wonderful if it continued forever that it should end.

Otherwise, there would be no end.

――Trapping the girls in an eternal birdcage.

Her body didn’t move.

Naturally, she was dead after all, she thought, but it felt unnatural.

The sensation of the sheets touching her naked body.

Feeling a dense magic, she moved, exploring every corner of her body, opening her eyes.

Her strength was gone, and her body was terribly difficult to move.

However, the magic power seemed to be much more familiar than before, and she was able to manipulate all of her body like a puppet.

She could see the red canopy of the bed above her and looked around.

“...Krische-sama’s room”

In the spacious room were sofas, tables――a red carpet.

A shelf with underwear and a shelf with accessories with three costumes for three 3 people lined up the wall.

The arrangement was almost the same, with only slight changes in the potted plants.

“Why am I dressed like this?”

Blushing and hiding her body, her breasts were squeezed.

She tilted her head in her naked appearance——she noticed a sense of incongruity.

“...?”

It was a little more plump than in her memory.

Lately, she had mostly been on the bed. Her skin had become pale due to chronic anemia, and her body had become a bit haggard.

It’s so unhealthy that she herself could tell, but now it was different.

Thinking of it, she noticed that she had no severe pain all over her body, no nausea or headaches.

Putting on slippers and getting out of bed, she stood in front of the mirror, still hiding her body.

Her body looked healthy, clearly different from before.

She stared at herself in the mirror for a while, feeling strangely embarrassed, then turned to the wardrobe.

For the time being, she opened the shelves to search for something to wear and felt relieved to see there were clothes inside.

She picked up a nightgown for a moment――but reconsidered seeing as she was in a good shape, she wore the familiar garter belt, and underwear and socks.

Then she put on an apron dress from the wardrobe, tilting her head.

Bery didn’t have that many clothes.

There was only one black-blue dress on a hanger, and the rest was mostly spare apron dresses.

There were also a few casual dresses that she rarely wore.

The large wardrobe was empty, and that space was reserved for Krische’s apron dress, but the number seemed to have increased compared to what she remembered.

She closed the wardrobe and opened Krische’s wardrobe that was next to it.

The number of dresses hadn’t changed much, but there were a few more clothes――when she turned her eyes next to it, she frowned.

Upon closer inspection, there was a new wardrobe placed there, and inside were elegant dresses that seemed to belong to Kreschenta, which she had never seen before.

Frowning, she looked at their underwear shelf.

Both Krische’s and Kreschenta’s underwear seemed to have increased noticeably.

“this is……”

Puzzled, she stepped back and cautiously opened the balcony door.

There was a forest outside.

Looking up at the sky from the balcony, she could see a tall blue tree covering the heaven to the north.

Shimmering rainbow-colored petals and magic power dancing with the wind.

As she gazed at it in amazement, ‘Gururu’, a familiar sound, caught her attention/

“Somehow, it looks like it’s getting even bigger ...”

The already large Gururun seemed to have grown even larger by a size or two, or perhaps even more.

Feeling only confusion in her mind, the Suiko gazed at her and then looked down at the familiar sight below.

‘Gururu’, the Suiko groaned, then lay down sideways, curling its long tail and pointing it at its belly.

It was a signal that she wanted to be bruised.

“Ah, I’ll do it later...”

Whether it understands or not, the Suiko groaned, and made another yawn.

Watching the Suiko like that, she gazed at the forest and the towering trees, and down below, wondering what was going on..

The small orchard that Bery tended was also there.

Entering the room from the balcony, she took a deep breath.

She wondered if this place was like the other world, but she saw a familiar face.

Although she was relieved, the mystery only deepened.

She checked the sensation in her hands and pinched her cheek.

The pain was there.

Her body was warm, and there was no uncertainty.

It felt a little strange that it was extremely difficult to move the body without using magic, but it wasn’t so much that she would say it was a struggle.

As someone who hadn’t relied on physical strength in her daily life, Bery found a certain comfort in finding her strength unchanged.

It was originally meant to move her frail body, so she was used to it to some extent.

“Half-spiritual…”

It was something like matter, but not quite. It filled the gap between magic and reality.

Perhaps the body had a similar nature.

Now magic power felt much more familiar than before.

Not only her own, but also the magic around her——when she tried to carve the lines of magic into the sky, she could control it without resistance.

‘――People do have souls’

Remembering the words of her beloved girl, she opened her eyes.

‘If this wasn’t the afterlife then’, she left the room and immediately went downstairs.

She opened the kitchen door.

“Hg...”

But the girl was nowhere to be seen, and her shoulders slumped.

She walked over to where she usually sat next to the girl, looked at the seasonings, and looked at the cooking utensils.

The arrangement was the same as before――thinking back, it seemed like it had been a long time since she last entered here.

There were days when she felt well enough to come, but towards the end, she had been lying in bed all the time.

The cooking utensils had been carefully polished to a shine.

Although signs of aging could be seen, they seemed to have been treated with great care.

Looking at the knife, it seemed much thinner, but the blade hadn’t been damaged.

It was Bery’s favorite——the knife she received from her sister, it seemed to be the only one that had not been used since she last saw it.

However, it was not covered in dust and had been carefully maintained.

“...Why are you walking around so calmly?”

“Huh…?”

When she looked back, she saw graceful golden hair.

Wearing only underwear and a white negligee, which was rare for the girl, the beautiful girl leaned against the wall next to the entrance, glaring at her.

“Ah, my apologies. I was feeling strangely well...”

She looked at Berry with an exasperated expression, struggling to stand, then leaned against the wall.

Bery immediately ran up to her and put her hand on her forehead.

“Ojou-sama, how are you feeling…?”

Selene frowned, glared at Berry, and said with annoyance.

“You, don’t you find it difficult to move your body?”

“Huh? Ah...somewhat. But I’ve more or less gotten the hang of it...”

“...You and those two idiots, why are you guys doing better than me who have been struggling even after practicing a little?”

Saying so resentful, she continued.

“...It’s just that it’s hard to move my body. I’ve gone from a dying old woman to this kind of body, there’s no problem with my health.”

“old woman…?”

Berry looked more and more confused.

Selene, on the other hand, suddenly smiled――her face contorted just a little.

She then slumped over and hugged Bery, burying her face in Bery’s chest.

“...For you, it may have been yesterday or the day before yesterday. But for me, it’s been decades.”

Berry stared at her with wide eyes as she hugged her.

Then she looked around and remembered the imagination she had earlier.

“There are so many things I want to say to you, from complaints to grudges...but for now,”

Selene pulled away from her a little, wiped her eyes, and smiled.

“I’ve always wanted to meet you. …Welcome back, Berry.”

Bery stared at her for a moment, dumbfounded, then closed her eyes and nodded.

“...Yes, Ojou-sama.”

She replied with her usual smile and gently patted the girl, who was taller than her, on the head.

Selene narrowed her eyes at the touch and burst into laughter.

“I told you, it’s been decades. I’m much older than you, Bery. Can you please stop treating me like a child?”

“My, but as I have always said...no matter how old you are, to me, Ojou-sama will always be Ojou-sama.”

‘Besides Ojou-sama still looks the same’, Bery said as she stroked her cheek and leaned up to kiss her forehead.

Seeing that, Serene blushed slightly and turned her eyes away, feeling incredulous.

“Still full of sophistry as always, aren’t you? ...I wonder if something can really be done about it.”

“Hehe, even if you say that, Ojou-sama, you are still the same even though you say that decades have passed.”

“If you keep making fun of me, you’ll regret it. Now everyone here is older than you――”

“――Argan-sama!”

As the voice echoed beyond the door, two maids in negligee, with black hair, emerged from the corridor.

One of them dashed forward, her untidy black hair swaying, but she slipped and fell into the hallway.

“A-Anne-sama...”

Bert rushed to Anne’s side, and lifted her up. Abne, holding her forehead, teared up as she looked at Berry.

She then smiled happily.

“...Thank goodness. The fact that Argan-sama is here means that things went well.”

“Went well…”

“...Anne. I know you’re happy, but I told you not to run until you get used to it right.”

Selene said with a sigh, and Anne shyly said ‘my apologies’.

When Bery turned to Elvena, she was wiping the corner of her eyes while smiling bitterly at Anne’s appearance, and bowed deeply to Bery, greeting her with a ‘welcome back’.

“Fufu, Bery, do you want me to explain what happened? If you lowered your head obediently and said ‘please give this naive one a guidance;, I might consider explaining.”

“...You say such mean things, Ojou-sama.”

She said with a wry smile.

Just as she was about to ask about the situation, a new shadow came down the stairs.

It was Lira Shalana who gingerly climbed down, her dark hair long and her tanned naked body wrapped in a pure white sheet.

“L-Lira-sama, that attire...”

“...I’m sorry. Um, I didn’t have anything to wear...so I borrowed something from the room without permission...”

Though she said so with a seemingly troubled look, there was no particular sign of embarrassment.

She looked at Bery and she smiled as she felt relieved.

Lira didn’t seem to be inconvenienced just by wrapping a sheet around her naked body, but it seems even she thought that kind of appearance was problematic.

In terms of physique and shape, she was close to Bery.

Returning to the room, Bery handed over underwear that hadn’t been used yet and helped Lira put on a dress. During this process, Lira started lightly discussing the situation, and Bery listened as Elvena provided further explanations.

It seemed that Selene, who had been considering using the situation as leverage, reluctantly gave up and provided additional details.

Elvena further elaborated on the situation.

With just that, Bery was able to understand the current situation to some extent.

Magic power exists from the beginning, overlapping in different phases.

It seems that the Clichés filled the world with enormous magical power from a place called the Origin, and created a new world in a different phase so as to overlap with the original world.

Selene and the others didn’t fully understand the details, but Elvena, who personally studied magic and was taught by Krische and Kreschenta, explained it clearly, and any question Bery had quickly disappeared.

Bery had learned a lot about magic on her own, and had learned various things from Krische, including the nature of magic.

Both of them were academics ―― the conversation started to get deeper into the details, but Selene cleared her throat.

“...Let’s leave those details for later. Do you understand the general situation?”

“Y-yes... for the most part. In other words, a semi-spiritual body was created as a vessel for my soul. That’s why it’s so hard to move my body...”

“Maybe. Personally, I don’t really feel anything other than feeling younger.”

Selene said while looking at her palm, and her eyebrows furrowed as if she felt something strange about it.

Anne also frowned and poured the tea with her hands shaking as her body was still unaccustomed to it, while Elvena helped while looking a little anxious.

Bery asked while looking at them.

“…But, is it really fine?”

Without specifying anything.

However, Selene glared at Berry as if she understood.

“Are you the one to say that? Of course, everyone except you has spent a lot of time thinking about it before deciding. How many years do you think it’s been?”

“……yes”

“I knew it, but you’re making me hate you even more. You’re the only idiot who could say as soon as you woke up, that you’re happy to be with Krische-sama forever, you idiot.”

“Uuu…”

Selene stood up from her chair, pinched Berry’s cheek, and pulled on it.

“Well, there are different circumstances for each of us, including Lira-sama who wants to serve Yagernaus-sama from now on, but we’re all here after thinking about a lot of things and being prepared for everything, we decided to go along with that idiot....I’m telling you, but that’s a very rude thought, Bery.’’

“…My apologies

Selene sat down and drank the tea that Arne had made, and the other three smiled bitterly.

Berry bowed her head to the three of them, and Anne said ‘it’s fine’ in a panic.

“I am grateful for Argan-sama’s concern…Actually, I am here without thinking too much about it, so it can’t be helped to feel anxious.”

“That kind of thing...”

“However, without thinking too much about it, I have decided that my home is this mansion, and that I will serve you all under my beloved Argan-sama, and I have sworn to this name. That has not changed.”

Anne continued to smile.

“So, don’t worry. Even someone like me believes that this place will fulfill my wishes. Others have thought about it more seriously and decided on it. ...There is nothing that Argan-sama should feel anxious about.’’

“...Yes. Still, I said something rude without thinking.”

What they sought was eternal happiness.

That was the world they were in now.

But they were all here knowing that as well.

It would be rude to question their determination.

At the same time, she was very grateful.

“...Thank you very much.”

“It’s fine, really.”

Selene said with a dissatisfied look, and the three smiled.

Seeing this, Bery closed her eyes.

——This must be the most foolish birdcage in the world.

They were here understanding that.

Because they thought this small world was precious from the bottom of their hearts, they were here.

She didn’t think she had ever been happier.

Bery’s dream of paradise was by no means just Bery’s.

Everyone here wishes for a peaceful life there――that was why they were here.

And those two girls too.

“What’s wrong?”

She suddenly turned my attention to the wall of the room facing the front door of the mansion.

For some reason, she thought that they had come back and smiled.

“...I think Krische-sama and the others will be here soon.”

“... Is that some kind of magic or something?”

“No...it’s just a hunch.”

“You...”

Selene glared at Bery exasperated, then sighed and stood up.

“...trying to act cool, and if you’re wrong, I’ll make a big fool of you.”

“Fufu, yes.”

Seeing her smile Selene frowned, and Bery suddenly turn her attention to the top of the shelf.

There was a small bag in there.

It felt unnaturally nothing inside, as if the dense magical energy around was avoiding it.

Without even looking at the contents of the bag, she took it and opened the door, saying, “Shall we go?”

As Bery and the others opened the front door of the mansion, no one was there.

Selen glared, saying, ‘what an idiot’, while Bery smiled wryly in response.

The forest spread out before them, strangely reminiscent of a fairy tale.

Although it should be dense and overgrown, the air somehow felt soft.

As they gazed around, a low growl could be heard.

The Suiko, approaching with a yawn, glanced at Berry and, upon her nod, strode forward――into the depths of the forest.

Selene, who was standing beside her, furrowed her brow at the interaction, and Anne and the others behind wore similarly puzzled expressions as they looked at Berry.

Then, a while after the Suiko left, from the forest,

“Come on, stop throwing a tantrum. Look, even Gururun is telling Kreschenta to go too.”

That voice echoed.

Selene’s cheeks twitched and she looked at Berry suspiciously.

“...You’re weird sometimes. Maybe you’re crazy?”

“Is that so

Bery giggled and she smiled as she stepped forward.

It wasn’t long before two girls appeared from the forest with a Suiko.

Golden hair sparkling with red――Kreschenta who was looking down.

Silver-haired Krische who was pulling her sister’s hand with both of her hands, her back toward them.

Passing through the bushes, the two girls in negligee made their way to Bery and the others.

Then, Krische suddenly stopped, turned her gaze, and froze.

Her younger sister also noticed her older sister’s behavior and looked up, then she saw Bery and immediately lowered her face.

As a gentle breeze blew, there were no words

Bery simply gazed at Krische, and Krische simply gazed at Bery.

Krische moved her lips as if to say something, her gaze swimming around.

“Ah, uh, Bery...uh, Krische, without even listening to Bery’s wishes...”

Krische let go of her younger sister and bowed her head, saying sorry.

Bery stepped forward a little.

Krische stiffened, but kept her head down.

Looking at her like that, Bery chuckle.

“Krische-sama sure did something terrible.”

“Hg...”

As she spoke, Krische stiffened even more.

Bery continued as she approached Krische.

“What a big mistake. Krische-sama has wasted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“Eh...?”

“That was truly Krische-sama\\s first and last opportunity.”

Approaching her, Bery placed a small bag in Krische’s palm.

The surprised girl looked up at Bery with her purple eyes.

Then she looked at the small bag and took out a candy from it.

Melting the time-stopped gem with magical light and taking it out.

She held a deep honey colored candy between her fingers.

“……, umm”

Then, with a look of trepidation, she pressed it to the servant’s lips.

The servant took it into her mouth and smiled.

“Do you understand? …Krische-sama has missed her last chance to escape from me, who is more persistent than anyone.”

“ah……”

Bery cupped her cheeks with her hands.

“What a bad person...but it’s already too late. I won’t let you go forever, and no matter what you say, Krische-sama won’t be able to escape from me.”

―― Forever and ever.

Continuing, Bery pressed her lips to Krische’s, gazing into the jewel-like purple eyes that were wide open.

As if savoring the sensation, she lingered a little longer.

So much so that even when she let go, the sensation remained.

“...Welcome back, Krische-sama.”

As she said that, the girl’s body trembled, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes, dripping down her cheeks.

Distorting her beautiful voice, she said, ‘Krische’s back, Bery’, pressing her face against Bery’s chest.

Her small, delicate body trembled as she let out a sob.

Bery gently stroked her head and rubbed her cheek.

Selene and the others who were watching from behind her also looked at them with wry smiles.

Only Lira, who didn’t know their relationship, looked at them in astonishment.

And behind Krische――next to the big Suiko, the girl was looking down, playing with her fingers uncomfortably, and covering her eyes with her graceful hair.

Bery turned her attention to the girl, who was standing there idly.

The startled girl noticing the gaze, trembled, and the hugged girl Bery hugged sniffled her nose, wiping her eyes with her sleeves as she moved away.

Approaching her little sister, she lifted her hips from behind and, ignoring the girl who was wriggling, came in front of Berry.

“Kreschenta”

Even when Krische called out to her, she didn’t look up, looking confused.

Just playing with her fingers and shaking her hair.

Berry chuckled and reached out, sliding her fingers through the smooth hair, caressing her cheek.

“You probably thought we would never see each other again because of that, but it’s a shame. ...There’s no escaping anymore.”

Saying that Bery tilted her head slightly in thought.

She then laughed and said,

“...I’m back, Kreschenta-sama.”

The girl looked up, her eyes still red, staring blankly at Bery――and then, a moment later, she scrunched up her beautiful face.

Then, just like her older sister, she pressed her face against Bery’s chest.

“...Welcome back, Bery.”

When she replied, her body trembled silently.

Berry wrapped her arms around her and then looked at the girl’s older sister who was watching them,

Krische smiled happily, wiping away the still overflowing tears, and gently stroking her little sister’s head.

Arne seemed relieved from the bottom of her heart, had tears welling up again, and she wiped them with her fingers, and Elvena handed her a handkerchief she had secretly prepared.

Selene smiled wryly, patting Arne’s head, saying, “idiot, with tears in her eyes.

Even Lira, who was surprised by the two kissing, finally understood that such relationships were normal in the kingdom, and she smiled with tears in her eyes..

“Fufu, I was thinking of keeping it a secret because of Kreschenta-sama’s stubbornness, but Kreschenta-sama’s embarrassing side has now become public knowledge.”

“...hg”

Hearing Bery’s cheerful words, Kreschenta’s shoulder trembled.

“...Every time Crescenta-sama says something stupid from now on, about today ―― “

And then, she silenced Bery, who was about to speak, with her lips.

Staring at Berry with wide eyes, she pressed her lips against hers, then weakly shook her gaze and pressed her face against her chest again.

‘Shut up’ she said in a small voice, then stiffened as she looked at those watching.

Selene, twitching her eyebrows, her cheeks stiff, asked the servant

“Um, Bery, you... didn’t secretly make advances on Kreschenta while pretending to be bedridden and suffering, right?”

“Um… no, that kind of thing… um, this is…”

“Oh, do you have any excuse? While we were worried, were you unexpectedly having a lot of fun by yourself.”

‘I’m really curious’, Selene said as she approached Berry.

Bery’s eyes swam around, wondering what to do.

Kreschenta, who was hugging Bery, pressed her face to Bery’s chest as if to say, ‘served you right’.

Krische stared at them and looked at the mansion.

The happiness that the girl sought and desired was still here.

She closed eyes as if to capture everything in her gaze.

And slowly opened them to gaze into the eternal future.

Everything she desired was here.

“...Ehehe”

――And the girl just smiled happily.