PHASE 97 - WE ARE NOT ALONE

“I’ll ask again, for the third and last time. Why are you two idiots here?”

Rikkun asked in a cold and lazy tone. He is resting his chin on his hand and squinted his eyes towards Asumi-nee and then to Jecchan.

Jecchan who appears to have calmed down from the bullying started to sip her newly-poured tea. After that, she finally talked.

“I have already told you before, you idiot. I want to visit old friends. I want to see how are you two doing.” Jecchan slightly paused and looked at the broken handcuffs on my wrists. “You guys look like you’re holding up, but it will not last any longer.”

“What do you mean?” Rikkun asked.

“The handcuffs. That thing seals any outflow of prana in a Cursed Guardian’s body. It’s a good thing that you did not remove it when you escaped. Make sure that it stays that way, or else this town will be removed from the map.”

“U-Uh, Jecchan…” I shyly raised my hand to grab her attention. I showed her the cracks on the handcuffs. “T-These things might not last any longer.”

“I know. I have a spare here, but I doubt it would seal your powers any longer. The curses inside you are becoming more powerful than we speak. If it managed to break that seal, it will easily break the other.” Jecchan said in a worried tone.

“So what should we do to purify Tiara?” Rikkun asked. “I doubt that ordinary purification methods will not work since she had a whole damn otherworldly planet inside her. If only she can spit Necross out...”

“No! Absolutely not!” Jecchan slammed the table as she immediately stood up. “If Tiara ejects Necross, this planet will be doomed! We must seal it at all costs!”

“So you’re saying that Tiara should stay cursed for the rest of her life!? Is that it!?” Rikkun angrily raised his voice as he stood up. “You said it yourself, didn’t you!? The curse will be unleashed anytime sooner!”

“C-Come on, guys… Don’t quarrel again…” I tried to become a mediator. Rikkun’s eyes are fiery mad, and Jecchan’s eyes are icy cold. I don’t think this will be a comedic quarrel once both of them explode.

“I may have something that might work.” Asumi-nee calmly sipped her tea. “...But it’s not guaranteed.”

All of our attention went to Asumi-nee who is busy drinking. After a few seconds, she stopped when she realized that we’re all focused on her. She pulled out a fingerless glove with a magical circle engraved on its palm and presented it on the table.

“I have traveled through different multiverses and discovered ancient magic that can negate and seal Necross. With this glove, I can perform the which will stay as long as the caster of the spell is alive.”

“Y-You’re a genius, Asumi-nee!” I clapped my hands jollily. However, unlike her usual narcissistic expression whenever we praise her intellect, she remained serious. I immediately removed my happy face to wait for her finish.

“This is only designed to seal Necross though. I don’t know if it can seal the Evil God Cores and the Curse of the Brightmore Witch. I think you also have the Curse of Aeternos within you since you used to absorb Alaric’s sins. This is way more complicated than that last time when you fought Shirayuki.”

"I will take it.” I immediately answered. I clenched my fists and put it beside my chest. “If that is the only way to seal the evil inside me, then so be it. With determination, I refuse to give up!”

With my short, boring, and awkward speech, Rikkun, Jecchan, and Asumi-nee looked at me with a smile. Their faces brightened when they saw me talking with full of hope and promise. Of course, I will never let them down. I will defeat all the curses inside my heart and return to my normal life!

“Then let’s do this!” Asumi-nee cried.

<>

To conduct the sealing ritual, we have to do it in a place full of prana. There is a small altar at the very back of the Brightmore Shrine (Soon to be Hikari Shrine) that is near a small waterfall that came from the higher part of the mountain. The altar is surrounded by wooden shrine gates and at the center is the altar bell.

Asumi-nee drew a magical circle beside the altar and instructed me to sit. I started to breathe slowly to clear my mind and focus on peaceful thoughts as the three readied their roles in this ceremony.

“Alaric, use immediately after I remove the handcuffs. You can stop using that spell once I have replaced the cuffs with a new one.”

“Roger that. Ready when you are.” Rikkun said as he encased his head with his mechanical Aether Armor helmet. He pointed his hand to me and then adjusted his buttocks.

“Ready?” Jecchan asked. “At the count of three! One… two… three!”

In an instant, Jecchan swiped her sword to destroy the handcuffs on my wrist. As soon as the handcuffs were destroyed, I felt a pleasurable pain inside my heart. My mind immediately shifted to evil thoughts.

KILL KILL KILL

Ten black tails immediately spawned from my back. Dark sparkling dust started to engulf my body as I lost control of the curse once again.

“!!!” Rikkun shouted. Each of his fingers unleashed golden astral chains that bound my arm, feet, neck, waist, wrist, and thigh.

“Kyah!” I instinctively cried in pain. The chains are tight, but not that excruciating. Now I feel numb all over my body.

“Ohoho! That’s a good cry, my adorable Tiara~” Asumi-nee teased. “Maybe Alaric will get this idea and try BDSM with you~”

“R-Rikkun is Christian, and he’s not willing to switch religions…” I said while enduring the pain with a smile on my face. “He’s not interested in Buddhism.”

“Idiot, what are you talking about?” Rikkun coldly commented. “BDSM is not an acronym for Buddhism, you perverted pup!”

“Cut the idle chatter! We’re in the middle of a sealing ritual!” Jecchan angrily scolded us all as she installed wristbands to my arm that functions the same as the sealing handcuffs. As soon as Jecchan locked the wristbands, the black tails from my back started to shrink until it disappeared.

When my black tails are no more, Rikkun dispelled his , removing the restraints in my body. I can now breathe normally but the whispers inside of my head continued.

KILL KILL KILL

“Get ready, my adorable kawaii-hime Tiara!” Asumi-nee cried as she revealed the fingerless gloves equipped on her right hand. With a swift blow, she struck my heart with her palm that contains the magical !

I did not utter any weird sound, but it sure is painful. The magical circle on my feet glowed golden as sparks fly around me. I whited out in an instant.

<>

The afternoon sunlight shoved upon my face. I can hear the crows crying as they fly towards the higher part of the forests. When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar wooden ceiling that was tinted with orange light. On my left is a window that shows a beautiful view of the mountains.

I seem to have passed out during the sealing ritual. I’m lying on my comfortable bed and I feel like sleeping until morning.

When I turned to my right, I finally saw Rikkun who is very much relieved. “Tiara…”

“Rikkun…” I weakly made a smile. I feel exhausted as if all energy has been drained from me. “How did it go?”

“It went well. Necross has now been sealed, and there are no signs of the evil curses.” Rikkun said.

“That’s wonderful…” I softly cried. “...Where’s Jecchan and Asumi-nee?”

“They are waiting at the hall,” Rikkun answered. “Can you stand?”

“Yeah.”

I forced myself to go back to my feet. I have to thank Jecchan and Asumi-nee for what they have done to me. I feel very weak, but I can still stand on my own. Rikkun helped me walk so that I won’t trip myself. I’m very much clumsier when I’m exhausted, so I’m happy that my lover assisted me.

We rendezvous with Asumi-nee and Jecchan, not in the hall but in the corridors. They seem to be readying to exit the place when we had a crossroads.

“Oh, Tiara! You’re awake!” Jecchan and Asumi-nee cheered.

“Y-Yeah. Thank you for helping me.” I bowed.

“Don’t thank us. We are just doing what is right.” Jecchan said.

“Wait, are you guys going home already?” Rikkun asked.

“Yeah… Well, I have something to attend to the shrine.” Asumi-nee scratched her blushing cheeks. “I’ve been out for so long that I have to let them know that I’m back.”

“Same goes for me,” Jecchan answered with a smile. “The Black Cross will get suspicious if I have been out for more time than I should be. I have to return and tell them that Brightmore Town is Alaric-and-Tiara-free.”

“Thanks.” Rikkun turned away with a blushing face. “I thought you betrayed us, but you seem to be helping us more than ever. I’m wrong about you. I’m sorry.”

“Hohoho~” Jecchan sassily laughed. “Of course, I will always be on your side. If there’s a traitor among us, it’s you! You hurt us a lot, especially Helena!”

“Ah!” Rikkun was struck by an imaginary spear on his heart. He then transformed into an apologetic puppy as he begged. “Please tell Helena that I’m sorry about what I did to her and Heushac. I know that she might not forgive me-”

“Don’t worry. Helena understood.” Jecchan said with an assuring smile as she walked towards the exit with Asumi-nee. That silenced Rikkun for a long time.

Jecchan immediately transformed into Rainbow Freya, and Asumi-nee transformed into Lord Haliya. Before they could take off the ground and fly towards their destination, they waved their hands at us.

“Bye-bye Tiara! Bye-bye, Alaric! See you again soon!” Lord Haliya cheerfully shouted.

“We’ll be visiting you frequently, so don’t think that you’re all alone!” Rainbow Freya jollily said.

“Yeah! See you next time! Bye!” Rikkun and I said.

And then, the two goddesses took off and soared in the air, leaving nothing but rainbow trails and silver streaks on their path. It felt good to have allies on our side even though the world has turned against us. It feels like Rikkun and I are not really alone.

At last, the curses inside my heart has been sealed. Our story will now close to a peaceful happy ending.

…

…

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...Or so we thought.