Kays Translations

Chapter 25- A cage of time.

Sarah could immediately tell from the way Licia was staring at Ren with her eyes.

Without asking too many details, she began to talk about how Licia and Ren usually behave.

“Vane called me Riohard-sama at first, and even his tone of voice was an unfamiliar honorific.”

“When did that change?”

“Do you remember the story of how Vane saved me? After that.”

As Licia could recall, Sarah had said that when they had met again at Elendil. Thinking back to those days, Licia listened to the story and was surprised at how quickly it had happened.

“…… He stopped suddenly or something?”

“Rather than that, it’s because I told him to stop.”

Shocked, Licia blinked repeatedly, her eyes darting.

Sarah, whose eyes were directed at her, immediately laughed. Licia’s usually dignified appearance was so cute that she couldn’t stop her cheeks from loosening.

Licia, on the other hand, questions the reply she just heard.

“Ho, are you sure that’s all?”

“Yes.”

“…… That’s a lie.”

“I’m serious. That’s all there is to it.”

Sarah was aware that she had given a rough explanation, but since that was in fact the case, there was no other way to explain it.

However, she knew that Licia was asking for advice in a serious manner,

“People have different relationships with each other. It doesn’t really matter what I did, does it? Licia is Licia, and that’s fine.”

Sarah was not consoling her, but only being sincere.

She didn’t say that his example was right, but he did say that Licia and Ren’s relationship is that of just the two of them.

She said that Licia’s feelings were understandable to her, but she prefaced her words.

“I wonder if that’s true.”

“How about asking Ren again? You guys can have a slow conversation after the Lion’s King’s Festival is over.”

“Yes…. I’ll try that.”

Licia nodded her head honestly, and Sarah patted her on the head.

Suddenly, it was Sarah who asked a sudden question.

“I mean, Roses Caitas was sudden, you asked to meet in a hurry. Did something happen?”

It was during the previous holiday weekend, when Ren and Licia went out to Elendil together.

Licia told her about meeting and talking with Nemu Altia. When Sarah heard what they talked about, she put her hand on her forehead and sighed “Nemu is the same as ever,” she muttered.

And then,

“Nn! Did you call my name!?”

They didn’t know how long she had been nearby, but the next thing they knew, Nemu is by their side.

“W-When did you come here! Nemu!”

“Sarah, it’s been a while.”

“Ping-pong, ping-pong! Licia-chan, you are so right!”

Sarah, who was called from behind, turned around in a hurry, but Licia didn’t.

“So, why were you talking about me?”

“I was just talking to Sarah about the amazing magical tools that you make.”

“Hmph! I see! You were complimenting me, weren’t you? I’m so happy!”

Nemu then leaves their side without hesitation. She folded her hands behind her back and went away with light steps. Nemu didn’t have any particular business with them, but simply called out to them because she saw them.

After seeing Nemu off, Sarah looked at Licia’s face.

“In the meantime, how about talking to Ren after the Great Festival of the Lion King?”

We had been talking about this before Nemu arrived.

Licia felt that they could talk about how to call her by her name at any time, but since Ren and Licia are both busy with the Lion King Festival right now, She couldn’t say that she would talk to him today, even if she wanted to.

Licia answered simply, “Yes, I will,” and then thanked Sarah.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Ren, Licia, and Fiona were in the Dean’s office.

It was Klonoa’s idea to treat the committee members to a lunch break, but unfortunately, Radius was absent from the institute due to his official duties. Mirei, who was accompanying him, also did not come to the school today.

About thirty minutes after the four of them started enjoying lunch.

When Ren made tea for the three of them, and they all spent time talking after dinner.

Licia mentioned what she and Sarah had talked about. Of course, it was not about Ren calling her “Sama”

That’s for another time. It’s just about finding the right timing.

“Klonoa-sama, how strong is the seal of Roses Caitas?”

“What? Roses Caitas?”

When Licia told her why, Klonoa muttered, “Hmmm, so that’s why”.

Then, hearing those words, Ren and Fiona both nodded.

“I’m curious too.”

“Me too. If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear about it.”

“Yes, that’s fine. Okay, let’s see —-.”

The three asked her to tell them about and Klonoa pulled out a wand from the pocket of her robe. With a wave of her wand on the table, several spheres of water were created, which quickly became one. When she waved her wand again, the water changed shape and formed a mountain on the table.

It was like a model of water.

“I’ll walk you through it step by step, so just watch.”

The mountain made of the water model was gouged out, creating a huge open space. Numerous statues were placed in a row, and the mountain path leading to them was projected into everyone’s field of vision.

Roses Caitas and the mountain where it is located appeared three-dimensionally through Klonoa’s magic.

“This place, lined with large statues of gods, was the sanctuary that pilgrims sought in the old days. But as you three know, most of the statues were broken by the attack of the Demon King army.”

A number of statues lined up, a mass of water in the shape of Roses Caitas, began to crumble.

At the time, the Leomel Army and the Elfen Church cooperated to fight the Demon King’s Army, but the Demon King’s Army, which had advanced as far as the Imperial Capital, was very strong. Leomel, which was the world’s largest military nation, was forced to fight an uphill battle, and the army it dispatched was decimated.

The Demon King’s army was also greatly reduced in number, and the deadly battle ended with the sealing of the entire Roses Caitas.

“—- like this.”

When Klonoa waved her staff, a wall of water covering the water model was created. The wall of water rippled finely on the surface, hiding most of Roses Caitus. Like the thick fog they hear about.

“According to the records, the Elfen religion took the lead in the sealing, preparing a relic that contained the power of the goddess of time.”

It took time to seal Roses Caitas using the relic.

Many of the Elfen religion, as well as those from Leomel who protected them, lost their lives when they set up a magic circle at the site.

But thanks to their efforts, the seal surrounding Roses Caitas was completed.

Most of the demon king’s army was sealed inside it.

“Does that mean the Demon King’s army will be freed once the seal is broken?”

“I’m curious too. If they’re only sealed inside, it seems dangerous if the seal is broken in any way.”

Fiona and Licia asked.

It is not unreasonable to ask that question based on what was just said. But Klonoa immediately shook her head.

Their question is valid,

“The Elfen religion say it’s not possible. The seal is called the “Cage of Time,” I believe, but it is so powerful that the Demon Army cannot be alive inside it.”

As the name suggests, the seal is separated from time both inside and outside. Inside the seal is a mysterious space where time has stopped, filled with holy magic power. The power of the goddess of time is firmly exerted, as it is using a holy relic in which the power of the goddess of time dwells.

Therefore, as Klonoa said, the potency is tremendous.

Although time has stopped inside, only the holy magic power is working to continue to purify the inside of the seal.

No doubt, the demon king’s army has no equipment or even bones left.

Everything, without exception, will have been purified by the holy power —-.

“I wanted to look more closely into the seal of Roses Caitas, so I did some things while I was at the Silver Sacred Palace of Nodias.”

“Oh, by the way, Klonoa-san, you were in the Holy Land until last year, weren’t you?”

“Yes!—- but after all that hard work, they wouldn’t let me read a single book in the stacks. ……”

“Is it because it’s a rare book or something?”

“I think that’s part of it,……, but I think the fact that I’m not a member of the Elfen religion was more of a factor. I guess I knew what to expect to a certain extent, so I guess it couldn’t be helped.”

Klonoa understood the situation of the Holy Land and the Elfen religion without uttering a single word of resentment.

The management of the sacred relics and many other precious books would be strictly controlled.

(It must have been hard work…)

Ren was now thinking about the expression on Klonoa’s face when she cleaned the executive committee members’ room. Thinking of the hardship she must have gone through at that time, he turned his kind, comforting eyes on Klonoa.

She notices the look in Ren’s eyes and says, a little puzzled.

“Ren-kun? What’s wrong with you suddenly looking at me with such kind eyes?”

“No, I just thought that you seem to be having a hard time every day.”

“Exactly! That’s why I can’t tell you how important it is for me to have time to talk with you guys like this: ……!”

With another wave of her wand, the water on the table turned to mist from its edges and quickly vanished from the tabletop.

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