Zero no Tsukaima Volume 21 Cliffhanger
Warning – Spoilers be ahead!
I don't know if anyone was like me, but when the last chapter was released on bakatsuki I couldn't get it out of my head. When the start of vol 22 finally go translated I was disappointed by the lack of imagination and detail, and the reactions of the characters. It was dumbed down to avoid readers not being able to understand the story, sure Saito isn't much of an intellectual, but I still expected more from someone with access to the early internet. I was pretty into string theory and multiverse theory back then. So, I decided why not switch out the scenes? For the first chapter I'll just include the epilogue, I'll add the start of V22 in the second and I'll put a different personality for each variation of Saito afterwards. I'm lazy so don't expect me to update often.
End of Vol21 Epilogue
After everyone came out of the water, the sound of a moving monster, about the size of a dragon, came from the depths of the cave.
"Saito, what is that sound?"
"Oh, it may be..."
When Saito was about to speak.
"Really, what's up? Recently it's been really noisy."
Swelling, swelling... A roar like an earthquake issued forth, and a huge 'water dragon' appeared before everybody, with a full length of fifteen feet.
"Mon-monster..."
The scared Henrietta quickly hid behind Saito.
"Oh, actually calling me a monster to my face... this girl is really rude, careful or I'll eat you up."
"The water dragon spoke!"
Louise was shocked.
"Of course it speaks, it is the 'Mother of the Sea' that lives here.
"Oh, you guys returned?"
Mother Sea overlooked everybody, as well as moved around to size everybody up.
"Bringing back so many barbarians and elves, what did you come to do this time?"
"Sorry, we don't intend to destroy your nest."
Saito said.
"But there's something that I want to let them see. Can you lead us to the place where the 'weapons' from another world accumulate?"
"What do you want to do in that place?"
"This matter is very important, related to the lives of our companions."
Seeing Saito's serious look, Mother Sea seemed to feel some kind of imminent crisis.
"I know, come with me."
Mother Sea's slowly swaying dorsal fin advanced to the depths of the cave.
In the depths, there was a cave full of seawater, with a diameter of about twenty feet. There were many large and small caves in this rock, which were like an ant's nest.
They traveled through the middle of the cave for a time, and finally arrived in another huge space.
Firearms, artillery, military vehicles, fighter jets, and so on... The rusty 'weapons' were piled up in broad space like a large theater.
"Just like the underground cemetery in Romalia." Julio said.
"Oh, this is the 'Holy Land' that the Founder once came to, this is not wrong.
Vittorio knelt in front of the 'weapons'. Perhaps seeing a place visited by Brimir, whom he worshiped, let him immerse in a moment of sentimentality...
But Saito had no time to be sentimental with him.
"So, where is the 'magic device'?"
"..."
Everyone there all watched Vittorio.
Seeing Vittorio slowly get up, he answered.
"There is absolutely no such thing as a 'magic device' to prevent the lifting of the mainland here."
This impactful statement didn't arouse much surprise in everyone.
The expressions of Julio, Josette, Turuk, and Bidashal all remained unchanged. Even Saito, Louise, and Henrietta... had long been vaguely aware of it.
Knowing that this casually fabricated lie, was camouflage.
"Can I ask what's going on?"
Just one person, Tiffania was completely confused.
"It means that his Holiness, the Pope... lied to us all."
Henrietta revealed a stern stare and directed it at Vittorio.
"I didn't tell you the truth and I apologize to you. But if we make the truth public, there would be no way for us to work together.
"Don't tell me this is the same reason that you conceal the fact that the 'wind stones' were going out of control?" Saito said.
"That's right. Next, let us see that we thirst for, the real purpose of the 'Holy Land'."
Vittorio stared intently at the other end of the mountain of accumulated 'weapons'.
"This spell originally required a huge amount of mental power. However, there is still a large 'portal' on the land where the Founder Brimir once walked, and I only need to open it."
Vittorio pointed his wand at the cave wall, and began chanting Void runes.
Yuer Ier Naushiz Gebo Shir Mari
"This spell is..."
Louise murmured in surprise.
This was the spell that Vittorio learned before in the cathedral in Romalia.
'World's Door'.
Opening the void to the gates of different worlds...
The chant was longer than it was then, which meant that this was the complete version of the spell.
Hagar Eoru Peos Ing Mansūr
The Pope aimed at the wall, and waved his wand.
Glittering, a glowing spot, about the size of a bean, appeared in the void.
They saw the light gradually expand...
When Louise saw it before, it was only about the size of a hand mirror.
What appeared before them now, was like a 'door' floating in the void.
"That's...!"
Seeing the things on the other side of the door, Saito couldn't help but be speechless.
In the eyes of everyone... Vittorio smiled steadily, and turned around.
"This is the Founder's desire, the 'promised land' that the 'Magi tribe' should return to.
And that was, the Earth that Saito was very familiar with.