Chapter 7. A flavor reminiscent of Lucifina
"Now then, what manner of delicacy awaits us at our next destination?" Those were the first words spoken after leaving Happiness Village. As I inwardly wondered whether this Monster Lord cared about anything other than food, I unfolded my map.
"I don't think they have any local specialties. The place we're going to is a village in the forest west of Iliasville. Its name is Enrika."
Alice tilted her head as I pointed to the approximate location on the map. It was deep within the forest, far from any other town.
"Enrika... I believe that was where the clothes you bought were made. It is quite deep into the forest... a hidden village of monsters, perhaps?"
"That's about right. I think that's... where my aunt is."
"Your aunt, you say?"
My expression clouded over as I thought about Michaela. The memory of being unable to do anything but watch as she passed away surged once more, despite me not wanting it to.
"Yeah, I want to make sure she's safe..."
"...I suppose something happened to her in the parallel world then?"
Seeing a dark expression on my face for the first time since starting our journey was likely reason enough to make that guess. Unable to respond verbally, I nodded my head.
"Since it's a hidden village, the monsters of Enrika are quite wary. Could you erase your presence once we enter the forest?"
"A simple matter. You should take care not to mess up yourself."
"Don't worry. I have experience as a Ranger and Ninja as well."
With the multitude of Jobs I had experience with, masking my presence was something I was perfectly capable of. For the time being, the both of us made our way to the forest, with me beating down any monsters that couldn't be talked with along the path.
Shortly after entering the forest, Alice's nose twitched.
"What's wrong? Do you smell any unusual ingredients?"
"That's not it, you idiot. I sense an unusual monster."
'Her sense of smell really is like a dog's,' I thought and immediately got smacked by a tail.
"I see, so this is why they remain hidden."
"Yeah, there are quite a few monsters there that are ostracized even among their own kind, like dark elves. That is also why they keep outsiders away."
I didn't want to get into any pointless fights, so I approached stealthily. However, for an existence above a certain level, it was not enough to remain hidden, and so...
"A high-class angel and a high-class monster together in a place like this... what is your business?"
"!"
Being suddenly talked to, completely unaware anyone was even there until it happened, made both of us hurriedly turn around in a combat stance. But I quickly relaxed my posture when I recognized that figure.
"Michaela..."
"...I did not believe there would still be an angel that would address me with any level of respect... Wait, that technique... is that my-!?"
Her face twisted in shock as she looked at me. No doubt, it was hers, her method of circulating holy energy, no less. But, of course, she had no recollection of teaching it to me.
"Just... who are you?"
"My name is Luka. And my mother's name was... Lucifina."
"Lucifina's son!? But to have awakened as an angel... did you lose your ring!?"
"R-Ring?" Was there something like that? Surely, I wouldn't have lost it if I actually did receive it... right?
As I was reviewing my memories, a voice resounded from beside me.
"Michaela and Lucifina's... son... Luka, your identity is something this outrageous!?" Alice shouted, her shock no less than Michaela's
"It seems... we have a lot to talk about. Please come to the village with me. We can speak in my house."
"Yes, thank you for having me!"
"Very well, I would also like to hear this."
And so, we were led to the village. Besides monsters, even fallen angels lived here in peace.
"Now then, Luka, why do you know about me, and how did you obtain my technique?"
"Let me tell you the whole story."
She brought us to her house, around which a ward was placed. Apparently, it was capable of preventing any attempts of spying on the inside, even from heaven. There, I began to talk of my long, long adventure.
"You remember going on a journey in a parallel world... two sets of memories. One where a shrunk Monster Lord became your companion, and another in which Ilias was struck by the Six Ancestor's Great Seal and traveled alongside you... A preposterous story indeed. However, that technique being mine and your awakening as an angel is undoubtedly true... though for some reason, I also sense a dark power within you."
"Um, well, that's because one of my companions, an angel, injected me with vampire extract, which altered my body..."
Thanks to that, I could also grow tentacles, turn into a bat, and even do some bizarre things like simultaneously form vampire and angel wings. But, well, I'd spare her the details... If the mad angel scientist of this world found me, she'd undoubtedly try to make me a test subject.
"And finally, I was struck down by an unknown seraph, after which Ilias and Eden cooperated to bring me and Lucifina back to life?"
"Hmph. Going on a journey with Ilias of all people after not choosing me. I am sure you enjoyed yourself plenty with her, didn't you?"
Michaela closed her eyes, deep in thought. Alice, meanwhile, was pouting as she tightened her hold around my body, making my bones creak in pain. She must be quite upset that I didn't tell her about my other adventure, not to mention that I chose Ilias over her in it. In turn, Ilias would likely also be furious if she learned of the other part, doubling my predicament.
"It couldn't really be helped; at that point, I barely knew either of yo— Ouch, oww! You're going to break something; quit it!"
Alice kept tightening around me, but after feeling Michaela's gaze on her, she loosened her coils and collected herself, along with a clearing of her throat.
"So, what do you intend to do now, Luka?"
"I will try to find a way back to my former world first and... try to talk things out with Ilias."
"What!?"
"With Ilias!?"
Alice aside, I was surprised to see Michaela's usually stoic countenance break.
"Stop being ridiculous! Ilias has always been hostile toward monsters. Do you genuinely believe you could convince her at this point!?"
"Indeed, Ilias would do anything to destroy monsterkind..."
I resolutely held up a hand to stop the pair trying to argue against my decision.
"...While we traveled together, Ilias once told me, "All beings that live on this earth, I shall permit each to live their lives to the fullest."
"What!? That cannot possibly be true!"
"That Ilias... she truly said such a thing!?"
For the two of them, it may be utterly unbelievable, but it was no lie; those words truly did come from Ilias.
"I think it was probably the first time Ilias got to truly experience the surface world. After becoming small, she started walking on her own two feet, beating up weak monsters with her own hands, growing stronger, eating delicious food she had previously avoided due to thinking it impure, becoming tired, and sleeping soundly... She experienced such natural things for the first time, and the further we went, the more fulfilling our journey seemed to her.
Being completely unable to imagine the Ilias I described, the two lapsed into a bewildered silence.
"Humans and monsters can coexist. So surely angels and the Goddess should be able to as well. After all, the angels that started living on the surface world got along with monsters, too."
"Certainly, even in this village, fallen angels and monsters live together peacefully, but..."
"...Coexist... with angels?..."
As I finished talking about my ideal, I wondered what the two of them were thinking. Michaela was looking out of the window while Alice had her eyes shut, both of them in deep thought. It was probably an option they had never even considered and, thus, weren't sure what to make of it.
"However, Luka, the current Ilias stands absolute. With the Dark Goddess sealed away, none can interfere against her. Do you believe she would be willing to listen under those circumstances?"
Alice nodded at her words. Even as the one known as the strongest Monster Lord in history... she stood no chance of winning against Ilias. That was one of the reasons I decided to travel this world.
"Right, convincing her immediately would be difficult, so I figured I would start by enticing her first."
"Entice her?" The two asked simultaneously.
"Have her eat lots of delicious things to make her more likely to listen!" I declared, my chest puffed out proudly.
That answer caused Michaela's brain to stop functioning temporarily.
"...So the reason why you sent those sweets to Ilias first was..."
"To put her in a good mood, of course!"
"...Luka, those waves of holy energy I felt from Heaven, were those possibly because..."
"It was apparently so delicious they kind of just leaked out."
Michaela cradled her head, the answer too much to handle. Was Ilias really that kind of person? Moreover, since she resembled her, did she also have such a trait? She was beginning to get a headache.
"Ack! So that is why my portion was smaller? Damn her... damn her!"
And so the great Monster Lord became angry once more. Well, it was true I gave away the first and best portion.
"Ah, right, since we're already here. Michaela, if you have any fruits or vegetables, would you share some with me? I'll pay for them too. I'd like to offer Ilias a vegetable dish this time."
"...But Ilias and her angels disdain anything stained by soil."
"I got her permission to use whatever ingredients I wish."
"Eh, to that extent?" Michaela was stunned even further. Meanwhile, Alice was wagging her tail, interested in the prospect of angel-grown vegetables.
"...Very well. We do grow vegetables here, though I am not sure Ilias would be willing to eat any grown by me."
Both she and Lucifina left Heaven because they refused to go along with Ilias anymore. Would that haughty Goddess actually eat vegetables grown by such a person? Growing them took effort, so she could only hope the food wouldn't be wasted.
"No need to worry," I said while I was rummaging around, choosing which vegetables to use.
Michaela gave me a questioning look.
"When she stood before my mother's grave, Ilias looked lonely. And at the time when you returned to Heaven right in front of me and Ilias, she seemed incredibly sad... I'm sure she doesn't hate you two."
Hearing that, Michaela closed her eyes, thinking back. Was there anything she could have done for Ilias?
After thinking for a while, she smelled a wonderful fragrance wafting through the air; she must have been very lost in thought. It was the scent of tomatoes and onions simmering in a soup as well as grilled bread. Her face went slightly red when she noticed her stomach growling. But considering the Monster Lord beside her was producing considerably louder noises, drowning it out, it probably was not too much of an issue.
"Ehm, would you like some?"
Held out toward her was tomato soup made of her vegetables. "Thank you." She accepted it and brought a spoonful to her mouth. The taste was somehow nostalgic, reminding her of Lucifina.
"I see, Lucifina, you..."
Ever since the two sisters had acted out an attempt to kill each other, they had not seen one another. Hundreds of years passed, and Lucifina's life met its end as a human. She thought she was all alone, but...
"...You passed it on to him, didn't you?"
Things change as time moves on. However, some things do not change, and others are handed down to the next generation. Feeling that she finally understood that, she watched Luka guarding Ilias' share from Alice with a soft smile.
"Alright, thank you for everything, Michaela."
"Indeed. Your vegetables and fruit were delicious."
After the three of us leisurely finished our meal, I and Alice made to depart right away. Having a human (ostensibly) and the Monster Lord staying for too long in the hidden village probably wasn't a good idea. Having received some vegetables and cheese as a souvenir, we waved our hands.
"Come by again sometime, Luka. I would be happy to see my nephew anytime."
"Of course. I can use time magic, so that's not a problem. I'll stop by with souvenirs if I find something interesting."
On my back was my custom sword, now further enhanced with one of Michaela's feathers, a present to aid me in my journey.
"I got to see something quite interesting as well. Monsters and angels living together... I suppose anyone can change, regardless of their species."
"Indeed... Now, may your journey be blessed."
And so we began walking toward our next destination along with a Seraph's blessing.