The Promise Not Kept
My sister never wanted me to inherit the position of Commander of the Western Liberators.
She wanted the fighting to end with her generation so I'd never have to pick up a sword.
But when she realized I wouldn't change my mind, she finally agreed to teach me.
The day before my training began, she warned me that the road ahead would be difficult.
Then, she gave me a bookmark.
Ceres. I want you to have this bookmark.
I received this flower from a senior Liberator when I was still a new recruit myself.
It's pretty...
It's a Sunblossom. Have you seen one before?
Yeah! There was one used as a bookmark in a book at home.
Was it The Tyrant Duke's Brothers Are After Me...?
Ahem! Ahem! Ceres, that book is still a little too mature for you. Don't read it.
It didn't look hard at all. It had lots of pictures too.
Ahem! Ceres, why don't we talk about something else?
This is actually a dried flower.
A Sunblossom loses its original color once it leaves the West.
They say it only blooms in its true color in the Moonlight Forest at the far edge of the West.
What color is it normally?
No one remembers anymore. It's been far too long.
But they say there's a field full of them beyond the forest where the Void Core was first discovered.
So we'll have to reclaim the West before we can see their true color.
But... what if they've all withered away already?
You're right. The land around the Void Core is a land of death.
But Ceres, I have faith.
I believe we'll take back the night sky and see one filled with shining stars instead of this crimson sky.
And when we do, the people of the West will be able to smile again.
What do you want to do once we reclaim the West, Venera?
First, I'll catch up on all the books I haven't been able to read...
Oh, right. And we'll help the people, the two of us together.
You remember old man Rick, don't you? I heard he had a fight with his son recently.
That's sad. Do you think they'll make up?
Yes. I'm sure they will.
Once we reclaim the West, let's help them reconcile.
Yeah! And I want to help all the other people too, not just old man Rick!
You're such a kind girl, Ceres. All right. Let's do that.
We can help with farming, work in restaurant kitchens, and more. Doesn't that sound fun?
But Venera, I can't even make fried eggs without burning them. Do you really think I can cook?
So what if you can't? By then, hope will have returned to the West.
Everyone will be smiling.
I wish that day would come soon...
It will. I promise.
That's also why this Sunblossom has been passed down from one generation to the next.
The Commander before me told me something.
She said the Sunblossom is an incredibly resilient flower. Remember the old saying?
You mean how a Sunblossom doesn't fail to bloom because it's too weak?
Exactly. That's why I'm sure they're still blooming despite the Void Force.
Still protecting their own true color and light.
I wonder what color they are. Do you think they're prettier than this yellow?
We'll have to go see for ourselves. Let's be the first ones there. The two of us, together.
Yeah! It's a promise!
...
That's all it was. Just a silly little promise.
That doesn't sound silly at all.
You destroyed the Void Core, so why haven't you gone to see them?
Well, we're busy rebuilding what was lost... and the Moonlight Forest is at the far edge of the West.
It would take quite some time to make the trip there and back.
I can't leave my post for several days over something so trivial...
Trivial?!
That's the very first thing you should've done after reclaiming the West!
If I were former Commander Venera, I'd be showing up in your dreams too!
"Go find those flowers! Now, you idiot!"
...Did you just insult me, Deputy Commander?
Would you like me to say something worse?
...No. You're right. I should have gone to see for myself.
But Captain, Lydia. You both saw it too, didn't you?
There wasn't a single living thing anywhere around the Void Core.
To be honest... I'm afraid too.
What if there's nothing beyond the Moonlight Forest?
What if one of the precious promises I made with my sister was something that could never have been fulfilled?
Lydia stared at Ceres with displeasure, then sighed and turned to me.
Captain. Looks like we only have one option left.
Then you leave me no choice. I was hoping to avoid using this, but...
U-use what?
Ceres looked at me nervously.
I reached into my coat and pulled out the wish voucher she'd given me.
Come with me to see those flowers, Ceres.
Ceres stared uneasily at the wish voucher in my hand.
...Now I understand why Lydia was so reluctant to give you one.
I've already fallen victim to mine. I told you we shouldn't have given them to him.
Then Lydia's playful expression vanished as she spoke seriously.
There was a time when even the Western Liberators stopped believing the West could be reclaimed.
And to those Liberators who had lost all hope, a girl who had only just become Commander said...
"Too soft! If you can't see any hope ahead, then keep your eyes on my back and follow me!"
"Even you soft fools can manage that much, can't you?"
...
...That did happen. I'd almost forgotten.
So this time, keep your eyes on my back and follow me.
...All right.
And back then, the Liberators who used to whisper about my qualifications...
I know you dealt with them in your own way.
I told them never to say anything. Who was it? Which loose-lipped Liberator told you?
No one needed to tell me.
"Why is some rookie like you our Commander?"
The people saying that suddenly started coming to me terrified and apologizing.
In other words, you've always helped me keep moving forward.
I'm counting on you again, Lydia.
...Of course.
And you too, Captain.
Whenever I get stuck, you always give me the push I need.
Don't worry about it.
I hope someday I'll be able to repay you too.
Then I'll prepare to leave at once. I'll see you tomorrow, Captain.
Morning came to the West. At the front gate of the base, I found the two girls waiting for me in their maid outfits.
Why are you still wearing the maid outfits?
I thought I'd made up my mind last night thanks to you and Lydia.
But embarrassingly enough, I started worrying again that all of this might be meaningless.
Then, Lydia suggested that instead of going as the Commander of the Western Liberators...
I should go as a maid whose duty is to fulfill her master's wish.
Strangely enough, that gave me courage. I have Lydia to thank for this.
Meanwhile, I've been wearing this for so long that I'm not even sure I'm embarrassed by it anymore.
I don't think it's embarrassing. I think it's admirable, Lydia.
Captain?
It shows how determined you are not to let Ceres go alone.
Lydia's ears turned bright red at my words.
...You really are good at saying things that make people squirm. But that sort of sweet talk doesn't work on me, you know?
I wasn't trying to sweet-talk you...
L-let's just get going already! The sooner we finish this, the sooner I can take this outfit off!
With Lydia urging us on, we set out for the forest beyond the Void Core.
I could only hope the Sunblossoms were truly still there.
And that the promise Venera and Ceres had never been able to fulfill could finally come true.