A certain chime's recollection.
Long ago, the Creator said to me:
"Please, protect this world."
Though I am merely a tool, I had been used in sacred rituals for so long that I had almost become a tsukumogami (a spirit inhabiting an object). Back then, I began to develop a sense of self and decided to work for the Creator's sake.
To fulfill the Creator's wish, I selected maidens with high spiritual power, taught them sacred dances, and used them to exorcise evil spirits.
However, as time passed, humans began to forget.
They forgot why I existed. They even forgot the meaning of the sacred dances and purification rituals. They assigned maidens with no spiritual power to me, but it was meaningless. Without a pure, untainted maiden with high spiritual power, I could not unleash my full strength.
As more time passed, perhaps because I kept compromising, the people who came to me began to accumulate impurities themselves. If this continued, the country would slowly perish. I grew desperate.
Then, Princess Maryannette—my current master—appeared. Her powerful spiritual energy and pure, untainted soul filled me with joy. I thought, "She can save this country!"
But... Princess Maryannette ran away from the kingdom. She called me annoying, stuffed me into a bag, and threw me into a valley.
However, as a tsukumogami, I kept returning to her. In the end, she sold me off for travel money, and I kept coming back.
Later, the princess endured harsh labor and suffered greatly... but she never tried to return to her homeland.
Once, I asked her: "Wouldn't life in the castle be far better than this harsh environment? If you wish, I can take you back to the castle."
"Mary will live as Mary. That's why I won't go back. I don't want to return to a place where even Mary can't be herself."
For the first time, I realized that for the princess, life in the castle had been far more painful than her current hardships.
And so, time passed... I decided to watch over the princess as a mere chime. Though she didn't know it at the time, the princess was saved by the "Awaited One" and began living a happy life.
Then, one day, a young man began to receive the princess's affection. "I can be more useful than that bizarre stick (※technically a tonfa)!" I thought, consumed by jealousy, and absorbed the bizarre stick.
By merging with it, I gained even greater power. The bizarre stick accepted me, saying, "If it helps the princess, then I don't mind." I was painfully aware of my own pettiness. It was only natural that the princess would scold me.
And then, today.
This must be a fateful encounter.
"Shining☆Illusion!! Connecting the world, saving the world! Magical Maiden☆Lyrical Rinka!!"
That outfit. And the way the weapon and its master have become one, amplifying their magic power...!
I pleaded with Tsu-san-dono-sama: "How can I become like you?"
Tsu-san-dono-sama told me that he, too, had once been self-centered. He had simply carried out his duties faithfully, but his actions caused widespread damage, earning him the disgraceful label of "Cursed Staff" and leading to his sealing.
During his sealing, Tsu-san-dono-sama reflected on what had gone wrong. He realized the importance of truly understanding his master's wishes and eventually found the best master in Rinka-sama.
Can I still change? I had always viewed the world through my own narrow perspective. That's right—I never truly considered the princess's wishes.
"Now, wind chime. It's time to work."
The princess reached out to me.
For now, I will wield my power as the princess wishes.
(My comrade, you have finally realized your mistake. I will lend you my strength.)
Light overflowed from Tsu-san-dono-sama, transforming me...
And then, the princess and I were enveloped in light.
What do you think about this chapter?
