Great Sage 1 – The Great Sage’s Triumphant Return

Despite numerous clashes with the demon army, the human army was unable to reclaim their occupied territory.
The empire, the largest human nation, was exhausted. Sensing that it was only a matter of time before the human race was destroyed, Empress Anastasia Lanford the Third pleaded the impartial great sage to join the hero’s party in subjugating the demon lord.
A linchpin of the demon army, emerging victorious over the many parties of heroes that challenged it, the current demon lord was said to be the strongest in history…..

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“Rook to e4, check”

In the middle of a remote desert, I flick my finger towards that demon lord.
A magic stone shaped like a chess piece flies to the place I target, kicking up sand as it falls down.

“Great Sage Saitou-sama, Cain is…!”

My backup, the Saint Ange whose large chest looks like it will spill out of her priests robes, yells at me. I use location magic to find the Hero Cain. He’s at the rear of the demon lord with a deep wound on his leg preventing him from moving.

I knit my eyebrows at her swaying chest but…..

“Ange, use a miracle of healing on me”

Since I’m weak at healing magic, I’ll use magic to transfer the saint’s miracle instead.
Apparently that’s an impressive feat but….. For my master, the Great Sage Kate, something of that level could be done with ease.

“Yes”

At Ange’s voice, I sent the miracle to Cain while continuing to prepare the sealing ritual.

“Amazing, controlling two great magics simultaneously….. not to mention chantless”

Ange let’s out a voice of suprise.
If I were to look back right now, she’d probably be gazing at me with her deep red eyes and hair, but I’m focused on the demon lord.

Besides, the saint with a beautiful face and sexy body has probably already done it with the Hero Cain. Its too late to try and gain favour now.

“Knight to b6, check”
As I move more magic stones around, the demon lord’s two faces distort in pain.

Thats right, the demon lord has two bodies and brains in one.

It looks like two large men who were forcibly merged together but its four limbs move dexterously and its two heads allow it to take offensive and defensive actions simultaneously, making it much more troublesome than fighting two demons. As a bonus, no matter which you destroy, as long as one head remains the other will regenerate immediately.

“Go Cain, Ryza, Moulin!”
For the final stage of my plan, as the Hero Cain, the Paladin Ryza, and the Great Mage Moulin all attack simultaneously, I use the gap created by them to finish the seal.

“Sorry Saitou” “Dammit, I couldn’t do any real damage to it” “Saitou, is the ritual ready yet?”

Cain and Ryza take refuge behind me while, with a fluttering robe, Moulin lands to my side.

Despite her blue short bob hair and boyish face, she wore a miniskirt under her robes, and was always flying around excitedly. If I were to peek now, I would be able to see her pure white panties but I won’t get distracted.

Her healthy thighs are always on display, and although her chest cannot compare to Ange, her energetic and balanced figure will catch your eyes.

Plus her childish yet well ordered features were undeniably cute.

“This is checkmate”

I stab the staff I inherited from my master into the ground, channeling mana into the three magic stones. The demon lords face warps in pain as it begins to disintegrate from the legs up.

“A- Amazing….. I wouldn’t be able to understand that spell at all”

Moulin rejoices as she clings to me but…..

“With this the threat of the demon lord is gone, the rest can be left to the imperial army”
I reply.
“We did it, now the human territory will be peaceful”

While saying so the Paladin Ryza runs up to us.

“Thank you Saitou, from here on is our job”
The two of them embrace with radiant smiles on their faces.

Ryza is an officer in the imperial army and a noble too.
A handsome man with well ordered features and a fair and honest personality.

Thats why, when seeing Moulin get close to him, even I can root for them.
With their strength, subjugating the remaining demon army should be a simple task.

I wish them happiness.

I’m not jealous at all but, when I look at the two of them for some reason tears begin to rise.
Well this is probably the sense of achievement from defeating the demon lord.

“Saitou, are you really going to go back?”
The hero Cain was a handsome man with a wild look.

An orphan who was chosen by the sacred sword and rose to gain great trust with the church.
Hard working with a strong sense of justice, even I liked him.

“After we defeat the demon lord, Ange and I are getting married”

They made that death flag like announcement to me last night, he can be a bit of a hasty person but he should be fine with someone like Ange with him.

But I’d like it if they at least stopped holding each other when talking to someone.
Ange’s breasts pressing against him made it difficult to know where to look.

“Ahh as expected, this place isn’t where I belong”

I think back the days of harsh training when I was living with my master until I earned the title of great sage……

I also reflect on the 3 years since I joined the heroes party.
Three guys to two girls.

Maybe the gender ratio was to be blamed.
If only it was three each, or if it was two guys to three girls there would still be hope.

“Plus the demon lord’s secret is here. Without borrowing the power of the gate I won’t be able to return to my world”

The demon lords body was turning to earth. In the center of my magic circle appeared an old wooden door.

“Huh? I thought there would be two”
In this world, there exists three doors capable of traversing time and space.

Of those three, one is in the possession of my master, the first great sage.
“I don’t know the location of the other two”
Or so she said…..

“What’s wrong Saitou?”
The Hero Cain walks up to the door and tilts his head as if to confirm something.

“Nah, don’t worry about it”
I assumed based on the strength of the demon lord and it’s form that there would be two, but the last door must be in a different location. I pull myself together and approach the door.

It was while defeating the generals of the demon army known as the four heavenly kings and conquering dungeons of torture that I came to learn of it’s existence.

“Once the demon lord vanishes completely, even I won’t be able to use it anymore”

This door requires thousands of souls to be used.
That’s why my only chance to return to Japan is now, before the energy of the souls the demon lord has gathered disappears.

Although my master asked me ‘Why not try and find happiness in this world?’ I simply let out a sigh. The empress also tried to prevent me from leaving, but seeing the two couples flirting only strengthened my resolve.

Besides this other world is full of pretty boys and girls. After living here for a while my appearance also changed somewhat, but as expected the difference is too great.

I’ll live a quiet life in Japan and look for a suitable girlfriend.

My master once said ‘To live a humble life is true happiness’ and I couldn’t agree more.

Looking at my companions once again, I can feel the growth they’ve had since the time I joined them. I’m sure they’ll be able to complete any secret tasks her majesty might give them.

I walk up to the door and draw a magic circle.
This world travels on the same temporal axis as Japan so I am unable to specify a time, but I am able to specify a place.

After some consideration, I write the coordinates of a place in Japan from my memories.

“Great sage Saitou-sama….. Since this is farewell, please listen to my feelings”
Saint Ange clasps her hands together as if to pray to me.

“I’ve always admired you, that feeling hasn’t changed even now. I’ll protect this world together with Cain”

Admired? Well I knew that she respected me but there seems to be a subtle nuance.
I tilted my head in confusion as her eyes began to water.

“Well you know. About Ange’s love consultation, umm. But don’t worry about this world Saitou, we’ll definitely ensure it’s peaceful”

Behind her Cain was scratching his prickly hair.

Love consultation?

“Hahaha, as expected you didn’t realise. It can’t be helped, this is the man who ignored even the vehement advances of the empires strongest idol after all”

Moulin tapped Ange on the shoulder.
“Moulin also made quite blatant advances on him though”
Ange puffs her cheeks cutely.

“Because of that I decided to give up on the unobtainable flower and instead focused on the man who said he loved me”
At the side of Moulin who was laughing happily, Ryza was scratching his smooth long hair.

“Saitou I’ve always respected you. I was always training in order to become more like you. I’ll make sure the world is at peace and to bring Moulin happiness”
An embarrassed Ryza muttered.

“Aah, I feel the same way!”
Cain looked toward me and gripped my hand.

I couldn’t care less about the words of some guys who smell of sweat. Unobtainable flower? Advances??

I was told that I was the type to focus on one thing and lose track of my surroundings but…..
Ange? and Moulin? Who even is the empires strongest idol?

I can’t remember anything about that.
All I remember is our fierce battles with the demon army and the days of coaching and supporting the party.

Just to make sure they weren’t lying I activated my search magic, but they were all telling the truth and wishing me well on my journey.

W- W- Well there’s no need to dwell on the past.
Let’s overcome this with my masters skill of forward thinking.

Only a few minutes left until the door opens.

“Also here’s a gift from her majesty, although its probably meaningless since you’ve already made up your mind”
Ange handed me a small box.

That reminds me, when I was requested to aid in subjugating the demon lord, with the intention to refuse, I made an unreasonable demand. I suppose I won’t get to receive my remuneration.

It’s not something that can be given after all, and her majesty also made many unreasonable demands from me.
Well now they’ve just become pleasant memories.

I open the lid to find a small card on top.
“To the big stupid idiot who never laid a finger on me despite being told they had the right to do whatever they pleased, allow me to first say this”
So the message began, and written beneath in smaller letters.

“I love you”

The four were waving goodbye to me with tears in their eyes.
“Wait, do I really need to go back?”

As that thought crossed my mind, the gate magic which could no longer be stopped…..

Safely sucked me in.