66 65. And the hero reaches ten layers. The monster has been waiting for you..txt (2/2)

Thus, it was Arti and I who remained in the place.

And Maria, who looked down with vacant eyes. The three of us were left alone.

Arti also confirmed this and snapped his fingers.

At the same time, the momentum of the blazing flames increases and the hill is engulfed in flames as they fly everywhere. It was the very aspect of the 10th layer of the labyrinth. The flames surrounded us to the extent that it was no wonder Arti had said ”this is the 10th layer”.

'Then let's begin ....... And let's fulfill my long-cherished wish: ......

Arti muttered, with a divine look on his face.

I 'gaze' at the two of them and prepare for their beginning.

[The Ten Guardian] The one who steals the reason for the fire

[Status]

Name: Maria HP107/122 MP855/132+723 Class: slave

Level 10.

Strength 4.48 Strength 4.02 Skill 2.96 Speed 2.37 Wisdom 3.97 Magic 6.89+34.23 Qualities 1.52

State: mental pollution 1.98 Mental pollution 1.98 Confusion 3.42 Memory impairment 0.78

Inherent skill: penetrating eye 1.50

Acquired skill: hunting 0.68 cooking 1.08 fire magic 1.52+2.00

At the same time, he also collects information about his surroundings.

Make sure that we are surrounded by flames and have nowhere to run.

If possible, I'd like to take Maria alone and catch up with Raydiant-san. However, if we don't defeat the guardian (Guardian) in front of us, it will be difficult to escape. Above all, the situation indicated by Maria's status 'state' of status makes it unlikely that she will follow me maturely.

I glare at my enemy, Arti, and take one last look at him.

'Arti, is this what you wanted ......?'

Yeah. Here's what I've been dying for: ......

With that, Arti spreads his hands out.

This situation. This disastrous situation is a longing. So that means--

So killing me was your longing ....... You've been fooling me all this time with this 'love fulfillment' bullshit: ......!

'No, I didn't lie about 'love fulfilled'. I didn't mean to deceive you. If Maria's love comes true, I will definitely lose my power and disappear.

Arti and I answer nonchalantly.

“Therefore, no matter how it goes. Today, here, I'll be gone.

At the end of it, Arti told me in no uncertain terms that he was going to die.

I couldn't hide my upset and asked the question as it was.

'......?　I don't know what you want or what you want to say ....... I don't know what you want me to do ......!

I can't help but feel angry in front of a humanoid monster who is willing to die.

''Love fulfilled. I want you to make Maria's 'tragic love' come true.

”'Tragic Love', you say ......?

Arti rephrased love as 'tragic love'.

I don't know the difference and I hear it back.

'Maria's love is a 'sad love' ....... It's a love that is determined to end sadly. Our 'eyes' can see it. We want to make it happen. If we don't make it happen, we'll never die.

So, I don't know: ......!　I don't know what you're talking about: ......!

'You're backing out because you're broke in love?　Do you give up because you're hopelessly in love?　It's not possible. That's not what love is about. Love is something more helpless and maddening. If I can't reach it, there's no point in living it. So I want to have a heart attack. I want to kill it and take it away from you. I don't have a choice in the matter. I can't stay sane. That's it, that's all, tragic love is ...... the real love!

Arti said the love that was almost out of the ordinary, as if it were the truth.

The expression on Arti's face as he spoke it had changed. Her expressionlessness was broken here, and her face was distorted as if she was spitting out the passion within her.

I take a step backward in that spirit.

As I retreat, Arti continues to speak to me.

''Maria, you deserve to have your 'tragic love' fulfilled. More than anyone else .......

Arti stroked Maria's head and changed her expression to one of calm.

The entire gesture of stroking was compassion for Maria.

Without a doubt, Arti cares for Maria more than anyone else - more than me. I could see that.

Arti's expression changed to a serious one and he stared at me.

'So, Christ. You are going to be Mary's, here today. Even if it is to die with you and make it eternal, ...... I will gladly fulfill it!　And I will disappear too. If the three of us die here, I'll be fine with that ......!

Clearly, Alty told him.

I will become Maria's.

That's the purpose, the 'ordeal'.

That's why I'm setting up this stage.

Yes, I told him unequivocally.

'Oh no, for such a thing (・・・・・) ......?　Did you drive Maria crazy for that kind of thing: ......?

I didn't want to admit it.

I didn't want to admit to Arti's purpose, his means, his stage, and everything else.

Now, more than anything, I can't allow my mind to be played with for any reason. That's exactly what Alty is trying to do.

”That's not ......?　Yes, such a thing (・・・・・). I wasn't even able to do that before I was born. And that's what I'm so sorry about!　Whether I tear my throat out or tear my chest open, this crazy reminder will continue to torment me!　I couldn't do anything about it then and they left me there!　My lover must have been happy with a stranger, unknown to me!　And I regretted it until the day I died!　I'll regret it until I die, and I'll regret it (・・・・・・) when I'm dead!　So I'm going to fulfill it!　Through Maria, this time, my (...) tragic love will come true too!

Arti let the flames burn fiercely, expressing the emotions within him.

''Such a selfish thing to do!　Don't bring Maria into this!　You're on your own!　That's not a good reason to drive people crazy!

But whatever emotions may be lurking in Arti's body, it's none of Maria's business.

I can't ever admit that Arti is trying to make Maria take care of her emotions.

I look at Maria.

There's Maria, who turns her empty eyes to the ground and mutters.

The skill '??' I can't just tolerate the act of playing with your mind like ......!

I just gave Mary's heart an honest look ....... This is the truth. I just told her what she really wanted, what she really wanted, the fire of true love!　This is the right way to go!

'I call that crazy!　How can it be normal for all people to remain honest?

The discussion is no longer over.

It's just an argument.

Denying each other, both Arti and I are building magic by turning our internal feelings into magic.

We both knew that a fight was inevitable, and we both knew it was inevitable.

I was the one who completed the magic first.

I unleash my magic while holding my sword against it.

I put forth my best effort, the best I could muster, even during the retaking of Rastiara.

The true magic of winter.

Winter is deployed on all the hills of fire, and the range of the sword's reach develops dimensional magic.

A double circle of magic is constructed, and the snow of magic power falls on the raging hills of fire.

The world of flames and the world of winter overlap--

'I knew it was ......, I knew it (・・・・)!　You're just like Tida!　You're the enemy, Alty!　-- ”Dimension Decisive Arithmetic (Gradiate), Magic, Dimensional Winter (Di Winter)!

In contrast, Arti begins to envelop Maria with the gentle magic that overflows from her hands.

A fantastically glowing pillar of flame, not unlike red, yellow or blue, rises above their heads. The rising flames dissipated in the sky, sending snowflakes of flame down.

'Christ, you remind me of the past!　The past!　And that look reminds me of what it used to be!　Defeating you will finally make my (...) tragic love come true!　--The Flame Decisive Flame Region (Gladiate), Magic, Scorching Hot World (In Cadeth Blazer)!

Red and white snow (Tear-Ray) in an overlapping world.

They were very similar.

The secret depths of each other were, oddly enough, the same kind of magic.

We don't know why. It's a coincidence that it can't be a coincidence, but now is not the time to think about it.

I'm not going to be able to get the best of it, but I'm going to be able to get the best of it.

Of course, I've been blocking it with my magic ”Di Winter” all along. However, it didn't make any sense against Arti's enormous magical power.

''Now, wake up ....... Maria. In a few minutes, love will come true. You will be happy.

Arti whispers in Maria's ear.

Slowly, Maria lifts her downcast face and stares at me. Her eyes are empty. Worse than when she was a slave. She has eyes that are desperate for everything.

He glares at Arti, who is probably the one who dropped him there.

Arti, too, burns with the flames of madness, stares back at me and mutters.

'Let's go, hero (Christ). I will repent until the day I die for not choosing a girl.

f*ck you, Arti. --Go off on your own, be sorry for yourself.

Taking that as my cue, I run off.

Now.

The tenth test of the one who stole the logic of the fire has begun.