166 165. Collapse.txt (2/2)

I don't get the details of the story, but I know she's regretting it.

Looking at her own hands, she asks me.

'If I have something important to prove myself, like the boy and the apostle, will I be able to prove that I'm alive ......? If only I could find something important, too: .......

I can't nod lightly.

But by staring back, I can tell that at least I was.

Looking into his eyes, Hailey cleared the way.

'Go to ....... I'll take the boy's word for it.

Then Hailey shattered one of the rings and activated the magic 'Connection'. The magic door is refined into a plain and the whole warhorse tries to advance into it.

In the end, Heili says.

''Finally, I'm beginning to see my way of life.

The words were not about dying, but about living.

Hearing those words, I was doubly relieved.

If I had failed to convince her, I would have had to force my way through. If that had happened, her life span would have been greatly reduced. I wouldn't have been unscathed either.

In the interval of relief, Haili went through the 'Connection' and disappeared. At the same time, her ”connection” also crumbled with the wind on the plains.

I sigh loudly and immediately call out a spell.

”-Magic 'Connection'.

While refining the different colored 'connections' to the same place, I remembered my conversation with Hailey.

Honestly, I was on the fence about whether or not it would be a battle.

I said I wouldn't give up no matter what, but that didn't mean I didn't have any concerns.

For example, just one thing. The only thing - if something is overturned, I won't be able to say anything back.

But I managed to keep it hidden underneath the plating until the very end. Thanks to Parallel Thinking, it was easy to make up for it.

But I had to be prepared for it.

Unlike the kind-hearted Hailey, I don't think the enemy I'm about to fight would miss it.

Now is like a rehearsal. The real battle is yet to come.

At that time, we must maintain our strength like we do now.

Just as I reaffirmed my resolve, the Connection was completed and the Living Legend's crew appeared from inside.

'We're connected!　Thank goodness, Kanami: ......!

First, Rustyala comes out, alone and relieved that I'm not getting ahead of myself.

Blushing, he takes my hand and confirms that I'm here.

If I'm to believe Hailey's story, this Rustyala is lying to me.

And has been since the first time we met.

But I quickly push it out of my thoughts.

I just decided to believe Rustyala in Lauravia's ”Mai Mai”. Even if she was lying, it must be a lie for me. I'll assume so.

I don't have time to find out for sure, and 'me' is a low priority.

We'll start with Palinkron and Dia. I'll take care of 'me' after that - or after I help Yotaki.

''Everyone is ready to go, Kanami-san.

Maria comes out next.

She has a sterner expression than anyone else, preparing for the battle to come.

And next to her was Snow, with a more pathetic expression than anyone else.

''And it's finally here, this is ...... the time. I'll do it. ......''

I'm shaking pitifully, but I'm not trying to escape.

I can see that he is trying to be brave in his own way, Snow.

Reaper and Sera follow behind him.

They seem to have already grasped the situation and are wasting no time waiting for me to speak.

I waste no time in starting to talk as well.

'I'll be quick about it since we don't have much time. The most important thing is not the overthrow of Palinkulon, but the reclaiming of Dia. Just make no mistake about it.

They all nodded back.

Not one of them seems to be the one who left Dia alone to seek revenge. Relieved by that, we divide the party as usual.

''First, me and Maria will catch Dia. No matter what the Apostle Sith says, we'll knock her unconscious and show her how to run into the ship.

Perhaps the call to Dia will be important in the fight against the Apostle Sith. Hence, I will personally choose the members who can easily reach Dia.

Rustyala, who seemed to have a long association with him, agreed without complaining. She also seemed to think that Maria was better suited to the call than she was.

'In the meantime, I want the remaining four of you to keep the two of you, Palinkron and the Guardian (Guardian) Aide, stranded. I'm not hostile to the id, but just keep the glare on, for now.

Initial objective. Even if we were to overthrow Palinkron, it would be after we captured the Sith.

I don't want to chase two hares and miss a beat.

Then I'll take care of the defective colleague.

'I'm going to Palinclone too: ....... I feel like if I don't do it, I won't be able to move forward. ......

Sera-san and Snow will take care of the Palinkron's partner.

I've thought of a countermeasure against 'The One Who Steals the Dark Reason' during the boat trip, so if it's just to buy time, it shouldn't be a problem for the two of them.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that the guardian is there too. Just in time. I'll snowball yesterday's humiliation!

Unlike yesterday, Rastiara's blood color has improved.

As if to say that he won't make the same mistake, he's full of energy and burns for revenge against Ayd.

And the last one.

'Hey, can my brother go ......?'

Because of the 'connection', the Reaper understands my condition better than anyone else. To her, it seems that I'm the one she's most worried about.

The most important thing to know is that you can go. I was thinking about it during the ”Dance Competition” as well, but I'm in the best shape to not sleep for a day.

Hearing this, the Reaper looked at me for a few moments and nodded with a divine look on his face.

'...... Okay, I get it. Well then, I'll make up for the shortfall between all of you.

...... helpful.

The most difficult position had to be asked of the youngest leaper. But it was also true that she was the only one who could handle it.

Now everyone's role was decided.

All that was left was to get Dia back.

Once that was done, all we had to do was defeat Palinclone, safely reach the deepest part of the labyrinth, and help Yotaki. Nothing will change.

So.

After this battle, whichever side I'm on, what I'm going to do is the same.

Whether I'm a human or a monster, it doesn't matter. It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to see it. And it doesn't matter if Yotaki is my sister or not.

-- it doesn't matter.

Only the Reaper sensed that thought and frowned.

And after we have all sufficiently slid the procedure of the raid together, we start heading to the fort.

The Living Legend party begins to fight to save their missing comrades.

Maria rides on the back of the beastly Sera-san, and the remaining four of us are largely aided by--

Jump over the fort's defensive walls.