300 297. Story night.txt (1/2)

On the second floor of the mansion, there is a large balcony protruding from the building.

There are simple but old-fashioned chairs and desks provided, and it's enough of a place to take a break for a change of pace. If you look closely, there are traces of the original owner having eaten here.

Escaping to the balcony, I put my arms on the railing and look out at the completely changed view of the basement.

Having told Maria about my acquittal from the Senate, all the burning flames of the underground city have been extinguished. The flames that had raised the temperature in the underground city have been extinguished and the air outside has become much colder.

The underground city is constantly being ventilated by magic tools. There are many doorways that are vents, and even though it's underground, a natural breeze is blowing in.

I've been trying to get out of the Great Hall with Nosfi and rest, but I haven't been able to sleep yet.

Even though the sun had set, it was only natural, since we hadn't even finished dinner yet.

Since then, after finishing dinner with everyone, I've been resting on the balcony alone, resting my body, as declared, after finishing the basic communication.

Basically, Maria and Ryner are keeping an eye on Nosfi, and Dia and Snow are guarding Yotaki while he's sleepwalking (Dia's reason for doing this is because of her ”over-capture protection” skill, but Snow's reason for doing this is probably because it seems easier).

Thanks to my companions' help, there's no more work for me to do than I should be doing, and I'm well rested for the fight with Fafner.

With my cheekbones, I look out at the underground city of the Great Holy City.

The underground world, which was revealed in its entirety when the flames were extinguished, contained a great deal of fantasy scenery from RPGs and fairy tales.

The ceiling was a starry sky of magic stone jewels in the dimly lit yet gleaming streets. As I was twilighted a bit in front of the unique air - a voice more intoxicated than I was echoed on the balcony.

''--Hmmm, the wind of darkness is ringing ....... Is this the lament of a starving city ......

Along with a poem that scored about eighty points on my scale, Rustyala appeared from inside the mansion.

She was dressed in a strange pose, resting her back against the edge of the bay window. I calmly understood its meaning.

'Translation: you're here to be hit by the night breeze. ......?'

'Yeah, you know exactly what I mean. That's what I'm talking about, Kanami.

Rustyala walked into the balcony, dressed in what appeared to be a thin garment that looked to be a nightgown. The dress is open from her chest to her collarbone, limiting the places she can turn her eyes. I have no choice but to look into her eyes as I speak.

'I'm kind of stuck on writing, ....... I'm here for a change.

'Writing is ....... Oh, that autobiography?

Rastiala holds the autobiography she is writing and shows it to me.

A year ago, I had seen him secretly writing it in the middle of the night. Oh my God, he's been doing that routine for a long time.

Yes, that. ...... I've accumulated a lot. It was in chapter one that Kanami helped me get myself back together, and it was in chapter two that I fought the Palinclones in the middle of the mainland. The year I was lost in the Confederacy alone with Kanami gone was three chapters, and the last confession was four. Now it's around chapter five - is it time to end it?

The last time I looked at it, it was only one chapter, but before I knew it, it seemed I was on my way to writing five chapters. I feel how quickly time flies, and I think back on the accumulation of my battles and answer a bit pensively.

'Indeed ....... This battle could be our final chapter ....... Once Yotaki wakes up, there is nothing more for me to do. Finding a way to return to the original world will be around ...... the epilogue. Unlike before, I don't really want to go back that seriously anymore.

Things have changed a lot since we last saw each other... at ......!　You don't have to leave, you just have to explore the maze until the end!　Mostly for my enjoyment!

I know. That's something I need to deal with.

If I'm the one who created the labyrinth, then I should be the one who ends it.

And once you reach the deepest part of the labyrinth, the story in this other world is over.

I've gotten past the epilogue and it's completely over. ......

I'm trying to relax before I see the goal in front of me.

However, I quickly regained my composure to not just let my guard down.

There are still some disturbing factors.

For example, what the apostle said about 'saving the world'.

The Lord of the Apostle named Noi, who seems to be living in the deepest part of the world.

Honestly, it's none of my business. I'm not responsible for that. I don't need to worry about it - I shouldn't - but I feel uneasy like a small bone in my throat.

I shake my head and shake off the anxiety, diverting the conversation to another topic.

'...... Come to think of it, you've been getting along with everyone lately,'

I think back to the dinner I had just had with everyone else and how they were making a lot of noise together.

They were laughing and laughing at each other as if they were kids who had come to visit their relatives, messing around with everyone.

'Right. I'm sorry that I left Kanami out of the picture for a while. As my girlfriend.

While Rastiara and the others were playing, I was thinking of something else from my seat in the distance. Of course, it was a plan to wake Yotaki up as soon as possible.

From there, I feel a shift in consciousness with her.

I'm putting 'my sister' first, but Rustyala 'everyone (everyone)' is my top priority. That's the gap.

So it's not a bad thing.

It's the same as when exploring the labyrinth, it's just a matter of pausing.

However, unlike me, who took it so calculatingly, Rustyala's expression was a little different. Clutching the autobiography in her hand as she writes, she talks about its end.

'I'm sorry Kanami, but if I don't unite with everyone ...... first, I'll be anxious when I fight the last enemy (the Russboss) in the last chapter. When you are fighting a troublesome boss, don't you think the most important thing is the bond with your friends is a promise?　Especially the last battle.

The Last Enemy (The Last Boss) .......

Interesting otherworldly language translations that have been made.

No, it's my translation magic, so I guess it's natural that it has a lot of game-like words.

In the original world, I would have been ridiculed for being a game brain, but that expression fit my brain well.

'Haha, a bond with your friends at the Lastiara, huh ....... It's a promise for sure. I don't dislike it, and I don't think it's a mistake. Bonding is a really important thing. ......

Right!

If the opponent is a wise-cracking boss, it's high time the protagonist and his companions took aim at the loosening of the bond between them. And Nosfi, who is now opposing me, would be the very representative of a petty boss.

Thinking back to her ability to stir things up, I let out a weak sound with a sigh.

'Nosfy's stuff is nasty, you know. Really: ......

'...... Kanami, Nosfi-chan is not the enemy (boss). That's the only thing that's definitely not true.

I was instantly rejected.

Instead, he treated Nosfi as if he were one of his friends, and even showed a faint look of anger.

'Isn't it Nosfi?　Then you're talking about the enemy (the boss), Fafner?

'No. ....... The last enemy for me is ...... Kanami (...) -- 'Gentile' Aikawa Kanami, I believe.

What?　I'm ......?

A completely unexpected answer followed.

For a moment, I thought it was a joke, but as far as that Rustyala's face was concerned, it wasn't.

It was serious. It stared straight at me with its golden eyes, which could be mistaken for the sun.

Its pearly white skin didn't even twitch. While she was staring at me, not moving even slightly, her hair, like silvery threads, was swaying in the night wind. It is reflected in her eyes, shining and dancing in the night, like smoke fluttering in a sacred ceremony.

I'm sorry for her seriousness, but her lofty figure and voice give me the impression that she's beautiful.

'I'm convinced that Kanami is the most troublesome enemy in the world. She's more troublesome than anyone else, more twisted than anyone else, more pathological than anyone else - but that's what I like about her. I'm trying my best to keep everyone on my side in case I have to fight (or beat) Kanami. I'm really, really desperate.

With a coy smile, Rustyala revealed the reason for his recent actions.

There would be no falsehoods, no detours, no real feelings.

Just like when he was talking to Nosfi earlier, he hits his heart. He looked just like I did when I was dealing with my guardian, and he was going straight at me.

I was at a loss for words, but I repeated her words, trying to understand their meaning as much as possible.

'Me and you fight ......?　When and why: ......?

'We've accepted each other's feelings, but we're still not convinced of each other's ideas. Uzumi wants to be happy with 'just one person of destiny', while I want to be happy with 'all of us together'. ...... much different. Really much different.

Rastiara laughs and explains it to me carefully.

She confides in me as if she's talking to someone she knows well in her calm home, but I can tell that she seriously believes that her thinking is fundamentally different from mine.

Immediately I look for an answer that matches her seriousness.

There's no pretense or detour here, and I tell her what I think, with enough feeling to bang my heart out directly.

I have to admit, I don't think your idea of 'we're all in this together' is a myth. Even if it's okay for now, everyone's feelings will soon be divided. As time goes by, everyone's feelings will gradually drift apart, and in the end there will be only one couple left (・・・・・・・・・・). People aren't that adept. I believe that each person can only love one person at a time. ......

'I wonder if Kanami needs to believe in us more: ....... See, we need to believe more in the bond between us and our friends!　We're at the end of the book, Kanami!

Rustyala looks down sadly and then tries to persuade me while thrusting the written autobiography in his hand.

'I believe in you. I believe in you all. That's why we're able to travel together now and fight the same enemies as friends. ...... but what Rustyala means by that is that after all the fighting, we're all in this together, right?　I think that would be really hard to do: ......

It's not that hard. You know the promise of the story, don't you, Kanami?　This Kanami and Rustyala heroic tale is full of cute girls!　Then naturally, the end is bound to be a harem of sorts!

I deny it, but Rustyala is stubborn and doesn't back down.

In the middle of it all is the word polygamy (harem), which the Reaper once jokingly suggested. Apparently it's a common form in this other world, but it's a value that I refused to accept to the Reaper, saying it was unacceptable to me.

What did I say at the time: .......

As I recall, it was 'only one destiny' for a person to be linked to - or so I thought.

Yes, I still think so.

There is no doubt about it.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work for you.

I give a wry smile at that funny situation. It's a good idea to have a small ”hahaha” laugh at me, and Rustyala's mouth is agape at my mischievous attitude.

'Kanami, I'm not joking. I'm very serious - I'm saying 'we're all in this together' for the happiness of everyone I love.

...... I know. Rastiara is always serious. I'm always going to support that kind of seriousness. I'm not going to stop you. ...... I just don't think I can do it,” he said. This is the only thing that I can't do, no matter what Rastiala says: ......

I didn't have time to think about it, but I repeated the word impossible.

I don't want to see anything but Rustyala's smile, but I keep denying it, knowing it will cloud her face. It's strange even to me - I repeat it.

At my response, Rustyala groans, ”Mmmm,” and exhales loudly in resignation, and--

Haha. ....... I'm really worried. That's one thing you won't give up--

Then, out of the blue again, he throws in a story that was completely unexpected.

'--For example, if there was a magic that Maria and the others could start over, Kanami would use it somehow, wouldn't she?

...... Huh?

I knew that me and Rustyala had different values, but it's been a long time since we've had all this unexpected talk. I've been pushed around so much that it reminds me of when we met.

I've only recently rejoiced that our thoughts and feelings are in sync with each other, so the feeling is even stronger.