306 303. Settlement.txt (1/2)

While I was reviewing me, the battle of Rustyala was going on.

He dragged his body, which hadn't fully recovered, to the center of the storm that had occurred in the underground city, leaving Dia to try to stop it.

The tactic Rastiara had chosen against Snow was simple.

To approach her again with no guard and strike her from the heart in front of her eyes. It was exactly the same as Dia's persuasion earlier.

Rustyala probably knows that this is the only way to truly understand each other. Maybe he's trying to imitate me. In order to save Snow, I see them approaching, teaming up, shoving down, and being knocked down while eating the attack - and starting to argue with each other right under their noses.

'--Lastiara-sama, I can't ......!　I'm no good and no good and no good, so I can't help but have Kanami: ......!　I can't live without Kanami by my side: ......!

I know, Snow.

'Kanami would spoil me ....... But Kanami isn't just mine anymore....... Ugh, ugh, if it wasn't for Lady Rustyala, she would have been mine all along......!　Always, always, Lady Rastiara says all the right things, and in the end, she makes it all about her!　It's mine and it's ......!　Kanami was mine. ......!

'Hmm. You're afraid to be alone again, aren't you Snow? ......

Lastiara, assembled on the gutted ground of the underground city, put up no resistance at all, and risked his life again, unprotected, to consult with Snow.

'Snow, this is the second time you've been in this form ....... It was also like this during the 'Dancing Tournament' .......

The 'Dance Competition' ......?　Wow, I lost that day ....... I was a loser, and something important was taken away from me ....... But this time it's different, I'm on top of Lady Rustyala ......!

”You got robbed by ....... I don't blame you if you think so, but I'd like to tell you something.

It's true that the situation is very similar to the 'Dancing Competition'.

However, it's as if the form is different.

In the past, Rustiala had mounted Snow's opponent, but this time, he was able to take it the other way. If Snow, who is now riding a horse, pushes his fist down, Rustiala will die. With its brain plasma scattered around.

Nevertheless, Rastiara answers bullishly.

''Snow....... It's true, this time it's a bit different than before. We were like strangers then, but we are different ...... now. I sincerely want to save you, not Kanami, but me. And I'm not the only one who feels that way.

Rastiara turned her eyes away from Snow, deliberately.

Snow's eyes moved in response, caught by it.

Beyond that, there was another companion. It's the same Dia who was present at the quarterfinal fight of the previous ”Dancing Tournament”.

The expression on her face is completely different from the one from the ”fighting tournament”.

On the day of the quarterfinals of the tournament, she hated Snow and denied all existence. She had raised her eyebrows in a crow's eye and worried about her friends from the bottom of her heart.

Both Rastiara and Snow.

She reached out her hand to Snow further and screamed as her throat tore out.

'Snow!　Come back!　We're on the same side!　Come back and practice your sword with me again!　I haven't taken one for you yet!

”Sis, Mr. Sis: ......?

That Dea's voice arrived.

The moment I recognized someone other than Rastiara, I think Snow's madness eased a bit.

When it was me and Rastiara alone, my emotions were so high that I couldn't carry on a conversation, but when it was my friend Deah, I could sense solid reasoning from Snow.

''Not so!　Idiot!　When you call me--!

'Ugh. ....... Dear.......

Oh, Snow!　I'm Deere!　I'm right here, too!

Snow was visibly shaken by Dea's arrival. His vision, which would have been narrowed, had widened and he could see his surroundings from a distance.

The fire that had been lit in the depths of Snow's mind had not yet been extinguished, but the fire was certainly shaking. The wind that Dia delivers reassures Snow, and she is on the verge of coming back to herself.

And then Rustyala gives further chase.

She shifts her gaze once more, saying that there is something else she wants to show you.

A pillar of fire climbing out of his gaze. Maria, who should have been full of herself alone, was standing there.

'Su, Snow-san: ......'

Maria couldn't bear to look at it either. Slowly, step by step, she approached Snow, pillar by pillar of fire, dripping copious amounts of sweat and calling his name. Following that, he shakes his body to its limit and shouts.

''I'm sorry, Snow, ....... My magic is causing this ......!　And now, I'm sure you'll be fine, Ms. Snow. ......!　Because I know that this past year, Snow, more than anyone else, you lived strong and valued your bond with everyone more than anyone else!　Thanks to you, the bond between me and Mr. Rustyala has never been broken!　I know your kindness better than anyone else!

Maria. ......!

After saying what she wanted to say, Maria collapsed in the pillar of fire again.

There was no doubt that it was a cry for all the strength she had left. Snow knew that the last of Maria's strength had been used for her, and tears came to her eyes as she returned the name.

In front of that teary-eyed Snow, Rustyala spoke as if to stop her.

'Snow, it's okay. Don't worry. It's not just Kanami anymore. Even if Snow gets serious and fails, she has a lot of friends who will give her a voice. There are... .......

Rustyala moves her folded body and goes to hold Snow's head in her arms. She then begins to stroke him, proving what she said earlier on the ship, and tries her best to spoil Snow.

'Everyone here is not Snow's hero. But we all think of Snow as our 'best friend'. So, it's okay ....... It's okay, Snow: .......

And 'best friends' ......!　You guys are my 'best friends': ......!

Those words tugged at Snow's heartstrings.

Snow, who was similar to Rowen, the one who stole the reason of the earth, had always wanted a best friend just like him. However, the tragic loss of a best friend in the past must have been a kind of trauma for him.

That is now being resolved in a perfect situation.

It was also a moment that proved what Rastiara had said about chance.

Snow is delighted at the birth of her new best friend.

It was an exultation as great as the flame of Arti, the 'one who steals the reason for the fire' within himself.

He immediately responded with a throaty reply, trying to drown out the fire in his heart with the wind of joy.

'Yes ......!　Yes, Mr. Rustyala: ......!　Lady Rastiara is a good friend of mine: ......!　You said you would live with me: ......!　You said you were with me to the end: ......!　You've made friends with this no good me: ......!　I don't want to lose a friend again!　My best friend who is willing to sacrifice himself for me!　My best friend who will do the best for me!　I'll never lose it again!

Snow barked at the sky.

At the same time, his entire body relaxed and Rastiara was released from his restraints.

''Un......''

Rastiara accepts that confession from Snow with a little embarrassment. Then she moves her freed body, stands up, and hugs Snow's head again as she bows to the sky with her knees propped up, and continues to stroke it endlessly.

Snow sinks her face into her chest and apologizes, tears, snot and drool on her face.

She had already come to her full senses.

'Oh, oh my god, I'm sorry ......!　I'm sorry, Lady Rastiara!

'Well, we're back to the patterning. ...... but that's just like Snow, so it's okay. It's a pain in the ass to fix.

'Dear Rastiala, ....... Oh, I'm angry ......?　You are angry, right?　I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!　That was just a tragedy!　It's just a blip on the radar!　So please, don't abandon me!　Let me stay with you!　I still want to be with you guys!

”-- Snow!　Like I told Dear, it's okay!　They've been talking about getting in trouble a lot on the boat, to which I responded with a thud!　There's no way in hell I'm going to overturn that in the future!　So, Snow is still Snow, and I'd be happy to stay with you for the rest of your life: ......

'La, Lady Rastiara ah! ......!　Thank you ......!

Snow, who is crying heavily, hears Rastiara's response and doubles her tears with more gratitude.

After sufficiently caressing and loving that Snow, Rustyala pats her and then goes to the last problem that still remains in the underground city.

'Feng, the rest is at ......'

It is a pillar of fire that rises a little farther away.

The girl who is the magic user who gave birth to this situation and the girl Rustyala has known the longest. Facing Maria, Rustiala proudly reports.

''How's this?　Maria.

...... Yes. I'm too quirky for words. This is why I admire Ms. Rustyala so much.

'Yeah, yeah?　I mean, that's kind of a big grin on my face: ......

Rustyala slackens her cheeks and moves closer to the pillar of fire that scorches her flesh.

Likewise, Maria is smiling happily, but the cold sweat on her forehead is noticeable. She can't even stand, and it looks like she's having a hard time just talking.

''Now, all that's left is to eliminate all my magic ....... But, you know, can I ask you to hurry up a bit ......?　Actually, it's pretty close to the edge: ....... ......

'Yeah, let's turn it off. Those flames have helped me in a lot of ways, but it's not something I should use too much. It's called ......, so dire!　Help me!　It has to be Deer!

Dea, who had been stunned when she was away, was called out to her, and she hurriedly approached at a small run.

''Oh, oh!

Then, two of the world's highest class sacred magic users stand side by side, holding hands and casting the same magic to save Maria.

''-- 《Remove》!

REMOVE!

Rustyala holds up her hand and emits a magical light, while Dia enlarges her arms of light and wraps them around Maria's body.

The next thing you know, the pillar of fire is deflating as if it has lost its oxygen.