314 311. Bottom of the ground.txt (1/2)

The basement of Hoozeyards Castle, its lowest level.

The towering underground space of the World Tree, where the apostles are said to dwell, is a sacred place, and outsiders are not allowed to enter. Normally, only a select group of knights would be allowed to enter this place, but right now, all of them are probably being evicted.

I don't need to check, but I can see that a burning fire is now swirling in the lowest level.

At the center of the swirling flames, next to the blood-red World Tree, she is there.

We fall toward it.

Now, from the top of the castle, through the hollow, we land with a huge bright red liquid.

''--[WIND]!

Blood!

Two magics shout out from the bright red liquid.

One is my wind magic. The other is Fafner's blood magic. Both were intended to cushion the impact of the fall.

The blood clots that fell from the upper levels of the castle exploded with a roar like a shell.

The impact was tremendous, but it did not destroy the underground space.

It was thanks to the blood being manipulated by Fafner into a soft cushion.

A large amount of soft and sticky blood spread out and extinguished the flames in all of the underground.

In an instant, it shifted from the realm of flames to the realm of blood. Then, I rise from within the pool of blood that was created in the center of space. I immediately toss the Reaper girl that I held under my arm to the hellish girl that was waiting for me here.

'Look, I've brought the Reapers!'

Tadaima. Hey, Maria.

The Reaper jumps up and hugs Maria, making a fluent noise.

Maria lowers her head slightly towards me as she strokes her head.

'Thank you, Ryner. I've been working with Reaper all the time lately, and I don't feel comfortable without her.

Mmm-hmm. Now, creep.

The Reaper enters Mary's body in the same way that he did when he snuck into Christ's clothes. Then the clothes stained with Mary's blood turn completely black. The outfit becomes as if it was clothed in darkness itself, and finally the black magic power converges and the Reaper's beloved scythe is formed in his right hand.

''Preparations are now complete. The above is ...... It seems to have worked well.

Maria confirms the flow of events while keeping her eyes on the ground. I sense a slight envy in her expression and I suggest, even after all this time.

Oh, it worked. ...... You really want to follow Christ, don't you?　You can go now, okay?　I'm the only one who needs to deal with the 'blood thief'.

Basically, I'm a good one-on-one knight.

I'm worried about fighting with this woman, even if it's Christ, but I'm worried about fighting with this woman. Honestly, I'm anxious enough to think that I'd be better off alone. In a misguided way.

However, Maria rejects the suggestion with a shrug of her shoulders.

'It's impossible. To be clear, without me, we can't even fight the 'one who steals the reason for blood'.

...... Not long ago, I had a good match with 'The One Who Steals the Light's Reason' nosfies.

I was distantly told that I was too heavy a burden to carry alone, so I tried to assert my own power with a bit of a straight face.

'Heh. Well, I was overwhelmed by that girlfriend, though. I mean, 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Light' Nosfi is an auxiliary specialized guardian (Guardian), you know?　Are you proud of being even with it?

Kook ......, this ......!

But it was easily defeated.

I didn't argue with her, and I kept my mouth shut.

It's clear that Maria's strength flies in the face of all of us. A year ago, I had seen her turn one of the battlefields into scorched earth. If she has grown even more since then and has been assimilated with the magic that is the Reaper, even I don't see any way to win. Or rather, I doubt that even Christ can win.

'I'm the main one. Reapers and liners are assistants. Follow my instructions.

...... Got it.

Without a doubt, Maria is the strongest person to fight as she pleases.

I had no complaints about that formation.

And it's also because I'm not in the mood for a real fight today. It's helpful to hear that you only need assistance because there are other things you want to pay attention to.

I take a step back and let Maria lead the way.

Out of the corner of my eye, today's enemy - 'The One Who Steals the Truth of Blood' Fafner was standing.

With the bright red World Tree at his back, he is looking at me in a pool of bright red blood.

Maria calls out to him in a friendly manner.

''Well then, nice to meet you. Mr. Fafner.''

...... Yeah, nice to meet you. I wanted to say hello to Kanami, but then I got dumped by these two. It's a good idea to have a good time with them. I'm sorry about that for Nosufi.

'I'm afraid I'm the one you're dealing with. Aren't you pleased?

As we had talked about beforehand, the two seem to be quite close.

Even though they are enemies, they converse with each other like kindred friends. And after Fafner finishes his greeting, he looks at me as well as Maria.

''My opponent is the three little ones or ....... Are you sure you're okay with all this?

'I have no intention of beating you today. We're just stalling until Kanami-san gets your 'scripture' or something like that back, so you'll probably be fine.

'Hmm. How long do you think that stall ...... will last?　I feel like I could get back to Nosfi's in a snap, you know?

Fafner warns us that our strength is unreliable. He's listening to our earlier conversation and wants to tell us not to lick ourselves.

Maria frowns slightly and checks with Fafner.

'...... Mr. Fafner. Unlike before, I'm going to talk to you today, leaning towards Nosfy.

'Yeah, actually, just a few minutes ago ....... I've heard a lot of 'honest' things from Nosfi and I've changed my policy (stance) a little bit. I'm trying to loosen up that guy's ordeal a little bit.

Loosen it?　You're a pervert who loves trials, ......?

The man in front of me seems to have a personality that makes this arsonist call him a pervert. I knew from going out with Titi that guardians (guardians) are often perverts.

I'm a little disgusted that I'm the only person with common sense right now, but I continue to watch their conversation seriously.

I'm not just loosening up, I'm even willing to lose it. That guy is a real idiot ....... I didn't know he was that stupid. A thousand years ago, if you'd said one word of weakness to me, I would have properly removed you from the list ....... I didn't know because I was playing the saint for nothing: ....... Oh, come on, ....... Already .......

Fafner grits his teeth and feels frustrated, as if he is about to step on the ground.

It's a shame that I was so deceived by the outer appearance of Nosufi that I failed to see the inside.

In my opinion, Nosphy is a troublesome and evil woman both on the outside and inside, but not to Fafner, it seems.

He mocks himself and begins to self-mock endlessly.

'Haha ....... It turns out I was wrong again ....... I found out later that I was wrong again ....... I can't help it again ....... Yeah, again. Failure upon failure. It's really a repetition of failure, my life. Hahaha--

Well, don't worry, there's a mistake or two that can happen to anyone.

Unable to see the enemy who is so depressed that he is about to kill himself, Maria follows up with kindness.

However, that would not be a kindness from the heart. This way, it's to prolong the time when we can have a rational conversation as much as possible - in other words, to prolong the stalling as long as possible.

'...... one or two failures? Yeah, maybe in this day and age. But in my day, that one mistake would have been fatal. It's a pretty rough world. Life was so cheap. There was no talk of human rights for slaves. Well, we were treated badly. There's no way you can be happy in one piece like you are.

Fafner seems to know Maria's history.

And I can see that they have a kind of camaraderie with each other, having been slaves to each other.

But there seems to be a big difference in the treatment of them in different times. From the way they talk, I would guess that a thousand years ago, a single minor failure would have cost them any of their limbs, and a serious failure would have cost them their lives.

''It was ...... that, well, I was a bit rash in my mouth. I'm sorry.

No, no, no. ...... You're the only one who can speak indiscreetly. After all, you're 'in bed' with Alty ....... That headless Alty and .......

'...... Come to think of it, you've said that before in a meaningful way. Isn't it about time you told me about your relationship with Arti?

Maria brings up the subject to buy time.

Fafner agrees.

'Relationship or ....... No, we're not really friends. Or maybe they just don't like me in general.

Seeing his leisurely demeanor, I slowly begin to doubt.

Was this man really being ordered to fight with Christ? I don't sense any impatience or anything else from the conversation.

'What? Aren't you a friend ......?　I was so familiar with Alty. ......

'Hmm. I'm not friends with that one, but we're fellow failures. They're also friends who were saved by the Vortex Wave. It's the fellow who was captured by the ...... great nobleman-sama and kept getting his magic extracted.

'Magic extraction, ......?'

They failed: ....... They heard a rumor about ”The One Who Stole Reason” and they caught him, cut off his arms and legs, experimented on him in various ways, and used him successfully as a source of infinite magic ....... Haha ......

More self-mockery again.

It's a self-mockery that reminds me somewhat of Snow, but unlike that one, Fafner doesn't drag it out. He quickly turns brighter and continues his story.

'Well, that's okay. It's okay, that's all right, because we ”logic thieves” don't die. It's not a failure. However, the other guys are ....... The demons we were captured with died tragically. The rare slaves who were suited to the Demon Poison also died in vain. They all died and died and died and died at the end of their painful experiments. As it is written in some scripture. --Chapter 2, verse 2: 'Life is to join hands with pain and suffering. If you only seek mercy and withdraw your hand, you will only meet ruthlessness,' so the reality was really cruel.

It's a pretty dark story, but the expression on his face remains cheerful.

It's a story that doesn't feel real to me, living in the present day, but the man in front of me must have seen it all. And yet, he's still cheerful and positive.

That's why we who have survived must do our best for those who have died. ...... Yes, we have a responsibility to take care of them. Now that we've taken on that regret, we must never give up.

It seems to be the way to feed off of misfortune and move on.

He's just as much of a trialist as I've heard.

The trouble is, that's what this guy asks for, not just from himself, but from others as well.

I can see it in his eyes. Everything I just said is directed at me and Maria. He's putting pressure on himself and others to keep moving forward and suggesting that we keep moving forward.

But as he speaks it, both of his eyes are slowly losing focus.

'Yeah, yeah ....... We need to move on for those who have failed ....... We have to move on, even the deaths of those we love, in exchange for power ....... It's a world-imposed test and a person's growth. It's never to be mourned. Yes, it's in the scripture. Yeah, everyone dies and dies and dies, but the survivors never weep ....... There's no weeping .......

Despite the words, tears begin to seep from those empty eyes.

It looks like he's putting too much pressure on himself, and he's just crying because of that pressure.

Anyway, this man is not normal. Just by talking to him for a moment, his spirit is tattered on its own, all on its own.

Immediately, I check my surroundings in preparation for the fight.

Maria in front of me also glances to the side to check the battlefield.

The ceiling is high, and the underground space is cut out in a circle. A pool of blood has formed on the ground, as if a slight amount of juice has been poured into a glass.

There is a lot of water. And it's not exactly fresh blood. Clearly, it's not a good battlefield for burning enemies.

It's not so much that it will affect Maria's fire magic, but it's something to consider.

I'm not going to be able to say that the blood on our bodies right now is the enemy's weapon of choice.

As we become more and more cautious, Fafner continues to speak.

...... Hey, juniors. Let me ask you something. Have you ever thought about death?　Have you ever thought about what death is?　Have you ever envisioned how the creature dies?

Fafner's tearful appeal to me is so obvious and crazy.

I can see that he's slowly losing himself. In contrast, Maria, the leader here, calls out my name in a small way.

''--Rainer. It's about time.

Yeah, I know. I've reached my limit.

The stalling by conversation could end at any time.

We tell each other that we are in a state of readiness.

”People die. Somewhere in time, they will die. They will become blood and return to this earth. ...... It must be ...... now!　Now, now, now, now!

Fafner starts shouting alone with a teary-eyed smile as we clench our scythes and swords.

'Every time we count, one by one, people die!　More deaths per second, more than a hundred a day, more deaths per year than you can count!　Hahaha, if you put all the living things together, not just people, it's really a huge number, right?　Everywhere, everywhere, always, someday, you'll die an endless death!　Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead!　We're dead!　The world is filled with nothing but death!　After a thousand years of countless deaths, now the world is going to be flooded with 'blood'!　It could spill out at any time!

Somewhere in the world, people are dying.

Fafner is desperately trying to convey such a commonplace fact to us.

He seems to want to say that this is the most important thing in the world, but the temperature difference between him and us is huge. I wanted to say that we can't stop thinking about the dead, but I didn't have the courage to say it in the face of their too strong cries.

''Can't you hear the regretful voices of those dead people!　The sorrows of the dead, their sorrows swelling in the depths of the earth forever!　And the onus is on those who can hear it!　Oh, we have a responsibility to fight this world!

I think its a cry that is too true.

Maybe ...... Fafner really does hear it.

Is it the characteristics of the 'blood stealer' or some kind of magic? Or is it 'compensation'?

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.

So while I'm calmly analyzing 'The One Who Steals Blood's Reason', Fafner's voice gradually becomes less and less.

'Yeah, I had a responsibility to fight ......!　I just didn't have the strength to fight ....... All I could do was keep reading The Scripture in the depths of hell ....... I'm .......

He was still eloquent, but the momentum was completely lost.

He turned his gaze to the pool of blood, as if Maria, who was supposed to be talking, was not in his eyes, and continued to talk to his reflection in that red surface.

'So, I need ....... I desperately need Kanami ....... Kanami is all we have left. The only one who can save us is Kanami already. We desperately need the 'Great Savior (Magna Messiah)' in the world .......

Once you see it like that, you can't help but think it's crazy, even if you know it's an insult.

I can't help but feel sorry for him, that it's too late for many things.

But it's not just Fafner.

It's not just Fafner, it's all of the ”Stealers of Reason”.

The image that comes to mind is that of the thieves I've encountered. Did they all become so mad because they were late in being saved?

'Yes. ....... We have to go see Kanami soon ....... Yeah, I know ......, you don't have to tell me that many times to know ....... I will live for Kanami and die for Kanami. And Kanami will be the 'Great Saviour (Magna Messiah)' in the 'Deepest' ....... And that's the end of my role.

Fafner raised his face as the conversation ended against the pool of blood at his feet.

Before I knew it, his hair had changed color. Instead of the dull blonde hair that resembled mine, it had become a murky, muddy color. The color of his skin and eyes have changed as well. It's as if dozens of colors of paint were mixed together - complementary colors that cannot be described.

The eyes are turned on, as if all the countless emotions have melted at once, and Fafner takes a step forward.

He knocks us down and moves to get out of this lowest level.

'--I'd better get going.

One word.

As war is declared, Maria releases her magic.

''-- 《Blindness》!

A large amount of black smoke erupts from Maria's clothing and begins to surround Fafner.

It's probably an attempt to close off her vision with the Reaper's dark magic and prevent her from heading upwards.

''--Fresh blood magic, ”New Year Nine South (Revansies) Northern Border War Begins (Border First).

In contrast, Fafner also uses magic.

In just a few seconds, nearly a hundred blood puppets were generated from the pond and surrounded Maria.

As I had heard, Fafner seems to knight and control the blood. Naturally, enemies sprang up near me as well, so I immediately run towards the stairs leading to the ground.

Several blood knights slash at me, but I ignore them all. It would be more important to get away from the two of them first. It's not for the purpose of maintaining the stairs, which is the keystone, but simply--

Flame Flame Flamberge!

It's to avoid getting caught up in Maria's magic.

The black scythe in her hand blazes up, ignoring its L-shaped shape to complete the giant flaming sword. Maria spins like a pawn and swings it lightly.

The visible sword is huge, but it probably doesn't weigh much. The flaming sword passed through the entire bottom level as if it had dispatched a feather broom.

As a result, all of the blood puppets that should have been close to a hundred were evaporated. However, except for Fafner, who was the most targeted one.

''Kuhaha!　d*mn you, Maria!　After all, a knight at the start of the war is only a moment away!

The darkness that had surrounded him with flames was dispelled, and out of it emerged an unharmed Fafner. Then, he praised its splendid magic.