347 344. Dead.txt (1/2)

It was the result of years of experience.

Because I was more skilled in assassination than anyone else, I knew how to counter assassination better than anyone else.

A knee strike would not inhibit my honed 'swordsmanship'. Rather, it is the swoop and counterattack from that stance that is my true essence. I dare to show an opening and then counterattack the opponent unexpectedly.

It was extremely natural.

In the space of a breath, it was all over.

I avoided the blade of blood that was approaching from the blind spot and generated the Sword of 'Magical Materialization' in my right hand while I was on my knees.

And the cutting edge had pierced the heart of the 'Blood Doll' without an inch of error.

''Why, ......?''

When I let out a stupid questioning voice, the pierced 'blood doll' stumbled backwards.

I hurriedly deactivated my ”magical materialization”, but it was too late.

The blood doll leaked blood from inside, as if a hole had been made in the glass of wine. It was losing blood just like a human, and at the end of its staggering, it slammed its back against the wall of the room.

As I watch the Blood Puppet slyly stick to the wall and bend its knees, I realize what has happened.

I had killed my benefactor who had gone out of his way to intervene in my life, but he had done the opposite.

My body was moving on its own.

Like that guy, I wasn't willing to die while uttering the words ”I want to die”?

No, I wanted to die for me. The situation is too different from when I was in Kanami.

Then is it the power of the 'reversal' of the example?　Was it the opposite of wanting to die, or has it become a force to be reckoned with, to live by?　No, that would be the first thing that would resolve this worst mood.

Other than that, was it the 'mommy ideal' that got in the way?

I've already admitted that I'm a haze, so why?

I don't know what's going on. I don't know what's going on anymore.

I was thinking endlessly, alone, trying to come up with an answer by myself.

But it wasn't, and then I heard the sound again.

I felt the 'blood puppet' that had been pierced by my sword and was about to lose its shape laugh.

And then the Noh mask of my face wriggles again.

Its movements were short, simple, and concise, so I understood it immediately.

He said to me - 'Strong' and 'I knew it, Ragne's swordsmanship is amazing'.

I can recall the tone of his voice in my head.

I once received the same compliment. The two of us traveled around the continent together, training knights and going around and occasionally having mock battles, and I heard the same words the first time I showed 'magic materialization' there.

''Riel-sama: .......''

I shudder at the fact that he still says the same thing after all this.

He was killed and turned into a blood monster, and I - who admitted to myself that I was a murderer with only an epidermis and a haze - still admire him. It was as unbearable as the horror of the raw.

'Well, that's ......, it's no surprise. ......

I never thought it would be so painful to have him praise me for being strong. I squeeze out the words I can't find well, trying to tell him that I don't deserve the praise.

'Oh, how many years do you think it's been since then ......!　I'm stronger now!　Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill all sorts of people, including Master Rielle!　I'm so much stronger now!　Don't think of it the same way you did when you were a maid of honor!　The same old Riel-sama, I can afford it!

But that's not because Ragne Kaikwola is strong; it's just that time has passed.

If only Rielle had lived with me ever since then, she would have been as strong as I was. I was going to say that, but the words that followed were different. In front of the 'blood doll' staring at me--

'Yes!　I'm stronger than Master Riel!　Quite frankly, the best in the world!　I'm strong!

For some reason, he was flaunting his power like an idiot.

Hearing that, the 'blood puppet' moved its head and nodded.

It was an insane word.

To brag about being strong in front of Rielle, who sacrificed her strength, is too arrogant. I want to die of self-loathing. I'm in pain, I'm in agony.

But I knew I had to do it.

The magic of the 'light' and 'star' in my body - more than (...), Rielle's gaze in front of me spurs me on.

And the Noh mask of the 'blood puppet' stirs.

I follow it with my eyes and read it.

''-- You are, without a doubt, a wonderful woman. I believe that you are the best of all the handmaidens--

The words I had heard in the past were repeated.

--At that moment, I felt as if my epidermis, which I had always hated, had been replaced (・・・・・・・).

I may have been hallucinating again, but I felt a slight surge of strength.

I used that power to move and try to stand up.

The 'blood puppet' that is watching me also moves, letting go of the blood blade and pointing at the wall of the room.

There were particles of light dancing there.

To be precise, the blood that had adhered to the room had been converted into light.

The light particles continued to be converted, filling the room to the brim.

Then they moved softly and swooshingly and were sucked into the stairs leading to the roof.

From the association, I assume that it is Nosfi-san's blood.

The blood that Fafner would have prepared is not light.

Probably some kind of big magic was activated on the rooftop. In conjunction with that, the blood that is part of her body seems to have turned into light.

''This is all ....... Nosfi-san's blood ......?''

The whole room is glowing.

I am appalled at the amount of blood.

The amount of blood, which is not enough even after a hundred times of exsanguination, shows how seriously injured she is.

I can also clearly see how much hurt and pain she had to go through to get up to this castle.

I'm sure she must have suffered even more than I do now.

Not only her body, but her mind must have been at the edge of shambles.

And yet, she was--.

A flutter.

The sound of blood popped again.

The 'blood doll', which is no longer just a torso, right arm and head, nodded.

I know what that means to me.

And yet, Riel still believes me to be 'the best'. It's a good thing that the same ”stealer of reason”, Mr. Nosfi-san, climbed up fifty floors, so it's a given that I'll be able to climb up too - even if I'm killed, I believe it.

I thought they were harsh words that drove me away as I foolishly tried to die.

But I know it's the opposite.

These are kind words. Words that are too kind to help me.

Even I can at least guess the conditions under which Fafner summoned The Blood Doll.

Now Riel Kaikwola is helping me.

She is helping me even in death.

He is trying his best to help me, the daughter of the woman who killed him, who is probably the one who took away his value and family name and replaced him with his place in the family.

So I stand up and answer to the 'blood puppet'.

Swallowing the blood antithesis, I resume my performance and say 'What I want to tell Riel Kaikwola' that I've been holding in the pit of my stomach for a long time.

'Riel-sama, I understand ....... I'll go to the 'summit' of the Fuzzy Yards ....... No matter what kind of end it is, I will go ....... I won't stop, I will finish as I am. So, please see me off .......

I got the 'ideal me (thing)' that I couldn't receive that day.

However, it's too late.

Rielle once asked me to go with her to Hoosiers, but I won't go with her anymore.

So much for Rielle.

Nevertheless, I told him positively that I was going to aim for the 'summit' of the Great Holy City.

I also properly stretched my chest.

The 'blood puppet' saw that and nodded widely at the end.

I could tell that he was satisfied, satisfied, and relieved.

Then he loses his form, like the 'stealer of reason' who has lost his 'untried'.

He returns to blood.

''--Goodbye, Riel-sama.''

I say a final goodbye.

I just bow to the trail of blood and start walking.

I open the door at the back of the 'Senate' room and walk up the stone stairs.

''Hah, hah, hah--!

Somehow the body works.

I know why.

With my earlier question and answer, I am now the 'Ideal of Riel'.

I'm in a state of moving after obtaining a new person's skin.

The current me is a phenomenon that fulfills his desire, ”--Lagne, find your new self in the great holy city,” ”I want Lagne to be Lagne,” ”I want Lagne to be Lagne,” ”I want Lagne to decide for himself. (Bolo).

The parting lines were an act.

Riel must have known that.

But he was satisfied, satisfied, relieved, and gone.

As I walked up the last flight of stairs, I thought about the meaning of that.

The me now, the me that is me......?

At least, that's what Riel thought. Then this person's surface skin is his true self. Then, the weak self like a haze until just now is not me?　No, it's not. That's my nature, and the 'chanting' of life proves it. Then which is it?　One of them must be right and one of them must be wrong. I don't understand that: .......

--it's too dark to know anything.

We need light to confirm this authenticity.

I need light to illuminate the truth that is hidden in the dark.

Yes, light.

All you need is light.

Light.

Light, light, light, light.

Light, light, light, light--

What comes to mind is Nosfi-san's kind face.

I no longer have only 'The One Who Steals the Reason for Light', Ms. Nosfi.

I've never seen another life as brilliant as hers. A light that is many times more deserving than this scruffy me. Like Rielle, who knew about my performance and tried to help me. Someone who reached out to me, even if I killed him.

He's a good man.

I love him.

I miss him.

I want you to see that smile one last time.

She's kind and bright and bright and dazzling and beautiful and loving, and I want her to teach me so many things.

Mr. Nosfi.

Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi.

Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi--!

With a single-minded desire to see the light, I move forward.

Each time I call my name once, I go up one step and walk step by step to the roof.

Then, after calling my name about fifty times, a strong light comes from the top of the stone stairs.

It was supposed to be nighttime, but it was as bright as morning.

Thanks to Mr. Nosfy, the 'top' must be shining brighter than ever.

It dazzles these stony eyeballs.

Oh, it's so bright ......!

'This, this light ......!　This brightness: ......!　Mr. Nosfy: ......!　Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi, Mr. Nosfi: ......!　Mr. Nosfy: ......!