385 382. New calendar 0005, New calendar 0006.txt (1/2)

''I think I've said it before, but the method I propose is simple. To make Yotaki a vessel that can adapt to the star (...) 'demonic poisoning' at once - oh, now it's called 'the one that steals the reason for the stars', right?　Anyway, you have to complete it. In other words, I'm going to keep gathering the power of this world and keep raising it to the 《level》.

We gather in the tower where we study and practice our usual ”spellcraft” - or rather, in the building that is now huge enough to be called a castle - and listen to Sis sister's story.

Now, in the great hall, there are three of us, myself, my master and my Sith sister.

A large number of books, containing the results of our research to date, were scattered around it. We stayed up all night to read through them in order to take over the treatment from Master Di Prakra. Based on those information, the Sith sister continued her forceful speech.

'It seems that Di Prakra was planning to create only one ideal 'one that steals the reason of the stars' after generations of research, but since ...... those days, I was against it. Because there's never going to be enough time for us forever, is there?　I don't see how it can get any worse, like the current Yangtaki!　Then we should have always taken the shortest path!

The Sis sister is noticeable for her pure and innocent child-like behavior, but that's why she often gets to the heart of things.

When you are wise enough to see the future, you tend to procrastinate when you still have time to do so. Like me and Master Diprakra now.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you can't get rid of all of these things.” ...... No, in the process, Yangtaki should get a body that can leapfrog all of the diseases. Because that's what it means to get 'everything'.

And unlike the cunning me and Lady Diprakra, Sis sister can't hide anything.

Anyone can easily read the other purpose behind those words. Seeing the eyes of the master next to me grow steely, I ask before the conversation becomes sulky.

''Sister Sis, I have a question ....... That sounds like you're going to make Sister Yotaki take on the 'everything' in this world ......

Yeah, I suppose. I'd like that to happen, and when it does, I recommend it. ...... But I won't force you to do so. If the disease is cured while collecting magic power, you can stop the [Level Up] at that point. Even if for some reason you become 'the one who steals the reason of the stars', I won't even ask you to definitely take the place of the Lord.

If it's the character of a sissy sister, she'll say, ”You're right!　Hurray for being cured of an illness and also being a cornerstone for the world! I thought he would answer immediately, but he didn't.

She very gently lowered her eyes and quietly shook her head.

Her gesture definitely showed the fraternal love she had for her sister Youtaki. The master next to her opened his eyes and was truly surprised.

''Really (really)?　Sis sister is a mess when it comes to the world. If Yangtaki Sis becomes the 'one who steals the star's truth', she's likely to say that there's no one else she can be, so she should sacrifice for the world.

...... Who else could it be?　That's not true, Tiara!　It doesn't matter how many ”star-star-stealers” you have!　I'm sure the Lord would be happy to have so many to choose from!　Hmmm.

''What? How many people can make 'The One Who Stole the Star's Reason' ......?

Could a being be born that easily to rule the world with a plop?

I had the image that there was only one 'one who steals the reason for the stars' in the world, but apparently the expert apostle was different.

''In the end, there will be one person who will bear the 'all'. But don't you think it's possible to make as many candidates as you want?　Because there's more than enough magic in this world!

While living in a world of dark clouds full of despair, only Sister Sis saw hope in her life.

That positive mindset is something that I and my mentor probably don't have. She may be lacking in many areas as a person, but instead she has many things that we don't have.

''I believe that my allies and Tiara can also become 'The One Who Steals the Star's Reason' one day. So if you don't want to sacrifice Yotaki, then maybe one of you should be the 'replacement'?

At the end of that hope, I declared that my mentor and I, lined up here, were also candidates.

It wasn't easy to believe that, but Sister Sis took our hands one by one and encouraged us.

'You guys are really special,' she said. Because you're the best friends I've ever chosen - not, you're the best allies and 'saints'!　If you guys get serious about it, nothing is impossible. ...... Yes, I believe it!

That overly straightforward favor makes me and my master's faces redden.

She has no backhandedness.

It's just that--.

So you can trust me too. Yangtaki will be cured for sure. I will always be there to check on his condition. If you don't want anything to go wrong, I'll do my best to keep this Apostle Sith from going crazy--

It moves us all.

Slowly the Master nodded, though he hadn't yet shaken off his anxiety and hesitation.

''Sis, I believe you ....... I know from your explanation now that you're thinking about me and Yotaki in your own way.

It's nothing!　No, it's not!　The world and the Lord will always come first for me!　I don't think for a minute that you should be a little nicer to your allies just because you had a fight with them!

Apparently, the arguing with the master up to today has affected the merciful treatment of the Sith sister this time.

Her overly honest growth and guts remind me of her true age - she's only about ten years old and a bit.

Master seems to have had a similar impression, and smilingly nodded at Sis sister's words.

''Yeah, you're right, ....... I truly believe that you're right this time. We were the ones who took it easy, ....... The goal we set up had to be as high as you .......

'I believe it too. Master and I have a tendency to be too cautious. I'm starting to feel like I'm just fine with my Sis sister.

As usual, I agreed with my mentor.

Hearing those two replies, the Sith sister laughed a little tearfully.

''Tozen!　You should have let me handle this from the beginning!　I guess I realized that too late!

This was the moment of the beginning of the Apostle Sith's plan.

The plan was simple.

It was not to uncover the cause of the disease, but only to continue strengthening Sister Yotaki's body.

It was too forceful and chaotic, but it was enough of a plan to make Master believe that he was right.

After all, at the root of Master's plan was his absolute trust in Sister Youtaki. I believe it is better to leave all the power to my sister herself than for others to do something unnecessary.

I was the only one who was against this plan.

Although I am not directly harmed by it, I can only feel uneasy about strengthening my rival Youtaki sister. However, I knew that if I opposed it here, it would result in a future where ”a new 'adventure' would begin with only our friends, excluding Tiara, who opposed the trip to gather magic power.

My master's ”adventure” is going on beyond my reach.

This is a defeat for me, comparable to having my favorite book taken away.

What's more, I didn't want to take my eyes off my sister Yotaki, who was being strengthened.

When the conversation had been decided without me being able to speak out against it, Master walked out of the great hall when he called for Yotaki to come.

I did not follow behind him.

I cautiously stare at the remaining Sith sister from afar.

'--Hmmm. Yes, Diprakra and I are different ....... From the beginning, I was right. Not Diprakra, but this Sis. And yet, everyone praises the cowardly and cowardly diplakra only ....... The truth is, I was right--

I couldn't take my eyes off of not only Yangtaki sister, but also Sis sister.

I, as a pawn, couldn't help but move away from everyone else.

-- and after this day, Sith sister's plan rapidly progressed.

First, the usual work of rescuing people suffering from illnesses in various places was performed not with spellcraft 《level up》 but with a stone that sucks magic power. He repeatedly carried the magic-powered stone, which had accumulated magical power, to his sister Youtaki's hospital room to repeatedly ”level up” with the intention of strengthening her body.

The results were immediate.

In just about a month, Sister Youtaki's condition was on the mend.

The disease that Master Di Prakra had been leveraging so much was solved by the simple plan that Sister Sith had come up with.

The master was impressed by the surprisingly strong results.

On the day sister Yangtaki was able to move again, Master hugged his sister as she sat on the bed and shed a thin tear.

''-- Thank God!　I wasn't wrong on this one: ......!　Ah, you-taki ......!

'I'm sorry, brother. I'm sorry for worrying you again. ...... I'm sorry for being a really weak sister.

At that moment, sister Yotaki's gaze, who was in her master's arms, turned to me. Immediately I almost braced myself, but the words that followed released the tension.

''Both Sis and Tiara ......, thank you so much .......

Our heads are bowed to those of us who have been helping to gather magic power for the past month or so. To that, the Sith sister quickly replies with her heart.

''Yes, tozen!　There's still a lot of things I want Yotaki to do for you, I would never allow you to die here!

''Uh, yeah. It's between me and Yotaki's sister. This much is only natural!''

And I continue to watch sister Yotaki's expression as I continue to follow suit.

Honestly, I thought that the worsening of my illness this time was a stepping stone to hunt me down and kill me.

I had a feeling that some kind of catastrophic accident in the middle of this plan would put me in the worst predicament ever. ...... It has already been two full years since Sister Yotaki uttered the words ”the beginning of the real final chapter that is not a one-sided effort”.

It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

Is all that bullish dialogue a stalling bluff?

I was doing so well now that such thoughts came to mind.

The ”curse” that has been haunting me for a long time, but I am no longer weak enough to die from a hole in my organs. The blood power that I inherited from the late Helmina has been forged to a numerical value of 2.00, and it's able to repair even fatal wounds.

There is plenty of magical power to do this.

It's partly because I've grown, but more importantly, I have a large amount of magic in the Rufbringer.

Ever since I wore this on my hip, I've been stealing magic power from many different sources. It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to find out what's going on.

-- In other words, no matter how hard the 'curse' tries to kill me, the existence that causes me to die by accident is itself becoming less and less.

If this isn't going well, what do you call it going well?

The strategy of growing up while escaping is a bonanza.

That horrible 'curse' can be treated as a trivial matter, and I've accumulated a magical power that is as strong as those who steal 'reason'.

With that smooth development, my anxiety naturally fades.

Then, a few days after Sister Youtaki was able to move, Master and Sister Sis talked about the future in the usual large hall.

''--Yeah, yes. You're getting pretty good. Yangtaki's ”Magic Power Transformation (Level Up)” seems to be going well. ''Alliance.''

No, not yet. You're not perfect. It's not enough.

In response to the word ”well”, Master shook his head.

The current Youtaki sister was only writing off the deterioration, but not a complete cure.

Having caused his sister pain once by carelessness, Master is determined not to repeat the same thing.

As per Sis sister's original policy, they will not take it easy and will move on to the next and the next.

...... I understand.

'Sith, let's go north. We need to get more of them.

The southern countries have less magic power to gather because Master and I went around bailing them out.

Therefore, our next destination was decided to be the northern lands.

-- Thus, as seen in the skill 'Reading', the four of us will begin our journey with sister Yotaki.

This last ”adventure” was the culmination of my life, I believe later on.

After all, at my age, there are not many people who can compete with me anymore.

Because I had been aiming at Sister Yangtaki for so long, I had become too strong. If you've been using the Rufu Bringer worn on your waist, you would have been able to defeat the ”reason stealers” from all over the world.

Even though she and Yangtaki sister have been pushing each other as masters under the surface, they are used to each other's mastery under the surface - rather, thanks to that stimulus (spice), I thought the 'adventure' became even more enjoyable.

A little bit of danger, a big world I've never seen before, and the best 'adventure' I've ever had with my favorite friends - that's what I thought.

”New Year Five.

-- This year's 'adventure' was the best ever.

Looking at Master and Sis sister saving people in various places, together with Yotaki sister in the back, they would say to each other, ”Quicksilver, Master...” and ”Totally my brother is .......

It was as if they were arguing about their impressions of a single book, and it was a pleasure that they didn't have on their trip together.

And at the end of that adventure, we ended up in the farthest reaches of the 'Northern League', the country of Viisia.

There, for the first time, we were able to see The One Who Stole the Wind's Truth from a distance.

She was more sublime and noble than the rumor of the Mad King, but there was no doubt that she had a crack in her heart. Master was worried about this, but in the end, he backed off for safety reasons.

If Master had come to the north alone, he would have definitely tried to help her, even though they were in the middle of hostile territory.

However, thanks to my master's professional maneuvering (control) and my sister Yotaki, the last page of the North's ”Adventure” closes with a very peaceful conclusion.

”Kanami's group headed north, and if there were people suffering from illnesses along the way, they were rescued without discrimination, even if they were 'demons'. Quietly, Kanami and the others thought they were 'adventuring', but little by little, the name of the 'Founder Kanami', the creator of the 'magic arts', began to spread in the north. The 'savior' of the north may have been the 'Lord' who controls it, but the world begins to hear that the 'savior' who transcends the barriers of the nations is the 'Founder Kanami' -

When that journey was over, we had completely achieved our original goal.

After gathering magic power to collect it, Sister Yangtaki had reached a higher level than anyone else.

That meant that she had obtained a body that was stronger than anyone else's.

By the time it seemed that the symptoms of the illness that had been tormenting Sister Youtaki for so long were only faintly lingering, we had safely made it back to Hoozuya's.

The plan was not only going well, it was perfect.

My fight was not only going well, but it was going perfectly, too.

The amount of power that had been secretly built up in the Rufbringer is now a frightening amount to measure. The resistance from that ample magical power has enough output to drag all of Sister Youtaki's 'threads' around in reverse.

I thought that if they had come this far, they were already enough to be on par with Youtaki's sister.

We haven't yet performed the answer match after the example 'adventure', but I've already won the example 'duel' nine times out of ten.

”In the end, Aikawa Uzumi's 'curse' exceeded Aikawa Uzumi's intentions, and no one died. The issue of the 'Curse' of the 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Dimension' was settled as Tiara Huzu Yards, who became stronger than anyone else, continued to carry it on her back. And sister Yotaki, who saw my appearance, finally admitted that we were 'equals'. This is how far the 'adventure' of the three of us, Aikawa Yotaki, who overcame the illness, me, who overcame the 'curse', and my teacher, who added my teacher to it, will continue--

When the skill ”Reading” almost caught such a last page -

The incident will happen.

”New Year Six.

It was a rainy day just after the start of the new year.

That night, my sister Yotaki crossed the 'border'.

It was the line that separated the ”human” and ”monster”. To put it into numbers, this is the moment when Youtaki's level reached 30. I was so close to winning the ”duel” that I was caught off guard, so I didn't realize it until later.

''----?''

I jumped out of bed when I felt an unusual magical surge in my sleep.

Then I immediately ran around the Hoozeyards' castle. I tried to borrow my master's 'dimensional power', but there was no one in the bedroom. Next, I headed to my sister Yotaki's room, but it was empty too.

''...... Eh?''

I felt my fading anxiety swell to its maximum here.

My body was moving before the 'thread' pulled me.

I ran with an unpleasant feeling and came to the great hall where we all always practiced 'spellcraft' together.

By the time we got there, it was all over.

Sister Sis and Master were facing each other with a grim expression.

Their quarrel was a scene I had seen here several times before. However, the air on this day was frozen in comparison to the fights they had repeated until today.

What determines that it is different from the past is the one 'monster' that my master is holding in his arms.

Although it is close to a humanoid 'Fiend', it is not the same thing. First of all, its skin is dyed black and is lined with dragon-like scales. The number of fingers and toes on its hands and feet is also different from humans. The body of the ”monster” was covered in frost from the ”power of ice” and a sword was stuck into its chest.

When I confirm that much, I know that the 'monster' is Aikawa Yotaki.

Master, who held the corpse of sister Yotaki in his arms, grabbed the sword in his hand and shouted.

''--Ah, ah, ah, ah!　How dare you fool me!　Sis!

I am stunned by the sight.

'What ......?'

What, what ......?

This 'ending' is available at ......?

And my skill 'reading' - works as if it was to explain this situation to me at this time.

”After transforming too much magic power, Aikawa Yotaki has finally crossed the 'boundary'. From a 'person' to a 'monster', Aikawa Yotaki turned from a 'person' to a 'monster', and even his spirit was distorted. Everything was broken, as if a chapped vessel was shattered by the weight of the water it was filled with. Realizing everything, Aikawa Yotaki released all of his 'ice power' and froze himself. Even if he becomes a 'monster', he wishes to die as a 'human' to his brother Aikawa Uzumi - his heart is pierced.

Sister Yotaki became a 'monster' ......?

What do you mean, ”pierced in the heart” means he's dead?

No, I'm not dead. Not only that.

If she were dead, there wouldn't be so many 'threads' swirling around the example.

I don't know why, but even in that state, Yotaki's sister is still alive.

However, the only person who can determine that - right now is me.

''----!

When I came to that point, a chill I hadn't felt in a long time ran down my spine.

I hurriedly turned around.

I'm going to be able to see the collector of the ”curse” - the ”slice”.

The will that lurks behind the slice is even more confused than I am.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.

A chill swells up down my spine when I see that.

--Uncomfortable.

The world (that) was ridiculed for not even understanding people's feelings, but what is it that makes people alive? Do we have a philosophical answer to this question?

Undoubtedly, the world (it) only perceives human life in terms of 'life as a living organism' only.

If that is the case, the world, which has decided that it cannot collect the ”price” from the heartless Youtaki sister, will next aim at--

''Sister Yotaki! ......!

At this time, I understand the aim of Sister Yotaki.

The main premise of my escape from the curse until today is that Yotaki sister and I have been sharing the ”price”.

That balance, similar to the building blocks, has now been completely shattered.

The gaze of the 'slice' that had been lost is slowly turning to me.

It was instinctively similar to a beast biting into the nearest prey. The 'slit' that only I can see is growing as if it were opening my eyes. As if trying to swallow me up, everywhere and nowhere, it becomes bigger -

'Hah, hah, hah, hah--!

Instantly, I began to feel short of breath.

I also feel a sudden deterioration in my physical condition.

An unprecedented 'curse' is pressing down on my entire body.

As soon as I could, I tried to resist it by removing the strength from the ”Rufbringer” at my waist. However, the abnormal weakness that haunts me cannot be wiped out at all.