402 399. Keep running, keep running.txt (1/2)

Hitaki-chan, who continued to watch the completion of that sword, pointed at it, trying to beat it head on.

''But unfortunately, I'm better at handling it (...) than you are. I'm not going to go along with you stalling for time.

By manipulating her own magical attributes, she turned the light blue color into a white rainbow color as if to imitate it.

Very easily, she prepared what I had used 《Revan》 and 《Line》 to complete even at the cost of my life.

Then, the magic power of the two stars made contact with each other.

''--?　Hah, hah, hah--!

It was Hitaki who had the upper hand.

The quality and quantity also surpassed me. With just a moment's standoff, my strength was sneakily taken away. The unchanted 《Cure Fool》 couldn't catch up with me, and blood spilled out of my mouth.

Furthermore, as if to chase them away, the life was retrieved from the ”break”.

I felt dizzy and dizzy with the unnatural loss of strength.

As I staggered, Serdra used the stone pillars on the first floor of Hooziyar's Castle as a weapon to deliver a hard blow. Furthermore, Fafner breathes together and continues to shoot magic from a distance.

The white rainbow's magic power prevents the relentless pursuit of the three parties. However, the damage is certainly accumulating. Every time I blocked each blow with my magic power, a crack appeared in the vessel that is me.

However, I've gained enough time in return.

By now, the Reapers with their friends would have retreated to a safe zone.

The Rustyala Fusyars had done what they had to do. Even if they collapsed now, the end result would not be much different. Such a backward-looking thought crossed my mind just a little--

RUSTIARA!

In the midst of the raging battle, I open my eyes, covered in wounds.

''--!

Seldora's blow struck the floor and woke him up by regaining strength in his dusty body. But there is no one nearby, just a dust cloud of dust around me.

It was ...... that called me now.

I smile wryly and stand up.

It's not like I'm trying to look good or anything. It's just that I want to show my lover the good parts of me, since I'm going to be here. With that kind of fashionable attire, I'm going to show everyone my heroic appearance by having the wind magic 《Wind》 sweep away the dust cloud in an exaggerated manner.

And then I talk to them.

''--It's okay (...)

His body is wobbly.

The ”Cure Fool” hasn't caught up with me, I'm covered in scars, and one of my arms is still broken in a different direction. But with my remaining arm, I clench my sword and confess to the person who is watching me now: ”At last, I've got it too.

”Finally, I've got it too ....... The feeling that I love you even in death ....... Now I can say with confidence that I love you. This is my feeling that is as heavy as everyone else's .......

The more you say it, the more the 'curse' of the 'slice' gets stronger.

Repeatedly saying ”I love you” was like turning the page of the few remaining lives.

But I have no regrets. It's not an 'unfortunate' thing.

”--This isn't a 'curse'. I believe it's something more sacred, I believe.

I think so 'honestly'.

At this time, my sister Nosphy's light was reaching me from the 'top' of the castle. Kanami came back to life, and even after she died, Nosphy, who should have been gone by now, left behind a light to watch over everyone in the castle.

''--They're not over by any means, --you'll live through this world. -- no more death or sorrow for anyone else -- and please, Rastiara (you), too.

It's my sister's voice.

Is this a 'discussion' by light?

Or is it hearing the voice of the dead through 'blood power'?

It's probably a reading from a skill 'reading' ...... The light left behind by Nosfi was carrying many thoughts.

Among them is a large percentage of the 'Blessing of Birth'.

That is what her life and 'chanting' was, you can tell even if you are downstairs. Inspired by her sister, I will be on the verge of death, and I will say the joy of birth.

'Yes ....... I'm glad I was born. Thank you, mother, for giving it to me (・・・・・・) .......

I told my sister and mother my 'honest' thanks.

Seeing me, Hitaki stopped his hand. The other two 'stealers of reason' also stopped for a moment, avoiding interrupting the Lord's conversation.

'Rustyala Fuzzyards ....... You are a four year old child who knows nothing. You just don't know that your mother (Tiara) is cheating you .......

Hitaki also looked up at the 'summit' from which my statement came.

'Yes ....... You're being tricked, and you don't even know it: ......

Staring upwards, I muttered to myself.

From the reminder in his voice, I knew that he was not only saying this to me and Nosfi, but also to Kanami and Ragne-chan at the 'summit'.

The four of them have a lot of 'threads', especially Tiara-sama and Hitaki-chan.

So I said, ”No matter how desperate you are, it's pointless. It sounded like he was advising them to give up quickly and get comfortable.

''--even if (・・・・・)

I retort.

'If I was tricked, it wouldn't change. Me and Nosfi, of course. I don't think Ragne and Kanami will change the 'answer' even if they're a little bit sad. So (...), it's okay (・・・・・). Thanks for worrying about me.

............!

Even I can see the conditions under which Hitaki's face is clouded by the fact that she has come this far.

All along, she has been saddened by and regretted the ”inexcusable nature of Rustyala Foods Yards”.

She knows that Aikawa Hitaki has no right to worry about Rustyala, but she's always been looking for ways to help.

After all, Hitaki is a kind girl.

She plays the antagonist out of necessity, but at heart, she's no different than Kanami.

That's why I'm able to talk to her forcefully.

''Because the reason your sister told me earlier was because she took pity on me, right?　I will continue to live (・・・・・) from now on (・・・・・), and I'm going to go out of my way to give me the reasoning that 'Aikawa Kanami' has been holding -

That explanation was only necessary to make your life the 'price' for your brother. It was just a ritual (word) that showed the world that your continued death from now on (・・・・・) is 'rastiala foozeyas'.

But you did tell me. You didn't even bother to tell me the truth that you didn't have to. Knowing my life, my sister is ....... After all, everyone in this world is kind .......

Looking back, I feel like I was surrounded by kind people.

That's why I was able to say that I loved the world (you). I could love my mother even more for giving birth to that 'world'.

I love everyone who is kind: ......!

I love you ......!

'-- Nothing is too kind. In the first place, you already knew that, didn't you?　Otherwise, oh no (...) I wouldn't be cooperating with me or your brother.

Hitaki-chan, who is reading the inner workings of the situation with the 'thread', strongly denies it.

If possible, she'd like to have me deny it all on my own right now and transfer the ”curse” to Tiara-sama. But I won't let that happen.

''Only out of thin air. And I wasn't just cooperating with the two of you, I was cooperating with everyone else.

It wouldn't have changed if I had known.

Rather, I would have loved everyone because I knew.

This hot (...) feeling will never cool down, even if it dies.

...... haha.

He must have read my thoughts as well. And finally, he finally gives up on my understanding and persuasion, and lets out a big sigh - and resumes the fight.

First, Hitaki-chan suppresses the white rainbow's magic with a larger amount of magic power than before. Then Fafner continues to shoot blood arrows and makes Seldora's huge body stand at the front. Under the leadership of the Lord (leader), Hitaki, the three of us worked perfectly together.

No matter how foul my magic power would be, the three opponents of 'The One Who Steals the Reason' have no chance of winning, to be ...... clear.

The skill 'Reading', tells me that I have a few dozen seconds left to hold it.

The red 'thread' connected to my feet and the white 'thread' that I can see if I look hard enough tells me that no matter how I struggle, I can't win - but I will continue to fight to the end, with all I have.

If I put everything on the line at the last moment, I'm still not sure.

No matter what, I will not lose my focus.

I had made up my mind to do so, but I am distracted by the flickering light that falls from the sky.

A flicker of light falling from the sky catches my attention. Near the center of Fouzeyards Castle, I looked up to the heavens.

At the end of the round atrium, I could see the starry sky.

It was midnight now.

There was no light from the sun.

But the light of magic, the sparks of sword fights and the flickering lights of battle were coloring the darkness like a starry sky.

And the star shining brightest in the sky is

...... 'Moon' in 'starry sky'?　And--oh, ......, haha.

In the light of Nosfi's light, Kanami and Ragne were fighting.

Seeing the flickering lights, I had a very simple impression that it was beautiful.

With the beautiful 'starry sky' in front of me, my mind kept getting distracted - and in this situation, I suddenly remembered Tiara-sama's story.

”-- Later, I said it was the 'story of the starry sky'.

With a smile, I replied, ”Master and Sister Yotaki were the stars that lit up my pitch-black world--

”--At the end of that story, I always leave out. Believing only in a happy ending, I point to the sky covered with the dark clouds of 'demonic poison' and say, ”One day, when this too dark world is full of beautiful stars!　That's the finale of my story! And--

Lady Tiara's story now feels like my own.

It doesn't feel like someone else's story at all. It's not because we are connected by 《Revan》 and 《Line》, but a simple emotional connection that makes me feel like 'I (Tiara)'.

' -- Kanami (...), are you listening (・・・・)?

You have a few dozen seconds left to hold it.

Conversely, there's plenty of time to spare until that last moment.

'Kanami ....... We've already said our goodbyes, okay?　But more importantly, let's watch Kanami with me: ......

I was thinking about what I wanted to do in that time - I was inviting my favorite 'reading' to Kanami, who I love, to come over and read.

”That 'Starry Sky Story' is really beautiful and cool ....... It's a very exciting, fun 'adventure' and so ....... So, yeah, .......

In the past, the sickbed Lady Tiara met the 'Gentile' and had many 'adventures'.

However, she read the ”curse” that awaited her at the end and chose to keep fighting to avoid the worst possible outcome.

At the end of it all, Tiara-sama creates an 'I'.

That's the 'New Me'. The 'Ideal Me'. An 'Alternative Me'.

That 'I' is Tiara (・・・・), Lord Tiara believed a thousand years ago.

'It was also 'The Story of Me and Kanami'. So I don't miss it one bit. It has been and always will be--

And that 'I' is Lady Tiara, and 'I' will believe it in a thousand years.

So I want you to read it back with me.

I want you to read that first encounter--

”The end of the lost lunar calendar.

In that tower, 'I' met Uzumi, who had wandered into another world--

A thousand years have passed since then.

”When the new calendar ticked off a thousand years.

In that labyrinth, 'I' will meet Kanami again, who has also wandered into another world--

They are connected.

It was passed down to me from Lady Tiara to me and continued until the year 1013 of the new year.

So, for the rest of my life--

....

I mutter to myself.

Only, Fafner starts to get annoyed at my distraction.

'What are you mumbling about, you're all alone ......!　Seriously fight, and show me more ......!

It was selfish of him to mutter to himself, even though Fafner was the same one who muttered to himself. However, unlike him, his partner, 'The One Who Steals the Reason' Seldra, was very calm.

''This is ......, indeed, it could be a will if it's a 'past vision' but .......'''

They knew exactly what I was doing.

Probably the same goes for the last one, Hitaki-chan.

Only she's the only one who is expressionless and mute, ignoring all the wills and slowly driving me down with a blade of ice.

She continues to roll the pages unemotionally, moment by moment, unemotionally.

Fafner, who is in contrast to Hitaki, barked with emotion.

''Tiara!　If you really are a Saint, show me!　After this millennium!

He's really reckless.

However, his selfishness will make this tough fight break down.

The only breakthrough is seen when the three of us are in disarray in our coordination.

In that last gap, I'm going to put everything on the line--

”'I love the world (you)'...

Chanting life.

Nothing is lost in this 'chanting'.

Just because there is that life, the gentle 'world (you)' pays the play's admission fee duly.

So, this is not the only 'Revan' or 'Line'.

It has nothing to do with Lady Tiara or the 'thread'. It's the life I've led myself. Legacy has taught me--a power that is only comparable to Hitaki's.

With that power, I'll use it to begin the last sprint of my life.

Using both legs that are on the verge of bursting with 《Growth Extended》, I kick to gut the floor.

I cut the wind and closed the distance to Fafner in an instant.

I move into his pocket and lightly reach out and touch his chest.

'Nah--'

Fafner was surprised and at the same time used 'blood power'.

I dared to use ”blood power” against ”the one who dares to steal the truth of blood” - and easily exceeded me.

I drain his 'blood' out of my palm in a single breath and drink it down.

The pigment is rapidly disappearing from Fafner's figure, and it becomes transparent.

His lack of resistance to the 'blood power' made me well aware that he was really only an agent of the 'blood stealer'.

Even though he had enough 'blood power' to destroy the continent, that was an 'ill-fitting power' for Fafner.

His true form was this transparent body.

A rare species of 'demon' that was forcibly altered by inhumane experiments.

He is polite to the point of being inflexible, and although he is highly delusional, he has a strong core, a strong boy with no connection to madness.

Ka, give it back to me, please...

According to Tiara-sama's memory, Fafner is stronger in this transparent form. But he reached out for 'weakness' and 'madness' to get the 'blood' back from me.

'I won't give it back,'

Along with a smile, I respond by tapping into the magic of the white rainbow. I don't have time for a lazy agent, so I used Ragne's 'Inversion' to cut off Fafner's consciousness.

''Fafner!