406 403. Pack.txt (1/2)

Seeing me start walking, Yotaki also stepped forward to join me.

The sword fight resumed and Yotaki's cessation also began.

However, the one chosen was not 'The future where Yotaki's sword cuts off my arm'. It's not a good idea to have a good time with a good friend.

Therefore, the one chosen is 'The Future Where Our Swords Cross Each Other'. However, this time, Youtaki's ice sword has the Dimension Graduation Calculation, 'Prequel (Recall)' on it.

With just a light touch, the ”Past Vision” is activated and I am forced to see.

From the bookshelf in my head, the memories of the past are dug out.

”-- The day of 'destiny'.

My sister and I met again at the 'top' of Hoozeyer's Castle.

It was also the moment we fulfilled our greatest purpose in the other world. But before rejoicing, I choose to ”talk”.

Adding that I won't be hiding anything anymore, we begin the long 'discussion' of the other world's story.

I knew that if I listened to it, it would end. But the new families I lost in this new world taught me how to live and not to give up until the end.

So I promised myself that I would never run away again, and I listen -

The book titled The Day of 'Fate' was opened.

And the crystal sword and the ice sword, which had played together, arced, and then another.

One page for each game, and the book is rolled up--

”--Why did my father and mother disappear?

Why couldn't I remember my precious family memories until the moment of my death?

I asked my sister when we met again. But her answer was...

It's pointless to know now. There's nothing you can do about it now.

That coldness was the answer to everything.

My sister refuses to answer the important questions, and I become agitated.

'How can this be nonsense? ......!　You were very important to me!　You took away the memory of making peace with that father!

'Because your brother doesn't need anyone important anymore. We, my brother and sister, just need us siblings.

'You don't need your significant other ......, that's impossible!　It's just the two of you, and then what do you do after that!

We have become 'immortal' and the people we love cannot follow us. For the long, long journey ahead, no one will be able to--

As Yotaki spoke, he stared downstairs from the central atrium. I shouted as I realized that the important friends who would be in that gaze were also among the 'important people who can't follow'.

'Yotaki, what did you do with everyone ......!　Why aren't they all here now!

...... Phew.

However, the only thing that comes back to the question is Yotaki's cold smile--

The 'past vision' goes on with every second and third round of swords touching each other.

Just as Yotaki said, we had already finished almost the same questions and answers. And it was also an 'answer contest' of how I would be defeated.

To be honest, I don't want to see what happens next.

Even if I wished to do so, as long as I continued to receive the sword from Yotaki's Dimension Graduate ”Prequel (Recall)”, I couldn't escape the ”past vision”.

The sword and sword arced again, one page-one.

One page at a time, rolled up.

”--In the midst of the 'discussion', I am informed of Rastiara's death.

And in order to find out why, I chose to fight my sister. Starting with the push of the 《Default》, a competition of 'Future Vision' is conducted through the 'Sword Art' match. In the middle of that sword fight, Yotaki smiles gently while looking into my eyes.

”--Please don't worry, brother. By leaving 'the one and only person of destiny' in this other world, you will never have to suffer from the 'curse' again.

d*mn it ......!

My hands were trembling, frightened by the trauma of the past.

But I had promised my family that I would never give up, that I would never give up. So I'm going to keep going. No matter what happens, I'll keep going forward and forward and forward.

'I wouldn't leave you behind. ......!　Just don't let me forget about Rastiara, that's for sure!

''Yes. Due to the nature of The Stealer of Dimensional Reason, I don't think you'll ever completely forget it. ...... Just that it will fade away, that's for sure. The memories with Rastiara, which are less than a month old, will inevitably become scarce in the future as your brother lives 'forever'.

In the course of the fight, I slowly learn about Yotaki's purpose.

''In fact, right now, my brother's 'memories of our parents and Lake Nagi-san' in the original world are fading away. It's because the 'memories with Rastiara' that he gained in this other world have been painted over.

At the same time, an uncontrollable anger begins to swell as I realize that he sacrificed Nosfi to make me 'immortal' for such a thing.

'In the same way, the next time 'my days alone with me' will smear the 'memories of Rustyala'. I'm going to repeat this as often as I can until my brother's spirit (mind) gets over the grief of losing Rastiara. Today, my brother got the time to do that. The time to be able to repeat the story of a thousand years like this one, 'forever'...

'You've got to be kidding me!　Yangtaki, there is no future for that!　Today, we're done here!　--We siblings need to finish up!

I've decided to fight each other.

However, even though I had parted company with Yotaki, I still didn't stop ”talking” with him. It's because while we were fighting, I wanted to know somehow ”why did Yotaki do such a thing?”. However, Yotaki is definitely not going to answer that question.

''Yes. If your brother wins, it's over. If you can beat me--''

He just laughed again, as if to say that the determination to fight each other and everything is in the palm of his hand -

Really, it's exactly the same battle.

And the end of the swordfight I'm currently engaged in with Yotaki is also included in that ”past vision”.

I finally learn the end of that day.

”--The battle between the siblings is over.

No, technically, it wasn't a fight. It only looked that way thanks to Yotaki matching the other side. This battle had an end in mind from the beginning. At all times, the last page was determined by the reasoning of the world that no one would be able to defeat [Aikawa Yotaki].

In the end, I was completely defeated, with all of my dimensional magic, 'swordsmanship', 'future vision', and 'past vision' being defeated head on.

Yotaki stopped holding my body as I fell to the front of it.

''Why ......, Yotaki--''

...... I win.

The stop was 《Distance Mute》. Yotaki's arm was inserted into my chest, freezing me from the core of my body with magical cold air. As my consciousness gradually fades away, I hear Yotaki's muttered voice.

''From now on, this other world will be frozen. Just like our world, it will never cool down again. However, there is one thing that can be saved thanks to ...... brother. --《Winter's Other World (Wintry Dimension)

The magic I created once was used here.

That winter magic is covering the skies of the ”mainland”. The world is under Youtaki's control.

''Through this gentle 'dream,' all the 'demonic poisons' will become my brother's. Compared to the ...... original world, I think it's safe to say that this other world is 'saved by Aikawa Uzumi'.

No way. I tried to swear so, but my mouth was frozen and wouldn't move. No longer were the losers even allowed to speak.

And the winner is Aikawa Yotaki, the only person.

Her magic swallowed up the entire ”world”.

On that 'doomed' day, in the battle of Hoozeyer's Castle, no one was able to win against Aikawa Yotaki--

My sword is dulled as I am shown the end of the battle ahead of time.

I know that no matter how much I resist, I will lose in the end.

I scold myself to regain my mind, but my ”past vision” continues without mercy.

”--In this way, the other world was wrapped up in Yotaki's 《Wintery Dimension》 and chained to a chain called 'thread'.

No one can notice that it has been invaded by 'Gentiles'.

It's a bit chilly, but people continue to see the peaceful ”dream”.

However, among them, I was the only one who occasionally regained consciousness.

It's not that Yotaki's Wintry Dimension was inadequate, it's simply because I was used to the false days with my sister and the happiness of the lack of memory.

There were a few times when I noticed the discomfort and was able to rebel against it. However, I would repeat the exact same question and answer as the day of 'fate'.

''--Yotaki, how could you do this to me!　Stop it already!

I would try again and again. And the ending was always the same. My sister would make the exact same stop and declare with a sigh.

”...... haha. I've won again.

I am frozen again as the ”Distance Mute” is inserted into my chest--

There were a number of such pages of defeat.

I woke up many times - and each time I found out that I had challenged Aikawa Yotaki and lost.

In every fight, I had lost in exactly the same way. It's probably because he's been robbed of his memory and his tactics are always the same.

So I kept waking up again and again, challenging him and losing over and over again.

Over and over again, over and over again, over and over and over again - and over and over again.

Do you understand the meaning of waste?　Absolutely, your brother will not be able to beat me.

After nearly ten pairs of 'past eyes', the sword fight suddenly stopped.

Then, Yotaki repeated the words he had just said, as if to encourage surrender.

''Hah, hah, hah ....... Same loss, over and over again .......''

I'm out of breath.

My body wobbles.

It wasn't a drain on his magic and strength.

His mind was exhausted from being repeatedly shown his defeated self.

The body and mind that hadn't flinched in the competition of 《Default》 and 《Future Vision》 were on the verge of collapsing in just a few seconds of sword fights.

The reason I'm not collapsing right now is only because of Yotaki's consideration. It's just that my sister is concerned that since we're going to lose anyway, it's better to admit defeat sooner rather than later.

''Yes, brother. The exact same battle, we've already finished the exact same battle. So this battle will also be the exact same last page. ...... Can we stop fighting for nothing anymore?

The Dimension Graduate ”Prequel (Recall)”, which forces the opponent to dig up his or her past (trauma), is a truly terrifying spell.

After all this time, I'm painfully aware that it was this foul magic that allowed me to win against ”The One Who Steals the Reason of the Wind” Titi.

'Nonsense ......?　It's pointless, so what's the point: ......!

However, I'm still not going to break. 'No matter how hard I try, it's all pointless' is something I knew from the time I fought that idiot (Ragne).

I won't let go of my sword.

Instead of retreating, I take a step forward.

It keeps moving forward, forward, forward.

Seeing that figure, Yotaki's eyes widened in surprise - and a smile appeared on his face.

I thought he was mocking my futile efforts, but it was different (...).

''Yes, no (・・・・). I'm ...... happy. I'm just happy. Because your brother won't run away anymore. He won't break. He won't die. Even though I know it's pointless, dozens of times, hundreds of times ...... no, tens of thousands of millions of times!　Forever.　I've got the spirit (mind) to keep trying!　That strength is what I've always wanted from my brother!

I was elated.

However, I immediately dismissed Yotaki's assessment.

''No. ......!　The reason I'm not giving up now isn't just because I've accepted that it's pointless: ......!　Because I can finally believe that the future could be different for all the progress I've made!　Thanks to the Nosfies!

...... Heh!

Yangtaki didn't deny it back, but showed a rare look of admiration.

It was a reaction because he wasn't an 'equal'. He was looked down on from far above and said, ”That's exactly why, brother. It's more like an 'ideal' protagonist, isn't it?” he felt as if he was being applauded.

''Yotaki, there is no surrender for me!　If you're going to stop me, get your ass over here!

'Hmmm, hmmm ......, haha, hahahaha!　Good(ish) ....... Oh, visibly, your brother is getting better ......!

At last, Yangtaki couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.

He was probably overly excited before the moment when his plan that took more than a thousand years to complete came to fruition. It was also the last page that Yotaki was looking at - 'The Future of Aikawa Yotaki's Victory', which was only a short distance away.

''Yes, we're almost there (・・・・)!　We're really close, me and my brother together!　As long as that 'equal' 'my brother' is there, I don't need anything else!

'Not 'your'!　Aikawa Uzumi (me) has become 'Rustyala's' 'Only One Destiny'!

They keep reading my mind.

But I scream back without fear, pick up my sword, squeeze the magic out of my body, and spin magic. I'm going to be able to see the end of the battle, but I'm going to fight through it with all my might.

The magic ”Dimension Graduate 'Realize'”!

The future of defeating Yangtaki is brought about by magic.

”--Dimension Graduate ”Realize”!

Of course, to match, Yotaki also used the same magic.

With a darker magic and more precise magic, he enveloped my 'future vision' head on.

Even more than the push of the 《Difault》 earlier, the landscape around me became distorted. I'm going to be able to see all of the possible futures overlapping in my field of vision - but all of them are instantly dyed into a single future by the magic power of Yotaki.

I used my future vision, but I could only see the future in which we lose in exactly the same way.

As a result, my swing of the Aleiss family's treasured sword, Loewen, is a fine line of paper and cannot reach YouTaki's body.

In contrast, the ”Heavenly Sword Noah” that Yotaki swung out of his hand was brilliantly able to reach my body.

The sword had completely entered my torso.

However, it wasn't sliced open. The current Yangtaki sword had the 《Distance Mute》 on it.

As I thought, the stop was the same as the one I saw in the Past Vision earlier.

The sword of the ”Distance Mute” was inserted into the chest and magical cold air was generated from the core of the body.

It is impossible to resist that zero-distance magic.

As my entire body freezes, Yotaki mutters.

''So I said it's pointless. ...... the same.''

The cold air is slowly making my consciousness fade away.

An irresistible, magical sleepiness came over me.

I tried to shake it off somehow, and put some strength into the pit of my stomach, but--

Yeah, but, uh-oh. ......

I don't even have a voice.

I realize that I've lost my right to swear, and now I'm a complete loser.

'But this time, it certainly wasn't completely pointless. It's great to know that I'm close to it based on the way my brother's spirit (mind) is growing. I'm relieved that we're going to be able to make it to level 99 as planned .......

The winner takes his time to give his impressions.

As a sign of the lightness of the fight, he reviewed his future plans with plenty of time to spare.

I couldn't bear to take that leeway away. However, that power would not spring up. The 'stillness' from the 'power of ice' chills all my strength.

''Ah, ah, ah--''

All the power was lost from my body, and finally my knee broke.

As my body collapsed forward, Yotaki stabbed 'Heavenly Sword Noah' into the ground and caught it with both arms. Holding her gently as if she were a mother, she chanted the winter magic again.

''-- [Winter's Other World (Wintry Dimension)]