465 461. And to 100 layers.txt (1/2)

The 'ordeal' was over.

The pure white sun disappeared from the labyrinth without a trace.

It stopped at the 99th level, which was, in both name and reality, the last stronghold.

However, the most difficult level of the labyrinth, which was probably the most difficult level, was also burned down and changed from its original form. Just like the previous levels, it was forcibly repainted into a lava area and the ceiling disappeared.

But the ground is still there.

On top of it, we were facing each other.

Right in front of us.

At arm's length, Maria, who had exhausted her powers, was kneeling and turning her face down.

I'm on my knees as well.

But there was still room for me to raise my head. What's more, the sun has disappeared, but the purple-black dark clouds of the Black Shift Overlight are still hovering around us.

The sun and the dark clouds drowned out each other.

It was the dark cloud that won.

The decisive factor was the aid of the dimensional attributes of the 90 layers of the labyrinth - not.

The gaze (...).

It's a gaze that has been felt all along, from the beginning.

We already know that this gaze is the 'world' itself and also the 'deepest'.

Basically, ”chanting” is a deal with this and get favoritism for your magic power. However, if you use the favored magic power to erase your client, even the most benevolent ”world” will rush to stop you.

As a result, just before the sun reaches the ”deepest part”, Maria's ”chanting” collapses and her magic power rapidly decreases.

In contrast, me and Noi's ”Black Shift Overlight” had passed through the 90th layer, and the magic power and momentum had reached its peak.

There were many other mixed reasons, but the gaze was the most decisive factor, and there was no doubt that the match was won.

In other words, this game.

No matter how it happened, Maria was always destined to run out of magic power and stop at the 99th layer (here).

I tremble in my throat as I try to tell him that.

”Maria ......, there was no way you could fight me head on right now and win ....... Even if I did, they said it should be when I was stuck in the 'deepest' ......, didn't they all say so?　Why--

Maria's breathing is really shallow when asked.

She is exhausted. I feel like I'm going to fall down right now.

But hearing my words, she smiles, albeit more shallowly than her breathing.

All I get back from Maria is a smile.

Instead, I hear a response from behind me.

It was the voice of the Grim Reaper, the one person who had slipped into the safety zone before this 'Hundred and Tenth Trial'.

I don't really like the words of that ”apostle” ......, but I have no choice but to say it for you. You know better than anyone else. --It's not important whether you win or lose. Some things come true in defeat.

When I turned around, there was a reaper who was trying to get into my shadow, as if he was going home.

Further back, a cleaner, who had left two magic stones with me, was standing in the background.

He must have fallen leisurely down the stairwell from the tenth to the ninety-ninth layer while watching our magical clash. The two of us now have the ability and magic to do that.

''Yes.

Both of them could have taken the option of not just watching, too.

'Reaper ....... Why didn't you stop Maria?

I'm not taking anyone's side. That's what I've been saying all along, isn't it?

'But you were supposed to be the 'judge'. I also said that you would stop anything that was not worthy of our 'duel' ....... You said you'd be the one to judge on my behalf, as I can only see 'Rustyala' anymore: ......!

The Reaper's quick response makes me wince.

Now I've lost my ”thread” and my ”writing”, I'm out of the ”plan”, and I'm taking it out on myself, too haplessly. I know I know this, but I had to say it.

'Yeah, I promised. ......, so I believe this is not a 'duel' involving 'Rustyala' sister,

No, I don't think so. ......

It's impossible for me to have fought such a battle on this day, at this time, in this place, and yet not be involved in 'The Plan' or 'Rustyala'.

As I was being pushed out of the room, the Reaper continued to explain.

This 'Trial of the 110th' had nothing to do with the future of this world or the 'deepest part'. It was really a 'trial' that was just like a 'trial' as usual. Just a mere Maria sister's personal support, with no interference from Atachi!

'This is your personal ......, support ......?'

He speaks as a matter of course, and finally points to my hand.

”Brother. Isn't what that right hand grasps the 'answer'?

In his left hand, he held a book.

In his right hand, he has a new grip.

He opened his hand and looked at the red glowing magic stone.

''The One Who Steals the Reason of Fire, Arti's Magic Stone (Tamashii) ......

I had no choice but to pull it out.

It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get a good deal more than you think.

--It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get your hands on it.

It's not just the surprise of being able to surpass the Plan, but also the feeling of being scolded.

No matter how much I said, ”Arti is different from everyone else and can be 'happy' with Maria,” it felt as if such a thing had been brushed aside as ”unnecessary meddling.

The festivities will begin at ......, .......

It was then that Maria's voice rang out.

She must have regained a little bit of strength after the slight break.

When I turned around, I was slowly trying to raise my face from its prone position by gathering that last bit of strength.

I can see his expression firmly.

A thin smile on his face, and somewhat distant eyes.

He looked like he was listening intently to the hustle and bustle on the ground.

He seemed to be nostalgic for the songs of the festival and the sounds of the fireworks.

'At last, it's the 'End of Tan Festival' ....... A thousand years ago, and a year ago ......, we weren't together until the end, so ....... So please, please invite them this time. On your side ...... and ............ you (・・・・).

As soon as he finished, he lowered his hips to the ground.

I can see that I don't have any strength in my body at all anymore.

''............!''

And Maria called me ”you”.

She is polite and calls the other person by her name and surname. The fact that she kept calling me ”Kanami-san” to the point of insistence, and now she's saying ”you”.

--I'm not going to be able to get rid of it.

Even though I was in full control of the ”curse”, it was still a fierce battle.

What's more, the one we clashed with was ”Black Shift Overwrite”.

It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on it.

--Probably, the current Maria has a huge imbalance in her memory and has wounds in her soul.

But she had a happy face.

You can find a lot of people who have been afraid of oblivion, but this is the true meaning of the word.

That's right.

Ever since this 'Hundred and Tenth Trial' began, I've been smiling.

It's as if I'm walking through the hustle and bustle of the festival, looking around and enjoying the scenery.

'Like me, he's not a little bit honest ....... So please don't leave him out of the mix anymore .......

Maria continues to laugh at me, who was affected by the ”constrictions”.

And I had no choice but to ask her to straighten up at the end.

With Maria, who is not straightforward.

In other words, ask her out. ......

Arti, the 'one who steals the reason for the fire' who has been left out of the mix for a thousand years .......

'Because it's the end of a thousand years ago like that ....... For one last time, all of the ”things that steal the reason” together - all together ......, go to the festival ......, go --Let's--

While interrupted, Maria's body almost falls forward.

Obviously, both of her arms are weak and she's not going to be able to even poke her hands out.

Hurriedly I put the book back in my left hand back into my 'possessions' and then reached my hands out in front of me.

I put my arms in either side of Maria and held her deeply.

And for the first time today, I touched her.

The heat transmitted from her body is just right, warm and comforting.

This is where I finally realize.

As slow - or even slower, duller, and more distant than the 'stealers of reason' so far, I realize.

-- today, Maria really just came to deliver Arti.

She went out of her way to say 'The Hundred and Tenth Test', something I'm not used to.

It was because she was concerned that she had cleared Arti's 'Tenth Trial'.

Probably, as the circumstances of a thousand years ago were revealed, Maria would have been alone in the 'between the lines' of the story for a lot of things. One after another, the magical stones of the 'Truth Stealers' were entering the hands of the 'Aikawa Uzumi', but only the 'Truth Stealer of Fire' Arti was with her. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get a good deal more than you think.

--It's a good thing that you're not the only one too happy.

That's what Maria thought, and that's why she began this ”Hundred and Tenth Test”.

No matter what happens to Maria herself after this.

Even if she were to forget me.

Even if the important memories are forgotten.

Just for the sake of her best friend, Arti...

No, no.

Maria is not honest.

And I didn't lie when I said I came to support her.

Just like her words, 《Black Shift Overlight》 was forged to the limit by her fire, beyond the original 'plan'.

This 'Trial of the Hundred and Tenth' was also for me, who was weakened by 'Constriction'.

Of course, it's also for the sake of 'Rustyala'. By firmly communicating our feelings of love to each other, I was also supporting her in fulfilling her love--

I'm sure Maria is .......

I've thought it through on my own, and for the sake of all of us (・・・・・・), I've made this choice, this '100th Trial'.

I read that will and I shake my throat.

I'm going to give the 'answer' to this 'Hundred and Tenth Test'.

'Maria ....... I've just aligned ....... On this side, the 'Stealers of Reason' are ....... Everyone I missed a thousand years ago, all together .......

He grips the magic stone in his right hand tightly and hugs Maria.

At that moment, Maria lets out a loud breath of relief in her ear.

Then, she tries to tell you to the end.

You can't lie about your feelings and be straightforward.

”I wish you ...... and ............ your 'happiness' ......

App.

But my name doesn't come up.

He must have guessed from the residue of his memories that I was his lover.

It's the same with Arti.

After guessing, I just pray.

That will be the last words of ”Maria”.

”I hope you'll be (......) happy,” she said.

Up to this point, I had thought long and hard about Maria's intentions.

But it was condensed into a single word.

It's not about winning or losing.

It's just that you want to make me 'happy'.

After saying this, all the strength is removed from Maria's body.

I fainted.

My body is safe.

Her breathing is shallow, but she continues to breathe.

However, I doubt that her mind is intact by any means.

In order to say one word, Maria has burned something dear to her as firewood.

All the memories from our first meeting until today.

Just when I thought I had just ”forgotten” it, a hand reaches out from the side.

It was an arm with many ”curse cloths” wrapped around it.

I loosened one of those cloths with my other arm and removed it - and then

...... Huh?

I'm not going to be able to get rid of it.

Is it out of friendship with your hometown? Or is it an apology or sympathy for the victim of the same research institute, ”God of Fire”?

The figure of the cleaner, why?

Is it because of the black mask?

I'm not sure if it's the same as the one who steals the logic of the darkness, or if it's the same as Tida.

--I'm not going to be able to get a good deal more than just a couple of days.

A thousand years ago, I collaborated with Tida, the one who steals the truth of darkness, to rescue Arti, the one who steals the truth of fire, from the hands of the lord Romis Neesha.

”--At the time of their parting, Tida 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Darkness' took responsibility for the saved 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Fire' Arti.

The mother and daughter who had been sacrificed in their hometown of Fania, this time.

Next time, Tida swore in her heart that she wanted to protect them as a knight of the Fuzzy Yards--

Thinking back, even a thousand years later, Tida was still concerned about Arti until just before the disappearance.

Even if she 'forgot', only the emotions - the feelings - would have remained.

Then there was the remembrance of the association.

”--I knew.

What's important is the feelings of 'people (...)' (・・・・).

It may indeed be important to save the 'world'.

But it's a 'world' with 'people' -