A Connection cannot be established in a collapsing mansion. The Default cannot be used either, due to the obstacles in the way. I have no choice but to run.
After sprinting at full speed through the wide entrance hall, I immediately activated my magic at the center of the mansion.
“—Dimension: Multiple Expansion!!”
I focused the Dimension solely on the mansion, specializing it for finding people. By consuming a large amount of magic power, I quickly located Rainer’s figure. He was collapsed in the corner of a room used as a storage room. He was covered with Reinand’s oversized coat, as if it were a blanket, to protect him from the cold. However, with the vibrations of the collapse, everything around him looked like it was about to fall on Rainer.
Struggling against the shaking ground, I ran with all my might to reach the storage room. Then, as soon as I entered the room, I shouted.
“Rainer! Wake up!!”
I grabbed the coat that was acting as a blanket and slapped his exposed cheek. I was in a hurry, so I held nothing back. It was a slap that was close to a blow. Rainer, his cheek bright red, grimaced and pushed himself up.
“Ah! It hurts?! C-Christ…? Then, where is this…?”
“I’m sorry, but there’s no time to talk! Reinand is in danger! We’re going to save him immediately and return to the ground!!”
I conveyed only the essentials, grabbed Rainer’s hand, and helped him to his feet.
“…Ah, yeah. Damn it, so that’s what’s happening. I’ve been saved again, haven’t I?” He seemed to be convinced of that much, even if he didn’t understand the details. However, he seemed to grasp from the situation that there was no time for regret. He followed my instructions without much resistance.
“Reinand is fighting in the entrance right now! We’re going there first!!”
Pulling Rainer along, I retraced my steps. The collapse was progressing, and ceilings and walls were beginning to crumble everywhere. There were also places where the corridor was blocked by rubble, so I used Dimension to determine the shortest route.
As I ran, I took stock of the situation inside the mansion. This meant I was privy to the battle between Reinand and Bess-chan in the entrance hall. For a long time, I was forced to witness a battle to the death that escalated endlessly, even though I knew it would take time to return— ` `
——Numerous red sparks flew in the Volz family’s entrance.
The battle between the two, who had declared they would end it in an instant, was fierce from the very first move. In the space of a single breath, great magic of fire and earth elements clashed, and swords and axes wreathed in flame were swung around in the confined space. Both Reinand and Bess-chan were powerful generals whose names were etched in history, their levels were in the realm of the inhuman, and on the ground, they were undoubtedly monsters. Each of their attacks had the power to blow away an entire mansion. However, the entrance hall still retained its original form. This was because the constant exchange of blows of equal power with the same elements caused many of them to cancel each other out. The colliding masses of lava dispersed in the air. The successive cancellations kept the surrounding damage to a minimum.
Only Bess-chan voiced her confusion at this abnormal situation. “Wh-What, why are you using the same magic as me—!?”
“It’s natural, since we share the same blood…” Reinand’s expression was indifferent, compared to Bess-chan’s pained one. Bess-chan’s irritation grew at her enemy’s composure.
“The same blood?! What nonsense! There is no one left in this world who carries this blood! I alone have inherited the blood of that Volz—!!”
“Ah, I know. That it was you, my granddaughter, not my sons, who inherited my blood most strongly. That’s why, even after a thousand years, only the two of us remain in this mansion…!” Even as he answered, Reinand continued to construct deadly magic. He was calmly aiming for the end. From the magic power emanating from his body, it was clear he had no intention of holding back, even though his opponent was his granddaughter.
Amidst a storm of one-strike-kill attacks, the two shouted at each other. Though their expressions were in stark contrast, it seemed they couldn’t breathe unless they were shouting. They both looked simply miserable…
“Yes! My blood is potent! And because of this blood, I have no one! Wars took everyone else! My entire family, all because of this role called ‘Volz’—!!”
“Ah, I know that too. Or rather, after I died, I finally understood. That it was all my fault…!” Even though he knew it would cause her pain, Bess-chan’s words didn’t diminish. It was
natural. Anyone watching could see it. Bess-chan was beginning to realize. In this battle, she was starting to vaguely recognize the person before her. That’s why she was appealing to him. And her grandfather, Reinand, couldn’t *not* respond.
“I was left alone! I was lonely! But more than that, I was angry! I resented everything that was taken from me, became a knight, killed many enemies, and tried my best! And yet, everyone around me betrayed me and left! They fled! In the end, I was alone— I died alone!! In a life like that, nothing but anger can arise—!!”
“Ah, I know that too—!” Honestly, I couldn’t fully comprehend the exchange of words between the two. Perhaps, if it were the Primordial Kanami from a thousand years ago, he could have understood Bess-chan’s anger correctly, but now, I could only vaguely grasp that there was something only the two from a thousand years ago understood… It was frustrating.
The extreme ferocity was approaching its peak. The entrance hall could no longer withstand the aftershocks. Earth and flame magic, no longer distinguishable as belonging to either of them, filled the entire space.
“But now, the Commander is here’! The one I can pour my anger onto has returned! I thought I could finally burn myself out and disappear from this ‘hell’! Right?! Is it so wrong to hold the Commander, who betrayed us, responsible?! I’m not wrong! I’m absolutely not wrong! The Commander has a duty of atonement! So! Get out of the wayyyyyyy! Grandpa—!!!”
“I will not allow that! Even if you are a child, I cannot yield that role! As Reinand Volz, that is—!”
Grandpa—Reinand Volz. The battle began to approach its end with the revelation of the name. The two drew apart and began to construct the magic they believed in most. That, too, was naturally the same magic with the same incantation—
“—‘Tremble, ever-roaring flame’! ‘Soul that rushes through scorched earth’!”
“—‘Tremble, ever-roaring flame’! ‘Soul that rushes through scorched earth’!”
However, the quality of the magic being woven was completely different. Bess-chan’s magic aimed to burn the enemy, while Reinand’s magic burned everything, including himself. Bess-chan was squeezing out all her magic power to win, but Reinand was pouring out all his life force for a mutual destruction. Even without a ‘Display’, I could tell. I knew it. Reinand’s maximum HP was whittled down, whittled down, whittled down, transforming into dense magic. Like a disappearing monster, his body began to dissolve into particles of light. That magic was the radiance of his soul. The brilliance of his final flame.
“—Fallblazing!!”
“—Fallblazing!!”
The bodies of the two people glowed red.
The intensely hot magic power seemed to be pushing their physical abilities to their limits. And that residual heat enveloped their entire bodies like flames. Just like the Flame Flamberge, they treated themselves as blades, and it was clear their power was being strengthened endlessly.
Their subsequent charge was faster than any beast, and as ferocious as cannonballs.
First, their running speed was different.
With explosive acceleration reminiscent of nitroglycerin, the two set off simultaneously.
Next, the strength of the arms wielding their weapons was different.
The veins in their arms bulged as if they were about to snap.
And the amount of heat they enveloped was different.
Their weapons clashed, and their respective flames corroded each other’s bodies.
Bess-chan and Reinand both chose to attack with full-power diagonal slashes, akin to a head-on collision.
Their magic and timing were identical.
However, it wasn’t a deadlock. The outcome was decided in an instant.
It was simply a difference in the quality of their magic power.
Certainly, Bess-chan’s magic power was her entire being. But compared to Reinand’s magic power, burned from his very life, hers was inferior.
As a result, Bess-chan’s sword shattered first.
Reinand didn’t bother to dodge the scattering fragments, taking them into his body, and plunged his great axe into Bess-chan’s shoulder.
The blade of the axe, which reached her heart, was undoubtedly a fatal wound. Bess-chan’s strength drained from her body. Still, Reinand’s momentum did not stop.
Reinand charged forward, taking Bess-chan’s body with him, smashing through the wall of the entrance hall and bursting into the garden. Then, with the wall separating them, he ran for tens of meters before his momentum finally halted.
In the center of the Reinand family’s garden, the battle between the two concluded.
Bess-chan, on the verge of death, spilled blood from her mouth and asked in a choked voice.
“Grandpa… why…? Why…――”
“I am sorry, Bess. I couldn’t be by your side at your end. This time, I will be with you. It’s all, belatedly, I know.”
“Ah, aaaah……, aaaahhh……….!”
Bess-chan, defeated, shed tears from her eyes.
Reinand could only watch. She was only going to disappear now—
“I was always afraid to touch you… No matter what I did, I knew I could not quell that anger, so I could only watch…”
“Aaaah, aaahhh, aaaaaa…”
Bess-chan couldn’t accept this end. She was likely left with only dissatisfaction and regret. Crying like a child, her body transformed into particles of light in time with her wails. Her body gradually faded, her disappearance approaching.
Holding her, Reinand closed his eyes. He accepted his own transformation into particles of light without resistance. “Ah, there’s no need for you to forgive us…”
The battle between grandfather and granddaughter was over. It was truly a momentary battle. Their end, which should have been long awaited, was far too anticlimactic. It was beyond frustrating. I couldn’t accept this kind of ending.
“Reinand-san!!”
Finally, here, Rainer and I returned to the entrance hall. We rushed out of the mansion just before it completely collapsed, entered the garden that had ignited from the scattered embers, and ran to the side of the two who were fading away. I ran with all my might. I didn’t get lost once in the mansion. I thought I had taken every possible best course of action. Yet, it wasn’t enough. I was too late. Reinand saw us emerging from the mansion and showed a relieved expression. I was the opposite. Unable to fully accept the scene before me, my face contorted. Distraught, I watched as Rainer began to approach the two while casting recovery magic. But Reinand shook his head, refusing it. Rainer nodded wordlessly and stopped. Perhaps both Reinand and Rainer knew it was too late. As the time for parting arrived, Reinand prepared to leave his final words. “Boy… no, ‘Uzunami’. You see the situation. Finally, I can disappear. As expected, I couldn’t change the past, but… I am mostly satisfied. This second end, I was able to be with my granddaughter.” Even in this situation, Reinand smiled gently. Satisfied—and so I don’t have to worry about anything, is that what he meant? So this end is acceptable, is that what he meant? “Ah, aah, aahhh……, no……” It’s impossible to think that way. They are family. So much more. There must have been so many more things they should have talked about. Yet, they die apart like this? After that kind of conversation? “It’s fine. I am satisfied. I have no regrets—… no, there is one left. Here, there is still one girl who is like my daughter, and who has the same worries as this granddaughter. …Ah, here, she is still alone.” His voice grew weaker. Even on the verge of death, Reinand worried about others, not himself. “Now, she alone is my… …――” Even though there was no time left, Reinand faltered in his words. He wore a troubled expression and paused for a moment. “—Uzunami. Leaving her, escape to the ground quickly.” Then he finished his last words with “Escape.” And with that, his raspy face contorted, his eyes narrowed, and he bid farewell. At the same time, Reinand and Bess-chan’s bodies completed their transformation into particles of light. They became particles of light, not magic stones. The flickering light soared high into the sky. The souls that were here drifted far away. To the distant, distant dark sky—they became stars in the black heavens. I instinctively reached out to a few particles of light and tried to grab them, but they slipped through my hands like water. Seeing this, I realized that I couldn’t stop their disappearance. “They… disappeared…? No, they died…?” I clenched my hand in the air and voiced my question. Originally, the two were beings regenerated from magic stones. And even those magic stones were gone, turning into pulverized particles. I didn’t know what the right word was to describe such an end. But I instinctively felt that they met a fate more terrifying than death. While confused, I confirmed the current situation to accept reality. Although Reinand’s dying words were cut short, I understood them even without him finishing. Reinand always worried about others, not himself. “She is still alone,” he must have meant Rowen. He must have wanted to entrust Rowen to me. But he swallowed it midway. So as not to burden me. Surely, the people Reinand worried about included Rainer and me. He worried even about two young men he had just met.
I felt the depth of his affection keenly, and along with it, the painful absence of his kindness.
We were talking happily just yesterday. We even promised to go to the surface together… and yet, he died. The more I learned about magic and labyrinths, the more I understood. —That I would never return.
“Ah, ah, damn it… Not again…”
The last scene I recall is Hairi’s face.
The expression of the girl who died after being impaled by Palinkron’s heart.
Understanding that I had lost another precious person, I somehow managed to endure the urge to collapse to my knees.
If my Skill, “Sworn to the Deepest Part,” had remained as “???,” I might have gone berserk again. I was struck by a suffocating feeling that made me think so.
But I refocused my strength on my knees and took a step forward.
I am no longer the same as before.
Even without using my Skills, I should still be able to move forward to this extent.
“Don’t cry, don’t rot…! Don’t stop your feet…! We have to get to the surface quickly…!!”
I spurred myself on.
I must not stop.
And I must escape quickly.
I have to take Rainer and head for the surface.
Quickly—, let’s go to the surface quickly.
The only thing I can do now is to act swiftly. I also have Reinand’s dying wish, “Run.” To fulfill that, I must escape to the surface quickly, bring Aid, and then— convince Rowen, and somehow make arrangements with Nosfy, and then— and then……
“——That’s not it…!”
As my will spurred me forward, the first words that escaped my lips were words of denial.
Once I uttered that denial, there was no stopping. I brought my hands together and struck my knees, which I had just re-energized.
“Am I an idiot! I already know! It’s not like that! Running away won’t change anything! What I need to do isn’t that, is it!!”
Did I not hear Bess-chan’s scream just now? Didn’t it include my name? Are you going to pretend you didn’t hear it—!?
Fleeing from Nosfy on the Fiftieth Floor, fleeing from Rowen in the Throne Room! Fleeing from the scolding of the people of the North a thousand years ago, fleeing from Bess-chan, running, running, running! —And what happened!
This happened! If I hadn’t run from Bess-chan, wouldn’t Reinand have met such an end!?
I suspect I’ve been running for a thousand years.
One thing is for sure: I ran away from “here.”
And after a thousand years, I cannot repeat that now.
If I do the same thing as in the “past,” nothing will change. More than that, I have felt the pain of loss, seeing what is happening now.
For every step I run away, someone else will pay the price! Will I just stand by and watch? Did I learn nothing from Hairi’s death on the surface!?
What is it—”The only thing I can do now is to restore ‘Viais’ as quickly as possible and return everyone to a peaceful world.”
That’s not it. That’s not true at all. That was just laziness.
Ah, I finally realized.
“I was asked to look after Rowen…! Even if Aid has nothing to do with ‘here’ now…!!”
Initially, Reinand entrusted it to me.
He asked Aikawa Uzunami, not Aid.
“It’s not someone else…! It’s something I have to do…! I’m the one who should settle this in ‘Thousand-Year Viais’! It was me!!”
“Bring Aid.”
That was just an excuse to escape to the surface.
Did I really think that by bringing Aid and Rowen together, my duty would be done and the problem would be solved by leaving it to others?
Furthermore, was I planning to bring this problem all the way to the surface and trouble my companions again?
“I don’t have memories from a thousand years ago.”
Do you really believe that means it’s unrelated to you?
Reinand and Rowen both looked at me, spoke to me.
The people of “here” and Bess-chan also pursued only me and cursed me.
To them, the fact that I have no memories from a thousand years ago is irrelevant. They were continuously and earnestly appealing to me… yet I watched it all as if it were someone else’s business.
It was all about me. It was my story—!
“I was there a thousand years ago, and I’m the one who came ‘here’! And it was me who met Reinand here, met Bess-chan, met Rowen, met Nosfy! Then, ‘I’ am the one who should face the ‘Ordeal’ of ‘here,’ not anyone else!!”
Certainly, being blamed for a sin I don’t recall might be an unreasonable situation.
But I know now. It’s the same truth whether in my original world or in another world. That’s how it is everywhere. It’s full of unreasonableness.
But just because it’s unreasonable, running away from reality will only lead to a more painful reality.
I know that.
“Ah, running away won’t solve anything…! Surely, it didn’t before either…! That’s why ‘here’ was created…!!”
I should have understood such a simple thing from the beginning. Nevertheless, the reason I tried to escape to the surface was probably because I had a vague awareness of the true nature of “here” from the start. I knew that “here” was a place to settle not only Rowen’s sins but also the sins of “Primordial Kanami.”
That’s why I tried to escape.
Ah, I’m just like a child. I can’t point fingers at others.
Running away from things I dislike, thinking it’s enough to just do what I can— that’s too childish.
My emotions raged—with Reinand’s sacrifice, I finally snapped.
“It’s not too late. No, I’ll make it not too late. Nothing has ended yet…! Please watch me, Reinand. Even if the past cannot be changed, I will change the future. Surely, that is my role—!”
I swore with the particles of magic held in my hand.
Unlike Hairi, who was in her physical body, there is potential. In this extremely special environment, there is a small hope.
I suspect that Reinand and Bess-chan are still—
Do you think I’ll easily bend my knees like when I fought Palinkron again?
I will never show such a pathetic sight again.
My wishes, myself, my companions, my loved ones— I will not lose sight of them like that, over and over again!!
“Ch, Christ…?”
As I repeated my self-questioning cries, Rainer finally spoke with a worried voice.
I’m sorry, but please wait a little longer.
I will no longer hold back.
I will use that magic now, here.
I will stop making excuses like the burden on my sister’s body, the success rate, or the fact that there are no enemies here yet.
And there are no rules for this battle. This is a child’s brawl, and my opponent is two superiors.
Then, I should unleash my strongest magic from the start— no, I should unleash my strongest magic even before the fight begins!
“Status, Skill, ‘Display’—…”
【Status】
Name: Aikawa Uzunami HP 340/353 MP 623/1165-200 Class: Explorer
Level 25
Strength 14.
Stamina 15.54, Dexterity 20.77, Speed 25.87, Intelligence 20.79, Magic Power 45.23, Aptitude 6.21
【Skills】
Innate Skill: Swordsmanship 3.79
Acquired Skills: Martial Arts 1.56, Dimensional Magic 5.33+0.40, Magic Combat 0.79
Sensation 3.56, Command 0.89, Rearguard Tactics 1.01
Knitting 1.15, Deception 1.34, Blacksmithing 1.00, Divine Metal Smithing 0.56
Compared to my time on the ground, my Aptitude stat has decreased, and my combat talents and skills have diminished.
Is that why I can’t fight the guardians? Does it even matter? This sort of ‘display’ is, after all, just a metric created by my past self. If the ‘display’ were omnipotent enough to dictate my entire worth, I wouldn’t be in this state right now.
What matters is the ‘immeasurable value.’
I have a weapon that ‘Aptitude’ and ‘Skills’ do not possess.
Remember everything the guardians I’ve fought so far have taught me…
“W-Wait, Christ… What are you saying, no, what are you trying to do?”
Rainer asked, his voice full of unease as he watched me begin to channel my mana.
But now, I don’t even have time to explain things to Rainer. Nosfy will likely bring Rowen here very soon. I need to finish this before then.
“Rainer, could you give me just a little time to prepare? I need to use Dimensional Magic to see something…”
“Dimensional Magic… to see…? W-What…?”
“—Dimension”
I immediately unleashed the channeled mana, spreading it throughout all of Viaisia. More than anything, information is necessary for what’s to come.
Dark clouds covering the entire world of ‘here’— countless magic stone stars shining in the black sky— a country burning under their warm, faint light— a vortex of war where angry shouts echo and smoke rises— numerous houses turned to rubble— knights clattering in iron armor as they rush about nearby— sparks dancing everywhere— each and every one of those sparks shining like red jewel dust…
I analyze the current state of ‘here,’ intending to ‘display’ the world.
Beyond the spark-filled street— near the towering castle, those two are not there— they were a little further away from there— I found the door leading to the 66th Floor destroyed— and then, two guardians are approaching from there, coming this way— Rowen, the One who steals the logic of the wind, and Nosfy, the Thief of the Principles of Light— they’re almost here— as if to say there’s nowhere to run when facing the Demon King and the Hero, they approach slowly—
As I’d known from the start, we’re already trapped.
I realize we’ve been blocked in this space, our escape routes destroyed.
The meticulous and cautious encirclement by Rowen and Nosfy is complete. Breaking through it is physically impossible.
However, if there’s no path, then I simply have to carve one out.
The magic circles will likely be woven by the magic stone of ‘Thief of the Principles of Dimensions’ within me.
All I have to do is chant.
“—Dimensional Magic, Dimension – Decisive Calculation (Prelude)”
This is the Dimensional Magic I used in my battle with Palinkron.
A magic for ‘predicting the future within a specific space.’
Upon activation— the number of detectable dimensions increases by one.
Faintly, branching futures begin to appear.
Infinite worlds— sprout. The thought space that should have been infinite becomes filled with branches of the future. It resembles a great tree growing— yet, even though only one detectable dimension has increased, it’s far too boundless— my mind saturates from the endless possibilities spreading out— and I feel like I’m going to burst. My magic power— my processing— it can’t keep up at all— It feels like my head is about to split in an instant!
“I still don’t have enough power… then—!”
I just need to find another way to generate it.
Everyone knows the means.
And I know that means better than anyone.
A little while ago, Rowen reminded me. He made me remember.
That I was not just an expert in Dimensional Magic, but also an expert in Curse Techniques—!
【Skills】
Innate Skill: Swordsmanship 3.79
Acquired Skills: Martial Arts 1.56, Dimensional Magic 5.33+0.40, Magic Combat 0.79, Curse Technique 5.33
Sensation 3.56, Command 0.89, Rearguard Tactics 1.01
Knitting 1.15, Deception 1.34, Blacksmithing 1.00, Divine Metal Smithing 0.56
The moment I truly recognized that, the past skill ‘Curse Technique’ was added to the ‘display’ skill list.
“—Curse Technique, Connection, —Curse Technique, Dimension!!”
What I spoke were not ‘Magic’ but ‘Curses.’
A ‘Curse’ that pierces holes in the world, and a ‘Curse’ that dominates the world.
I combine those two with a familiar feeling… and continue to weave familiar words.
“—Composite Curse Technique, Incantation.
‘I swear to atone for all my sins’—!
‘Even if it means the end of this world’—!!”
The original text of the ‘Incantation’ that permeated the world— its official name is Composite Curse Technique, Incantation.
As an ancestor, I formally perform the ‘Incantation.’
That’s right.
Just as always, I should express my entire heart right now— and shout whatever feels cool to me—!
And then, from the hole in the world pierced by that ‘Incantation,’ I will draw out infinite heat energy—!
“So! ‘Let me save everyone’—!!”
I shout my desire to save everyone here.
Even if I can’t pay it now, I vow to pay the ‘Price’ for sure in the end.
And then, in the true sense, the ‘Incantation’ is established, and power equal to the weight of that vow surges from the depths of my body.
It is a mana like a viscous raw liquid. Of course, being so concentrated that it can be called poison, it tries to corrode my body. It assaults not my body, but my mind, trying to melt it— but, using the skill ‘Covenant Keeper of the Deepest Part,’ I deal with the pain of my mind melting— by putting it off.
“—Guh, Aaah!!”
Entrusting myself to the overflowing, vast mana, I regain hold of Magic, Dimension – Decisive Calculation (Prelude).
I immediately resume the future prediction.
I calmly observe the various possible worlds of ‘here’ that are saturating my thoughts.
What I see— a future where I fail without even being able to touch Rowen— a future where my spirit is completely broken and I yield to Nosfy— a future where, even if my will to resist isn’t broken, I am imprisoned deep underground— a future where Rainer dies— a future where all four of us fall together and Viaisia collapses completely— a future where the wars between North and South continue eternally as if it were a children’s game— what I see is a future of blood, a future of blood, a future of blood— a pitch-black future— Ah, every future is tragic.
Not a single victory that can be called a victory.
I understand that searching for a complete victory is impossible. I still can’t seem to find a convenient world where everything goes well. But what’s important isn’t grasping everything. I don’t want to become an omnipotent god.
What I want now is singular.
Possibility is enough.
No matter how difficult, no matter how faint.
Give me the possibility to fight—!
“Dimension – Decisive Calculation (Prelude)————!!!!”
At the end of the ‘Incantation,’ I shout the magic name once more.
And then, I see not infinitely expanding futures— but a single future.
Though it was but a flash of lightning, I clearly, albeit faintly, see that future scene.
This was a possibility less than one in a hundred million.
However, it was a world that was just a little bit kinder to me. A world where Aikawa Uzunami and Rainer Helvirshine fought and won against the ‘Ruling King’ and the ‘Banner of Light.’
I confirmed that the path—the possibility—truly existed.
“Haaah! Haa, haa, haa, haa—!”
I resumed the breathing I’d been holding.
At the same time, the dimensional attribute magic within me, which had been filling Viais, vanished as if seeping into the world.
I took deep breaths, my shoulders shaking, and wiped the large drops of sweat that had accumulated on my forehead.
I had consumed a significant amount of stamina and magic.
But surely—the Curse Technique, ‘Connection,’ had bored a hole through dimensions—the Curse Technique, ‘Dimension,’ had grasped the depths of that hole—the Curse Technique, ‘Formal Incantation,’ had forcibly stolen the missing magic through that vent—the resulting ‘Price’ had been postponed by the Skill, ‘Pactmaker of the Deepest Part’—and my unique Dimensional Magic, the ‘Dimension – Decisive Calculation (Prelude),’ had succeeded—I hoped.
However, the new course of the future I had obtained was far from perfect and as obscure as smoke.
It was a path so narrow that I couldn’t even place one foot on it, littered with the stones of obstacles, and so fragile that it could crumble at the slightest stumble.
“Christ…?”
Rainer called out to me as I was concentrating on my magic.
First, while steadying my breathing, I apologized for causing him worry.
“Sorry, I’m fine now… I just used a bit of support magic… But with this, the preparations are complete. Anytime, I can fight them—no, I can win.”
However, I clearly conveyed that their gambit had opened up a chance for victory.
It was probably the best support magic I could use beforehand. Even if it was incomplete, being able to fight after confirming what was about to happen was almost cheating. Still, even with this, I felt it was still insufficient against those two…
Upon hearing this, Rainer showed a slightly sad expression, then quickly replied in a determined tone similar to mine.
“You’ve made up your mind, Christ. You’re going to end it ‘here,’ aren’t you… Then—”
After looking at my face, he then looked at his own sword.
He gazed at the ‘Sylph Ruf Bringer’ that he had received from Reinand, who had just passed away. Rainer also seemed to have many thoughts about the current situation.
Grasping the sword tightly, he began his incantation.
“To that oath, Knight Rainer Helvirshine will also cooperate. ‘I swear to atone for my sins’ ‘Even if it means the end of this world, I will surely—'”
An ‘Incantation’ with only one word difference.
Of course, unlike the Curse Technique, ‘Incantation,’ the effect of that ‘Incantation’ was minor. —However, at that moment, I felt the completion of some kind of ‘Contract.’ It was clear even to an outsider that a ‘Price’ that could not be ignored rested upon Rainer.
“Rainer…”
I had used the Curse Technique, ‘Incantation,’ to use magic. However, Rainer’s ‘Incantation’ was almost a wasted effort. He only gained a slight increase in his magic reserves.
Yet, he had performed the ‘Incantation’ solely to make a vow.
As I was about to scold him for such a reckless act, I immediately bit back my words.
Instead, Rainer spoke.
“Didn’t you teach me, Christ, that we would help each other and find a way to survive this together?”
What we talked about in the labyrinth a little while ago—that’s all Rainer had done.
So, I had no right to scold him for it.
“…Thank you.”
I simply expressed my gratitude.
Rainer’s ‘Incantation’ felt like proof that he would stay with me until the very end in the battles to come. There was nothing more reassuring than this for me to follow the narrow and fragile path I had found with ‘Dimension – Decisive Calculation (Prelude).’
“You don’t need to thank me. That’s what the knights of Helvishein are for, in times like these…”
He said it as if it were obvious. My companion.
It seemed no further words of thanks were needed.
“Then, I won’t hesitate to ask. To my trusted knight, Rainer Helvirshine—”
I trust him and ask.
I believe Rainer can handle this near-impossible command.
Thinking about it, perhaps all this time, I had been training him in this underground labyrinth for this very moment. For this battle I had vaguely foreseen—
“Fu, fufu, I heard something interesting. Lord Uzunami says he will win against us?”
Before I could issue my command, a clear voice reached me from afar.
I had noticed their approach with ‘Dimension.’
Two girls appeared in the garden of the Volz family.
First, Nosfy, carrying the banner of light, appeared from the south. And then—
“Hah, Uzunami will win, you say? Against us? Hahaha!”
Lord appeared from the north, wielding a wind bayonet.
I was caught between two great heroes.
These two were the greatest forces of ‘North’ and ‘South’ from a thousand years ago.
The inherently unique, and endlessly talked about even in death, ‘Ruling King’ and ‘Banner of Light’—
It felt as if I were caught between a tsunami of magic power.
Both of them were brimming with unprecedented magical power, in a serious combat readiness. It informed our instincts that all the battles so far had been for naught, and that the real fight was about to begin.
My body trembled. They were the ‘Demon King’ and ‘Hero’ from a thousand years ago, legendarily passed down on the surface. It was only natural.
However, even as I trembled, I would not flee.
Today, ‘here,’ I would bring everything to a conclusion.
Looking back, victory against these two was the true path to return from the ‘Underground/Past’ to the ‘Surface/Future.’
It was meaningless if I could only climb the labyrinth. I had to achieve a true return to the surface. Otherwise, I could never escape the ‘Past.’
So, I ignored the two mocking guardians and continued my command without hesitation.
“—Knight Rainer. While I speak with Lord, completely suppress Nosfy. She is a hindrance to ending this here.”
I no longer held back against the three people present.
I issued an almost arrogant command.
Nosfy frowned, and Lord’s eyes widened in surprise.
Only Rainer smiled happily and responded with a knight’s courtesy.
And without any hesitation, he replied instantly.
“Understood. My Lord.”
With that short reply, Rainer, a grin on his face, discarded his worn ring and bracelet—used magic tools—onto the ground. Then, drawing both the ‘Sylph Ruf Bringer’ and the ‘Aris Family’s Treasure Sword Rowen,’ he even discarded their scabbards, lightening himself to his limit, and faced Nosfy from the south.
I followed suit. I swung the coat that Reinand had draped over Rainer like a blanket, and put it on.
The figure clad in the oversized black robe looked a little like my past self. I intended to return to being the Dimensional Mage called Shiso, enveloped myself in thick dimensional attribute magic, and faced Lord from the north.
Our backs were against each other.
It didn’t matter if they were legendary saviors.
There was no turning back, no detours.
We would overcome the fifty guardians and sixty guardians here—
