I was shown the *ending*.
Before I knew it, I had returned.
To a fort in the northern part of the Valt continent. Inside its garden.
The light of the *magic lines* that had filled the garden had vanished.
It felt as if many years had passed. However, the information I was receiving from my surroundings indicated that not even a moment had passed.
Sis was in front of me. And I was holding her down.
As before, Palinkron was desperately trying to get his blood-soaked body to stand.
It had probably happened in less than a second. Yet, in that brief moment, all my emotions had inverted.
I had finally reached an answer.
I had learned something more terrifying than losing myself.
I had lost the premise that was most important to me.
The person most important to me—*Hidaki*—had become a *monster*.
And a sword was plunged into her chest.
My hands, which were holding Sis down, trembled.
My body weakened contrary to my reason.
As if to add insult to injury, Palinkron’s voice could be heard.
“—As you can see, Kanami’s older brother. Your dear sister, *Aikawa Hidaki*, died long ago. Due to excessive conversion of magic power, she became a *monster* and was killed by her own brother.”
Those words clung to my ears like sludge, invading my brain.
I heard only words, not magic or mana. Yet, I could not resist them.
“And *Aikawa Uzunami* also died. He became a *monster* seeking revenge and dragged the continent down with him.”
Ah.
So, the man would be killed after this.
By Tiara, a girl who was my friend, disciple, and companion.
After all, Saint Tiara is a hero who saved the continent. It was no wonder she would fight against *Aikawa Uzunami*, who was trying to destroy the continent. It was a natural progression.
“The Kanami’s older brother standing here is, strictly speaking, not Aikawa Uzunami. He is merely a vessel prepared to allow *Aikawa Uzunami* to be *reborn*.”
*Hidaki Aikawa* is dead—and *Aikawa Uzunami* is also dead?
Then who am *I*, who goes by the name *Aikawa Kanami*?
I’ve already heard it.
Thanks to Hairi, I know.
I am a *Magic Stone Human*. Just a vessel. Nobody. Without a name.
Ah, it’s all so confusing now.
The things essential for living are so easily broken. The premise of being alive is so easily overturned.
To be unable to resist it and only endure—what kind of torture is this?
If I am a nameless *Magic Stone Human*, who created me and for what purpose?
Was it prepared by *Aikawa Uzunami* when she was about to lose?
Specially made? To be *reborn*, albeit stubbornly?
—No.
Honestly, I don’t care about that.
I won’t concern myself with ‘me’. There are things I need to think about, but I can’t bring myself to do so.
Despite having *Parallel Thinking*, my thoughts are stagnating.
Palinkron ruthlessly points out the reason for this stagnation.
“The *boy* here is nobody. He has no sister. Nothing to protect. No reason to live, and no reason he has lived. —Let’s stop with the unconvincing act, shall we? Your only solace, *Hidaki Aikawa*, is also dead. Everything up until today’s battle, everything, was meaningless! Hah, hahahaha!!”
Yes.
‘I’ was everything because of *Hidaki*.
Even if I was simply *adjusted* that way—she was my support for living.
Anything else could have been overturned. I wouldn’t have minded losing my own existence.
But I couldn’t bear the thought of *Hidaki* being dead.
It was the only thing I relied on when I was falling apart.
If that were overturned, there would be no point in doing anything anymore.
Even if it was the memories I was given—I have so many memories within me.
I can recall various scenes of us laughing together as siblings. I have an affection that words cannot express. There were times I felt I could lay down my life for her.
Yet, I lost her.
I became empty.
My spirit is about to break—
Though surrounded by flames, I felt terribly cold.
My trembling hands wouldn’t stop, and my strength continued to wane.
“—!”
Seizing the opening, Sis broke free from my restraint.
“Ka, Kanami! Please be serious!”
Maria’s voice echoed from beside me. She was scolding me while maintaining her grip on the fire magic, never intending to let Sis escape. She was manipulating the flames, determined not to let Sis get away.
She’s right. I need to move.
I know that without her telling me.
However, I can’t move.
Even if I had expected it, being forcibly infused with that *truth* as *memory* was a despair far greater than I’d anticipated. I realize my foresight was too naive. I wasn’t facing reality.
I feel like a part of me has been hollowed out.
I feel like a mere facade, existing here.
My name, my purpose, all of it is hollow. Since even the name I’m called has no meaning, I can’t respond.
Thinking that I am a human of no value—
“Palinkron! What did you do to Kanami!”
—Rustiara’s voice could be heard.
I could see her rushing at Palinkron with a changed expression, her sword aimed at him.
*Dimension* mechanically fed information of the situation into my head.
I continued to stare blankly at it.
Palinkron deflected the approaching sword and manipulated a *magic circle* with his free hand.
“Somehow I managed to restrain Kanami’s older brother… Now I can use my other hand…”
The *Magic Stone Line* glowed again. It changed color, and the light seeped into Rustiara’s body.
“Wh-what—?”
“I’ve altered the magic absorption rate. It’s a slight application of the *Shaka Hōkan Jin*. Within this barrier, *Magic Stone Humans* can no longer fight.”
Instantly, Rustiara’s expression changed.
Her face turned pale, and all her magic power thinned. Rustiara placed a hand over her mouth and fell to her knees.
Her appearance was similar to Hairi’s in the past. A condition where she had lost the magic stone within her body, hindering her vital functions.
“Th-this much is nothing! Kanami! I’ll help Kanami—”
Rustiara called out my name.
But her voice didn’t reach my heart.
“I won’t let you do anything more, okay?”
Palinkron intensified the light of the *magic circle*.
Just that alone made Rustiara groan and unable to move.
Ah, ah…
My companions are in danger—
When I recognized that.
My body moved, albeit slightly.
The reason was obvious.
‘I’ had lost my mission, my wishes, and my drive to live.
But while ‘I’ might be worthless, the others were not.
I felt that in my heart.
I had to save my companions.
That was the only value that remained for ‘me’ now, the only thing ‘I’ could believe in.
Following it, I tried to stand up. I staggered, but I did.
“—! Even so, Kanami’s older brother can move! That’s why *magic stone users* are troublesome—here goes! Next is Snow!”
Seeing me try to move, Palinkron attempted to approach me but was stopped by Snow, who had just arrived. Palinkron narrowly dodged the descending fist and began fiddling with the *magic circle* again.
“Aaaah, Kanami, Kanami! —You, Palinkron!!”
Snow was angry, seeing my sudden change.
Following Rustiara, Snow was also angry for my sake. That sight gave strength to my legs.
“Snow, all I need to do is re-administer your traumatic memories. Fortunately, I have the real thing right here.”
Palinkron’s right arm, which had contorted unnaturally, transformed into a black liquid.
The change was the same as Teeda. He was releasing the power of ‘The one who steals the logic of darkness’ in a way only Snow could see.
Seeing that, Snow let out a small scream.
“Hic, yi—!?”
“Is that okay, Snow? We’re going to repeat it, you know?”
Threatened, Snow began to tremble.
—I can’t watch this.
The crisis of a second companion finally brought back my lost fighting spirit.
Stop thinking about unnecessary things.
If it’s painful, you don’t need to think about anything anymore!
—Just save your companions!
That simple thought perfectly fit the current situation.
I managed to channel power into my limbs.
To save my companions—I had to defeat Palinkron to do that. And then, I had to capture Sis, whom I had let escape, and save Dia.
I tried to devise a strategy for that.
Due to severe thought restriction, my thinking ability had decreased. It was less than one-tenth of my usual capacity.
But it was still usable. I could still fight.
Palinkron was about to deliver the finishing blow to the trembling Snow.
But it was stopped by Reaper’s scythe.
I reassembled the battle plan that had collapsed once.
For now, I would have Reaper and Snow hold Palinkron back a little longer. And during that time, I would try to capture Sis again.
Though Sis had escaped her restraints, she was still breathing heavily and hadn’t left the battlefield. She seemed to be having trouble constructing white wings while blocking Maria’s fire magic.
Hope appeared as I realized I hadn’t lost yet.
It was true that Palinkron’s trump card, the *magic circle*, had caused some confusion. But that was all.
Without delay, I started running to capture Sis.
“Sis!!”
I shouted, wanting to show my companions that I was alright now.
However, Reaper’s face remained pale.
While facing Palinkron, his eyes flickered downwards.
“Th-this *magic circle*… could it be…!”
He was terrified, looking at the surrounding *magic stone lines*.
“That’s right, ‘Death God’. The *magic circle* that swallowed you a thousand years ago—the *Curse Technique* ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’. I’m sorry, but I’ve already finished setting it up across the entire northern part of the *Mainland*. It’s your natural enemy magic.”
Palinkron held his hand out to Reaper. And just by clenching that hand, Reaper’s expression changed drastically.
“—A, ah, aaaAAAH!”
He began to writhe as if he couldn’t breathe, dropping the great scythe he held.
I had seen this sight before. The last time, when I first met him, he had made the same expression when I cut off the supply to the less magical Reaper from the ‘Connection’.
Presumably, this *magic circle* has the effect of absorbing magic power. Therefore, Reaper’s magic power was depleted.
I instinctively ordered Snow to assist Reaper.
“Snow! Follow Reaper and—”
But when I looked towards Snow—she, whom I had relied on, had turned her back and was fleeing.
“—Eh?”
My voice did not reach her.
I could only watch her run, my body trembling, over the wall and out of the garden.
I felt all my calculations go awry.
And I realized that the calculations I had made with one-tenth of my thinking ability, having sealed *Parallel Thinking*, were completely off the mark.
Ah, if things continue like this, the only one who can fight Palinkron properly is—
“And you, Radiant. You are the most troublesome. Not only is there no opening to exploit, but you are also accustomed to defeating me. I haven’t forgotten that I lost all our mock battles against you.”
Only Sera.
Sera, who had scattered the surrounding soldiers, was heading towards Palinkron’s location.
Her movements were calm, as if she were being saved. She was looking at Rustiara and Reaper, who were suffering, not at her enemy, Palinkron.
Palinkron directed his hand towards Sera and muttered,
“So I’ll have to resort to brute force. —Concentrate the target of the *Curse Technique* ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’ on Sera Radiant.”
All the light from the garden’s *magic lines* converged and attacked Sera.
The light was a pure white, beautiful enough to mesmerize. But that beautiful light intensely stirred my anxiety. I felt, without knowing why, that if she touched it, it would be beyond recovery.
I stopped my steps towards Sis and pivoted towards Palinkron.
I had no choice. I couldn’t help it.
At this rate, we wouldn’t just annihilate them; we would be annihilated. I felt that much anxiety from the light.
During that time, Palinkron spoke to Sera.
“I understand you were careful not to touch me, but you’re still too naive. This entire battlefield is already under my influence. The power of ‘The one who steals the logic of darkness’ isn’t all I have. Originally, I am a knight who fights with *Curse Techniques*.”
Sera’s running speed suddenly slowed.
“Ngh, what is this! My strength is draining—!”
Sera’s magic power visibly diminished.
No, it wasn’t just her magic power. It felt as if her very existence was thinning.
Palinkron’s *magic circle* contained a dire omen, as if it could erase a person’s existence.
As I ran, I *gazed* at Sera’s rapidly changing state.
And I noticed her abnormality.
Her status *display* was unstable. Her *numbers* were visibly decreasing.
It was as if the *Magic Stone Line* was draining her *Level*—her *Magic*.
I felt that if she continued to be exposed to the light of the *magic circle*, something terrible would happen. Thus, I swung my sword with all my might at Palinkron.
“Palinkron! Stop!!”
“Haha! You’ve recovered, boy! But your aim is off!”
Palinkron, looking pleased, blocked my sword with his own.
Despite overwhelming me in swordsmanship and physical strength, he easily blocked it. As Palinkron said, my blow had force, but it lacked precision. My mind and body were that fragmented right now.
I had learned the importance of mind-body unity in my battle with Rowen, yet my mind couldn’t keep up with my fighting spirit. Nowadays, my *Sensation* doesn’t seem to be working correctly. I doubt if I can even draw out my *Swordsmanship* properly.
Still, I had no choice but to swing my sword.
In the meantime, Reaper moved.
With the *magic circle*’s light focused on Sera, he seemed to have regained much of his mobility.
“This *magic circle*… it’s bad for us… At least for my sisters… If this continues, I’ll just be a burden…!!”
Reaper scooped up Sera, who was nearly twice his size, and joined Rustiara. Then, he chanted a spell.
“—*Connection*!”
He created a magical door and, without hesitation, they three stepped through it.
With that, the number of companions on the battlefield decreased by three, and the situation became two versus two. What had been an overwhelmingly advantageous situation quickly became even.
However, I was grateful for Reaper’s calm judgment.
If Rustiara and Sera had stayed, their lives would have been in danger. Fighting Palinkron and the others while worrying about them would have been suicidal. I had to admit it was a wise decision.
I could now concentrate on Palinkron without worry.
By focusing solely on my sword, I gradually regained my precision. But as expected, Palinkron tried to disrupt my concentration.
“—But, ‘boy’. What are you fighting for? You don’t have your precious sister anymore, do you? By defeating me, what will you achieve? What are you fighting for, for whom, when you’ve lost even yourself? Is that truly your wish? Huh? Huh, huh, huh!?”
The more I listened, the more my strength drained.
With every word, I thought about those words.
And my spirit was chipped away.
After overcoming the battles in Fuziaze and Laura Via, I vowed not to be manipulated by anyone ever again and never to mistake my own wishes. Therefore, I was confident I could resist if Palinkron fought primarily with mental manipulation magic.
However, this attack was insurmountable.
It wasn’t manipulation or deception. It wasn’t magic or mana. He was simply speaking the *truth*.
My facade of fighting spirit was crumbling, piece by piece.
The fact that I can still move even a little is probably because Hairi had spoken to me beforehand. Thanks to her words, the shock was minimized, which was a great help.
As my spirit withered, the speed of my sword swings decreased.
The power of the *Swordsmanship* and *Sensation* inherited from Rowen was no longer visible. I could tell the sword in my hand was being wasted.
Despite having the advantage in abilities, pathetically—Palinkron’s sword was gradually pushing me back.
If this continues, it will be the same result as that day.
I will lose again. As the thought of defeat flickered in my mind—
“— ‘*Infinite Staggering and the Thread of the Spine*’ ‘*Swallow the Stars*’, ‘*Midgardsblaze*’—!!”
Forbidden flames blazed in the garden of light.
Arti’s flames, which had been my enemy then, now erupted as my ally—
