Rustiara Fuziaze appeared with a slight frown and first gazed at Sera.
Meeting her gaze, Sera immediately began to explain my presence.
“I brought him in as a companion at my own discretion. While I heard that I absolutely couldn’t inform Kanami, you didn’t say anything about others, so…”
It seemed Sera had brought me in on her own, not on her master’s orders. Rustiara chided her for this, pouting.
“Hmm. Did Sera-chan enter her rebellious phase without me noticing?”
“Perhaps so. However, it is all for the sake of my young lady, your highness.”
“I see. Then, it’s fine. Thank you always…”
She didn’t scold her severely, but instead thanked her.
I was a little envious of their master-subordinate relationship. It’s true that knights shouldn’t just follow their master’s orders, but should act with the master’s best interests in mind. Regardless of her personality, I truly respected Sera as a senior knight.
Having received permission, Sera immediately brought me forward and began the introduction.
“Well, as I believe you already know, allow me to introduce him. This is Rainer, the youngest brother of the Helvirshine family. Perhaps due to being with Kanami, he has become quite strong. At this age, he even surpasses Hein.”
Sera praised me highly, emphasizing my usefulness.
However, to me, it sounded hollow.
After all…
“You say unpleasant things, Sera-san… I haven’t forgotten yesterday’s battle.”
…Last night, Sera had defeated me unilaterally in a duel.
I could vividly recall it if I closed my eyes.
The outcome of the duel behind the tavern, under the moonlight.
Sera, holding the twin swords she had taken from me after knocking me onto my backside.
It was a battle with many irregularities, but a loss is still a loss. Without a joke, I realized that Sera was indeed the best knight in the Allied Nations.
Incidentally, in that duel, if I won, Sera had promised to “tell me everything she knew.” If Sera won, I had promised “not to say anything to Kanami, even if I were told.”
“Don’t worry about that, Rainer. I can’t get any stronger. It seems that further ‘Magic Power Conversion’ would lead to the same state as the ancient ancestors. That’s why I need you. You, who has no level cap.”
“No, I don’t think there’s no cap… It’s probably just a little more than most people…”
Normally, leveling up too much causes abnormalities in one’s body.
Sera seemed to be approaching her limit at level 26, but I had already surpassed it. And so far, I hadn’t experienced any significant abnormalities.
Rustiara looked at me with interest when she heard this.
“Hee. Sera-chan is at her limit with ‘Demonization,’ but Rainer isn’t yet. And that’s your level? That’s completely on Kanami and Maria-chan’s side. Why do you think that is?”
That ‘Demonization’ Rustiara just mentioned was the main reason for my defeat in the duel.
Apparently, it’s a term Aid had spread in the year we were gone.
‘Demonization’ refers to leveling up beyond human limits, causing one’s body to begin transforming into a monster.
The ‘Beast Persons’ of the Allied Nations are born that way, but this ‘Demonization’ is acquired—it’s caused by the invasion of too much poison, leading to various adverse effects on the body.
Another example of ‘Demonization’ I know of would be Snow Walker, the former strongest hero and a ‘Dragon Person.’ If we use her ‘Dragonization,’ a type of ‘Beastification,’ as an example, it becomes very clear.
Snow Walker could temporarily become stronger by ‘Dragonizing,’ but afterward, she would become closer to an actual dragon due to the after-effects.
Unlike the ‘Beastification’ performed by ordinary Beast Persons, the ‘Beastification’ used by high-level Beast Persons reaching ‘Demonization’ results in an abnormal increase in abilities. And as a price, they approach monsters even in their normal state.
It seems that ‘Dragonization’ and ‘Beastification’ that come with such a price are now collectively called ‘Demonization.’
It was this ‘Demonization’ that caused me to lose to Sera.
And after the duel, learning that she had gone monster to persuade me made me unable to resist her in many ways.
“The reason why my body doesn’t show abnormalities, you say… It might be because I’ve been fighting with ‘Rowen’ for a while.”
I gave a half-hearted reason in response to Rustiara’s curious gaze.
“Ah, the sword made of the guardian’s magic stone, right? That’s true, with that, anything could happen. In fact, Maria seems to be able to grow infinitely strong thanks to Arti’s magic stone.”
I actually had a different idea in mind. However, since it was too unsubstantiated, I brushed it off with Rowen as the reason.
Having escaped Rustiara’s questioning, I immediately returned to the main topic.
“Rustiara. I intend to do what needs to be done in place of Mr. Hein. Please tell me what you can regarding what Mr. Hein can discuss.”
I mentioned my older brother’s name to clarify my position.
“…Understood. I will explain everything from now on. I will answer what I can, so please ask anything.”
Seemingly accepting my request, Rustiara slowly began to speak.
“As Sera-chan said, we spent a year gathering fragmented ‘Tiara’s blood.’ And we’ve collected nearly ninety percent of it. Currently, forty percent is in my body, and fifty percent is in that child’s body.”
“…What, ninety percent already? That’s fast. But why do you still have the blood in your body? Isn’t that dangerous?”
Slightly surprised that it was nearing completion, I asked about the danger of the blood.
“It’s easier to search for ‘Magic Stone Humans’ who possess ‘Saint Tiara’s blood’ if I’ve ingested a certain amount. It also makes the process of extraction easier, and having it around is quite convenient. Oh, of course, this ‘blood’ is dormant, so it’s safe. To truly awaken the blood, we’d need a grand ritual like the one during the Christmas festival, so you don’t need to worry about any of that.”
However, Rustiara replied with a smile that it was fine.
“But from what Sera-san told me, that’s why Tiara’s emotions are overflowing? Shouldn’t you reduce the amount?”
“Yes, that’s right. But I believe it’s my role to understand Tiara’s emotions, so I’m fine with it.”
“No, it’s not fine. Because of someone else’s emotions, Christ was coldly rejected yesterday, wasn’t he? If anything, it’s a hindrance—”
Angered by the unfair treatment of my master, I was about to urge for the blood’s removal.
However, my plea was cut short by a deeper anger.
“No. Tiara is not someone else.”
Rustiara glared at me.
As we talked, I realized I had stepped on something she wouldn’t yield on, and I immediately shut my mouth.
“She’s not just someone else; she’s a main character! Tiara has loved Kanami for a thousand years…!? She was always by his side, supporting him more than anyone. She devoted herself, devoted herself, and devoted herself devotedly until her death. Yet, in the end, she died with her mission unfulfilled, misunderstood, without even a chance to confess…! That’s unbearable! I absolutely won’t acknowledge such a flawed story!!”
Rustiara shouted her heart out at my silence.
Seeing her, I was reminded of Mr. Hein from long ago.
Mr. Hein, whose love for theater had become so intense that he over-empathized with the characters.
Just like that, Rustiara seemed to be over-empathizing with Tiara now.
To what extent had she seen Tiara’s memories—perhaps all possibilities. She might be in a state of projecting herself too much onto the protagonist of a story.
However, as Christ’s knight, I couldn’t back down.
I slowly responded, hoping she would understand my master’s position.
“I-indeed, it seems many things happened a thousand years ago. But it’s not a thousand years ago now. The Christ of today loves you, not Tiara… Without a doubt, Christ loves Rustiara Fuziaze with all his heart.”
I had elicited this from a drunken Christ at the tavern last night, so there was no mistake. I didn’t want my master’s feelings to be misunderstood, so I pushed back against Rustiara’s outburst.
Rustiara calmly accepted this.
“…Yes, I understand that. I understood that clearly from what happened yesterday.”
“If you understand, then why—”
“But I’m suspicious of this story, ‘Kanami loves Rustiara Fuziaze.’ Does Kanami truly love me? Someone like me? I’m just a doll who can’t even get on stage, a supporting role, with no talent. Yet, I’m boastful and always had delusions of grandeur, and ultimately couldn’t save Dia. I’m incomparable to the strong, kind, and cool Tiara! I can’t help but think that Kanami is mistaking his thousand-year-old feelings for Tiara for love for me…!”
Rustiara continued to belittle herself, denying her own worth.
I was surprised by her self-deprecation. It was extreme loss of confidence.
And then, I understood that due to this inferiority complex, Rustiara couldn’t believe Kanami’s feelings.
However, to make the living god Rustiara Fuziaze say such things…
I wondered how many times she had lost to Aid and the others in the past year. Of course, I wouldn’t ask, as it would likely be a trauma for her. If I touched upon it, she would lose the little composure she currently had.
This trauma was something I could relate to, as I, too, couldn’t save Mr. Hein. I knew this landmine beforehand.
Pretending to accept Rustiara’s story, I decided to hear her own feelings.
“—I understand that you’re angry. I also understand that the Tiara you mentioned, when she was the ancestor, greatly loved Christ. But there’s one thing I want to ask. During yesterday’s confession, you said you disliked Christ, was that true? From the outside, you looked a little happy.”
This was the most important point, after all.
Rustiara answered the crucial question lightly.
“Eh, me? —Well, of course, I love Kanami. He occupies a crucial part of my life, so that’s only natural.”
I had braced myself to extract her true feelings, but Rustiara provided it naturally, as if it were obvious.
However, she also insisted that her anger was justified.
“But I hate Kanami for ignoring Tiara… Yes, I hate him terribly. Forgetting the days with Tiara and confessing to a ‘Magic Stone Human’ who resembles her, that’s too cruel, even for Kanami. Tiara was there too…! Since Kanami also received the same recovery magic I did, he must be regaining fragments of his thousand-year-old memories. Yet, he only asked me to go with him? Without a word about Tiara, treating her like a nuisance—!”
Ah…
In other words, Rustiara is angry on Tiara’s behalf.
From this, I could understand that Christ’s response during yesterday’s confession was all wrong.
Christ, upon meeting his beloved after a long time, should have spoken of Tiara’s situation first, instead of worrying about her. A confession was out of the question.
However, telling him to speak of Tiara at that moment was a harsh request.
He had just reunited with the girl he had loved for so long, and there were still issues with his sister and companions, and he had just had a fierce battle with Nosfy and the others underground—and then to be asked to care about someone he barely remembered. Someone who, shortly before, had tried to kill Rustiara, his love interest. It was an impossible task.
…My lord is as pitiful as ever. The failure of the confession was practically guaranteed from the start.
“So that’s what it was…”
Finally, the strangeness during the confession was resolved.
At the same time, I also felt pity for the Rustiara before me.
She had too much of a self-sacrificing personality. She inherited only the bad traits of her tutor, Mr. Hein. So much so that it was pitiable rather than just unfortunate.
Rustiara, despite loving Christ herself, was only worrying about other girls.
Thinking back, during Laura Via’s tournament, she tried to save Snow Walker before Christ. I heard she even supported the black-haired girl Maria’s love.
In other words, this person, Rustiara, will go all out if there’s someone more pitiable and tragic than herself, even if it means her beloved ends up with another woman.
Like Mr. Hein, she seems to adhere strictly to the unspoken rules of a story and has the notion that her turn will be last, even perfectly following the order of confessions.
“I understand. You said you disliked Christ, but you love him even more. …Sigh. Aren’t you two in love? Then why is it so complicated?”
“I wish we were in love… But now, I don’t know if Kanami’s feelings yesterday or my feelings are true… We had many experiences a year ago, exploring the labyrinth and saving each other’s lives, but recently I’ve lost confidence… I wonder if Kanami truly enjoyed playing with me…”
It was unavoidable, it seemed their memories with Christ were fading over the past year. Her past achievements in the ‘Dance Battle’ were likely a distant memory. Because of this, Rustiara had lost so much confidence.
“—Therefore, I will confirm it. My current goal is to ‘Rebirth’ Tiara. But even more than that, my goal is to completely remove Tiara’s elements from this body! If I can separate from Tiara completely, everything will surely go well! I won’t feel indebted to Maria anymore! I’ll be able to face Snow directly! And it will become clear whether Kanami and I are misunderstanding each other!!”
Snow and Maria’s names came up in the middle.
This ‘Rebirth’ of Tiara seemed to be for her former companions as well.
And it wasn’t just that, I understood from what she had said so far.
Gradually, I began to understand the thoughts of the girl filled with inferiority complex before me, and my face twitched.
I suspect that just witnessing Tiara and Christ’s romance unfold first wouldn’t satisfy Rustiara’s feelings. Like Mr. Hein, she seemed to seek a perfect “happily ever after.”
Therefore, this girl Rustiara, filled with inferiority complex, might intend to have all the women she knows confess to Christ first, in order to confirm whether Kanami’s confession yesterday was genuine.
First, Tiara, who will be ‘Reborn.’
Then, her companions, including Maria.
Furthermore, girls who had a connection a thousand years ago—
—Everyone.
She was likely thinking that if Kanami rejected all of their confessions and confessed to her again, they would be able to believe each other’s feelings then…
Indeed, Christ would have to prove that he was the “one destined person in the world” that he claimed to be.
My lord’s happiness seemed so distant that I felt a little dizzy.
“D-do you… cannot tell Christ about what we’ve discussed now?”
“I can’t tell him. Because if Kanami knew now, he would likely interfere with Tiara’s ‘Rebirth.’ In fact, Maria tried to stop me by prioritizing me…”
Indeed, after hearing everything so far, Christ might interfere.
No, considering his statement at the tavern last night—it was certain.
“First of all, this ‘Rebirth’ process is always accompanied by danger. I absolutely do not intend to make any mistakes, but if I falter one step, there’s a possibility that I, who stores ‘Tiara’s blood,’ could perish. If he knew this, Kanami might forcefully extract the blood from me. Therefore, I absolutely cannot tell Kanami.”
If Christ learned that his beloved was in danger, he would think, “to avoid regret,” or “for safety,” and try to remove ‘Tiara’s blood’ from Rustiara.
And with an unfair magic like “Distance Mute,” this would be easily achievable.
I could clearly see how much Christ, as an existence, was a hindrance to Rustiara’s plan.
“And even if it succeeds, I will undoubtedly cease to be ‘special.’ Some of the ‘aptitudes’ in my body will be taken away. If that happens, Kanami and I will never stand side-by-side again. Let alone diving into labyrinths together, we won’t even be able to travel together. Fulfilling the ‘Contract’ we made when we met will be absolutely impossible. I don’t know if the current Kanami will accept this silently.”
Moreover, with that Kanami, I was afraid he might suddenly do something outrageous.
Rustiara’s desire to keep it hidden until it was over was something I could understand.
“—I grasp the general situation. Understood, I will absolutely say nothing to Christ. Taking these circumstances into account, Knight Rainer Helvirshine swears to cooperate with your plan. Hearing that you are doing this to increase your lord’s allies, I have no grounds to object. It’s best to finish quickly while Christ is away and go meet him.”
“…Good. Thank you, Rainer. Honestly, I needed more hands to hasten things.”
“No, you don’t need to thank me. However—”
Although I would cooperate, if it exceeded my acceptable limits, that would not be the case.
I tried to convey this, glancing at the bed in the center of the room.
“Of course, if you disagree with what we’re doing, you can withdraw immediately. Such as how that child is being treated.”
Sensing my gaze, Rustiara approached the child on the bed and gently stroked her forehead. Sera, feeling impatient about the lack of detailed explanation, hastily began to explain to me.
“Rainer. We cannot do what Fedelt did. Therefore, this child has lived fully and died fully. Although her lifespan was less than a year, she truly lived her life. After that, she wished to use herself as Tiara’s vessel after death.”
Seeing how well Rustiara was liked by the ‘Magic Stone Humans’ during yesterday’s confession, this was understandable.
However, Rustiara seemed to consider it an excuse. She lowered her head and added,
“Honestly, I was struggling with the ‘vessel’ I would possess, so this kind child volunteered…”
“Perhaps so. However, she still wished it. She truly wanted to become useful to my young lady, and also to Tiara. As someone who feels the same way about my young lady, I understand her feelings perfectly. Please accept her feelings and use her with a smile. I ask this of you too.”
“…Mm.”
It seemed Rustiara was the only one who couldn’t accept it. It became clear she was the type to feel troubled even by the reuse of a corpse.
It’s completely different from me. My limits are somewhere else entirely.
“That’s a touching story. I won’t say anything more about the handling of that corpse, so rest assured. …So, the remaining blood is one percent, right? In reality, how many more people are there?”
“Um… I searched desperately for this past year. I know we’ll have collected it all with just a few more people. If things continue like this, in about a month—no, in even fewer days, Tiara will return to this world.”
“What. It seems like it will end quickly. Perhaps we’ll finish before Christ returns and can go to meet him instead.”
I said with a smile, glad at the ease of the situation.
In response, Rustiara also recomposed herself and managed a smile.
“…Yes, that’s right. Let’s think more positively! I’m sure it will end safely soon, and we’ll be able to welcome Kanami with Tiara! Everything will go well! Alright, then, with our new companion—shall I declare the recommencement of the Tiara ‘Rebirth’ Grand Strategy!”
“Yes. We will surely succeed, my lady. I will accompany you to the very end.”
“Ah. I will do everything I can as well.”
In accordance with the declaration, Sera and I bowed like knights.
We swore to give our all to fulfill our mistress Rustiara’s wish.
…However, behind that bow, I harbored a slightly sinister thought.
If my limits were exceeded—in some cases, I might have to restrain Rustiara and kill Saint Tiara…—
Unlike Christ and Rustiara, I had no intention of overthinking things.
In any case, being alive was important.
As long as one was alive, losing love would eventually become a laughable story.
—Therefore, I cared not for the conventions of stories or ancient grudges.
The past ancestors, Kanami the ‘Foreigner,’ and the labyrinth were irrelevant.
To me, Christ is Christ.
When we met—Christ called himself Christ.
My older brother tried to save that boy. That was all.
The past saints, being ‘Magic Stone Humans,’ and those complex romantic feelings were irrelevant.
To me, Rustiara is Rustiara.
When we met—Rustiara called herself Rustiara.
My older brother tried to save that girl. That was all.
To protect the King and Queen pieces that I must defend, I would ruthlessly take the enemy pieces.
That is my role.
Therefore, when Rustiara’s life is in danger because of Saint Tiara, what I must do is decided.
—It is decided.
While smiling and being welcomed as a new companion by Rustiara and the others, I glanced at the twin swords at my waist.
In the cold underground room.
Considering the worst-case scenario, I was mentally constructing a method to defeat both Sera and Rustiara—
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
—And coincidentally, Rainer Helvirshine’s dangerous way of thinking was identical to that of a certain individual.
It was a mere coincidence—that very Saint Tiara shared the exact same thoughts as Rainer Helvirshine, reaching the same conclusion.
As a result, the one Saint Tiara would choose as her successor—would not be ‘Rustiara,’ nor the ‘Magic Stone Human girl’ sleeping within, nor ‘the one who inherited the Fuziaze name,’ but none other than ‘Rainer Helvirshine.’
With just that one difference.
The story of the Fuziaze family would deviate greatly from its intended bloodline.
