“You cad! You gigolo! You show-off! Brother-complex! Pervert! Scum of the earth! Enemy of women! Nay, enemy of humankind! Indecisive fool! You get people’s hopes up and then abandon them, leading to terrible consequences! All talk, no action! Coward! Honestly, you’re a nuisance just by being alive! Do you know how much trouble everyone, or rather, how much trouble I’ve had to clean up after you! Worthless man! Don’t run to girls every time you lose! Spineless weakling! You always lose when it matters most! You loser—!!”
“U, uh, I get it! I totally get it! Now that you get it, can we wrap this up soon…?”
Face paling at the sheer torrent of insults, Christ attempted to surrender. However, Tiara-san showed no mercy, relentlessly continuing her accusations, even though her opponent was trying to yield.
“Enough, Master! Since this is the last time, I’m saying it all! Master, you should focus your aim on one person! Don’t go flitting around everywhere!!”
“W, well, people are gathering, so… let’s at least move somewhere else!”
Christ, noticing the reactions around them, urged for a change of location. The crowd’s excitement had reached its peak. Hearing scandalous gossip about the hero, they listened intently, whispering to their acquaintances. One could easily imagine what was being said behind closed doors upon hearing Tiara-san’s revelations.
In fact, murmurs like “So the rumors were true…” and “Ugh, how awful…” could be heard from the audience. Christ’s reputation was plummeting at an alarming rate, and the credibility of existing rumors was growing.
And I could certainly understand Christ’s desire to leave. I understood, but I couldn’t allow him to run from the girl who was about to disappear before my eyes. Secretly, I blocked Christ’s escape route and watched their conversation unfold with a smile.
“Master! Even now, you care about what people think?! That’s why you kept failing at important moments a thousand years ago!!”
“No, that’s… but if this continues, my reputation will… Snow is definitely listening right now… This is bad…! It’s seriously bad, in every sense of the word…!!”
“What’s important is Rustiara-chan right now! If you run now, I’ll smack you!”
“—Kch, fine! Fine, but no magic! No magic!!”
Fearing Tiara-san’s newfound fighting spirit, Christ retreated towards Rustiara, who he believed was his ally. He looked as if he were about to perform seiza. He was completely overwhelmed by the turn of events.
Perhaps satisfied with having utterly defeated Christ, Tiara-san stopped her barrage of insults and delivered her conclusion.
“In short, I don’t like Master! This man is a terrible womanizer! I can’t possibly see him as anything other than a man! Any respect I have for him as a master barely exists!!”
Both Christ and Rustiara were visibly shocked. Their faces gave away their expressions. While they were formidable beings with outstanding levels and abilities, their emotional maturity was lacking. Christ’s immaturity, especially in romantic matters, was something I had confirmed before.
The two were stunned by Tiara-san’s declaration. Rustiara was the first to recover. She tried to encourage Christ, attempting to salvage the situation.
“C-Kanami, don’t believe her…! It’s a lie, a lie. Tiara-sama is surely just trying to step aside for me…!”
“Is that so…? I want to believe it’s a lie… but Tiara doesn’t look like she’s lying…”
“Have confidence! Kanami, you’re cool! Tiara-sama must be smitten with you too…! P-Probably…”
“Are you… not more confident than at the beginning…?”
“Well… it’s just too much…”
“Ah, yeah… It is…”
The two tried to dismiss Tiara-san’s words, but ultimately succumbed, hanging their heads in dejection. Their posture indicated they truly believed Tiara-san’s words. Both of them possessed not only the ‘Eyes’ that could view Status, but also excellent observational skills. Through these abilities, they had likely seen through any falsehood.
Tiara-san’s words carried a persuasive power that made one think, “Ah, just as I suspected…” However, these two “good-for-nothing masters,” who were now dejected, were individuals who had overcome numerous life-or-death situations. They quickly tried to regain their composure, saying, “No, we don’t know for sure yet,” or “It might be some kind of skill deceiving us,” attempting to support each other.
Seeing their struggle, I stepped forward, muttering an expletive.
“Tch, you still don’t know…!!”
I was about to add to Tiara-san’s words by recounting Christ’s romantic history from this era, which I knew, to reinforce her claims. Looking at Rustiara and the rest of Christ’s party, I had no doubt about the number of examples I could use. I myself could have delivered the final blow.
However, Tiara-san stopped me.
“No, Rainer, leave it to me for now. I’m the eldest here, after all. Even if it’s my master, I know how to corner him. Just watch carefully.”
Then, with the predatory gaze of a hunter stalking its prey, she bared her teeth and smiled. I had been a little anxious when she started recounting her past, but there was no doubt that Tiara was now intent on crushing Christ and the others. I understood that this was a continuation of yesterday’s practice, winning with words when force was not an option, and stepped back.
“Now, I’ll prove it to you. I don’t like Master, and Master likes Rusti-chan. I’m going to teach you that perfectly right now—!”
Tiara-san pressed her attack. To deliver the final blow to the wavering pair, she spoke slowly, with a cruel gentleness.
“Listen carefully, Master. As you’ve heard, I know a lot about you from a thousand years ago. Of course, I know about more than just you. Unlike you, who was defeated by Apostle Legacy, I, who was undefeated my entire life, lived a long time ago. Frankly, I reached the ‘Deepest Part’ of the Labyrinth before anyone else?”
She stated, with surprising ease, that she had achieved the Allied Nations’ greatest vow. And it was also Christ’s vow.
“Wh-What—”
Christ, who had aimed for the ‘Deepest Part’ of the Labyrinth, was unable to hide his astonishment. It seemed as if all the previous conversation had been blown away by this revelation.
“As the victor of a thousand years ago, I accomplished everyone’s vow before anyone else. I even have the ‘way to bring peace to the world’ that Sis-nee desired. And I’ve developed a new ‘magic to make everyone happy.'”
Leaving Christ behind, Tiara-san continued to shower him with new facts.
“Hidaki-nee is still sleeping, isn’t she? I know how to wake her up. Moreover, I know the true nature of that ‘illness’ better than you do. I finally confirmed it in the ‘Deepest Part’ of the Labyrinth.”
Whether it was true or false, she claimed to possess the power to resolve everything. It wasn’t something one could easily believe, but Tiara-san, the legendary figure who had survived a thousand years ago, had the right to speak of it. Her words held a ring of truth.
“If you bring me, who is fading away now, back to life, you can learn all sorts of convenient things. Oh, but if you really want to hear the details, you’ll have to sacrifice Rustiara. None of this is something I can explain simply right here and now.”
Tiara’s remaining time was only a few minutes. Christ understood this through Dimensional Magic,《Dimension》.
“So, right now, I want you to choose between ‘Rustiara’ and ‘me’—which one do you want to survive.”
She was forcing a choice through an overly aggressive method. This choice wasn’t merely about picking someone you liked.
“In other words, is it between ‘the one you love’—or ‘the solution for everyone else.’ A very clear and simple choice, isn’t it?”
As if placing it on a scale, Tiara laughed casually.
Christ was stunned by this. However, his reply to the question was swift. Truly swift. Without a single wrinkle on his brow, without the slightest hesitation.
“—Yes, it’s a simple choice. I won’t get that wrong. I absolutely won’t get it wrong anymore.”
As Tiara had said, it was clearly simple, and he declared that it was impossible to get wrong—and spoke the answer to the difficult question.
“I choose ‘Rustiara.’ I don’t choose ‘Tiara.'”
He called out the name of the person he must protect, standing beside him, rather than Tiara, who was facing him. The person who heard this shook her head and rebuked him.
“Kanami!!”
But Christ’s resolve did not waver. He continued to speak, as if to say that he had chosen with unwavering will—and therefore, he would not overturn it or regret it.
“I would never abandon Rustiara. …That being said, it’s not good to give up so easily that I’d discard everyone else.”
Saying this, he showed Tiara a similar smile. They faced each other with smiles that seemed like looking in a mirror. It was like a reflection, showing they shared the same feelings, driven by the same will, and were walking the same path.
Sharing this feeling, Tiara showed a relieved expression.
“F-fufu. You’ve really started talking. You’re so arrogant. You’ve truly changed—”
Tiara received the answer she desired, and everything should have been as planned, yet she looked a little lonely. It was as if she had decided to see off a friend who was walking the same path but moving forward alone…
However, feeling that this emotion was out of place now, she drowned out her loneliness with an even bigger smile and shouted.
“As expected of you, Master! These days, sacrificing the one you love to protect the world is about a thousand years behind the times! Protect the one you love, protect your precious family and companions, and then protect the world! This is the ultimate happy ending!”
She insisted this was the ‘happy ending’ that Rustiara had advocated for earlier, and at the same time, declared her victory.
Having lost an ally, Rustiara clung to Christ beside her, seeking confirmation.
“K-Kanami… Are you serious…?”
“I’m serious. I’m serious about liking you, so I have no doubts.”
Not a shadow of a doubt. Rustiara bit her lip sadly at his instant, unthinking reply. Then, she turned to Tiara.
“Are you really alright with this, Tiara-sama…? Why can you… smile?”
“I can smile. Because all I ask of my Master is to ‘be my Master.’ I am satisfied that my proud Master has become a truly strong Master. …Finally, I truly feel like I’ve repaid that favor. As I said many times, the only one here who likes Master is Rustiara-chan, you know? I died a natural death in my previous life!”
She too answered instantly, without a moment’s hesitation.
“I… only like you…?”
Rustiara finally repeated those words. She savored the words that had been repeated to her. She was likely gradually understanding that they were true, not lies. Her expression changed rapidly. From a sad face to a troubled one. From a troubled face to a puzzled one. From a puzzled face to a happy one. From a happy face to a shy one—her perfectly formed face contorted repeatedly, and she finally arrived at an answer.
“—Ah, ah.”
She no longer shook her head. Without rejecting it or denying it with “No,” the madness within her dissipated. And finally, she showed an expression befitting her age. Young and pure, young and unable to be honest, young and ignitable by passionate romantic feelings. Color began to appear on her pale cheeks. Her blood circulated hotly, as if expressing Rustiara’s current emotions, gradually dyeing them red. Infinitely red.
“Ah…, ahhh, ahhhhhh—!!”
Her mouth agape, she thrashed her long blond hair and writhed in agony. Her face looked so hot it seemed like steam would rise from it, and within mere seconds, it was completely flushed red. It was clear that the romantic feelings she had suppressed until today were now erupting tenfold. The shame must have reached its peak as she faced the truth she had been avoiding.
Seeing this sudden change, Christ, who was nearby, approached her with concern.
“Rustiara, are you okay—?! Why are you attacking me?!”
“D-Don’t look at meeee—!!”
Rustiara swung the sword in her hand, driving him away, and began to hiss like a cat, panting. Her face was bright red. Honestly, this excessive reaction was uncharacteristic of Rustiara. This was the first time anyone had seen her so excited and lose control. However, this was the reaction she should have had. These were emotions befitting someone with a single-digit mental age. To smile cynically, step back, and cheer on the girls around her—that was far too unchildlike. This was the true heart that had been lurking within Rustiara’s mind.
Ah, we’ve finally arrived here. Serves you right. I’ve dragged a woman who viewed the world from an objective, story-like perspective, into that very story. I pushed her from behind, blocked her escape routes, and somehow managed to push her from the wings to center stage. And of course, on center stage, the protagonist speaks to the heroine.
“That… I don’t want that. Because I like you, even if you hate me, I think I’ll keep watching you until I die.”
Ugh, ugh… I think that’s a questionable thing to say. I wonder if he realizes he’s saying the same thing as the dragon people and the former slave girl that Christ dislikes. Moreover, for Christ, who can use dimensional magic《Dimension》, to say it makes it an even harsher statement. However, those heavy words had a direct effect, and Rustiara writhed even more, her face turning ever redder. She shook her head back and forth violently, her long hair flying.
“Waaah, ah! Ahhh, ahhhhhh AAAAAA—!!”
With a scream that could be taken for either joy or despair, she tried to escape from Christ with agile movements like a cat.
He seemed to have taken it in a romantic sense, unlike me who took it in a stalker-like sense. He was just shy.
However, there was no escape in a place surrounded by an audience cheering for the confession.
Rustiara looked between me, her acquaintance, and Tiara-san, immediately chose Tiara-san, and hugged her body.
At this moment, I must have been wearing a very sadistic smile. Compared to that and Tiara-san, who was like a loving mother, anyone would choose the latter. It was only natural.
And then, we were complete.
A lot had happened – really, a lot had happened – but with this, we’ve returned to the planned ending.
Now, the “Magic Stone Humans” necessary for the ceremony were all gathered. With Tiara-san’s masterful rhetoric, Rustiara voluntarily fell into our hands.
Tiara-san stroked the head of Rustiara, who was hugging her, and whispered gently.
“Heh heh. It seems Master only likes Rustiara-chan. That’s good… you’re mutual.”
“U, uuugh—! Ahhh—!!”
Rustiara buried her face in Tiara-san’s chest as if to hide and groaned. I understood that she didn’t want her pathetic face, flushed red, to be seen, but it was a truly tragic sight.
If you look at their mental ages, there’s no mistake, but considering the height difference between the two now—it looks like a grown adult is doting on a little girl.
And, although Rustiara was pressed close, there was no sign of her trying to absorb Tiara-san with her Scarlet Magic “Tiara Fuziaze”.
It was probably because there was no longer any reason to.
As long as she acted with Tiara-san’s romantic feelings as her reason, if those feelings disappeared, there was no reason to forcefully “Reborn” her.
Rather, she might not have the capacity for that right now.
Without even the余裕 to worry about her pathetic state being seen by Fuziaze citizens, she was merely embarrassed, writhing and groaning with overwhelming emotions.
Tiara-san stroked Rustiara sufficiently, who was still close, and then turned her face towards Christ.
“Phew. Is this the end? Master, are you okay? Well, you can take your time remembering what happened a thousand years ago. But, if you remember it all, then—”
And with that, she left words of farewell.
It was as if she was prophesying—
“—Then, please love Rustiara-chan, along with us mother and daughter.”
Tiara-san called the girl in her arms her daughter and wished for her to be loved.
Christ nodded in response to this motherly wish.
A promise was exchanged, and immediately, Tiara-san’s expression turned serious as she shouted.
“Rainer-chan! I apologize for retracting my previous statement, but I’ve decided to give all my power and feelings to my daughter! Now seems like the right time for that ‘Affinity’ with my daughter! So, change of plans!!”
She declared Rustiara, not me, as the successor.
Now, ‘Affinity’…? No, I have no complaints.
Now that she’d been persuaded, Rustiara wouldn’t resist.
After many twists and turns, we’ve finally reached our ideal ideal.
Christ’s appearance was by no means in vain.
“Don’t worry about it! I’ve already received enough from you! Originally, that was the best way to end it!”
He agreed.
At the same time, Tiara-san worked on the blood of Rustiara in her arms and resumed the “Rebirth” magic.
Their magic power mixed and emitted a white light.
Now, the world’s greatest Divine Magic resonated with the “Magic Stone Line” at the “Eleventh Crossroads” and activated on the grandest scale.
Tiara-san recited the “Incantation” for this purpose.
To make the light shine brighter, so that everyone who saw it could understand, she sang with all her heart—
“Hereby, I begin the end of the ‘Rebirth’ ceremony—!
My name is Saint Tiara Fuziaze! I shall fulfill the thousand-year prophecy! I am ‘Reborn’ for the Ancestor, and I lay down my life for the Ancestor! My Fuziaze people! Behold this ceremony! Burn it into your eyes! This is the entirety of Revannism! Receive this sacred light!!
In the end, God’s teachings are nothing more than this! But, it is precisely this ‘nothing’ that is the entirety of the world!
Now, I shall conduct the betrothal of Primordial Kanami and his daughter Rustiara!
Both of you, swear by Revann’s commandments, which I have set with my life! It doesn’t matter if there are minor overlaps! A betrothal is a betrothal!!
Because—! ‘Ah, the world is greatness in love’! ‘Love is life, the very meaning of human existence’! ‘Those who obstruct the path of love shall die’!
In the name of the saint of Revannism, may the future of these two be blessed—!!”
What began as a strict recitation ended up being chaotic. However, it was precisely that chaotic “Incantation” that truly aided the magic.
Elaborate words are meaningless.
Only words from the bottom of one’s heart strengthen magic.
It was a true “Incantation”—and true “Magic”.
The light that proved this principle filled the area.
“—Divine Magic ‘Rebirth’!!”
Tiara-san declared the name of the magic.
Then, the light exploded.
The light emanating from the bodies of the two “Magic Stone Humans” expanded. It danced like iridescent dust, faintly shimmering with rainbow hues, dazzlingly bright as if to pierce the eyes—and spread endlessly.
Enveloped in infinite light.
I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
I couldn’t even witness the two figures in the depths of the light.
This light was Divine Magic “Rebirth”.
I thought no one could stop it anymore.
I felt relieved, thinking this was the end—
—Just then, I heard a voice.
From within the light, a very casual voice reached me.
“Well then, Rainer-chan. I’m counting on you for what comes next, and for Hidaki Sister, and all sorts of things. So, skill release—”
At this crucial moment, Tiara-san uttered unexpected words.
The release of a skill—meaning she confessed to having some kind of skill cast on me.
“—Eh?”
I let out a surprised groan.
And then, a “certain sense of unease” that had been masked by the skill for so long surfaced.
I didn’t know what kind of skill it was. I couldn’t figure out what I had been deceived about. However, I knew that with the power of that skill, Tiara-san had gained my trust.
At the same time, a distorted noise mixed into my mind.
It was aザザザ—a sound like grinding sand.
Along with that strange noise, a certain scene appeared.
It was then that I realized I was also included in the target of Divine Magic “Rebirth”.
Through that magic, it was driven into my “blood”.
It was a memory.
Tiara-san’s past entered me.
—An old, desolate castle— cold stone walls and a stone floor— somewhere, sometime, I didn’t know where— in a certain room of a certain castle— there was a girl with silver hair— I intuitively understood that it was Tiara-san in her lifetime— next to that Tiara-san, there was a black-haired brother and sister— looking at their faces, I knew who they were— surely, it was Christ from a thousand years ago and his sister— the three of them were smiling together— and they made a promise— the content of that promise was—
A ringing in my ears like a sandstorm.
It was impossible for my processing power to swallow the condensed mass of an entire lifetime.
A needle-sharp pain struck my brain.
Even with my eyes closed, as if fleeing, the light didn’t disappear.
That memory continued to be reflected on the pure white world behind my eyelids.
Countless afterimages overlapped behind my eyelids, and the figures of the Shiso and the Saint from a thousand years ago continued to appear.
The “story like a starry sky” that kept reflecting behind my eyelids.
It’s impossible to understand it all now. The information was too vast, flowing too quickly, and I was doing my best just to prevent my head from burning out.
However, I was able to pick up some fragments.
As I connected those fragments, I thought:
“The story is too different.”
I let out a shout without thinking.
I rushed towards the light, trying to stop Tiara-san, who was disappearing.
“This is—Hey! Wait, Tiara-san, explain—!!”
“Sorry, Rainer. That’s just how it is. Just watch.”
But she told me to watch silently.
Certainly, if I were to dig into the matter here, Rustiara, who had just surrendered, would revive and rebel.
Even so, I couldn’t overlook what I had just seen. If the memory I saw now was true, the premise would be overturned. All meanings would be reversed.
Everything had been a mistake.
I realized that I had been deceived by Tiara-san.
But at the same time, I also realized that Tiara-san had trusted only me.
“—Yes, I believe in you. So, please.”
Reading my thoughts, Tiara-san brazenly cajoled me.
I knew why Tiara-san had shown the memory only to me.
It was because there was no one else she could trust.
After more than a thousand years, I was the only collaborator she had finally found.
As Tiara-san’s original plan, power and feelings were given to Rustiara.
And, only the memories were left to me.
The power to overcome destiny was given to Rustiara, and only the responsibility was left to me.
It was a truly ridiculous favoritism, but I had no choice but to nod.
“…I’ll do it, right? I’ll do it!”
A few days ago, I made a promise.
As thanks for the special training, I promised to fight if Christ and his sister went down the wrong path.
Even if I were told now that my sister had become a monster beyond my imagination, I had no intention of breaking a promise I had already made.
Did Tiara-san seem satisfied with my answer? I felt like I heard a small “thank you” from beyond the light.
There was no point in complaining to Tiara-san anymore.
I would cooperate to ensure the ceremony’s success.
“Rustiara! Tiara-san’s truth will now enter you! Compare and confirm again! Your own feelings!!”
Tiara-san’s goal was to make Rustiara acknowledge her feelings.
All preparations for that were complete.
Now, all that was left was for everyone to push Rustiara’s back.
The two Magic Stone Humans were enveloped in magical light, and snow-like magic power rained down from the sky.
Amidst this, Rustiara, with a bright red face, was confused by Tiara-san’s feelings being poured into her own “blood”.
“Ah, ahh, ahh… It’s not… a lie… Tiara-sama’s feelings… are reaching me… Did Tiara-sama truly only admire Kanami like a parent…? Ahh, ahh—!!”
Perhaps, with the wall between them gone, she was experiencing “Affinity” with Tiara-san.
Through the previous confession, their lives had finally aligned correctly.
And, overlaid with her feelings, she began to understand her own mistake.
“Kanami liked… me…? Only… me…? All of those feelings originated from me…?”
To my surprise, she had truly convinced Rustiara in just a few seconds.
Tiara-san responded while stroking her daughter’s head.
“That’s right. I didn’t want to be reunited with my Master. If there was anything I wanted, it would be the happiness of my beloved daughters…? Be happy… Now, it’s up to you, Rasuchī-chan…”
Thus, entrusting her feelings and her wish, Rustiara—
“—Y-Yes! I’m sorry, Mother…! I will live…! I like Kanami… so I can’t give my body to you! I’ll choose myself, not you, Mother!! I will make myself happy with all my might!!”
Rustiara, intending to fulfill Tiara-san’s dying wish, shouted her oath for her own happiness.
She responded to all of Fuziaze’s entanglements, declaring that her Magic Stone Human body belonged to Rustiara herself, not someone else.
Satisfied with the outcome, Tiara-san’s hand stopped stroking Rustiara. Then, her body gradually lost strength.
Through the ritual, everything was inherited by Rustiara. The light converged, the magic power condensed, and the soul transferred from body to body—which, naturally, meant the cessation of Tiara-san’s body.
Her parting words faded, disappearing.
“Naisu, Rasuchī-chan… Now, I can rest easy… Well then—good—bye…”
“Yes! Goodbye! Mother!!”
Rustiara’s farewell was filled with life and burst within the light.
Simultaneously, Tiara-san’s body completely stopped moving.
She had exhausted all her light and magic power, her breathing and blood circulation ceased, and she was truly empty.
Her role as Tiara Fuziaze had ended, and she disappeared from the world.
I could no longer argue with that irritating Master.
For me, that was also the final goodbye.
With Tiara-san’s disappearance, the ritual was complete.
Vast light and magic power vanished into Rustiara, leaving only a faint shower of Tiaray.
The audience watching from the surroundings observed in unusual silence.
Neither Christ nor I could say anything.
Only Rustiara, at the center, let out a breath and a voice.
“Ah, this great feeling of liking that’s inside me, it was okay for it to be mine… It was all mine… Now I can finally confess my feelings to Kanami with confidence. I can confess on my own responsibility. Thank you, Tiara-sama…”
As if chasing the Tiaray rising into the sky, she cast her words of gratitude to the heavens.
Her face was clear, as if a burden had been lifted, and I was convinced that no more fights or quarrels would occur.
I released my combat stance, sheathed my sword, and also let out a big sigh.
“Yeah, it was your feeling all along. All of it… Haa, it’s finally over. It was seriously troublesome…”
He spoke of the end. Then, he pondered how to disband.
He had many things to do, such as how to slip away from the crowd of onlookers and how to handle Fedelt and Emily. Once all of that was done, he wanted to be alone as soon as possible.
He needed to return quickly, be alone, and read the memories of that liar, Tiara-san. He had to organize the information that had just been crammed into his head, or Tiara-san’s efforts would be in vain.
As he lightly browsed through the new memories in his head, he gazed at Rustiara’s body. He believed that both he and Rustiara had become stronger through this ceremony. Without a doubt, Rustiara’s stats—especially her “aptitude”—must have increased. As for him, he had honed aspects beyond numbers—the “unquantifiable numbers.”
Tiara-san was truly an outrageous person, but he couldn’t help but feel grateful. To repay that favor, he began to move to quickly finish the aftermath of this ceremony—
“Don’t move yet, Rainer.”
However, Rustiara stopped him. Her limbs, strengthened by Tiara-san’s power, surged with energy, and she exerted pressure on him, much like a guardian of a labyrinth. Magic power, enough to release a lethal amount if he moved, writhed around her.
“What…!? Why…!?”
Unlike him, who was exhausted, Rustiara was full of vitality. He could tell she was stronger after the ceremony than before. The difference in their strength was so great that he had no choice but to listen. He stopped and asked,
“Why…? Because the real event starts now. And I believe it’s Rainer’s duty to witness it.”
She gave him a look of genuine confusion, as if asking what he was talking about. He had a bad feeling.
“The… real event? Hey, what are you planning to do? We can just disband now, right? I’m tired today. Let’s just disband and meet again tomorrow…”
Even as he proposed an alternative, Rustiara was no longer looking at him. She gently laid the corpse of the former Tiara in her arms onto a nearby bench, then, with a determined expression, began to braid her own shining hair.
Her magnificent, beautiful, smooth long hair was transformed into a childish, simple braid. It was the same hairstyle she had when she fought in the Dance Battle Tournament a year ago. The hairstyle she had when she was saved by Christ and fought as she pleased under her own free will.
At this point, she showed her intention to return to her roots, stood up, and glared. Her gaze was, of course, directed at—
“I won’t use Tiara-sama as an excuse anymore! Fuziaze has nothing to do with this either!! From here on, these are not the words of a ‘Saint’ or a ‘Living God’! They are the words of me, who intends to become the ‘Great Hero,’ this ‘Rustiara’!! I have to convey my feelings! For my mother’s sake! Right now!!”
She glared at Christ and shouted. He understood that the shout was not directed at Christ, but was a self-introduction to the surrounding audience. She was determined to provide an answer that everyone would understand right here and now.
He tried to stop her reckless act with desperation.
“Right now!? No, wait!”
“Didn’t I tell you before? Once the ‘Rebirth’ ceremony was over, I would confirm whether my love with Kanami was real…!”
“Confirm…? No, I understand that, but… can’t you just do that privately in some room for just the two of you? This isn’t the time!”
“It’s embarrassing when it’s just the two of us!”
However, she retorted with a nonsensical theory. Looking closely, Rustiara’s face was red again. She herself was the most embarrassed by the act of “confirming her love” that was about to begin.
His bad premonition did not stop, and he shouted.
“E-Embarrassed!? What are you planning to do, hey!!”
“What do you mean… ‘Confess’, of course!!”
“Hah!?”
She was going to confess, apparently. She seemed to have decided in her heart to make a once-in-a-lifetime confession, staking her life on it.
He could no longer stop the rampage of this four-year-old, who may or may not have entered puberty. Perhaps due to the power of the skill “Evil Sense,” he keenly felt this.
Seeing him fall silent, Rustiara walked forward, forward. Her steps were like those of a duelist walking towards an opponent in an arena. If her face hadn’t been flushed red with shame, no one would have guessed she was about to confess. The surrounding audience seemed to think the same, chuckling at Rustiara’s awkwardness.
Disregarding his exasperation and the audience’s laughter, Rustiara advanced—
“Kanami—!!”
She shouted with all her might the name of the person she was about to confess to. It was a shout that clearly conveyed a sense of having done it simply because it was embarrassing.
“Ah, I won’t run away! Rustiara!!”
Christ was the same. He was equally clumsy. Anticipating the confession Rustiara was about to make, he also shouted back, his face flushed red.
Honestly, for Christ, who cared about appearances, this situation could be described as the worst. As he had said earlier, he must have wished to change the location. However, at this point, he was showing unnecessary fortitude. His masters were idiots; they probably thought that if it were true love, one could shout their love under any circumstances.
Surely based on his experiences up to today—that he must not run away here, must not lie here, must not make a mistake here, and must confront his true feelings here or regret it later—he showed an unwavering will. Pointlessly.
Christ had also decided to “confess.” And it was this second confession that was the real event—with an expression that suggested this, Christ also took a step forward.
At the ruined Eleventh Crossroads, under the gaze of the citizens of Fuziaze, the two facing each other—Christ and Rustiara. And then there was him, forced to watch.
He wanted to go home… He seriously wanted to go home! Just being seen as an acquaintance of these two embarrassments made his own face turn red. He wanted to pretend he had nothing to do with it and escape immediately. More than that, he wanted to stop it. If possible, he wanted to stop it.
However, he couldn’t. Exhausted from fighting continuously all day, he was no match for either of them.
—Ah, this is the worst…!!
He contorted his face at this ending, which was the best and yet the worst. And then, it began. Unable to escape, the true confessions of the two began before his eyes.
I will post again tomorrow, Monday.
Volume 6 will be released on the 25th. It’s a great buy as you can reconfirm the face of Rustiara, who is currently in the limelight (sales promotion)!
It contains the final match of the third arc, the “Dance Battle Tournament” arc. Unlike Chapter 7, Rowen will tell a very serious story. I’ve tried to make it easier to read, as befits a book. On top of that, please look at the wonderful illustrations that fully incorporate my whims. Alongside the text. That’s the charm of a book, I believe. You’ll be able to smile a little differently than with the web novel.
