I finally attacked Ragune.
Perhaps Ragune wanted to cancel my “Immortality.”
However, what was “Reversed” was my “Substitute” power, which is the same “Principle Force.”
What I am shouldering now, Ragune has taken upon herself in reverse. The “Incantation” was incomplete, and although Ragune-san reflexively stopped the “Reversal,” there is no doubt that she suffered severe physical and emotional damage.
Having witnessed my condition firsthand, Ragune’s bright voice began to tremble.
“W-Why… Nosfy-san… Why are you in such a state…? Even I…”
Ragune was confused. She couldn’t understand why I was genuinely using my “Substitute” light to help her.
Looking around the dark space, I saw that all the blades circling the rooftop had fallen onto the blood-soaked ground. I attempted to resume our “Talks” during the pause in attacks.
“…I do not wish to fight you. Ragune, you must never perform “Reversal” on me again. No matter what you do or how hard you struggle, the outcome will not change. Your victory is already decided. For now, please, just listen to the words of the loser.”
With my body feeling slightly lighter, I resumed moving forward. In response, Ragune let out a groan of a different kind than before.
“Guh, ugh, uuu–!!”
I understood the meaning of that groan.
She was scared.
To the person facing her, it must have been terrifying to face an opponent who, even covered in blood, without any defense, simply moved forward to engage in “Talks.” No matter how superior one’s position, losing composure was inevitable.
“Nosfy-san, bearing all this… How can you still… still keep going…?”
With her wavering heart, Ragune asked me.
Sensing that her voice had returned to its lower pitch, I paused my steps to answer her question.
“I can keep going. As long as the feelings of Fuziaze’s people are with me, I will continue to do my best.”
I wonder what kind of expression Ragune had when she heard that.
I couldn’t confirm due to the dark magic, but her questions continued.
“Even after being toyed with by the world this much, you still haven’t given up…?”
“I will not give up. I am satisfied with this birth and this role.”
With each of my prompt answers, Ragune’s voice grew fainter.
“Even after suffering so much, you can still say you love them…?”
“I love them very much. I love Father more than anyone in the world.”
Even without seeing Ragune, I could faintly grasp the meaning of each question.
Perhaps, by her nature, she was asking herself the same questions.
“…Do you still believe in Kanami-niisan?”
“I do. I have never doubted Father.”
“Kanami-niisan is dead, and now Nosfy-san will die too, and even so—”
“Even so. Father loved me. And I love Father. Even if I die, and Father dies, even if the world ends, this feeling will never change. Yes, I believe that.”
“…!”
Ragune was speechless.
However, the weight of my words was not mine alone. Because Rastiara, Dia-san, Maria-san, and Snow-san’s feelings were also carried within them, she was overwhelmed and shaken.
“I-I won’t lose…!! I too… my feelings for my Mama… I’ve never wavered—not once—!!”
Her voice was cracking.
With that shout, I heard the sound of blood splashing—Ragune’s footsteps as she charged forward.
She must have judged that neither words, blades, nor the 【Star Principle】 could stop me now.
Ragune was throwing all her other trump cards to fight me.
I couldn’t see Ragune’s charge.
But it didn’t matter.
I had already given up on tracking Ragune’s movements. She was a knight capable of surprising Father. Without any countermeasures, I simply pushed forward.
“–!”
A gust of wind struck my body directly.
Naturally, I couldn’t avoid the wind magic that Ragune must have unleashed.
The gale clung to my weakened body, making me lose my balance. Further, a whirlwind sliced through the lower half of my body, which was supported by a snake.
My forward momentum ceased.
Simultaneously, a strong impact from the front struck my torso.
I had no choice but to fall backward, only to realize my hands, which were about to hit the ground, wouldn’t move.
I felt human warmth from my wrist.
My palm, reinforced by wood-attribute magic, was firmly gripping me. Ragune had thrown her body against mine to stop me.
I was pushed down by Ragune and fell onto the ground on my back.
As soon as I tried to exert force to break free, pain and heat flared at my wrists, which were immediately restrained. These weren’t the blades of “Magic Power Solidification.” The tremendous ripple of magic power spreading from the wounds told me that the Aris Family’s Treasure Sword had been plunged into my right wrist, and Hermina’s Heart into my left.
My arms were immobilized, leaving Ragune free.
Leveraging this advantage, she placed both hands on my chest and unleashed magic with all her might.
“–
After wood and wind, now darkness.
With dark magic at point-blank range, Ragune targeted not my body, but my mind. She, being astute, realized this was the only way to defeat the “Thief of the Principles of Light,” and amplified dark magic from the pendant she wore.
Black, seething emotions began to swell within my chest.
The speed was comparable to that of the former “Thief of the Principles of Darkness.” The concentration was also extraordinary. Frustration, regret, sorrow, despair—all sorts of evil emotions were poured into me to break my resolve to move forward.
And Ragune shouted in sync with this.
“—Give up! Even if you reach there, no one will be waiting! It’s too late for everything! You were too late to show ‘Courage’! You didn’t make it in time! You absolutely cannot reach them! You are not even allowed to meet them!!”
I thought it was Ragune’s voice, raging to prevent me from going to Father. But I soon realized it wasn’t.
The distance was too close.
The night spread across the rooftop. The darkness of Ragune’s magic was deeper than that night. Within the dark magic she had constructed, I could glimpse Ragune’s face.
However, the Ragune facing me wasn’t looking at me.
Her hands were pressed against my chest, her face bowed to the limit, and she was shouting.
Her posture was as if she were talking to her own torso.
Despite telling me to fight, she didn’t look like she was fighting me.
—The flame within my chest reignited, not yielding to the dark magic.
This level of mental interference was lukewarm compared to the journey I had taken.
Reviving my wilting heart, I put strength into both my arms.
It was fortunate that two famous swords were holding my arms in place. Trusting their sharpness, I moved my arms strongly upwards.
“Ragune, I am sorry. Still, I will not give up. Until the end, I will wish for Father to live and reach out my hand.”
Come to think of it, I didn’t need hands to reach out.
Leaving only a connection of about one centimeter, I severed my wrists myself.
As I was freed from my restraints, I put strength into my abdomen, which had holes in it, and lifted my body.
“…What!?”
Ragune let out a gasp of astonishment.
After all, she had run me through with swords at point-blank range, piercing and sewing my arms, and then flowed the world’s highest-level mental interference into me, all while I was already critically wounded. Yet, I could still move, which she found unbelievable.
“I will continue to reach out my hand. So, please, Ragune, reach out your hand to what is most precious to you.”
With my arms, which were about to be torn off, I gently pushed Ragune off my abdomen.
—And I succeeded in pushing her away.
Ragune fell sideways as if she had tripped.
The lack of strength in her body couldn’t be explained solely by her having shouldered some of my damage as a “Substitute” earlier. There was another cause that had weakened her.
Perhaps she was intimidated by my appearance, which was painful just to look at?
Perhaps she was overwhelmed by my words, which showed no sign of wavering?
Or perhaps it was Ragune’s own internal issues—
Her will to aim for “First Place” was crumbling?
The conditions for being a “Thief of Principles” were breaking down?
Or perhaps something more fundamental could no longer be maintained—
“M-My hand is still—!!”
Ragune immediately stood up.
And she tried to chase after me, who was heading towards Father.
However, she couldn’t catch up.
Even though my body was moving, Ragune couldn’t keep pace with me.
Her legs got tangled, her body swayed, and she couldn’t reach me.
“Guh, uuuaaaahhh—!! Hey, 【Star Principle】!! Stop Nosfy—!!”
Cornered, Ragune resorted to relying on it again.
A typical example of a failed “Thief of Principles.” When she had nowhere else to turn, she would wield the power granted by the world.
The 【Star Principle】 enveloped me on the magical wind.
However, the result it brought was Ragune’s scream.
“–!? Gyaah, aahhh—!! Haa, goh—!! cough, cough—!!”
Ragune chose the wrong power to rely on at the most crucial moment.
I heard the sound of vomiting—no, of spitting blood.
And while Ragune was suffering, I arrived.
Effortlessly—before the blood pedestal where Father lay, which she was guarding.
My arrival was too early.
I knew the reason.
Simply put, Ragune and I were too compatible.
The “Star Principle Thief” was too poor at dealing with the weak.
Furthermore, Ragune was too specialized in assassination and not suited for defensive battles. Her assassination techniques were also geared towards fighting opponents far superior to her, and she hadn’t anticipated facing someone as severely injured as me.
As a result of this compatibility, I easily outmaneuvered her.
According to my plan, I was supposed to arrive here together with Ragune.
I put on a bitter face and turned my body not towards Father, but towards Ragune.
Somehow, I needed to find a new approach to help her before it was too late.
“—Ragune, your 【Star Principle】 is useless. Even if you could “Reverse” this dying body, it would only be healing magic. It is a meaningless power. …Frankly, there was absolutely no need for you to become a ‘Thief of the Principles of the Stars.’ Do you understand what that means?”
“The power is meaningless…? Meaningless meaning…? What are you saying—”
If Ragune hadn’t been a “Thief of the Principles of the Stars,” she would have been able to fight us more effectively.
And she herself must have realized this.
Knowing this, why did she declare herself a “Thief of the Principles of the Stars”?
I sought to confirm the reason.
“Ragune…, you want to meet, so you’re confirming this, right…?”
I didn’t say who she wanted to meet.
It was apparent from her actions and words up to this point.
“…Shut up.”
Ragune denied it.
“Presumably, you have a promise that you can meet if you achieve ‘First Place’.”
“Shut up… shut up. Stop that suspicious voice…! Stop that voice that acts like it knows everything…!”
“However, you don’t believe in that promise more than anyone else.”
“That’s not true… I believe it. I believe in Mama’s love more than anyone else… No one can deny that…”
I decided to speak about the topic Ragune was most sensitive about, but all I learned was that my “Talks” could not save her.
Ragune and I were too different.
No, to be precise, it wasn’t that we were different, but that we were the opposite, as if to spite each other.
Therefore, my encouragement, empathy, reprimands, and pursual might all feel like an attack to her. If my voice could reach Ragune’s heart, it would only be someone in the same circumstances who had made the same mistakes. If so, then—
“—’Now, I discard my flag’—”
Leaving Ragune behind, I began to rapidly weave an “Incantation.”
In this dark “Summit,” I would give birth to light.
I would convert my magic power, transforming not my magic or my flag, but my body itself into light that illuminates the world. I would make my blood and flesh, my very soul, into light and infuse it into the person I loved on my back.
It required no grand ritual or immense magic power to activate.
It merely required a single wish, and the [Principle of Light] would be established.
“–! You won’t let me!! —’I am a phantom chasing a phantom’!!”
However, they were the same on the other side.
The [Star Principle] would likely be established with a simple wish, in line with her nature.
“That ‘Immortality’! I will ‘Reverse’ true ‘Magic’ itself with my true ‘Magic’!! I will absolutely not bring Kanami back—!!”
Sensing that I was about to unleash true “Magic,” Ragune prepared something of equal caliber.
In this situation, it became a race to see who could “Incant” faster.
Ragune attempted to mouth the “Incantation” that represented her life before me.
“Ah, ‘Even existence itself cannot be in the world’!! ‘I—…!!'”
However, Ragune faltered.
Trembling uncontrollably, she trailed off. Seeing this, I too—
“‘I do not need the world’s blessings’ ‘I—… ah.'”
I stumbled over my “Incantation.”
Into the wish to “save Father,” selfish thoughts mixed in, causing my “Incantation” to halt.
The “Incantation” representing her life was so shocking.
It was an exceedingly sorrowful poem, and moreover, I could sense Ragune’s inner turmoil, unable to recite the third stanza.
Ragune, on the other hand, was trying to force the continuation from the back of her throat, shouting.
Desperately, she tried to spin the poem with a voice that seemed more pained and suffering than mine.
“‘I…, I! IAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!'”
Only a tragic scream echoed.
In the end, neither I nor Ragune could complete the “Incantation”—reach the third stanza of our lives.
However, our respective [Stolen Principles], which had failed to become true “Magic,” activated incompletely. It was a backlash from failed magic.
The poison that invades the principles of the world erupted from our bodies, raging like a great storm, filling the vast sky.
The immense magic power was of two types.
Their colors were polar opposites: the white of light and the black of darkness.
They divided the world perfectly in half, light and dark, facing me and Ragune. It was as if an invisible wall stood between us; my side became bright, and Ragune’s side became dark.
On the rooftop of Fuziaze Castle.
Though in the same place, we were in different locations.
This became apparent.
The “Summit” of the world was very bright for me, while Ragune’s “Summit” was very dark.
Ragune was alone in the dark, continuing to shout, “I…”
—The nascent selfish thoughts swelled.
Though I knew I shouldn’t, I found myself wanting to help Ragune.
My consciousness strayed from its highest priority.
As a result, the two types of magic began to intertwine.
My bright domain encroached upon Ragune’s dark domain, mingling, and the two principles overlapped.
The [Principle of Light] and the [Star Principle] were—limitedly—resonating.
“Guh, uuh—!!”
Frankly, the “Magic” was a mess.
Both failed, missed their targets, and their incomplete magic caused their own [Stolen Principles] to backfire.
The repercussion of this failure struck our bodies.
The immense magic power covering the “Summit” flickered intermittently.
Over a thousand colorless sparks burst and bloomed in the sky, distorting the world repeatedly.
And then, the two types of magic completely merged, becoming one.
It was a transparent color, neither black nor white, neither bright nor dark.
As if their respective natures had canceled each other out, it lost all its characteristics.
Despite it being night, the darkness vanished.
Unbeknownst to us, the wind stopped, and the clouds ceased their movement.
It was a tranquil sky, neither morning, day, nor night.
As if the concept of time had vanished, the “Summit” fell into utter silence.
Only one groan echoed.
“Ah, ah…—”
Ragune stood alone on the “Summit,” letting out a sound from the depths of her throat.
The dark magic that had enveloped her turned transparent. And now, Ragune’s figure, scarred by her own “Reversal” power alone, was clearly visible.
Ragune gnashed her teeth, frowned, and gazed up at the empty void.
On this transparent “Summit,” she had lost sight of me.
“As expected…”
Then, Ragune, as if realizing something, nodded once and shed a single tear.
I didn’t understand the meaning of it.
However, as the person who had used the magic, I could tell that both of us, Ragune and I, had suffered.
“Mama, as expected… And, I too, love Mama… —”
Perhaps now, Ragune—
Had shouldered the “opposite” of my desire to “help.”
Furthermore, she had shouldered the “opposite” of the magic to “resurrect,” albeit incomplete.
—That’s why she looks so sad.
Conversely, I—
Had shouldered the “opposite” of her desire to “stop.”
Furthermore, I had shouldered the “opposite” of the magic to “kill,” albeit incomplete.
—That’s why I have changed so little. It’s just that everyone’s feelings have increased by one.
“H-Hahaha. Is this my third stanza…?”
Ragune looked as if she had finally obtained an answer she had sought for years.
At the same time, her eyes had completely lost their light.
Her fighting spirit, her murderous intent, had all dissipated; there were no blades in her hands or in the sky. Ragune’s face was no longer stern, and even a faint smile graced her lips.
“This is the third stanza…, the truth that awaits me at my end… Ah, ah, I… I really am… Ah, as expected…”
Ragune’s tears wouldn’t stop.
Though it was only a single stream, tears kept flowing from her lightless eyes. And she didn’t seem to notice.
“Ah, ah…. Ahhh, ahhh…—”
Finally unable to maintain her words, Ragune let out sobs and began looking around.
While she may not have understood exactly what had happened in the previous backlash, she seemed to grasp what had occurred.
Ragune’s current state was strikingly similar to when I was born in Fuziaze Castle.
The feeling of emptiness and sorrow, the absurdity that made one laugh, the intense desire to disappear, and the sense of searching for a place to die. A doll that had only moved as commanded, when it began to question its own existence, would wear such a face.
“—It’s dark… Dark, dark, dark, dark. Why is it so…—”
Ragune muttered words I had heard before and kept backing away.
She couldn’t move forward because she couldn’t see anything, so she could only flee backward.
“Ragune…”
Ragune was no longer in a state to fight.
Nor was she in a state to “Talk.”
What I had vaguely anticipated had finally come to pass.
Ragune, like us “Thieves of Principles,” had fallen to the very bottom of weakness. It would be no easy feat to climb back up from there. The “Price” for gaining great power was universal across all eras. It was impossible to escape alone, and she would never recover her mental state within a single day.
“—Ah.”
Just as I decided it was time to resume Father’s resurrection, Ragune let out a cry of joy.
At the end of her retreat, she had found something visible even in the dark world.
It was a central atrium.
Upon seeing the hole, she was about to step into it.
“Ra, Ragune!?”
I called out instinctively.
Even though I knew what I should do first, my body moved.
I pushed my severely injured body forward, moving towards the blood-stained summit—
“–!?”
Midway, the blood on the floor foamed, and a “Blood Doll” appeared before me.
Its face was a Noh mask, but I immediately recognized it as being of the same type as the “Blood Doll” that had helped me in the “Senate” room earlier.
“Are you…!”
The “Blood Doll” didn’t respond to my voice but shook its head, signaling me to stop.
Then, it turned and rushed towards Ragune, faster than me—faster than anyone.
Ragune was about to fall into the atrium.
Her feet had left the ground, her body was suspended in mid-air, and she was about to plummet from the “Summit” to the first floor.
It wouldn’t be in time.
Even if I made it, I would only fall with her. I judged this, but the “Blood Doll” rushed forward without hesitation, kicking off the blood-soaked ground. It embraced Ragune from the side, and they both fell into the atrium.
I arrived at the edge of the atrium later, panting.
“Haa, haa, haa…!”
I peered into the hole, searching for them.
Ragune and the doll were caught on the railing of the floor below them—the forty-eighth floor.
“…Thank goodness.”
Even with the power of a “Thief of Principles,” it was highly possible that Ragune would have died from a fall of fifty floors in her previous state.
The “Blood Doll” immediately moved Ragune from the railing to the corridor and shook her shoulder to rouse her. Ragune, who had been in a daze, slowly began to focus her eyes. And when she confirmed the existence before her, she spoke.
I didn’t understand what she said. However, the “Blood Doll” replied to her voice without a sound, its form crumbling as it dissolved into the blood-soaked ground.
Ragune reached out towards the disappearing “Blood Doll,” but couldn’t reach it. It was the same as before. For a few more seconds, she stared at the spot where it had vanished, then looked up.
And she saw me looking down at her from the rooftop atrium, her eyes regaining their light.
She wiped away a single tear streaming down her cheek, clenched her teeth, and began to walk.
However, her physical condition was far from perfect, as she moved along the railing, just as I had done earlier.
“She’s… heading towards the stairs…?”
Though unsteady, Ragune’s eyes had regained their fighting spirit.
Clearly, falling from the “Summit” had given her the vitality to live.
Sensing the reason, I was dumbfounded.
“Ragune, you… The only time that…—”
I now understood completely.
Ragune would probably continue to seek the next “Summit” until the day she died.
If she realized there was no next “Summit,” she would create one herself by jumping.
She would continue to have a “Dream” that she knew was without end or meaning.
As Ragune herself had said.
This had become Ragune Kaikuola herself.
“Ah, ahhh…”
Having seen the depths of Ragune’s heart, I felt keenly that my voice could not reach her.
Her “Reversal” power strongly rejected being saved by someone.
No matter how much I tried to explain the essence of “First Place” and “Dreams,” she would absolutely refuse to understand.
Most critically, the “Incantation” earlier.
Though only two stanzas, the difference in our lives was clear.
While we walked similar paths in life, the outcomes were the opposite, as if to spite each other.
Therefore, whether I encouraged her, advised her, scolded her, or questioned her—all of it would ultimately sound like the light words of a privileged person.
“Ah…, Father…”
As I had known, I was not the one who could reach Ragune with my voice.
I turned back and returned to the pedestal where Father lay.
Like Ragune, although my body was unsteady, I slowly moved forward.
Shedding blood and light from the wounds all over my body, I headed to bear Father’s death as a “Substitute.”
