It was the fruit of years of experience.
Because I was more skilled at assassination than anyone else, I knew how to counter assassination better than anyone else.
A mere kneeling position wouldn’t hinder my honed *Swordsmanship*. Instead, a surprise assault and counterattack from that posture was my true specialty. I would intentionally expose an opening and then launch an unexpected counterattack.
It was incredibly natural.
Everything was over in the span of a single breath.
I dodged the blade of blood that approached from my blind spot, and while still kneeling, generated a sword of *Magic Power Solidification* in my right hand.
Then, its tip pierced the core of the *Blood Doll* with absolute precision.
“Wh-, why…?”
As I let out a question that sounded foolish, the pierced *Blood Doll* stumbled backward.
I hastily dispelled the *Magic Power Solidification*, but it was too late.
Like a glass of wine with a hole in it, the *Blood Doll* began to leak blood from within. It lost blood just as a human would, and after stumbling, its back hit the wall of the room.
Watching the *Blood Doll* bend its knees, its blood smearing the wall, I understood what had happened.
I had inadvertently killed the benefactor who had gone out of their way to end my life.
My body moved on its own.
Just like that person, had I said I wanted to die while having no intention of dying?
No, I had wished to die for my own sake. The situation was too different from when it was with Kanami.
If so, was it the power of *Reversal*? Had the desire to die turned into a drive to live? No, because if that were the case, this terrible feeling should have been resolved by now.
Could the cause, other than that, be *Mom’s Ideal* interfering?
Even though I had already accepted that I was mere mist, why?
I couldn’t understand. I didn’t know what was what anymore—
I continued to ponder endlessly by myself, trying to arrive at an answer alone.
However, another sound told me that was not the case.
The *Blood Doll*, impaled by my sword and about to lose its form, seemed to smile.
And then, the Noh mask on its face twitched again.
The movement was short, simple, and concise, so I understood it immediately.
He said to me— “You’re *strong*,” “As expected, Ragune’s swordsmanship is amazing.”
I could recall the tone of his voice.
I had been praised the same way long ago. We had traveled the continent together, honing our knightly skills. When I first showed him *Magic Power Solidification* during occasional sparring matches, I heard the same words.
“Riel-sama…”
To think that he still said the same thing, even in this state, sent a shiver down my spine.
He, who had been killed and turned into a blood monster, was still praising me—who admitted he was a murderer with only a surface and mist—and myself. It was as unbearable as the fear of being alive.
“B-, but… that’s only natural…”
I had never imagined that being praised as strong by him would be so painful. I tried to convey that I didn’t deserve praise, forcing out words I couldn’t quite find.
“It’s been years since then, you know!? I’ve gotten stronger! I’ve killed Riel-sama and so many others, killed and killed and killed! I’ve become this strong! Don’t think of me the same way as when I was a maid! Riel-sama from back then—I can handle you with ease!!”
But that wasn’t because Ragune Kaikuola was strong, it was simply because time had passed.
If anything, I thought that if Riel had lived alongside me, he would have become as strong as I was. I intended to say that, but the words that followed were different. Facing the *Blood Doll* that was gazing at me—
“Yes! I am stronger than Riel-sama! To be blunt, I’m the strongest in the world! I’m strong!!”
For some reason, I boasted about my strength like an idiot.
The *Blood Doll* listening to me nodded by moving its head.
These words seemed insane.
To boast about becoming stronger in front of Riel, who had sacrificed for strength, was too arrogant. I wanted to die from self-loathing. It was so painful, I couldn’t bear it.
But I felt I had to do it.
The *Light* and *Star* magic within my body—even more so, Riel’s gaze before me drove me on.
Then, the Noh mask of the *Blood Doll* twitched.
I followed its movement with my eyes, deciphering it.
“—You are undoubtedly a wonderful woman. I believe you were the most capable of all the maids—”
The words I had heard in the past were repeated.
—At that moment, it felt as if my despised surface had been replaced.
It might have been another hallucination, but I felt a slight surge of power.
Using that strength, I moved, trying to stand up.
The *Blood Doll* watching me also moved, releasing its blood blade and pointing to the wall of the room.
Particles of light were dancing there.
More precisely, the blood splattered on the room had been converted into light.
The light particles continued to transform, filling the room.
Then, they moved softly and were absorbed into the stairs leading to the rooftop.
From their association, I deduced that it was Nosfy’s blood.
The blood prepared by Fafnir had not turned into light.
Presumably, some great magic had been activated on the rooftop. In accordance with that, her blood, a part of her body, was turning into light.
“This, all of this… Nosfy-san’s blood…?”
The entire room was illuminated.
I was stunned by the amount.
The sheer volume of blood, enough to die of blood loss a hundred times over, indicated the severity of her injuries.
It clearly showed how much pain and suffering she must have endured to climb this castle.
She must have been suffering more than I am now.
Her mind and body must have been at their absolute limit.
And yet, she—
*Slap.*
Another sound of blood splattered.
The *Blood Doll*, now only with a torso, right arm, and head, was nodding.
I understood the meaning of its actions.
Even so, Riel still believed me to be the *best*. Just as Nosfy, a *Thief of Principles*, had climbed fifty floors, he believed I could too—even after being killed, he believed it.
I thought of these as harsh words, pushing me forward when I wanted to die.
But I knew it was the reverse.
These were kind words. Too kind words, meant to help me.
I could even estimate the conditions under which Fafnir summoned the *Blood Doll*.
Riel Kaikuola was currently helping me.
He was helping me even as he died.
He was trying his best to help me, his own daughter’s killer, the one who had stolen his value and his name and taken his place.
Therefore, I stood up and answered the *Blood Doll*.
Swallowing blood from my mouth, I resumed my act and spoke the “words I wanted to convey to Riel Kaikuola,” which I had held in my heart.
“Riel-sama, I understand… I will go to the *summit* of Fuziaze… No matter what kind of end it may be, I will go… I will end it my way, without stopping. So, please watch me go…”
I had obtained the “ideal me” that I couldn’t receive that day.
However, it was too late.
Riel had once told me he wanted to go to Fuziaze together, but we could no longer go together.
Riel had brought me this far.
Still, I confidently announced that I would aim for the *summit* of the Great Holy Capital.
I even stood up straight.
Seeing this, the *Blood Doll* nodded deeply one last time.
It conveyed a sense of understanding, satisfaction, and relief.
And then, like a *Thief of Principles* who had lost his *lingering desire*, he lost his form.
He returned to blood.
“—Farewell, Riel-sama.”
I bid him a final farewell.
After a single bow towards the trail of blood, I started walking.
I opened the door at the back of the *Senate* room and began climbing the stone stairs.
“Haa, haa, haa—!”
My body was barely moving.
I knew the reason why.
Through our conversation earlier, I had now become “Riel’s ideal.”
I was moving with the surface of a new person.
I had now become a phenomenon that fulfilled his wish—”Ragune, find a new self in the Great Holy Capital,” “I want Ragune to be Ragune,” “I want Ragune to decide for herself—.”
My parting words were an act.
Riel must have known that.
Yet, he understood, was satisfied, and passed on with peace of mind.
As I climbed the final stairs, I pondered the meaning.
The current me is the true me…?
At least, that’s what Riel thought. Then this person’s surface is my true self. So, the weak me, like mist from before, is not me? No, that’s not possible. The ‘incantations’ of my life prove that’s my true nature. Then which one is it? One must be right, and the other wrong. I don’t understand…
—It’s too dark, I can’t see anything.
To confirm the truth of this, I need light.
I need light to illuminate the truth hidden in the darkness.
Yes, light.
With light, I will understand.
Light.
Light, light, light.
Light, light, light, light—
Nosfy-san’s gentle face surfaced.
Now, I have no one but Nosfy-san, the *Thief of the Principles of Light*.
I have never seen a life shine as brightly as hers. Light with many times more value than this trash-like me. Like Riel, she was someone who tried to help me even while knowing my act. Someone who reached out to me even to the point of being killed by me.
She’s a good person.
I love her.
I want to see her.
I want her to show me that smile one last time.
I want her, who is kind, bright, dazzling, beautiful, and beloved, to teach me many things.
Nosfy-san.
Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san.
Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san—!!
With the sole desire to see light, I moved forward.
I climbed one step with each call of her name, walking towards the rooftop step by step.
And when I had called her name about fifty times, a strong light shone down from above, piercing through the stone staircase.
Even though it was night, it was as bright as morning.
Thanks to Nosfy-san, the *summit* was likely shining brighter than ever before.
It blinded my stone-like eyeballs.
Ah, it’s so bright!!
“Th-, this light…! This brightness…! Nosfy-san…! Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san, Nosfy-san…! Nosfy-san…!”
I emerged onto the pure white rooftop and immediately called her name, searching for her.
There were no obstacles.
The sky was filled with light, which I was certain belonged to her.
However, I soon realized that Nosfy-san was not there.
And in her *substitute* stood a shining—Mom.
Mom was waiting at the *summit*.
Mom, staring at me, moved her lips and called my name.
“Ragune…”
Just seeing her figure made my body tremble.
Just like with Riel, the voices from the past echoed in my head.
They lingered, refusing to leave, even though I hadn’t tried to recall them.
They were voices praising me.
— ‘You’re amazing.’ ‘Well done.’ ‘As expected of my daughter.’ ‘Ragune is such a good girl.’ ‘You can be the best.’ ‘You’re my daughter, after all.’ —
My trembling wouldn’t stop.
Pressed by a cascade of obsessive thoughts, my body moved on its own.
If I don’t become *Mom’s Ideal* immediately, Mom will hate me. If I don’t ‘act’ more, if I don’t become the *best* in the world, I’ll be discarded. No, I’ll be ‘made to never have existed.’
If Mom so decides, she can make a daughter like Ragune ‘non-existent’ anytime.
So, I tried to abandon ‘Riel’s ideal’ and become ‘Mom’s ideal’— but that was blocked by the ‘bright light.’
“—Ah.”
The “bright light” showed me the truth that had been hidden in darkness all along.
The Mom standing there now is not Mom.
I knew that. Mom isn’t waiting at the *summit*.
The promise that if I become the *best* I can meet her is a lie.
It was just words to sell me off comfortably.
The person in front of me now is not Mom, but Kanami.
Just like me, a pathetic creature with only a surface and mist.
A piece of trash who can only imitate others’ *ideals*.
He’s just acting.
He’s just standing there as my *ideal* Mom.
Mom’s appearance is a lie.
The voice that sounds kind is also a lie.
My mind’s illusions and auditory hallucinations—!!
“Ah!”
It’s a pawn prepared by the world to kill me.
A debt collector demanding payment for the ‘price’ of stealing principles.
To continue as a *Thief of Principles* without killing Mom, who became *Immortal* bearing the power of a *Thief of the Principles of Dimensions*, I would be—sent back to rock bottom.
Ah, it’s easy to understand.
If I don’t fight, I’ll relapse.
And undoubtedly, the Mom before me is the *greatest* enemy in my life.
“Aah!!”
This enemy is *Immortal*—meaning, Nosfy-san is no longer here. I accept this.
Nosfy-san was killed, and the value of her life was stolen.
The light that was supposed to illuminate me was taken by the one before me.
A person with long, black, lustrous hair, a face that would captivate any opposite sex, radiating a glow from head to toe, a mass of malice and charm.
This person always wore a kind face, presented convenient theories, and with shady phrasing, stole everything from me. Everything of value that I possessed, he turned into his own.
I always felt that something was wrong.
Such a thing could never be a mother-daughter relationship.
Pretending to be strangers except for once a month is not what family does.
I had always thought that.
Now, I finally shout it out with ‘courage.’
“H-how dare you…! How dare you kill Nosfy-san!! It’s always like this! You always, always! Steal everyone I love! Everything precious! It’s been forever!! Since that mansion! No, since I lived in that hut, always!! Taking from your own child! Doesn’t your conscience ache!? Don’t you feel ashamed to be alive!? You—!!!!”
I screamed, my throat tearing, veins bulging in my neck, as if trying to expel stomach acid.
But it was meaningless.
Mom, who should have heard this, is no longer here at this *summit*, nor is Nosfy-san, who wanted to hear it. Everything is too late now. I am always too late.
“Nosfy-san was the *best*! Undoubtedly, among the three of us—no, the most valuable life in the *world*! Anyone could see, Nosfy-san was the one who should have survived! And you stole Nosfy-san’s life! How dare you! How dare you!!”
“Ah, that’s right… You’re right, Ragune. You’re saying the right things. You’ve always been saying the right things.”
The Mom before me—no, Kanami, agrees.
Beyond being ‘affinities,’ it was natural for two people who were both late to a degree to agree.
And his next words were the same as my wish.
“…Ragune, let’s fight again.”
Before anything else, we decided to fight as enemies.
Because we had reached a relationship where we could see into each other’s hearts, the conversation was very quick.
“If you want Nosfy too, then fight me. Fight me and take her from me.”
Kanami walked across the rooftop to where two swords were embedded.
There were the *Aris Family’s Treasure Sword Rowen* and *Hermina’s Heart*, which had pierced Nosfy-san’s arms.
Drawing only Rowen, Kanami stepped back a few paces.
“Which one is the true *best*… Let’s decide it here and now. But there are no do-overs. We’ve fought many times before, but this is the last. Swear to Nosfy’s soul that there will be no next time.”
He deliberately left one sword for me.
Then, Kanami, with the courtesy of a knight, pointed his sword at me.
“My name is Aikawa Uzunami. I challenge Knight Ragune Kaikuola to a duel for Nosfy. This is a fight to the death over the life you love. —Let us duel, justly and honorably.”
He said everything I wanted to say before I could.
Furthermore, Kanami uttered lines that were exactly like mine when we first met.
Perhaps because of that, the person before me now feels like myself, not Mom or Kanami.
An unprecedented fighting spirit overflowed, and I walked towards *Hermina’s Heart*.
“Nosfy-san is mine! Don’t think you can win against me in a *battle to the death*! I won’t let someone like you, a piece of trash, have Nosfy-san’s *Immortality*…! Nosfy-san’s light is my only light…!!”
By drawing my sword, I showed that I accepted the duel.
At that moment, the already bright rooftop shone even brighter.
The brightest light of the day filled the air, as if pushing me from behind.
— Light.
It’s light.
Bright light.
A light I recognize.
— Is Nosfy-san watching me?
I looked up at the sky, searching for her figure.
Of course, no one was there. There was only light.
But, towards that light, I shouted.
“…I swear!! It’s okay for this to be the end!! Here, this is the place, and this fight is my *best*!! My *dream* ends now!!”
I replied with the answer Nosfy-san must have wanted to hear, albeit a little late.
Of course, this is also meaningless.
No matter how much I resolve now, everything is too late.
Still, I decided now, in the light.
I decided that I wanted to defeat the *enemy* that was my *best*.
There’s no reason for that. It has no meaning, nor even value.
Because the one I truly want to attack is not here.
But I have decided to fight.
Because I desperately want to kill the *best* enemy before me, I will fight.
And I will end my *dream*—!
This enemy sacrificed Nosfy-san and stole the value of her life.
A lowest of the low who shines and thinks himself strong by using his own child.
There’s no way I can forgive you.
I absolutely cannot forgive you!!
The enemy’s name is Kanami.
He appears to be a woman of a certain age, but that is merely the effect of the skill ‘???’, making him my *ideal*. It’s a cowardly skill designed to foster affection, but now—exposed to Nosfy-san’s light, his true form is visible!
A man with black hair and black eyes, clad in purplish-black magic, a *Foreigner*.
The thousand-year-old *Shiso* who, wearing any ‘ideal’ mask, has fully matured.
I will immediately re-evaluate my combat strategy for Kanami.
While I’ve exhausted my techniques against Kanami, I still have some left.
The *Swordsmanship* and *Magic Power Solidification* that I honed with Riel are still with me.
My innate talent was the ability to transform solidified magic power into anything.
I will turn magic power into swords, shields, arrows, thread, and cut you head-on.
That is my originally ideal fighting style.
I don’t care about Mom’s teachings anymore.
— Or so I thought, when I felt my bangs flutter.
My senses suddenly sharpened, and I felt a sense of my mind and body becoming one.
Perhaps due to the surrounding light, I could clearly see the flow of magic power. No, not just magic power. I could feel the flow of things, the very *Principles of the World*, with my skin.
As I changed, Kanami in front of me solemnly began his declaration of the duel.
“Ah. Welcome, challenger Ragune. …Apologies for the substitute, but I will begin the *ordeal*.”
No.
I am the one challenging the *ordeal*, but it’s me…!
I will continue to condemn myself until I acknowledge my true self…!
— “The *summit* of this world, this is the sixtieth floor. The floor of Nosfy, the *Thief of the Principles of Light*. This is not a hastily made one, this is truly the highest and brightest place in the world. Ragune, under this white light, let us verify. Expose your everything…! This is the ‘Sixtieth Ordeal’ left by her…!!”
What are you saying—!
I don’t need you to tell me, I already know!
More importantly, Nosfy-san! It’s Nosfy-san!
Please, watch my true nature from there! And then, regret it!
— “Ragune! Let’s begin the continuation! Let’s confirm the third round between us, right here, right now!!”
— “Kanami! That third round will kill you! I will definitely kill you!!”
I will prove it in this fight!
The one who should have survived was neither Kanami nor me, but you!!
The one who was the *best* in the world was no one else but you!!
Nosfy-san!!
Wanting to convey that to her—
Kanami and I.
Facing each other like mirrors, we both charged into this ‘bright light world’ simultaneously.
