“Master… Can you see it?”
Trembling, I sought confirmation.
“Hah, hah, hah— See what!?”
My master, running Al-Awna at full speed, scanned our surroundings while panting. His gaze swept over the “rift” that I could clearly see. Yet, he acted as if nothing was there.
I quickly realized that asking was futile and retracted my words.
“No, I’m sorry… My vision is just blurring a little…”
“Blurring…? Damn it, am I bleeding too much! We need to stop and focus on treating this quickly!”
It seemed only I could see it.
And from our locked gazes, I understood that whoever was the source of the “gaze” in the “rift” was only looking at me.
If you were to ask me who that entity was, I could only answer, “The World.” Beyond that “rift,” there was no life whatsoever, only an immense emptiness. Yet, I felt a will emanating from that gaze.
—It was telling me to die.
Right now, the “World” was demanding my death. Weakened, I flinched in fear at its demand and instinctively averted my eyes.
But I was pulled again.
“Eh—”
It felt like “threads” extending from my fingertips were urging me, “Look at that rift.”
There was no physical interference. I was merely being pulled by a sensation, a feeling.
After all, my master and I were riding the same Al-Awna, running continuously. If my body were truly being pulled, I would fall to the ground alone. I understood this logically… yet somehow, the “rift” was steadily approaching me. It was drawing closer to us, who were speeding on the Al-Awna.
“…!”
It defied reason.
From this abnormal phenomenon, I understood that it corresponded to “Curse Techniques” or “Miracles.”
And the caster was not a person, but the “World.”
I was overcome with a feeling of being extorted for my “death” by the “World,” and I recalled what Teeda had told me about “curses.”
“Hah, hah, hah…”
Separate from the blood loss and pain, my breath began to falter from fear. However, instinctively, I felt I couldn’t stop my thoughts if I wanted to survive, and I expanded my knowledge of “curses” in my mind.
—Within it, there was one thing that could explain the current situation.
It was the “curse” of my master, which he was told he didn’t have, despite it being expected. It was strange that the “Thief of the Principles of Dimensions,” who was treated specially by the Apostles and saved other “Thieves of Principles,” had no “curse” at all—I had harbored this worry not long ago. My premonition was proving to be accurate.
Romis Neisha’s heart was broken because she was the childhood friend of the “Thief of the Principles of Darkness.”
The family of the “Thief of the Principles of Fire” fell into misfortune, and his mother lost her memories.
So, what was the fate of I, who looked up to my master as the “Thief of the Principles of Dimensions”…?
“Ti, Tiara…!? Are you alright!? Can you still hear my voice!?”
Seeing my face turn pale, my master called out to me as he embraced me.
“Eh, ah… Un… um.”
I could only answer vaguely.
At my weak voice, my master grew even paler than I was. Then, with his usual desperate expression, he shouted to keep me from passing out.
“Hang in there! Don’t close your eyes! Please, don’t die!!”
As if attending to a gravely ill patient, he squeezed my hand tightly. Then, quite remarkably, my pale face regained some color, and even in this worst possible situation, my heart began to race.
“I can’t do anything without you! I realized this during my fight with Romis! I want you to always be by my side! Because you were there, I was able to start my new life! I haven’t even thanked you for that yet!!”
This racing heartbeat was my feeling of “I like Master” itself. And from my master, who was holding my hand, I felt a similar heartbeat. It was his feeling of “I like me” itself.
“Your brightness has always helped me during our journey! No matter what, you were always bright, smiling, and energetic… so—!!”
“Mas, Master…?”
“I love that side of you!! That’s why I won’t let you die! Absolutely not!!”
It was a moment where I was certain we were in mutual love. However, the more we loved each other, the stronger the gaze from the “rift” became.
“Ah… Just as I thought…”
I realized the true nature of the “curse” of the “Thief of the Principles of Dimensions.”
What was being demanded by the “World” as “compensation” now was—my life. To be precise, “death.” And it couldn’t be just any “death.”
The conditions also became clear.
There was a very simple way to confirm it.
“—Me too.”
I replied. Instantly, the gaze from the “rift” intensified to an extraordinary degree.
Then, give it to me. We, who love each other, are the “compensation,” so pay it now. As if I could hear a voice, the “rift” approached, intending to swallow me.
“—! Then, absolutely do not close your eyes, Tiara! Let’s survive, together!!”
“Yes…”
I nodded deeply. At the brink of death, I finally understood various answers. As one mystery unraveled, other mysteries followed suit—
For example, it was the conversation I had with Hidaki Sister before we departed on our journey.
“Thank you, Tiara. I hope this Fuziaze can become a substitute homeland for my older brother. And for you, I hope you can be my substitute—”
Hidaki Sister had been looking for someone who would love my master as her substitute all along. And she had likely been plotting to have me “substitute” her in death.
And I had readily agreed to it with a “Sure” through a “Contract.” Hidaki Sister had approved of it.
It made sense that our two-person journey had gone so smoothly. We grew conscious of each other as the journey progressed, our hearts drew closer each day, and we confessed our feelings after battling formidable enemies?
—It was undoubtedly Hidaki Sister’s orchestration.
The conversation before departure was definitely involved. The skills she mentioned that day, “Parallel Thinking” and “Convergent Thinking,” had that power. It’s highly likely she possessed something similar to the “Reading” skill I painstakingly acquired on this journey. Hidaki Sister, who likely possessed multiple such abilities, was presumably doing something similar.
Of course, it wasn’t just verbal guidance. When Hidaki Sister developed “Curse Techniques,” the first thing she dabbled in was “Translation.” This meant that all the conversations in this “Fanian Arc” had been altered by Hidaki Sister. There was a very high probability that my words were not correctly conveyed to my master. For instance, words like “lover” that I heard while wandering around town seemed particularly suspicious. Hadn’t a different word originally been there? And even with such alterations in conversations, I hadn’t even noticed.
Above all, my master, Aikawa Uzunami, who traveled with me—he himself was Hidaki Sister’s greatest setup. Before departing for Fanian, there was a time when the siblings had alone. That was enough time to widen that “crack in the heart” that projected “Ideals.” That crack was undoubtedly the decisive factor in our mutual love this time.
Furthermore, there was the insurance of the “threads” at my fingertips. While the power of the “threads” was still uncertain, if things deviated from the plan, some form of correction would have awaited. This time, it was enough that Hidaki Sister’s prior preparations sufficed, so they had no use, but if it came to it—
“Ah…”
For everything I can now recognize alone, there is this much of Hidaki Sister’s involvement. If I include what I couldn’t notice due to my own inadequacy… just thinking about it makes me dizzy.
I keenly felt that everything was in Hidaki Sister’s hands, grumbled, and recalled one of my own words.
“—If you say ‘become a substitute,’ I’ll become a substitute. If you say die, I’ll die too. I’ll do anything. If I were a book, that would absolutely be the last page.”
I remembered agreeing to the “Contract” so easily.
No, I don’t even know if I said that myself or if I was made to say it. It feels like everything is in Hidaki Sister’s hands, and my confidence has completely vanished. It feels like my death is already decided within Hidaki Sister, and it’s absolute—
“Ahhh…!!”
I experienced defeat for the first time.
I had been proceeding with the story with the underhanded trick of “Reading” to my heart’s content, only to be overcome by an even greater trick. It was the exact same situation as with Romis just the other day. We were so similar in personality that we even lost in a similar way.
—That’s right.
I am the same as Romis. That’s why the continuation of my words was naturally the same.
“I, I don’t acknowledge it…! I’m not dying yet…!!”
Shamelessly, I refused to accept defeat. I rejected the collection of “compensation” towards the “rift.”
“I won’t die…! Because I haven’t finished reading! I haven’t finished reading even one chapter…!!”
Although I was near death, I tightly gripped the hem of my master’s clothes with all my might.
Not finished reading meant the stories of “Aikawa Uzunami” and “Aikawa Hidaki.” These were books I wanted to read more than the stories of other “Thieves of Principles.”
To die before finishing them? Impossible. As a book lover, I absolutely couldn’t allow that. Because the pages were still only partially read. I haven’t even returned to Fuziaze, and I haven’t fulfilled any of the promises made before departure. Most importantly, Hidaki Sister and I parted with a casual laugh before departure. A casual farewell…!? I can’t allow that to be the final memory Hidaki Sister has of me! If I die now, even that recent confession will turn into a farce! Even if we are in mutual love, death separating us so soon leaves no lingering emotion! If things continue like this, it will be incredibly subpar! …Ah, that’s right. Simply put, this development is bad! It’s nowhere near good! It’s boring! I don’t like it! That’s why—!!
“I won’t acknowledge a last page like this…!!”
I complained towards the “rift.” In response, the “World” seemed to shake its head—and again, it preemptively activated my “Reading” skill, making the “ending” of this escape unfold in my mind. It was showing me, as if to pacify me, that this was my end.
“While fleeing from monsters, Tiara Fuziaze becomes immobile deep in the dense forest. The treatment for the ‘Curse Technique’ is in vain, and the wound in her abdomen does not heal. The wound in her abdomen widens, and all her blood flows out, leaving her with nothing but to await death. In the end, her body could no longer endure the series of ‘compensations’ being collected. However, it was only at the brink of death that Tiara Fuziaze realized the principles of the world. With the giant trees of the forest at her back, she made her final report to Aikawa Uzunami, the one she loved. ‘Master, I finally understand…’ At the end of her escape, what Tiara Fuziaze realized was the inner thoughts of Aikawa Hidaki, whom she admired like a sister. Understanding this, and regretting her own immaturity, she whispered. ‘Ah, so… that’s why—’ However, even with this realization, it was too late. Faced with this scene, Aikawa Uzunami, trying to hold onto his beloved, used a ‘Curse Technique’ and shouted, ‘Tiara! Don’t talk! Treat it quickly instead!’ His feelings for her were imbued in that ‘Curse Technique’ to an unprecedented degree. That is why the bleeding would never stop. According to the principles of the world, such a wound from ‘blood power’ could not be healed by Aikawa Uzunami alone. Therefore, Tiara Fuziaze’s words became her will. ‘Master, Hidaki Sister…—, please…—’ entrusting the other ‘Foreigner,’ her life ended. Aikawa Uzunami, trembling, looked at his blood-stained hands and shook Tiara Fuziaze’s now still body. ‘A, ah…! Ahhh! Aaaaaahhh AAAAAAAAHHHH—!!’ He wailed, regretting everything. ‘We said we’d survive together… We said it…! Ah, and yet, again—!!’ —This was the conclusion of Aikawa Uzunami and Tiara Fuziaze’s journey together. This was the fate predetermined from their first meeting in another world, and the beginning of the story of the ‘Foreigners.’ With Tiara Fuziaze’s death, Aikawa Uzunami’s story began to shift drastically. From then on, he would forever cherish the memory of Tiara Fuziaze, his beloved, and begin his true battle in this other world.”
The “World” felt like it was saying, “You understand, right? This is what you wanted. As a book lover, you can die in the arms of the ‘Protagonist’ as the ‘heroine.’ You can become the key to the story of the ‘Foreigners’ and remain in their memories forever. Even if it’s a death as ‘compensation,’ your life’s wish will be granted. So, give up and obediently pay your life, as per the ‘Contract’—”
“Do you ‘agree with that’…!”
I glared at the gentle “World,” which was talking to me as if I were a child, and shook my head. Furthermore, I turned my gaze back to the “rift” and demanded power.
“‘Until the last page I can agree with,’ ‘I will absolutely not die’…!!”
It’s clearly written, isn’t it? If I can learn about Hidaki Sister’s inner thoughts, that’s where the real fun begins. Even if I can die in the “Protagonist’s” arms, there’s still not enough groundwork laid. No, even before that, it’s the worst to be told only the ending. That alone has already diminished the appeal of the final page. If you want to kill me, prepare something that defies my predictions, like the daughter who just died. Otherwise, I have no intention of paying even a single drop of my life to this story…!!
“Ti, Tiara…?”
Startled by my sudden start of “incantation,” my master called my name. At that moment, I felt the entity beyond the “rift” also show a flicker of confusion.
“A, ah!! You won’t die! I will absolutely not let you die!”
My master seemed to have interpreted my words as a plea for life due to my blood loss. Embracing my cold body, he vowed to save me.
Since I had the chance, I pretended to be weakened and buried myself in my master’s chest.
“Yes… Thank you, Master…”
Right now, I was on the verge of death because of my master, but I feigned tears and expressed my gratitude. My tears may have been false, but my words of thanks were from the bottom of my heart.
I harbor no resentment towards my master’s “curse.” I had told Teeda something similar before: “Even if I’m affected by a ‘curse,’ what matters is my own will. Unreasonableness exists everywhere in the world. Whether there are ‘threads’ or not, being pulled by them is—amateurish.”
It’s the same with the “Reading” skill. Hidaki Sister, who likely possessed many more skills than me, didn’t seem to be swayed by random actions. She did say, “Skills automatically analyze options and tell me the ideal outcome,” but even then, she proceeded on her own chosen path. Therefore, my weak complaint that the “Reading” skill is acting on its own is simply my own laziness.
“Hah—! Hah, hah, hah…!!”
Breathing out a scent of blood, I focused my consciousness on the “threads” within my fingers. I understood the mechanism. The internal “threads,” not the external ones, are important. It’s likely that my nerves have increased through “Level Up,” just like Hidaki Sister’s. These nerves, without my knowledge, are collecting information, thinking about various things on their own, and reporting to my brain.
Don’t allow it. Use your “Magic Power” and “Compensation” to instruct it.
Tiara Fuziaze wasn’t reading books out of necessity due to her birth. Tiara Fuziaze was reading books by her own will, because she loved them. Even if it reads on its own, it must be in order. Never skip pages. I won’t allow such a killjoy act in front of me, a book lover. If it tries to read ahead, I’ll rip out all those nerves.
“Hah, hah…—!!”
As I threatened myself internally, I felt the “Reading” skill begin to operate according to my will. The information I currently possess was being organized automatically, swiftly, and accurately—
“While fleeing from monsters, Tiara Fuziaze’s abdominal wound does not heal due to the collection of ‘compensation,’ and the bleeding does not stop. However, at the brink of death, she realizes this. The magic book of Hermina Neisha, now held in her arms, contains the secret of the dead girl’s ‘blood power.’ It is also the only ‘Miracle’ that an ordinary person like Tiara Fuziaze can control. She immediately opens the magic book and devises a way to overcome this situation—”
This was not a page prepared with the ending already decided. It was a page written for me, living in the present, that I could finally trust with all my heart. In my master’s arms, I chased after the turning pages with bloodshot eyes. Especially important is the dead girl’s “Demon” power. First, I must find a way to seal this unhealable wound. I kept my consciousness alive by chanting “I won’t die,” “I won’t die,” “I won’t die” in my mind.
Finally, I could see the “threads,” and I was no longer cowering before the “World.” My “Skill” was being refined. I felt I could finally stand shoulder to shoulder with Hidaki Sister, and I absolutely didn’t want it to end here. Before we left, I wished, “I want to uncover Hidaki Sister’s heart.” I will survive, no matter what it takes, no matter who I sacrifice—until I can uncover her heart, read it, touch it, savor it, and twist it with my tongue.
“Ku, monsters are blocking the path…! Tiara, I’m going to move a little! Endure it!”
“…It’s okay, Master. —
I uttered a temporary curse name and placed my hand on my abdomen. Combining the knowledge learned from Hermina Neisha and my master, I poured all my “Magic Power” into manipulating the blood flowing out. However, the blood from the dead girl that had entered the wound was stubborn and couldn’t be controlled so easily. Even though the caster was dead, it continuously tried to kill me, its hateful enemy, hindering my healing. The blood that continues to move even after death—no, the blood that becomes even more vigorous after death—this seemed to be the greatest characteristic of “blood power.” Realizing I was at a disadvantage with my living blood, I decided to add more.
“—’I stake everything and swear.’ ‘Even if the end of this world comes,’ ‘I will continue to read this book’—”
I performed an “incantation” to supplement my output. The “compensation” would be my future. And, I arbitrarily wagered the future of this “World” as well. Since I wouldn’t have to pay it now anyway, I chose things that seemed to have high value and put them up as collateral, one after another. Of course, I had no intention of paying this debt. If I found the slightest opportunity, I would default, and at worst, I would push it onto someone else. That, I understood, was the wisest form of “curse.”
I don’t know if the “World” noticed my malice. However, the transaction was honestly completed. Gaining strength from the “incantation,” I succeeded in manipulating all the blood within my body. This included the blood of the dead girl that had been causing trouble at the wound site. I coagulated the blood, stopping the bleeding as a temporary measure. And in my palm, I had a small cupful of blood that I could freely control. Thanks to the “blood power,” I had secured one red sphere that moved even after death.
—Now, I could finally turn my attention to my surroundings.
I raised my head and saw the monsters my master had mentioned. We were still running along the forest path. In the bushes next to us, several beasts with ominous “Magic Power” were running. They resembled wolves, but their speed and intelligence were far beyond those of normal beasts. I believe they are known as Bound Dogs in Fuziaze, and their mouths are large enough to swallow my master whole. In the sky, a giant bird with eight eyes was flying, and from behind, a fog-like ghost with glaring eyes was chasing us. All of them were troublesome monsters. And all of them were targeting only me.
The intensity of their desire to kill me was palpable. I immediately slipped out of my master’s embrace, tucked Hermina-san’s book into my clothes, and skillfully moved behind my master’s back. My master was surprised by my sudden burst of energy and movement.
“Ti, Tiara!? …Your blood has coagulated? How…!?”
Seeing the abnormal state of my abdomen, he asked for an explanation. I gestured with my hands behind my back, holding the sphere of blood, and showed my master the source of my new power.
“…Sorry to keep you waiting, Master. Hermina-san’s book is truly amazing. Thanks to this, I think I can manage.”
“Hermina-san’s…!? R-right! She said the stones of Fanian contained blood! You had a way to manipulate blood!? H-ha ha—, alright! If that’s the case!!”
Having solved the problem of my wound on my own, my master likely saw a glimmer of hope. He gripped the reins tighter and kicked the Al-Awna’s flank with his leg. It was a clumsy maneuver, but the Al-Awna, having received advanced training, read my master’s intentions and reached maximum speed.
“Tiara! Hold on tight! We’re going back to Fuziaze at full speed!!”
With my burden alleviated, my master could concentrate on the race. In accordance with this, I released the sphere of blood in my right hand while holding onto my master’s waist with my left.
“Yes… Master, let’s definitely go back together. Leave the rear to me. —Curse Technique
The sphere of blood, thrown into the air, was transformed into an arrow by the curse technique and shot towards the monster attacking from the sky. The monster bird’s wing was pierced, and it fell. After witnessing this, I immediately placed my hand on my abdominal wound and gathered the next blood into my right hand. Frankly, it’s a life-draining curse technique, but it’s better than dying. In the midst of being face-to-face with death, I created blood arrows and curled my lips. At that moment, my gaze was directed not at the monsters, but at the “rift.”
“H-hee hee—”
I chuckled. No matter how much “compensation” pressed down on me, I had no intention of paying it. From now on, I will continue to run. That was one of the strongest techniques, as Hidaki Sister taught me. Until the day I can win against the world, no matter how many days, months—even thousands of years—I will run, run, run, and keep running.
“—Do you really think you can kill me that easily?”
I declared threateningly that I would get revenge someday and fired another blood arrow. It pierced the fog monster behind it and was sucked into the “rift” beyond—
“—This is where it ends.”
—The book was closed there. The subsequent pages were cut off, and my master, I, the Al-Awna, the monsters, the forest, and the dark sky were all dyed black. The thousand years of time, the stage of Fanian, the protagonist, the heroines—everything was lost, and all stories halted. One “World” rapidly disappeared. That phenomenon was indeed a “Miracle.” And that was what, a millennium later, would be called “Magic.” It was the moment the “Past Sight” magic, Dimensional War Calculation “Prologue,” ceased.
