As far as we can see now, it’s guaranteed that the magic preparation will be ready by “New Calendar Year 12.”
I had many things I lacked, but there was a way to solve them all at once.
It was a magic devised by my master, who had been preparing for revenge during the great war.
It seems that while I was challenging my limits in the “Southern Alliance,” my master was thinking of something similar in the “Northern Alliance.”
When I first saw it, I thought it was like a letter.
I felt as if the magic I spread had reached the north, and my master’s answer had returned to the south.
“……Heehee.”
I laughed.
Please forgive me for thinking that my master and I had jointly developed that magic.
The magic created by my master was so deeply involved with “Tiara Fuziaze” that I could think that.
The name of that magic is “Death God That Envies Shadows.”
It is an automatic tracking attack magic born from the “price” of continental fairy tales and local legends – and a magically created life form.
The reason “Death God That Envies Shadows” was born was to suppress Rowen Aleis, the strongest and most unreasonable piece in the “Southern Alliance.”
The “Death God,” as he was called on the battlefield, stuck to him and toyed with him. No, it was actually a battle to the death, but from my distant observation, it only looked like play.
Innocently, the girl in black swung her scythe, and Rowen countered with his sharp sword.
However, it was useless against a girl with the power of a fairy tale.
With his sword becoming transparent, the swordsman had no chance of winning.
And yet, Rowen Aleis continued to swing his sword with a smile.
It was enough to have a conversation, but he made the wrong choice and tried to communicate only through “killing.”
While sighing at his usual “curse,” I shifted my gaze from Rowen to “Death God That Envies Shadows.”
“——Heehee! So strong! As expected of my nemesis!!”
The girl fights with a friendly smile.
There is no pretense, she just looks like she is innocently playing.
I thought her appearance resembled “Tiara Fuziaze,” who had been acting in front of my master for so long.
Of course, I am no longer like that, as I have grown up.
But I felt like I was looking in a mirror.
More accurately than the mirror I checked in the castle not long ago, “Death God That Envies Shadows” reflected the “Tiara Fuziaze” of my “ideal.”
“Heehee…”
I laughed the same way.
I felt like I could glimpse my master’s deep-seated desires within that magic.
And my desires were also hidden there.
Finding them, I finally found an answer to my long-standing worries.
“It’s no good because I’m alone…”
If I don’t have enough hands, I need another person.
If I don’t have enough brains, I need another person.
If I can’t die, then I need another me who can die—another me.
I just need to create the “ideal” “Tiara Fuziaze.”
That simple and reckless theory made me feel a little foolish for having worried about it for so long.
“I see… That’s what it means…”
I quickly moved away from the battlefield, writing my answer on the magic stone I had brought with me.
If I ran out of space on my magic stones, I would extend the red “threads” from the deliberately created wounds on my palms.
In the end, I couldn’t manipulate white “threads.”
Instead, I let the red “threads” I could freely control seep into the entire ground, writing down the future to come.
Eventually, there will be no more space to write on this land, but this will be enough.
“Ah, that’s good…”
I will greet “New Calendar Year 12” with peace of mind.
And, in perfect condition, I will witness the end of the great war that divided the continent.
The “gruesome battle at the end of the ‘Border War'” was like hell on earth.
It would fill a thick book, easily stacking a dozen or so—but it wasn’t something I needed to think about now; I would just confirm the essential points without waste for my purpose.
“Blood flowed in large quantities across the land, and countless corpses piled up.
Among them, the battlefields where the ‘Thieves of Principles’ were active suffered the most severe damage.
Not only were their powers immense, but the ‘curses’ they each carried were forcibly expelled under the influence of the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin.’
Every soldier harbored ‘distrust’ towards their allies, their objectives became ‘discrepant,’ and they lost precious things to ‘death.’
They ‘relied’ on their neighbors, fell into ‘self-loss,’ and fought to the death while being ‘charmed.’
These explosively scattered ‘curses’ also ended the battles of the ‘Thieves of Principles’ themselves.”
“Tida, the Thief of the Laws of Darkness,” after being betrayed by his allies and burned all over his body, fought against both enemies and allies as a monster.
“Rowen, the One Who Steals Earthly Principles,” after repeatedly choosing the wrong path to becoming a noble, had his movements restricted by “Death God That Envies Shadows.”
“Fafnir, the Thief of the Law of Blood,” in the midst of the overheating battlefield, finally lost his sanity due to the voices of the dead echoing in his head.
“Seldra, the Thief of Nothingness,” without facing his own illness, tried to deceive the battle by helping Fafnir stop.
“Nosfy, the Thief of the Principles of Light,” continued to chase after the one he loved, but could not reach her even at the very end.
“Titty, the Thief of the Laws of Wood,” despite giving up being king, returned to the battlefield to bring about a conclusion.
“Aid, the Thief of the Laws of Wood,” believing in the king’s return, continues to defend the castle of Viais alone.
“Arty, the Thief of the Laws of Fire,” was no exception, scattering the ‘curse’ of ‘oblivion’ outside the battlefield.
Not all of them, but the ‘curses’ were being ‘settled’ in order.
And the ‘Border War’ reached its climax, and the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’ was activated as planned.
This was not Sister Sis’s true intention, but the result of being cornered by my master.
“Aikawa Uzunami,” with her true face hidden by a black mask, had become an ugly “monster.”
“Sis,” who had been a perfect “Apostle” since birth until today.
The two faced each other in the grand hall of the castle in Fuziaze, which had now become the continent’s largest country.
No one else was there.
The castle was practically defenseless due to the operation that my master, defeated once, had painstakingly devised in the “Northern Alliance.”
—The “Border War” arc was entering its final pages.
Apostle Sis, unprotected, first chose dialogue.
“—Ally! Please, listen!! We can still understand each other!!”
“I have no intention of listening to anything else…! You end here!!”
But no matter what she said, my master’s answer was always the same.
Shaking her head, she demanded “settlement” for her sister’s death.
Hearing this, Sister Sis trembled and grew angry.
From her perspective, she had always been making the greatest concessions. Being repeatedly trampled on, she finally lost her composure.
“I end…? Do you think you can defeat me in a one-on-one fight? Don’t get cocky, ally! I’ve also dabbled in ‘Level Up’ enhancements, and I have a trump card ready! Most importantly, I am right! The righteous side never loses!!”
And then, she began to chant a ‘chant’ I had never heard before, amplifying the magic power within her.
“—’Faintly died’ ‘Joy, oh meaningless pride, rejoice’ ‘Nothing returns anymore’—!”
“——! That ‘Incantation’… Sis…”
The Master facing her, though wearing a black mask, showed clear panic. After a few seconds of hesitation, he seemed to have made up his mind and returned the ‘Incantation’.
“—’Lost Faintly’ ‘Past, Time, Nostalgic Homeland, Sorrow’ ‘All for the Blessings of a New Beginning’—”
With a remarkably similar ‘Incantation’, the Master also amplified his magic power. Furthermore, he performed a ‘Level Up’ on his magic power right then and there, driving home to Sister Shis that battle was unavoidable, along with the fighting spirit.
“That… Ally…!”
Sister Shis also showed a slightly hesitant expression, just like the Master. However, she immediately gritted her teeth and glared back.
I was merely observing the situation from the bushes outside the castle using ‘Dimension’, but I could grasp the meaning of their exchange.
Once, Aikawa Uzunami and Shis had a time when they’d laugh together about ‘Incantations’. That’s why, even after breaking with the Master, Sister Shis must have believed that they would one day laugh together again, and had been working hard on her ‘Incantation’ alone all this time. She believed this ‘Incantation’ would become a bond that would connect them again, and despite her dislike for it, she had completed it in her own way.
Yet, all those techniques would now be used to kill the person she loved. The person she loved would also use all those techniques to kill her.
“……”
As one of the people who led to this ending, I could only silently watch as the two engaged in a fierce battle. Believing this to be the best course of action, I remained motionless.
Then, at the end of the battle, Sister Shis shouted her trump card.
“—’I will take it back’!! ‘My dead Sky’ ‘To a Clear Blue World’!! —Curse Technique ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’!!”
In response to Sister Shis’s magic power, the prototype ‘Magic Stone Lines’ laid out throughout Fuziaze Castle began to emit light. The light of the curse technique was accompanied by purple magic of the dimensional attribute, filling the entire area. From outside the castle, using ‘Dimension’, I could clearly see the situation.
Now, the nodes embedded throughout the entire continent had been activated.
These nodes, one after another, connected with magic power, sometimes supported by ‘Magic Stone Lines’, drawing a giant magic circle across the continent. It was a mad curse technique that dissolved all life and converted it into magic power—
“F-fufu, it’s activated…! I intended to gather magic power for ‘Thief of the Principles of Light’, but for now, I’ll gather it for myself…! With this, my victory is assured!!”
Sister Shis, who had activated it, smiled with all her heart and rejoiced.
“Gathering it for you…? As an Apostle, is that alright with you?”
“There’s no problem at all! Because, while living in this world, I’ve always thought this! Deep down, I am the one most suited to obtain ‘Everything’! Because I am more correct than anyone else! Only the correct me should be allowed to reach the Lord!!”
The Master’s face, as he exchanged words with her, contorted even further. I could see the murderous intent, which had begun to fade over the past few years, reigniting.
“Shis, is that your true feeling? I saw and understood the workings of this magic circle on the way here. If it were broken, it would go berserk, so I couldn’t interfere, but if you intend to use it solely for yourself…”
“Shut up!! You’re so annoying! I don’t want to hear words from an ally who doesn’t understand me!! If you won’t be by my side, then just disappear quietly!!”
“Do you think I can stay silent?! If you’re going to do this, then I’ll—”
“You won’t forgive me?! I don’t want to hear that either! How many times do I have to say it?! This much sacrifice is trivial to save the world, I’ve been saying that all along!!”
He had reached his limit. The Master gave up on dialogue and shouted the name of his former friend with murderous intent.
“—Shis!!”
The battle resumed, and Sister Shis had the advantage. Although the Master had undergone ‘Level Up’ and was approaching a ‘Monster’, the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’ was completely Sister Shis’s domain. Because of its influence, he couldn’t use his specialty curse techniques.
“Hmph! Without curse techniques, you’re not a threat at all!!”
Furthermore, Sister Shis began to absorb the Master’s magic power. The difference in their magic power grew, widening from infinite to zero, and just before the battle’s conclusion—
“—Shis, this is a continuation of our earlier conversation. I said it was difficult to stop the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’, but I didn’t say it was impossible to interfere. For some reason… this is easy to manipulate.”
The Master thrust his mutated hand roughly into the ground of Fuziaze. Magic power surged like an electric shock.
“I’ll transfer the exception of the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’ from you to ‘Foreigner’…!”
By physically establishing a connection with the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’, he changed its conditions. It was merely returning to the original conditions. Therefore, it was easily altered. The effect immediately manifested in Sister Shis’s body.
“—! W-what…!”
Her movements visibly slowed, and her body gradually began to melt and transform into magic power. Sister Shis frantically tried to revert the conditions, but she couldn’t interfere with the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’ while fighting the Master. However, even if she could have interfered, the conditions would no longer have returned to normal. This ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’, which Sister Shis is made to believe she created, exists not for her, but for ‘Aikawa Uzunami’.
And if the battle were to continue within that ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’, the outcome was obvious. The first to fall to their knees and become unable to move was Sister Shis.
“…W-why? Why is this happening!? …Ally, not yet!!”
Even as her body melted, she refused to admit defeat and spat out curses.
“I am an Apostle! As long as the world is in danger, I will revive any number of times…! That’s how… the Lord made us…—”
“Enough. …It’s enough, Shis.”
The Master interrupted her coldly. His face no longer held the intense murderous intent from before. He looked down, bit his lip, and his eyes trembled with overwhelming sadness. Seeing this, Sister Shis uttered her final—
“M-ei…, yu—”
—call, and her entire body transformed into magic power, being absorbed into the continent and disappearing.
“This is the end…”
The fated battle had reached its conclusion. The Master’s revenge was fulfilled. However, the Master’s complexion was not good. It was natural, as he wasn’t built to rejoice here. Rather, he was likely blaming himself for not being able to choose another option. As usual, he had such a troublesome and bothersome personality, and I found it endearing.
That troublesome and bothersome Master immediately began to move without a word. Focusing on interfering with the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’, he first took over the initiative. However, he couldn’t stop its activation. Even creating an ‘exception’ would only save one or two people, he realized, and the Master began destroying the castle’s nodes.
Even so, the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’ still would not stop.
“Shis, you really are troublesome…”
Blaming both Sister Shis and himself simultaneously, he left the castle, searching for something. Having witnessed this, I took a breath of relief in the bushes outside the castle.
“…Haa.”
It proceeded as planned. There were some irregularities, but it was moving according to one of the stories I had written with my own blood. Although, the original story was written by Sister Hidaki, so it’s nothing to brag about…
“It’s about time I made my move…”
From now on, Master will pinpoint the center of the “Shaka Hōkan Jin” and enter the page that reads, “As the story reached its end, the man had gathered immense magic power and become stronger than anyone else. On a certain battlefield, at the heart of a ‘Magic Circle,’ he held his dead sister in his arms.”
Before that, I needed to finish my preparations and get ahead of Master to his destination.
And so, while I traveled to different places, Master would reach the wilderness, the heart of the “Magic Circle,” just as the page described.
As the earth continued to warp, Master interfered with the “Shaka Hōkan Jin” — and when he confirmed its malice-filled construction, he sank to his knees. He realized that even destroying the core at the center wouldn’t stop it. With that understanding, Master muttered his own end beneath the dark clouds.
“This is the ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’… With this, everything can end…”
Trying to save his only sister, losing her due to the circumstances of “Another World,” being consumed by vengeance and continuing to fight, only to lose everything in the end. Just before entering that final page, I finally revealed myself after having kept hidden all along.
“Master, I’m here…”
Behind me stood a long line of people who could move even within the “Shaka Hōkan Jin.” Though their names would not be passed down to later generations, they were all heroes who had clashed with the “Thief of Principles” on the front lines of battle.
In their ranks, there was no longer any distinction between North and South. I had taught them that there was a common enemy that needed to be dealt with before this “Border War.” Master was utterly surprised by their appearance.
“Tiara…? And behind you is…? I see.”
He quickly grasped that the North and South had united against the crisis of the “Shaka Hōkan Jin.” Although humanity wouldn’t face extinction even if he left it to its own devices now, I proceeded with the truth hidden, intending to use the people behind me as a fighting force.
“I’ve come to stop you, Master. As promised, I’ve prepared ‘Magic.'”
“‘Magic’? Ah… Lately, ‘Magic’ has been all the rage everywhere. …But what’s magical about that? It’s certainly superior to my ‘Curse Technique.’ However, its essence is exactly the same. Tiara, don’t make me say it again…! There’s nothing in this world that’s so convenient! It’s all just ‘Curse’! Don’t try to disguise it!!”
“No! There really is ‘Magic’ that can bring happiness to everyone! Please believe in that too, Master!”
“Believe…? What good will believing do?! Do you expect me to be fooled again? Haha!”
As expected, it wasn’t easy to get Master, who had fallen into suspicion, to be reasonable. However, this was my crucial moment. I had coughed up blood and written down countless conversations for this very moment.
“If! If you believe me! Then with my ‘Magic,’ Hidaki Sister will come back!!”
“Hidaki is coming back…? H, haha… You too…! You’re using my sister to trick me too!? Tiara!!”
Master’s fighting spirit and murderous intent began to swell. The scent of death swirled only around me. The gazes from the “rift” behind me had been unbearable. They likely judged this to be their opportunity to finally kill me after I had spent so long fleeing from “Curse.” They interpreted all my persuasion in the worst possible way, escalating the situation endlessly.
“I came this far using ‘Curse’… I can be said to be “Curse” itself now! All that’s left is to disappear as that ‘Curse’! What I’m cursing now is the ‘World’!! I can’t forgive this ‘World,’ I just can’t forgive it! TIARAAAAA!!”
Master stood up, raising his monstrous arm. The tips of his thick, monster-like claws were pointed at me.
—The persuasion had failed.
But this was also according to plan. Master was determined to destroy the “World,” but he was no match for me. I now possessed the conviction that I was superior to the “World.” I continued the play according to that confidence and the script I had prepared.
“…Hmph, Master! My apologies, everyone! Please proceed with the pre-arranged plan! Master’s cooperation is indispensable in stopping this ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’!!”
While calling out to the heroes behind me and employing “Deception,” the final battle began. It was a deeply moving page where “The Northern Alliance” and “The Southern Alliance” — no, “Person” and “Demon” joined forces to save the world, fighting against a common enemy, the “Foreigner” Aikawa Uzunami. However, there wasn’t much excitement as the course of events here was largely predetermined.
“—After some bickering, the fantastic battle began. It was simultaneously a battle to the death and a competition of simulated ‘Curse Technique’ and ‘Magic.’ With a wave of the hand, the sky tore apart, and with a stomp of the foot, the earth cracked in a nonsensical contest. The victor of this final struggle was—”
During the battle, I succeeded in inserting my “Phantom Purple Arm” into Hidaki, whom Master was holding. Then, pulling out her magic stone, I shouted:
“—Master! It’s alright now! Hidaki Sister is alive! You don’t have to fight anymore!!”
“—Tiara Fuziaze’s ‘Magic’ gave birth to the hope that Aikawa Hidaki was alive. However, Aikawa Uzunami refused to believe those words. He rampaged with ‘Curse Technique’ as he pleased, but as he heeded Tiara’s persuasion, the magic within him subsided. In the end, he finally sank to his knees. Like a child, Aikawa Uzunami burst into tears. —The battle ended with Tiara Fuziaze’s victory. The world’s enemy was defeated by the most kindhearted subjugation method in the world.”
Following the predetermined conclusion. After that, Master and I cooperated to completely stop the “Shaka Hōkan Jin.” By then, all “Thief of Principles,” except for Arti, had been swallowed by the earth. A large cavity had formed where the center of the “Shaka Hōkan Jin” had been. Looking up at the sky, all the dark clouds that had covered the continent had vanished, revealing a clear, beautiful blue sky. By activating the “Shaka Hōkan Jin” in its proper procedure, not in a rampage, a temporary continental-scale cycle had been achieved.
The world had regained its blue sky. Even if the land was distorted, many buildings were destroyed, the number of living creatures decreased, and the fate of dark clouds gathering again someday remained, we had certainly attained peace. And the “Spell Formation” I had added to the “Shaka Hōkan Jin” had greatly altered the nature of this continent. —The nature of Fania’s land had expanded to the ends of the world.
After the “Shaka Hōkan Jin” was stopped, the survivors of “The Northern Alliance” and “The Southern Alliance,” upon seeing the blue sky, hesitantly proposed reconciliation to each other. The day Master and I reconciled was also the day the “Border War” came to an end. Of course, it wasn’t as if all the battles that had occurred in various places stopped immediately from that day forward. Master and I traveled to different regions, healing people as we had on our past journey, and using the teachings of “Revannism” to advocate for world peace.
The “Border War” had pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. However, led by the “Saint” Tiara, the North and South joining hands averted this fate — the story progressed according to my prepared script.
Yes. It was all according to my script. The “Shaka Hōkan Jin” and “Revannism” were for “Magic,” not for peace, but not a single person realized it. And precisely because it was according to my script, I knew that I would also reunite with him during the aftermath of this war.
Several months after the “Border War” ended, the surviving Apostle Legacy returns to the Fuziaze Castle, which is on the verge of collapse. He is greeted by Tiara Fuziaze, alone.
The timing of his return strongly suggests that he had evacuated outside of “Shaka Hōkan Jin” during the war.
I went to meet Legacy before anyone else.
And at the entrance beyond the castle gates (though the ceiling is gone due to the earth’s distortion), I catch him with a smile.
“–Hee hee. So you managed to survive too.”
It had been six years since we parted ways in that Other World.
Yet, we exchanged casual greetings like old friends who had seen each other only yesterday.
“…Yeah. My access to information is far superior to everyone else’s, in both quality and quantity. It would be strange if I didn’t survive.”
“Right? It was unfair to be talking with the Master alone… So, did that self-discovery thing you were doing finally end?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’m here because it’s all over.”
Legacy answered immediately, his gaze flicking to the rear.
In the direction of his gaze, slightly apart, I spotted a familiar face.
It was Romis Neisha, the former lord of Fanian.
Once a tonsured, lavish priest, he now wore traveler’s attire with his curly hair cut short.
He watched our conversation with wary eyes.
The man rumored to have controlled “The One Who Steals the Logic of Fire,” manipulated “The one who steals the logic of darkness,” pushed “Thief of the Principles of Dimensions” and me to the brink, and yet survived even after facing “Thief of the Law of Blood.” He had also overcome the current “Shaka Hōkan Jin.”
From his position, it was clear that he had been traveling – “adventuring” – with Legacy until today.
I thought it was a rather unexpected combination, but it was one of the deductions I had written down, so I calmly smiled at Romis and finished my greeting.
Seeing my composure, Legacy continued the conversation, looking just as wary as Romis.
“It seems you’ve finished your self-discovery too… Tiara, you’ve truly changed. …You’ve become more mature than anyone.”
I haven’t changed my way of speaking or my demeanor at all.
My appearance is still that of a girl, and I’m said to look young, which is popular among the maids, yet I was called mature again.
To confirm the meaning of that, I connected it to the topic from six years ago.
“Hey, Legacy. Am I taking things seriously now?”
“Yeah, you probably are. That’s why you’re starting to resemble Hidaki.”
Legacy nodded deeply.
Receiving the highest praise from the person who had once blamed me, I smiled more.
“Really? …I’m incredibly happy. Extremely happy.”
However, Legacy’s expression before me was far from a smile.
His bitter face seemed to say, “This is not according to plan,” or “That’s wrong,” but I didn’t mind, and proceeded with the conversation I couldn’t have six years ago.
“It’s so nostalgic… That day, in that Other World, we learned of Hidaki Sister’s power and were helpless. But we’ve finally found our answers. So, now we just need to—”
“That’s right. It’s time for the reveal.”
“Hee hee, exactly! The reveal!! We have Master here, so let’s do it together, the three of us. …Ah, but don’t interrupt my answers like before, okay? That’s really not good.”
“I won’t interrupt anymore. I will listen quietly to everything, including Kanami’s Older Brother’s answer.”
Thus, Apostle Legacy rejoined Fuziaze.
At the same time, the post-war cleanup of the “Border War” was mostly complete, giving me and Master ample time. We gathered at the ruins of the former research tower to discuss “what’s next.”
Legacy, who had reconciled with Master, was also present. However, wary of my newfound maturity, he stood behind the good-natured Master.
First, I explained the “Phantom Purple Arm” and the soul to the two of them.
Upon hearing this, Master, though on the verge of his body becoming monstrous, had the brightest smile he’d had in years and was delighted.
“–In other words, you succeeded in extracting the ‘soul’…? And you’re saying this Magic Stone is Hidaki, is that right?”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s why Hidaki Sister isn’t dead yet. She’s alive.”
Feeling the pulsation of the Magic Stone of “Thief of the Principles of Water” in my hand, the rest of the story unfolded along the predetermined path.
Unfortunately, however, Master was completely controlled by Hidaki Sister’s white “Threads”–
“–What comes next is even more important. We can’t afford to fail again. The ‘next time,’ we will revive Hidaki.”
We turned to the page that read, “Start of the revival of Aikawa Hidaki.”
I didn’t stop him.
However, I also had him propose the future that I had written down. Pretending to know nothing, I drew out the plan from Master’s hopeful, bright expression.
“–Fufu, so it’s finally time to restart that plan…!”
“Hmm? That plan?”
“Have you forgotten? We talked about it quite a while ago. –The ‘Labyrinth’.”
It was an idea neither I nor Hidaki Sister had, a new move added to a thousand-year board.
This first move was the beginning of what could be called “Hermina’s ‘Seven-Stage Thousand-Year Plan’,” or rather, the “Six-Stage Thousand-Year Plan.”
Master’s plan continued.
When I told him that the magic power gathered during “Shaka Hōkan Jin” was stored in the “Deepest Part” deep underground, the final goal of the plan was naturally decided.
“–Don’t worry. I will move Hidaki’s body. I will take her to the ‘Deepest Part’ of the world–”
I inwardly chuckled, knowing this would be an important piece of foreshadowing.
Without this second move, I could never become “equal” with Hidaki Sister, nor could my “Magic” be established.
Yet, while there were pages that I could skillfully add, there were others that I couldn’t quite get rid of. Master, removing his mask, continued to speak joyfully.
“New skills are also fully prepared. They are powerful because they are created by directly connecting to two Magic Stones. We haven’t decided on a name yet, though.”
Skills are almost synonymous with Hidaki Sister.
I intended to interfere with Master as much as possible and tamper with the skills, but… as long as Hidaki Sister’s soul was to be placed in Master’s body, all the skills would immediately become her pawns. All I could do now was to hinder their completion as much as possible.
“–Hey, Kanami’s Older Brother. Is this really ‘the end’?”
At this point, sensing the end of the conversation, Legacy joined in.
“Yeah, this is the end. We were able to come this far thanks to you too. Thank you, Legacy.”
“‘The end’…”
Hearing our answers, Legacy seemed dissatisfied.
And so, the conversation for the day ended for a moment.
However, it soon continued in the same place, with only Master left out.
“–Legacy. Of course, this is not ‘the end.’ This is just a ‘redo.’ In a thousand years, we will have to start the same game on the same board.”
The “reveal” was not yet over.
We confirmed the truth of a thousand years from now.
“…Are you saying that something like this ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin’ will happen again in a thousand years?”
“That’s right. I think this is good news for you too, Legacy.”
I showed him one of the futures I had written down in my mind.
“I intend to revive three Apostles in a thousand years to stop Sister Hidaki. If you want to grant your wish, wouldn’t it be better to work together with those three and try again?”
“…That’s not happening. Honestly, I don’t care about the World anymore. Apostles and Foreigners mean nothing to me. What’s important is the feelings of people, I’ve realized that.”
However, she was immediately denied. He then went on to show her the answer he had found in his life as an Apostle until today.
“It’s not that the World exists because of people, but that people exist because of the World. What matters most is the sight of people living their lives to the fullest. Only when each individual life exists can the World truly be the World.”
It was an answer that was more human than anyone else… and the least like an Apostle.
“Hmm? Then does that mean Legacy will abandon its mission and protect people?”
“No, people are not meant to be protected by others. I believe there’s meaning in each person living their life to the fullest. …And I am no exception.”
Unlike Sister Sis, Legacy took pride in not being special. This formed the core of his words, expressing a genuine wish that wasn’t borrowed.
“If I can have a do-over, this time I will survive… I am not at my end by any means.”
The Apostle, who was born as a contingency, was no longer empty. He continued to express emotions that were profoundly human.
“As I’ve said before, I’ve always been jealous of you. Seeing you go on adventures with Kanami’s older brother, I truly envied how much fun you seemed to be having… If I can have a do-over, I want to live a life like yours.”
A life like mine. That meant adventuring with Master, helping people together, and even fighting each other to the death… she wanted to play together.
She could sympathize with Legacy’s answer from beginning to end. While thinking that they still had many similarities, she confirmed it and asked.
“Legacy, even if the enjoyment you get from seeing various places is a function given to you by Master?”
“…Yes. Even so, I believe this is my true wish.”
“Even if the conclusion you’ve reached is a result of being guided by Sister Hidaki?”
“I know. Right now, I suppose I’m being pulled by those Threads… And furthermore, you’ll be using me from now on too, won’t you?”
The intelligent Legacy perfectly understood the meaning of a do-over in a thousand years. However, even if he became a pawn in the duel between her and Sister Hidaki… he gave the answer, “It doesn’t matter. Whether I’m used or not, nothing about what’s important to me changes.”
This was tantamount to admitting defeat before the duel even began. But he smiled and prioritized only his wish.
“…Life isn’t just about winning or losing. There are things that can be achieved by losing too.”
This was the moment Legacy’s path was set: “To believe only in what I find enjoyable and live to the fullest until the end.”
He was not her ally, nor was he Sister Hidaki’s ally. He even abandoned being Master’s ally, selfishly pursuing only his own enjoyment. This way of life, depending on the situation, could make him an enemy of everyone.
“…Hmm, I see. So, that’s the result, is it?”
She nodded without denying it and turned her eyes to a man standing in a corner of Legacy’s room. It was Romis Neisha, who had been guarding Legacy as if to protect him since arriving at Fuziaze.
“He also agrees with my current way of thinking. The kind of person who thinks ‘as long as I’m happy.’ …That’s why, I’m teaming up with Romis for the thousand-year mark.”
Legacy openly revealed his hand to her. He then went on to explain the hidden mechanisms of an Apostle.
“I will likely cease to function due to my lifespan. But I will surely be revived a thousand years later when the World is in crisis again… I’m having his bloodline prepare my next reincarnation destination.”
The reason for sharing this information with her was probably because she had judged his earlier statement about “reviving three Apostles” to be credible. He was willing to be used in order to increase the probability of his reincarnation being successful.
“From now on, Romis will also be created within the Legacy family. We’ve already completed that kind of Contract.”
“Whaaaaat… you already made a deal? With him?”
It seemed Legacy had imitated Sister Sis’s actions in making Contracts with Foreigners. Honestly, even with Legacy as he was now, compared to that Romis, he felt inferior in terms of deception. She worried a little if he had been tricked into signing a strange Contract.
“It’s not what you think. He asked for ‘one more chance,’ in exchange for me becoming his Saint. That’s all.”
“One chance…? If that’s true, that’s very humble.”
She stared intently at Romis, who remained silent. Indeed, he was different from the last time they met. It wasn’t just because Teeda’s Curse had been lifted. It was highly likely that his desires had changed as he repeatedly gained and lost things. Unlike Legacy, she judged that she couldn’t go easy on this man, and so she used her skills to read the ‘one chance’ that Romis sought.
“—At this moment, multiple desires swirled in Romis Legacy’s heart. Not just to regain his past glory. He had something he desperately wanted to tell his friend Teeda Runs upon reuniting. Of course, his resentment towards Aikawa Uzunami, wanting revenge, continued to swell. It was for all those opportunities that he made the Contract with Apostle Legacy—”
As she read this, her eyes met Romis’. Perhaps it was a strange sense of kinship, but she felt as though he sensed she was reading his mind with her skills. This man possessed an observational ability that rivaled her skills.
“…Legacy-sama, that woman is not an ally. It would be best to stop this.”
Romis urged Legacy to leave, averting his gaze. Legacy obediently listened to his companion’s advice and walked towards the door, leaving behind parting words.
“Tiara. In my thousand-year do-over, I will definitely meet Kanami’s older brother… Absolutely.”
Romis and Legacy left the room together. She remained alone in the room. Although the conversation was cut short because of Romis, she had already obtained more than enough information. Using the skills ‘Reading’ and ‘Writing,’ she could guide Legacy’s actions. No, she wouldn’t even need to guide him; he would certainly act on his own. She immediately used the blood flowing from the wound on her palm to scribe that future onto the castle wall.
“—Apostle Legacy, who has found the answer to his life, aims to fail in inheriting Aikawa Uzunami’s memories and power for his thousand-year do-over, so he can enjoy it to the fullest. Then, just before the Labyrinth’s completion, when Aikawa Uzunami was about to remove his Magic Stone to transfer his Body— he betrayed that trust and skillfully stabbed him in the back. The timing was perfect. However, the result was mutual destruction. Legacy was swallowed by the Labyrinth and disappeared. Then, as Aikawa Uzunami’s Body melted away— on the first floor of the Labyrinth, Tiara Fuziaze appeared.”
