Depths of the Otherworldly Labyrinth (WN) – Chapter 396

I’m in my room on the “Living Legend,” penning away with my quill.

By chance, I’ve found myself in the exact same situation as a year ago.
While on my way to the “Mainland,” I’m writing Rustiara Fuziaze’s autobiography with spare paper and ink on the ship.
I’m recording the battle surrounding Tiara’s “Rebirth” in Fuziaze, and the wonderful conclusion that awaited us at its end.
The synopsis is almost identical to last year’s, but the ending following the kiss is different.

After the kiss at the Eleventh Crossroads, Kanami and I were finally united.

Kanami chose me, after cleanly separating from Tiara.
I heard from Tiara herself that, “There’s no need to switch.”
With that, I no longer have any “regrets.”

Furthermore, as if in celebration, I inherited Tiara’s power, resolving my lack in abilities. Through the magic of “Rebirth,” my “aptitude” has risen as if I’ve obtained a Guardian’s magic stone. Even with just a casual labyrinth date with Kanami, including the evolution of skills like “Blood Technique,” I felt a hint of my new power.

With this, I should be able to stand beside Maria-chan with confidence.
At the very least, I won’t regret losing a battle and thinking, “I wish I had switched with Tiara back then.”

Everything ended smoothly.
The story reached a happy ending, and all that should remain is to spin a gentle epilogue—

“Kanami’s sister, huh…”

A thin film of unease stuck to my mind.

It was a “doubt” that had continued since last year.
Instead of “regret,” this “doubt” had only deepened.

When Tiara disappeared, I picked up fragments of memories from a thousand years ago due to “Affinity.”
Though I saw deeper into Tiara’s memories than when Idol cast healing magic on me a year ago—there was the figure of Kanami’s sister, whom I had never seen before.

“Her name is Aikawa Hidaki.
A thousand years ago, Saint Tiara, while calling Uzunami her master, adored and called Hidaki her older sister. While developing “Curse Technique” with Uzunami, she also learned many skills from Hidaki in parallel.
Saint Tiara learned how to fight and survive from a sickly girl.
This knowledge became the foundation for her magic, leading to their reunion in the white garden in the New Calendar year 0—”

It was truly fragmentary, but it was enough of a scene to shock me.

“Aikawa Hidaki-chan… The ‘Foreigner’ who was called before Kanami, and the ‘Curse Technique’ user who continued to go beyond Tiara. The girl who was truly at the very beginning of everything…”

I spoke, lining up the information.
And then, I thought strongly.
Kanami’s sister is strange.
Even while bedridden, she continued to surpass both Kanami and Tiara…?
If that were true, then titles like “Ancestor” and “Saint” would be nothing but a farce.

I opened the autobiography I was writing and quickly flipped through the pages.
I reread the part about the “doubt” I felt when we kissed in the labyrinth a year ago.
There, the sentence, “Kanami is continuously being adjusted by someone,” was clearly written.

“That feeling of unease back then…”

To be honest, I can only believe that the constant adjustments Kanami feels are due to his sister.
On top of that, there’s a possibility that Kanami’s adjustments haven’t been lifted yet.

The film of unease clung to me.
Even that happy ending might be a completely adjusted “creation,” something that could be overturned at any moment.
As my body trembled at the possibility, I noticed a faintly swaying red line.

“… ‘Threads’.”

The “Red String of Fate” connecting Kanami and me was still swaying.
Having inherited Tiara’s power, I now understood that this was a part of the “Prophecy.”

However, I still haven’t fully understood “Blood Technique.”
I only have a general grasp that it’s a “Curse Technique” that connects the Fuziaze bloodline with the “Foreigner” Kanami. It was a little disappointing that it wasn’t a “Red String of Fate” like in romance novels, but I felt reassured by the lingering presence of Tiara.

Tiara is watching over me.
If so, no matter how high the wall that awaits, I’m sure I can overcome it.

“I have everyone, and Mother is with me…! Yes, it’s okay. Besides, it might all be a杞憂…!”

Believing this, I finished writing this journal.
Then, looking at the rather large stack of paper, I stood up.

“Alright. That completes Chapter 4. For now, I want to start binding it, but I wonder if that’s possible…?”

My love for books had led me to the point of making my own book, and I felt a strange sense of emotion.
Once this is complete, I thought about offering it at the grave of my long-lost book-loving friend, and rummaged through my room. However, just like a year ago, there was nothing useful.
Resignedly, I left my room, intending to rely on Kanami’s “Inventory” and my friend Ragune-chan’s belongings.

And then, as I walked down the dimly lit corridor of the ship swaying with the waves—I felt his gaze from behind.
I instinctively turned around.

“……”

But there was no one there.
Only the dim darkness, like ink spilled on a painting of a corridor, spread out.
There was nothing more.
Not even a trace of magic, let alone a person.

“… Was it my imagination?”

I muttered, and turned my body forward.
Holding the journal I had just finished, I walked down the dark corridor of the ship.
The last page of that stack of paper was blank, marked as the final chapter.

— I would only learn the true meaning of that gaze in this final chapter.

After leaving the Allied Nations, we returned to the “Mainland” by ship and headed for the Great Holy Capital Fuziaze, the world’s largest city.
There, we reunited with our last companions, Maria-chan and the others, in the underground city.

Then, using this as our base, we enlisted the cooperation of Apostle Diplakla, a sage from a thousand years ago, to reach the “Deepest Part” of the labyrinth and awaken his sister… However, in the Great Holy Capital, two guardians awaited us: Nosfy, the “Thief of the Principles of Light,” and Fafnir, the “Thief of the Law of Blood.”

But that was fine.
Whether it was good or bad, I’m convinced that the appearance of the two was a good thing. If you’ve ever interacted with other “Thieves of Principles,” you’d know immediately. “Thieves of Principles” are dangerous, but they are certainly not enemies.

Kanami understood this too.
Nosfy inflicted an “incurable wound” on Ragune-chan’s cheek, and out of necessity, Kanami used “Past Sight”—and finally, he admitted that there wasn’t a single enemy in this Great Holy Capital, and a plan was devised to conquer Fuziaze Castle to fulfill Nosfy’s “Lingering Desire.”

However, before the plan could be executed, Kanami and I found ourselves alone.
On the balcony of a mansion in the Great Holy Capital’s underground city, Kanami revealed the flaw in his dimensional magic—a rule I felt I’d heard somewhere before.

“—Rustiara, ‘Future Sight’ isn’t absolute. Basically, all power depends on the person using it.”

Although I had declared the plan’s certain victory with “Future Sight” to our companions, it seems the battle with Nosfy is not something to be taken lightly. Kanami spoke in advance about the scenario if the persuasion failed.

“It’s possible I might fail to persuade Nosfy. But even so, I will keep apologizing. Even if I’m killed, I won’t fight Nosfy.”

I was glad he told me this worst-case scenario without hiding it.

“Even if I die, I want to continue ‘talking’ as family.”
“Even if you die, huh…”

However, as his ‘lover,’ I feigned a displeased reaction.
I want to live happily ever after. Therefore, words like “even if I die” were utterly unacceptable—or so they should have been, but the solution was already within me.

“Rustiara, I beg you. Otherwise, Nosfy will never be reached. Even if that moment comes, Rustiara will have to work with everyone—”
“Okay.”

I nodded, confident in my own “crush.” Furthermore, I explained the solution.

“But in that event, I think I’ll follow Kanami too. I don’t want to fight Nosfy either. If that’s alright with you, then it’s okay.”
“……!”

While I softly expressed it as “following,” it meant dying with him.
Kanami gasped as the full meaning of my words sank in.

“Ever since Mother entrusted everything to me, I decided I would always be with Kanami… So, no matter what the end may be, I will never let Kanami go again.”

My “ideal” is to live happily ever after, but I don’t have a concrete plan for the future. Rather, I don’t care what kind of future it is, as long as I’m with Kanami.

Whether it’s the ending of a heroic tale of boys and girls that Mr. Hein loves, the ending of a romance novel that Sera-chan adores, the strange book brought by Palinkron, or a tragic love story like the one Ragune-chan picked up, I was confident that I would be happy as long as I was with Kanami.

“—I love Kanami even if he dies.”
Finally, I too was able to voice the “crush” that was second to none.

It was the confidence I gained from fullyclashing with and overcoming Dias and the others, whose “crushes” had been amplified by magic in the underground city of this Great Holy Capital.
Thinking about it, I should thank Nosfy for that. I glared at Kanami, insisting I would definitely accompany him for the persuasion, but he easily replied.

“…Me too. I will never let you go. Even if I die.”

Kanami repeated it casually, as if to say, “Naturally.”
Though I was slightly dissatisfied, as if he were saying I was still too immature, I was genuinely happy.

“That’s good… Then we can rest assured. Shall we go together to get Nosfy’s attention?”
“Thank you, Rustiara. With this, I can reach out to Nosfy with all my might.”

The secret talk before the operation ended quickly.
However, we both realized we were exchanging embarrassing lines, and our faces gradually turned red. But unlike before, I wasn’t confused or filled with strange anxiety. My happiness simply grew.

And so, with a very peaceful time, the date changed—and the fated day arrived.
That fated day was “the day Kanami would be killed” and “the day Kanami would be resurrected.”

The Fuziaze Castle conquest operation commenced.
We stormed Fuziaze Castle, clearing our path to Nosfy, who awaited us on the upper floors. Leading the way were Kanami and I, hand in hand.
As per the “Future Sight,” the operation proceeded very smoothly, and we successfully reached the 45th Floor of Fuziaze Castle.

Kanami and I attempted persuasion, but Nosfy chose hatred instead—

“—Fuh, fufufu, fufufufu… Fufuh—fufufu, fufufufu! Ah, hahahaHAHA—!”

Midway through the “talks,” the worst weapon, “Hermina’s Heart,” was wielded.
Fortunately, I was the one stabbed, not Kanami.
Nosfy, having stabbed me, spat curses as if squeezing them out.

“—I was actually planning to use this ‘Stolen Principle’ of Hermina’s on Uzunami, but this isn’t bad either…! It will be settled! Yes, this will settle it!!”

A heat, like holding lava in my abdomen, ignited, and I collapsed.
I pressed my hand to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding, but I knew it wouldn’t last long.
In my fading consciousness, I confirmed that the situation was unfolding in the worst possible, yet planned, manner.

Kanami laid me, mortally wounded, on the floor and faced Nosfy.

“—Nosfy. It’s possible you might be the only one left alive here… If that happens, I’m truly sorry…”
“Only… me? What are you—”

I announced that I wouldn’t give up persuading Nosfy, even if it meant dying.
I wanted to watch Kanami’s actions from the best seat. However, my consciousness was hazy, making it difficult to even catch the conversation. An abnormal pain coursed through my entire body, stripping away all composure.
Everything had gone according to plan until now, yet this pain surpassed the worst possible outcome.

“Guh, ugh…!”

Something is slightly off.
Even so, my toughness is the best on the continent, and I have resistance to pain.
Even when I was seriously injured in the “Dance Battle Tournament” against Kanami, I was able to use magic without a problem.

Yet now, I can barely sense my five senses, let alone gather magic power.
My limbs were numb and unmoving; my blood felt as if it had stopped flowing, and I lost all sensation.
My vision was distorted as if underwater, and a deafening ringing echoed.
My five senses gradually vanished—

I felt a gaze again.
Somehow, I managed to lift my head and looked around with my distorted vision.

A crack, like a rift in empty space, floated nearby.

I recognized it.
It was from when Idol cast healing magic on me a year ago.
In Tiara’s memories, there was the same ‘rift.’ Just like me now, she had faced that ‘rift’ while being stabbed in the abdomen by a blade of blood and fading away.

I met the ‘rift’s’ gaze.
And then, I understood what this gaze had been seeking all along. Or rather, I picked it up from Tiara’s past memories.

“—Chased by the ‘rift,’ Tiara Fuziaze realizes the true nature of Kanami, the ‘Thief of the Principles of Dimensions,’ and his ‘Curse.’
What the ‘World’ is currently collecting as ‘Price’ is my life. The fine conditions have also become clear. What is demanded is the ‘death’ of Kanami’s ‘The One and Only Destined Person’—”

Once the memories began to surface, they poured out like a spring.
In the special circumstance of being on the verge of death, just like when I received Idol’s healing magic, all the magic applied to my body dissolved.

“—Therefore, I created it.
A ‘new me’ to die in place of this Tiara Fuziaze.
Her name is ‘Rustiara Fuziaze.’
It was ‘me’ who was supposed to die in place of ‘Hidaki Sister.’
And it is this ‘Rustiara Fuziaze’ who will die in my place.
Master’s ‘Curse’ will be paid a thousand years later, so rest assured.
Absolutely, certainly, no matter what, it will be so.
Hidaki Sister and I will cooperate and guide it—”

I learned the meaning of my own birth.
And the true role of the “Red String of Fate.”
Why I could glimpse Tiara’s memories with the “Thief of the Laws of Wood” Idol’s healing magic.
Why those memories were overwritten when Tiara formed “Affinity.”
And the identity of the gaze I had always felt from behind since becoming lovers with Kanami.

I understood that it was all for the purpose of offering myself as the “Price” to the ‘rift’ I now saw—

“Ah, ahh…, I see…”

The “doubt” began to clear.
At the same time, a voice in the depths of my heart said, “Ah, just as I thought.” I had vaguely realized it since receiving healing magic from Idol.
Amidst the bone-grinding ringing in my ears, only my own voice was clear.

“Then… will the ‘World’ decide…?”

I looked at the ‘rift’ and called it “you” with gratitude, gentleness, and affection.

At that moment, I felt as if the “World’s” confusion increased.
Could it be that it couldn’t believe I was thanking the one about to take my life?

However, for me, it was not at all strange.
After all, the anxiety I had carried since my birth was about to disappear.

Frankly speaking, Kanami and I are not normal in birth and upbringing to be reassured by just that confession at the Eleventh Crossroads.
As a “creation” that had been adjusted, neither Kanami nor I could completely dispel the anxiety of our happy ending being overturned at any moment.

Therefore, we had always wished for someone to guarantee that this love was “real.”
We wanted to prove, somehow, that the “crush” we had gained by staking our lives was not a “creation.”

And now, the World itself was about to decide who Kanami’s “The One and Only Destined Person” would be. It seemed to intend to watch over the two who would continue to love each other, to make the “Price” valid. It would watch over us, both in life and after death.
As an unchangeable principle, it would prove that we were “real.”
Rather, I thought of this as my “Ideal”—

“—Ah, how suspicious.”

The childhood friend, the knight girl Ragune Kaikuola, spat out a bloody curse.
Ragune-chan’s voice alone, even during the time when only my own voice resonated, sounded clear.

“If you’re going to die, then die. You piece of human trash—”

I, the one involved in the “Curse,” understood the reason.
Now, this Ragune-chan had thwarted Kanami, the “Thief of the Principles of Dimensions’,” “demands for compensation,” invalidating the “Price.” The “death” that had been tormenting me receded, and I was freed from the World’s isolation.

My ragged breathing steadied, and the paralysis in my limbs eased.
My distorted vision and the deadly ringing in my ears also lessened.

And then, a gentle light emanated from my abdomen, the source of all my pain. By the time I realized it was healing magic, not only the wound but all discomfort in my body had vanished like mist.

I regain consciousness.
Opening my eyelids, I felt a core in my swaying limbs and slowly stood up.
Suddenly, Nosfy, sobbing uncontrollably, leaped into my chest.

“Rustiara…! Ah, Rustiara, you’re alright…!!”

With a voice filled with heartfelt worry and accompanied by healing magic, Nosfy wept. There was no trace of the dignity she had as the “Thief of the Principles of Light” just a moment ago.
She was simply an older sister worried about her younger sibling.

Seeing Nosfy’s fighting spirit vanish, I began to grasp the situation.
The persuasion must have succeeded. That is why she could “talk” with us as family, not as enemies.
However, the figure of Kanami, who must have accomplished it—

I looked around.
The beautifully arranged hall on the 45th floor of Fuziaze Castle had been destroyed by light-based magic attacks.
And amidst the scattered furniture fragments and rubble, I found a large pool of blood. Atop that red pool lay a pair of human limbs, which I recognized.

“Rustiara… Father… is… already…”

Before my sister could explain with a tremble, I realized they were Kanami’s severed limbs.
And also, that the one who wielded the “Curse” had died first, before the “Price” of Rustiara Fuziaze dying could be fulfilled.
That is why I am alive now.

—Kanami died.

However, my heart was surprisingly calm.

There were three reasons.
The “Red String of Fate” extending from my fingers.
The “rift” floating behind me.
And the “flow-like something” swirling in the room we were in.

Perhaps due to the near-death experience, my five senses were now abnormally sharp.
I felt each of the three things possessing a will, intently watching our movements.
And this situation lent credence to the fragments of memory I had just picked up.

“Absolutely, certainly, no matter what, it will be so.
Hidaki Sister and I will cooperate and guide it—”

It was more than enough for me to judge that nothing was over yet.