I am not alone in reading the next page.
“Knowing now is meaningless. There’s nothing you can do about it anymore, Older Brother.”
Hidaki answered before I could even hear the content.
With that, I ask.
“Where did Father and Mother go? I had childhood friends too. Why did Minagi-chan end up like that…? And why did I have a ‘curse’ from the very beginning?”
“…Still, you intend to ask?”
Hidaki used the word “still.”
This meant that I had repeated the same question over and over again.
“Yes, I will ask. …I think it’s something I have to ask again and again.”
And that means Hidaki has never answered.
From my interactions with Tiara a thousand years ago, I knew Hidaki had a personality that liked to teach. If she is thoroughly hiding something, the answer to this question must be equivalent to “Rustiara’s death.”
Unless I uncover it myself, I will never hear it from Hidaki’s lips.
So, I try to approach her, maintaining 《Distance Mute》, even if I have to force it.
“—《Default》.”
However, Hidaki activated a dimensional magic that manipulated distance, pushing me away as I tried to approach her.
I immediately used the same magic.
“—Magic 《Default》.”
I poured magic power, attempting to push through the enemy’s 《Default》 with my own magic.
This was once a clash between “Thief of the Principles of Dimensions” and “Thief of the Principles of Water”—but that’s no longer accurate. Now, our battles are akin to the collision of two “Worlds” themselves.
Though it was a clash of basic spells, the space between me and Hidaki warped, and the concept of distance went awry.
What felt like a few steps away felt as distant as the horizon.
As magic power collided in the small room, the space twisted like swirling water. And just as I thought the room was about to tear apart, a third party intervened.
A boy appeared from the stairs behind Hidaki and swung his sword down simultaneously.
However, his blade never reached her. Ice pillars rose from the frost spreading at her feet, blocking it.
“—Ah!”
The boy who appeared, Rainer, was injured.
Not from cuts or bruises. But almost all of his clothes were frozen, and his entire body was covered in frostbite. The ice on his right side was particularly severe, with his right eye closed. His arms showed no signs of movement, and he couldn’t wield his proud twin swords. I suspect he managed to avoid the direct impact of all of Hidaki’s attacks and ended up in this state.
“I’m sorry, Christ!”
Rainer shouted, jumping back to avoid the ice pillars.
His apology was probably for buying time but also for letting Hidaki through to the room so easily.
Hidaki glanced back and sighed.
“…Haa. Rainer-kun, it’s no use no matter how many surprise attacks you repeat.”
“Whether it’s useless or not is for me to decide!”
“Indeed, it is. However, I’ve grown tired of you constantly fleeing and reappearing.”
Rainer, with half his body frozen, continued to burn with a fiery killing intent.
From his demeanor, it was clear Rainer wasn’t just buying time but also hoping to take down Hidaki on his own.
He always reached for results beyond the given orders.
As the straightforward boy glared at Hidaki, he continued the conversation from earlier.
“…Christ, did you get an answer?”
This was a continuation of the question, “What will you do about Aikwa Hidaki?”
It’s difficult to express the answer in a single word.
I cannot forgive Hidaki for taking Rustiara’s life.
Even now, hostility overflows from the bottom of my stomach—but I also know, in the back of my mind, that this is exactly what the other unseen enemy, Tiara, is aiming for.
Surely, the persistent “Past Sight” earlier was a performance designed to make me hate Hidaki enough to kill her. Tiara is manipulating the falsehood of “Red String of Fate” and trying to pit me, her pawn, against Hidaki.
That’s why I spat out the word “suspicious,” the same word she used, earlier.
—But Rustiara said.
To trust her mother.
To believe that “Red String of Fate” exists, and then to overcome it.
She even added, “I want to help Hitaki-chan.”
Believing in an ending like a story—
In the end, I couldn’t find any “lingering desire” in the “Thief of the Principles of Water.” I don’t even know how to defeat her, let alone how to help her.
However, Rustiara believed until her death, and continues to believe even after her death…
That Aikwa Uzunami can defeat Aikwa Hidaki…
I want to rush towards that conclusion.
“…I will win against Hidaki.”
So, I answered with the single word “win,” not “stop.”
However, that moderate expression seemed dissatisfying to Rainer. He probably wanted me to clearly say “kill,” but if such an easy victory condition existed, Tiara would have won a thousand years ago.
“Rainer, Hidaki will still move even if you cut off her head. But don’t think that just killing her will return the world to normal. First, we need to incapacitate her and make her release the world’s freezing.”
Unlike me, a “Foreigner,” Rainer is fighting as someone living in this world.
I quickly inform him of his victory condition.
“Tch… So she’s not someone you can just chop and kill. But incapacitating this woman.”
Rainer didn’t deny my advice and swallowed it.
He looked bitter, but not particularly surprised. I suspect he had an inkling of this as he fought Hidaki.
“Yes, it won’t be easy. The current Hidaki is far above even the ‘Thief of Principles.’ …So, I’m asking you.”
To win against Hidaki, I make a request to Rainer, who is nearby.
At the same time, I call out to my companions who are even closer.
“Please lend me your strength. Everyone.”
Saying that, I place my right hand on my chest.
Next, I insert my arm, clad in 《Distance Mute》, into my body. I rummage through my insides, searching for something other than “Threads.”
I quickly found what I was looking for.
I grab the magic stone of the man who was once Primordial Kanami’s friend and pull it out.
A black jewel gleams in my palm.
As I suspected, Hidaki didn’t steal any guardian’s magic stones when she defeated me.
Of course, relying on this means I won’t escape her grasp… but I believe Rustiara’s words: “Believe in everyone’s ‘Magic’.”
“—Tida.”
I interfere with the magic stone, changing its shape. This is something I can do now that I’ve understood the mechanism of magic stones by seeing Tiara’s memories from a thousand years ago.
I turn the magic stone of Tida, the “Darkness Principle Thief,” into a mask.
I reproduce the craftsmanship of the past gift and pour all my current strength into the “Spell Formation” that I can add to its back.
A mask that hides in darkness, repelling all mental interference, is completed after a thousand years.
I put on Tida’s mask.
My vision is engulfed in complete darkness, but I believe there are things I can see clearly precisely because it is dark.
Now I understand the true intentions of the Boss Monster of Labyrinth’s 20th floor that I fought a thousand years later.
A thousand years ago, Tida desired much and repeatedly failed in his pursuit of becoming a knight.
That’s why, a thousand years later, he focused on only one thing. It was the one I resented, but… Tiara likely helped him with that. She alone realized Tida’s true desire, which even he himself couldn’t grasp, before anyone else.
“No, now… it’s the next step.”
I prioritize the battle over Tida’s memories.
I rummage through my body again with 《Distance Mute》 and then touch the magic stone of Rowen, the “Earthly Principle Thief.”
It was natural that “Aris Family’s Treasure Sword Rowen” wasn’t in my “Inventory.”
Rowen was inside me. I pulled out his magic stone from my body, returned its shape to “Aris Family’s Treasure Sword Rowen,” and held it in my right hand.
Next, I interfere with the magic stones of Aid, the “Wood Principle Thief,” and Titty, the “Wind Principle Thief,” but unlike the other two, I don’t take them out.
Due to the nature of that sibling pair’s magic power, it’s best to have them focus on support within my body, my home.
Using the overflowing wood and wind magic, I generate a magical garment. It’s a black coat woven with Tida’s dark magic, 《Mind’s Facade of Seclusion》, as a countermeasure against Hidaki’s “Threads.”
“—Fufu, a nostalgic outfit. It looks cool, Older Brother.”
At that moment, a disingenuous compliment reaches me from Hidaki.
But I too find it truly nostalgic.
My hair is long now due to my long stay in 《Winter Otherworld》. Combined with this black mask and black coat, it closely resembles “Primordial Kanami” from my memories.
Gazing at Hidaki, whom “Primordial Kanami” once tried to save, I turn my attention to the last magic stone within my body.
However, unlike everyone else, she has been helping me continuously without me even having to ask for help. Now, Nosfy, the “Light Principle Thief,” is my very body.
Thus, I have drawn out the powers of five “Thief of Principles.”
Ulti, the “Fire Principle Thief,” seems to still be inside Maria’s body. I don’t have the right to possess her, so I’ll fight with these five—and as I thought that, I remembered one more magic stone in my “Inventory.”
—It was a magic stone that sparkled like a “Mirror.”
Regrettably, her story also seems to continue.
As I recalled the face of Ragune, who once killed me, I carefully mixed the unique magic powers of the five “Thief of Principles.”
Being of the same kind as her, I was capable of doing so.
“—!”
I am clad in new magic power.
It is “Star Magic,” which appears black but actually sparkles with a multitude of colors in its depths.
Compared to Rustiara and Hidaki, who used the same “Star Magic,” this is far too forceful—but I don’t consider it a failed magic. This is also one aspect of the “Star” attribute.
And it seems the Hidaki before me agrees.
“‘Darkness Principle Thief,’ ‘Earthly Principle Thief,’ ‘Wood Principle Thief,’ ‘Wind Principle Thief,’ ‘Light Principle Thief.’ Though only half, you’ve made them your own. Learning from past failures—now, Older Brother, you are on the correct path, steadily approaching the ‘Star Principle Thief.’”
She sighed with deep emotion and continued her praise.
“Haa… It’s been a long time since that day. Older Brother, you’ve truly become strong. Your dense magic power feels like it’s warping the world.”
I respond to her condescending evaluation by pointing the tip of “Aris Family’s Treasure Sword Rowen” at her.
“Hidaki, I will never lose. I will win against you and get it back. The me before you became my ‘ideal’ Older Brother—”
“Such a thing never existed. The current you is the only ‘real’ one.”
Even with the powers of the five “Thief of Principles” and clad in “Star Magic,” Hidaki didn’t falter and laughed.
My reaction to her mocking smile was swift.
Because I had “future sight” and knew the outcome of the “talks,” I could focus solely on resolving it with 《Distance Mute》.
“—Magic 《Default》.”
“—《Default》.”
As I stepped forward again, I unleashed the same magic.
Hidaki responded in the same way as before.
However, the quantity and quality of magic power were completely different from before.
Consequently, the cubic room warped like a sponge being wrung by two hands. And, quite easily, the space began to tear.
The same “tears” that I always see began to appear everywhere in the room. However, unlike the “tears” I usually see, these were “ordinary dimensional tears” with nothing behind them.
The aftermath of the clash of 《Default》s did not stop and spread outside the room.
《Dimension》 captured the long stairs connecting the ground and underground twisting and intertwining like spaghetti. Furthermore, even the cathedral on the ground level began to change shape like spun sugar.
The cathedral grounds could no longer maintain normal physical laws.
For example, if you passed through the cathedral entrance, you would arrive at a drawbridge. Taking one step forward would send you a hundred steps backward. Large discrepancies were occurring everywhere.
—Except for one exception, the body of Rustiara and the bed behind me.
“…Let’s move, Older Brother. I don’t want to damage this room either.”
As I showed concern for my surroundings, Hidaki also understood.
Therefore, looking upwards, she proposed.
Did she think to move to a place disadvantageous to these “Threads”? But her sister’s eyes showed a hint of worry. When looking at Rustiara’s body, she seemed to have “equal footing” in her emotions.
“It’s conveniently warped now, so we can take an easy shortcut. …I’ll wait for you on the ground.”
Convinced I would agree, Hidaki moved.
She touched a nearby tear and vanished as if passing through 《Connection》.
After confirming that Hidaki had truly left the basement, I resumed breathing, which I had held back during the push-and-pull.
“—Haa! Haa, hā, hā…”
My breath quickens. Not only my body but also my heart aches.
Thanks to Ragune, the pioneer, I know the reason.
Normally, it would take a considerable amount of time for this “Star Magic” to become familiar with my body.
However, I am not overly worried.
—Hidaki will accompany me in a casual battle until this magic integrates with my body.
Having solidified my strategy, I begin to move to follow Hidaki. On the way, I search for my companions who should be in this room, but Rainer was nowhere to be seen.
As the master, I understood that Knight Rainer had chosen a surprise attack with concealment.
He well understood the weakness of 《Dimension》—or rather, that “future sight” is not absolute.
After the battle with Ragune, my fighting style against stronger opponents has been refined.
Believing in my knight’s abilities, I approach a nearby tear alone. I choose one that feels connected to the ground by sense, add a little “Spell Formation” of 《Connection》, and pass through it.
I leave only a single word with the book still in my left hand.
“—I’m going.”
I moved to the cathedral’s garden using dimensional magic.
A giant fountain and something resembling a bench are visible in the distance. I realized it was near the open-air classroom from Rustiara’s memory, but no trace remained. First, the structures and installations on the ground were strangely distorted by the previous clash of 《Default》s. Furthermore, the view was completely white, covered by a blizzard, with countless “Threads” rising towards the sky. All living beings were turned into ice statues, and like underground, many tears hung in the air.
The sight, like the end of the world, made me keenly aware that I had entered Hidaki’s domain.
I immediately try to search for the master of that domain, but before that, I encounter a different girl.
“—O-Older Brother!? That outfit!!”
Reaper, a girl with tanned skin, walked through the blizzard in a black cloak that was thicker than usual.
She was surprised that I appeared from one of the tears, but first pointed out the difference in my appearance. However, she realizes now is not the time to talk about masks and cloaks, and speaks while looking around at the unusually strange scenery.
“No, more importantly… you did manage to wake Older Brother up as planned! But if this continues, the Allied Nations will…!”
I read the meaning of Reaper’s words, “as planned,” with the skill “Reading.”
—”Although the ‘North-South Allied Nations’ were established, the power difference with the world’s enemies was overwhelming.
As their living space and world population were steadily reduced, the final operation was devised by the two ‘Foreigners,’ Rouge and Kuuneru.
It was a plan to sow discord between the two ‘Foreigners.’
For that operation, former companions fought, sacrificing themselves. Even though they knew they couldn’t win, they continued to challenge Hidaki, constantly searching for an opening. Just once, to reunite Uzunami and Rustiara—for that purpose alone, Dia, Maria, and Snow eventually fell. Even sacrificing those three, Rainer and Reaper headed towards Uzunami’s location—”
The reason Hidaki conveniently excused herself this morning, saying, “Something I absolutely must do has come up,” when I was going to the cathedral, became clear.
As expected, everyone had been holding Hidaki back.
I immediately check all the ice statues within the Allied Nations using 《Dimension》.
And I found Maria, Dia, and Snow defeated and frozen in various locations.
Traces of intense battles remained near each ice statue.
—The battles of those three can also be read with the skill ‘Reading.’
The three were not fighting ‘for me.’
They, who had somehow depended on me, were no longer there. They were fighting ‘for me and Rustiara.’
“—No, Older Brother, you fight with all your might! The people from the ‘Mainland’ have already given up on maintaining this Allied Nations! Brother Rainer taught me about fighting with Sister Titty, and they gave up! At worst, if it’s for the sake of maintaining the ‘Mainland,’ it can’t be helped if the ‘Frontier’ collapses!”
The fact that I was able to reach Rustiara’s body today is thanks to everyone, including Reaper, who is here.
It was clearly the flow of “Red String of Fate,” but I nodded in return.
“Reaper, don’t worry. The battle will end within this garden. —’The stem twists and bends,’ ‘The petals wither and sway.’ —Magic 《Torsion》.”
Originally, 《Torsion》 was a magic that created flowers of magic power that distort space.
What was once the size of my palm was the limit, but now I can deploy it so widely that it’s unrecognizable as a flower.
I rotate the giant 《Torsion》 that envelops the entire cathedral, tightening the space—and first, I reel in the numerous “Threads” rising into the sky and forcibly twist and sever them.
These countless “Threads” are Hidaki’s source of magic power. By cutting them, I should have been able to nullify several of her skills. Furthermore, I will change the rules of the enemy’s domain.
“—Twist upside down.”
With the 【Inversion】 of “Star Magic,” I reverse the magic.
—The tightened and warped space then loosens.
The first thing that changed was the nearby fountain.
The size of the distorted fountain visibly changed.
The height remained the same, but the area of the pond rapidly expanded. The width of the snow-covered path at my feet also widened. The spacing of the trees planted on the edges stretched out. The cathedral grounds expanded endlessly, without limit.
The battlefield widened to an extent that it would not be affected even by a battle that could collapse continents.
This is a different magic, one that could be called a 《Torsion Field》 rather than just 《Torsion》.
And Reaper, seeing the scale and application of this absurd magic with 《Dimension》, was left speechless.
Staring blankly at the magic I was using, she muttered.
“Ah… This, is it really… already—”
And she looked at me with very sad eyes.
She probably wanted to say that this is not magic that can be used lightly in the preparation phase. Her eyes looked like those of someone seeing off a person who has gone to a place of no return.
“—Reaper, it’s alright.”
Meeting her gaze, I offer my last words as her creator.
“Also, I apologize for what I’m about to say, though it’s late. For making you and Rowen fight to the death.”
“…I see. You remembered events from a thousand years ago, too. Heh heh.”
Upon hearing that, Reaper laughed, lowering the corners of her eyes.
Her lack of surprise indicated she already knew I was the creator of 《Shadow-longing Reaper》.
《Shadow-longing Reaper》 is a magically created life form modeled after Tiara. While I made various excuses in the past, ultimately, it was likely a substitute created by the lonely “Primordial Kanami” from the weakness of his heart as he continued to fight alone.
However, Reaper laughed it off, saying there was no need for regret.
“Older Brother! From the bottom of my heart, I’m glad I was born! I had so much fun going on ‘Adventures’ with everyone! I love everyone! —And I’ve also become strong! Strong enough that Rowen won’t worry anymore! Isn’t that right, Older Brother?”
Ah…
Reaper really does resemble Tiara…
And she has many similarities to me.
Reaper is the “Ideal.”
The “ideal image of Tiara” that I once held.
Cherishing that similarity, I gently stroked her head once.
“Yes, it’s right. …You and I have always been the same.”
I stopped apologizing.
With a smile, I bid farewell to Reaper.
“Reaper, please hurry and get away. If possible, I’ll ask you to handle things after the battle is over. You’re the only one who can move properly now.”
“…Okay. I’ll stay out of the way. Leave the rest to me.”
The intelligent Reaper quickly acknowledged that she couldn’t participate in the battle and entrusted everything to me.
With those words, Reaper disappears, clad in magical darkness.
I confirm with 《Dimension》 that she has moved outside the cathedral grounds via 《Connection》—and then, Hidaki, who had moved to the ground earlier, appears from the blizzard.
She must have been waiting for the stage to be set after the preparations were complete.
Looking up at the sky, she confirmed that 《Winter Otherworld》 and 《Torsion Field》 were overlapping, and her expression seemed somewhat happy.
