The 100th floor was dyed red by the “Song of the Living Red Light,” shimmering and spreading endlessly.
The red light that streamed in reflected off the sea of the “Deepest Part,” scattering burnt orange hues.
It truly was a peculiar place.
Gazing at the horizon, I felt as if someone was waiting for me beyond it.
Looking up at the heavens, I felt as if someone was believing in me on the ground.
Just by looking up, I felt I could hear the vibrations of the “Final Festival.” The joys and sorrows, the disputes and confusions of the ground all reached me as vibrations.
Was it fantasy, or magic?
At least, I, as a younger brother, could easily imagine what my sister, Elder Sister Fran, was doing on the ground.
If it were her, she would surely help her friend Dia and forcefully obtain victory.
Then, if Dia were to persuade them with all her heart, the hearts of the Apostles would surely waver. That instability would disrupt the harmony of the “Senate” and reach Kuuneru, the “Vampire Race.” If it spread to Rouge, the representative of the “North-South Allied Nations,” people from abroad might also understand the situation and challenge the labyrinth.
Like scattered points connecting, “slightly ill-timed events” chained together, gradually shifting the lines that depicted the “Final Festival.”
And a change in the diagram of the “Final Festival” meant a change in the “Deepest Part” connected to it.
Now, before my eyes, the man who was the master of the “Deepest Part” was also looking up at the sky.
Christ, the異 shapen master, who possessed the characteristics of a chimera like a “Demon,” and had gained eight arms.
His expression was vacant.
Unlike me, his eyes, which were turned towards the ground, were unfocused, and no light reflected in them at all.
His eyebrows furrowed, tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, and he let out a voice from his trembling lips.
“N-no… There’s no need to reconsider. Not at all, El…”
As if he didn’t know where he was, he continued to make excuses to the sky.
The recipient of these excuses, starting with Elder Sister Fran and going through various people, was now Elmiraud, the head of the Siddharuku family. He glared resentfully at the connecting points on the heavenly ground, as if looking at a troublesome enemy. Yet, at the same time, he narrowed his eyes as if searching for a beautiful constellation.
To repeat, it was all his own fault.
Christ himself had created the starry sky on the ground.
And thanks to that starry sky, I could feel that the diversionary tactics by the people on the ground had gone well.
Of course, Christ probably realized it was a diversion. However, as if responding to our request to “be grateful if our attention is diverted,” he was concentrating his full effort on the ground.
As usual.
He always meticulously received the thoughts of each individual, and I asked him, who couldn’t ignore even one, “What did you see?”
“I saw what Rainer wanted me to see… No, I was made to see it. It’s true that ‘slightly ill-timed events’ are piling up.”
He acknowledged my preceding statement and nodded deeply.
However, he showed no sign of distress and his cheeks bloomed with a smile.
“But originally, I don’t believe in my own ‘Purple Thread’… From the start, I’ve made ‘plans’ that account for such deviations. So, this is rather happy news. The bond between the Allied Nations has deepened once again. Especially the growth of Sis and Diplakla, I’m truly happy… Ah, finally, I can live as an ordinary ‘Person,’ not an Apostle…”
He wore a gentle smile. But the tears he had held back while looking up now fell as he spoke.
To ordinary people, it would be a mad expression.
But to me, it felt like mere “childish pride.”
Undoubtedly, Christ was exhausted from the consecutive battles in the “Deepest Part” and was not in a good state. The vibrations from the ground were further shaking his spirit.
Still, his act of pretending to be an absolute strongman reminded me of Titty.
“H-hahaha… I was surprised by Fedelt and Kuuneru at the end. Their growth is undeniably… all thanks to them leaving me behind. This has reduced my worries. My body feels lighter. With this agility, I can go even further… That’s what it means. It’s better to treat Aikawa Uzunami as ‘something that didn’t happen.’ And no matter how things turn out, the ‘plan’ will succeed. So—”
His tone was like he was talking to himself, even though he was speaking.
His mind was clearly disturbed, and his consciousness was elsewhere.
With his attention scattered, Christ raised one of his eight arms and looked back.
“—Star Magic《Gravity Greed》.”
Then, he cast a star magic from the tip of that arm.
As I braced myself for the increased weight on my body, I had experienced this attribute magic several times before.
However, Christ’s star magic was not directed at me.
Towards my back, he sent a spherical mass of gravity large enough to swallow a person, like a beast.
There stood Noir, the black “Magic Stone Human,” who should have been blown away. He was trying to approach stealthily, using the same method as when he ambushed me earlier.
Noir couldn’t help but spread his arms, which had gained the traits of a bat Monster through “Demon Transformation,” and unleashed the same magic.
Of course, I moved along with my companions.
“Kuh, Rouge! —Resonance Magic《Gravity Greed》!!”
Noir was alone now.
There was no one beside him.
However, he formed a resonance magic synchronized with a trusted friend who was not present.
—Two beasts of gravity clashed.
It was Noir’s full-powered magic. The magic’s mana was amplified by “Levan,” and it resonated between the two red and black “Magic Stone Humans.”
If it had landed from outside Christ’s line of sight, it was a magic that felt like it could have had a possibility.
However, as if to teach him that the same surprise attack wouldn’t work again, Christ firmly fixated on Noir and spoke while strengthening the “Gravity Greed” magic.
“If you were trying to divert my attention and wait for a chance to ambush, it was counterproductive… Actually, thanks to Rouge on the ground, I was able to perfectly read the timing.”
His tone sounded somewhat apologetic. As I had known since before the “Final Festival,” Christ disliked crushing opponents beforehand.
Just like his sister, he revealed his bad habit of adapting to his opponent’s fighting style, even at this juncture, and continued to speak.
“Indeed, there were many unexpected events on the ground… Many troublesome things for me… But it was all sloppy. In the end, the mana supply from the ground to me has not been stopped. Even if it stops or fluctuates slightly, it’s more than enough for me. In the end, everything is according to my ‘plan’—”
Christ tried to show his composure.
In fact, he likely gained mana capacity during the time he observed the ground earlier.
Furthermore, he probably felt our resistance when we tried to surprise him in the “Deepest Part” was weaker than expected.
He seemed convinced of his victory if he could recover from the damage from the battle with the “Thief of Principles.”
He was clearly getting carried away. As she spat at him during their magical tug-of-war, Noir retorted.
“Sloppy is… you, Kanami! What do you mean, ‘according to plan’ no matter what happens! You’re just afraid of miscalculating and laying down a safety net, aren’t you!? Ahh, how pathetic!!”
“…You’re right. But with ‘Future Sight’ and ‘Purple Thread,’ even pathetic safety nets are permissible. And I will tolerate everything as much as I am allowed. Noir-chan, your growth too. You’ve become so strong. So, now… —《Gravity Greed》. Gently crush and make her lose consciousness.”
Christ added an unfair amount of mana to “Gravity Greed,” making it larger.
The sphere of gravity, which had more than doubled in size, easily swallowed the same magic and attacked its caster, Noir.
It was kind, as the words implied.
Thanks to Christ’s extraordinary mana control, “Gravity Greed,” which should have moved like a beast, gently bore down on Noir without injuring him and stopped dead.
For Noir, it was a complete crushing of his signature magic.
On top of that, being looked down upon from above, her anger reached its limit.
While being restrained by the invisible gravity beast, she glared at me and muttered.
“Hah, hah… Rainer. Isn’t that enough…? My role—”
She finally revealed words outside the plan, as if explaining a trick.
However, considering Noir’s short temper, this was—
“It’s more than enough. …Perfect. You two have undoubtedly surpassed the plan and strategy. So— ‘You are both my proud younger sisters.'”
He praised them with all his soul.
Honestly, I disliked both the red and black “Magic Stone Humans.” But for this moment, I wanted to give them sincere praise.
That selfish Noir had played the role of a decoy, drawing Christ’s full attention. The invasion into “Levan” she had shown earlier was likely a trump card she wanted to hide from us.
However, for everyone’s sake, she had used all of herself.
And with the “Gravity Greed” that descended upon her, all the air was pushed out of her lungs, and she fainted. Noir’s expression at that moment seemed relaxed, as if she had been praised by her older sister, the white “Magic Stone Human.”
Ah, I am truly grateful…
Thanks to Noir, our plan is now a success.
However, that success does not mean Noir will be saved.
After all, the place where I moved according to the plan was not in front, but behind.
I had simply retreated and changed my position, matching Noir’s full-powered magic.
And I had surely hidden her from Christ.
However, my throat and mouth moved on their own towards what I had hidden.
“‘—And our leader is also grateful.’ ‘Yes, I am also deeply grateful. However, you are late. My friend—'”
Like Noir, a voice was uttered, as if explaining the plan, saying it was enough.
It was not my will.
My throat, which overlapped with my voice, trembled as if my “Soul Arm” was moving on its own.
And with Noir’s fall, her soul would move from the white “Magic Stone Human” to the next—
The call just now made the person hidden behind me step forward.
Christ, who had just felt relieved that Noir had lost consciousness, muttered as he looked at the person who stood beside me.
“Sh-Shira-chan…?”
He first uttered the name of Shira Legacy, our party leader.
He was not wrong.
Her small frame, her innocent-looking small face, it was all hers.
However, what came from her mouth was completely different.
“‘—Hahaha.'”
“………!?”
A laugh unlike hers.
Just like me now. Through Shira’s body, someone else was speaking.
Christ also noticed this and redirected all his attention, which had been focused on Noir, towards me.
Resigning himself to the fact that he could no longer hide anything, he began to clap his hands, pattering them.
Using his small hands, he leisurely repeated the action. Christ, who was being applauded incessantly, murmured as if recalling something.
“Ah, impossible…”
With that reaction, he seemed satisfied.
Next, with a hint of joy, he offered a gentle greeting.
“‘—Yo. Kanami’s older brother.'”
It was clearly not Shira’s vibration.
However, it was the same as me.
At this final destination, the “Deepest Part,” souls finally reached and overlapped—
“Palinkron…? Palinkron Legacy…”
Christ uttered the name.
Palinkron Legacy, a former “Seven Knights of Heaven” who had once deployed the “Shaka Hōkan Jin” in the center of the “Mainland” and fought Christ and his group alone.
He was a man who had achieved complete victory over Christ once and then brainwashed him into a subordinate. He could be said to be one of the ones who had cornered and troubled Christ the most, alongside Tiara and Hitaki.
—This was the man waiting here, along with my older brother and Hairi.
A year ago, on the day of the “Great Calamity” that redrew the world map, he was swallowed by his own “Shaka Hōkan Jin.”
At that time, the battle between Christ and Palinkron was thought to have ended— but now, having reached the “Deepest Part” and with the mechanism of the “Shaka Hōkan Jin” revealed, I realized that was not the case.
The magic circle in question was originally a “Spell Formation” to separate impure “Demonic Poison.”
And the place it connected to was the “Deepest Part.” Souls swallowed there were slowly purified and reborn on the ground, but… a caster of “Shaka Hōkan Jin” could add a “Spell Formation” that created a loophole in that process.
The Legacy family was a bloodline that inherited the magic of “transferring the souls of dead Apostles into the bodies of blood relatives.” Palinkron, born into that bloodline, could easily add a special “Spell Formation” stating that “even if caster Palinkron Legacy is swallowed by ‘Shaka Hōkan Jin,’ his soul will not be purified. He will await a blood relative into whose body he can reincarnate in the ‘Deepest Part’—”
In other words, Palinkron had been in the “Deepest Part” ever since that day.
He had entered the second labyrinth he created, waiting for someone to reach the “Deepest Part”—
Today, ironically, he reunited with his own niece, Shira Legacy.
—Normally, even with a niece he could “Affinity” with, communicating one’s will so easily would not be possible. In fact, when Shira explored the second labyrinth in the past, she apparently only sensed traces of her uncle.
However, this day of the “Final Festival” brought together all sorts of miracles. The legendary dragons’ great vibrations echoed from the ground to the “Deepest Part.” The songs of believers who did not give up even in death echoed from the underground to the “Deepest Part.” It was Glen’s “Black Threads” that correctly connected them. Many other souls survived. And now—
In Shira Legacy’s right hand, a jet-black magic stone was held. It was the magic stone of “the one who steals the logic of darkness,” which I had given her beforehand, moving in sync with Noir’s “Gravity Greed.”
Placing it on her chest and burying it within her body, she nodded and replied.
“‘Ah, it’s me. I am Palinkron Legacy. …So, this is truly the worst. I would have avoided this path if possible…'”
At this point, Palinkron’s soul was strangely calm. His usual dubious provocations were restrained, and he was self-deprecating.
It seemed like more than just me and Christ had mixed feelings. Palinkron looked down at his chest, showing concern for his niece Shira’s body.
“‘The body of the niece I once protected is ultimately possessed by the soul of a scumbag. Now, I think I understand a little of how Kanami’s older brother felt back then. …Truly a terrible blood connection and destiny. Haha.'”
Even though he had discussed and agreed to everything with Shira beforehand… still, when faced with Christ, he couldn’t suppress his feelings. He was afraid of hurting his niece’s body in battle.
“………!”
Christ probably empathized with that feeling. Having once used his sister’s body in battle and feared hurting her, he was hesitant in his reply.
However, my throat trembled, warning Christ and Palinkron.
“‘No, Palinkron. Your niece is truly a strong girl. So, you are not possessing her, but rather, we are being used. …It’s truly the best blood connection and destiny.'”
He declared this with a joyful voice to his two friends.
And like Palinkron, he placed his “Soul Arm” on his chest—and smiled as if boasting about his non-blood-related brother.
…I was happy. Unlike the two of them, Mr. Hein believes in me. The feeling thatシア and I truly rely on our older brother and uncle was clearly conveyed.
Why was that?
I felt a sense of pride, and tears threatened to well up.
Seeing my reaction, Palinkron honestly accepted Mr. Hein’s advice.
“‘…Fine. Then I’ll think that way too. It feels better than thinking endlessly.'”
“‘That’s right. So, let’s focus on our responsibilities. We have a responsibility as we took on the role of training the young lady that day.'”
“‘Ah. The great idiot girl we raised seems to be causing trouble for the child from another world… Sigh. After all, I was her knight, so…'”
“‘Yes. That’s why, this time, as knights of Lady Rustiara, I—'”
The two, who claimed to be on Rustiara’s side, continued their conversation through me and Shira.
This was a scene where the miracles and wonders of the 100th floor reached their extreme.
Now, this place, the “Deepest Part,” was truly a mixture of various magics. It was a treasure trove of all miracles, surpassing even the legends and myths of a thousand years ago.
As a result, I was meeting people I thought I would never see again. I was hearing words I thought I would never hear.
Was it “real” or “fake”?
Believing it or not was up to those who were alive—
Confronting him, Christ had completely acknowledged it. In the “Deepest Part,” which changed its form to reflect the viewer’s heart, in those jet-black eyes—
“They’re not enemies… At this point, just these two… it’s okay…”
Knight Hein Helvishein and Knight Palinkron Legacy. He recognized these two as “real,” and they were clearly reflected in his eyes in their former knightly forms.
Therefore, Christ moved into a combat stance. Of course, he probably couldn’t believe it. He probably wanted to complain that they were messing around. However, many coincidences piled up—no, two inevitabilities connected, and here the two knights were, together.
The descent magic aimed for over a thousand years through the bloodline of Helvishein. The reincarnation magic aimed for over a thousand years through the bloodline of Legacy. Their beginnings, their goals, their methods were all separate paths and miracles.
But the ends of those two paths had connected. They mingled in this “Deepest Part.”
Therefore, Christ understood that this was not a facade or a bluff. He bit his lip, preparing himself for battle against strong enemies.
To Christ, Palinkron took a step closer and declared war.
“‘Well then, Kanami’s older brother. …Shall we? After all, it’s not done yet.'”
However, in his hand, there was no weapon, nor any gesture of constructing magic. What he was about to do seemed to be something else entirely.
Christ guessed this and interjected, “Not… done yet? …No, it’s already over. All the ‘Ordeals’ are finished.”
“‘Ah, the ‘Twentieth Ordeal’ is over. Tiida and Legacy were satisfied. I was watching from here as all hundred ‘Ordeals’ were cleared. —So, next. Kanami’s older brother, do you know? Stories connect one after another, and apparently, there’s no ‘final page.’ …Haha, it’s not really my kind of story, but for now, I’ll be grateful for that logic and spin out the continuation.'”
Palinkron affirmed.
And then he quickly moved on to the next topic. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who had connected with him.
“‘I’m not the only one connected to him. If Glen hadn’t come, no one would have noticed me. If it weren’t for Shira, the gate of the magic stone of ‘the one who steals the logic of darkness’ wouldn’t have opened. And also the obsession of Romis, the ancestor of Tiida’s childhood friend. And the many curse techniques left by the Apostle Legacy from a thousand years ago. Most importantly, from the Cathedral…, …Ah, I understand. Of course, I’m grateful to Elder Sister Arti too.'”
He listed out reasons one by one. However, when the name “the one who steals the logic of fire” was mentioned, he stopped.
As if sensing urgent vibrations from somewhere on the 100th floor, he bowed to the woman.
“‘To Elder Sister Arti… no, to Maria Distras, my greatest respect and gratitude. I will follow in their path and do it. Ah, listen carefully. This is my farewell—'”
The bows continued. First, Palinkron made a gesture of drawing a sword with his empty hands.
The gesture was too fluid. It was such a natural movement that it was easy to mistake as if he were holding a sword, even though he had nothing in his hands. I intuitively understood that this was a skill that could only be acquired through relentless repetition.
“Ah, ah…”
Upon seeing that swordplay, Christ’s face drained of color.
Then, at the end of his knightly salute, Palinkron placed his hand on his chest once more. Feeling someone who was there, he declared with a “soul” that would never lie again. Slowly raising his face, he spread both hands—
“‘—Now, the stage is set. This place, this 100th floor, is the 120th floor. The floor of ‘the one who steals the logic of darkness’ Shira Legacy. Here, even if it’s hastily made or borrowed without permission, it can be called the 120th floor, not just the 20th or 100th. …Haha, after the answer reveal, shall we have a review session so we don’t forget? In any case, I will have Kanami’s older brother undertake our ‘120th Ordeal.'”
As if picking up the lingering feelings of the nine “Thieves of Principles” who had disappeared before him, he continued with the usual pronouncement.
For me, these were merely lines that evoked nostalgia. But Christ seemed different. With a pale face, he kept shaking his head.
“The labyrinth… it’s over. There’s no way there are 110 or 120 floors…”
“‘Hahaha. But Elder Sister says it’s not over, you know?'”
“They’re just saying that without my permission as the creator of the labyrinth!!”
Finally, Christ became enraged and shouted. Furthermore, he raised all eight of his异 shapen arms and slammed them forcefully onto the ground.
With the impact, like an explosion, eight sprays of water burst in the shallow water. The water surface rippled violently. Palinkron received all of those splashes and ripples at his feet—and absorbed them.
It was the power of “the one who steals the logic of darkness.” He mixed his mana with the water on the 100th floor, transforming it into black mud. He wrapped it around his feet, first creating thick-soled shoes. Then, he fashioned clothing that covered his legs and torso. Finally, he obscured his face with a large black mask.
If one looked closely, the shoes and gloves were not of normal size. As if extending his limbs, they were long—and at that moment, his entire body became an adult form made of black mud.
Palinkron chose a height that allowed for easy movement and opened and closed his hands in front of him, checking the result. Midway, glancing at Christ, he compared their similar 异 shapen forms and laughed.
“‘Ku, ku ku, haha…! Come to think of it, Kanami’s older brother. You’re looking like I did before, aren’t you? Do you want to taste the feeling of being cornered and beaten by the enemy? …If so, gladly. This time, shall we surround Kanami’s older brother, now that he’s alone? Hahahaha.'”
Palinkron created a sword out of black mud and pointed its tip forward. But he never charged forward alone.
Although he was a man with a strong image of acting alone, this final battle was different. He looked to me, standing beside him, seeking cooperation that he couldn’t achieve in his lifetime.
There was no reason to refuse. My throat moved again, responding.
“‘—I understand, Palinkron. But please remember your apprenticeship days. I’ll be in front, and you’ll be supporting from behind.'”
“‘—Don’t worry, Hein. Even so, I was serious about my knight training. Dreaming of a battle for the fate of the world like this. Always!'”
They began to walk the same path together.
With twin red swords and a single black sword, they headed towards Christ to impose the “120th Ordeal.”
