Depths of the Otherworldly Labyrinth (WN)

Romis’s defiant declaration left Christ stunned, but he immediately straightened his expression. He must have been steeling himself, resolving that no matter who the enemy was, his duty remained the same.

“Palinkron, Romis, Legacy… I’ve hated, resented, and defeated them… Rather, they are opponents I can fight easily.” He boasted of favorable circumstances, glaring at the enemies before him.

Beyond his gaze, a faint vortex was forming in the shallows at Romis’s feet. It wasn’t just pulling things in. The closer one got, the darker the water became, as if ink had been mixed in. It was clear that everything up to this point had been part of an “Incantation.” Romis laughed.

“Do you want to fight? I’m afraid I don’t like such barbaric behavior. We will do only one thing: receive just compensation for the ‘distrust’ we have paid up until now. That is to say, unleash the true ‘Magic’ of Tida Runs, the ‘one who steals the logic of darkness’.”

As they declared this without any pretense, the vortex at their feet rapidly grew larger. The black staining intensified, as if the darkness was self-proliferating by consuming the surrounding red light. Furthermore, the flow of air around them also changed, as if water alone wasn’t enough. The air, too, lost its brightness the closer one got, creating a scene like an infinite amount of black mist being sucked in.

Then, the “Incantation” for a proper procedure was spun.

“—’The world betrayed me’—”

Christ moved without a word. Just like me, he must have had a premonition.

If things continued like this, we would be hit with a “Magic” that Tida and the others had risked their lives for. It was no less powerful than any other “Thief of Principles.”

Therefore, I also moved without a word, unwilling to be outdone. The searing pain, as if my skin had been peeled off by “Distance Mute,” still remained, and my body wouldn’t move properly—but my soul, which must have been in greater pain than I, moved my uncooperative body.

“—’I won’t let you!’— On behalf of the trust between Palinkron and myself.” Mr. Hein stood before me, wavering but firm. It was thanks to Christ’s leap earlier that he had created distance. Borrowing Romis and the others’ words, I had taken a stance as a knight, wielding twin swords. Of course, it was also my responsibility for my initial words, “I’ll go first, you follow from behind—.” I could sense his resolve from my Older brother; he absolutely would not retreat.

Seeing us, Christ clicked his tongue, moved forward, and muttered a spell.

“…—’Distance Mute Exorcise’—” It was a magic of intense purple light that exploited our weakness, a magic that would end things if touched. Now, it illuminated all eight of the arms’ ice swords.

I intended to break through with all my might. Behind us now were the rear guards, on the verge of unleashing dangerous magic. It was undeniably not the lukewarm swordplay of their earlier “act.” And if I took even one hit, just as Shia was severed earlier, my connection with my Older brother would be cut off. That would mean my Older brother disappearing from me. It would mean losing the cherished Family I had finally reunited with.

Even now, a temporary pause would be enough. By regaining control of this body and just shifting slightly to the side, I could stop my Older brother from disappearing. However, I knew.

—Rather, move forward.

Pledging my allegiance to my Older brother’s trust in response to Palinkron’s trust, I synchronized my stride forward. Without fear of parting, my wavering body, which would falter alone, moved forward with my Older brother as Two people. Combining our strength, we propelled my body with our very souls.

Wringing my soul, I swung my own arms and the “Soul Arms.” It was the brothers’ final collaborative effort. It reminded me of our shared past and made me feel like naming something fun together—

“You won’t get past me, Christ…! ‘Indeed, this is also proof of our brotherhood! —Helvirshine Style Resonant Swordsmanship “Gale”!!'”

“…………!” What attacked was the well-matched swordplay of me and the “Soul Arms,” eight in all.

Conversely, Christ, with a grim expression, swung his “Magi-Beast Arms” in response, without a word. He cleanly clashed ice swords against each of our eight magic swords. Though it appeared to be an even match, direct hits from “Distance Mute Exorcise” were coming through. The magic permeated through the swords, encroaching upon my “Soul Arms” as well.

Intense pain surged again. This time, for sure, the “Soul Arms” lost their form as if blown away by mist, gradually fading into nothingness. Along with them, the blood sword, dark sword, wood sword, and wind sword held by the “Soul Arms” also disappeared like mist. Only the real “Helvirshine Family’s Sacred Twin Swords” fell to the Ground.

While I still held my original twin swords in my own two arms, in the span of a single breath, I had lost six “Soul Arms” and magic swords. The clash of swords was now over. I had been completely surpassed by Christ. However, during that brief clash, the continuation of the “Incantation” could be heard from deeper within.

“—’If everything is dyed black’—”

“—Gah!” Towards Christ, who let out a flustered cry even more than us, I tried to swing my remaining twin swords, falling forward despite my aching body, asserting that I could still fight. However, Christ did not slow his charge, unleashing a rapid series of thrusts with his eight arms. Naturally, I didn’t have enough hands. My twin swords could barely parry the trajectories of those ice swords—no, I couldn’t parry them all. One ice sword pierced my shoulder—and now, “Distance Mute Exorcise” was fully activated within my body.

“—Aaaah!” Exceeding the sensation of skin being peeled, it was a pain like flesh being scraped from bone. It took root deep within my soul, leaving my body helplessly rigid. Christ passed by us and ran towards Palinkron further in. I wanted to swing my twin swords horizontally one more time. But my body would no longer obey.
The damage to my pierced body was not that severe. The excruciating pain from 《Distance Mute: Exorcism》 was also not that severe.

Mr. Hein was disappearing.

The sense of loss as our connection severed drained the strength from my mind and body.

Tears welled up, and I felt an urge to wail.

Before that, I—

“Thank you… thank you very much. Older brother… I’m… fine now…”

I knelt on both knees and offered my thanks. I conveyed my gratitude to my older brother, who had cooperated with me thus far, and let him know I was okay from here on out, alone.

“『Ah, you’re fine now… I’m not worried, True Knight Rainer. Connecting with me means connecting to the next. Our souls will be connected forever. And so will I be with my friends—』”

After speaking in a single voice, my eyeballs moved on their own.

Though I couldn’t chase with my limbs, I could follow with my eyes.

In my gaze was the monstrous back of Christ, running ahead, leaving us behind.

Further behind that back was the monstrous figure of black mud, who had believed in us. Now, with my older brother’s fading as the Price, the life of The one who steals the logic of darkness was reaching its end.

“『—I will continue to betray myself.』—Magic 《Mist of Terrestrial Confusion and the End of Night》”

The true Magic had been activated.

Until now, the human shape of black mud had been swirling around, drawing water from the shallows of the hundredth floor and sucking in air from the surroundings. All of that black mud and mist was concentrated into both of his arms, condensed and solidified into a pair of spears.

The tips of those black twin spears were immediately thrust forcefully towards the approaching enemy.

However, Christ dodged lightly by making himself half a body, showing no sign of slowing down—rather, as he passed, he mercilessly slashed and tore apart the speared weapon in a single breath.

The black twin spears were soft. Or rather, it was likely that their hardness and skill in spearplay simply couldn’t match Christ’s sword.

But as if he knew that well, Romis moved forward, losing his black twin spears.

His movements were clumsy and easy to read, like a child clinging. Romis, who held the decisive power over the black mud humanoid, lacked combat sense. However—

“—!”

Christ gasped.

He didn’t relax his movements or his vigilance even slightly.

Instead of narrowly dodging Romis’s charge, he dodged with a wide, safe distance—and then, just like with the spears, he slashed and tore apart the black mud humanoid’s body, splitting it into over a hundred pieces of black mud.

His attacks were exclusively with his ice sword.

Christ’s strategy was clear: by continuously attacking with an ice sword that could be melted and dissolved at any time, he wanted to eliminate even the slightest contact.

And his strategy of thoroughly avoiding contact with the black mud was probably the correct answer.

The hundred pieces of black mud, now diced, transformed into needle-like shapes in mid-air.

If I wasn’t mistaken, they weren’t normal sewing needles, but syringes. It was a swarm of needles that took shape as if to convey their intention to penetrate Christ’s body no matter what, like birds with sharp beaks.

This was an attack far beyond the prior twin spears.

However, as Christ’s body shimmered like a heat haze, all the flying black needles missed. He dodved them all with just his body movements, without using any Magic.

—But I, who was behind him, couldn’t avoid it, and one black needle pierced my thigh.

Christ, having dealt with the surprise attack, still didn’t let his guard down. He glared as if expecting all hundred scattered pieces of black mud to leap like beasts.

That, too, was likely the correct assumption. The scattered black needles melted, vaporized, and turned into black mist. This created pockets of darkness within the brightly red-lit space. Romis, transforming a part of the black mist into a human mouth, spoke.

“『…You are indeed formidable, God of Light. However, Magic is life. This includes the time when my friend was feared as the “Hanging Man in Black” in the dim town of Fanian. The legend from that time—』”

Christ preempted him, continuing the explanation.

“A haunting phenomenon where those lost in the dark are hung upside down. Rumor has it, it was a killer that meant the end if you met it.”

“『That’s right. In other words, this Magic 《Mist of Terrestrial Confusion and the End of Night》 can simply envelop you in this mist or darkness, and that’s enough to show it.』”

As the true conditions for the Magic were declared, Christ’s face contorted. Unbeknownst to him, the purple Magic Power leaking from his body had been dyed with the blackness of The one who steals the logic of darkness. He was clearly being affected by some kind of mental interference.

“『The mental interference of this Magic is, of course, “Distrust.” Like Teeda’s life, the target of “Distrust” is oneself… It makes the afflicted doubt their own actions, and rots their beliefs from the root.』”

Among the many forms of mental interference, this one seemed conceptually vague and broad. But with that vagueness and breadth, it would likely interfere with every emotional movement.

For example, one might start to distrust the brightness of their own vision, becoming engulfed as if by “darkness.”

For example, one might start to distrust their own body’s movements, becoming afflicted as if by “paralysis.”

For example, one might start to distrust the righteousness of their own actions, being assailed by “fear.”

If, as his words implied, its purpose was to rot everything from the root, then this could indeed be true Magic. Christ, warned of its threat, smiled defiantly and nodded.

“Yeah. I knew that from fighting it once… All true Magic is unavoidable and ultimate. But this true Magic is the last… If I can just get past this, then… ! No more! There’s nothing more after this! Erase this last desperate act! —《Black Shift: Overwrite》!!”

Perhaps he intended to unleash all the immense Magic Power he had accumulated, assuming this was the end. With an overwhelming density that made it seem like the greatest Dimensional Magic of the day, purplish-black smoke began to emanate from his body.
If the opponent uses a dense fog, I intend to overwrite it with an even more vicious and dense fog and make them “un-happen.” That Black Shift: Overwrite would be an unavoidable, ultimate magic.

However, that’s if Christ was in perfect condition.

Including the interruption of the ceremony, his body is accumulating abnormalities and debts.

“The Black Shift: Overwrite currently in use is incomplete and insufficient—” Christ, knowing this, shouts even more.

“Postpone any ‘Status Ailments’ you can’t erase, ‘Contractor of the Deepest Part of the Labyrinth’! The overflow will be separated by ‘Parallel Thinking’! Prepare an alternate personality in your head and impose it! You can change what you believe in as needed, even your very soul! —With me as I am now, there are any number of countermeasures! If that’s still not enough, I’ll just forcibly twist it with magic that invades ‘Logic’! Invert’ Teeda’s ‘Mistrust’ and ‘Stall’ it! Envelop the darkness with dual logic!! —Black Shift: Overwrite: Midwinter of Overcrowded Dimensions, Mirroring Ugh!!”

A vortex of cold air blows around Christ.

It was a new magic, though it utilized existing magic and powers.

As he already knew, Christ was stubbornly persistent, even from what seemed to be his limit.

The magic Midwinter of Overcrowded Dimensions: Mirroring first froze all the black mud scattered on the ground, dyeing it his own purple.

Instantaneously, shallow pools of water froze over, shimmering like mirrors. Furthermore, even the intangible black fog was transformed into purple frozen flowers.

It was a terrifying magic. With this, The Fog of Wandering Earth and the End of Night was thought to be completely “stalled.”

However, Christ’s face remained grim—

“Hah, hah, hah…! I healed everything, I froze everything… but why is it still…!”

The “Mistrust” that was still eroding him wouldn’t disappear.

The frozen purple flowers answered his question.

They shattered with cracking sounds, speaking from their mouths as they broke apart.

” ‘It’s useless to defeat the caster now. The strength of this ‘magic’ lies in its propagation and expansion from one person to another. Like an infectious disease, ‘Mistrust’ engulfs those you hold dear… even if you’re cured once, you’ll be reinfected by the neighbor you infected.’ ”

When he heard “neighbor,” Christ immediately looked down at his own chest.

His skin was still covered in the “Black Threads” left by Seldra and Glen, pulsing. He understood that the magic stones within him were continuing to transmit “Mistrust” to him.

Christ bit his lip at the troublesome nature of the magic, which was impossible to remove in any sense, and deactivated all his magic and skills.

The frozen purple flowers with mouths laughed at him.

” ‘It’s truly troublesome, isn’t it? Even I struggled with this in life. And that troublesome nature was the life and strength of ‘The one who steals the logic of darkness’… …Yes, this ‘Mistrust’ was strength. Therefore, I judge this not as a mental attack on the target, but as magic belonging to mental enhancement.’ ”

“E-enhancement…? Something like this?”

” ‘Yes. Now, in the depths of your ‘Mistrust,’ you relied on the ‘Logic’ of others, didn’t you? This ‘Curse’ of ‘The one who steals the logic of darkness’ makes us realize what’s truly important to us… …’Blessing’? …Understood. In consideration of the wisdom of my Fanian Domain, I shall redefine it as such. —The true ‘magic’ of us ‘Thieves of Principles’ was a ‘Blessing’ that makes us realize what is truly important to us.’ ”

While talking with Christ, Romis seemed to hear someone’s vibration. She corrected her words and re-explained the true nature of the “magic.”

The frozen purple flowers agreed. The voice of Apostle Legacy also echoed, stating that Romis wasn’t fighting alone.

” ‘That’s right, Romis Neisha. The miracles born into this world, blood arts, curse techniques, magic. All of them were enhancements and support from ‘Person’ to ‘Person,’ a ‘Blessing.’ Haha, it turned out just as I said, didn’t it?’ ”

They continued to shatter, unconcerned, letting their final words be heard and absorbed by the 100th floor—no, by this world. And they continued to speak, conveying that they weren’t alone, not even the two of them.

” ‘And now, you have surpassed the ‘Curse,’ trusted your childhood friend completely, and reached ‘magic.’ Finally, you’ve found what’s truly important to your soul—’ ‘—Yes, Sir Legacy. I am sincerely grateful. As per our ‘Contract,’ I was given my final chance. Thanks to it, I have finally cornered the hated enemy… but I can no longer… I wish to leave the rest to the young boys and girls of our descendants…’ ”

Romis’s vibrations grew smaller and weaker. Like the “Thieves of Principles” who fulfilled their “Lingering Desires,” she seemed to want to spend her remaining time on things more important than the world or the battle.

Using the remaining frozen purple flowers, she delivered her hoarse voice.

” ‘Hey…? Tiida, isn’t that good…? Our ‘Proof’ is over now… I can see your face clearly now… If we’re together… not just Fanian… actually… —the world, too… —’ ”

All the flowers shattered, and her voice trailed off. The swirling ice shards melted like snow in the air, rising as particles of magic high into the sky.

A river of stardust flowed across the crimson sky of the 100th floor. With Christ, the enemy, at the river’s origin, Romis’s souls moved on.

Witnessing this were me and Christ—and one other. A single black mud that had stubbornly remained, having pierced my thigh when I scattered into countless needles earlier, spoke.

“You saw, Hein’s brother. No, ‘True Knight’ Rainer Helvirshine. …That just now.”

Palinkron Legacy, the man who summoned and used “The one who steals the logic of darkness” and the apostles just to make them use their true “magic,” has no time to be lost in sentimentality. He erased my lingering feelings.
“Now then, you will carry on what our ancestors left behind. Not you, my older brother Hein, but you, my younger brother,”

“…I understand.”

Before he could tell me, before he could even encourage me, I summoned my strength. I had rested long enough. The skin-peeling pain had subsided and I had grown accustomed to it.

As I slowly stood up, Palinkron provoked me further.

“All the conditions are met. With this, there is no soul you do not know. Take responsibility and connect everything. Continue. Press on. You can do it. No, this is something only a ‘person’ who has continued to live desperately can do, isn’t it?”

“You really are good at… provoking others and leaving things to them. If you weren’t dead, I would have killed you here myself.”

I spat hateful words at the one who had killed my older brother. But there was no killing intent behind them. Like Christ and Rustiara of old, I had already overcome my hatred. All that remained was the unbreakable depth of our bond.

Drawing on that connection with Palinkron, I moved towards the checkmate granted to me by Romis. Meanwhile, Palinkron continued, “Hahaha, Rainer. Can’t you sense the consideration the elders are showing by giving you the spotlight? We’re just like our ancestors right now. Because of everything that happened with Kanami’s older brother… I want to leave this to you in the end. Apparently, this leads to a better flow.”

Whether he was lying or not, if he were telling the truth, Palinkron would have spoken as if he could have defeated Christ on his own. However, leaving behind the words that there was a better flow, he stirred the speaking mud and let it crawl onto my body.

-It reached the wound left by the ice sword’s thrust and burrowed inside.

All the blood in my body boiled as if scorched. It was the same sensation as when I swallowed a magic stone to learn magic in the academy. Now, new magic was being etched into my blood.

-These were indeed the ‘Spell Formations’ that might have allowed him to defeat Christ alone.

But Palinkron, at his own volition, sacrificed his body, which was both his magic stone and his blood, entrusting everything to me. As black mud sealed the wound, it moved like a mouth, leaving his final words.

“Now, all the ‘Spell Formations’ that Apostle Legacy and Fanian accumulated have been inherited by you. Take our will with you, take it all. As payment, I’m counting on you for the ‘Ordeals’ after the 120th floor, okay? Believe in that better flow… no, that ‘true thread,’ and we will move on. …Hey, Hein. You agree, don’t you…?”

It was a will similar to the last words of Romis and Legacy I had just heard. Palinkron had the intention of passing things on in his own way. At the same time, he called out to his steadfast and strong-bonded companion, asserting that they were not inferior to their childhood friends from a thousand years ago. In response, the souls, on the verge of disappearing within me, mustered their final strength. The two of them spoke in unison, bringing their final farewell to a close.

“‘Yes, my friend… It is our role to go ahead, our etiquette towards our ancestors. After all, my younger brother himself… was the best… the ‘True Knight’ of Helvishein…'”

“That’s right. We set all this up for you, so win, Rainer… Show us a ‘True Hero’ that isn’t a lie… finally…”

“‘We will show you… After all, the young boys and girls we entrusted… were…'”

“Ah, exceeding us… They were our proud… students…”

The black mud finished crawling into the wound. In an instant, their voices ceased. They vanished due to Christ’s “Distance Mute: Exorcism”. Though it felt like a piece of me was missing, leaving a hole in my heart – I immediately stepped forward. I had gained more than I had lost. They had simply gone ahead. The path left by those who departed was before me. Thanks to it, it was easier to walk, and I could see Christ standing at the end of the path more clearly.

With the continued departure of participants from the stage, only Christ and I now stood on the 100th floor. So, I called out to him, as if proposing a one-on-one duel.

“…Christ, let’s settle this.”

Christ, having been called, looked up at the sky from where Romis and the others had disappeared. He continued to chase the ascending magic particles with what seemed like deep envy. More than those terrifying magics, more than the words that pierced his heart. The ‘Proof’ of their departure together was what shook Christ the most.

The Christ, who looked as though he was about to cry, turned towards me and looked at me. He seemed to have no composure left, his movements alone betraying his unsteady footing. He was truly battered. Though he had no external injuries, his soul was severely depleted from repeated “semi-magification” and “semi-death.” He was in a state of continuous shallow panting, his shoulders heaving. However, it wasn’t just Christ; I was in a similar state. The wound from the ice sword had closed, but the repeated multiplication and strengthening of my soul had severely depleted my energy. On top of being utterly exhausted, I had also received a parting gift.

“Rainer. From your body too…”

Christ pointed to that parting gift. Black mist was leaking from my body as well. Likewise, the magic “The Wandering Fog and the End of Night,” which had filled the 100th floor upon death, had died and remained, infecting me. Frankly, the 100th floor itself was now a complete chaos. During the prolonged battle, all sorts of magic had been used, and their remnants had accumulated continuously. Field magic of all attributes had become mixed up and were deployed in multiple layers. The burden of this field magic was tremendous; merely breathing on the 100th floor was agonizing.
Normally, anyone would be unable to even stand due to the countless status ailments.

However, both Christ and I are still resilient, continuously squeezing magic from our souls as if struggling.

The final battle on the 100th floor of the labyrinth can now be called the epitome of a mud-slinging match.

I acknowledge various things and accept Christ’s points.

“Ah… I’ve been infected too, and I can no longer believe in my own power or victory. …But, nothing changes. Because Knight Rainer Helvirshine, like his master, has never believed in himself from the start. …It’s not because he dislikes himself. Not because he hates himself. Not because he wants to kill himself.”

Christ and I are beyond our limits, with no room to pretend.

Now, we are spewing our true feelings as they are.

We repeat what we were taught in the past.

We clash our hearts.

The battle with the Thief of Principles is coming to an end.

“I just believe in my surroundings more than myself. My deceased older brother and Hairi-san, even Palinkron who killed them both… And the Thieves of Principles who are connected to that Palinkron… Most importantly, I believe in you, who is facing me like this. Therefore, nothing I do changes. …I will just help you. That’s all we ever do.”

The Blessing from the Thief of Principles truly makes us realize what is truly important.

As if pushed forward by that Blessing, I answered.

It was a strange sensation.

My words were contradictory, and my logic was probably flawed. However, I felt that they most accurately represented our feelings at this moment. And that feeling, surely—

“Hey, isn’t that right? Everyone—”

Following Palinkron’s advice to strike while the iron is hot, I called out softly.

Surely, everyone feels the same as I do.

Therefore, I believe I can do what Romis Neisha did as a proxy.

“If everyone feels the same… Please, lend me your strength. I came all this way for that…”

When I finished speaking, I felt my blood pulse deep within the scab on my shoulder.

Matching the rhythm of that sound, I first reliably repeat the incantation I just heard.

“—’The world betrayed me’—”

I don’t know the lives of the men in that incantation. I have no reason to know.

However, by reciting their lives, I feel a connection forming.

“—’If everything turns black’ ‘Then I too will continue to betray myself’—”

It’s not connecting one person to another.

It is the true bloodline that has connected people to people.

Because they are people who have survived in this world, they can connect anywhere.

Believing in the true worth of Helvirshine, I finished my declaration.

“—Magic —”

Just like Romis and the others, the shallow waters at my feet began to swirl.

Black mud crawled up my body, and the swords in both my hands were completely covered by the black mud. Although their shape was slightly different from what they had constructed, they were twin black swords of the exact same quality.

As the magic completed, a vibration emanated from somewhere on the 100th floor—

—”Romis. …Believe them and entrust them. To these boys and girls of a thousand years later.”

I felt as though I heard an auditory hallucination.

I felt as though I was asked to pierce Christ’s depths with the black twin swords.

And it wasn’t just me who heard that auditory hallucination.

“Ti, Teeda…? …!”

Christ, surprised, gnashed his teeth at facing again.

From their perspective, it was the true magic that had exhausted its caster moments ago, and now it was back without a moment’s rest.

However, Christ quickly regained his fighting spirit. There was no problem. He started walking towards me on his wobbly legs, intending to erase it as many times as necessary.

On the way, Christ’s ice sword changed shape.

Perhaps he doubted that attacking with the same attack would yield the same result. Unable to believe in his own divine swordsmanship, he distorted the shape of the ice sword held by the demon beast’s arm.

All eight ice arms merged to form a large maw.

Christ created a terrifyingly large monster’s mouth, like an ice snake or dragon, in front of him, covering his own figure from sight.

Truly, his analysis and countermeasure construction are fast.

Undoubtedly, this “crushing with massive mass while evading sight” is the optimal solution for overcoming .

Moreover, that large ice maw is not ordinary. If swallowed, even true magic would be “frozen” and then crushed and digested.

With this, is helpless—but, believing in everyone, I continue to press forward.

With each step, the vibrations heard from somewhere on the 100th floor are joined by a continuation.

It was the vibration of a very proud yet very lonely girl—

—”Teeda, I’ll help. I support you too, who watched over me for a thousand years.”

I don’t know whose vibration it is. I have no reason to know.

However, my blood inside my body pulsed violently again, and I felt a connection forming.

And this time, it wasn’t just me.