Chapter: 154. The Moment of Closure (Part 2)
In what scene would one die to evoke the maximum anger and despair in Kanade?
Nayumi had spent countless hours contemplating this question.
And the conclusion she finally reached was—
“When a girl has just decided to spend the rest of her life with him.”
Nayumi had been waiting for this moment.
In the narrow corridor of the memorial shop, due to its recent opening and promotion of wedding photography, there were not many guests willing to come, leaving only Nayumi and Kanade in the store.
Standing in the corridor, they could faintly hear each other’s heartbeat.
Nayumi looked at Kanade, who was half-kneeling in front of her, and the simple box he pulled from his pocket.
She knew that the box contained the ring Kanade had gotten from the old blacksmith in Ishi-Tetsu Town.
She clearly knew what was happening, and she had orchestrated it all.
But when Nayumi actually saw Kanade open the box and reveal the ring, she still felt her heart flutter.
“I’ve decided to share my life with you from now on. Will you marry me?”
Kanade took out the silver ring and gently took hold of Nayumi’s left hand with his other hand.
Nayumi could tell at a glance that these were lines Kanade had rehearsed elsewhere, but even so, it sounded incredibly sweet.
—Was she really so easy to win over?
Nayumi scoffed to herself.
For a moment, weakness surged in her heart, urging her to abandon all plans and spend a peaceful and happy life with the boy before her.
However, Nayumi knew this was merely a dream that could never come true—
Stars twinkled.
The resonance of souls suppressed Nayumi’s current “self,” pulling her back into the role she needed to play.
“Kanade-kun, I…” At the moment the ring was about to touch her fingertips, Nayumi timed her words, her voice trembling slightly, showcasing a girl’s hesitation before the most important answer of her life under the starry backdrop.
Because Nayumi knew, that gentle Kanade would surely—
“I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to pressure you… I just wanted to convey my feelings to you, Nayumi…” Kanade awkwardly lowered his head, but soon gathered his courage, lifted his gaze, and gently turned Nayumi’s left hand over, placing the ring in her palm.
“You don’t have to answer me right away. If it’s about you, Nayumi, I’m willing to wait a day, a week, a year, or a lifetime.”
The starlight in Nayumi’s eyes flickered wildly, as if struggling against her inner impulses, enduring the agony within.
Because Nayumi knew that this response would truly require the boy before her to wait for a lifetime.
—————–
Just as the Special Ring SEMA had completed its deployment in Kawano City.
Nayumi had long since made arrangements for her own finale in Kawano City.
When the gentle breeze of Garuda delivered the “start of action” signal to the other contracted beasts lying in wait throughout Kawano City.
The first to act was the “fantasy monster – Cerberus,” the guardian of the underworld, who controls all “gates of the underworld” and possesses the ability to command all beings of the underworld.
Although Nayumi did not know the specifics of Special Ring SEMA’s actions, she understood one thing clearly: she absolutely could not die at the hands of Special Ring SEMA, nor could she allow herself to be indirectly killed by them.
Because she hoped that one day Kanade would be the protagonist to guard and save this world, while the psychic organization led by Special Ring SEMA had maintained its position.
If Kanade were to lose himself because of Special Ring SEMA, he would very likely stand against them.
That was something Nayumi absolutely did not want to witness.
So, she had to ensure that she dies at the hands of a fantasy monster, but given that fantasy monsters of this era had only just undergone a major iteration, it was difficult to predict when they would act; thus, Nayumi could only have her contracted beast play this role.
Among them, the “gates of the underworld” were a highly suitable enemy, as numerous fantasy monsters had the ability to summon “gates of the underworld,” as long as they originated from myths or tales about the “underworld.”
Cerberus only controlled all “gates of the underworld,” which did not guarantee that the gates would be opened by him, minimizing Special Ring SEMA’s suspicion.
Executing the “life-long regret” plan was not complicated.
All she needed to do was find an excuse to temporarily leave Kanade and then “coincidentally” be attacked by a creature from the underworld, thus completing everything.
How to die was never a concern for Nayumi.
What truly needed focus in this plan was—
—————–
Tick-tock.
The first to sense something unusual was Kurokawa.
Dressed casually in a simple outfit in the amusement park, he appeared to be an ordinary visitor.
Miderash, standing beside him in an ill-fitting school uniform, looked like a strangely dressed cute girl who should have attracted the curiosity of other visitors, but in reality, not once did any of the visitors turn their gazes towards Miderash; they simply could not perceive her existence.
The chaos authority was currently in effect in this city.
Even though Miderash had shed her awakened state and returned to being the innocent and cute little girl, the aura of authority she had left in this city still lingered. It was thanks to this chaos authority that Special Ring SEMA’s operational deployment could escape Kanade’s keen intuition.
Ordinarily, keeping Miderash in her “Nyarlathotep” state would allow for more timely responses to potential emergencies.
However, neither Adam nor Kurokawa dared to gamble that if Star Palace Nayumi truly was the End, then the contracted beast Nyarlathotep could very likely become the opposing force’s most powerful weapon.
So in this plan, Kurokawa’s role from beginning to end was merely “covering,” utilizing Nyarlathotep’s chaos authority to protect the actions of other pure psychics in Special Ring SEMA. Although he was an ACE level psychic from Moon Academy, due to the relationship between Moon Academy and Special Ring SEMA, he was now fully under SEMA’s command.
If any unforeseen events occurred, Kurokawa’s first task should be to escape from Kawano City rather than engage in combat.
However, when the aura of the gates of the underworld appeared above Kawano City.
He smelled something amiss.
Clearly, the emergence of the gates of the underworld increased the possibility that Star Palace Nayumi was the End, for this was one of the fantasy monsters contracted by the former savior, the “Elemental Sovereign.”
What puzzled Kurokawa, however, was—
Why hadn’t Special Ring SEMA moved until now? Why was the End suddenly in a hurry to reveal themselves?
The “fantasy monster – the End” was evidently the most unique existence encountered by humanity among fantasy monsters, seeming as if they were born to destroy the world, resembling the final boss from countless works. Yet, this did not mean they acted on a whim.
There was no assertion that “since they are the final boss, all their actions lack motive.”
An ominous premonition began to cause a dull ache in Kurokawa’s temples.
He sensed that events were skewing toward an irretrievable direction, yet he didn’t know how to stop it.
Until Miderash reached out and tugged at his outfit.
“…Miderash?”
“Do we really have to kill Nayumi-chan again?” Miderash surprisingly displayed a serious expression, her large eyes anxiously staring at Kurokawa.
Miderash’s innocence resonated with Kurokawa’s heart through the bond of the soul.
Had Nayumi really done anything to harm this world?
Even if she truly was that legendary fox priestess—
Memories of the time spent with Nayumi flashed through Kurokawa’s mind.
He couldn’t help but take a step forward.
This action seemed to attract the attention of Special Ring SEMA, and a roar from Adam echoed through the earpiece he wore.
“ACE Miderash! What are you doing? Get away from the target immediately!”
In response to Adam’s order, Kurokawa shouted back equally loudly, “What’s wrong with it!? Our perspective on Star Palace Nayumi might be wrong! Right now, she has no reason to expose herself like this! From what I know about her—”
“—Kurokawa Akiharu!” Adam sharply interrupted Kurokawa’s words, “This is not a time for emotional decisions!”
“…That should be my line, Mr. Adam. The death of the Elemental Sovereign in the past was not your fault… This hatred cannot justify our actions; we all know that even if you succeed in your revenge, he will never return…” After speaking, Kurokawa removed the earpiece and crushed it in his hand.
At that moment, he decided to formally defy the orders of Special Ring SEMA and Moon Academy.
Though he didn’t know what exactly was happening, he felt compelled to stop it because—
“Miderash, are you ready?”
“Mm! Mimi is ready!”
This was the request of his best partner.
He believed that Star Palace Nayumi was not the boss who would destroy this world, for in the past, she had countless chances to take Miderash from him, and countless chances to secretly destroy this world.
Adam had been blinded by hatred and overlooked the contradictions within.
Kurokawa also momentarily neglected these crucial details due to fear.
“Damn! Why am I only noticing this now? Why now?” Kurokawa sprinted toward Kanade and Nayumi, questioning himself in his mind.
Suddenly, a detail he had just overlooked caught his attention; it was an exceedingly easy word to miss—
“Wait, Miderash, did you just say ‘again’—”
Before he could finish.
A fierce wind descended from the sky, blocking the path between Kurokawa and Miderash.
“I’m sorry, but this path is closed.” A small, cute, white-haired girl calmly walked out from the raging storm.
Kurokawa recognized the girl’s identity, and his face turned pale with disbelief.
“…Garuda,” he murmured in disbelief.
But soon, another voice came from behind him, pulling his mind deeper into confusion—
“Garuda-nee, this time I won’t lose again—!”
—————–
“I’m so happy… really so happy, but I…” Nayumi’s fragile body shrank back, her hands tightly holding the ring in her palm, as if it were the most precious thing in her life.
“Nayumi…” Kanade looked at the hesitant Nayumi, and her pitiful posture made him want to rush forward and tightly embrace her.
But in the end, he refrained.
Kanade hoped that Nayumi would agree to his proposal out of her own volition, not because of pressure or a momentary emotional surge.
What Nayumi had said before the play made Kanade feel a flood of emotions, especially when he noticed she did not immediately accept the ring he offered.
He realized that Nayumi had been running around because of him; whether it was coming to Ark Academy, attending Infinity Academy, or even this elopement, it had always been about her facing a situation where she had to act.
Although he had asked Nayumi for her opinion, it was still a sly tactic.
This gentle and kind girl had never rejected him in the past.
His dream was to become the hero who saved this world, and now his dream was to stay by the side of the girl before him for a lifetime.
So what was Nayumi’s dream?
Every time Kanade thought he understood Nayumi well enough, he realized he knew her less and less.
Nayumi was indeed willing to embark on this wandering escape with him, but if there were no escape, what would Nayumi want to do?
Kanade had never considered this question.
Unknowingly, his existence was gradually eroding the possibilities of this girl.
Without waiting for Nayumi’s response, Kanade slowly stood up.
“I hope Nayumi can think carefully and reply to me later. No matter what the answer is, I’m willing to accept. But this is one thing I want to convey clearly to you—”
After he finished, Kanade revealed a gentle smile.
“Well then, Nayumi, why don’t you go check the costume room for any dresses? I’ll head back to the hall to wait for you.” Kanade said in a summary-like tone.
Then he turned around.
At that moment, Kanade had made up his mind.
He didn’t want to imprison Nayumi by his side for a lifetime; through this journey, he had come to understand this.
Even though Nayumi was with him from morning to night, he had failed to feel the same happiness as before.
Was it because his feelings had changed after becoming lovers with Nayumi?
The answer was no.
Kanade was confident that his love for Nayumi would never change.
The reason lay in this perilous world.
Though he and Nayumi chose to escape from this world, they remained a part of it.
Perhaps the pressure brought on by this escape would eventually weigh down Nayumi’s fragile nerves.
So Kanade had decided—
If Nayumi showed even the slightest unwillingness, he would end this endless journey of escape.
Whether through violence or any means necessary, he would negotiate properly with Special Ring SEMA or the three major academies.
Even if it meant sacrificing his own freedom, he would give this girl’s future infinite possibilities.
“…Kanade-kun, even though I might not take the commemorative photo… but could you come and see me in my wedding dress later?” Nayumi’s weak, slightly shy voice came from behind.
“Mm, Nayumi will definitely look beautiful in her dress…” Kanade nodded and turned to walk toward the other end of the corridor.
His intention was to give Nayumi time to cool down and think about her true feelings.
Moreover, he didn’t have the courage to stay beside the girl who had just been proposed to and had yet to respond; it would be terrible if she misunderstood and thought he was pressuring her.
But Kanade did not anticipate that this would be the first—and last—parting after the journey began.
…
…
If he had not chosen to elope with Nayumi and instead negotiated with Special Ring SEMA, could he have avoided this tragic future?
—————–
The authority of the storm enveloped the memorial shop.
Outside the memorial shop, countless monsters from the underworld had already descended upon the amusement park.
Special Ring SEMA’s psychics had already evacuated all visitors from the park in a rush, but the road leading to the memorial shop was blocked at every turn by the army of underworld monsters.
Logically, all the psychics participating in the action were at least of ACE rank, and mere underworld monsters should not have posed a threat to them.
These monsters, with a threat level at most of 5, were no match for ACE rank psychics whatsoever.
But unexpectedly, these monsters seemed to be influenced by some special force.
No matter how much damage they took, they could instantly heal back to their original state; even attacks strong enough to kill them in one strike failed to achieve that goal.
“This isn’t right! All personnel retreat!” The commander on site could no longer restrain himself after witnessing the underworld monsters he had expected to kill rising one after another.
But the next second, Adam’s voice resonated through everyone’s earpieces.
“At all costs, carve out a bloody path to Zone C12 and rescue the target ‘Tsukimi Kanade.’” After finishing, Adam added, “That’s an order.”
As soon as the words left his mouth.
A pole shot towards the group of monsters at supersonic speed from the distance.
It was an electric pole, with its steel body slicing through the stiff ground while piercing through a number of underworld monsters, brutally opening a path of flesh and blood to Zone C12.
Without a doubt, this was Adam’s support.
Zone C12 was where the target character was currently filming the commemorative photos.
The straight-line distance was only a few hundred meters.
For most ACE rank psychics, this was a distance they could cover in a matter of seconds.
But before the psychics at the blood path could move.
The monsters in front of them, all crimson and exuding an intense aura of the underworld, once again stood up from the pool of blood.
As if the previous attacks had merely been a dream.
This insurmountable wall made the onsite commander involuntarily utter:
“Mr. Adam, what’s the source of this power—”
“Ah, there’s no doubt, it’s the End’s doing.”
As someone who had once “had the fortune” to participate in that bloody battle to subdue the End, Adam naturally knew what was happening before his eyes.
“Can we approach the target from above?”
As soon as Adam finished speaking, even before the other ACE rank psychics could look up.
A drop of cold rain fell from the sky, landing on the shoulder of one of the psychics.
The next second.
“Find cover!” The psychic, hit by the raindrop, shouted in panic.
The shoulder he was struck on had already been sliced open in that brief moment, the cut smooth as glass.
This rain was no longer merely reconnaissance or a test.
Describing this rain as an attack was too mild; for those who had experienced that era, it had a more fitting name—slaughter.
When each raindrop contained vast magical power.
Then, the beings drenched in this torrential rain faced genuine slaughter.
Although Special Ring SEMA had borrowed transcendent items from their archives before the plan to resist Garuda’s domineering offensive, ultimately, these could only serve to delay the inevitable. No one expected a transcendent item to suppress the leader of the Ten Pillars, Garuda.
“N-No! We can’t get close at all!” A nearly transparent barrier unfurled above the psychics’ heads.
With it, temporarily blocking Garuda’s deluge was feasible, but the threats were evidently far more than that.
“The End’s state… is far better than we anticipated!” The psychics on site shouted urgently, “There’s no way for us to break through!”
The rain continuously eroded the barrier’s durability while simultaneously nourishing the magical power of the underworld monsters in front.
This made many psychics there suddenly remember the bloody battle of the past.
“And there are many innocent people needing evacuation—”
“By all means! Didn’t you understand that?!” Adam’s voice resonated over the onsite commander.
However, the source of the voice was not via the earpiece.
Adam’s figure appeared on-site with that furious roar.
The domain contained within the ring on his hand was already activated, and he hurled a punch towards the underworld monsters soaking in the rain.
The immense impact cleared many green health bars from his view.
Even the downpour paused momentarily due to this strike.
“Don’t bother with anyone else, everyone follow me—!!” As Adam spoke, he led the psychics behind him forward, his cold gaze burning with unprecedented anger and hatred, the magic power surging from the fissures of his soul filled his entire being.
“This is a blood battle to the death; we have no option of retreat! Only by killing Star Palace Nayumi can we preserve the protagonist and ensure our future!”
As soon as he finished speaking, he hurled another punch through the air, the immense magic power accompanying this blow.
Those underworld monsters that had just attempted to reform from the pooled blood once again fell to the ground, and even the raindrops that had been trying to fall were halted once more.
“Advance! Push forward at all costs!”
But at that moment—
A pitch-black flame descended from the sky.
Adam’s eyes widened suddenly as he threw a punch towards the flame.
The fist and the blade of fire clashed against each other, the violent shockwave sent all the psychics in the vicinity toppling over.
“…..Kill Nayumi-chan?” Kanade’s icy voice echoed from behind the blade formed of black flames.
His golden eyes radiated intense light, particularly conspicuous in the dim environment covered by dark clouds and the gates of the underworld.
“What the hell does the Special Ring SEMA truly want to do?” Kanade’s words seemed like a question, but he didn’t give the opposition time to answer.
Numerous streaks of black flame erupted from his back, sweeping across the psychics before him.
Although they immediately raised their fantasy weapons to counter.
But they were still a beat too slow.
Kanade’s attacks seemed to transcend the boundary of time and space, directly impacting their bodies.
Even with their specially made uniforms for protection, they still felt the searing pain of their souls burning, and their magic supply from their souls was interrupted for a brief moment.
“Tsukimi Kanade, stop! Don’t you understand?!” Adam pushed away the blade with his fist, creating distance between them.
The heavy rain began pouring from behind Kanade, transforming once again into silver strands connecting the sky and the earth.
Kanade, standing within the barrier, gazed solemnly at Adam in front of him.
The storm authority surrounding the memorial shop had been shattered by Adam’s fist.
In that instant, Kanade keenly felt the unusual situation outside the shop.
Before he could turn around to search for Nayumi, thanks to the extraordinary hearing granted by his beast state, he had already heard Adam’s earlier statement.
— Kill Star Palace Nayumi?
He had always believed that Special Ring SEMA merely wanted to confine Nayumi and use her as leverage to control him.
His kindness had never led him to envision the situation in a darker light.
But when he heard it from Adam’s mouth.
Everything suddenly became clear.
Rage instantly consumed his thoughts—
“Understand? What is there to understand?!” Kanade’s golden gaze harshly swept across the assembled psychics.
They were intimidated by the primal aura emanating from him.
It was a fear that penetrated to the core of instinct.
Just like a creature encountering its nemesis, they found themselves immobilized in that instant.
The only one who could counter him was Adam, who was equally filled with hatred.
“Star Palace Nayumi is not an ordinary person; she is the End itself.” Although Adam appeared to be explaining to Kanade, attempting to clear up their misunderstanding, his body aggressively took a step forward.
It was clear that for him at this moment.
Killing Star Palace Nayumi was everything; he no longer cared about Tsukimi Kanade’s thoughts or the future of the protagonist plan.
“Do you think I would believe your nonsense? Nayumi is Nayumi; she is definitely not the End!” Kanade stood his ground and took a step forward as well.
The black blade in his hand transformed into three sharp blades.
“Unfortunately, Tsukimi Kanade, I don’t have time to convince you right now. Step aside, or don’t blame me for being rude—” Adam’s gaze fell on the top of Kanade’s head.
There lay Kanade’s health bar.
“I won’t let anyone harm Nayumi!” At the same instant.
Kanade’s golden eyes exploded with dazzling brilliance.
This was a sign before the activation of a rewrite.
At that moment of tension.
Just as the two were about to engage—
They were interrupted by a voice coming from the rain curtain—
“No! Star Palace Nayumi is not the End! She, she is—”
The newcomer was a battered Kurokawa.
He shouted, “Star Palace Nayumi is—the true protagonist!”
As the final note of his words fell.
A tremendous collapsing sound erupted from the memorial hall Kanade was facing.
The billowing blaze illuminated the faces of everyone present.
At that same moment.
The downpour abruptly ceased.
In the skies above, a meteor radiated a light no less dazzling than the sun, descending from the heavens.
