-- A roar pierced the heavens.

　The forest chirped at the rush of magical power that overflowed from Amatsu.
　It's the only one to whom the soul-stirring cry is directed.
　The roar converges with the young man who boasts that he is a hero (a real one).

"Nonsense, mental magic?

　Olga's face is filled with frustration for the first time at the presence of a powerful mental image spilling out into the real world.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good deal more out of it.

''This is ......!

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

It's not a good idea to be able to have a good time.

　The moment the roar pierced through, Olga's vision turned white and her hearing was taken away.
　Furthermore, a thunderous numbness ran through his entire body, blocking all of his movements.
　His magical organs are also impaired and he is unable to use his recovery magic.

　I'm not going to be able to get the same kind of results as you.

......!

　You will be able to find out more about the fact that you are able to use it.
　The willpower etched in his eyes is nothing compared to the one he had just seen.

''----.''

　There were two wedges embedded in Amatsu.

　The first was carved into his body, a function to suppress the amount of magic power that Lily and George attached to him to prevent him from rebelling.
　There is no change in the magic that can be used, but the output of magic is suppressed.
　This is a magical wedge that restrains the ability of Amatsu.

　The second is the guilt carved into his heart that he is an imposter.
　His own thoughts are fake, and he can do nothing with a fake.
　So is the psychological wedge that has been holding back my own mind.

　-- Psychological Magic [Indelible Roar of False Sincerity (Indelible Roar)]

　With these two wedges shattered, Amatsu presents a false image of himself to the world.

　To prove his own image.
　To protect a girl who needs help.

Oh, ......

　Down on the ground and in pain, Michelle looks at the scene and thinks.
　After all, it's not a fake or anything.

　-- the cry was indeed real.

'--I'm going.'

　Then, Amatsu's full strength is released.
　Multiple blades are born from Amatsu's body and pierce into Olga's body.
　Not only the safe right arm, but also the left arm that should have been severed was regenerated and slammed into Olga as a single blade.

''Nah, Meruna ......!
''----!''

　The moment the blade struck, Amatsu noticed the unusual hardness of its body.
　It's a good idea to have a wedge that blocks the target's every movement, yet Olga is still able to use forceful magic.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get a good deal more.

"Haaaaaaaaa--!
"Gu, oh, oh, oh!

　The countless blades that Amatsu strikes collided with Olga's proud steel defense.
　Steel and steel, magic and magic and clash.
　The sound of metal clashing with metal echoes through the forest where magic power is raging.

"But ...... good luck, brother ......!

　There were cheers from Michelle, trying not to be drowned out by it.
　Even as he fought, his cries reached the ears of Amatsu.
　Gritting his teeth, Amatsu unleashed the biggest blow of all.

'----'

　The huge blade that was released broke through Olga's defenses.
　The steel flesh was torn apart and fresh blood gushed out.

　Then, Amatsu turned back to Michelle and said.

''--Run away, Michelle.''
What ......?

　--Why ...... when your brother has the upper hand?

　Immediately after.

　The driven wedge was completely shattered and Olga screamed out in rage.
　The large gouged out wounds are blocked up as if they were regenerating in reverse.
　Once again, the blade released by Amatsu was shattered by Olga's flash.

'Weakness!'

　Olga sneered as her whole body trembled.

''Weak, weak, weak, weak, weak!　Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
''----sss!''
Is that the power of mind magic?　Is that it?　That's what?　Hey, hey, hey, don't make me laugh, fake!

　Immediately afterwards, Olga's figure disappeared.
　It's not just a matter of time before you're able to get your hands on a new one.

It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on it.

　By the time Amatsu prepared himself, Olga's movements were over.
　As if the process was ignored, the sword has already been swung out.
　When he became aware of it, it had been torn wide open from his shoulder to his side.

　The mental image is broken and Amatsu stumbles back, holding the wound in place.
　He doesn't fall.
　It doesn't fall down, but it just stands there.

"What's not fake, What's real about this little fish?　That's what makes it real.

　Olga's sword blurs.
　Amatsu does not finish the cut with his eyes.
　Immediately afterwards, Amatsu's right arm was severed.
　It doesn't stop there, the flesh of his entire body is shaved off miserably.

　Spitting out blood, Amatsu fell to his knees.

'You're lucky, aren't you, fake?　This is how I get to see the real power in person.''
......
'Ha, you have a funny face. It's an ugly, ugly face that deserves to be fake.

　Olga laughs in a high-pitched voice at Amatsu, who is trying to hold on to consciousness.

It's the height of hubris. Did you think that a scum, small fry, scum, badly made sham could defeat me with the scum of the earth magic in the name of psychic magic?
...... I didn't think so.
Huh?
I didn't think I'd ever win at .......

　The [Indelible Roar of Sincerity (Indelible Roar)] is a magic that unleashes itself from a wedge.
　It is a magic that does not gain new power, but rather draws out all that one possesses.
　Hence, victory or defeat was decided from the beginning.

''...... it, but...''

　I have a mental image that no one else can take away.

I have to fight you!

　I put some life into my tattered body.
　The body was still moving.
　Amatsu shouted that victory or defeat didn't matter.

Oh, yeah.

　He sank to the ground in a daze after the fatal blow that Olga had delivered.
　Pushing into a pool of his own blood, there was a sloshing sound.

'I can't win, but I fought hard!　I see. So what does it all mean?　Did you get something out of it?

　Olga laughed as she slammed a kick into Amatsu's head.

Tell me something. Hey, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!

　Over and over again, Olga stomped relentlessly on Amatsu.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

...... Thank you, Michelle.

　And yet, Amatsu uttered that.

''Ah ......?''

　Trying to figure out the truth of those words, Olga looked for Michelle.
　And then she found Michelle, who was trying to escape to the forest exit.

'My brother ......!　I'll go get help, right away!

　Michelle shouted, her face crumpled with tears.

'So don't ...... die!'

　And without looking back, he started to run.

''Huh!　That b*tc*!　You ain't going to let her go!

　The moment Olga was about to leap to chase after Michelle, she saw something in Olga's leg.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find it.

"Let me go ...... not
You ......!

　The dead Amatsu was clinging to Olga's leg.

"Let go, you little fish ......!

　With a kick filled with magical power, Olga relentlessly slammed into Amatsu.
　With each blow, there was a squishy and deadly sound.
　But even so, Amatsu's restraints would not come off.

"You are ...... me, I'll hold you back, you ......

　That's why, Michelle.

　--You're the only one who can get away.

You...

　Run.
　Aiming for the exit of the forest, I run as fast as I can.
　I don't care about the pace, I just keep running.

Hah ...... hah ......

　Michelle struggled to hold back the tears that were about to flow and rubbed them away.
　Amatsu fought to save himself, even when he was in tatters.
　I don't want to let him die.

Someone ......!

　It would take a while to get out of the forest and into town.
　With Michelle's current legs, Amatsu would be killed before she could reach the city.

...... What can we do?

　It was just before Michelle walked out of the forest, fighting the desperation that made her collapse from her knees.

'----!'

　There were multiple figures in front of her.
　They weren't earth giants (golems), they were flesh and blood humans.
　Several men with weapons at their waists and their faces hidden by their hoods.

　The figure at the head of the group looked at Michelle as she came running, and a guffawed expression appeared on his face.
　From within his hood, he could see short, close-cropped yellow-green hair and thin blue eyes.
　He worked out on a daily basis, and the man was rugged enough to be able to tell even from the top of his robes.

Are you an orphanage kid, ......?　What are you doing here?
Please help me ......!

　Grasping at straws, Michelle told the men what was going on.
　An experiment that was taking place in the basement of the orphanage.
　That he had escaped from it and that there were people fighting to get him out of it.

What a thing to say about .......

　Clenching his fists, the man clenched his teeth.
　His body shook as he couldn't tolerate the atrocities going on in the orphanage.

''All right. Let's head to the orphanage now. We will help your friend in the fight.
Really ......!
Sure. So can you take me to that place where your friend says he is?
Sure. ......!

　I had just turned my back on the man to lead him to Amatsu.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

...... Eh?

　Falling down, Michelle turns around.
　The man had an expression on his face as if he were looking at something filthy, and before he knew it, he had drawn his sword.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has been struck by the hilt of a sword, Michelle realizes.

'Tch, bother. I don't know what George and the others are doing. What the hell is going on, letting this kid get away.
What are you gonna do?
Too lazy to carry the d*mn thing, I guess. You're gonna have to carry him with you.
'Yes, sir, I understand.' --Mr. Marx (・・・・・・・)

　In my fading consciousness, I thought I heard those words.


◆

Looks like we have our work cut out for us.
Yeah, I want you to be careful. If anyone escapes, that's no joke.

　Deep in the forest, George, Lily, and the hooded men were there.
　Michelle, unconscious, is slumped in the arms of an earth giant (golem).

'So ...... what's it like today?
'I just wanted to see how the example was disposed of, and to get my usual reward.
"...... is not the place to be today. There's been a lot of trouble. I got rid of them, but I'm not ready for the reward yet.

　The man in the hood frowns bluntly at George, who says he's sorry, but you'll have to come back out.

'Naturally, I'll give you a package of rewards as a thank you for catching the escapees.
...... I get it.

　The men nodded in agreement and left.
　They would use the transference camp hidden in the forest to return.
　Exhaling, George and Lily looked at the unconscious Michelle.

"What a pain in the ass!
'I broke out in a cold sweat when Olga tried to kill me.

　Dartis desires to remain unharmed.
　If Olga kills him, she will not be able to fulfill her beloved son's wishes.
　That was unacceptable, so the two of them went all the way outside the orphanage.

　Olga has already sent them back to the basement.

''Hmph, you're not good at it,''

　George kicked at the object that was lying on the ground.
　What met it was the remnants of Amatsu, whose entire body had been torn to shreds.
　He is barely breathing, but his body is broken to a level that can no longer be repaired.

''I had a little hope when I used my mental magic ...... but I guess I was disappointed in the end.
The useless one was useless to the end of his life.
We set the traps and they're destroyed. This place must be pretty darned useless. You, you trash!

　George kicks at him repeatedly, as if to take out his frustration.
　However, Amatsu is only breathing slightly and does not respond.

'Hmph.'
What are you gonna do with it?
Just let it go. It will dissipate into magical particles as soon as it's dead.
'That too. Well, let's go back to Dar, then.

　My lovely son is waiting for me.
　They left the place as they stepped away.


◆

　I can't see anything anymore.
　His eyeballs have lost their function and his eyelids will never open.
　His entire body was mutilated and he couldn't even crawl.
　Barely able to move her remaining left arm slightly.

　Michelle couldn't escape.
　At this rate, Michelle would be more miserable than dead.
　And yet, I no longer have the strength left to help her.

　There was no more time left.
　In less than a few minutes, Amatsu would be doomed to die.
　The only thing I can do is to be tormented by the regret of not being able to save Michelle and the others in the face of imminent death.

　That's when.
　I heard the sound of human footsteps close by.
　Apparently there are two of them.

　George and Lily must have come to stop them.
　If you don't do anything, you're going to die.

----

　The sound of footsteps approaching.
　The sound took her breath away.

　Strange, Amatsu thought, because George and Lily wouldn't be surprised to see him.
　George and Lily wouldn't be surprised to see him.
　If that's the case, the footsteps.

You're at ...... right there. ......

　I struggled to shake my barely safe throat.

'Please save and give the children ......, please .......'
............
That ...... orphanage is killing ...... children by experimenting on them. ......

　As if clinging to them, Amatsu stretches out his hand towards someone else.
　There were only a few seconds left until his own death.
　This is the last thing he could do.

The girl ...... is also in a terrible situation right now... ...
............
Please go to ......

　He said this and felt the power drain from his entire body.

　Time's up.
　I couldn't speak anymore.
　My outstretched hand is losing strength.

　Someone there can't speak.
　If someone as suspicious as me asked for help, I wouldn't normally believe them.
　Naturally.

　No wonder, though.

"...... help me save and give me ...... Mishiru.

　My throat, which was not supposed to move, finally squeezed that out.
　There was no power left in his body to speak, though.
　The last thing Amatsu said was that he just wanted to save Michelle.

　The strength from his hands is released.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

'----'

　Someone grabbed Amatsu's hand.
　The sensation of a strong, warm palm.

(...... ah)

　I wonder why.
　That hand, Amatsu knew.

　It was far, far away, beyond her reach.
　It was the closest thing he had ever seen.
　It was the real thing he had been seeking for a long time.

(Ah, ......)

　He can handle it.

　Don't worry.


　--Amaz fell asleep.





　An arm stretched out in desperation to save someone.
　Clutching it tightly.


Yeah, I'm on it.


　Amagatsuki Iori said.