--30 years ago.

　Together with my friends, I broke through the Five Generals Labyrinth.　
　After a fierce battle, I defeated three of the Four Heavenly Kings.
　The only remaining threats are Hilda, the last of the Four Heavenly Kings, and Ortegia, the Demon King.

　With all the labyrinths gone, the nations no longer have to fear a surprise attack from the labyrinth.
　As soon as the last labyrinth fell, the nations held a conference.
　As a result, they decided to invade the Demon King's territory with all their might.

　But of course, the Demon King's army would not remain silent.
　The army led by "Senhen" launched an attack on the empire where the brave party was staying.
　This is an invasion on an unparalleled scale compared to the past.

　Until the other nations are ready, we have to work with the werewolf species that had enough strength to fight the army.
　We would stay in the werewolf stronghold near the empire at the time and fight off the demons that attacked us day and night.
　This was repeated for several days.

　The night after we fought off the third attack, working with the werewolf species.
　Lucifina and I were facing the night breeze.

'They said the kingdom was ready to go this evening. The rest of the kingdoms have reported that they will be ready within three days.
...... We're so close to the final showdown.
Yes. Let's end the war with this.

　The main forces of the Demon King's army were Ortegia and Hilda.
　And there's only a silver-haired demon tribe whose name I don't know.
　If all the armies of all the countries and the brave party worked together, we would definitely win.
　That's what we were convinced of.

"Hey, Iori-san.

　Lucifina, her long blonde hair swaying in the night breeze, calling my name in a whisper as her cheeks were dyed.
　I felt my heart beat faster and tried not to let it show.
　Pretending to be calm, I ask Lucifina back in my usual manner.

'What's up?'
When the fight is all over, go to ......

　After saying that much, Lucifina stammered.
　She opened her mouth hesitantly, with a terrible sad look in her eyes, and then closed it.

'No ....... I'm sorry, it's nothing.

　I didn't need to hear the rest of the story to know what Lucifina was going to say.
　After the battle is over - I was promised that I would be returned to the world I came from.
　Lucifina must be concerned about that.

'Even after the war is over, there are still a lot of demons left, right? Some of them might not like to fight, like children or women.''

　A kyotoned expression appeared on her face and Lucifina nodded belatedly, ''That's right.

''Around the Church State, they might want to kill all those demons too. But I don't want to do that. I want to create a world where not only humans and sub-humans can live hand in hand with the demon race as well.

　This is the dream Lucifina has been talking about before.
　And it's as close to a dream as I've ever had.
　I want everyone to be laughing.
　That 'everyone' includes the demon race.

It's ......, you know. When this battle is over, will you still come with me?
----

　Lucifina gasped and opened her eyes wide.

'Oh, no, I mean, I'd invite you to join us, since Liuzas and the others are my friends, but, you know. What can I say about Lucifina? ...... I want you to stay with me forever.

　She spilled drops from her silver eyes and smiled incredibly.

You have my word, Iori-san.

　Lucifina nodded.

◆

　Shortly thereafter.
　We wanted to have one last fight with Hilda.
　Hilda had threatened one of our werewolf species and wanted to take me alive.
　We decided to use that to our advantage, and we decided to settle the score with Hilda.

'Pretending to be caught and tricking Attaches!　Liar, liar, liar, liar, ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

　An enraged Hilda swells up her entire body and transforms into a giant-like figure.
　Using its mass, Hilda swings her arms and legs recklessly like a spoiled child.
　It's a joke, but we couldn't get close enough to the attack that would turn us into chunks of meat with a single hit if we ate it.

I'm sure you've been taught that if you lie, Melt-sama will punish you, right?　Then why are you lying?　Do you want Melt to be punished?　Yes?
Shut your foolish mouth, all right!

　And then Ryuzas threw in some magic.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.
　Hilda, who was just rolling around jitterily, screamed out as the bullets pierced her entire body.

''It's depressing, that sorcery!

　While immediately regenerating the wound, Hilda slammed her fist into the ground.
　At that moment, the entire surrounding area was covered by a huge ward.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier.

''...... tch. A ward that inhibits physical ability and increases the magic power consumed. ......!

　In the warding, the moment Liuzas' magic stopped.
　As if to say that they were waiting for you, Hilda attacked Liuzas.

''Olaaah!　Instead of God, take your punishment of Atakushi!

　The huge fist of Hilda is closing in on Ryusas.

It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time.

　Dionis meets the blow with the demon sword.
　It's not just a matter of time before you are able to get your hands on a new one.

''Gu......Uuuuugh!''

　Hilda's staggered face was shot by Liuzas' magic.　
　In the meantime, me and Lucifina approached Hilda and slashed off both of her legs with our swords.
　Hilda screamed and was knocked to the ground with a Zudan.

''Ahh!　Abusing a girl like this by coming by and torturing her, you guys are the worst--
Shut up.
Shut up, please.

　Me and Lucifina slash Hilda's torso at the same time as she tries to imply nonsense.
　The upper half of her body is torn to shreds, and Hilda rolls on the ground, splattering blood all over the ground.
　In the middle of this, the giant's body is discarded and Hilda returns to human size.

''--!　Depressing, depressing, depressing, depressing, depressing!　　You always get in my way!　You're an eye sore!

　While shouting, Hilda shoots her magic.
　With a magic technique usurpation (spell dibauer), it was instantly nullified.
　Her face contorts, and Hilda shoots her magic arts wildly at Liuzas instead of me, but Dionis prevents all of them.
　As me and Lucifina closed the distance, Hilda stopped her sorcery and took a big leap backwards.

''Hah ...... hah ....... I heard that?　You guys said you want to live with not only humans and subhumans, but also demons, right?　Is that really what you're saying?
I'm serious. I'm serious. We're going to end the war and create a world where all species can work together.

　Hilda shuddered at my response and hugged herself with both arms.

'Kitto!　I just got goose bumps because I feel sick!　Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!　That kind of thing makes me feel nauseous and sick to my stomach aaaaaaaaaaah!

　Hilda scratching her head and stepping on the ground.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　The defenseless torso is cut in half with the 'Tenri Sword'.
　However, Hilda will not die.

"You're in my way!
''Kuu.''

　Along with regenerating my body, I hit Lucifina with a kick.
I catch it with the 『Tenri Sword』, but unable to kill the momentum, Lucifina drops back to my position.
　Hilda paid no attention to Lucifina and gave me a sharp look.

'After killing each other so much!　I don't understand!　Where is it worth it to go that far!

　Hilda's scream, as if to spit out.

''Humans are foolish, sub-humans are foolish, and the demon race is full of foolishness!　They can't possibly go hand in hand!

　Hilda exclaims, cursing all the races in an evil way, and saying that she can't understand my thoughts at heart.
　I understood Hilda's stance to some extent after the fight so far.
　This guy really only cares about himself.
　Because he happened to be born into the demon race, he belonged to the demon king's army, which would be the organization he would enjoy the most.
　He has no camaraderie with the other demon clans, and sees everyone else equally as little more than toys, except himself.

''You wouldn't understand, would you?''

　A man who can only think of himself will never understand.
　And yet, I told him.
　Because this will be the last time I will be able to exchange words with this guy.

'I don't have a sense of discrimination, like 'I'm a subhuman, so I can't' or 'demonkind is unholy'. They just look like humans with ears and tails and different skin colors.

...... Huh?

'I've seen a lot of people before I got here today. Many of them were in pain. The war had burned my village to the ground, I had lost my family and friends, I was hurting myself, and people, sub-humans, demons, everyone was sad. That made me feel bad. So I want the world to be a place where everyone can laugh.

...... You think because we don't have a sense of discrimination, we're going to reach out to our enemies, the demons?

''Yeah. There are many demon races like Ortegia that want war. It's the same with humans. But there are also demon races that don't want to fight. So I want to end this war so that all races can join hands with each other.

...... Is that the consensus of all of you?

'Not all humans and subhumans want it. But me, Lucifina, Dionis, Liuzas, and all of my people want it.

----

　Hilda closed her mouth.
　She lowered her eyes for a moment, as if remembering a distant day, and let out a small breath.
　It's not a typical gesture, but I was expecting it.

"--Oh, the flower garden, isn't it?

　But it was done to Hilda's mockery and shattered in dismay.

''Pu, pu pu pu!　Ahhhh, hahahahahahaha!　All my friends want that, huh!　Really, really, really, you're a flowerbug!　Hahaha, you're just too much fun.

...... Yeah. I knew you'd say that.

Sad people, suffering people, painful people, dying people, frustrated people!　It's the best way to enjoy life!　You and that half-elf must be crazy to try to do away with that.　You're disgusting!　Nothing in this world is sweeter than the misery of others!　I want to lick it up and live happily ever after.

...... You're the one who's being silly, Hilda. The only thing you can do is to enjoy other people's misery, you poor bastard.

　From the bottom of my heart, I thought.

'--Huh?'

　Hilda, who was shaking her orange hair and screaming in a high-pitched voice, stopped moving with a snap.
　The twin eyes that had been lighting up with madness mixed with something unknowable, and the tone of her voice changed as if a different person was using Hilda's vocal cords.
　As the atmosphere changes, a sticky air envelops me, as if licking my entire body.

'Crappy ......?　You have a habit of not knowing anything, but you say it like you know a lot. The most important thing in life is entertainment. It's not your sense of justice or the compassion that Lucifina has. It is precisely because you are obsessed with such trivial things that I feel pity for you.

...... Is that who you are?

Well, how do you think? Well, at any rate, I can't live without someone being unhappy. That's why I want you guys to be unhappy.

　As if the earlier leopardopard change was a lie, Hilda returns to her original tone.
　She smiles a vicious smile that seems to boil over with malice and begins to utter her selfish arguments.

'Then go ahead and die quickly.

　However, before Hilda could get the last word out of her mouth, Liuzas' magic interrupted her.
　Consumed by the ember fire that fell from directly above, Hilda's body was instantly turned into extinguishing coals.
　Ryuzas must have decided that it was not worth exchanging any more words.
　And that's what I agreed with.

'...... Huh. Troublesome guys.

　In a jiffy, the flames were extinguished in the blink of an eye, and Hilda, whose entire body was carbonized, appeared.
　In the blink of an eye, her entire body regenerated back to its original state, and after a few seconds, she became unharmed.

...... Why don't you learn to be a good sport?　My body will always be perfect!

　Hilda sneered at the futility of the attack.

　I'm sure Hilda is right.
　You can't kill this thing, no matter how many wounds you do to it.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it all go back to normal.
　Regular attacks are useless.

　So.

Uh-huh.

　I pierced Hilda's chest with my bare hands.
　Hilda, full of gaps, looked down at her own chest, which had been penetrated without resistance.

'Iyan. What happened all of a sudden?　You're going to stick that thing in my navel.
It's only recently that I've been able to figure out how you're able to transform your body at will.
...... Yes?

　Hilda once referred to herself as a shapeshifter.
　Shapeshifters are one of the beings classified as demons.
　It seemed that their numbers had been greatly reduced due to the repeated wars, and the information obtained was scarce.
　But recently, I found out something definitive.

　--Shapeshifters are said to be able to use "magic" to transform their bodies at will.

　That's right, magic.
　It is said that Hilda can transform her body to a far greater degree than the shape-shifters that were reportedly available.
　But if it's witchcraft that makes it possible, you can find out more at ----

It's just a matter of getting rid of all the magic.

　Directly within Hilda's body, she invoked the magic technique usurpation.
　In the blink of an eye, the magic power in Hilda's body decreased.

''Ah ...... the magic power directly from within the body of Attachi ......?
Ah. That's the end of it.
"Brave man, you eeeeeeee!

　Hilda, with a face like a demon, reaches out her hand to me.
　But it never reached me.

"I won't let this person touch you.

　Because Lucifina slashed off both of Hilda's arms.

'Oh...... ah......!　No!　Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!

　Hilda is jittery and algae, but the speed at which I'm sucking in magic is faster than the speed at which I'm transforming my body.
　Just by rampaging around, Hilda can't escape from me.
　A large amount of magic power that flows in from Hilda.
　Despite the uncomfortable feeling in it, I quickly changed my thoughts.

'She likes misfortune, I hear.
......

　I say to Hilda, as her eyes widen.

'- and enjoy your misery in the afterlife.

　Immediately after those words, I was drained of all my magic.
　I let out a breath as I gasped, and Hilda's eyes flipped over with a grin.
　And as it was, Hilda's body leaned back--.

This isn't the end.

　Hilda gave a ripping smile as she fell.

'Nah.'
......

　A chill ran through me, and me and Lucifina instantly stepped back from Hilda.
　Immediately afterwards, the body of Hilda, with a bobble, swelled up like a balloon.
　An unnatural transformation that is somewhat different from the previous transformations.

''Ha, hahahahaha!　You guys, you're all road warriors!

　Immediately after the triumphant, shout.
　Hilda's body glowed and shone - exploded.
　It was a self-destruction.

　What poured out of Hilda's body was a dazzling light.
　It spread furiously, with a force that swallowed all of us here.
　I can't avoid it - the moment I thought that.

My body is for the purpose of protecting someone.
　My body is to protect someone else. My hands are to save someone else.
　Even if I were to split myself open, my vow would never perish.

　With a quick chant, Lucifina activated her magic.


May we live in a world where no one is hurt.


　It is not just witchcraft.
　It's mental and imaginary magic born of Lucifina's strong feelings.
　It can only be invoked at the moment when Lucifina truly wants to protect her friends.

　Light floods from Lucifina's body and covers my body.
　The same goes for the bodies of Liuzas and Dionis behind me.
　This light is a ward that blocks all pain.

　--However, this ward does not protect Lucifina, the one who initiated it.

　Lucifina's village was destroyed by the attack of the Demon King's army.
　Beyond that, the only survivor was Lucifina.
　Because of this, Lucifina has always felt guilty.
　She felt that she had sacrificed everyone else and survived alone.

　So, this time I will protect the people I love, even if it means sacrificing my own body.
　That's what Lucifina has in mind.

"Lucifinaaaaah!

　At the same time as I shouted, a light covered my vision.
　Lucifina's mental image magic completely protected us from the light.
　There is not a single scratch, not a single pain.

　Like a wave receding, the light faded away.
　When my vision returns to normal, I see Lucifina lying on the ground, covered in wounds.
　Immediately after, Lucifina's mental magic collapses as it unravels.

''......ssh.''

　He ran over and looked down at Lucifina, who was still lying on the ground.
　Perhaps seared by the blast, Lucifina's body had been burned all over.
　However, she still had breath.

''High level healing (high heels)!''

　Immediately, he gave Lucifina a cure.
　Again and again, I cast a healing spell on her.

''...... Iori-san.

　Lucifina opens her eyes thinly.

'Are you ...... injured, ......?'
Yeah, .......
...... Thank goodness.

　Lucifina looked relieved.

'...... you're always like that,'

　Lucifina has always fought for someone else.
　She'd hurt herself and jumped in front of danger herself, sacrificing herself to protect someone else.
　I thought Lucifina was more beautiful than anyone else, because she never bent her knees, even when she was covered in wounds and blood.

　But.

I don't want you to get hurt like that. ......

　Lucifina is strong.
　That's why she's able to fight and protect everyone.
　We've all had Lucifina's support.

　If you allow Lucifina to go on like that, she will get hurt.
　Lucifina will be hurt endlessly.
　But she will still laugh and continue to fight for someone else.
　I don't want to see Lucifina like that.

"I'm crying ......?

　Lucifina put her hand on my cheek and wiped away the drops that had unknowingly spilled out.
　Seeing that compassionate smile, I thought.

　If Lucifina is going to get hurt in order to create a world where no one gets hurt.
　I'm going to protect Lucifina.

　Because I...
　I want her to be laughing.


　They did, and she recovered.
　Three days later, she was able to fight as usual.
　A few days later, with the cooperation of all the countries, we entered the Demon King's territory.


　And.


"Leave the rest to us. Your work is now done.

"A world without conflict?　Oh ...... you seriously thought that. Saving this world by coming from another world?　You didn't think it was impertinent?'

Goodbye to your hero, Amatsu.


　I was betrayed by Lucifina.

◆

Who are you?

　For some time now, I've been feeling uncomfortable about Lucifina.
　I've been trying to figure out the cause of that feeling of discomfort, and I've come up with an idea.
　I wondered if that Lucifina was really Lucifina.

'Who is it? This was troubling. At last, you don't even know the name of the person in front of you anymore?

　The fearless smile that appeared for a moment disappeared and Lucifina let out a sigh of dismay.
　I can feel that she is making fun of us from the bottom of her heart.
　The figure is Lucifina's, the face is definitely Lucifina's, and the voice is Lucifina herself.

'Don't fall in love with me.

　Still, I'm pretty sure the woman in front of me isn't Lucifina.

"You put wards on the Twisted Village. I touched the wards. That's when I knew something wasn't right.

...... strange?

The magic power that builds the wards was definitely Lucifina's. But while I was examining it, I realized that there was another magic power inside the magic power. But during my research, I discovered that there was another type of magic mixed in with the magic.

　I can assure you that it was Lucifina's magic power that I kept feeling closest to her.
　That was someone else's magic power in the skin of Lucifina.
　I can feel it from the light I got from this labyrinth, and from the magic power that's developing in this room right now.

'You think I'm not Lucifina because of the mix of magical powers?

Yes. And I didn't like the way you said and did things.

　The fact that he called the Underworld the Underworld is another thing that feels strange.
　There's something odd about remembering the Abominable Light Labyrinth, and the times we fought near the fort, and the oddest thing about it is

Then I thought about this and that and remembered .......

What do you mean?

I know the magic mixed in with Lucifina's insides.

Yeah. So who am I?

　He looks at me like Lucifina would expect him to look at me.
　Just like when they realized the prank I had secretly set up for them.
　With a delighted smile on her face.


" -- 'Thousand changes' Hilda."


　I uttered the name.

　The magic power that was inside Lucifina was strictly different from Hilda's magic power.
　It is different in quality from Hilda's.
　However, when I recall the magic power taken from Hilda in the usurpation of the magic technique, I realize that it is the same in some respects.

　--The magic power mixed with Lucifina was the same as the 'magic power mixed in Hilda'.

''Huh. Fufu...... Fufu. Haha, hahahahahaha !!!!''

　When Lucifina heard Hilda's name, she began to laugh out loud while shaking her body.
　It's a hearty laugh, as if she had heard an extraordinary joke.

''Fu...... hmph, hmph. Ah, Hilda. That's a familiar name. Was it 'Attaxi'?　She was an interesting character. She would squishy and change her body shape at will, and whether she was cut down by an enemy or shot through with magic, she would giggle and laugh like a clown. I still remember her to this day.

　Looking up at the ceiling as if remembering a distant day, Lucifina uttered that in a sincere tone.
　It was a moment when she was almost enraged that she was still in love with the way she talked as if it was someone else's business.

''--I had a lot of fun (・・・・・) acting (・・・・・・・・),''

　His tone of voice has changed.
　No, it's not just the tone of voice.
　The quality of his smile, the inflection of his voice, his eyes, his posture, and even the atmosphere he was wearing, all changed drastically as if he were a different person.
　Even Elfie's eyes have been peeled away from the change.

I'm not a Lucifina. You're right, I used to call myself 'Senshenka' Hilda," she said. But that's not enough. I don't think you've given me a good enough idea of who I am.

Who are you, then?

''In honor of the brave man who half figured out who I am and the former Demon King who arrived here alive and dirty, I will officially announce my name for the first time in hundreds of years. It's a little too late, but it's the answer to the thirty years' worth of questions.

　With a split smile on Lucifina's face, the fellow said.

"My name is Hilde Garda.


　--"My name is Hilde Garda, and I was once called 'Yin'."

You're not going to be able to do that.

　The name Lucifina mentioned stopped me from thinking.
　Because it was a completely unexpected name.

''It can't be ....... You can't be Hilde Garda.

　Elfi, who had been silent until then, denied Lucifina's words with a grim expression.
　I didn't need to ask her why she denied it.

　--Hilde Garda.

　One of the "dead heaven" who served the first demon king.
　He was feared along with the title of "Yin", a primordial demon race.
　Rather than direct combat, they excelled at using warding and sealing.
　And Hilde Garda is said to have died in the middle of a war long ago.

How. How can you be so sure?

　In a provocative tone, Lucifina throws a few words at Elfie.

'Because Hilde Garda is dead. And that was hundreds of years ago. Why is such a person standing before us in the form of a half-elf?

I'm sure I died once.

　After acknowledging death as a fact, Lucifina continued to speak.

''My body was severely damaged and my soul was cracked. It was so badly wounded that it could not be healed even by using healing magic. But it is not a complete death. For I entered another body faster than I could die.

Another ...... body?

I just happened to be in the body of a demon who was nearby. To put it simply, it was possession. I escaped death by entering another body. The fact that I was able to use the possession spell was a complete coincidence, though.

　Possession.
　The word reminds me of an exchange I had with Idler a few days ago.
　That night, I asked the idler this.

'Do you know the demon (・・・・・・・・・・) art of taking over another person's body (・・・・・・・)?　Or something close.'

　If Lucifina is a fake, then someone is using Lucifina's body.
　That's what I thought, and I asked the idler who was familiar with magic.
　And that guy nodded.

There are some. I remember seeing a reference to this in the past. But it's called "bad magic". It's called "bad magic". That's what I think, too. I don't think I could conjure up a spell to transform into someone else, or create a doll that looks exactly like them, but I don't think I could do it, either.

　Still, Idler admitted that it existed, to a point.
　Magic such as possessing another person's body had only been researched a long time ago.
　As a result, he said, a failed magic was born with a high risk and a near-zero success rate.

　After telling him about Lucifina's magic power, Idler concluded after worrying about it, ''It's low, but it's possible.
　It's because having someone else's magic power mixed inside would be impossible under normal circumstances.

''If I tell you this much, you'll understand.　I've possessed many human bodies in my life. Hilda and Lucifina is one of them.

----

　The fact that a familiar face and a familiar voice is being used by a stranger in a self-serving way makes me so angry that my vision turns red.
　What ...... is one of them.
　Why are you using Lucifina's body as your own?

　The only reason I'm able to maintain a sane mind while being tormented by such anger is because there are so many things I still don't understand.
　Honestly, there's a lot of confusion.
　I wanted to clear up my doubts before I did anything else.

'When did you ...... take over Lucifina's body?

Right after it blew itself up. 'It was a very simple task. "Right after I blew myself up, it was a very simple task. I was convinced that Lucifina would use her psychic magic to protect you. That's why all I had to do was take advantage of the explosion to get inside my unprotected body.

Wait. So you were going to take over Lucifina's body all along?

'That's right. The fact that the werewolf species (werewolf) called something failed to capture you alive, the fact that you pretended to be captured alive and took me by surprise, the fact that the shapeshifter's weaknesses were exploited and his magic was taken away from me, all of this was part of the plan that I had concocted to get into this body.

----

　I was speechless as Hilde Garda spoke proudly.
　Then what.
　You mean I was dancing in the palm of this guy's hand from the beginning ......?
　Has Lucifina been hijacked because I proposed to reverse Hilda's plan?

　The impact was like heaven and earth being turned upside down, and I almost lost strength from my body.
　Just as I was about to, I was propped up by Elfi.

'...... Assuming you're really Hilde Garda, that's very different from the lore.

Yeah?

The Hilde Garda of lore says that she dusted herself off for the demons and fought to the end. She was too different from you, who ridicule others and trample even the demons.

That was when I was in the shadows. "When I was in the shadows, I saw the world not from the perspective of the shadows, but from the bodies of tiny demons, humans and sub-humans, who had no power or position in the world, I realized that there was no reason for me to serve any of them. There was no reason for me to serve any of them from the beginning.

　Hilde Garda responds to Elfi's pointing out the differences between the lore and the lore in a spitting tone.

'Do you guys know?　It's been said as if humans and demons have been at war with each other endlessly for a long time, but there have been many moments when different species have tried to go hand in hand.

...... What?

I've been working hard to achieve world peace behind the scenes. Peace was the first Demon King's dream. But it was meaningless. All races are always abandoning peace for petty reasons. No matter how many times Watashi repeated it, the war never ended. So I realized.

　Letting out a low laugh, Hilde Garda said.

The humans are foolish, the sub-humans are stupid, and the demons are foolish, so there is no point in my contributing to this. Therefore, peace will never be achieved, and there is no reason for me to dedicate myself to it.

　Taking her gaze off Elfie and turning her face upwards, Hilde Garda's eyes narrowed as if she was remembering something.

'Then it was hard for a while. I didn't know what I was living for. I lost my purpose, and I wanted to die a lot. But you're afraid to die, aren't you?　I'm not Dionis, but the disappearance of the individual that is me is very frightening. So I lived on as if I were dead, ravaged by the poison of boredom.

...... And the end of it all is what you are now?

'That's right. I realized one day that all species are silly. I realized one day that all species are silly, and that's why they amuse me. When I see you all gasping in misery, it gives me hope to see more. It gives me hope to see more, and to live.

　With a twinkle in her eye, Hilde Garda says that the misery of others is what makes her life worth living.

'Once I understood that, it was fun. First of all, I decided to play with the body I had taken over. When I killed all the family members of the owner, I saw the despair on their faces and felt so much pleasure that I almost lost my balance. The trick to this is to become the owner of the body. By imitating their words and actions, they cruelly destroy the people and places they cherished. It's a great pastime.

　Hilde Garda spins her words in a sing-song tone, laced with malice.

'Do you remember Hilde?'

　I take my gaze off of Elfie and he looks at me with an ecstatic expression.

'She had no family, she was a lifelong loner. That's why Hilda was so lonely. She wanted a companion to snuggle with. So she tried. She tried to keep her tone cheerful and jovial so that she could have a companion. As a result, Hilda made a lot of friends. But in those days, during the war, her companions were always anxious. So Hilda tried to cheer them up by using exaggerated, clownish language.

　I saw Hilde Garda smile as she said that, and I saw a ripping smile on her face.
　The same smile that Hilde had on her face.
　A nauseating, malice-filled smile.

'So, having taken over her body, I stomped on it with all my might. The friends she was trying to encourage were all killed with her clownish words and actions. With her own idea of 'making others uncomfortable' in her words and actions, Watashi has offended and killed many of them.

　I remembered Hilda's words.

　--I had many friends who adored me because of such a delightful personality, but ....... The past tense is because I killed them all for fun!

The truth is, even if you take over a body, you can still understand the thoughts of its original owner for a while. That's why I've been listening to Hilda's screams for a while. 'Stop, please don't kill my friends,' she said. I was just trying to cheer them up. "Ouch, stop, don't cut me. The whole time ...... Hilda was screaming, and she kept screaming. Well, that Hilda was killed by you sucking all the magic out of her, right?

　I couldn't breathe with those words.
　I had an innocent Hilda on my hands, the guilt was definitely there.
　But the worst of it went through my head.

　It wasn't that I hadn't considered that possibility.
　I thought about it, and I felt like I was going to throw up.
　But I also wished it was different.

"So, ...... no way. Lucifina will always be ...... too.

'Yeah. --and the voice in Lucifina's heart, too, watashi kept listening.

　Hilde Garda nodded and smiled more ugly and fearlessly than anyone I'd ever seen before.
　Then he said, ecstatically.
　'With Lucifina's face, with Lucifina's voice, with Lucifina's way of speaking.

'I don't want to. I don't want to kill Iori-san. I don't want to betray Iori-san.'
'Why is ....... Why are both Mr. Liuzas and Dionis trying to kill Iori?''
'We've been working so hard, together at ....... How can you all say that?
'Iori-san was just forced to be brought in from a world she had nothing to do with.
"Don't. It doesn't matter what happens to me. So just don't kill me, Iori-san.
'Oh no ...... Iori, run away ......'
'Ah ...... ah ...... ah!'
"Why are you doing this to ......?
'I ...... I, I, I killed Iori ......'
'No, no, no, no, what do you want me to do ...... Iori, Iori, Iori, ...... Iori.'


'-It was a great amusement to observe Lucifina pleading for you like this.


　Lucifina had seen it all.
　Lucifina saw how Lucisus and his friends betrayed me with glee.
　And she saw them cut me down with their own hands.
　All of this, all of this, all of this, was on display.

　What would that kind-hearted Lucifina think if she was shown such a scene?

......

　My knees give out of strength.
　If it weren't for Elfi supporting me, I would have fallen down.
　Hilde Garda looks at me like she's enjoying watching me.

''That's it ....... It's the best ...... I can't stand it. That look of desperation ...... hmmm. Oh, after all, the most important thing in this world is entertainment.

　Her cheeks were red, her eyes were glowing, and she was watching in ecstasy as she hugged herself with both hands, letting out a hot breath.

'...... Why did you take over Lucifina's body? Until you made a plan.

Yeah. Yeah, I just can't stand the ideals you've been upholding. A child of only a dozen years old, from an unrelated world, to say what, to create a world where all species go hand in hand?　There are limits to how far you can go. What's the point of being brave. You're too stupid and dizzying to pretend to be a hero just because Melt gave you power.

'So ...... Lucifina for ......?'

'That's right. It took this body to thoroughly trample such joking ideals. "The body of this woman that the hero, Amatsu, had put his heart into and was in love with."

----

'And you've done everything you can to destroy the amusement I've prepared for you in Hilda's body. I'm deeply offended that someone like you would take away my enjoyment.

----

So ...... yes. If you want to put the acts that I've been doing with Lucifina's body together with yours--

　Hilde Garda spreads his arms wide open.
　He steps forward significantly, as if to show Lucifina's body.

''--This is my revenge (...)

　I said, laughing in hearty amusement.

'----'

　I've killed many vengeful people in my life.
　And I hate them all with all my heart.
　But I'm reminded of that.
　The bottom is a value that I have determined for myself.
　There is no end to the feelings of hatred.

...... Iori. Don't ask. That's all the more reason to stop.
Iori Amatsuki Iori. How was my revenge?

　Elfie's words as if he was worried.
　Hilde Garda interrupted him quickly.

'To find out that Lucifina, whom you would have hated most, was a victim. To know that Lucifina, stout and tender-hearted, was crying and begging me not to kill you. Knowing that she was crying out in despair after killing her beloved with her own hands!　Come on, Iori Amatsuki!　Let me hear it by all means!　How the hell do you feel right now? !

　Hilde Garda has a frenzied look on her face, rattling off words and asking me what I think.
　Elfi almost opens his mouth at the words that seem to gouge his wounds, but I control it with my hand.

'Vengeance.'

　You will use Lucifina's body to kill me.

This is ...... your revenge?

　Unlike me, who tastes pain and despair and then kills in the end.
　It is different from Liuzas who shakes with ridicule, and kills in the end.
　This is Hilde Garda's revenge, submerging her opponent in the dripping nectar of malice and licking him to the marrow of his bones.

Kuku ...... kuku.

　Oh ...... really, it's a masterpiece.

'Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

　Oh.
　Certainly, it would have been the perfect way to despair me.
　Great revenge, I agree wholeheartedly.

...... What's funny?

　Hilde Garda gives me a dubious look as I laugh loudly.

''Are you satisfied with this, Hilde Garda? Is that it?　What else?　You're gonna give Elfie a good shake and kill him?　Or do you want me to hear the hostages scream for you?　Will you let me watch the subalterns burn and die in the Great Forest?　And so, after jin shaking, you will kill me again with Lucifina's body?

What are you talking about?

'Either way, you're going to use that hostage as a shield to kill me, right?　You said it in the beginning, didn't you? You said I'm the only one who's going to absolutely beat you to death. So you're going to 'finish' me off.

'So what are you saying!

　Hilde Garda.
　That's the extent of your revenge that will satisfy you, isn't it?
　You despair of me, you kill me, and that's all that matters to you, isn't it?

That's not good enough for me, man. I'm just saying, that's not enough for me to get my little revenge.

----

　That's why.

I'll show you... I'll show you my vengeance.

　I'm going to show you the hell that never ends.