--I remember.

　"After defeating Hilda, the Thousand Changes, we returned to our base.
　The injured Lucifina, after having completely healed her wounds with healing magic, is being put to sleep in her room.
　Ryusas and Dionysus also seem to be resting in their respective rooms.
　I was back in my room too, but I couldn't sleep.

　Psychic magic [May it be a world where no one is hurt (vows) (ataraxia)].
　The self-punishing mind-image sorcery that Lucifina held.
　It's a sorcery to protect someone, but that someone doesn't have Lucifina in it.
　I thought that was ...... too much.

　In my opinion, Lucifina is the one who has fought the hardest in the brave party.
　Hurt, suffering, and yet Lucifina kept going by scraping herself.
　It's the opposite of the way I've been living my life, which is just flowing through the motions.
　That's why I thought Lucifina was beautiful.

I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep at .......

　I can't help but feel dazed.
　Leaving the room, I decide to go check on Lucifina.　

　I knock on Lucifina's room, but there is no answer.
　She seemed to be asleep.

...... quicksilver, can't we just go in?

　If Lucifina is in a state of disarray, the healing mages are supposed to pounce on her.
　I'm worried, but there's nothing I can do about it, I'm not an expert.
　I was just about to turn away and go back to my room.

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

　I heard Lucifina's voice through the door.

'Lucifina?　Are you awake?

　I turn around and call out to her through the door.
　Lucifina, who called me, seemed somehow different from the usual.

'I'm so glad to have met Iori-san.

...... What's up with you all of a sudden?

''I know Iori-san might get angry when I say this, but I'm glad I was ...... summoned as a hero. It was a long and painful journey, but ...... thanks to Iori-san, I was very happy.

　The sound of his voice, which seemed to seep into his chest, caused him to spill a shaky breath.
　Lucifina's words made me impossibly happy.

I'm not angry. ...... I'm really happy to see Lucifina, too.

Oh ...... glad you did.

　Lucifina's trembling voice can be heard through the door.

''--I love you, Iori. I love you. I love you very, very much.

　The sound of his voice, which seemed to be buoyed by heat, made me happy, but at the same time, for some reason, anxiety passed through my chest.
　My anxiety swelled at the repeated words of confession.

'I won't give up, I won't.'

...... Lucifina?

I'll make sure that I'll be able to fight to the end at ......

　Without a second thought, I was reaching for the door.
　For some reason, I had a feeling that Lucifina was going to be far away, because I had that feeling.

''Iori-san,''

　As if biting down, Lucifina called my name again.

'I love you. So--'

----

You'll find me.

　I open the door and step into the room.
　What comes into view is the sight of Lucifina sleeping on her bed.
　Lucifina is asleep in her sleep, as if the conversation she had been having was a dream.

"...... Good night, Lucifina. See you tomorrow.

　I put the words down to wipe away the unspeakable anxiety and went back to my room.

　The next day, Lucifina woke up.
　There were no after-effects, Lucifina was the same as usual.
　It was as if yesterday's conversation had never happened.

　--It was Lucifina, as usual.


◆

I want my revenge ...... what?

　Hilde Garda suppresses her mouth and gives an exaggerated giggle.

'Apparently, you don't understand the situation,'

　Three crosses move around Hilde Garda.
　Attached to the cross are three sub-humans.

If you touch me, these sub-humans will die. Are you coming to me knowing that?　You, who declared that you wanted to make all people smile, do you trample on Lucifina's desire to sacrifice herself to save all races?

　But that would be good too, Hilde Garda laughs.

'You can kill the hostages and get your revenge as you see fit. I have done what you hated and what you deserve to be horribly avenged for. The hostages will lose their lives, but ...... instead, I will accept your vengeance with open arms. --With my body (・・・・・)!

''You ...... where are you ......!

Oh, Elfiszak. Do you want revenge on me too?　Abel, I think it's called. I've got one of your men on my hands. Would you like to take revenge on this body instead of Iori-kun?

　With a grin, Hilde Garda agitated Elfie, who was screaming in a bare rage.
　Gulping, Elfie was speechless.

'You can't, can you?　Even if you abandon these sub-people, you still have a hell of a lot of hostages left. I'm in no position to take revenge!

　With that shout, Hilde Garda wields the Tenri Sword.
　I'm not going to be able to get it right.
　I'm not going to be the only one to have a problem with this.

''Iori!''

Oh, God, if you move, I'll kill the hostages.

......

　The hostages were used as shields, and Elfi was unable to move.
　He marinated there, and Hilde Garda invoked her magic.

"'Yin, drink.'"

　A black tentacle was born from Hilde Garda's feet and bound Elfie's body.

"It's a shade I invented. "That's the shade I invented," he said, "but even you can't move that easily, can you?

　As he says this, Hilde Garda moves the cross.
　She hides behind the hostages and keeps them out of the range of Elfi's magical eye.
　After completely blocking Elfi's movements, Hilde Garda turns her gaze to me again.

''Now, let's continue.''

　Hilde Garda swings her sword.
　The slash cuts through my body.
　Blood gushes out of the torn wound with a burning pain.

　Hilde Garda could have killed me with a single blow.
　The only reason he doesn't do that is because this guy is enjoying my misery.

'I don't mind if you resist, do you?　In a situation like this, it's only fair to abandon the hostages. There's no one to blame for you. Even Elfiszak might say it's not a choice.

............

Well, Lucifina would never abandon a hostage, would she?

　Saying that, Hilde Garda swung her sword.
　A slash tore my right arm apart.
　I can no longer put any strength into my hand and take the sword down to the ground.
　Each time Hilde Garda swung her sword, the wounds on my body increased.

'............'

　My whole body was in excruciating pain.
　But I found myself looking at it as if it were someone else's business.
　The reason is that someone who has experienced pain that is incomparable to this kind of pain is right in front of you.
　How can you be so weak with such a degree?

'Nah ...... ah.'

　I speak to him, spitting out the blood in my throat.

'Nah, oh. Lucifina,

...... yeah?

　I stop my sword-wielding arm and Hilde Garda looks at me with curious eyes.

'Sorry,'

　I apologize to Lucifina.

'I couldn't believe you. I thought the way you showed up in front of me was ...... all an act, and that you were really laughing at me ...... that way.

　At those words, Hilde Garda gave a look of lechery.

''Huh, huh!　Oh, yes. Lucifina was a good girl, you know. It must have been very hurtful to have all that hatred directed at you.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Lucifina didn't do anything wrong at ....... I just couldn't trust you.

　Did he think it was a dying, gibberish?
　Bruli, said Hilde Garda, her cheeks flushed and her body shook.
　She seemed to be excited by the dying toy's last words.

'...... I should have known, earlier,'

'That's right. How much Lucifina has been hurt for thirty years. It's all your fault. You have been punished for making me uncomfortable with your selfish ideals. You may regret it to the fullest.

　Hilde Garda swings her sword.

''Gah, buh-boo .......''

　I took a slash to my chest and stopped breathing.
　The slash penetrated the 'Red Lotus Armor' and carved a deep wound in my body.
　Blood flows in a trickle.

　Seeing me like that, Hilde Garda laughed as if she had an idea.

''Iori. Why ...... why didn't you help me?　It was hard. I was scared. I was sad. And you didn't help me, you blamed me for it!　You didn't believe me!

　I said, in the tone of Lucifina.
　With tears in her eyes and sadness and anger in her tone, Hilde Garda cursed me.　
　Ignoring it, I continued to speak.

'...... you were crying, though. Watching me and Liuzas fight.

　Lucifina had been crying when they met in the Abominable Light Labyrinth.
　She had shed tears.
　I was wrong about that.

'I thought you were mocking me to the point of tears ....... But ...... you were wrong.

　Lucifina was crying because she was sad.
　It was so hard for her to cry that me and Liuzas were killing each other.

'It's ...... no different. I was just too ridiculous to look at you guys and scoff at the ridiculousness. I don't know what you're mistaken about, but Lucifina is gone. In the last thirty years, Lucifina's spirit has been worn out and completely gone. No matter how much you speak to her, your words will never reach Lucifina.

You're kidding me.

　Hilde Garda's words are cut both ways.

'What ...... lies?'

'Hilde Garda. You were in a hurry in the Abominable Light Labyrinth. You were in an unnatural hurry, trying to kill me.

----

'And in front of Gracia's fort. If you wanted to make sure I was dead, you should have cooperated with Gracia. Instead, why did you try to kill me yourself?

　It's the same today.
　First, Hilde Garda said.
　I'm the only one who's going to get us killed.
　What she said was not quite right.
　The former Erlfie was the threat to the Demon King's army, so why are they so obsessed with me?

　That's a given.

Because Lucifina is still alive and resisting Hilde Garda's rule.
That's why Hilde Garda was in such a hurry to kill me to break Lucifina's heart.

...... It's about time you died.

　Breaking off the conversation, Hilde Garda raises her sword.
　Magic power flows through the hilt and into the blade, and is amplified with tremendous force.

'I'm sorry for the self-serving excitement, but Lucifina is dead now. I wish you'd stop trying to escape reality.

"Don't lie to me, Hilde Garda.

　I remember what Lucifina said to me 30 years ago.
　Thirty years ago, on the night she defeated the Thousand Changes, Lucifina said those words.
　Lucifina's last words after Hilde Garda took over.

I said I wouldn't give up .......

　He's the guy who kept fighting for someone else.

He said he'd fight until the end.

　Not once did he bend his knees or say a single word of weakness.
　The guy who has been fighting as a matter of course, without having to say it out loud.

"He told me that he would not give up and would fight to the end. ......

It doesn't matter!　You can say anything you want with just words!　Lucifina is already dead!

'Lucifina was always fighting. She didn't care if she was hurt, but for someone else. Even when it was overwhelmingly easier to give up, even if he was being talked about behind his back for being a half-elf or ridiculed for his hypocrisy, he was still that guy!　He never got swept away and kept fighting!

　That's why I--I fell in love with Lucifina, so that's why I fell in love with her.

It's a good thing that I'm not going to be able to lose to a scum like you!

　I couldn't see it.
　I couldn't believe it.
　I'm not sure I'm qualified to talk about it in a big way after jumping over thirty years in an instant, but.

　And yet.
　But still, I can make that wish come true.

"Sorry I'm late, Lucifina.

...... Already, shut up!　I'm going to poke the heavens (linkernate)--

　Hilde Garda wields the 'Tenri Sword'.
　Faster than that, I


Finally, I've found you.


　To Lucifina, he said.

'----'

　With wide eyes, Hilde Garda stopped moving.
The magical power that had been gushing out of the Tenri Sword melted away as if it were melting.
　I slowly lowered the large sword I was holding up, and my silver eyes stared at me.

　And then.

It's already ....... It's too late, Iori-san.

　Lucifina (・・・・・) said with tears streaming down her face.

'What ...... to ......?　Silly, still keep your conscious ......!
Iori-san woke me up from my repressed state of mind.

　Lucifina's words paint Hilde Garda's voice in astonishment.

'......!　Well, ...... you hit me when you were hitting me, that time ......

...... Yeah, yeah.

　I affirm Hilde Garda's words.
　When I learned that Lucifina was possessed, I spoke with the idler.
　'How can I free Lucifina,' he said.

'Assuming that Lucifina is indeed possessed by someone ...... perhaps Lucifina's consciousness has already disappeared,'

"....... Lucifina's still conscious. Absolutely.

'Even if it's ......, you should have very little consciousness. I think someone possessed has suppressed her consciousness. If you want to wake her up, ...... you can apply the brainwashing magic you use.

　So when I punched Lucifina in the forehead, I let the magic flow through my brain.
　It's the same technique I used when I forced Elfie, who was sleeping, to wake up.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　...... It seems that even before that, Lucifina had been resisting Hilde Garda, though.

''U......gggh. Don't be silly, the half-elf style, such as escaping from Watashi's control--

　But Idler also said this.
　Simply awakening Lucifina's consciousness with brainwashing magic would not be enough to free her completely.
　He said that the magic of possession must be removed in some way or another.

　I can't do that.
　Usurpation of the magic technique cannot defeat Hilde Garda's possession magic that has entered the inside of my body.
　So.

Please, Elfie. You have to help me.

I'll take care of it.

　I asked Elfie to do it.

"Magic Eye Synchronization."

　Tearing through the shadows, Elfie dances in front of Lucifina.
　Elfie and Lucifina's gazes cross, and then - and

----

　Lucifina fell to the ground with great vigor.
　At the same time, a woman appeared abruptly, as if bursting forth.

''Ba......?''

　Standing there, muttering in dismay, was a woman with silver hair.
　She had short hair that hung around her neck and black eyes that widened in agitation.　
　It's not just a matter of how much time you have left on the clock.

　--You're going to be able to find out more about this.

"I've never ...... ever been kicked out of ......

Yeah.

"--

　He stood in front of Hilde Garda and smiled.
　The wounds were sealed with healing magic in the present moment.
　The fallen Lucifina and the hostages bound to the cross are released by Elfi.
　That means there's nothing left to shield this guy.

'We meet at last, Hilde Garda.

　He approaches Hilde Garda with a quivering lip and an expression that has completely lost its reserve.
　'I've got one thing to say.


'Take it. -- revenge, in your body (・・・・・).