The silver-haired demon king looks down on us from a foothold in the canopy of the half-destroyed labyrinth.
　-- Demon King Ortegia.
　It's the same as the one I saw thirty years ago, with the same ominous appearance.

......

　I want to look at the wounded Lucifina, but I can't take my eyes off Ortegia.
　It's because if you remove your gaze, you will be killed.
　Even if she was activating her mind-image magic, if she creates an opening even for a moment, our heads will instantly fall off.

''Hm.''

　Muttering in a small voice, Ortegia curved her index finger.
　Immediately after, the 'Tenri Sword' that was lying in the corner of the room floated and settled into Ortegia's hand.
　The divine sword that rejects all but the chosen one - it did not reject Ortegia.

''After all, it's comfortable in my hand. Lucifina...... this sword is not a good sword for an unholy being like you to handle.''

　Ignoring us glaring at him, Ortegia said that to Lucifina as she spat at him.
　What comes to mind in the golden twin eyes is contempt and disgust.
　Something about Ortegia's expression made me feel uncomfortable.

''----ssh.''

　A moment later, Elfi silently shot his magic eye into Ortegia.
　An ashlar blast filled with an enormous amount of magical power.
　Ortegia swung the 'Tenri Sword' with one hand and cut it off in both directions as a matter of course.

''Look at me!　Ortegia Van Zarefeld!''

　Elfi cries out without hiding his rage as his eyes are dyed red with red lotus.
　The rage emitted from Elfi, but Ortegia doesn't change her expression at all.
　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on it.

''There's no need to look at insignificant little fish like you guys.

Ortegiaaaaaaaaahhhh... ......!

　Without even making eye contact with Elfi, Ortegia raised the 'Tenri Sword'.

''I'll show you how to really use this sword.''

　A moment later, the 'Tenri Sword' shone dazzlingly.
　A flash of light that was incomparable to the time Lucifina and Hilde Garda were using it.

''-- 'Authority, Salvation Creation (Messiah Meltstrom). This sword is the power to change the world. It's the only thing that can make you disappear from this world.

　Magic power swirled around Ortegia.
　I forgot to breathe in the whirlpool of magic power that was like a storm.
　The slash of the 'Tenri Sword' that I've seen so far is not even comparable.
　If I let that thing shoot, it's no good.

''Ortegiaaaaah!
''--!''

　Me and Elfi were moving at the same time.
　It's not just a matter of time before you find yourself in the middle of the night.
　The slashes and ash bombs from the demon sword were unleashed on Ortegia at the same time.

''----''
What?

　Just before it hit Ortegia, the attack was crushed as if it had hit an invisible wall.
　I attacked continuously, but I couldn't get past that wall.

''What's going on!
''It's a ward: ......!　When did you do this trick!

　He invoked a magic technique usurpation (spell divouer), but he couldn't break the invisible wards.
　Even though Elfi slammed his magic arm, the ward did not even shake slightly.
　Ortegia, without being cautious of us, is leisurely gathering magic power into the "Tenri Sword".

''----!''

　Berdia flew through the air and shot a breath from above Ortegia's head.
　However, the bracelets were also played back by the warding.
　The wards are protecting Ortegia from all sides.

　--No.

　I realized.
　In order to break that ward, I must use the Demon Heavenly Lose (Eclipse).
　But if we use this technique here, we won't be able to destroy the void maze.

　No, to begin with.
　Ortegia has no chance against us, after being exhausted by a series of battles.

''Ortegia, Ortegia-ah!

　Elfi doesn't stop attacking.
　But there's no sign of them being able to cross the boundary.

　What do we do?
　Do we shoot the Demon Lord down?
　You can't.
　We can't defend the Great Forest, and there's no guarantee we'll win in a head-to-head fight.
　So we should run?
　That's no good either.
I don't think I can gain enough distance to duck the Tenri Sword's blow.
　So you're going to use defensive magic to take a hit from Ortegia?
　No, that's not possible.
　We don't have the power to stop that attack.

　We need to think.
　The worst thing that could happen to us is for us to get wiped out in this place.
　Then, there are only a few things I can do.
　The only thing I can do now is to abandon the Great Forest and shoot the Demon Heavenly Crash ----.

"--Iori-san.

　A voice came from behind me.
　It was Lucifina's voice.
　But there was no time to turn around.

I was so happy to see Iori-san.
"Luci.

　With that one word, I realized everything and turned around.
　A moment later, I saw Lucifina's face in front of me.

'----'

　A soft touch.
　The warmth of the body that is transmitted, so hot.
　A momentary blankness born in my thoughts.

'Goodbye.'

　Fluffy.
　My body floated in the air, and I realized I had been belatedly thrown out of the labyrinth.
　Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucifina, who had lost her right hand, smiling at me.

''Miss Verdia!　Mr. Elfiszak!　Please run away quickly!

　The two people who called my name look at Lucifina.
　Berdia immediately stopped attacking and came towards me as I fell.
　Elfi hesitated for a moment, then

"Mr. Elfiszak.

----

Please take care of Iori-san.

　Hearing those words from Lucifina, I jumped out of the labyrinth myself, holding the hostage in my arms.
　Elfi catches up to me as I fall and grabs me with one arm.
　That, Verdia put it on her back.

'Oh, hey,'

　Wait a minute.
　What are you doing?

"Verdia!　What are you doing?　Come back here!

"----

　Berdia doesn't answer.

'....... I'll be back on my own!

　But his body didn't move.
　It's because Elfie is putting his strength into his arms.
　I'm not going to be able to get my hands on it, but I'm not going to be able to shake it.

"Elfie ...... what are you doing?

You know that, don't you?

So what?

...... now, we can't beat Ortegia.

"Ugh.

　I'm aware of that.
　There's only one way that we can get out of this mess.
　But...

Iori-san.

　I heard a voice.
　Lucifina was looking at me and laughing.

　-- [May it be a world where no one is hurt (vows) (ataraxia)]

　The light covers our bodies.
　A psychic magic that protects our friends from all the pain.
　But in a world where no one gets hurt, there is no place for Lucifina--.


''--I love you.''


　Immediately after hearing those words from Lucifina, Berdia suddenly descended.

''Lucifina aaaaaa--!

　My outstretched hand didn't reach.


◆


You don't even pretend to be in pursuit.

　After confirming that Iori and the others were gone, Lucifina turned her gaze to Ortegia.
　Ortegia didn't even show her gaze out of the labyrinth, but turned her cold gaze to Lucifina.
　That gaze made Lucifina feel somewhat uncomfortable.

''There's no need to chase. As soon as this sword is in my hands, my purpose has already been accomplished.''

Do you think Iori-san and the others are worthless?

'It's worth it. There's just no point in dealing with them here.

　Ortegia's eyes narrowed as she answered quietly.

'Psychic magic to protect everyone but himself?

Yes, sir. I won't let anyone hurt you as long as I'm here.

That's a big commitment. Utter rubbish.

If it's trivial, it's still my way of life.

Just the thought of someone like you ...... using the Sword of Melt, etc., scares me.

　Saying that, Ortegia put strength into the sword that held the 'Tenri Sword'.
　Lucifina activates her magic with her left hand to intercept it.

　Even if she can't win, Lucifina won't bend her knees.
　She decided by herself that she would fight through to the end.

''--Come on. With this blow, let's use it to deal with her.

　The "Tenri Sword" is thrust up to the sky.
　That brilliance is not the Tenri Sword that Lucifina knows.
　It's something more, something else.

"...... Ortegia. No, you are ----

　Then it occurred to Lucifina.
　To that possibility.

'■■?'

----

　Ortegia opens her eyes with a slightly surprised look.
　Eventually, with a fearless, evil smile, he said.

''--Worship me in death, impious one.

　And the 'Tenri Sword' was swung down.

"--"Tears for the death of a beloved star (Her Death Teardrop).

　Magic pours down from the sky like a meteor.
　A flash of light that pierces the heavens and creates the heavens again.
　In the face of that blow, Lucifina confronts it without bending her knees.

''--Rusifina Emilior, Kingdom Knight.

　Someday, I did it in front of him, and he said his name.

　And then...

.

　Lucifina Emilior was born in a village of a fairy species (elf) on the edge of the kingdom.
　In the past, the village was exclusive and refused to accept any race other than the fairy species.
　However, as the threat of the Demon King's army grew, the village found itself in a situation where it could not stand on its own.

　We should embrace other races.
　This idea spread, and soon the village began to accept people from outside.

　Fairy species have a hard time giving birth to children.
　It took years for them to accept people and have children.
　The first child born in that situation was Lucifina.

　With the birth of Lucifina, the atmosphere in the village, which had been exclusive, rapidly died down.
　So by the time Lucifina was old enough to remember anything, a different and warmer atmosphere was taking root in the village.

　Her parents were kind, and everyone she passed in the village was friendly to her.
　To Lucifina, the world was a kind and warm place.
　They would fight, but they would never hate each other or kill each other.
　That kind of calm and happiness was everything to Lucifina.

　However, there was one thing that bothered Lucifina a little.
　There is a storehouse in her own home that is said to be 'never to be opened'.
　My mother told me that for generations, the Emilior family has been protecting this storehouse.

　Since it has been protected for generations, it contains an amazing treasure.
　Wouldn't it make everyone happier if they could use the treasure?
　Under the curiosity of childhood and such kindness, one day Lucifina secretly opened the door to the storehouse.

''This, is .......''

　Inside the warehouse was a single sword.
　The great purple sword was placed in the center of the magic circle.
　Gasping at the divinity of the great sword, Lucifina entered the magic circle.
　Then she slowly picked up the great sword that was stuck in the center.

''----''

　The moment Lucifina touched it, the sword blade glowed dazzlingly.
　The light extended to the ceiling.
　Something, I must have done something unsavory.
　Driven by such fear, Lucifina fled from the spot.

　She would be angry.
　Lucifina was so frightened, but her mother only asked her once if she had gone into the warehouse.
　When she lied that she hadn't gone in, her mother nodded that she understood and didn't say anything else again.

　-- and it was three days later that the village was destroyed.

　One day, suddenly, a horde of demons poured into the village.
　The army led by the four heavenly kings of the demon king's army, "Senhenhen", attacked the kingdom.
　Lucifina's village was in their path.

　Lucifina, who was playing outside, came out of her house and saw the soldiers.

'Come on, people!　Jan-Jan-Bari, you can kill everyone!

　The orange-haired woman was giving instructions to the demons and demon tribe.
　Many demons are howling madly and devouring the villagers.
　The orange-haired woman quickly walked out, as if she wasn't interested in the village.

　However, Lucifina remembers.
　The orange-haired woman said as she was leaving.

'But it's strange. You're not going to be able to get in and out of this kingdom without knowing how easy it is to get into. --You'll need to look into it later if you didn't know about it either.

　So Lucifina realized.
　She was the reason why the Demon King's army invaded here.

　Her mother had said.
　This village has a ward made by Melt-sama, so that the bad guys can't find it.
　That's why this village is safe.

It's my ...... fault.

　After I touched that sword myself, the bad people found the village.
　By the time I regretted it, it was too late.
　Flames were going up all over the village.
　I heard shouts from everywhere.

　The people of the village used their magic to defeat many of the demons.
　However, some of the demons were so strong that no one in the village knew about them, and they were gradually killed.

　When Lucifina returned home, despite her life, she found her father and mother with a grim look on their faces.
　They look at Lucifina and shed tears of relief, saying, "Thank God".
　Then she wards the house and tells them to never leave the house, and they leave.
　I told them to fight, to protect the village.
　Lucifina could do nothing but tremble in fear.

　Then, thirty minutes later.　
　Her parents came home.
　Dead and being sucked by a dragon species.

'Ah...... ah, ah!'

　I don't remember much from that point on.
　What I remember is that I was desperate to get away from the place.
　I was sucked in and went to the warehouse and grabbed the great purple sword.
　And the moment I touched it, I understood the name of this sword and how to use it.

　-- 'Tenri Sword, Melt Strom'.

　The sword created by the Holy Light God Melt with his own authority.
　It was created to amplify the power of Melt's authority to 'recreate the world'.
　Because it is so powerful, the House of Emiliole entrusted Melt with hiding the sword.

'And that ...... all of it, I ruined it, didn't I?

　The demons break through the door of the storehouse and come in.

I still hate ...... you guys. ......

　I killed the villagers, I hate the Demon King's Army.
　Lucifina swung the 'Heavenly Sword' down with her hatred.
　And when she noticed, the demons were gone.

　After that, Lucifina was protected by the kingdom knights who rushed over to her.
　And the kingdom, understanding the strength of the "Tenri Sword" that only Lucifina could handle, recruited her to join the knights.

　--It was a village where gentle, warm and kind people lived.

　Lucifina broke it up.
　Her mother, who was kind and knowledgeable, and her father, who was adored by the people in the village, died because of her.
　She tore away everyone's happiness with her own hands.

　I hated the Demon King's Army and killed them out of revenge.
　Maybe the people of the village would have had a different solution.
　I picked up everyone's potential.

　So.
　I have to do what I can for them.
　I must make thousands of people happy, thousands of times more than the people I've made unhappy.

'--I understand. Let me be in the Order.

　With such a self-punishing thought, Lucifina joined the Knights of the Kingdom.

　However, when she went out into the battlefield, she realized.
　In order to make someone happy, she had to make someone else unhappy as well.
　You have to kill the demons in order to keep the kingdom's people happy.

　--I saw a lot of people suffer.

　The wounded demon tribe comes begging for their lives.
　They said, "I have a family, please miss them.
　If you miss them, they will shed tears, thank you, and leave.
　On his back, another knight attacked him and killed him.
　It was wrong, I thought.
　Everyone, friend and foe, was crying and suffering.
　This fight is not right.

　Demons have families, too.
　Demons have feelings, too.
　Humans and sub-humans should all be the same.
　I'm reminded of my family who suffered and died.

"Kill your demons with impunity!

　But that's what my superiors ordered.
　My colleagues also kill demons without hesitation.
　There is no other way to save the kingdom.

I don't want ...... anyone else to get hurt.

　I guess that's when it happened.
　I began to think that it would be great if we could create a world where no one would be hurt one day.
　No one agreed with me, though.



　It was one day.
　The king, ministers, and other important people in the kingdom made an uproar that they had received a prophecy all at once.
　The content of the prophecy was, 'Summon the brave men of salvation from the other world'.

　As the announcement was made, the kingdom began to prepare for the summoning of the heroes.
　On the way, a demon tribe tried to sneak into the royal castle and destroy the summoning formation, but Lucifina, who noticed, stopped them.

　A few days after such an event, a few days later.
　Finally, a brave man was summoned.
　It seemed that his name was Amatsu.

　Will this bring peace to the world?
　With a little hope in her heart, Lucifina went to greet Amatsu.　
　There, her hopes were shattered, and she was ashamed of herself for having held such hopes.

'To the world from which you came, give me back ......

　I wondered what I had done to deserve this.
　Amatsu was just a boy.
　Just because he was a brave man, he had brought people from another world into the mix.

　He had nothing but regret.
　I regretted myself for not stopping the summoning, wondering what a harsh fate I had tried to impose on the people of the outside world.
　I wanted to return them to the world they had come from, somehow.

　And yet.

...... Oh, I don't know about the Demon King's Army or saving the world or anything like that.

----

Now I'm going to ...... fight to save you.

　The boy fought to save Lucifina.
　The fear of fighting the demon king's army made him bleed, shed tears, and yet he still fought.

　The frightened boy's face changed every time he went through the battlefield.
　When I looked at his strong, yet gentle face, I naturally felt calmer.

　Maybe that's why.
　One day, Lucifina told the boy of her dream.
　She said she wanted to make the world free of war and no one would be hurt.

"That's what I wanted, too," she said. "I wanted to make the world a better place for everyone to laugh.

　The boy laughed at me.

　He was kind.
　Part of him would have told me that to suit himself.
　Still, I was happy.

　Maybe this was the time.
　I'm not sure if I've ever fallen in love with the boy.

◆

　Then there was so much going on.
　There was a lot of sadness, a lot of pain, and a lot of suffering.
　Still, Lucifina can say that she was happy during that time.

'It's okay, Lucifina. I'm here.

　He always called out to me when I was pushing down my anxiety.

'I'll be able to use my defensive magic so that Lucifina won't have to use her mind-image magic,'

　He feared for himself and protected me with his new magic.

'...... Lucifina. Please, leave the cooking to me and rest.

　There was a time when he wouldn't let me cook and I sulked.

"If you want. Do you mind if I dry Lucifina's hair?

　When Iori had lost the use of his arm in battle, he would dry it for me.
　I loved his hands as he gently dried and combed my hair.
　Even after I could use my arm, I remember him drying my hair for various reasons.

　--I liked him to be clumsy, blunt, but desperate to fight.

　After Hilde Garda took over, everything was covered in darkness.
　He took Iori by the hand, ridiculed Liuzas, and killed people as the Demon King's army.
　In those days, his heart was shattered many times.

　-- though I told him I would fight to the end.

　The only reason I was able to stand up was because of Iori.
　He was warm and clumsy and incredibly kind.
　Because he was alive, I was able to defeat Hilde Garda.

-- I was afraid to fight, to struggle.

　But I was still able to keep fighting.
　It was because he was there for me.
　When I was with him, I wasn't afraid of any battlefield.
　It was because he was always there to support me.

　--That's why I'm not afraid of him at all, even now.

◆.

　But I have a few regrets.

　Iori said of Elfiszak-san.
　She said that she's the person I trust most in the world.
　I'm sure she's the one who has supported Iori-san to this point.

　I envied her a little bit for that.
　And then I thought I should have added one more word to the last word.
　That's the only thing I regret for a little while.

　Hey, Iori.

　--I love you more than anyone else in the world.




　-- A tremendous flash of light engulfed the world.

　With a roar, the falling labyrinth was swallowed up into the light.
　The aftermath surged to Iori and the others as they descended, but the mental image that enveloped them blocked it out.
　Even though they received enough light to create the heavens, Lucifina Emilior's mental image magic didn't even waver.

----.

　When the light subsided, the void labyrinth that had been floating in the sky had disappeared without a trace.
　The aftermath of the impact cracked the wards covering the great forest, but that was the only damage that could be called damage.
　The crisis in the great forest caused by the fall of the labyrinth had passed with a single blow from Ortegia.

　The Verdia landed on a flat area a short distance away from the Great Forest.
　At the same time, Lucifina's mind-image magic that covered their bodies disappeared as if it were being released.

'Lucifina.

　Iori uttered the name of the surgeon in dismay at the disappearance of the mind-image magic.
　Berdia and Elfiszak had no words to put to Iori, and a somber look on their faces.
　However, such silence was drowned out by a single presence that appeared above their heads.

''It seems it was quite a vindictive move to completely prevent the 'Tenri Sword' strike.

　Ortegia was floating in the air as she looked down at Iori and the others.
　Looking up, the three of them were immensely surprised.
　This was because Lucifina had been pierced through the body by the blade of the 'Tenri Sword' and was swinging bravely.

''Luci, Fina: .......''

　Every time he shook, blood flopped down toward the ground.
　Lucifina didn't even move, but turned to look in a different direction.

'You look covetous, brave man. I can share it with you.''

　With a buzz, Ortegia swung the 'Tenri Sword'.
　Something fell at Iori's feet with a thud.
　It was Lucifina's head.

''...... Ah.''

　His long, beautiful blonde hair was stained red and black with blood and mud.
　Blood spilled from the cross section of her neck, staining the ground red.
　Spilling out a dumbfounded voice, Iori reaches for Lucifina's neck.
　That arm was just before she touched Lucifina.

　It's a good idea to have a good time with them.
　Hair, blood, falling like rain.

''

　Immediately after, Ortegia threw Lucifina's torso, which had been stabbed into the sword, into the air.
　Then, he burst it in the same way as before.
　Like rain, what was Lucifina poured down.

'Lucifina--Hilde Garda was a good panel. She worked so well in my hands. But I have had no use for it. The moment I woke up, she was no longer needed.

　Looking down at the silent Iori, Ortegia spins the words in a nonchalant manner.

'If I didn't have to, I'd be offended just to have an unholy half-elf skin in my sight.

　Saying that as if to spit it out, Ortegia asks Iori.

''Well, the weakest hero. Thirty years ago, how did it feel to be betrayed? Was that stupid sorcerer's hatred of you comfortable?　What about the jealousy of the demons who betrayed you because they were so fond of special treatment?　What's the nonsense about female knights dancing at will when they take over?

----

How did it feel to dance to my plot?

----

　Sniffing at Iori's unwillingness to open his mouth, Ortegia points to Elfiszak.

'Thirty years ago, I had just dealt with that clown there, and I was worn out. Even the weakest and bravest of heroes were dangerous to deal with head on. That's why I used Hilde Garda to crush each other within.

----

　To Iori, who remained silent, Ortegia deliberately struck a hand.
　And as it is, he simply mentions the fact that no one here knew about it.

The first thing that comes to mind is that you don't know. That I was the reason you were summoned.

---- ...... what?

'Didn't you ever wonder?　Why was I summoned? Was there no one else who could be brave enough to do it but me?

　Of course there was.
　Why had I been chosen as a brave man?
　There were many times when I thought about the reason.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I'm not going to be the only one who has the ability to save the world. The 'Proof of Valor' is a piece of magic created by Melt in the past. She has the power to select those who can save the world by her standards and share her divine power with them.

　Iori knew that both the summoning team and the 'Certificate of Valor' were things that Melt made.
　But the information that Ortegia talks about was new to her.

''Therefore, it didn't have to be you to be summoned. You can be a reclusive young man or a hated swordsman, as long as you have the qualities to save the world, that's all that matters. Then why do you think you were summoned?

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

'It's simple. You were summoned because I tinkered with the summoning team and placed conditions on those who would summon you.

　Twisting his golden twin eyes into a smile, Ortegia tells him the conditions.

'The condition I added is this. --I will only call out to the weakest of those who can handle the 'Proof of Valor'.

----

You're the one who came, Iori Amatsuki.

　Iori didn't say anything about the fact that Ortegia told her.
　He just looked up at Ortegia, stunned.

''Do you understand? It is true that you are the one chosen by Melt. But you are the weakest of them all.

----

You're the weakest and the bravest. That made it a lot easier for me to crush you.

　Ortegia piles on the words, as if she were shaking things up.
　However, Iori doesn't say anything.
　He just looks at Ortegia with vacant eyes.

''In ...... thirty years, you've turned into a cheap man. Ortegia.''

　It was Elfiszak who opened his mouth in place of Iori, who did not speak.

'I thought you weren't the kind of man to waste your time talking.

Hmm.

　Ortegia's face twisted uncomfortably for a moment, but a smile quickly appeared on her face.
　It was a sneer.

'Elfiszak. Come to think of it, it was even easier to crush you than it was to crush you.

...... What?

How does it feel to kill Gracia Levatain?

----

''You can't even hold the reins of your subordinates, they'll kill all your friends and seal you up too. Of all the demon kings of all time, no one else but you has been so ridiculous and so haplessly defeated.

　Elfiszak was speechless with rage at the scathing insults.
　That's when he clenched his teeth and tried to utter the overflowing rage.

''--[Heroic Reproduction (The Wraith)]

　An enormous amount of magic blasted out from next to Elfiszak.

'...... weakest or not, I don't give a shit.

"Huh?

"Die, Ortegia.

　With the state of mind-image magic, Iori turned her hand to Ortegia.
　In the center of her palm, a vortex of jet-black magic power was constructed.

'I'm sorry, but I have no use for you mooks. I still have many things to do. I have to return to the Demon King's Castle as soon as possible. Soon, we'll wipe out all the humans and subhumans. Of course you will, too.

"The Eclipse."

　Iori unleashes the greatest magic she can possess.
　Just before the rush of jet-black magic power engulfs Ortegia.

"--At best, wait in fear. Defeaters.

　With those words, Ortegia suddenly disappeared.
　The Demon Heaven Disappearance disappeared into the distance without catching Ortegia.
　Elfiszak probed the surroundings with his magic eye, but the sign of Ortegia had already disappeared.

''d*mn it.

　Iori kneels down on her knees, her whole body red and wet with fresh blood.
　She cries tears of blood and scratches her skinny head.

　It was going to happen now.
　Lucifina's life was going to be able to start over now.
　She was supposed to be able to endure thirty years of hell and finally move on.

'Ol, Tegia.'

　But that path was cut short.
　For Lucifina was dead.
　Because she was killed by Ortegia.

''Ortegiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa----!''

　A blood-curdling exclamation is spitting out of the wood.


　-- far, far away, into the void.