-- The jet-black light that had been painting the world is subsiding like a receding wave.

　With a sound like glass shattering, the wards that covered the surroundings collapse.
　The scaffolding disappears and we land on the floor below.
　With a thud, Ortegia's charred body is slammed to the ground.

''U......gu.''
...... You're still breathing after that one.

　With a whoosh, and the sound of breathing like the wind blowing, his shoulders were moving powerlessly.
　The armor is gone and the great sword in his hand is shattered.
　It's a complete victory for us.

"...... I, ah...

　I heard voices.
　You're still conscious.

"I can't die here at .......

　It was a faint voice, like a mosquito buzzing.
　It seems that Ortegia is mobilizing her remaining magic power to heal her body.
　But if he was in such a wounded state, no matter how much healing magic he used, it was impossible to fight.

　Ortegia used her remaining one hand and tried to stand up.
　However, he fell to the ground with Zulli.
　While crawling, Ortegia spills out the words.

'I still haven't ...... found the meaning I was born into, the meaning I was born into. Driven by the fear of 'not wanting to die,' ...... I have not found the reason for my existence that has kept me alive at the expense of others. ......!

----

　Roughly, it was a word that the Ortegia I knew was unlikely to utter.
　I change from surprise to silence, and Elfi opens his mouth.

'I've told you, Ortegia. I told you, Ortegia, there is no need to think about the meaning of your birth. You are now going to be killed by us.

　Gritting his teeth, Ortegia tries to stand up.

'And ......!'

　Looking up, Ortegia shouts.

'This world is ...... only for the strong to live. To live, you must eat, kill, and sacrifice others. --that is not right.

----

　What is it?
　What is this guy talking about?

"Some demons can't fight ....... Some of them have no strength, women and children. If I die, the weak demon race will be overrun by humans. I can't accept that ......!　Our duty as the Demon King is to protect the demon race.

----

''Elfiszaak!　Do you really think that you can save the weak demon race by joining hands with the humans in such an uncertain way!　It's impossible for us who have hated and killed each other until now to live hand in hand!　How to save the demon race!　Humans, sub-humans!　We have no choice but to exterminate those who oppose us!

That's not true. You who scoffed at my men as irrelevant, do not talk nonsense to me!

You're not qualified to call yourself the Demon King if you cling to an idealistic belief that humans are at war with you.　Why do you ally yourself with a hero who is trying to destroy us demons!　Why don't you understand?　Your way of defending your demons is never going to protect them!　I sealed you in and killed your men!　It's because you had such a trivial idea and put the entire demon race in danger!

　--What is this?

　I had felt it even before I came to the Demon King's Castle, a sickening feeling.
　The uncomfortable feeling I felt from Ortegia during the battle.
　Even if you try to say it, the words don't come out, as if a haze has hung over your thoughts.

　The screams of Ortegia and Elfie, who were in a rage, seem to be somewhere far away.
　Throbbing, the 'proof of bravery' tingles.
　It's as if the white ring on my finger eases that pain.

　I am.

''Ortegia. You, where did you put the 'Tenri Sword'?

　I managed to get the words out.

'Why not use that sword?　If it had been for that blow you showed in the Abominable Light Labyrinth, the outcome might have been different.
Iori, what are you talking about?
Answer me.

　Ignoring Elfie's dubious expression, he asks Ortegia.

'...... What are you talking about from earlier?　I don't have a sword like that, and there's no way I could use that sword (・・・・・・・・・) in the first place (・・・・・・・・).

----

What are you kidding me? In the first place, you guys must have gotten hold of Lucifina, my man ......!

What--?

　What did this guy just say?
　A frustration, for no apparent reason, rises up.
　Cold sweat trickles down my forehead to the ground.
　A violent noise runs through my thoughts and I feel nauseated.

...... I can't die, not yet.

　Wobbling, Ortegia stands up.
　The armor wraps itself around him again, wondering where he had any magic power left.

'...... Don't give me that trivial nonsense, Ortegia.

　Elfi's low voice.
　On his arm, magic power is gathering.

...... Hey, Elfie.

　All I can hear is a faint voice.
　Something seemed to be stuck in his throat.
　The words didn't reach Elfie's ears as he lost his composure.

Wait for .............

　What is this feeling?
　It's as if I've made a crucial mistake.
　I've made an irrevocable, fatal mistake.
　Such a chill runs through me.

　Lucifina was killed by Ortegia.
　And what did he say?
　You think we had Lucifina on our hands?

　Ortegia said.
　You can't use that sword, he said.
　It's a lie.
　We certainly saw him wielding the Tenri Sword in the Abominable Light Labyrinth.

　But what's the point of Ortegia lying here?
　Why didn't that guy use the Tenri Sword from the beginning?
　If we had that sword, which has the power to amplify magic, we would have had a much harder time with it.
　Why don't we use it?

　Nope.
　It's not that you don't use it, it's that you can't use ......?

"Keep apologizing to all the souls you've trampled on, Ortegia.

　Elfie swings his magic arm around.

　Ah...... yes.
　To begin with, I felt uncomfortable when I saw Ortegia in the Abominable Light Labyrinth.
　There was contempt and disgust in Ortegia's eyes as she looked at Lucifina.

　--was Ortegia a man who would show his emotions to this extent?

　That's what I thought at the time.

"...... Elfie.

　Remember.
　Did that Ortegia's body have the Demon King's crest on it?
　...... No, that guy covered his entire body with a robe.
　The demon king crest was not visible.

　And.
　After today's battle, Ortegia kept calling me "Amatsu".
　What did Ortegia call me in the Void Palace?

　--Iori Amagatsuki.

----

　Zaza Zaza, a noise runs through my field of vision.
The "Proof of Valor" is emitting a searing heat.

"----

　I remember someone's voice.
　Where did I hear it?

'■■■■■'s ■ body is underworld ■ ■ ■ of ■■■■■.'

　What was the last thing that voice said to me that time?

----

　Immediately after.
　I could clearly understand the words that I should not have heard because of the noise.






















'But (...), he's just being used (・・・・・・・・・) (・・・・・・)'











　--I thought Nanika sneered.


'Wait, Elphie!　Something is wrong--!

　Almost at the same time as I shouted.

This is the end--!

　Elfi is trying to swing his magic arm down towards Ortegia.


''--It's not over yet (・・・・・・・・)


　A thick black mud-like substance fell from the sky towards Ortegia.

''What the hell is this ......?''

　The strong viscosity of it engulfs Ortegia's body.
　Ortegia resisted by scratching at it, but the mud would not let its body escape.
　In the blink of an eye, Ortegia was completely engulfed in the murky waters of the mud.

'This is ......'
What's going on?

　We froze as we looked up overhead.
　There was a black hole in the sky.
　Mud is pouring downward from there.

It's just getting started.

　Someone is floating next to the hole.

'Hey ......, what's going on?'

　A black beret, a white cape draped over her clothes.
　A gray skirt, knee socks that covered her thighs, and long white boots that reached her knees.
　A girl with dark pink hair that was pulled back at the shoulder, dark pink eyes, and cheeks as red as apples.

'Why, you're alive.'




　--Idler (・・・・・)


　His mouth twisted into a crescent moon.