We're going down to danger zone three today.
Copy that.


　The next morning. Our team was to go to the danger zone level 3. It had been planned for a while, though, so we were ready to go. And after last night, I was already prepared.

　I was sure that I would cry if the Major died. That grief would make my heart ache. Even so, I had already gained the courage to stand up for myself. Because that's what he had given me all along.


'Belle.'
What is it.........Major........


　Everyone left the conference room and only myself and the Major remained in the room. Today we came to the military base from the same house. During that time, there was no particular conversation that seemed to be a conversation.


'When this mission is over, I'm going to retire as a special class anti-magician.
No.....
You know what I mean. The twilight has already invaded this body too much.
....
So I'm thinking of making you a special antimagician as well. Well, you're my replacement.
I'm only 24 years old.
I'm good enough. You've got your heart in the right place. You'll do fine without me.
''Please don't talk like that.........''


　I clenched my fists. It's always been my goal to become a special-grade anti-magician, and for a moment I was happy to know that I would reach that summit, which I had hoped to reach by the time I turned thirty... but now it's not about that... ...I couldn't help but notice the Major.


''Don't give me that look,''
Because....because...because...


　Tears stream down my cheeks. They flow in twos and they don't know how to stop. Let's just end the emotional attachment yesterday. I had thought so, but I was still weak. I thought I was used to people dying. I had seen my friends die next to me many times before. I've gotten used to going to funerals.


　But when someone you love dearly dies, it leaves such a painful impression on your heart. It's like having a burning iron rod stuck in your heart. It lingers in my mind for a long time, and it will never heal me.


''The Major also........has always been like this.......feeling........?''


　He asks in a tearful voice. Hell, I'm going to have to carry this on my back and keep fighting. I wanted to know the answer to such a question.


''That's right. Even if someone you care about dies, you have to move on. I'm a special class anti-magician. I can't be allowed to stop. And you're not just a wizard anymore. From now on, you will be the hope of humanity. You must be prepared for that.
Yes.


　There were tears in the Major's eyes, too.


　They both lamented the situation. How and why did this happen? Why does twilight continue to make us suffer so much? Why do we have to keep fighting?


　If it were true, I would like to live in the safety of the Boundary City all the time with the Major. It will be difficult to do so, for the right reasons, but it's not impossible. But we choose to keep fighting. Even if death is the only thing that awaits us after that, we have no choice but to keep going.


　That's the duty of an antimagician........


''Let's go, Belle.
Yes, Major.


　Hearing those words, I followed behind it as I always do. I used to just look up at its back. But now I'm standing in the same line of sight. He's discovered my talents, he's tasked me with training, and I'm trying to get past that to get to the same position.


　If I was going to follow my instincts, I would have liked one of his embraces here, no ... a kiss. I wanted to feel his warmth. But that ended last night.


　That was the deal. For us to move on.


　We didn't hug each other anymore.



　◇



...What?


　The voice was the voice of the antimagician who was walking next to me. As soon as I felt the unusual killing intent, I jumped back from the spot. The scene that appeared in front of me was unbelievable.


　There were about a dozen or so anti-magicians here. All of them died, all at once, in this moment. They were surrounded by their headless companions. Their decapitated heads were already lying on the ground.


　And fresh blood. Blood spurted out everywhere, bodies falling one by one.


　--What, what's going on ... what's the situation, no, where is the enemy?


Over here, girl.


　I heard a voice from behind me. I quickly turned around........slightly slow.


'Belle, don't let up. It's a demon.
...Oh no, Major....no, for me, no...
''d*mn.......That's a pretty high level demon. I've never seen this level before, as expected.......


　The Major sweating from all over. And ... his left arm was already gone from the shoulder down. It was cut off by a buzzard, and is lying cruelly on the ground. The blood overflows, but he quickly stops the bleeding with magic and holds up his sword.


'Hoho ... don't do it. You two are a little bit stronger than that.


　A demon. I've met them before, and I've defeated them before. But the major is right, this demon is different. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your heart tremble just by glaring at it. The long tail wavered, and when it stabbed the head of a lying companion with its tail, it brought it to hand and.......preyed on it.


I'm not going to be able to get it right. Humans.


　Is he provoking you? Or is he simply doing so out of curiosity? My body trembles with rage as the bodies of my friends are humiliated.


'Belle we'll go on as usual.
Copy that.


　He said that in a whisper and I nodded.


　Then we ran across the earth........towards the demon.


　◇


　How much time had passed? The Major and I were literally facing the demon with all of our strength relative to him. There were already lacerations all over my body, and the blood would not stop. But the problem was the Major. It was too painful not to have my left arm to begin with. We sword-using antimagicians use their sword skills with both hands. Secret swords can also only be activated with both hands.



　Uuuuuuut...!
Major!
'Belch!　Don't worry about me!　Keep fighting!
...Yes!


　The Major, who had received a severed leg and a fatal wound to his stomach, rolled backwards as it was. I wanted to come to his aid immediately. That wound might not be able to be treated in time. If I don't treat it right away, then hurry ... hurry!


''...Little girl, you're strong. I didn't know a human could go this far.
Shut up. I'm going to kill you.
Good. Those hate-filled eyes. You make me want to gouge them out.


　Looking at the tongue-licking demon, my anger was already........at its peak. I'll kill this guy, only this guy.


　I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. He's going to kill me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill. Kill. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. Kill.


　--I'll kill you, I'll kill you!


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


　I was already self-conscious. I was not conscious of anything. I just put all the killing intent on my body and swung my sword. Avoid, slash. You can repeat that simple action. That's all. I will ... kill him. I've made a vow to myself that I would do so.


You're going to have to do something about it.


　He seems to be screaming something, but I can't hear him anymore. There is no color. No sound. Just black and white, I was immersed in a world of swords.


　It's a strange feeling. My body is light. My body moved according to my image. I don't need to be conscious of it. I was just one sword. It's as if I was one of the components of the sword. Would you say that this........is a realm outside of people?


　Oboro Tsukiyoru also increases its brilliance in response to my reaction speed. They respond to each other. And finally I........leap off the demon's arm. Of course, I continue the chase. The fastest secret sword of all the secret swords. It is the must-have secret sword - the eighth secret sword.


''--The Eighth Secret Sword, the Shi-den Single Flash.


　Super fast electromagnetic battoujutsu. And I pulled out my sword as it was. I cleaved my sword to the side as if to sever the opponent's torso.



''Uu..........................''


　The demon grunts and moves backwards. It didn't result in amputation, but it's definitely a fatal wound. He tries to pile on more attacks like this, but........


''Guh........that skill.......d*mn it, I'm going to pull back here!
...Wait!


　I tried to escape, but I couldn't let him get away. That's what I thought, but the demon was gone.


　--Where and how on earth........


　At that moment, I remembered the Major. I was so immersed in the battle that I had forgotten about the Major's wounds. I quickly rushed to his side, but the amount of blood loss was already a true indication that his death was close at hand.


'Major!　Please get a grip!
Bells are all right.
I'm still okay........!


　He immediately ran to the Major. His hissing throat seemed to be trying hard to find oxygen. On top of that, the blood wouldn't stop. No matter how much healing magic was applied, it would not recover. There's one fact it shows. I can't make it in time.......that fact passes through my brain.


　--No, no, no, no!


　There's no way I'm going to tolerate having to leave a place like this, like this. I was prepared yesterday. Even so, I didn't expect this to happen the day after that, a stone's throw away. Besides.........that the Major would lose like this. No, that was my fault. My, my fault, my fault the major was........


"Belle you are capable of becoming a special class antimagician........
What, what are you talking about...?
'The blow you just delivered.
'Major it's my fault, Major....
Never mind, I don't care about... I'm not gonna die of the twilight disease so that I can finally rot away but I'm not gonna die of my precious... I'm so happy to protect my beloved Belle and to die... and that's why you have that look on your face. ...na....


　Shivering and trembling, the major brings his hand, which is dyed bright red, to my cheek. Then he gently wiped my tears away.

　I admire the way he tries to cheer me up, even at times like this. This man will never change, no matter how far he goes. The Major has always been him. Even though he is already close to death.


　This world is a cruel place. Mercilessly, it tramples on everything human and confronts us with this reality........



Major.....


　I hold his hand. Giggling, I continue to hold the Major's hand as if to confirm its warmth. I can no longer see in front of me through the tears. I do my best to wipe them away and give him a final smile.


　This is the last thing I can do for him. Thanks for everything you've done for me. I am truly, truly indebted to you. Then I will send her off with a smile at the end of her life. I will send him off with a smile, even if his face is filled with tears.


"It's all yours, Major. No ... master.
Ha, I miss the.... you know... the... way you call it...
I will fight for my master and continue.
'Oh thank goodness. Now I can leave you in charge with peace of mind........
Yes. I'll take care of it.
"...Bell.
Yes.
"I love you. I always have and I always will but it's time to say goodbye master. So..........
'Yes ... yes ... thank you so much for everything you've done for me ...'


　I slacken and lose strength. My pupils dilate and my pulse stops.

　Death.

　My master has died. Such a strong master died in such a place, in the middle of the road. Dead....dead...dead...dead.


　Gradually I understand. No more........no more will I be able to talk to him, no more will he pat me on the head, no more will he hug me, no more will he teach me sword skills, nothing, nothing.


　Emotions poured out of my chest as I realized that again.



'Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!'



　I continued to wail as I leaned against its corpse.

　Why would a man trample his dignity, his life?

　I didn't know any more. But there was only one thing. There was this one thing that stayed with me. For him, I vowed that I would be the next to protect the humanity that he had protected, and that I would be the next to protect him.


　--but now it's okay to cry, right? Hey, Master...?