Seeing Belle walking in the opposite direction, I squeezed my hands together and pulled them to my chest. That expression Belle showed me when we parted. I could feel the magical elements around her converging, if you could call it fighting spirit.


　I wondered what she was looking at.


　It is not the first time I've seen such a face, but when I see Belle actually heading to the battlefield like this, she still looks different from her usual self. At first glance, she appears to be an insecure, yet kind and mature woman. But in reality, Belle is touted as the strongest swordsman in all of humanity.


　It's not that I didn't know it, but after all, when I'm around Belle again, I'm aware that she's a special class anti-magician.


''Belle.......please, please........''


　I couldn't help but think out loud. I was still thinking about Belle. I had known her for ten years now. I was always worried about her going into battle. That's because I had a vision of the future when I was a child. But Belle has defeated every one of them.


　She seemed to embody those words in her own body, as if to say that destiny is the one who creates it for himself.


　As I recall I had heard it before. Why do you go to such lengths to fight........



　◇



Hey, why is Belle fighting?


　The last time I asked such a question was, I believe, three years ago.......when I was twelve years old. At that time, although I graduated early from the Counter-Magic Academy, I was still working on official duties as a royalty and so on, as I wasn't ready to become a military officer.


　Then one day, I wondered. Why does Belle continue to fight? I wanted to ask, because we had become so close to each other.


　Of course, I knew about Bertina Wright's background itself. I heard that she had a talent for magic from a young age, and her talent for melee combat in particular was outstanding. It was then that she met Major Lawrence Acton, the second in the special class anti-magic order at the time.


　He was a swordsman, a swordsman with a secret sword, and his skills have been passed down from generation to generation, but this is not a hereditary system. It seems that only those who are talented enough to use the sword, and even then only those with the right personality to pass it on, are allowed to do so. That's where Belle was discovered for her talent.


　The two became master and disciple, and Bell developed his talent and mastered the secret sword. From there on, they became his direct subordinates. One day, however, Bell and his friends encountered a demon when they went out into the danger zone. There, all the anti-magicians except Belle were killed, and she was the only one who survived. The victims, of course, included that major.


　When I learned of this fact, I thought to myself. How could I go to such lengths to fight, I wondered. This assumption would be pointless, but if I were in Bell's position, I wouldn't be surprised if my heart was broken. The person who had been by her side all along, the person she trusted more than anyone else, was dying in front of her. And that too, by having his or her life ruthlessly taken by a demon.


　That's why I wanted to know. She still continues to fight on the front lines, that true intention of hers.



If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to, but...
"...no, I'm not afraid to talk.... It's just.....
"Just?
'For obvious reasons ... it's a little difficult to say ... because as you know, I was raised by the Major and I've only been following ... him ... all my life ...'
But....


　I was hesitant to speak beyond that. If I had really wanted to, I would have continued, "But after the Major died..." but I had heard long ago that the Major was the first love of Belle's life, the one she had loved. Maybe I'm being too sensitive any more.


...?　It's been seven years. Seven years ... seven years since I left the Major. It has gone by so fast the days without him have become more normal. But still, whenever I look at this magic sword I remember the Major's last words. I think that's surely what motivates me now.........
What is that word?
"For the world, humanity, please..." Those were the words. He must have entrusted it to me. Not just the Major, but still ... I still think I need to pursue that wish of the Major for a long time ... and I think I need to do that.
You mean carrying a man's death on your shoulders?
'........Yes. .... and it's been passed on all the way through... along with a certainty of will... and that's what we've been doing lately. I came to think.......well, when I was young, I didn't care about such things, not even a little bit.......but..... I was young too..............
Yeah. Okay. Belle is amazing. I really, really admire you.
'Oh no I'm just doing what I deserve to do.
I think it's great that you can take that for granted.
'No, please don't.......I get embarrassed when you compliment me so much.......'


　Belle looks down and turns red in the face. In this way, she's just a pretty woman. When I tell her, she gets a little grumpy, but I think Belle is very cute. But I think Belle is very pretty, and she has a strong will and strength.


　I know that. Belle is attractive to the opposite s*x and is popular with the men in the army. But the men are put off by her. By the way she behaves. No one calls her stronger and more noble than anyone else with the intention of falling in love with her. At times like this, it might be correct to describe her as a high priestess.


　At any rate, Belle was attractive in every way.


　Surely she still had the Major in her heart, whom she adored. Thinking of him and carrying on his will, Belle would continue to fight.


　But I knew. I knew that Belle didn't have much time left.



　◇



Bell, how's your routine checkup going?
Again it's all good this time she says it's all clear.
Yeah. I'm glad to hear it.


　I smile and the subject ends there.


　Counter-Magicians are required to have regular checkups. The reason for this is, of course, the Twilight Syndrome. Every anti-magician is affected by that disease, without exception. There are varying degrees of it, but the disease has definitely progressed. Among them, the special class antimagician was one of the worst.


　He or she, the strongest among humanity, often battles in the twilight danger zone in order to protect the ward city. Their time would probably be twice as long as that of an ordinary anti-magician. Hence, special-grade opponents were rarely killed by demons, but many of them would die from the Twilight Syndrome.


　The Twilight Syndrome 《Twilight Syndrome》 was characterized by a leisurely death, but it was only for low levels. At high levels, its imprint would emit light and literally burn the body from the inside out. Not many can endure the pain, so they usually opt for euthanasia the moment the final seizure begins.



''I knew it, Belle, I knew it.



　That was just before the massive operation to capture Twilight. Although I was abusing my authority only this time, I had used my position as a royal to receive Belle's data in secret. The people at the hospital were quite reluctant to give it to me, but perhaps they were surprised by my nonchalant attitude, but they turned their heads and gave me a piece of paper with Bell's data on it.


　Then I looked it over, and it was as I expected.


'Twilight Syndrome 《Twilight Syndrome》 level 5, and it's a very terminal category.......?'


　Level 5 has some range, but Bell was the worst of the bunch. She should be hospitalized and treated now. He shouldn't stay in the thick of the twilight anymore. That warning was well written. But Bell apparently ignored it. She didn't even listen to the doctors and took part in this operation.


　According to him, 'I will decide how to die myself'........


　The doctors couldn't come out strongly after hearing those words either. Besides, if she wasn't the strongest among the human race, the operation might be hindered. And so Belle's treatment was foregone, but there was only a small light of life left.


''Belle ... why are you ........''


　The hand holding the paper trembles. Why, why won't you tell me? But I already know the reason. Because I know that if I knew, I would be grieved. We are no longer more than family, we are closer than family. The separation would never be acceptable.


　It is because of the separation from that Major that Belle is silent.


　Besides, I'll decide where I die and if Bell says so I must respect that. Even if Belle's body is scorched by Twilight Syndrome 《Twilight Syndrome》 in this battle.......I.......



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


　The paper was burned with the magic of fire to drown out its existence. I walked out of my room, looking up and trying not to cry.



　The time left between the two of us may be short now - I don't know.