Hey, Belle. 

What is it Major? 

　Major asks me that over coffee in his usual room. By the way, I'm cleaning my room now. If this man is left alone, he will soon make a mess of the room. Other soldiers come here too, so I really want to make sure it's done right. The coffee is also made by me, and maybe this guy really doesn't have anything else on his mind but his sword. 

　And so, even though we are cleaning up, the major starts talking about something with a serious expression on his face. 

''I still feel like I'm stagnant,'' 

Stagnation...? 

''Ah. Now they say I'm the greatest swordsman in humanity or something but I still think I'm a work in progress. 

I didn't know that the major was on his way.... 

　That's ridiculous. That's what I wanted to say. This man's skills are already not in the realm of humanity. Now that I'm strong, I know better. I know how extraordinary this person's sword fights are. 

''This isn't sarcasm or bragging. It's just that I can still go on. I feel like this Oboro Moonlight Night is prompting me to do so. 

Does the magic sword... have... a... will? 

''It's not common sense. But the magic sword is a lost technology, an uncommon thing. I wouldn't be surprised if something happened but maybe I've gone crazy here. 

　Thump, thumping his head and grinning at the Major. This guy would try to make me laugh for some reason, but I never disliked it. 

''That part of the Major was originally... funny...'' 

Ha, you're killing me. 

　The Major suddenly looks at you as if you are looking somewhere far away, as if you are staring into the void. I'm sure that's because he's thinking about the past. I've heard rumors that the family he loved, as well as the Major's mentor, also died in front of him. With that much death on his shoulders, where will he end up? 

　What kind of thoughts do I need to have to think about reaching a higher level from where I am now...what kind of thoughts do I need to have to think like that? 

'Bell.' 

Yes, sir. 

'My mentor was desperate to break through his walls. I was thinking like you at the time. I was thinking like you, 'How can someone so strong still want to go on ahead? I was stunned. And I knew I wasn't ready. Maybe I'll never get to that place before I die. Just like my mentor did. But I have a high opinion of you. Your talents are probably the best of all humanity. 

It can't be... 

'No, that's the skill at such a young age. I got there, probably in my late twenties. But you're a teenager in that range. I have high hopes for you, Belle. 

...I see. 

　I had no idea what the word meant at the time. 

　◇ 

　--Major, I ... I've arrived.  

No one can stop me now....................... 

You.... you can't mean... 

　I flicked my opponent's sword away and I went straight for a flash. It's not even a single flash of purple lightning. It's just an ordinary, sideways swing. But the other demon was slow to react, and a single character wound appears on my stomach. Judging from the amount of blood flowing out, it's not a fatal wound. But they both knew the meaning of that wound. 

　The current Ichiben flash surpassed the secret sword I had been using, the Shi Den Ichiben. If it was a normal secret sword, it was because this guy had bumped into the same secret sword to offset it. That too, by an afterthought. What that fact represents is that this demon can react after seeing my attack. After all, in terms of substantial skill, I am slightly inferior to him. 

　But I'm no longer the person I was before. This body no longer bore the imprint of the Twilight Syndrome [Twilight Syndrome]. I won't be scorched by the twilight anymore. I've arrived at this point in time. The major said that I had arrived at the realm beyond people. 

　It is not that I am light in body. Already I had a sense of transcendence over everything in this world. It's a strange feeling. It's a strange feeling. There is no fear at all now. Just a flat feeling. The irritation, frustration, and anger that had been there earlier gradually subsided. Is this what you would call the feeling of a person who has reached the point of no return? 

You.........you're not human anymore, are you?　A saint?　No, this is..... 

'It doesn't matter ... it doesn't matter. I don't need that definition to kill you.... 

　He composed the Oboro Moonlight Night. It had completely released its true form. The blade was black and only the blade was red. That was the Oboro Gekkai until now. But now it was different. This sword blade was all a scorching vermilion color. It was as if it was absorbing all of my Twilight Syndrome 《Twilight Syndrome》 and then turning it into power. 

　When I tightened my grip on the Oborozuki Yoru, I felt like this body was flooded with magical elements. No, that's not an illusion. Without a doubt, this body has a magical element that exceeds its previous capacity. Then I put my will to kill this guy into the sword and try to activate the secret sword. 

The fifth secret sword, the Utsusemi. 

　It is one of the most skillful and difficult to control secret swords I can have. But right now, I can handle this secret sword perfectly. 

　Holding the Oborozuki Yoru sideways, I step forward.  

 

　The other demon knows this technique as well. Therefore, he should know how to behave. It should be, but it is no longer a secret sword that he knows. What the opponent cut through was an illusion. All that remained was a mere lump of magic element. 

　The fifth secret sword, the Utsusemi, the Utsusemi. It is the one that establishes an illusion that does not exist in this world. It does indeed remain in this world. The elemental form, the personal field. They are necessary for the opponent to recognize, and they remain in this world, and they deceive. This is not a sword technique itself, but a special secret sword that treats this moving process as a secret sword as well. I was the worst at this, but now........the awakened me could handle it. 

　I can see it. Surely they can perceive me, but they can't perceive me. They are right in front of me, but the more they see my moving form, the more they fall into its trap. And this is even if he has the Twilight Sight, the Twilight Sight, he will be confused by its presence. 

　I can see it. But I can't see it. 

　The one who creates that contradiction is this Kuusemiemi. 

　Then I stepped in between the two and swung this sword as if to sever the neck. 

 

　Bota, blah, blah, blah, blah, and blood dripped on the ground. This was definitely a fatal wound. He couldn't use the other secret swords while activating the Kuusemi, but it was still good. But as expected of a demon. He was going to pop his neck, but it was avoided and it was like tearing his kesa. 

　But that doesn't change the fact that it's a fatal wound. The other party doesn't remove me from their line of sight, but they jiggle backwards to try to get some distance. 

　I know it. Once they enter my territory, I'm certain that I will lose. 

''........I won't miss. 

　Of course, we'll close the distance soon. You can get it. This time I'm going to pop that head off. 

"I won't let you do it........ 

　The demon unleashes a single flash of purple electricity. I duck it and swing my sword as if to pierce the brain. This time I'm not swinging it right across, but vertically, swinging the Shiuden Flash. At this speed, the opponent of the quicksilver........ 

 

　A counterattack. Our swords stabbed each other in the gut. I thought I had ducked perfectly, but it followed my movements to the end. Then we were blown backwards as we rolled on the spot. 

''Hah ... hah ... hah ... hah ... hah ... hah ...'' 

　Had he lost too much blood? Especially in the beginning, perhaps due to the effect of having his left arm popped off, there was not enough blood. No matter how much he awakened and reached the outer realm of humanity, there is no such thing as the ability to generate blood on the spot. 

　 

　It's only for a moment, but my vision blurs and begins to blur. There's not enough blood. Perhaps any more fighting will result in full-blown death. Then let's decide on the end, this is the end. Literally, the last, by the secret sword of the end. 

　Although it had been taught by the Major, he couldn't handle it completely either. No, it was surely this secret sword that even successive Oborozuki Night swordsmen were unable to handle. The theory, the theory, the body movements, all of them are in his head. However, this is a secret sword that was impossible for a human being to handle. I also thought it was impossible. The only person who could handle this would surely be my apprentice, Shelly-chan...........................that's what I thought, but now I'm thinking. 

　If it's me now, who has overcome the Twilight Syndrome 《Twilight Syndrome》 and is on the outside of people.......I can handle it. 

''........'' 

.... 

　We look at each other and we look at ourselves. From here on out, it's a battle against yourself. Of course, the one in front of you is a demon, but that is only a minor detail. This is a secret sword that can only be handled by those who have overcome their own existence and reached that point. 

　I'm sure the other party is also thinking the same thing. 

　This is the only way to settle this matter. 

The secret sword of the end... 

　The words overlap. There is no stopping now. What lies ahead is a settlement. In a few seconds, one of us will be on the ground. But it's not me. This demon will be defeated and I will win. 

　--Major, you'll see. I will prove with this that I have truly reached the highest swordsman of mankind. 

　With Oborozuki Yoru-sama in place, they invaded each other's engagement distance 《Killing Range》.  We unleashed our final secret sword. 

Oboro Tsukuyoru. 

"The sixteenth night. 

　 

　The positions of each other had been switched. 

　A moment. A moment of intermingling.  

''........'' 

　He didn't look back anymore. 

　The same secret sword as this sword's name. That was the final secret sword, the Oboro Moonlight Night. A secret sword that even the Major, who thought it could never reach, couldn't handle. I activated it and defeated the demons. 

　I heard a crashing sound behind me as I fell to the ground. He must have died. The response is still in my hand. You can't even feel it anymore. But the usual sensation of cutting the opponent was still there. 

''Major, I........'' 

　I look up at the sky. 

　I got my revenge. I overcame my disappointment back then, and then........I avenged the Major. 

　The opponent's magic element has already spread. I could tell that without even looking. 

　Farewell, demon. You were strong. But I was even stronger. The resolve I carry is different. What I am carrying is the will of humanity until now. That is what has taken me to greater heights. I have surpassed the Twilight Syndrome, surpassed people, and reached beyond that. It's a realm that even demons can't reach. I've reached it, and I've achieved it. 

　I was finally able to avenge the disgrace of ten years ago. 

　--Major, I did it. I avenged you with my own hands. 

I've done it, Major. 

　I tell him that he is no longer in this world. Tears were spilling out of my twin eyes. I don't wipe them away, I just keep looking at the sky - this purple-black sky ruled by twilight. 

　But then I suddenly think. Come to think of it........those last words the demon said. I had clearly thought that the demon would also use the same final secret sword. However, the last thing he fired was a completely different secret sword. Its trajectory was not something I knew about. So is there still a secret sword that I cannot know? 

　The moment I wondered that, a strange change occurred in my body. 

''Ah........ha......?'' 

　Slowly, he looked down at his own body. There, the sword blade was dyed completely black, the demon's sword........there it was. Earlier, there was nothing there. Even though there wasn't, it was as if a sword was suddenly thrust into it. There was no sign of it. If the other party came closer, I would definitely know if it was me now. And yet, this body was pierced by the opponent's magic sword. 

''Wha........how.......? 

　He looks back. The other party is still laying there. But with a twitch, his fingertips move and he slowly begins to get up. I, on the other hand, didn't even have the energy to draw the sword that was pierced. I had already exhausted everything. 

　I was on the edge. Any more blood loss was a matter of life and death. Yet, the bleeding that was flowing out of my chest never stopped. 

"Bertina Wright. You're brilliant. You truly are the greatest swordsman in human history. Even more powerful than the founder of this secret weapon I met one hundred and fifty years ago. But there was more to the sword than just what you know. 

No... no... what... what... what... what... what... what... what... what... 

　With my body in a wide open position, I stared at the heavens and vomited more blood. I clutched the Oborozukiyo, but I no longer had enough strength left to fight. 

　Then, as the demon slowly approaches, he pulls out his sword from my chest. More fresh blood overflows. But there was no way for me to stop it anymore. 

''Demon sword, the sixteenth night [Izayoi]. 

No way...? 

That's right. This is the counterpart to the secret sword. Originally, it was one, but it was split into two and the final secret sword was created in two. Even if the original base is the same, the places are different. If you had arrived at this realm five years earlier, it would have been me there. But you lost. You will meekly accept your defeat. 

"Wow, I'm... 

　--Losing?　I'm going to lose?　I'm going to die here, I am. With no end to the vengeance?　What expression should I give the Major? What have I fought for, until this day? 

　I tried to get up with the last of my strength, clawing at the ground as hard as I could... but it was no longer working. My nails peeled off, but I didn't feel the pain anymore. It was just like being in a warm slumber. 

　Gradually my vision began to blur. It was like falling into darkness, being sucked into the abyss of the world. 

'I respect you, swordsman rotting in the twilight, I respect you. Farewell, greatest swordsman of mankind. 

　With that announcement, I heard a rough sound, and then the footsteps continued to move away. Fortunately, or perhaps I dared to, I still had Oboro Gekiya clutched in my right hand. 

　I don't know why I didn't take it away.......but I have to take this over.......like the Major at that time......I'll take it over....... 

-- Sensei! 

　An auditory hallucination. It comes just as I'm thinking about her. But it didn't seem to be an auditory hallucination. 

"Sir, get a grip!　I'm still fine! 

　It was Sherry who came to us. I was glad to have her, my beloved apprentice, in this last moment of her life. 

　--Oh. Oh, I see. So the Major must have felt like this too. 

　It makes sense. A fact that I know as I approach the age of the major. 

　And so I tell him. My last, the last words I will leave behind in this world and my thoughts.