Colonel Bertina Wright we've lost all contact with you. 

.... 

　--I can't believe it. That bell is going to die?　No way, no way. 

　Leanne thought about that as she stared at the monitor. Belle's death was not among her assumptions. Although the operations command already knew that she had come into contact with a demon, they didn't know how the battle was going to go. 

　-- Could it be that Belle had lost? 

　This was the worst possible assumption that crossed my brain. The opponent's magic element was so powerful that it could be perceived even from here. But I didn't even think that Belle would lose. That was because Liane believed in Belle with all her heart. No matter how powerful her enemies were, she always fought them off and came back alive. 

　Always after she returned, smiling and smiling, Belle would pat Riane's head. 

''Belle, welcome back.'' 

I'm home and I'm back. 

'I'm baking a cake today. And I've also prepared a cup of tea that Belle likes to drink. 

"...that's very exciting. 

''Hmm........I'll be ready to go. 

　I can remember such an exchange as if it was only yesterday. This was how Liane used to labor after an important mission. 

　I didn't expect that.....................to come to an end here. 

''What's the demon's reaction?'' 

'He's still alive. He looks pretty worn out, but... 

What about the nearest demon?　Are there any special class anti-magicians who can move? 

I've just received a transmission from Major Reese. 

What was it? 

Lieutenant Colonel Curtis and Major Amis have both gone to the scene. From what we've been able to see on the monitors, we believe they've already made contact with the enemy. 

I see. Our instructions are-- 

　I could hear them exchanging such exchanges. The supreme commander, the Marshal, had already made his next move, assuming that Bell was defeated and dead. Liane just listened to such a situation in a daze. 

　The operations command center was in a hectic situation. The rest of the squad was also busy dealing with the demons right now. And since Julia had destroyed the target, it seems that there are numerous demons overflowing out of control. But the operation was equal to a success. The main goal is the destruction of the Ancient Scorpion, the Ancient Scorpion [Ancient Scorpion]. Now that this has been accomplished, it's no exaggeration to say that the earth has returned to the hands of humanity once again. 

　In the meantime, Riane also has a job to do as a commander. There is certainly work to be done. I understand. I know that. Riane was firmly aware of that. 

"......... 

　But she couldn't move. She could see the people here working hard. She could hear them changing the content of the mission and organizing the information that was being communicated. Everyone else was fighting for humanity like this, but she was powerless to do anything about it. I was helpless. Nothing, nothing I could do. I wanted to run to Belle right now. That's what I wanted to do. But that was not going to happen. With barely any reason left, Riane bound herself to the spot. 

　And so Riane just stood there, stunned. 

　◇ 

.... 

"...doctor?　What's going on?　It's a little early to go to bed, isn't it? 

.... 

'........Sensei!　Doctor!　I'm still fine! 

.... 

　She shook her body. Shelly didn't understand what she was ranting about anymore. Right now, she is just doing everything she can to try to regain Bell's consciousness. She's already on artificial respiration, and she's already doing heart massage. But as Belle spun what seemed to be her last words, she drew a breath of air as she clattered out of her body. 

　Earlier, the strength was still in her hands. But now, it was hanging slackly. 

''........Sensei!　Sensei, I'm just saying...! 

　Still, Shelley continues to scream. 

　I know. I know. 

　There is already no human consciousness left in this world as Bertina Wright. All that remains here is a mere wreck of unconsciousness. Nevertheless, Shelly had not yet given up hope of her final days. 

　No, that's ... not strictly speaking. 

　Shelly just doesn't want to face that reality. 

　She doesn't want to admit it. 

　Stronger than anyone else, it was unacceptable that her own teacher, stronger than anyone else, would die here.............in the middle of the road. 

''Sensei.......what's wrong?　Not yet ... not yet ... the doctor ... 

　I begin to admit it gradually. There is already no strength in his body. And its twin eyes, which are open, have completely dilated pupils. 

　There are definitions of death: cessation of breathing and pulse, dilated pupils, and, in addition, a state of brain death. Of those, Bell certainly meets one of them. And then Shelley goes on to place a fearful hand on Bell's neck. 

　It wasn't there. Her pulse has stopped completely. No more ... never more ... beating pulses. It's still warm. The body has a fever, but it's clear. 

　It's dead. Shelly recognized it and brought her own hands, both stained with Belle's blood, to her face. Gradually, as the trembling in her body grew louder and louder, Shelly understood. 

　Belle was already........dead, she said. 

''Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... Ahhhhhhhh! 

　Lamentation. There was no way to know where these emotions went. 

　It was just that Shelly was controlled by every emotion. Why, why did this happen? Why did Belle have to die? What had she done? 

　But such questions were meaningless. 

　Belle died because she was weak. That clear fact gouges Shelley's heart more than anything else. Besides, when she looked at Belle again, she saw that her left arm was missing there, her kesa had been torn clean off, and there was even a penetrating scar on her belly. The blood flowing from there is still warm. Sherry recognized the warmth of that blood touching her knees, but she also mourned Belle's death. 

　At the same time, it begins to rain, as if this world is also mourning. 

　Pots, pots, pots, pots, and pots of it all at once gaining momentum, is it a manifestation of her wailing in this world? 

　Sherry was catching the rain.  

　--kill. That demon who killed the teacher will be killed at any cost! 

　Although the wailing was certainly in his heart, it was pure rage that dominated Shelly. 

　Sherry, who has become a vengeful demon, stands up from the spot with ease. You'll be able to use the sword that was given to you by Belle back into your waistband and stand up dazedly. 

　What do you see in their eyes? What do you see in their eyes, and what do you think about as you wield the sword? 

　--I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'll kill him! 

　Controlled by the murderous urge, Shelly pulled out Oborozuki Yoru and poured over the earth with the momentum and with the emotion. Right now, Yulia is fighting that demon. But I wasn't aware of such a thing, even though it was in my eyes. Right now, I just ignored even the fighting Yulia and unconsciously decided that I needed to clear this hatred from my mind. 

'Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! 

　And so they entered the engagement range 《Killing Range》 but.......Shelley's attack was too monotonous. Even though he had intervened between the two of them, he didn't play any tricks and just rushed into them without a care in the world. 

　Of course, it wasn't Alfred who would miss the opening. He was definitely in a state of exhaustion from the deadly battle with Belle just now, and also from dealing with Julia. But even so, he was still a high-ranking demon. 

　He also takes into account Yulia's movements, just pointing the magic sword, the cutting edge of the sixteenth night, directly at Shelly's face as he rushed in. 

''Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! 

　A scream. 

　It cleanly slit her right eye lengthwise. The fact that she just plunged into it in a low stance was avenging. 

　As Shelly held her slit right eye in place, a kick came next, blasting her backwards. She rolls around in a rumble, unable to get a good passive strike. But that attack is not Alfred's. It was .........Julia's. 

'Get out of the way!　Stay back! 

　I heard such an angry voice. This is the first time I've seen Yulia shouting loudly, but when I hear those words I realize............... 

　--I see.........I'm only in the way now.......... 

　Controlled by emotions, Shelly can't even wield a sword properly. She was only a hindrance. 

　And so Shelly slid and rolled on the ground that had been turned to mush by the rain, and then, for whatever reason.................she came back to Belle's corpse. 

　Shelly didn't care about her muddy military uniform, she just looked up to the heavens, holding her right eye down. The blood flowing out of it would never stop. But that was fine. 

　I know that this is my punishment for being miserable, miserable and stupid. 

　Just going into it emotionally and out of desperation will not be an enemy. The enemy is the one who slaughtered that bell. There's no way they can win with this mental state. 

''........'' 

　Shelley remembered that one of the things Bell had taught her was the concept of mind and body. 

　It was that only when the mind and body were in unison would a sword technique show its true value. Right now, Shelly didn't have enough heart. Just a child who ramped up without a care in the world. Recognizing that this is who she is now, Shelly puts her hand on Belle's corpse at her side. 

　The rain never stops. 

　It seems to keep swinging endlessly, and it melts and mixes with the tears flowing from Shelly's left eye and the fresh blood flowing from her right eye. 

　I look up at the sky again. This world, even if it rains, has an uninterrupted purple-black light. The twilight light that falls endlessly and the wailing rain. Sherry, while being struck by them, says these words. 

''Sensei ... I ... I ... am ... still weak ... still weak ... but I will surely, surely ... fulfill ... this vengeance ... surely ...'' 

　Vows. 

　I won't be weak anymore. 

　I will do this. I will make this vengeance my own. And with this scar on her right eye, Shelly makes it happen. She will be stronger and stronger to fulfill her vow. She said she would continue to fight to surpass Belle and to defeat the demon who had defeated her. 

　To never let Belle's death be in vain--.