"Now you know: ...... I'm an a**h*le. ...... You can't forget about her, you can't forget the memories you had with her... ... but when I did that, it was an act that wiped out her very existence!　You insulted all my memories of her on her behalf!　I knew it was going to be me who died!　Now you know!　You can't just disrespect me and cut me off here!

　Then, for the first time in her life, Lily explodes, revealing her emotions.
　I didn't know all of her story, and I didn't know all of it.
　I only knew what I heard from her brother.
　The rest was just my own prediction.

　But the principle was right.
　In Lily's mind, I was angry at myself for being her friend.
　And regret and repentance for having bonded with us while she was pretending to be Lily.
　Because if the real Lily was alive, then she would be next to us now.
　She was deprived of her place in the double sense of the word.
　That's how I felt about it, and that's the reason for my redemption.

"Lily. I don't know how many times I need to tell you .......

　I say that's not the root of it.

Come on, man!　You think you're going to regret it like that and make the real Lily sad!　Do you think I'm crying out to the other side of the world to give the place back to you because I hate you for replacing me?　That's nothing short of insulting your friend!

　So if Lily's character is as described, if her character is as described, there is no reason for her to hold such a grudge.

The most unforgivable thing is that she's wrong about us. I did!　Do you despise Lily because she's the imposter you used to play?　Screw you!　So what, that's it!

　I scream.
　with more anger and truth than ever before.
　When she hears me scream, she is stunned, but she looks into my eyes clearly.

I don't care. Whoever you are, whatever you've become, you're the only Lily I know. The one I bonded with, the one I thought was my friend, the one we grew demons together...you're Lily. It doesn't matter who you are. More importantly, if you're an SS-ranked demon...then what?　You forget who I am.

　Yes, anyone else would have.
　Because I have nothing to do with this world, and because I was never afraid of the existence of demons, I can say this line.

I'm Kyou, the demon grower who grew the demons. All of my friends around me are demons too. You think I'm afraid to find out that you're an SS-ranked demon?　If so, you're too vain, man.

　I said and lightly flicked Lily's stunned nose with my index finger.
　You'll be able to see that the person you're talking to is the one who's going to be able to help you.
　I'm sure you'll find tears in her eyes, as if she was holding back something different from the other day.

...... You have a lot of confusing things to say. It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're talking about.

I'm telling you, it's no big deal. My mother is an SS demon and my sister is one of the four demon kings. That's what's more surprising. Do I despise you now that you're actually a demon?

　It would be the kind of line that no human being living in this world would be able to say.
　Demons are fallen by men.
　They are prepared and assigned that role.
　The demon was replaced by the original person, Lily, and blended into human society.
　That fact alone could be a tragedy if people who know about it knew.
　But if you ask me...that's exactly what I want to know.

It doesn't matter if it's real or not. The only person I know is you, Lily. That's why you're my friend, Lily.

　Say I reach out to lily.
　Just as a girl named Lily once reached out to her.
　This time I'm going to be her best friend.
　I reach out my hand to her with that kind of determination and thought.

　Seeing this, Lily spills the tears she has been holding back and begins to cry, stifling her voice.
　Your sins. Your identity. Your actions. Your past. Your own lies. I told you everything about myself and was not rejected.
　That someone else had reached out to her again.
　For the second time in her life she shed tears of gratitude for that and took his hand.

You're really weird.

I get that a lot.

　The usual conversation. The usual Lily.
　It was enough.
　My relationship with lily was finally beginning.

"At ......, I'm going to have to break the ice, but I wonder if we can move on?　It's Lily.



　When I came to my senses, I held my hand and unknowingly hugged it, and then I heard Amarnes' voice from behind me.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends and family.

It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get a good deal more than you think.

　For some reason, Lily's tone of voice was also very upsetting.
　You'll be able to see that you're not the only one.

That's right. Then we'll go on ahead, so you and the cultivator can take your time with your lovey-dovey friend later.

"Phew, it's not like that!　Amanes!

　I'm not going to be able to get it right.
　You'll be able to see that you're not the only one who can do this.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one. ...... But I'd like to ask you something, lily. I know that you regretted what you did and wanted to atone for your actions. But why do you take the side of the emperor?　To be taken down by us?

　It's something I've been wondering since I heard about Lily's past.
　I wondered if it had something to do with what she said about the role of demons.

Oh, that. So you guys didn't know about that guy yet. He's ......

　Just as Lily was about to say something, there was a roar from the first floor.
　There was a roar from the first floor.
　Was there some kind of resolution to the battle between heroic Felid and Jack and his friends?
　It was a violent vibration that made me think so.

I'd love to talk to you about ......, but now is not the time. Okay, just go. You guys, or at least Kyou, are here to beat up the imperial hero, right?

Yeah, yeah. I'm not going to feel good about this guy unless I put a bullet in his face.

　When I decided to ride in here, I made the decision to do something else to get Lily and the others back.
　I need to give that man a shot in the face with an apology for this.
　This isn't about anger or vengeance or wickedness.
　This is a matter of poetic justice.
　Lily nodded with satisfaction at my answer.

Then go. The emperor is up ahead on the third floor. The rest of the way is clear. You settle this among yourselves. I'll guard the hinterland here so that no one can disturb you.

Yeah, honestly, I'd feel better if you came with me, but I think we should just settle this on our own, don't you?

　I read what Lily was going to say and nodded quietly to her.
　After all, we've been together all these years.
　I know what my friend lily is thinking.
　And that goes for the rest of the team as well.
　Jack and little Ys, I trust them all.
　That's why I didn't look back when I heard the explosion.
　I just believe in my friends and move forward as best I can.
　We will take down the emperor, the castle's boss.

All right... I'll be going for a while, Lily.

Yeah, good luck with that, Keogh.

　We run up the stairs with the voices of our friends who trust us without seeing our faces.
　Aiming for the boss of this castle beyond - the emperor.