The high-pitched sound rang out and Allen let out a sigh at about the same time.
　The sigh, incidentally, came from the bottom of my heart.

　Why--

"I guess I haven't been quiet. I wasn't going to do anything if I didn't have to do anything else.
...... you, Mr. ......!　Disturb me. ......!
You're the one who disturbed my peace. Well, okay. Just--just jump.

　--The World's End: Tathagata and Long Strike

"G--

　He muttered to himself and put a bit of force into his arm to let the slash flow, and then slammed the kick into it.
　It's not a sword technique, so it's not very powerful because the sword's power doesn't come into play, but it's not a problem in this situation.

　A man rolled a few meters away, let out a breath, and looked back.

I'm not going to say anything because I don't have the right to say anything, but I think you should be prepared for it.　You won't be able to hide it from Beatrice, so she'll be lecturing you later. Well, if it's bad, I'll be lectured too.
"Allen, you ......?　Why ......
"Hmm?　How did you manage to break in at just the right time?　That's because I've been "watching" you. Oh, and I apologize for seemingly eavesdropping, though I had no choice. I'm sorry.
"What ......?　Um, how the heck do I start asking that ......
Well, I'll answer anyway if you ask me, but I'll be there in a minute. I don't want to be interrupted.
"What ......?

　You're going to be able to find out if you're going to be able to get a good deal more than just a few minutes.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

You're going to be able to find out more about ...... Allen, so ......?　Leeds' ex-fiancee, a bastard or ......?
It's been a long time since I've heard that word. It shouldn't have been that long since you heard it before. It's a good thing that you're able to do that much to help you. ...... When I think about it again, I wonder why we're really in this situation. It's a good thing that you're able to do this. But when I think about it, I've been stumbling from day one.
...... Sounds like you have a lot of leeway, but ...... no, that's okay. I won't tell you anything else. Get out of the way. Stay out of my business. ......!
"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry to be so cautious, but I don't want to have a real conversation with you. I don't know what to say to someone who isn't working (・・・・・・) of their own volition (・・・・・).
"...... What?　You're not supposed to--
So, I don't want to talk about it, okay?　For now - let's get that person back.

　--The Power of Reason, Parallel Paradox: Domain Seizure, Spell Break.

　The moment I said that, Allen's hand, which was outstretched toward it, was clenched.
　It was like squeezing something: ...... In fact, it was the right thing to do.

　Immediately after that, as if a thread snapped, the man's body relaxed and he fell to the spot.

...... Huh?　A, Allen, you ......?　Um, now what ......?
"Hmm?　Oh, I didn't mean to kill him, you know?　Well, I mean, there's no way you can kill someone (・・・・・・・) who is already dead (......).
"...... huh?

　While he was saying this, there was a change in the man who had fallen.
　Slowly he rose to his feet, but there was a look of surprise on his face.

　It was as if he was looking at something unbelievable, and Allen shrugged his shoulders.

...... stupid ...... what the hell are you ......
Well ...... doesn't do much, it's just a piece of shit. Don't worry about it. It's more than that, are you okay?　I think I can move with no problem, but it's the first time I've done it, so I'm not very confident. I'm not so sure.
...... No, I'm fine. I'm moving properly, just as I am.
"What ...... eh?　Um, what the hell is really going on at ......?

　I don't understand it, but that's just as well.
　I'm not explaining anything.
　It would be more frightening if you understood the situation in an instant.

But now, I don't know where to start: ...... hmmm, yeah. First, I'm going to start with probably the most important thing to say, but the guy over there - Alfred is dead.
"...... huh?

　Leeds' eyes widen in surprise as he turns to Alfred, but a slow nod is returned by Alfred.


　Then, realizing that this was a mistake, I saw Leeds' face crumple and his lip bite down as if he was trying to hold something back.

And, but your uncle did it right: ......
"I'm not doing it right, okay?　From the neck down (・・・・・), I'm a different person (...)
...... well noticed. You wear armor, and I'm pretty sure we've never met.
Well, I can see it. At least I was aware of it when I showed up at the festival (・・・・・) (・・・・). Probably in the same way that Leeds figured you out.
...... Okay. Then why did you let it go this far?　You could have done something about me afterwards, if not right then, couldn't you?
Well, I could have done it or not. But ...... why would you want to do that?
"...... Huh?

　That's not to say that I don't care what happens to this village.
　Perhaps because Alfred was in this village a long time ago (・・・・・・).

At least, I wouldn't be surprised if he was here not in January or February, but in years ...... that is, from the time you say you went missing.
"...... Why do you think I'm not a recent arrival in this village?
"From the reaction of the people in the village when you showed up. By all accounts, it was directed at someone close to you.
...... I wore full body armor and a helmet, you know?　Anyone could do the same thing.
No, I don't. From Leeds' reaction, that armor was probably what he was wearing at the time (...). There's no point in letting someone else in all this time, and then letting you in today.

　So it is that Alfred had spent a good deal of time in this village, and it's that he lived in this village without any problems.
　It is certainly forbidden in this world for someone who is already dead to live with the ...... dead to live among the living.

　But what does that make it any less so?
　It's not doing any harm, so you can do what you want.
　I wouldn't want to live here, but the people in the village seem to be at peace, so I don't have anything to say.

I don't say anything because I am at peace at the moment. ...... That's a very different way of thinking.
Is that right?　I don't think so. ......
But if you were aware of it, you should have at least told Leeds about it, shouldn't you?
I'm sorry to say that you came all the way out here and now you've finally found it, but your finder is already dead and dying, right?　I'm not that much of a monster.
But saying so would have kept Leeds out of harm's way.
If we have to destroy everything that looks dangerous in advance because of the possibility of danger, then we will have to kill the whole human race. You don't know who is going to do what and when. A person who was harmless yesterday may not be harmless today.
"...... is a little extreme, but you have a point, or . Well, I see where you're coming from.

　With that, Alfred turned his gaze to Leeds.
　Leeds' body jolted, but Leeds continued to stare at his face without looking away.

"...... uncle,
Everything he just said was right. I look like this and I'm already dead.
But if you are ...... then how are you stuck?　In my eyes, you look like your uncle.
Well, now I guess so. But the truth is, I wasn't like that earlier in the day.
"What ......?　What does that mean?
I guess it's safe to say that I was manipulated ...... . At least it wasn't of my own volition that I tried to kill you. ...... Totally, it's no laughing matter that the guy who was talking about being a puppet of God or being controlled is a puppet.

　With those words, Alfred smiled a self-mocking smile, but soon remembered that this was no time for that, and withdrew it.
　It's a good thing that you've got a good idea of what you're looking for.

I've been in that situation for a while now, and he helped me out with ......, okay?
"Well, sort of.

　Allen saw that there were two "things" hanging over Alfred.

　One is the fundamental thing that drives him as a dead man.
　And the other was to control him to the will of the sorcerer.
　Allen had only broken the latter.

　One of Allen's powers, the power of reason.
　Reason is the law of the world itself, and having the power to control it is almost synonymous with manipulating the laws of the world.
　With that power, destroying one or two of the powers exerted on others was a piece of cake.

So, ...... means that what you just said is ......
...... isn't all a lie. I mean, there are people who actually think like that. But it's not that guy.
"Yeah, I see. ......

　The look on Leeds' face as he muttered that was indescribable.
　Relief is probably the closest thing to it, but then again, the face was not a happy one.

"By the way, it's true that I had a grudge against the royal family.
"e ......

　After all, it seemed that was what was bothering Leeds the most.
　After a gasp, his face is sadly lowered.

"And you know from my words at that time ...... that I betrayed the royal family and aligned myself with other people. To get revenge on the royal family.



　Although in the dimness, I could clearly see the darkness in Alfred's eyes at that time.

　Well, we are talking about people who are at the top of a nation.
　No wonder there's more going on inside than can be seen from the outside.

　Even if it's too complicated for those inside to see.

But at the end of the day I was just being used for good too. It was their (・・・・) idea to get me killed that time.
...... they are, and are not ......?
Yeah, maybe that's what you're thinking. But as much as I'd like to tell you, this body is dead. I'm just trying to push it around. They've probably already found out about me, and I'm out of time. So I'll just tell you what I really want to tell you. ...... Mr. Allen, that's right.
"Yes, what is it?
I know it's selfish of me, but there are two things I need you to do for me.
"Okay?　I'm not saying anything, but ...... if it's something I can do. I wouldn't have made time for this in the first place if I hadn't meant to.
"...... Okay. Thank you. Now, can I ask you for the first favor: ...... and let me take care of the girl, okay?　As you can see, she's a good girl, but as you can see, she's also a worrisome girl. I won't ask you to do anything you can't do. If you could help me in my time of need, would you help me?
"Okay?　And that's what I was going to do before I was told.
"Well, thank you ......
No. . . ...... or as if you're asking me to do something about my daughter?
Haha ...... sure. But that's not wrong in a way, is it?　I don't know what she thought of me, but at least I thought of her as a daughter. She called me father once, and I can't tell you how hard I tried to keep the joy off my face.
"e ......

　At Alfred's words, Leeds gasped, and yet he didn't say anything because he didn't think now was the time.
　He looked as if he was about to cry and was gritting his teeth hard.

"So, for the second time, ...... would you like to have a fight with me?
...... uncle!
"Hmm ...... okay?
"Mr. Allen!"?
"...... I'm honestly surprised to hear myself say this. I think that's a normal reaction for Leeds.
Well, I kind of expected it. Since you're putting your daughter in the hands of a man, don't you think it's only natural for a parent to make sure she's really worth it?
...... Oh, yeah. ...... Thank you.

　As soon as he thanked her, Alfred took the sword in his hand.
　In response, Allen also took a step forward.

　From behind him, he felt Leeds' gaze as if to say something, but in the end, no words were spoken.
　Truly, that's a worrisome girl, and I let out a sigh.

　I don't think she doesn't realize what's at stake here.
　She has a right to stay here and cry, but she's not going to use it.

　That's why I'm so worried about her and want to leave it to someone else.

...... One thing I'll tell you, if I do say so myself, is that I'm pretty strong, okay?　This body is certainly not my own, but I heard that the owner of this body was even known as the Sword Sage. And if I'm in harmony with this body, I'll be able to draw on its full power.
I see ...... well, it's not a problem. If you're only a swordsman (・・・・), you won't even be able to talk about it.
"Huh, well, ...... that's quite encouraging, huh?

　At the same time as the words, Alfred shot forward.

　As they say, it was quite fast and sharp.
　Most opponents would end up being chopped to pieces in an instant without any way to do so.

　Well, though - or to put it another way, that's the extent to which such an assumption is necessary.

　--The power of the sword, "World's End": the ultimate technique, the flash.

　The two shadows crossed right after ...... and changed into one and two lumps of flesh.

...... I see. This certainly allows you to talk that big. And now you can die without worrying.

　A voice sounded clearer than expected from the rolled head, but perhaps it was because it was still under the influence of the art.

　Still, it won't be long now that the head has been cut off.
　A person is only recognizable as a person because he or she retains human form.
　That is true even if they are dead.

　And Allen knew that, and that's why Alfred did it, and that's why he wanted to do it.
　At least let him die as a man at the end.

Oh, but I still have to tell you one last thing: ...... This is one thing I have to make sure you know. I'm sorry for everything that happened at Rees ....... And be happy. So that's two. Hahaha ...... it's never going to be tight until the end, but that's why ...... is so much like me... ...or ......

　The voice was never heard again.
　Instead, what reached Allen's ears were stifled sobs.



　I let out one more breath.
　I looked up at the sky and let out one more breath, saying, "I don't want anything but peace.