After all, Master didn't say he would help Mr. Rustyala.
　No, he couldn't say it.
　He couldn't catch Mr. Rastiara's unstable spirit and left before I could give him an answer.

　I feel a little bit of relief.
　However, I knew I couldn't be relieved, so I opened the door with all my intentions.
　On the other side of the door is the master with an end-of-the-world look on his face.

'Did you hear me ......?'
Yes, sir.

　I affirm without falsehood and confirm my master's intentions.

'Mr. Rastiara can be reached at .......'
I'm out. You heard the man.

　Master pointed weakly out the window.

'Are you sure about this, Master: ......
'Nothing. The problem is too big: ......

　When I heard those words, I felt my stormy mind calm down.
　Never letting it show, I'll make sure about what happens after this.

'So, when the new Tiara-san arrives, you'll think of it as Russ Tiara-san, and you'll still be able to visit ......?
...... That's not Rastiala, that's a different person. It's not going to happen.

　I could see my calm mind grow rapturous next.
　I try hard to keep my expression from letting Master realize that I'm ugly and happy.

　Then the master continues as if to spit it out.

'At least you can't be one of us: ......

　My restraint came to an end when Mr. Rastiala assured me that he would be gone from the group.

'Thank goodness ....... I'm really glad .......

　Relief from the depths of my heart spilled out and turned into words.

'What ......?'

　The master sees my smile and gives me a strange look.

　I think to myself, "Shucks," ...... but I decide it's a good opportunity to do the opposite. Left behind by Mr. Rastiara, a weakened master might be able to draw out the words I wanted to hear. This is an opportunity to turn the situation into something rock solid.

　The Eye also says I can do it now.
　The Eye has ruined my life, but for now, it can be relied upon.

　Mr. Rastiara did the same thing.
　Then I too--

'I thought the master was fond of Mr. Rastiara.

　When the master hears this, he rolls his eyes.
　It's palpable that his thoughts can't keep up with the abrupt words.

　With the current master's impatient thoughts, there would be only one word that could answer this.

　The master who ignored Rastiara-san's "help me" and couldn't keep her back, can't say "I love you" even if he can't say it. Even if he did, he couldn't say it. It's not that he doesn't say it, but because of his logical nature, he can't say it.

　If I "liked" you, I wouldn't ignore "help me". You ignore "help me" because you don't "like" it, you reason. That's the master.

　And once you put it into words, the master is stuck. It's a master who is very good at fooling himself. He must believe his own words when he says, "I don't like you," and he will give it all up.

　The master I know would give up in the face of a powerful force called the state.
　He would be afraid to take risks and make reluctant choices.

　Knowing this, I continue to speak.

''That's right, Rastiala-san has some oddities ....... She's so beautiful, so strong, so bright. He's a prankster, but at his core he's a friend. He's a dreamer, but he's the ideal person to be a labyrinth explorer. She's a lot like her master, so we're very much on the same page--

　The master's face contorts as he says the words.

　But this is necessary.
　It's what I should do to say goodbye.
　So I ask for the sake of my master.

'I thought you liked that kind of Lastiara-san. But you don't, do you?　Isn't that right?

　Threateningly, he urged an answer.

　Master is speechless, but he is giddy with thought. Recalling the present and the past, I could tell from his expression that he was desperately searching for an answer.

　Honestly, I can tell the answer by 'eyes' even if I don't ask.
　The master is definitely thinking about his emotions with reason as usual, and eventually compromising.
　He thinks desperately and desperately, and in the end, he absolutely gives up--.

Ha, ha, ha, ha ......

　--the vision flipped and the world distorted (・・・・・・).

　Suddenly, the master started laughing.
　At the same time, he felt a strong pain from his 'eyes'.

''......!''

　As if possessed, the master's expression changes abruptly and he continues to laugh cleanly without hesitation.

　And then he laughs and is angry (・・・・・) ......?

　I was confused by a reaction I hadn't expected.
　I didn't foresee this kind of reaction, 'eyes'.
　I don't know why she's laughing and angry.

　The Eye has no answer to that question.
　To be precise, the 'eyes' are screaming that they cannot grasp the existence of the master.

　Such .......
　It is true that the master was a difficult person for the 'eyes' to catch .......
　But it wasn't this far ....... So far, in a mess--.

What's up with you, ......?　Master?

　I ask him fearfully why he is laughing like a different person.

　Seeing me, the master replies with a suppressed smile.
　However, the laughter hasn't completely disappeared yet.

''Haha ....... No, I was a little crazy ....... You're right, Maria. I don't like Rustyala. There seems to be no doubt about it.
What?　I see. ......

　I could hear the words "I don't like you" that I had hoped for.
　However, the fact that he answered it so easily was counterintuitive to me now.

　My expectation was that he would answer in a more bitter and compromising way. But what I saw in front of me was a fresh smile. I don't know why.

'More importantly, you said something interesting. You said that me and Rustyala are similar to each other: ....... 'You know exactly what I mean,'

　Regardless of my agitation, the master speaks.
　In response, I answer without embellishment. I didn't have time to choose my words.

'More than that?　...... Ugh, I can't really say it well, but I thought we were similar in our roots. From my point of view, both of you are perfected, as if you were 'made up'.

　The master laughs again when he hears my honest opinion.
　This time it's a dry laugh.

'I see. ....... We have similar roots.'
Yes ......

　Indeed, the master has a personality that is difficult to understand. He is indecisive, has a unique set of values and a unique way of thinking, and has a sensitivity that ordinary people cannot match.

　--But this is too much of an anomaly.

　While I'm reeling from this, the master moves briskly, as if he has an answer.

'Maria, I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back by noon.
'What, what ......?　Master, where are you--!

　By the time I tried to restrain him, the master was already about to leave the house.
　As it was, with a confident movement, he went out the window of the house like Mr. Rustyala.

　I could only watch it go.
　My thoughts couldn't keep up and I couldn't respond to anything.

　I slowly lowered my outstretched hand and sat down in one of the chairs in the living room.

'Yes, what the hell is going on ......'

　My body was trembling as I accepted the fact that I didn't understand my master's feelings at all.

　I never thought it would be so heartbreaking and frightening to not understand the feelings of a person - or even the feelings of someone I loved at all.

　Never before in my life have I ever had this kind of feeling.
　As long as I have 'eyes', I've never been in that situation before. Even if it was a master who was good at fooling himself or that Rustyala-san, I never knew any of this. I could read his mind a little.

''Could it be that you're ...... again?　Because of the 'eyes' again: ......?

　Memories of the past come back to me.
　I remember the village, ■■, burning because of my 'eye' judgment.

　...... eh, eh?

　What are they?　
　I can't get the words out. Can't remember?
　What did I lose before?　

'Yes, no, calm down ....... Let's calm down first: .......

　I try to regain my composure through experience.
　Never once was it good to lose my composure in my homeland, in the war, or in slavery.

　I take a series of deep breaths and adjust my muddled thoughts.

　It's the first time I've ever been completely unaware of how my master feels.
　But that's the way relationships were originally meant to be.

　There's something wrong with the 'eyes' that can understand anything at any time.
　That's right, the "eye" is strange. But I have to put aside my anger at the eye for now.

　First of all, you need to be calm.
　First and foremost, we need to anticipate our master's actions.

　Master said that he doesn't like Mr. Rustyala. However, everything started to go crazy from there.
　He laughed and said the lines that he would have said after a hard time if it was true.

　It wasn't desperation.
　It wasn't even angry at me or at myself.

　He was laughing at a definite 'something' and angry at a definite 'something'.
　But I don't know what that 'something' is.

　I calmly picked up the pieces of information I had just gathered.
　I integrate the information from a broader perspective and look for factors, not just what Master and Mr. Rustyala said today.

　Then I come up with an idea.
　Mr. Arti had said. 'Those two aren't trying to change, and the people around them won't allow it.

　Is that what this is?　

　I have no other idea of the master's sudden change.
　This means that the master was changed by the hands of those around him.
　The only ones that come to mind are the Knights of the Hooziers. With the most advanced magic, magical tools and medicines of the great powers, it's not impossible.

　The master was changed by outrageous means - and he realized it, laughed at it, got angry, and went to save Mr. Rustyala?

　That's highly unlikely.
　No, otherwise, I don't see the point of going out at this time.

　The reason why I became alone at this time is for no other reason than to help Rastiara-san. If I'm going to the labyrinth, I'll use the magic door.

　In other words, the answer is .......
　The master didn't tell me anything and left me to go to Ms. Rustyala ......?

No. ....... Only that: ......

　I can't stop shivering at the answers I've arrived at.

　The scenes of memories that come back to me represent the same flow as before.
　The extra word I said in overconfidence in my "eyes" changed everything drastically.

　Exactly the same .......
　Also lost because of the 'eyes' .......

　Unable to bear it, he knocked over the chair, opened the door of the house roughly, and ran out.

　-- A man was standing outside the house.

　This is the third time I've met him.
　We met in the slave market, met again in the tavern with Mr. Arti - and now.

　The Eye sounds the alarm bell.
　The man in front of me is screaming for danger.
　But now I can't trust the Eye at all.
　I don't know what to trust anymore.

　The tall, fearless-looking man lifts the corners of his mouth and approaches me.

''Hey, we meet again.''

　The man approached me with a taut smile on his face.

'Hey, what can I do for you ......?　I'm in a hurry. ......

　I don't want to approach this man, and I respond to him plainly.
　But the man doesn't seem bothered by it and returns the words.

'I figured it was about time. I just came to check on you.
Is it time to go to ......?

　I don't know what the man is talking about.
　But I do know that he's thinking about some bullshit. I decide not to deal with him and put my feet forward to walk past him.

　But my steps are stopped by the man's words.

'Don't you have something to ask the people at Hoosiers?　I'm still the great, geeky knight of the Foozeyards. I'm also a good friend of Lord Rastiara and his brother Christ. If you want, I can help you out, okay?
'You ....... Are you a knight of the Hoosiers ......?

　The Knight of Hoozeyards.
　A clear enemy with a deep suspicion of misleading the master at the moment--!

Yeah, yeah.

　I felt the blood rush to my head.
　Emotions that couldn't be hit anywhere else found their way to the object, the knight of the Foozeyers, and they poured out.

'You people!　What the hell did you do to your master!　There's something wrong with the master!　It's getting crazy because of your involvement with you Hoosiers!

　I wave my hand to the side with all my strength and hit the knight in front of me.
　The man takes it with a cool look on his face and returns the words calmly.

''No matter. We've only done that to the Lord - 'Rustyala' Hoozeyers. We didn't do anything to your brother in Christ.'
It's a lie!　I know you are trying to take advantage of your masters!　That's why you put a spell on your master!　Trying to manipulate me!

　I can't keep my composure in front of a man who doesn't do anything to upset me, and I denounce him.

'No, I really didn't. You'll know I wasn't lying, little girl.

　Then the man points to his own eyes.
　The man seems to have a similar skill to me and is able to see through my 'eyes'.

　He is telling me to judge the truth by looking at myself with my 'eyes'.

　But I've already made my decision. I was well aware that the man was not lying.

　I knew it, but I wasn't sure what to trust anymore.
　Biting my lip, I ask him the reason for his master's condition.

'If only!　Why is the master in such a state ......!
'I haven't seen that state of affairs firsthand, so I can't say for sure: ....... Still, there are things we do know, man.
What do we know: ......?
'Brother Christ is a guy who, for whatever reason, can't give up on anyone. Even if you suffer, if you're lost, if you make a mistake, ...... still, in the end, you can't abandon the person you've moved on to affection. That's what 'Christ Eurasia' is all about.

　The man in front of me gives a simple answer.
　The master is kind and goes to help.
　He assures me that's all there is to it.

　I didn't want to admit it.
　Is it because I want to keep that kindness to myself .......
　Or maybe it's for another reason: .......

'Maybe so ....... I'm sure that's part of what I do with my master ....... But it's more than that!　Master is a cowardly, indecisive, pathetic man!　So, there's no way I'm supposed to be able to go save Mr. Rustyala!
'I suppose so. You're right. I know it well, too.

　The man nodded at my master's assessment.
　I didn't deny it. He agreed with my words and continued his story.

'You are frightened of the labyrinth because of your cowardice, you hurt your friends because of your indecision, and you don't say what you want to say. He just hides in the labyrinth. That's my brother in Christ. How was it at first (・・・・・), it was worse.
So, right?　So--

　I try to use the man's sympathetic words to get my point across.
　But this is interrupted by the man's disgusting smile. Then the man laughs suspiciously and says the opposite of me.

'Haha. So, isn't that why your brother in Christ is trying to change?　Aren't you trying to get stronger, trying to attract better results?　Trying to be brave enough to take on the labyrinth, trying to make decisions that won't hurt your friends, trying to be honest with yourself - maybe you're trying to change now (・・・・・・・)?
......!

　I do not know such a master.
　The master I know is different.
　That man is like a lost person who has lost even himself.
　He is not the kind of person who moves forward like that.

　But that information is by 'eyes'.
　It's never something I got by myself.

　I don't have the confidence to deny the man's words.
　I can't deny it.

　What if the man was right: ......?
　What if the master doesn't run away, doesn't stray, and is trying to move forward: ......?

　If they do that, they'll leave me behind in a heartbeat.
　No, they've already left me behind ......?

　Actually, I'm home alone.
　I'm the only one.

"Well, that's not ....... I don't know about that ....... I've never seen such a thing .......
Of course. That was special. For a lot of reasons, it's especially hard to see. That's why you didn't understand anything about your brother in Christ. That's the limit of what you can do with your skills, little girl.

　Was the master trying to change?
　I was so reliant on my 'eyes' that I didn't notice it?
　Did I make another mistake because of the "eye"?

　Before long, Master may have grown strong and acquired the will to resist the mighty wall of Foozeyards.
　So, the master may be angry at 'something' - at 'Fuzzy Yards' and trying to help Rustyala-san.

'Time is running out, little girl. Tomorrow, your brother in Christ is going to help the Lord. And as he grows up, he may end up helping the Lord with flying colors (・・・・・・).

　Oh, oh .......
　I'll help you .......

　The master is strong.
　His spirit is appropriate for his age, but if he is only capable, he is like a hero in his later years.

　I'm sure he will help Mr. Rustyala dramatically and move on further.

''If that happens, 'Rustyala' and 'Christ' will be bound together by a fatal bond. Yes, by a fatal bond. ......

　The two are united by a fatal bond and move on to the next stage as the hero and heroine of the story.
　Will I really be there?
　As I am only a minor character in the previous chapter, will I have a role in the next stage?

　No, I won't.
　I'm sure I won't.
　Characters who have no role to play are usually scraped off and disappear.

　I will be left behind.
　I'll be left here.

"But you're nothing, little girl. No rapport, no bond, no fate, no power, no nothing.

　I have nothing to offer.

　I don't have the perfection of Mr. Rastiala. I'm not beautiful. Nor am I of good character. I am not a young lady, nor do I have a past that involves the state. I have no talent, no power.

　I am nothing, and there is no way I could be next to my master.

'All that's left of you, little girl, is a unilaterally installed master-servant promise. It's also a promise of which I doubt your brother in Christ is even aware. As for the little girl herself, she has nothing.

　I know that without being told.
　Because I know, I asked for an alternative connection.
　I asked for power.
　What the master would want most of all - at any cost.

　I repeat my shallow breaths and say back to the man in front of me.

'Well, it's still ....... I'm still okay. As long as the magic, my magic, is strong enough ......

　I show the potential I have.
　I retort, so as not to be crushed by the words.
　But the man continues to speak ruthlessly.

'Do you think there won't be a more capable wizard than you in the future?'

　The man tries to destroy my potential.
　He would happily confront me with reality.

　I couldn't deny that.
　The more time that passes, the more people the master knows. And it's not necessarily true that a wizard that surpasses me will not appear among them. If that happens, I'm sure that I will--

　I shake my head and search desperately for my whereabouts.

'I'm ......!　I was told I could stay here: ......!　I just want you to cook for me here--
You know what I'm talking about.　It's pity. He just told me I could stay in pity. Cooking is of no importance to him. He's good at it himself and there are plenty of alternatives.

　I knew that.
　I knew that was a role I had given myself to care for.

　I wasn't really needed to cook.
　I didn't really want my master to--
　The truth is, the truth is--!

　--Uh, ugh: .......

　The words that followed were too horrible.
　I burst into tears inside.

'Well, it's still ......!　I haven't said I'm going yet: ......!　I haven't heard of going to Mr. Rastiala's place yet: ......!

　I didn't want to acknowledge the reality of the lineup.
　I continued to deny it, hoping for a sliver of hope.

'Can I be so optimistic?'
'I'm not listening, I'm not listening, I'm not listening!　Master didn't go to Mr. Rastiara!　Tomorrow, it's just the two of us again!　We'll be back in this house, exploring the maze together--

　Seeing me repeat myself stubbornly, the man cowered his shoulders in dismay and turned his back to me, leaving me with the last word.

'You can believe it. But if you're not good enough, you could be left with this whole house.　You think about it a lot.

　With those words, the man left this place.

　I didn't have anything to say in response to those last words.
　For the past few days, I've been out of the mosquito net. Today, I was home alone.
　I can't keep up with him and he "leaves the whole house". That's all.

　I mean, I'm alone again.
　The horror I felt when I fell into slavery returns.

　I will lose my ■■ again.

　We will lose it.
　I will lose my master as I once lost ■■, ■■, and ■■.

　That fear spreads through my entire limb and I poke my knee into the ground.

　Then, in my dazed consciousness, I stand up and, like a ghost, I walk away.

　I roam the streets of the Valt, looking for my master. I see where the master might be headed. A tavern, a church, a store that supplies the labyrinth with what I need for the labyrinth, and I've gone cold turkey.

　But he's nowhere to be found.
　Which meant that the Master was headed somewhere that wasn't the Vault.

　I face the reality that I didn't want to admit it, and wander towards Hoosier's in a huff.
　Desperately trying to hold back the desire to not go to the Hoosiers, I move my feet, trying to control the nausea.

　I want to see her.
　Anyway, I want to see her.
　I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you.
　I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you.
　I don't want another one.

　As I repeated this in my head, I met a familiar face.
　It was a girl with red hair, Alti-san.

'A, Alti-san ......?'

　I found someone to cling to and approached him, tears welling up in my eyes.
　Arti-san greeted it with compassionate eyes.

...... Maria, are you okay?
'Mr. Alty, ......!　If you keep this up, your master will have to go to ......!　Master!

　I couldn't articulate the feelings I wanted to convey, so I just repeated, "My master.

'I know. I know, Maria, I know. Calm down. It's okay, just calm down. ......

　Mr. Arti holds my confused head and strokes it.
　As he repeats the process, I gradually calm down.

'Arti-san ....... The master is going to go away with Mr. Rustyala and I, so I--
It's okay. Mary. I met Christ earlier.
'Gentlemen, your master and ......?'

　Someone I trust gives me the name of the person I'm thinking of, and I get some relief.

'I haven't gone anywhere yet. He'll be home soon. Don't worry about it, Maria.
Coming back ......?

　That little bit of relief increases in volume in my mind.

'But from the looks of it, I'm sorry to say (・・・・・) I don't know if Christ is going to help Lastiara (・・・・・・・・) either. If not tomorrow: .......
...... tomorrow, right?

　I feel a sense of discomfort.
　That's what it feels like when the Eye finds a discrepancy.
　But I don't want to doubt Mr. Arti, who I trust, so I don't pursue it. Above all, it's also because nowadays you can't trust the Eye.

　The only person I can trust is Mr. Alty, who has worked for me until today.

''Oh. If you want to help Rastiara, it's early tomorrow morning. The middle of the ritual is the best time to do it. That's the only time you'll be able to help. Listen, Mary. You must be with Christ early tomorrow morning. And we'll find out. All of it.

　Ms. Alty is serious about teaching me how to understand my master's feelings. Always, she's all in for me. There is no way for me to doubt those feelings.

'I understand ....... Tomorrow. ......
'Yeah, tomorrow, ....... Everything will happen after that.

　With that, I went home with Mr. Alti.
　Then Mr. Arti promised to come back tomorrow and leave.

　I waited for my master in the empty house with what little hope I had.

　The knight of the Hoozeyards was proud and said that the master would definitely help Mr. Rastiara, but that was something I didn't know yet. Even that Arti-san said he didn't know, so of course there is still hope.

　I am alone at home, agonizingly repeating my magic training and cooking - the master returns.

　I greet it with a smile.

　I'm back .......
　I'm back ......!

　I knew it wasn't going to happen.
　We can go back to our lives together again.
　I smiled at the master with that assurance.

　There was nothing funny about it.
　We both had dinner and talked for a bit.
　After that, Master went back to his room.

　Mr. Rastiara was not mentioned.
　I went back to my room, believing that things would be back to normal.

　-- It was in the middle of the night when there was something unusual.

　I was curious about my master's condition, and as I passed near my room, I found cold air leaking from a crack in the room.

　I focus my consciousness on the interior of the room.

　I remembered that flow of magic.
　It was the same as when I was practicing fire magic.
　The master is practicing freezing magic inside the room. It's also trying to create a level that has never been seen before. I knew that because I was doing the same thing.　

　If that's the magic for the labyrinth, fine.
　But I still don't know.

　Will the master go to the labyrinth tomorrow?
　Or will he go to the cathedral?

　I did not sleep a wink that night.
　However, I didn't want to waste time, so I continued to play with fire magic in my room. Next to the master's room where he practiced his icy magic, I continued to practice my fire magic.

　Over and over, and over and over.
　I chanted over and over again.

　For some reason, it calmed me down.
　It's so calming to see the emotions chipping away, overflowing and unbalanced.

　I had a feeling that something important was being altered. Still, I couldn't stop it. Because if I didn't, I was going to be crushed with anxiety, and I couldn't bear it.

　I muttered to myself.

"'Cut off the flame' --

　As I wish, I continue to compose.

"'Buds of Birth Flames'

　He continued to recite the poem and waited for the morning.

"'Please,' 'Don't go,' 'Don't go,' 'Don't abandon me,' 'Don't leave me.' ', 'I am,' 'I am--'

　In my fuzzy consciousness, I paid the "price" and kept wishing.
　But the next morning, my wish was in vain.

　The next morning, everything is broken.


◆◆◆◆◆ ...


'I knew you'd go. Master .......

　The next morning, Master tried to go out without speaking to me.

　That's what I mean.
　It means he tried to leave me .......

I'll be back with Rustyala soon ....... So, you can wait here for Maria.

　As if to mend, the master returned the words.
　I will confirm the truth of it with my 'eyes'. But I don't understand.

　Are you coming back?　
　Really?

After that, I'm supposed to run away to a different country. Maria--

　When I heard that you were fleeing to a different country, Rustyala asked, "Will you travel with me somewhere far away and different? This reminds me of the line, "I don't know.

　If I hadn't stopped my master here, we might have tried to go to a different country together.
　Without me, just the two of us--

You're coming with me. The three of us can run away together.

　Was it supposed to be two?
　Was it supposed to be three?
　I don't know anymore.

　I don't know, and I only ask back what I know.

'Escape ......?　Then this house is ......?

　What will happen to this house?
　You talk as if you'll never come back.

　This is the house that the master left me in charge of and told me to cook for him every day.

'I'm sorry, but we'll have to get rid of this house ....... It's a waste of money though. ......

　But the master assured me that he would throw it away.

　My dream of living in this house modestly and happily.
　Now, that dream was shattered cleanly.
　Shattered, it was quickly transformed into a black flame.

...... I don't like it.

　This one night had filled me with black fire.
　So a new black flame spilled out of my mouth.

'Huh?'
'Please don't go, Master ....... Please. Please, please don't go: ......

　I can't stop the fire from spilling out, and I let everything deep inside me out.

'Maria ......?　What the hell is wrong with you, ......?
'If you go, you'll never reach ...... again. You'll be left behind .......
'No, that's why I'm asking you to go with me. I won't leave you. I promise. There's no way I'm going to leave Maria behind, is there?
'It's a lie. Even if the three of us ran away, I'm sure I wouldn't be there ....... Whether I'm there or not, I'm still the same ....... I don't want that!

　But all of that kindness is unbelievable to me.

　I can't trust any of it.
　I can't trust Christ Eurasia.
　Because the master lied to me.
　He tried to shut up and go help Mr. Rustyala.

　I like it, but only because I like ...... it!　I don't believe you!

'Why ......?　Why are you helping Mr. Rastiara?　You don't like it or anything, do you?
'Why? ....... Rustyala is one of us, right?　He's the kind of guy we're going to need to explore the labyrinth from now on.

　The future?　

　I don't want to hear about it.
　I don't want to hear about the future.
　I just want to go back. I want to go back to ■■.

　Back to what?　

　No!
　I want to go back to time alone with my Master!
　To a world with no one but the two of us!

'For future labyrinth explorations ......?　Where are you going to go from here?　If you go, I'm sure Mr. Rustyala will be saved!　If that happens, I'll see you at ......!　Same thing again!　I don't want to go deep into the maze!　You don't have to go!　If only I could live peacefully in this house, that's all I need!

　I wield my self-centered opinion.
　The heat of the black flames in the pit of my stomach spits out incessantly and does not stop.

'Maria, calm down ......!　The only thing I can't change is that I'm going deeper into the labyrinth: ......
'Greedy!　You don't have to go to the back, as long as you're making money safely in about 10 layers, usually!　You will live happily ever after!　I like that!　You don't have to have Mr. Rustyala for that!

　In response to his cry, the master approached me and grasped his shoulder with both hands.
　I grasped it firmly and we met eye to eye.

　I'm frightened by the distance between me and my master, the person I want to be with, and I'm frightened.

'Now, we're not talking about that, are we?　Right now, I'm talking about saving Lastiara because if we don't do this, Lastiara is going to die and I'm going to save her. Is Maria willing to let Lastiara die ......?

　Then I am asked about the death of Mr. Rastiala.
　I come to myself a little bit, remembering the kind Mr. Rastiala who supported me in my love life.

'...... Mr. Rastiala is a good man. I don't want ...... him to die.
I know. Maria, calm down ....... Rastiara has to help ....... He's one of us.

　For a moment, the strength drained from my body.
　That was the amount of time that Rustyala-san had been kind to me.

　However, I immediately remembered Lastiara-san's words from yesterday, and the strength that had slipped away swelled up and returned.

　She's one of us. But yesterday, she tried to take my master away from me. She tried to do more than be one of us in a cowardly way.

　Are your masters and Mr. Rastiara your mates?
　I can't believe it: ......!

'Fellow (...) ......?　Because we're friends (・・・・・)?　Is your master willing to risk his life to save you just for that?
'Oh, ah, ......'

　It's a lie, of course.
　You can't just be one of us, that's why it happened like yesterday.

'You can't be one of us. ...... It's a lie. You're not risking your life for that reason. ...... Yes, it is. It's crazy. The master wants to make a good point, doesn't he?　For him!　Master wants to look good in front of Mr. Rustyala, not me!　When that man wasn't around, he was dressing up for me!

　Lies.
　You lied.
　Lies again.

　The fact that I'm being lied to burns my black flame.

　And finally, it leaked out of my body as a flame of reality.

　I am no longer convinced.
　My master is a liar.
　He is trying to hide everything and leave me behind.
　He chose Mr. Rustyala, not me.

　Then there's only one thing I can do.
　There's only one more thing I can do.

　I slowly approach my master while constructing my forged flaming sword.

''............!　--Michael, freeze!

　Cold air spreads through the room.
　The annoying cold air is trying to extinguish my flame.

　I won't let it go out.
　This flame is the flame I need to get my master.
　It is the flame to cut the legs of the master who wants to leave me behind.

　I swing the flame sword with a big swing.

　The master dodges it with a paper-thin move with his unusual dynamic vision and tries to grab my hand. It's a commonplace response. My skills cannot capture the master's inner workings. But I can at least predict the most mundane of tactics.

　The hand that tries to grab mine is grabbed by me.
　I burn that hand with fire.

''--Heat!

　The heat caused the master's body to stiffen.
　Taking advantage of the opportunity, he swung a sword of fire.

　However, it slashed through the air without a second thought.
　The master's magical power swells up. And our eyes meet. He had serious eyes.

　A chill runs down my spine, and at the same time, everything was never there.　

　He takes my arms and puts my hands behind my back.
　As it is, I'm pushed to the floor.

'Maria, you need to listen to me!　Have you met a knight named Palinkron or something like that lately!
Palinkulon--?

　I've never heard of it.

It's the knight who sold you in the slave market sometime ago. He looks at you like he's observing people, he's a little taller than I am, and he's a suspicious fellow dressed like a merchant!
'Such a ......!　That's not the point: ......!

　It doesn't matter.
　Right now, it's more important to catch the master.

'Maria, have you fallen under some kind of spell?　You're impossibly confused!
'Magic ......!　Confusion ......!

　It was the master.
　He was magically brainwashed by his master, and I--

　As I try to say it back, I'm stopped by the cold air of the magic power transmitted from my back.
　Just as I am spewing flames from my body, my master is also spewing cold air from his body. That cold air cools my flames - the black flame.

　My whole body is freezing cold.
　It's a chill I haven't felt in recent years.　

　It seals the flame, the source of my power, from its roots.

'Yes, calm down ....... Slow down, take a deep breath and calm down .......

　I hear my master's voice coming from my ear.
　I do as I'm told and take a deep breath to calm my mind.

　Gradually, I regain my composure.
　The sludgy emotions that have been dominating my body are cooling down.

'What ......?　What, is that ......?
'Are you okay, Maria ....... Have you calmed down?

　As he cools off, he understands the situation at the same time.
　Every part of the house is scorched and seized by the master.

　Why ......?
　I pointed my flaming sword at my master ......?　
　Hey, why ......?

　There was no way I could win one-on-one.
　There's no way the master is going to like me for doing this.
　It wouldn't make any sense. Instead, he'd hate you and you'd hate ......!　Why ......!

'S-Sorry, ......!　How dare I: ......!
I'm good. I know. I know I said some mindless things because of the confusion. You don't have to apologize: ......

　The words are kind.
　But the master looks tired and leaves my side, and is concerned about the outside.

　Ah, ah, .......
　No. No, no, no, no .......

　My cold head understands that I've done something irreversible.
　I let out the fire that I had been keeping in front of my master all along.

　I don't know why.
　My mind goes blank and all I can do is pile on the words of apology.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry ....... Master ......'

　I keep apologizing.

　I hope you can forgive me.
　I don't want you to hate me.
　I don't want you to go.
　I want you to be with me.

　I have a mixture of feelings, and all I can do is keep apologizing.

"You don't have to apologize. More importantly, how are you doing?　From the looks of it, though, the confusion has died down considerably.
'Yes, I'm totally done ....... I'm really sorry, I ......

　Master pats my head and looks at me to see how I'm doing.

　The palm of his hand feels good .......
　But no.
　Don't let that pleasure take over.
　I've done something that I can't take back.

　I don't know why I did it.
　But I do know that I need to apologize to my master.

'--Maria, I'm going to bring Rustyala to you now. Soon. I'll be back soon.
'Ha, yes ....... If the master decides to do so, then of course .......

　I answered without thinking too much about it, for I didn't want to upset my master's mood.

'Until then, Maria will wait in this house. Lock the door and never let anyone in.
No one?
Yeah, me too. I'm gonna break in through the window. No one comes in the front door.
'I understand. No matter what happens, no one can get in!

　If you don't do what I say, they hate you.
　That's all that was swirling around in my head.

　If they hated me, I couldn't be with them.
　That's the only thing I can't do.
　If that happens, I'm not going to be able to--

Well, I'm off to ....... Maria.
...... Yes, have a good day. Master.

　But if you let them walk away...

　I really don't want you to go.
　I need you to stick around a little longer.
　I need you to tell me what's going on.
　I need your help.

　I need your help.
　Help me, master.

　Please, please don't go away--

　--But the master has gone.

　He left me alone at home .......
　He has gone: .......


◆◆◆◆◆


　I sit in a state of abandonment.

　I let my emotions get the better of me, and I went on a rampage.
　The end of it all, the master has gone.
　I'd say it was the worst possible outcome.

　I don't know what caused it.
　It was the first tantrum I've had in a long time. It was so long ago that I can't remember the last time I was that disturbed.
　And the tantrum didn't end with a tantrum.

　A flood of black emotions poured out of me from the depths of my heart and I couldn't stop them.
　It was a nightmare that made me feel like I wasn't myself anymore.
　I was thinking horrible thoughts at the time.

　--If I burn it in the flames and make my master immobile, it will be mine and mine alone.

　Indeed, that's what I was thinking.

　I was scared of my feelings that came from the bottom of my heart.　
　Was my true intentions this horrible?

　Oh, I don't know.
　Not only do I not understand my master, I don't even understand myself anymore.

　I sit down and just stare into the air.

'...... Maria (...)'

　Before I knew it, someone was standing next to me and called my name.
　I closed the door, as the master had told me to do. But yet Mr. Alty was there, as he should be, and slowly sat down next to me.

　I let out, clinging to the only person I could trust.

'Ahhhh ....... Mr. Arti, I don't know what's going on anymore ....... Please help me. Help me, help me .......
'Don't worry, I'm here. I'm here for you, Maria.

　Mr. Alty takes me in his arms and whispers softly.　

'But I!　Trying to bake the master into his own ......!　So ......!!!!
'I know, Maria. I know exactly how that feels to me.

　It affirms everything about me.

'What ......?'
I want the man I love to be mine. I want to hold him back by force. If I can't have him, I want to burn him and make him mine. I know exactly what you mean. It's a natural feeling.

　He affirmed it and even said that it was natural.
　But I don't want you to say that much.

'And of course ......?　Oh no, this can't be natural. It's not--

　I don't want to be comforted.
　I just want to know why I'm in this incomprehensible state.

　I just want to know how it happened, what's wrong with me, and who to blame - I just want to know.

　Because I don't even know what's wrong with me anymore.
　It's more that I don't even know what's wrong anymore - I just want to know.

'All I can think of is that I'm crazy (・・・・・・・・) already (・・・・・・・・)!　No. ......!　I don't even know what's wrong with it!　Help: ......!　Somebody, somebody help me: ......!

　I'm going crazy.
　No, maybe I'm already crazy.

　I don't know how long I've been mad.
　I don't even know where the madness came from.

　I don't believe anything.
　The Eye didn't do me any favors.
　On the contrary, it destroyed something so important to me that I had nothing left to give.

'I'm sorry. Maria.

　I hear voices in the distance.
　But I don't know what's being said anymore.

　My consciousness sinks.
　I'm sinking into a deep, deep, black world, like sludge.

　I am falling to the bottom, everywhere and nowhere.
　Slowly, to the bottom, where there are sparks of black fire.

'If possible, I wanted to end it the way Maria wanted it most. I could have gone more slowly. But I couldn't. I'm really, really sorry: ......

　I'm falling down, but I'm not alone.
　There is someone who will fall with me.
　Mr. Alty will be with me wherever I go.

'The timing was too good. I can't get it under control now. Today, Rastiara would be stuck. It is only today that I can go one-on-one with Christ, evenly matched in every sense of the word.

　They check each other's heat, mingle, and head for the black sparks.

　Oh .......
　I still feel safe with Alty-san .......

　Mr. Alty is the only one who won't leave me.
　I can trust that he's not a liar.

It's the only day that I (Arti) and the wounded Christ (Kanami) will be alone ...... with Mary.

　I finally understand.
　This is the affinity that Alty was talking about.

　Life is close.
　It means too close.

　Assimilation.
　Consciousness mingles with awareness, fire with fire burning each other.
　I am Mr. Arti and Mr. Arti becomes me.

'At last, my longed-for wish comes true. My 'tragic love fulfilled' is today--

　This is how I understood what Mr. Alty had meant by seeming sad all along.


◆◆◆◆◆ ...


　It burns.
　Oh, everything burns.

　All the ties that have held me back burn.
　I don't need the ethics that were in the way, the calculus, the afterthought, or anything else, so let's turn it into fuel.

　As I mingled with Mr. Arti, I had a clear answer.

　I understood what we were about to accomplish.
　I understood all of Mr. Alty's longing.

　After all, Alty-san was with me.
　Because we were together, she was so accommodating.
　She took it as seriously as she did herself.

Fulfilling 'Tragic Love': ......

　The fulfillment of a love that cannot be reached.
　That's all Alti-san wanted.
　And now, it is my hope as well.

　Having assimilated with Alty and lost all my ties, I can now be honest with him.

　I don't want to be alone anymore.

　I don't want to be alone.
　I don't want to be unhappy.
　I don't want to be in pain.

　I do not want to lose anything.
　I want to keep gaining.
　I want to be with the one I love.

　My master.
　Master. Master. Master.
　I need master.

　I don't want you to go away.
　I don't want him to leave me.
　I don't want you to leave me alone.

　Just look at me.
　Just look at me.
　Live looking only at me.
　I live only for the master, so the master should live only for me.

　-- such a simple and clear desire.

　The end of my emotional turmoil.
　At last, I have a true dream.　

　I was ready to lose everything for that dream.
　I'm not hesitant to burn it all, like Arti-san once was.

　--and as I stare at the burning flames, the time will come.

　The "Stealer of Fire" whispers sadly to me, "Now let's see," he whispers to me.
　The master of the lie, "Christ Eurasia," emerges from under the hill.

　He was chosen by the 'eye' to be my ■■, the gentle man who was chosen to take the place of my ■■.
　He is too precious to be captured by the 'eyes' anymore.
　A hero among heroes.

　--My beloved has come.

　But my beloved did not come for me alone.
　As a matter of course, there is someone in the way behind him.

　Ms. Rastiala is there. I know she is supporting me.
　But someone I am jealous of. Someone I wish I hadn't been.

　Just the presence of Ms. Rastiala there draws the master to the light. No matter how much she said with her mouth that she was supporting me, the reality was that just being there was a hindrance.

　Abominable.
　Everything is abominable.
　Gentle and dazzling Mr. Rastiala. The knights of the Hoosiers who pestered him. The new friends who try to interrupt him. No one and everything is in the way ......!

　It would be better if it was just the two of us, the master and I. I wish it was just the two of us.
　If only we could live modestly and happily together, that's all that matters to me.
　There are a lot of people trying to take away that little bit of happiness from me.

　--We must burn them.

　Arti-san agrees with me, "Yes.

　Today I was left behind because of Mr. Rastiala.
　So I'll have to take it back.

　I will take your master back from Mr. Rastiara: ......!
　Because I found the master first: ......!
　That was me: ......!

"--Return your master, te ....... Ka, eshte ......--

　Some of the industrial flame spilled out of his mouth.

　Once it flowed outward, it couldn't stay again.
　All of the flames in my body are rushing towards the exit.
　My thoughts called "karma flames" are leaking out.

　With this flame, I will burn everything.
　Only by doing so can my tragic love be fulfilled.

　Even though my eyes tell me that in the end, everything will disappear as ashes like ■■.
　Even if Arti-san, who knows the end of it all, smiles sadly.

　Because I can only burn it anymore--