'Kanami ....... Aikawa, Kanami ......

　Maria repeats my real name.

　With that, Maria's flame weakens.
　The flaming sword breaks apart, no longer retaining its shape as a sword, and the heat in my left hand, which holds it in place, is also lost.

　I realize that the words are reaching me.

　Furthermore, the magic 《Midwinter of the Overcrowded Dimension (Di Overwinter)》 takes away Maria's heat and weakens the confusion in her body.

'Oh, I won't let Maria suffer anymore. I won't make even Maria's love a 'tragic love'. I will be Maria's. And that's the end of it all: ......

　I declare it while continuing to cool Maria's body without caution.

　Hearing this, Maria dissipates the flaming sword in her hand and slowly lets her body fall toward me.
　She nuzzles her face into my chest and happily calls out my name.

'Kanami, Kanami Kanami ......!　Kanami!　Kanami-san's name is Kanami--!

　I stroke Maria's head with the hand that let go of the sword.
　As Maria pats me, she raises her head, looks at me with moist eyes and cries out. I confess.

'I love you, Kanami-san: ......!　I love it!　I like the kindness of it, I like the big sweetness of it, I like the shamelessness of it, I like the cowardice of it, I like the childishness of it, I like it, I like it, I like it all--!　Finally, I remember (・・・・・・・)!

　Yeah, it's similar.
　It's really similar: .......

　I've always thought so.
　Now I can say it out loud.
　Maria is just like her sister Yotaki.

'I like her as a family (...), as an older brother (...). Of course, I also like her as the opposite s*x. So, I'll always be ....... Please stay with me forever!

　I felt the temperature around me rise as I screamed.

　The emotions that had been spewed out were dancing around me in flames.
　I was slightly alarmed, wondering if the chaos was going to increase again. But I felt it on my skin and knew it was unfounded.

　It wasn't a harmless black flame, but a red flame of more pure rapture.

　As he let that flame out, he let it cool Maria down.
　It takes all the heat out of Maria so that she can feel safe.

'Oh, I'm Maria's. I promise I won't leave you alone again. I hope you can forgive me for that. ......

　I take Maria in my arms and carry all of my emotions on board, chilling her with my full attention.
　Maria accepts it, too.

　She hugs me tightly, with an expression I've never seen before.

'Oh ....... Kanami-san is cool and nice ......

　With that, all of Maria's flames were extinguished.
　She feels the heat in her body also disappear.

　Then, after spewing out all the emotions she had been holding in, Maria whispers in a voice that has cleared her worries.

'Finally ....... Finally, you've seen me ....... I can feel it in my skin that I'm next to you .......

　Those words are everything.
　All I had to do was look at Maria properly and be next to her.
　Love, jealousy, fire and confusion.
　Those difficult things weren't important.

　Just tell her without looking away and without falsehood, and that's all--.


[Status]
　Condition: mental pollution 0.12, confusion 0.38, memory impairment 0.48.


　Visibly, his condition was recovering.
　My prediction was correct.

　I can see it now.
　Emotions stirred up the flames, and the flames must have stirred up the emotions.

　I'm sure it would have been useless to suppress the flames with cold air, or to suppress the emotions with words. It was only by calming both of them at the same time that Maria could redeem herself.

　As I hold Maria in my arms, I rejoice that I have recovered her unharmed.

　-- but, of course, there are those who don't agree with that.

　A source of heat is created between me and Maria, and a small burst of flame, like a vortex, is created.
　With that, we are separated.

　And the flame that remains in the air speaks.

'Wait, Maria ....... Do you believe it's true?　Christ is a man who has been lying all along. He's just talking again. He's trying to trick you just to keep this place in check. He's taking advantage of your kindness. ......!

　There is no doubt that Arti is inside Maria.
　Hence, she can only interfere with us by means of fire.

　I try to get close enough to extinguish Arti's flames.
　All the while, Arti continues to scream.

''You can tell with your eyes!　If it's Christ who exposed his true heart, even the 'eye' can work!　Look, that man will never make you happy!　I can't!　Heroes, in the end, are all selfish and only spread misery around!

　Maria shook her head, stopping my approach.

　Maria's eyes had a definite will in them.
　I could also sense a determination to end things on her own. After hesitating, I stopped and trusted Maria to take care of it.

'Yes ....... I can see it with my 'eyes'. But I believe Kanami (・・・・・・). I want to believe .......
'Don't believe it!　I know what I'm talking about: ......!　I know!　A hero (Christ) never keeps his word!

　Arti's fire burns to warm Maria's cold body.
　It barked as it burned and blazed.

　In response, Maria replies, keeping her composure.

'Alty, ....... I assimilated and felt your life for a little while. You lost everything because of The Eye, and you were much more miserable and ...... much more unhappy than I was. I can see why Mr. Arti is desperate for me to not go down the same path .......

　Maria has no hatred for Arti.
　You can see it in every word and in her eyes.

'But I want to believe.' -- 'Christ', 'Master', I don't believe. But I can believe in Mr. Kanami (・・・・・・). So let me proceed as Mr. Alty once did.
'No, no, no, no, no!　Believing it will only make it harder!　Everywhere the unreachable thoughts pile up, you'll suffer more and more and finally be betrayed!

　I had no idea what they were talking about.
　I kept running away, because I didn't know anything about their relationship.

　But they are talking about something important to both of them.
　I can see that. That's why I never interrupt them.

'No, we don't know that. I don't know yet (...), I don't know. Because me and Mr. Arti are different people. So it's not necessarily the same end.
Limited!　It has to be the same!　It will be exactly the same!　Because Maria is just like me--
'No, I had Mr. Alty. But there was no one like Mr. Alty in my life. That's a big difference.

　Slowly, Maria speaks to Alty, thanking him for his help.

'............!!!'

　Hearing this, Arti stammered for a moment. However, he quickly regained his momentum and shouted with a raging fire.

''I'm not much of a difference!　I can see it!　I know in my body that it will!　That's what happened to me!　The Eye tells you you'll never be happy.　So--!
'Thank you, Alty. I'm going to take a different path. I also found out how to take a different path. So ....... I couldn't, because I can see the 'eyes'. ......

　With those words, Maria brings her hands to her head.

'Now, no one knows what happens next--'

　Then he let his fingers gouge out of both eyes.

'Ah, ah!　Ahhhh, Maria ah--!

　I float to my feet and try to make it stop, but it's interrupted by Alty's mournful voice.

　Now Maria is trying to pull her eyes out of her own accord (...) without being manipulated by anyone.
　It was clear from her voice that this was the most difficult thing for Alti to accept.

　Trusting Maria's will and determination, I keep my feet on the ground and watch it happen.

'Kook--, ugh, aaaaahhhh--!

　Maria endured a great deal of pain and took out both eyes, burning them.
　Then, she quickly took out both eyes and burned them with the flames, turning them into tailings (scum).

'Ah, Maria!　My God, my God, my God--!

　Arti cries out as he cries.
　To which Maria returns with a gentle voice.

'Now you and I are not the same ....... I will no longer be deceived by 'eyes' (such as these). I trust Kanami for me. Please, Arti, please ....... Please make me believe that it doesn't end with 'tragic love': ......
Ahhhh ......, ahhh .......

　Arti mourns, sobs, and trembles its flames.

　The fire leaks out of Maria and crawls out of her, slurping and crawling.
　It solidifies as it gathers and turns into a human form.

　It takes the form of a young girl.
　Flames in the form of a little girl - Arti murmurs with her hands on the ground.

''Ah, ah, ....... Even the last affinity (...) collapsed ....... We can't be together anymore. Wow, I'm also alone .......

　I no longer feel the strength in Arti's flames.

　If you look closely, the flames around it are also weakening.
　Arti's heart is on the verge of breaking, and in response, the flames of the place are weakening as well.
　Like Maria, Arti's flame is also strongly linked to her emotions.

　And there is no doubt that the exchange now was decisive.

　Arti stands up weakly, flickering, like a candle flame just before it goes out.
　There is none of the pompousness he once had.
　He looks at me with the eyes of a child of his age.

'Arti, you still do that ......?'

　Thinking that the game is over, I go to check with Arti.
　The magic-specialized Arti, who has lost the shield called Maria, has no chance of winning.

''Yeah, I'll do it. ......''

　But Alty suppresses his weakness and returns with the same pompous mannerisms he once had.

　It's taut.
　It's obvious that he doesn't have the strength to accompany it.
　It's no longer--.

"Sure, Maria's 'tragic love' - or perhaps 'love' - may have been fulfilled ....... But my 'tragic love' has not yet been fulfilled. It's still worth doing: .......

　Arti continues to be emphatic.
　He continues to speak as he constructs a flaming sword in his hand and walks towards us with a thin smile on his face.

　It reminded me of an irreverent sinner on his way to the decapitation table.

''When people and monsters meet, they kill each other. That's the unwritten law of this world", or ....... Haha, don't let Tida's self-imposed rules poke at the truth once in a while, .......

　However, the flames in his body and the flaming sword are about to be extinguished now.

''You......''

　I'm not going to forgive Arti.
　I picked up the fallen sword and held it ready to intercept it at any time.

　However, since I heard Arti's screams of grief and Maria's return, I was sure that the anger inside me was subsiding.

　After the bloody confession battle, my brain, which is regaining its composure, suggests the possibility of reconciliation with Alti.

'Shut up ......!　Most of all, I hate guys like Christ!　Die, heroes are extinct!

　That possibility was drowned out by Alti's grudging cry.

　Arti kicked the ground and approached, swinging his flaming sword to the side.
　I take it with my sword's belly.

　It's light.
　The power, the flame, is light.

"Arti, this is--

　There is no longer any strength left in Arti.
　Even now, like the last flame of a candle, it's on the verge of going out.

　This lack of power is extraordinary, even though it has been piled on with great magic, has been subjected to cold air, and has been rejected by Maria.

　One thing that comes to mind.

　-- how to kill the guardians (guardians) without fighting.

　The guardians lose their power and eventually disappear as soon as their "regrets" are gone.

　Arti is on the verge of losing his "unfinished business".
　That was the only way I could think of it.

　Is it because he felt close to achieving Maria's goal in his parasitic state?
　Did you feel part of "Tragic Love Fulfilled"?

　No, no.

　I'm sure that's a factor, but ...... my gut tells me that's not the case.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time with us.

　I'm sure that this is something that only Arti can understand, and it's something that he is most reluctant to admit.

　Hence, Arti shouts out, "Still--!

''Still--!　I'm still 'unfinished'!　I can still do it!

　I guess he could tell from my expression that I was thinking, and Arti desperately insisted that he still had an 'unfinished business' to attend to.

　He shouted, spewing out flames and swinging his sword.
　The figure could only be seen as an attempt to burn off the last of the power left in its body.

　Gradually I am unable to prevent that decisive flaming sword from being defeated.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good look at it.

　--I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it.

　Still, Arti doesn't stop.
　Arti's flaming sword nearly catches me in the neck, and I slash her arm away as quickly as possible.

　Arti's thin arm flies through the air and red blood colors the ground.
　The flying arm disappeared as flames, and the red blood bloomed into a flower of flame on the ground.

　It was excruciatingly beautiful and excruciatingly uncomfortable.
　The fact that he had slashed Arti's arm. The feel of it. Everything was uncomfortable.

　In contrast, Arti laughed.
　While muttering with a look of contentment, he constructs the flaming sword in his remaining hand.

''Ah, 'Blood, flesh burns' ....... ''Add blood oil, flesh burns'' ....... But it doesn't matter. "Man does not live in the body, but in the flame that is lit in his heart," so ....... As long as 'purgatory burning in the soul' is not extinguished, I will not stop. ......

　Arti is 'chanting' while spitting blood and slashing at me.
　No, it's not blood that he's spitting out. The flame - Arti is fighting while cutting himself, cutting himself.

　The spirit of this is slightly overwhelming.
　My sword is dulled by my determination to die.

　But still Arti's sword doesn't reach.

　Arti's final flash is blocked by Maria's flaming sword, which is in between.
　The flaming sword and the flaming sword intertwine, melt together, and disappear.

''I'm sorry, Alti-san--''
"Ma, Maria--

　Alty calls back his name sadly - and then changes his expression in a dizzying way.

　He weaves together a range of emotions - sad, happy, frustrated, satisfied - and finally steps back.

　He keeps his distance, looks down, and mutters.

'You're losing. ......'

　Alty mutters.

'I'm losing, ....... 'Congratulations, Christ. No, Aikawa Kanami. That's the end of the tenth layer of the 'ordeal' .......

　The end was in sight.

　Arti's torso was nearly torn to shreds, he had lost an arm, and there was only a small amount of fire and magic left. By all accounts, the victory was clear. Arti himself admitted it.

　However, his acceptance of defeat was short-lived, and he immediately smiled a thin smile and stared at me forcefully.

'But it wasn't you I lost to. It was to Maria. Don't get me wrong there.

　As he says this, Arti looks at Maria and smiles.
　Then, as me and Maria look on, Arti puts his fingers in both of his eyes.

'Oi, Arti!　What are you--
The winner will receive a magical stone, but not this time. But not this time. I'm sorry, Kanami. I'm sorry, Kanami, but this is one thing I can't give up.

　Arti laughed and hollowed out both eyes, lashing out with a response that missed the mark.
　Both hollowed out eyes disappeared as flames, just like Maria's. Arti became 'the same' as Maria.

　When Maria saw this, she sensed something and stepped forward with a serious look on her face.
　I tried to stop her, sensing the danger, but on the contrary, she put a stop to it.

　Maria approaches Arti with a solemn expression on her face.
　Arti also approaches Maria with a similar expression.

　They put their hands together, their foreheads together, and say their final goodbyes to each other.

'Now it's the same (...) --take me away, Maria.
'Of course. Mr. Arti is my 'best friend'--

　I don't know what kind of time existed between the two of them.

　To me, Arti was just a monster that drove Maria crazy.
　But Maria called her 'best friend'.
　That, for some reason, made some part of my heart - tingle.

　If it's true, I'm sure that role is--.

　Arti couldn't even keep his head solid anymore.
　Then he tells me the last word, too.

'Kanami. Don't let Maria bully me. I'll be watching you.

　I can't say anything back.
　I didn't know Artie well enough to talk back.
　I didn't want to know him. That's all.

　Seeing me in silence, Arti sighs.
　But he's somewhat satisfied. He doesn't say anything more.

　Arti looks up at the sky with satisfaction.
　A large amount of flames and smoke had turned the sky into a cloudy sky.
　However, Arti looks up at that gray sky with a dazzling look.

　The flames are being converted into light, bit by bit.

'Oh, it sucks ....... But this time (...), I guess I got my point across. That's it, keh, that's it, or .......

　Without telling anyone, Arti mutters to the sky.
　Everything about Arti becomes light and his words are snatched away.

''Wow, I'm ......, good luck, good luck, ......--''

　With the last of those interrupted words, Arti disappeared.

　It disappeared, and one magic stone fell into Maria's hands. However, it immediately lost its shape and became a small flame, which was absorbed by Maria's body.


[The title 'Ash Covering of Fire' was acquired.
　Fire magic has a +0.50 correction to fire magic


　The 'display' appears on the retina, telling us that the monster named Arti is indeed dead.

　The Lord named Arti is lost, and the flames that surrounded him are weakening.

　At the same time, it rains.
　In an attempt to pretend that this space of flames didn't exist, rain falls from the cloudy sky.

''Ah, rain ......''

　It's convenient for me because the flames on the house are extinguished and the temperature drops.
　However, when the flames are extinguished all at once, the Valt guards and others who were probably unable to approach because of the flames will be able to get closer.

　I hurriedly approached Maria and spoke to her.

'Are you okay, Maria ....... Your eyes are ......'
'No, if there's a fire, I can see it. For that matter, Kanami, you are the one who needs to go to .......

　Maria created a space with both palms of her hands, creating flames within them.
　I don't know when she mastered it, but it's probably the same ability as Arti's. It seems to be able to pick up information about the surroundings with it.

"I'm fine. "I'll be fine, but we need to get out of here. Once the flames go out, people are going to be coming here.

　To be honest, if I'm not careful, I'm on the verge of losing consciousness at any moment.
　But we can't allow that to happen here.

　We can't faint until we leave the Vault and secure our safety. If possible, I would like to meet up with Rustyala and the others today.
　Once we are together, we have nothing to fear.

　Then we will all be back to normal.
　A lot has happened, but Maria has made up for it.
　We're back--

　Me and Maria whipped my body into a state of collapse and tried to walk away--


　-- I could hear (・・・・・) the sound of applause (・・・・・・).


　I felt a chill, as if a cold hand had traced my back.

　I've experienced this development, this applause, many times. I'm caught off guard when I finish a paragraph and before I know it, I'm allowing it to get closer. The usual development--.

　Applause could be heard from one of the dwindling flames.
　From the other side of the flames, a man walks towards us.

'Congratulations, brother Christ. No, it's already Aikawa Kanami.

　Palinclone was the one who had appeared, clapping happily.
　It was Palinclone Legacy.　

''-- Palinclone!　Why are you here!

　I'm surprised.
　I thought they were after Rastiara and the others.
　But Palinclone appeared as if he had timed it right.

'It didn't take long for this one. I've had a lot on my mind and I've cooled down. And now you've come to us.　

　The end ......?
　Does that mean that Rastiala's group lost to Palinkron?

　It's not possible in terms of strength.
　Injuries notwithstanding, all of them are higher than Palinclone.

　Most importantly, Palinclone looks unhappy.
　It looks like something unplanned and didn't work out the way he wanted it to, so he was able to get back here early.

　Palinclone looks at the bloodstained sword and remembers something.
　He looks uncomfortable .......

　I instantly picture an escape route in my mind.

　Honestly, if it's a one-on-one battle, I don't feel like I'm going to lose.
　If I can cut down my maximum HP a bit more, I should be able to win unscathed just like the other "Seven Celestial Knights".

　--But I don't want to fight.

　Don't fight this man.
　That's what my instincts tell me.

　You've got to run in the opposite direction of the Palinkulon.
　But that's the direction of the Foosiers. And since Maria is less than the Palinkron's speed, it would be easy for them to catch up with me if I just ran away.

　I desperately turn my head and 'watch' Palinclone's every move.

　In response, Palinclone declares with a relaxed expression on his face, "Congratulations, Kanami.

'Congratulations, Kanami. But not yet. The ordeal is not over yet. You're right, let me imitate your front speech.

　The trials never end?　
　The front door?

　A shiver runs down my back.
　At the same time, the illusion that the rain falling from the sky looks black

'From now on (・・・・・). From now on (...), this confederacy is (・・・・・・) 20 layers (...). It is the hierarchy of Tida, the one who steals the Dark Reason. Sorry to be so hasty on a business trip, but consider these countries to be the 20th layer of the labyrinth. Now, let's begin The Twentieth Test.

　Palinclone held his bloodstained sword at the ready, showing his willingness to fight.