A scream goes up from the audience.

'I knew it: ......!　I hate it!　Rowen, don't go!　Don't leave me alone!

　Having been 'recognized' by the people, the Reaper loses its substance.
　At the same time, the black scythe also loses its substance, leaving a large hole in Rowen's heart.

　The Reaper holds Rowen back as she cries out.

''It's heartbreaking!　When Rowen is gone, I'll be the only one who knows what happened a thousand years ago!　I'll be the only one!

　Like a child - no, he spoils it like a baby.
　There was no dignity there, not even like the old witch of yesterday.
　It looked just like a baby grieving its separation from its parents.

'Ka, haha ....... I knew it (・・・・), this is what happens, or .......

　Rowen stumbles in pain, spitting blood.
　But her gait was powerful. The outline of his body, which was about to disappear now, became clearer as strength poured out of it. Even though there is a hole in your heart, it is filled with more life than before it was empty.

'Yo, thank goodness ......!　Loewen, now you can go to ......!　It's going to be that 'half corpse (half monster)' thing he said!
"'Half-Monster' is no longer the answer to 'Half-Monster'. ......!　Instant death, idiot. Duh, ugh. ......

　The blood flowing out of the heart turns into crystal as soon as it touches the air.
　The 'monstrosity' that had stopped reappeared, and with a strange sound, Rowen's body was transformed.

　It was as if the world would not allow Rowen to die as a human, as if the world's malevolence would not allow her to die as a human.

''It's not too late!　We'll just pretend this final didn't happen!　If you run away as a monster, you'll lose your 'glory' and everything else, and Rowen's 'unfinished business' will remain!
It doesn't matter, Reaper. It doesn't matter, Reaper. I just wanted someone to remember me ....... No, it was more of a petty wish - I just wanted to look good in front of the kids, for example. It was such a small light. ...... but it's already been fulfilled. It's been done!
But, but, Rowen's power is back!　The fact that Attah interrupted me didn't make it seem like it was going to disappear!

　Sure, the stab to the heart by the Reaper had given Rowen her powers back and made her unable to disappear.
　But the reason for this was not what the Reaper had in mind.

'Of course you're right. There's no way I'm going to be able to disappear after seeing you do something so stupid. It's frustrating to admit, but I still have one more 'unfinished business' ....... There is one thing left ......!
"What ......, is there still one more 'unfinished' ......?

　I knew this from the beginning.

　If it weren't for multiple Unfinished business, Rowen would have disappeared after teaching me and the children the sword. Still, the reason she didn't disappear at the last minute is because she had that last regret.

　I'm sure Rowen knew it from the beginning.
　He knew it, he just didn't admit it.
　But Rowen won't make a mistake anymore.
　I won't lose sight of it.


"You're the last thing I need, Reaper.


　Rowen turns to face the Reaper and tries to gently caress his cheek - but he can't (or won't) touch it.
　Rowen's face contorts in pain, and she clenches her hands.

'What, eh ......?'

　The Reaper stiffens.

'I want to protect you more than you want to protect me. My best 'best friend', the Reaper.
"And 'best friends' ......?
'But I can't make that happen. I can't make it happen. ...... The Reapers suffer from the 'curse' of the 'murderous urge' just by being in my presence. And I myself ...... am a danger to myself, who could go out of control and hurt everyone at any moment.

　Rowen knew about the Reaper's 'murderous urges'.
　Hence, she's been trying to hide her various emotions and disappear from the Reaper's sight.
　But now she realizes that hiding her emotions is counterproductive, and she's finally about to tell the Reaper what she really wants to do.

　It was the first time that had happened.
　Rowen couldn't be honest in front of Leeper, and he was always hating on her.
　The only time she ever showed her feelings for Leeper was when she was alone with me.

'Now ......, don't call me your best friend, Rowen ......!　You never told me that for a long time: ......!
'So I've decided to disappear. Dead people should disappear like dead people and not bother anyone else. ......!
Why?　I don't know, ....... Why does Rowen have to disappear ......?　Why do I have to stay behind alone ......?　Hey, why not?!
'I'm dead and you're alive ....... That's the difference, Reaper. You have a magical body, but you're still alive!　And with my disappearance, the Reapers will finally be free of that 'curse'!　Finally, in the true sense of the word, 'Grim Lim Lim Leaper' can live: ......!

　Deep in Rowen's heart.
　It was full of love for the Reaper.
　I knew exactly how she felt. The feelings that Rowen is feeling are very similar to the feelings I have for my sister.

'So, ....... Please, just smile and walk away from me. My best friend asked me to do you a favor: .......

　Then she calls him her best friend and asks him nicely.
　The Reaper shudders when he hears this request.

'You're not my best friend ......!　It's not fair: ......!　It's not fair to say ......, Rowen, your brother, and everyone else ......!

　In the face of an unacceptable request, the Reaper bursts into tears.
　It wasn't just tears of sadness.
　They were also tears of emotion for accepting Rowen's true feelings.

　All along, Leeper had been looking for a friend.
　And finally, the most important person in his life called him his 'best friend'.
　But the best friend is a hard request for the young Reaper.

　But when the best friend asks him for a favor, it's hard for the young Reaper to fulfill it. But if he responds to the request, the "best friend" disappears.
　Between the dilemma, the Reaper is stuck in the middle of the dilemma.
　He stabs Rowen in the heart, even to death, and still mourns the fact that his fate has not changed.

　Loewen held the Reaper to her chest. She stops her arms just before they are about to become transparent and soothes her, making it seem as if she is holding her to her chest.
　Then he turns to me, making his body crystalize.

'I'm sorry, Kanami. You heard me right. I'm sorry you've gotten me this far, but I'm still going to give you a lot of trouble: ......
...... okay. I've come this far with the intention of doing so. I've got plenty of energy to spare.

　I reply to Rowen that I have nothing to worry about.

　This final isn't just about me and Rowen.
　I was prepared for this situation when I failed to convince the Reaper last night.

　The young Reaper will be selfish to the end.
　And the two of us, me and Rowen, would listen to it as 'Reaper's best friend'.
　I had a gut feeling about that.

　That's why I've been conserving my magic by fighting around 'possessions'.
　Although my schedule is a bit off due to Rowen's 'Flash of Ghosts (Von a Wraith)', I can still fight.

'Having turned into a monster, I will lose my reason and try to destroy everything until its body is destroyed ....... I'm really sorry for this idiot: ......
'No, I think this was inevitable ....... Perhaps this (...) was all set in stone from the moment Rowen and the Reapers met ......, I feel like that .......

　No matter what path they took, Rowen Alais would die once at the hands of the Grim Lim Reaper.
　That's how much thought had gone into the two of them from the moment they appeared on the 30th layer.

'Yeah, maybe so: ......'

　Rowen gently strokes the Reaper's head, though she can't touch it.
　Then he tightens his gentle expression and releases his gently wrapped hands.

　Slowly, she pulls away from the Reaper.
　He pleads with me, keeping his distance.

'Please, Kanami. Protect the Reaper from me who is about to lose me - no, protect the Reaper from all the evil in the world ....... Then I will be able to completely fulfill my 'unconsciousness' and disappear ......

　Reaper staggered, reaching out a trembling hand to Rowen.
　But Rowen shakes her head and moves away from him.

　I walked slowly, standing next to the Reaper and nodded.

'Thank goodness ....... I can't bear to worry about Reaper. This guy is my first friend. I don't think of him as my best friend, I even think of him as my daughter or sister. ...... only I'm sure that a lot of misery and trials await him because of his origins. And yet, this guy is so immature, stupid and gullible. If I disappear, there will be no one to protect the Reapers. That's what I'm really worried about: ......
Don't worry about it, Rowen. I'll keep the Reaper safe. No one else will.
'Huh. ....... Really?　Even if it's against your country, can you still protect it?　Do you have that strength in Kanami?

　It's a question I've heard before.
　But I'm used to it.
　I answer immediately.　

"Yeah, it's fine. --I mean, let's not get all goofy about it, Rowen. The Reapers will take you for granted.

　In the quiet arena, our words often echoed in the quiet arena.
　Rowen was still on the brink of this brink, and he was still in the public eye.

　Now Loewen is playing the role of the 'enemy' atop this giant theater ship.
　Lowen laughs when she sees this.

He's a good friend. "I'm a good friend," he says, laughing, "and I don't mind having a little more fun at the end. It's my last will and testament.
'I don't know if you're in the middle of talking and your time is up?　It would be a very uncool will then.

　Me and Rowen are aloof, laughing and exchanging words.

　It's the same as when we set the rules before the game.
　We part ways with a laugh, hoping for each other.

'It can't be helped. Then let's be frank.

　In addition, Rowen speaks as if she is speaking to the sky while keeping her distance.
　All the while, blood continues to flow from her heart, turning the white ground red. But soon, that bright red blood coagulates and changes color, turning into a pillar of crystal.
　A pillar of crystal is also growing from every part of his body.

　There was not much time left.
　The crowd buzzed at the sight of him.

'Let me try to see if I can trust you with the Reaper, Kanami. That's my '30th Trial'. I'm sorry to give up the title of 'Sword Saint' to you, but ......, now--

　He declares the ordeal the same way Alti does.

　The crystal is entangled in Rowen's 'Magic Iron Sword (Mithril Sword)'. The crystal pillar that grew out of my body transforms into an arm, and I pull out the 'Modified Alais Family Treasure Sword' that was lowered to my waist.
　Then, thrusting the two crystal swords at me, Rowen says.

''--Beyond the 'Sword Sage (...)' (・・・・). "-Beyond the strongest (・・・・). Beyond 'hero' (・・・・). Beyond sensibility (・・・・). Beyond "I (...)" (・・・・)!

　Go over everything, he boldly coaxed.

'Isn't that a bit much to order ......?'
'Oh, and protect not only the Reapers, but everyone in the hall from me. Well, I'm sure Kanami can do it. I have faith in him.
All of them. It's amazing how much my best friends trust me.
Yeah, I trust you. So you can smile and say. --Kanami, show me what you can do. Show me. Then you can trust me with the Reaper. My wish will come true this time, perfectly without a trace. I can serve as a guardian. Everything will end without a trace of gloom--!

　Staring straight at me, Rowen cries out her trust in me.
　I can't help but respond to that trust without hesitation.

"...... Okay. I'll take the 'Thirty-Third Test'.
It's there, it's ...... and Kanami ......

　Rowen spills blood from her mouth, but still continues to speak.

　The monstrosity continues to grow, and Rowen's magic power increases.
　It's not the magic power as a human Rowen, but the magic power of the monster 'the one that steals the reason of the earth'.

　The waves of that magic power not only affect Rowen's body, but also the arena.
　From underneath the virgin snow-white ground, countless crystal buds grow out of the ground and various ore flowers bloom.

''--Come on, it's my last will and testament. Let's dress up a bit more!

　All of the crystal pillars that grew out of Rowen's body turned into the shape of arms and became eight arms.
　Her hair also changed from red to white, and her eyes became as transparent as crystal.

　The inside of the arena also changed to match this metamorphosis.
　The ground is filled with seven-colored crystal flowers and a fantastic field of flowers spreads out.

''I'm sorry guys, the starter stage is over!　From now on, Kanami and I - the battle between the guardians of the 30th layer and the challengers who have reached the 30th layer - begins!　I can't guarantee the safety of watching the game from here on out, so be warned!　And don't blink at anything you want to watch with your life on the line!　Finally, now!　The finals of the 'Ichino Moon General Knight's Seed Ball' will truly begin!

　Rowen shouts for the entire audience to hear.

　The world within the ward approaches the thirty layers I once saw.
　My winter world overlaps with Rowen's crystal world.

　The warding creaks.
　Just the rush of Rowen's magical power was enough to make the giant theater ship, Vualhura, tremble.

　The audience's screams grew louder because of that seismic tremor.
　They throbbed at Rowen's proclamation, felt an unusual change, and the hall began to go wild.

　It is no longer a 'dancing competition'.
　But the fight that was about to begin, Rowen called it the final match.
　In the end, you want to fall at the hands of your best friend in the middle of the match.

"Here it is (・・・・), this great theater ship (・・・・・・), 'V'alfoura' (・・・・・・), is the thirty layers (・・・・・・)!　Loewen's Hierarchy!　I apologize for borrowing it without permission and rushing it, but from now on, think of this ship as the thirty layers of the labyrinth!　Now let the "Thirty-Third Trial" begin!　The finals are still in the final ha kolekara!

　Loewen loses her human form and her human speech.
　Her figure reminds me of a spider, and her voice is strangely muffled and low.
　Rowen has completely changed into 'the one who steals the reason of the earth'.

　And with that declaration, Rowen walks away.
　I also start walking with the Reaper at my back.

　Before the distance closes, while Rowen's human will is still intact, I shout and tell him.

'I'm coming, my best friend (Rowen)!
"Oh, my God, I'm here!　My best friend (Kanami)!

　Rowen's entire face was covered in ore, turning it into a Noh mask like the Tida of old. Moving her crystal mouth with the sound of the stone shattering, Rowen responded to me.

　The eight arms of Rowen's crystal attacked me.
　I intercept it with all my might.

　This is how I truly reach the 30th layer - and
　Now, the 30th Tribulation begins.