--The battle with Palinclone Legacy has been settled.

　But the situation is bad.
　If this continues, there will be no victor and everyone will die. The outburst of "The World's Returning Squad" is pregnant with such a bad omen that it seems so. The ground has been cracked over and over again, and there is no longer any decent flat ground left. I'm not going to be able to get the same kind of results as the others.

　--The only person who can be relied upon is me.

　My body aches and pains as if it were ripping apart because I've gone over the edge. It's all I can do to keep from letting go of my consciousness. But still, I tried to get up, and just as I was straining my body - I heard a voice.

...... Hmph, I didn't expect things to go as planned like this.

　His strangely polite, low voice was familiar.
　It's the voice of an adult who makes people feel safe. And the voice of a teacher who teaches and guides.

Oh, it's really wonderful. She is the jewel of the world right now. A worthy replacement for my 'Lord': ......!

　A guardian id trying to create a new country in the north.
　There was no mistaking it.

'The pieces are now in place!　A lineup as good as a thousand years old!　Now, at last--

　He seemed unusually excited.
　But soon he repressed his emotions and became quiet.
　He realized that he didn't have much time left in this terminal battlefield.

''--But we have to hurry. If we continue like this, the king's vessel is in danger. Besides, we have to recover the magic stones as soon as possible. All the magic stones are for the king. ...... First of all, we have to pull out the magic stones from Kanami-sama. ......

　I grit my teeth, unable to endure the string of words I can't hear.
　This man is trying to tarnish the battle of Christ and Brother Hein from the side. I can't allow that to happen. As Reiner Helvirshine--!

...... Wait, wait, Dr. Eid.
...... Mr. Reiner?

　He staggered to his feet, using the 'Treasured Sword of the House of Alais, Rowen' as his staff.
　Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dr. Ayde trying to wrap a strange girl with a strange plant.
　Dr. Ayde's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't expect me to be the last one left.

''As a knight, I can't overlook such an imitation. ......
'You've heard that look: ....... I think you got a little excited and let your guard down .......
'Now you said you were going to pull the magic stone out of Christ. If you do that in this situation, Christ will surely die, right?
"It's fine. Kanami-sama, your ancestor, is my enemy. He may have a strong desire to kill you, but he is not someone I should show mercy to.

　Clearly, Dr. Aide said.
　I'm curious about what that 'progenitor Kanami' who made that Dr. Aide say so much. But it's none of my business. What is important is that I know now that Dr. Aide and I are incompatible with each other.

"You are my enemy, then - no, Guardian Aide, you are my enemy. If you want to pull the 'magic stone' out of Christ, you'll have to defeat me first: ......!

　He stopped his annoying salutation and stood before Christ with both swords outstretched.

'Will Master Rainer be your enemy?　If I'm not mistaken, your goal was to avenge yourself by killing "Palinclone Legacy," "Christ Eurasia," and "Rustyala Hooziers." ......
I'm sorry, but things have changed. My brother asked me to do it for you. I want you three to be happy, like you said.
Your brother is dead, I'm told.
Yeah, he's dead. But my brother's here. I know he's here. If my brother is here, I would give my life for Christ, even if it kills me. That's why I'm going to fight. I finally understand, ......, what my real role is: ......

　If I quiet my mind, I can feel my brother's heartbeat right beside me.
　That alone is enough to give me strength. This power no longer belongs to me alone. Then the way to wield this power must not be decided by my will alone.

''Ryner-sama has a Hein Helvirshine in him?　...... Oh, I see. ...... This is why humans are so scary. We easily ignore the 'reason' of the world.

　Aide looked at me with his eyes and nodded as if he had immediately gained. Then he makes an abhorrent expression. It was as if he was looking at an enemy who was trying to break some kind of prohibition. But it's the same here.

　Next I call out to the sword.
　To the second person I respect, I ask for help.

'Mr. Rowen!

　Concentrated knowledge of the 'Sword Art' overflows from the shining crystal sword.

　I am weak.
　The Palinclone Legacy was a child prodigy. According to Haili's story, he also had the blessing of an apostle.
　Christ Eurasia was a Gentile. His qualities have reached the level of the legendary Founder.
　Rastiara Huzeyars was the Real Man God. His body is just as haphazard as the Saints.

　Compared to those three, I'm just a trash. I'm no better than trash.
　I've made up my mind to protect them, but I have nothing to offer. It's just that I'm not strong enough.
　But that's no reason not to fight.
　I want to protect them because I want to. That's all there is to it - that's who I am.

　If there's something that's lacking, I'll bring it from somewhere else. If you're not ready, I'll keep training you until you die. If you don't have the right qualities, I'll add "compensation" to your life.
　Kindly, there are plenty of ways to do that in this world.

　So let's rely on Mr. Rowen for now.
　I made a promise to that man. A promise to have him teach me the sword--!

　With 'Mr. Loewen' in my right hand and 'Ruf Bullinger' in my left, I step forward.

'Rowen ......?　Don't tell me it's that Master Rowen Alais?

　Noticing that my appearance is unusual, Ayde tries to investigate the source of my power.
　Then he backs away and takes out a twig from the sleeve of his clothes.

　The guardian (guardian) id cannot use weapons.
　Hence, they basically try to be the rear guard. However, when forced to fight one-on-one like now, they will use the twig to fight - I had heard about it, but when I saw it, it was beyond weak.

''--'Growth Extended!　'Sense Breath' and 'Branchwood Shell'!

　Immediately, Ayde uses a barrage of auxiliary magic to strengthen his body.
　My body, which is completely unsuited for combat, is forced up to a level where I can somehow move.

　The id runs with speed, waving its arms with force and trying to play my twin swords with the twig it grasps.
　A mere twig creates a bizarre scene of treasure swords and sparks.

　Although Aide's technique is poor, it was still enough against me right now. No matter how much I borrow Rowen-san's technique, I'm still in a physical condition that's on the verge of fainting. To be honest, I'm at my limit just standing up.

　Aide, who instantly saw my discomfort, leaves me alone and tries to walk past me. It seems that he intends to avoid combat and only collect what he wants.
　If I don't let him do so, I cast Rowen-san's magic.

''-- Crystal Magic 'Quartz'!

　He plunged his sword into the black ground, producing a crystal.
　The crystal crawled across the ground like a fungus and covered Christ, who was lying behind him.

　Aide stretched plant ivy from the sleeve of his clothes and was about to touch Christ, but was blocked by the crystal.

'This is Master Rowen's crystal!　It's the one that no one can crack!

　The id seems to know that crystal.
　He doesn't try to shatter the crystal, but quickly gives up everything and jumps back.

　Ayde exhales heavily, keeping his distance.
　And he was pondering. I can see that he's looking at the situation and trying to make the best of it.
　I'm not going after it. Protecting the Christ behind me is my first priority, not defeating the id.

　After finishing his thoughts, the id shook his head in a calm manner.

'...... style. Then it can't be helped. Let's just endure with the king's vessel here. Since Kanami-sama isn't essential to my plan.

　With that, Ayde stops by the girl lying in the distance.
　Building a new wood attribute magic, a huge tree grows out of the earth. The trunk of that huge tree splits open and clings to the girl and Ayd's bodies.

''Then I will see you again, Ryner-sama. Although, that is, if you're still alive.''

　They said their goodbyes and were swallowed by the giant tree.
　As it is, the giant tree returns to the earth, as if it had rewound time.

　The two men's presence disappears from the battlefield.
　The id is not very good at fighting. That's why his decision to retreat was swift.

　I breathe a huge sigh of relief that I was able to protect Christ.

'Huh. ....... I managed it. But after this, we'll have to go to .......

　Looking around, there was no such thing as a flat wilderness anymore.
　It was a black mountain range with countless mountains and valleys. There was no way to find the fallen Tida's magical stone. At any moment, the body of Christ was about to tumble to the bottom of the valley.

　The World Expedition is about to swallow up all that is left of the battlefield.
　It felt like it.

I can't help it. I suppose there's only one thing I can do--!

　I'm not confident I can walk through this stormy world and escape to the safe zone.
　So I squeeze the magic out of my body.

　I can feel the life burning slowly.
　What awaits me after I use my magic with my empty MP is the burning of life. This will probably be my last magic of the day.

　But it was the only way I could do it.
　I grab the hand of the sleeping Christ and shout, "I'll never regret this again!

'I will never regret this again!　I'll never let go of this hand!　--Crystal Magic 'Quartz'!

　Mr. Loewen's magic stone shines through.
　I know that he, too, is doing his best to help Christ.

　Now, Mr. Loewen and I are of one mind.
　The affinity that Palinclone and Christ have been talking about is growing.
　I will not let Christ die. That's the only way to build magic.

　And the soil around it is converted into ore.
　The ore writhes like a living thing and covers me and Christ's body. We were hardened like statues by the massive amount of crystals. A thicker defensive wall is built up, and we curl up like a crystal ball.

'Christ will not let me die!　Absolutely, positively--!

　After I finished building my magic, just before my consciousness left me, I swear.

　In the past, I killed my brother because of my own weakness.
　I was dimly aware of his pain and suffering, but I left him to die out of delusion. I'm sure I was only a burden rather than a help. That regret will stay with me until I die.

　Yeah, that's fine.
　I'll do that until I die.
　But I won't pile them on top of each other. The only thing I will keep is what my brother left me.
　Your brother's legacy is not some token of nobility. It's not a knight of the Fusyas, nor is it an expensive sword or a fine uniform.
　It must be - the man who holds it in his hand.
　Christ Eurasia.

　He is the one I admired, the one my brother admired. The existence that my brother trusted with his life.

　Then I must protect him.
　Even if I have to pay for this trash to die...!

　It's embarrassing to scream it out loud.
　So I scream again in my heart.


　I will protect you--and I will protect you.


　And then I, wrapped in crystal, and Christ and I will be swallowed up into the land of darkness.
　We are falling to the bottom of the continent.

　This time, the battle in "The World Salvation Army" is completely over--