My earliest memory of Nosfi Fuzzy Yards is the moment of its birth.

　Clearly I remember it.
　It's all a faded memory, but I can remember every conversation I had that day. The lights I saw, the sounds I heard, the scents that tickled my nose, I can remember everything so vividly - all of it.


　-- I wake up for the first time in a darkened room.

　As a newborn, I wake up in my adult body and look around the room I'm seeing for the first time but already know. It's hard to reconcile the knowledge with the knowledge because it's so dark that it's indistinguishable from the back of my eyelids, but I'm convinced by smell, not sight.

　The unique smell of death is mixed with the smell of various chemicals.
　In addition, I can feel a thick 'demonic poison' that envelops my entire body.
　Undoubtedly, this is one of the towers in Hooziyaz Castle.
　It is the former princess's hospital room and the current "Demonic Poison" laboratory and morgue.

　As my eyes become accustomed to the darkness, I first find a pile of corpses called materials piled up in a corner. At first glance, the pile of corpses on the closed window seems like an outrageous research project, but they weren't collected by killing them.

　They are all people who have been invaded by the world's "demonic poison" and have regrettably died out.
　In these times, there were countless people who had no relatives and were unable to enter their graves. Rather than leaving them to fend for themselves, scholars overcame the fear of infection and studied the corpses to find a cure.

　It's a wonderful story. It's an inspiring story.
　But it was also a story of a very futile effort.

　In the end, the scholars of the Hoosier State achieved nothing. All they got from dismembering the bodies of their compatriots was irresistible despair.
　The knowledge and technology of this country probably would not have been able to unravel even a thousand years from now.
　Realistically speaking, it was impossible to continue until the country was destroyed.

　So how did I come to be able to relax in a room full of 'demonic poison'?
　It was thanks to external factors that came from outside the Hoosiers.

　The Apostle and the Gentiles.
　Especially thanks to the power of the Gentiles, the study of the 'Demonic Poison' exploded. Furthermore, with the miraculous power of the apostles, we were able to create an artificial creature that was able to adapt to the "Devil's Poison".

　This is how I was born.
　Even though I was born, it wasn't born from my mother's stomach.
　I was born in a humanoid shape, born by human hands, by combining human flesh and the crystals of the "demon poison".

　I knew that from birth.
　Conveniently, there was no confusion thanks to the technology of carving knowledge into blood. Like an instinct I would get up, know myself, know the world, know my place in it, and try to get out of this dimly lit room.

　I get out of bed and walk on the cobblestones with my floppy, bare feet.
　I push open the old wooden door and walk down the stairs that lead downstairs into a room that was recently added to the house.

　And for the first time since I was born, I feel the light - but both of my eyes were accustomed to the light before I was born. I entered the room downstairs without any problems.

　Unlike the room I just left, it was filled with clean air. It's used as a little waiting room, or maybe it's just a modest table and chairs.
　The people who have been waiting for me in the room welcome me with surprise at my arrival.

'Ho, it's really working ......!

　The first voice was a blonde adult female, the Apostle Sith.

''Of course it's going to move. I heard they made it that way.

　The next voice was the brown-haired boy, Apostle Legacey.

'Thank goodness ....... You've succeeded. ......

　Taking a breather is a white-haired old man, Apostle Diprakra.

　The three apostles greeted me.
　All three of them have an odd air about them. Their faces and clothes are quite normal, but my instincts make me understand that they are special. I can't help but think that they are different (...).

　This is the apostle who made me ....... Then these are my--.

I've heard it's called 'Jewelcruise'. It's the first prototype, but it's good enough to be called a finished product. It's the perfect fit for the time it takes for the world to adjust - according to Yotaki. Yes, that's the end of my message. Did you guys hear me correctly?

　The younger Apostle Legacy explains to the other adult apostles.
　I thought they were small and pompous, but I knew they weren't as old as they looked.
　When I remained silent, the other apostles revealed their joy.

'Heh, The Magic Stone Man (Jewelculus) ......!　Great, that's pretty good!
'Magic Stone Man (Jewelculus)' or ....... That's a good one. You've definitely taken a step forward. Finally ......, yeah, finally .......

　The three of them called me 'Jewelculus'.
　It was the moment of birth of the first 'Jewelcrus' - an ideal humanoid something that could endure the demonic environment of that time by using all of the magic technology of that time and the best magic stones of that time.

　However, its treatment was only slightly different from what I had expected.
　So I could see my face darken just a little bit, even to myself.

'Um, what do we call this?'

　Perhaps sensing my expectations, Legacy suggests something a little closer.
　The other apostles are severely puzzled by it.

''Mm, aren't you going to call them 'Magic Stone Humans' (Jewelculus)?'''
'You don't have to have a name, do you?　You can call it the 'Flag of Light'.

　Both the apostle Diprakra in his old man's form and the adult female apostle Sith have the appearance of a large adult but lack common sense. Their sensibilities are a bit out of character. It's as good as knowledge.

'No, that's a position or a name, not a name. ...... Let's give this guy a name that we have too: .......
'Oh, surely it is necessary for identification? The Lord says so. But I'm not very good at that sort of thing. One or the other, please.
Then I'll have to put it on!　Hmmm, yes. She's a symbol of the South, a saint who saves the country and leads it to the North, so--

　The Sith raised his hand in front of him.
　And my name--

'The One to the North (Northfield)!　She is the Confederate Flag of Light to save the world.　'The One Who Steals the Light's Reason' Northfield Hoosiers!

　They give you a name that doesn't sound like a very good name.
　It's not a name either, it's a role designation.

　I didn't have the energy to say that.
　I just repeated her words in my head.

　Apparently I'm a saint, 'the one who steals the reason for the light'.

　...... Honestly, I don't know what that means.

　No, I know exactly what the words mean. Thanks to the fact that I have so much knowledge packed into my blood, I am surely more knowledgeable than those scholars out there.
　I understand everything about this world, this country, this basement and this situation.
　I know that this world has been driven to the edge by the Devil's poison. I know that the world wants a savior. I know the role I am called to play. I know why I have to do it. I know how much power I have.

　I know it all, but I'm .......

　I don't really feel like I'm doing anything.
　I don't feel like I was born. I don't feel like I'm living in this world. Naturally, I'm not very interested in the crisis in this world. Everyone around me is a stranger. I don't care about everything they say. I don't care about everything.

　I really don't care - the first emotion I learned after I was born was such an easy despair.

　Too empty and sad, too pointless and laughable, too pointless to disappear, and I'm suddenly drawn to what I see.

　It is not the apostles, but the window in the rear.
　Unlike the top floor, the window in this room is open.
　I walk towards that window. Leaving the apostles who are making a lot of noise without me, I walk alone - alone.

Sky ......, dark .......

　I put my hand on the edge of the window and let out my first voice since birth.

　And as it was, I tried to lean back.
　Thanks to the fact that I had so much knowledge in my head now, I knew exactly what I had to do now.

　If I jumped out of here, it would be over.
　If I went head first into the ground, I could easily die.
　A legitimate born person would be terrified, but I could do it without hesitation.
　I can return to the person I was before I was born. I can get out of this empty feeling. And when I thought that--

Yes, it's a dark world!　...... And it's your mission to clear that darkness!　Rejoice that you can be the cornerstone to save this world!　Thank you for giving your life to the Lord!　Northfield!

　Before I knew it, Sith was standing next to me, holding me with one hand on my shoulder.
　He was treating me as a fellow walker of death with him, his eyes shining and pointing to the pitch black sky.

　As I knew, it seems that the Apostle Sith, the Apostle of Justice, is a bit of a headache, after all.
　Caught up in that disappointment, I completely missed the timing.

　Following that, Diprakra approaches me.
　The better still apostle translates the Sith's words in plain English.

Northfield, please take the place of our apostle. I ask you to unite the human race in place of the Apostles. Please unite the Fooziers instead of the royal families of this country. Fight the enemy on behalf of those who cannot adapt to the demon poisoning of this world. What ordinary people can't do, you can do on their behalf.

　-- 'Substitute (...)'

　I knew that it was the 'magic' of 'the one who steals the reason for the light'.
　I also knew that I was created for it.

'...... Northfield. Will you do it?
'Of course I'm going to do it, of course I'm going to do it!　Praise, praise!

　Diprakra and Sith gave me an expectant look.
　I nodded in a small way, feeling that my empty senses had been stimulated a bit.

'...... yes. I'll give it a go.

　I didn't have anything else to do, so I took on the task without thinking about it.
　Then, with a flash, he removed his hand from the edge of the window.

　The two apostles are greatly pleased with his answer.

'Hmm, of course. Hmmm, I'm so happy. We have another friend. It is a cruel world, but there is still hope. Hmmmm.
'It's certainly a pleasure ....... Thus, moving forward one step at a time is ......

　Behind the two noisy people, Legacie was sighing.
　He turned his back as if it was no longer his business and walked out of the room a step ahead of them.
　This was the end of the first face-to-face meeting.

　-- Thus, I would be fine-tuned by the two remaining apostles as a 'Magic Stone Human (Jewelculus)'.

　I was shown around the Fuzzyards' castle and taken to the country's best storeroom. First of all, it was time for us to study there.
　Confirmation of the knowledge etched in blood. Checking common sense. Confirmation of etiquette. Over the course of a few days, he acquired the proper 'flag' of the country.

　After that, it's a face-to-face meeting with a fabricated blood relation.
　In order to turn the lie about the previous king's illegitimate child into the truth, he utilized his apostolic authority to go everywhere. However, there aren't many places to go around, since the Hoozeyer's Country was on the verge of destruction until just recently. After a few months, I had already been recognized as the youngest member of the Fouzeyards royal family.

　No matter how strong the influence of the 'Apostle' is, it's extraordinary. I think that tells you a lot about the terminal state of this world and country.

　After being recognized as an entity, it's time to adjust the magic.
　Making use of the 'Demon Poison' to cause supernatural phenomena was a must for the 'Gofan'.

　In this era, the basics of magic were still a bit new, and most of them could not use magic. Just being a wizard was enough to get them to look up to you, and countries would bow to you to employ you.

　After all, with a wizard, you can produce water and fire from nothing. They can purify the air, change the terrain, and repair people's bodies without question. It's a miraculous power that defies all the conventional wisdom of the world, so it's only natural that he would receive an unbeatable privilege.

　And I was one of the best among those wizards.

　The ability to adapt to the "Demon Poison" is high, and I can perform a variety of miracles.
　In addition, thanks to the blessing of the Apostle's choice of 'the one who steals the logic of light', a certain magic is constantly being invoked from my body.

　The root of the plan of the Banner of Light to unify humanity.
　It is the magic of fascination.

　Just by looking at the light that leaks from me, people with little resistance to magic are mesmerized and fascinated.
　Just by hearing my voice, they are under the illusion that it is the absolute truth, and they obey.
　Just by seeing me, they believe that I am the savior of the world and follow my back.

　This is the power of my light, but it does not mean that I am invincible to any opponent.
　The resistance of magic varies from person to person, and if you are disillusioned with the individual that is me, the magic is easily broken.

　It's the perfect 'Magic Stone Human (Jewelculus)' body to follow it up.
　I compensate for that weakness by preparing the best appearance possible and packing the best knowledge possible.

　On the contrary, if my appearance draws the eye to my appearance, the 'enchantment' will be successful even if my magic resistance is high. The same is true if you admit defeat to the depth of my knowledge.

　I've heard that I can also impress them with my speeches and dances in other ways, but this is the idea of the 'Gentiles', not the 'Apostles'. Apparently in the other world, an idol that could sing and dance was very efficient in the short run. One of the plans was to build a theater, where I would sing and dance alone.

　Thus, being the perfect "Banner of Light", I used my magical powers to gradually win the hearts of the people at the Fooziers.

　I began by greeting them as royalty. I attended all the events of my country, and when I had time, I went into town to do charity work and interacted with the people in a friendly manner. Of course, in the midst of it all, he used his miraculous magic to heal the sick on the floor and save the needy children, wiping away the fears of the people with his voice.

　One month (one month) and then another - the plan progresses unhurriedly.
　It is recognized as the "Banner of Light".
　It imitates the legendary 'Lord of Control' in the north, and on top of that, it becomes a symbol that will never be defeated.

　By the time six months had passed, the apostles were relieved that they could no longer leave it to me alone. Instead of following me around, Diprakra and the Siths begin to focus on their other plans.

　I can't help but feel that way.
　No longer would they cheer when I walked out of town, or yell inevitable victories when I stopped by the soldier's stuffing station. If I decide to perform a song or dance at an event, the whole country will be in a state of celebration.

　The magic of 'fascination' was perfectly in place.
　For example, if I said, "I will raise taxes recklessly," most of the people would say, "Yes, I'm willing. Here, if I said, "We will invade the nearest great nation," most of the soldiers would reply, "I will give my life to you.

　Everything was going well.
　Once the unification of this country was finished, the next step would be to 'charm' the neighboring countries as well.
　It won't take much time. At this point, I had information that there were many of my followers among the citizens and nobles of the neighboring countries. The unification of the neighboring countries is only a matter of time.

　The plan is really going well.

　--If there was one problem, it would be the story of me as an individual.

　It will come in a flash.
　When you go about your day-to-day work, you're stuck in a trap.

　My days as the Banner of Light were not hard. It wasn't painful.
　But it wasn't fun either. They weren't pleasant.
　Because I'm too perfect, and everything is too good to be normal.

　It's the same as it was then.
　That feeling of emptiness I had when I was born comes back.
　Suddenly I don't feel it anymore. I don't care. No one matters. The world doesn't matter.

　I'm too empty and sad, too meaningless and funny, and I suddenly want to disappear inexorably, and I suddenly want to die.

　And again I look out the window in the tower room of the example. But now my body can no longer die by just jumping off.
　Deciding to go somewhere more deadly and dangerous, I cover my face with my cloak and walk out of Hoozeyers' castle.

　I ignore the castle guards and walk into the city.
　I try to head straight out of the country without a glance at the people I pass.

　I thought of going to the sea.
　I wanted to go to a place where no one knew me and sink to my death.
　I was going to end this unimportant story in a place where no one knew me - and I was going to end it.

　But on my way, a boy was waiting for me at the country's barrier.
　Apostle Legacy looked at me with a sleepy look on his face and greeted me with a light "Yo". I stopped and rolled my eyes in surprise.

'Yeah, why ......?'

　Why are we here? It was a question from the bottom of my heart.

'No, I figured it was about time I wanted to die again (...). I did too after about six months.

　Legacy had been able to see right through my inner thoughts. He also seemed to have noticed that I was about to jump off on the day we met six months ago.
　I always thought that the apostles were all idiots who didn't understand people's minds, but I've changed my perception of them, only this unwilling boy was different.

　The third apostle Legacy was created by the 'Lord'.
　Because of his many flaws, he often waits alone. He doesn't come up with any plans or help with any plans. Because of his overly apathetic behavior and actions, the other two apostles don't expect anything from him either. Quite simply, he's a slacker free lunch.

　That most seemingly incompetent of all the apostles shows me the way.

"Why you're so impotent ....... I know the reason in my own way. Will you listen to me for a moment?

　Legacy asks, and before I can hear my answer, he turns his back and walks away.
　He leads the way back inside Hoosiers, not the path that leads out of the country, but back inside Hoosiers.

　Seeing his back, I was lost.

　I could ignore it and walk out.
　If it's simple strength, I'm stronger than you. No matter how much the Apostle seeks the Banner of Light, no one can stop me anymore. It is possible for me to stop them.

　And yet, I was following Legacey's back in a very straightforward manner.
　I was surprisingly obedient.

　There was only one reason I could think of.
　Because I thought we looked alike.
　Legacie's apathetic personality and my lack of initiative have a lot in common. So maybe that's why I was a little interested in what he was thinking.

　Then I am led by Legacy to come to one of the buildings in the city.

'This is ......'

　It was one of the many wards scattered throughout the Hoosier country.

　There are countless sick people in this country. No, not just in this country, but now there is a disease that is spreading on a global scale. It's the "demon poison" that's been spreading around the world.

　Basically, this "evil poison" is harmful to humans. It is so harmful that it can eventually kill you.

　Therefore, the gentile who became the founder of magic devised a method to break down the magic poison. The magic called 'magic power transformation (level up)' - more precisely, it's 'spellcraft'.
　If you have the makings of this magic, you can break down the demon poison and turn it into power rather than harm it.

　When this magic spread, the whole country was in a state of joy.
　It is only natural that a method was found to overcome an incurable disease that could only lead to death.

　However, the benefits of that magic were not easy for everyone to receive.
　First of all, there are really few people who can handle magic. Even if there was one wizard who could handle 'Magic Power Transformation (Level Up)', he could not cast magic on dozens of people in a day. Furthermore, not all of them would be freed from the suffering of the 'magic poison'.

　In order to live, they needed a natural talent called 'predisposition'.
　Without it, there was no way they could survive.
　We are dying because we are unable to resist the evil poison.

　And now we are here at the place where the patients who couldn't be cured even if they were given the "magical power transformation (level up)" were housed.
　You could say that this is a space to isolate the patients who couldn't be cured by the "magic transformation" until they died.

　Naturally, the "Demon Poison" is making them moan and groan in pain.
　People are lying on cheap beds lined up, just suffering and wasting away.

　But there is not a single doctor here. And those who nurse them are minimal.
　You realize that this is an abandoned area.

　To put it bluntly, I'd rather have a bed than a cheap one. I can die on the floor under the roof instead of in the wild, thanks to the rebirth by The Apostle and The Gentiles.

　As I calmly survey the ward, Legacy points to one patient.

'What do you think of that one?'

　Beyond that, there was a child and a woman.
　The boy, who is probably not even in double digits in years, is suffering from an addiction to The Devil's Poison. He is squeezing out the words "I don't want to die" with a moan. Next to him is a woman holding the boy's hand, desperately pleading with him. She is praying to God to please save my child, and this one is squeezing out "live" as well.

'...... A tragic sight, shall we say?　I know better than you the horrors of this country. Or do you want to talk about how afraid you are of dying?
No, no. It doesn't matter. It's none of our business. I'll tell you what it is.

　Easily, Legacy shook his head.
　It was an uncommon word for an apostle who wants to save the world.
　And then, as if to talk about something more important than the destruction of the world, Legacey spoke the rest of the story.

'A child who is only waiting to die, is wished to 'live', isn't he?'

　He points out that it's not the world's crisis, not the life and death of people, but the relationship between the two of them.
　Legacy restates the connection in plain English.

'They say that kind of thing is called being loved.
'Ha, ha ......?　Beloved, are you ......?

　Bringing him to such a gloomy place, showing him such a situation all the way to such a gloomy place, I didn't expect him to say anything about 'love'.

　Legacie, like the other apostles, was still wrong somehow.
　It was as insensitive as I could judge it to be, but I couldn't take my ears off the words that followed from Legacy.
　Even though it seemed ridiculous to me rationally, my instincts wanted it.
　I was interested in what it meant to be loved.

'The truth is, they say that's how parents love their children the moment they're born, like that.
When the child is born, the parents can take the child to ......

　It was information that wasn't etched in my blood.
　Before I could think about why that information wasn't available to me, the fact that it was, icks up a lot of questions for me.

　As soon as I understood, I couldn't take my eyes off the parents and children in the ward.
　A scene that hadn't felt meaningful or worthwhile just a moment ago instantly felt different.

'There will be exceptions like us, but that's basically how it is. All parents who have children worry about them like that.'

　And now, clearly, I knew the reason for this feeling of instability in me.

　In other words, I was lacking.
　I didn't know why, but I felt that lack instinctively.
　That's why I'm wavering like this. My mind is not settled. I'm frustrated and sulking.

　Originally, I was born with parents, and that was supposed to be a solid place to be.
　My parents were supposed to love me first and foremost, even if I didn't do anything about it.
　There was supposed to be someone who would have stopped me from "living".

　Someone who would love me the most. If there was someone like that, I would never be able to--.

Dear Mr. Legacy: "......

　Before I knew it, I was squeezing out a voice.
　I called out the apostle's name, prompting him to continue with further conversation.

'Yeah, I know. Do you want to meet him once?　I'm just back home.

　The Legacy lives up to those expectations with flying colors.
　He understands without an inch of difference what I want now, and he immediately shows me his back and leads again.

　This time, without hesitation, I follow behind him.
　We leave the hospital wing and walk through the city and into another building.

　It was a small diner in a corner of the city.
　Inside the shop, people working in the country are enjoying a moment of bliss. Many of the men appear to be engaged in physical labor, such as security and construction. Looking at the store, it seems to be a place that mainly serves alcohol.

　Legacy and I ask for something suitable and get a seat at the end of the store.
　It would be a hassle if the surrounding nationals found out about my face, so I bury my face deep in my cloak and then ask in a whisper.

'Master Legacy, where is this ......?'
There he is. I think that dark hair might be your father's. In more ways than one.

　Legacy turned to look at the pair sitting at the counter of the store.
　I immediately turn to look at them as well and see the faces of the duo.

　They are sitting at the counter, far away from our seats, talking amicably.
　A dark-haired boy and a blonde girl. Both are dressed modestly and blend in beautifully with the atmosphere of this commonplace restaurant. However, a closer look reveals that neither of them are normal. I know this because I have recently come to understand magic. Both the boy and the girl have powers beyond me.

　And I know exactly who they are.
　How can I not know? In a manner of speaking, it's as if I was born for those two.

　Their names are Aikawa Uzumi and Tiara Hoozeyers.
　'Gentiles' and 'real princesses'.

''That black-haired person is my ......?
Oh, you're your father. We apostles were only midwives. It is most correct to say that it was the two 'Gentiles' who gave birth to you. ...... work belly, though.

　I knew that what the apostle was saying was right.

　I know that a part of the body of the 'Gentiles' is used to make me, the Jewelculus.
　It's natural that the 'Apostles' wanted to create a strong existence with high qualities like the 'Gentiles' and started to create the Jewelcruise, so it's natural.

　There is no doubt that the people who have the most influence on the construction of this body are 'Aikawa Uzumi' and 'Aikawa Yotaki'.
　I am more like the Aikawa siblings than the Tiara Hoozeyers who should be my replacement.
　Then it should certainly be the dark-haired 'Gentile' who should be called the birth mother.

''Legacy-sama. The one next to your father is .......
You're the one who should be sitting in your place.
After all, she is Lady Tiara: ......

　Once we've established that both are who I think they are, the items I asked for arrive at the table.
　It's just barely drinkable water and a loaf of bread so hard it almost chips my teeth.

　As I toss it unemotionally into my mouth, I look behind me at the two men.
　However, since there is a possibility that they might notice me if I stare at them too long, I don't turn my head and just move my eyes to observe them.

　Seeing my condition, Legacy asks me curiously.

'Aren't you going to see Kanami's brother?　I thought it would be interesting to meet you here, so I showed you around.
I can't. To begin with, they wouldn't know me if they met me now. ......

　The two kind-hearted people sitting over there do not know me, an amoral being by nature. If I talk to them here, perhaps the Sith and Diprakra will be in great trouble. It might interfere with the 'Banner of Light' project.

'Yes. That's why I've led you to it.

　And yet, the third apostle, Legacy, very easily jeopardizes the plan.
　This thing I spent half a year cultivating is treated carelessly, and it puts me in a bit of a bad mood. At the same time, I realize that I cared about the plan in its own way.

　This is all new to me from earlier.
　I can't speak to your father here, but I still think I've gotten enough out of it.
　I thought I knew everything, but I'm well aware that this is not true.
　I knew that I was not ready to die yet.

I'll think better of it once I get back to ....... At least it seems to be all right now. It's refreshing to know all sorts of new things.
...... I see. Good to know then.

　My thanks are accepted by Legacy with open arms.
　She didn't try to force me to meet your father, but just quietly accompanied me to the meal.

　Not long after, your father and Tiara Fuzzya's left the restaurant.
　Following them, we followed them back into town.

　Having reached our goal, we parted without much to say.

'So long, Northfield. I'm expecting a few things.

　Seemingly convinced that I wasn't going to kill myself anymore, Legacy disappeared into the city.
　I return with a "So long" and head straight back to Hoosiers Castle.

　I walk back the way I came and sneak back to my room.
　I've really had a lot going on today. I'm even feeling tired for the first time in my life. I immediately sit down on the bed in my room and let out a huge sigh.

　This is where Tiara Hoozeyers once recuperated and where I was born. In that room, I continue to stare into the air.

　In a daze, I focus not on the outside world, but on what is in my chest.

　The Legacy didn't make me feel empty, but it didn't make me feel better.
　Rather, I feel worse.
　The feeling of something thick and black and sticky keeps coming up from the pit of my stomach.

　And then there's a scene that sticks in my mind and won't leave.
　The father and son I saw in the hospital ward in town. Two people I saw in a cafeteria in town.
　These two scenes occupy my mind in turn.

　As I review the scene, I look out the window.
　It's the usual dark sky.

　As I was thinking this, purple snow (Tear Ray) fell from the sky.

　In this world, the "demonic poison" that corrupts people's lives turns into crystals and dances down.
　The crystals come in various shapes. The crystals vary in shape, starting with small and large ones, and sometimes it looks like a piece of purple glass falling down. I know it's a bad poison that eats away at people, but to an unrelated person like me, it feels a little beautiful.

　Countless purple snowflakes (tear rays) that fall slowly.
　Slower than things falling, faster than feathers falling. The crystals falling at a unique speed are fantastic and if you're not careful, you'll be transfixed by them endlessly.

　I continue to stare outside, thinking.
　For some reason, a strange fantasy flashed through my head on the way there.

　Oh, I wondered.
　The 'demonic poison' falling through the sky is like blood dripping on the skin of this world .......

　I had such an impression.

　In the meantime, the purple snow (Tear Ray) continues to fall from the sky.
　It was as if the purple was getting closer to red the moment I recognized that the blood wouldn't stop. The world is turning bright red, coated in blood.

　Sloppy red blood spilled out. Blood was flowing from the sky like a waterfall.
　A horrible amount of blood that made me feel like I was about to die.

-Oh!

　My imagination swelled in my head and I felt goosebumps rise up.

　Suddenly my body trembled.
　It was as if every hair on my body was standing on end.
　I crawled into bed to escape.

"............!

　Today I learned about human connection from a parent and a child.
　I understood that as long as I had the love of my parents, I could live in this dark world.

　It also means that being alone is no longer normal.

　The feeling of emptiness that had been there all along was instantly replaced by loneliness.
　That loneliness became anxiety, and eventually that anxiety became fear.
　I can't explain it logically, but it was a very simple emotional process.

　I was really scared.
　A room alone with no one in it.
　Blood and death swelled in my head, and no one would tell me to live.
　No one to hold my hand or listen to me for advice.

　For some reason, I am so afraid of dying that I was about to die just a few minutes ago, and I'm afraid I'm going crazy. Like the child in the hospital ward, I feel like I don't want to die.

　I'm scared and I can't stand it, but my mind thinks about death on its own.

　What happens when a person dies? Is death painful and distressing? Where do we go when we die? Is it a world of nothingness? Does my consciousness exist? If so, how long will it last? Is it just a world like now, where I can only think endlessly in the pitch blackness? In the darkness, I am alone forever. Alone forever--?

　There are no end of unanswered questions.

　I peeked out of bed for a moment to look at the room.
　It seems like the room is darker than usual.
　Even now, I feel a sense of anxiety as if the darkness is going to swallow me whole in my bed.

　Instinctively, I hug my own chest with both of my hands.
　I consoled myself, unable to bear the fear.
　But it's not as if it's not enough. It's as if it's not enough to escape the darkness.

''--[Light]!

　Light up the light.
　I try to light up this dark world with a miracle that the apostle told me to refrain from except in an emergency.

　But it's still not enough.
　The world was indeed illuminated. The vision in my eyes is clear and I can only describe it as bright.
　But it still feels dark. The world is such a bright place, yet it still feels insufficiently bright. I was surprised to see how dark the world was, and I called out a spell over and over again.

"Light!" "Light!" "Light!

　I need more light. More light.
　The light fills every corner of the room, but it's still so dark.

　I'm afraid of the dark.
　I'm scared and I can't stand it.
　Scary, scary, scary.

　I can often hear the sound of my heart through the body I hold in my hands.
　It sounds so loud.
　My heart is beating wildly, and I feel uneasy.
　My heart is going to stop beating at any moment.

　If my heart stops beating, I will die.
　No matter how perfect the Jewelculus is, it will die.

　I'm afraid of dying.
　I'm afraid of dying and becoming nothing. I am afraid that it will be as if it never happened. I am afraid that I will disappear without anyone wishing me to live. I am afraid that my life will be meaningless. I am afraid that the world will continue after I die. I'm afraid that I won't even know if this me was ever alive.
　I don't know what it is, but I'm scared!
　No, I'm scared because I don't know what it is!

　The fear alone is making it hard to breathe.
　My chest feels like it's going to burst. My whole body and soul are convulsing.

　I need ...... help.

　I need someone to help me now.
　I need you to reach out to me.
　I can't do this by myself.
　I need you to say a word.

　......I want you to love me like she does.

　I need you to tell me kindly to live.
　If you don't, you won't get out of this pain.
　You won't be able to get out to the bright lights any time soon.

　Before I knew it, the bed was wet with large tears.
　My heart was so loud I didn't notice it, but the sobs were leaking out. A series of hiccups matched the spasms. He is crying loudly, pathetically, like a child.

　And.
　A voice that reaches there, a voice that seems to have seen it coming -.


It's okay. You have me. I'm your mother.


　He says the one word I've been hoping for, and I get out of bed.

　A lone dark-haired girl stood in the room.
　She was smiling like a compassionate mother against the bloody sky outside the window.

　I recognized her immediately.
　It was my first encounter with her, but I could be sure that she was 'Aikawa Yotaki'.
　I didn't judge her by hearing those words. I knew because of the intensity of the 'demonic poison' in her body.
　Such an unusual existence could not be any other than the Aikawa Yotaki I've heard about.

　She is the one who, according to Legacy, could be called my mother.
　Now I got the words I wanted from the person I wanted. ...... I should have gotten it, but I was still trembling with fear.

　I'm not sure why I couldn't see her as a mother.
　It was too different from what I had seen on the street.
　Compared to the woman who held the hand of the suffering child and wailed for her life, I was too different.
　The figure of Aikawa Yotaki was so different that my brain refused to understand it.


◆◆◆◆◆


Huh!

　-- exhale the breath that had stopped.
　The next breath of air is hot enough to scorch your lungs, and it tells you plainly that you are now in a crisis.

　At the same time, I open my eyes to assess my surroundings.
　I couldn't move my body very well, so I only used my eyes and neck to check.

　The world is dimly lit, similar to the dream I just had.

　Of course, it's similar but completely different.
　The first difference is that it's not a dark cloud blocking the area directly above, but a wall of dirt.
　This place is not under the sky, but a great hollow underneath the Great Holy City. If you look closely, you can see that it's not complete darkness, but rather flickering flame lights in the distance. There are also lights here and there from magic tools filled with light attribute magic power.

　In that great hollow, there was more than the streets of Hoosier's that I saw in my dream.

　The solid brick buildings lined up regularly and the streets paved with magic stones stretched out in a calculated manner. The streetlights are not only luminous magic tools, but also many lamps that use liquid fuel for emergencies are standing. The city is lined with irrigation canals spreading out like a spider's web, ensuring that water is always available.

　The "underground ruins of the settlement of sometime ago" have evolved into a splendid underground town in the present day.
　Ah. I am amazed that they have managed to change that large hollow space so much.
　While looking at that slightly nostalgic underground scenery, I next checked my condition.

　Both my physical and magical powers are on the verge of their limits. I shed an extraordinary amount of sweat, and I'm out of breath.
　I can't move at all ...... but now I'm moving at high speed through the underground mall. I stop looking at the ever-changing landscape and turn my attention to the man who is holding me.

　He comes out like an aristocrat with an exaggerated cape over his shoulders and a shameful look on his face with his eyebrows always in a C-shape. A man running as fast as he can with his short red-copper hair fluttering and large drops of sweat dripping down his cheeks.

　This is Glenn Walker, the knight I was forced to take under my command just recently.
　Glenn notices me gazing at his face and calls out to me as he runs.

''Did you notice it, Nosfi-sama!
'Yes ....... Perhaps, but have I been out of my mind ......?
'Yes. ...... But it's not unreasonable. It's this heat, this air.

　The situation is beginning to sink in.
　Now Glenn is on the run with me, having been knocked unconscious by the hot air of the enemy's fire magic.

　And I'm starting to remember a lot of things.
　A week ago, I saw off my friends and Apostle Sis and others in Vyasia in the "Northern League" and came straight to the Great Holy City in the "Southern League". There, I began to prepare to intercept Master Uzumi, who would one day come to me.

　I needed the pawns more than anything else, so I copied the plan I had made when I was born.
　First, I took on the name of a saint in this great holy city of Fuzzy Yards and saved many sick people. In order to further penetrate the interior of the country, I conducted 'enchantment' in the Senate to brainwash the country's important people.
　After consolidating the ground, I enforced the country's measures to consolidate the place of interception and used dimensional magic to extract the trump card from the labyrinth and carefully re-seal the familiar faces that had been turned into a world tree.
　In just a few days, I had brought down the largest country in the world.
　Oh, everything was fine.

　No longer would the same 'reason-stealer' or 'apostle' be able to compete with me now.
　Just when I thought that, she attacked me.

　She. The biggest miscalculation, that is--

''Hmph. But it's like a labyrinthine Arti hierarchy.

　Maria, the inheritor of The One Who Stole the Reason of Fire.

　When she turns her eyes to the underground mall, she sees some eyeball-shaped flames - eyes of fire - floating in the air.
　Glenn also notices this and takes a knife from his pocket and throws it at it.
　The knife sticks in the fire, but the eyes of fire do not disappear. It only wavered as if it had pierced the fog, but it did not lose its shape.

　The eyes of fire stared at us and kept a constant distance.

'It looks like we won't be able to escape. Glenn, please put me down.''
"But, Master Nosfi!

　I pushed past Glenn, who tried to refuse, and forced myself down to the ground.
　My momentum nearly made me fall, but I still managed to stand. I quickly leave Glenn behind and start walking in the opposite direction I was now running from.

''Please wait! This me will follow you.

　I turn around and look at Glenn's face.
　He looks like a good-natured man who cares for me with all his heart.

　But I just can't trust him. I can't rely on him now.

　It was easy to 'charm' around the 'Celestial Knights' (Celestial Knights) and the custom-built 'Magic Stone Humans' (Jewelculus) that were in this great holy city. However, this guy and Elmirad Siddharth were the only ones that took a strange amount of time.

　Furthermore, there was a lot of disagreement about how I managed to 'charm' them.

　This guy wasn't captivated by my figure and power.
　Nor was he impressed by my aspirations and ideas.

　The reason for the success of 'fascination' seemed to be more of a reason for 'stealing the reason of blood' rather than 'stealing the reason of light'.
　Without a doubt, the two of them are not me, but rather, a gap has opened up in my heart since I met Fafner Helvilshain, the one that steals the reason for the blood.

　I don't know the reason for that gap.
　Was there something that men could understand each other? Or--.

　Anyway, I can't bring myself to put Glenn on my back, who is now in a state of uncertainty.

'Glenn, I don't need your help. Rather, it's pointless. Your body will melt if you get too close for your own good. It will burn just in sight. Your organs will be scorched just by being on the same battlefield. Even if you follow me, it's rather annoying.

　In a battle in a closed space like this underground city, the Stealer of Fire's logic shows unparalleled strength. No matter how many people this side has added, it will have no meaning.

　After clearly denying Glenn's will, I tell him my plans for the future.

''--Didn't I say it from the beginning?　I will not go head-to-head with her and I give in.

　The plan was actually to use it against Uzurinami-sama, but I'm moving it forward a bit.
　I'll surrender, expose my unprotected body and go inside. Right now, I won't waste the pieces I've gathered and consume them. The only time we will consume Glenn and the others is in the moment of packing.

　Frankly, I'm in more trouble here than I am with Glenn getting caught.

'You will retreat and go your separate ways. As originally planned. ''I'll ask for the 'Magic of Light'.'''
But once you put your magic in our hands, Master Nosfi--
Yes, there isn't another ten percent of magical power left. Compared to Maria's, it's probably as good as dust.

　The power of the one who has inherited the "Stealer of the Reason of Fire" is now approaching the Alti level of its heyday. If I were to shoot magic at that thing now, it would vaporize in an instant.

''But because it's a dust opponent, Maria-san may be willing to discuss it. Having less magic power is not all negative.
''But Maria is not naive. No matter how many reasons you make up for not being able to kill her, she's strong enough to stop thinking and kill a gray being without hesitation. Maria-chan is really--really strong at heart.

　Glenn, who is under the 'curse' of my 'fascination', flippantly reveals the strengths of the girl who was his companion not long ago.
　But to have a man who was once the 'strongest' in the world say so much ...... Alty has really found a good girl.

''Yes. Obviously, she's a 'blown-up Alti' herself. She overcomes mental fragility and nullifies any magical interference. She doesn't use magic power or skill, but only the power of 'numeric values that don't appear in numbers (mind)' to forcefully play it. It is truly a joke.

　I'm the same sort of person as Reiner, a strong man who can kill a superior.

　In contrast, I am the champion of the weak.
　I'm extremely strong against lower-ranking opponents, but extremely weak against higher-ranking opponents. I don't think I can overturn this situation. In my experience, when I'm losing, I'm really losing all the time.

But I still have to do it.

　With that said, I turned my back to Glenn and wobbled off down the underground street.
　I thought Glenn was saying something behind me, but I didn't listen to him and hurried on.

　The people of the underground city have finished taking refuge above ground, so it's quiet when I'm alone.
　The only sound was the sound of flames burning in the distance in the dimly lit city.

　Dropping a great deal of sweat to the ground, I repeat in my mind that I will never lose.
　I re-swear to myself that I can't die in this place.

　Perhaps it was because of the dream I had during my earlier fainting spell, but the thought was even stronger.

　It was a dream I had when I was a newborn. It was a really nostalgic dream.
　And I think I've grown up a lot since then. No, maybe it's more accurate to say that I've grown up, but I've worn out. To be honest, I can't believe that I had such a clear period of time.
　I feel bad for the apostles that I'm so dark now.
　I will never live up to the Apostles' expectations again.

　As I walked, memories of the past came flooding back.
　I shake my head immediately at ...... thinking that it's like a runabout.

　I strain my body to see if I can bear to make this a runner-up.
　I can't die yet.
　You can't die in this place.

　I'm still untried.
　I haven't found it yet.
　I haven't found it yet.
　Uzumi-sama didn't give me this.

　It's not enough, it's not enough!

　We need to meet Uzumi-sama: .......
　I need to meet Uzumi-sama again and let him see this figure: .......
　Uzumi-sama: ......!　Dear Uzumami, Uzumami, Uzumami: ......!　Please hurry up and--!

-What?

　As I repeated the name of the person I was thinking of in my mind, a blade approached me from directly above as if to stop it. I was walking in the middle of the city's road, and as soon as I could, I generated a magical shining flag in my right hand to block the blade.

　My glowing flag and the enemy's black scythe collided with each other, almost blowing us off in one direction only. Immediately I thrust the flag into the ground, killing the momentum and staying in place.

　As I manage to prevent the surprise attack, I see the owner of the black scythe - the black-haired girl, Maria.

' ...... We meet again. Maria-san.
'No, you will not see Kanami. It ends here.

　Maria assured me at the opening that she couldn't see me, as if she knew what I was thinking.
　How could she know what I was thinking right now? Maybe we have a little sympathy for each other, as we both have similar thoughts about the same person.

　However, our relative figures are different now. It's hard to say that we are alike.
　Unlike me, who has lost the power to the point where I hesitate to call her "the one who steals the truth of light," Maria's body shines radiantly.

　Black hair and black eyes. Black hair and black eyes. Black clothing and a black scythe.
　The girl of darkness, still black even in the darkness, is smiling in front of me.
　The girl hides both eyes with a spell cloth, smiles a bewitching smile that does not suit her age, and continues to emit the evil magic power.

　Only the color of that magic power is red, not black.
　The magical power of the flame attribute framed her outline in red.
　The flames erupting from the sleeves and hems of her black clothing are like red flames (prominence) that depict the black sun during an eclipse.

　Maria has not only inherited The One Who Steals the Reason of Fire, but she has also taken possession of the power of the Artificial Reaper that Uzurinami-sama created to oppose Lowen Alais.
　The result is this. This strength.

　Red and black. Fire and darkness. Positive and negative.
　Their conflicting powers have fused together to create a perfect wizard with no blind spots.

　The wizard is like the Grim Reaper who makes predictions.

It's the guardian of the labyrinth, the one who steals the reason for the light. In the name of my best friend Arti, your death is absolute.

　Oh, God. Why is .......
　Why are all these dark-haired, dark-eyed women so horrible?

　I remember a little bit of the past, and a dry laugh almost leaks out.
　And then, they quickly dismissed their wariness and made the light flag that matched their hands disappear as well.

　Never again would I fight head-on against these scary guys again.
　A thousand years ago I fought the Lords who rule, and in this day and age I learned from fighting the ones who steal the reason for the dimension.

　It's only a fool's errand to challenge the strongest enemy with all one's might.

　Certainly, it is right to try hard and not give up. It is brave and noble to not back down from a strong opponent. It's only natural to keep opposing them with justice in one's heart. If it is a story, it would be the protagonist's side to move forward, believing that one day their wish will come true.

　But it's because you're right, honorable, moral, and a hero.
　That doesn't make you a winner.
　It doesn't make me happy.

　I won't be fooled anymore.
　I won't be fooled anymore, no matter how pretty or grating the words are.

　If I'm deceived, I lose. If I lose, I'm done. The end is disappearance.

　I don't want to disappear yet.
　I'm afraid to disappear.
　I want to win by any means necessary and make my wish come true.
　Then I'll bet not on Zero's chances of winning, but on a sliver of conscience.

''Yes, that's right. As Maria said, I'm losing. I don't feel like winning ...... so I'm going to surrender. I'm surrendering, so can you hear my excuses for a moment at the end?
'Excuses ......?　Do you think I have any reason to listen to that stuff?

　Quickly Maria cuts off my begging for my life.
　But now we've crossed one of the hurdles.

　We got a response without being killed without question.
　Now there's no reason to ask her about it, but if we say it on our own, she'll hear it.

　I'll hear those words and see if Maria can still kill me ...... and that's where the real battle begins.

'Please, please. Listen to me, Maria. What I have done here at Hoosiers until today. All of my deeds, all of them--

　I ignore Maria's sullenness and speak up.
　I was born in Hoosiers, and I'm going to decide on a mission that will cost me everything I was born to do.

　I will begin my final battle here.