I had made a mistake and was drowning in the swamp of despair.
　I had lost the father who loved me and felt like it was all over. But that's not the case. It's not the end of the world, no matter what you gain or lose, the most important thing you have. Undeniably, regardless of the person's intentions, my - the story of Nosfy Fuzzy Yards will continue.

　I knew this from the back of Rustyala.
　I am still being stretched out for my life.
　They want me to live. Realizing this, I chose to fight.
　I went ahead of Rastiara and became Fafner's opponent.

　-- The two opposing guardians (guardians) spun nearly equal magic and smashed nearly equal magic against each other.

　If Fafner prepared an arrow of blood, he would offset it with an arrow of light. A rain of light for a rain of blood, a wall of light for a wall of blood, and a sword of light for a sword of blood. I, who was used to fighting 'the one who steals the truth of blood' from my experience a thousand years ago, immediately responded to what he produced. Not even his signature blood puppet would allow a single one of them to exist in the doorway.

''-- 《Light Arrow Breunak》!

　He spins his full-length magic and generates a huge spear of light, large enough to fill the entrance to Hoosier's Castle.

'If you have no heart, you can go to ......!

　Right now I'm in a state of serious injury after serious injury, but my opponent shouldn't be in the right state of mind either.

　The spear of light that I threw at Fafner's body clashed with the blood cloak that covered his body, and a clash of magic power occurred.

''Motoyuruji, I'm sorry, but I can't take it easy on you!　The new Lord has ordered me to kill everyone!
Well, you're a lot more obedient than I was, aren't you?
'I don't like it!　I'm always open to hearing it!　Don't listen to it!

　I turn my consciousness elsewhere as we bounce words together along with magic.
　It was something that could not be offset by my light amidst the diverse magic of Fafner's over ten. The two people who have become Fafner's puppets, Glenn Walker and Elmiraad Siddharth, having been turned into Fafner's puppets by being bloody in body and mind.

　Right now, Glenn is fighting Rastiara, whose hand is free because I have dealt with Fafner. The 'demonized' Glenn melts his bright red body into a bright red pond and throws multiple stringed daggers at Rustiala as he moves to Rustiala's blind spot.

''Rastiara-chan!　That one's wet with poison!
Which one is it?　More straightforward!
The poison comes from the hardest place to see!

　However, contrary to his sharp movements full of killing intent, his expression and words were on Rastiara's side.

　The way he advised the enemy while fighting reminded me of the fight between Fafner and Maria not long ago. From that, I can tell that Fafner is aiming to make Glenn go through the same thing he did. I guess he thinks that if he can get past that 'ordeal', he'll be one more thing closer to being the 'one who steals the reason for blood'. It's the usual one-sided and worst kind of harassment.

　And the remaining Elmirado was slashing against the Reaper who controlled Maria's body.
　From the looks of it, this one, unlike Glenn, was unconscious and only wielded the sword poorly as it was in its 'demonized' physical ability. The sword didn't have a threat enough to reach the Reaper, but it didn't seem to be a warm enough enemy to win easily.

　To put it bluntly, the situation on the ground floor is bad.
　Fafner is me. Rastiala is Glenn. The Reaper is Elmirado. Each of them are suppressed in their movements and have no room to make an exit for escape.

　Fafner, on the other hand, had time to turn his hand to the other.
　From time to time, he turned his attention outside of the entrance - to the upper floor of Fuzzyards Castle.
　When he realized that if he prepared a blood knight within this great entrance, he would be obliterated by me, he began to create a blood knight against the knights of Fouzeyars who were watching the battle in the distance. As if to say, "I'll kill everything in sight," he took on me while simultaneously taking control of the castle.

　Fafner is taking on the entire castle at once by himself.
　He doesn't miss a single person and kills them all bit by bit. It's such a generous way to fight.

　The fact that the situation is moving at the pace of the enemy is making me more and more impatient.
　If we continue to fight like this, all the people other than the one who stole the "reason" will run out of magic and strength and will fall down. Only three people, including me, will be left at the end. I would have to fight alone against Fafner, who became strong after sucking the blood of the humans in the castle, and Ragne, who killed my father.

　I have to change the situation somehow.
　When I made that decision, that opportunity came.

''--?

　Suddenly my whole body felt heavy. I felt as if I was being pulled to the ground and almost touched by a pool of blood.
　I had an idea of its magic.

'Oh, heavy?　Is this Noir's ......?

　I thought it was Star Magic 《Gravity》.
　But that's not it, the nearby Rustyala shakes her head.

''No, Noir-chan is up there right now. ......!　This magic comes from below!

　Rastiara did the same - and on the contrary, Fafner and the others frowned and fought against the magic of gravity. The magic was indiscriminate. Even the blood crawling across the castle floor and walls was interfered with and sucked into the central stairwell on the first floor like a vortex.

　Seconds after that magic, which did not take either side, struck the grand entrance, the wind blew.

''--[Tauschus Wied] oo!

　The liner flew out of the vault like a cannonball released from a tube. And it immediately generated multiple wind stakes in the air and struck Fafner's back with it.

''That's you!　What happened to my new master!

　While Fafner played my Light Arrow Breunak, he also defended Ryner's wind stake with a blood front and asked a question.

　Without answering the question, Ryner only clucked his tongue at the failure of the attack, leaving Fafner alone and moving with the wind to the castle's exit.
　He then spoke to the Reaper who was near the main gate, the exit of the castle.

''Hey, Reaper!　I told you to run away for once!
'Reiner's brother!　I can't get it out!　I'm locked in!

　Hearing those words, Ryner turns his back while raising his eyebrows and tries to push open the door protected by blood - at the end of it, a shimmering white blade and a shout strike his back.

''Gu, this ...... dammit, open--!
Mr. Reiner!　Avoid!　I'll go after the enemy who shows me his back first!

　Reiner ducked the dagger thrown by Glenn with a paperweight, while staring at that enemy to check it out.

'Walker-san, it ......!　It's a pain in the ass, you mean you're being manipulated again by another mouth: ......!

　Ryner swears and understands that there is no easy way to escape the castle, so he first tries to assess the current situation at the entrance. In the middle of his rounds, his eyes meet mine.

　Both eyes are full of piercing vitality. The movement of their eyes shows that they are constantly thinking, and the sharpness of their eyes conveys an honest approach to life and battle.
　Reiner caught sight of me, and I could feel a strong sense of hostility in his eyes. But soon the hostility is subdued, and only anger, with no place to go, fills both eyes. Finally, a look of almost pity forms in my eyes, and I try to answer him unbearably.

'Reiner, I am ......!
Not now!　More importantly, if you're spending a lot of time here, from the bottom--!

　Maybe I was actually planning to walk out as soon as I reached the main entrance on the first floor.
　He cut me off before I could utter either my excuses or my penance, saying that I couldn't spend the extra time to reconfigure my plans from scratch. Then, with an impatient look on his face, he turned his gaze away from me and directed it to the great hollow he had come from.

　The reaction is that the three blood-soaked enemies in this place are not that much of a threat.
　I knew what that meant. That's why I was caught and turned my eyes to them.
　At the same time, the pressure on my entire body increased and I felt like I was being sucked into that direction.
　Gradually the direction of gravity was changing. From the bottom to the diagonal, from the diagonal to the side. What all matter, including me, was now being drawn to was a staircase that served as an entrance to the basement.

　Appearing from there was a breathless Lagne Kaikwola.
　With his body in black - no, black is not an exact description of a strange color magic, he appeared on the first floor while muttering.

''--Ha, ha, ha, ha. Ku, dark ......, dark dark dark ......!

　I can't hide my surprise at the impressions that are so different from the last time we met.
　When we parted at the forty-fifth floor, I had an image of a 'cunning and strong knight', but now it's so different that I can say the opposite. What comes across from his expression is more madness than cunning. It's not the strength of a human being that's too thick with magic, but the strength of a monster. You can't call him a knight by any means.

　In the midst of Ragne's own magic, her eyes narrowed and she was peering around as if looking for her prey.
　But before she could find anyone, Rustyala shouted out her presence with a shout.

''Lagne-chan!''

　With Glenn's hand on Ryner, Rustyala had more time to spare. He used that time to approach Ragne, who appeared on the first floor.
　Ryner tried to stop it from behind, but of course, the most recent Glenn attacked him and stopped him. The fighters were neatly switched out, and Rustyala faced Ragne and began to talk.

''So, is that ...... there, Miss, perhaps?''

　Ragne responded to the voice and moved her narrowed eyes to look for Rastiara.
　She didn't think it was possible, but apparently she has difficulty seeing her surroundings due to her magical power. The way she is swept up in her own power reminds me of ourselves from a thousand years ago.

'Yeah, it's me. Hey, Lagune-chan. Let me ask you first. ...... why?

　Rustyala was trying to find out her true intentions, as he had said beforehand. Considering the lack of time on both sides, he asked her very briefly and directly about the motive for the surprise attack on the forty-fifth floor.

'...... Miss, I want to remind you of that. I've been saying all along, haven't I? That I want to be 'first'.
'You've always said that in the cathedral. But isn't that a knightly thing to do?
The best of everything. That's why Kanami's brother was in the way. I couldn't help it: ......
...... I see. I see.

　I thought it was a short exchange, but there seemed to be a communication that could only be understood between friends who had known each other for a long time. Ragne knotted her mouth apologetically, and Rustyala got down to hide her face - spilling tears into a pool of blood.

''--?　Are you crying, perhaps, ......?　Why!　Miss, please don't cry: ......!　Who the hell is my daughter ......!

　Ragne walked out of the stairwell and approached Rustyala, looking around again as if searching for an enemy.

　It was an odd sight.
　Obviously, Rastiara began to cry as a result of his conversation with Ragne.
　There was no way Ragne, the person in question who was having the current conversation, would not have noticed. The apologetic look on his face earlier was because of the guilt he was feeling.

　Everyone who had room to think in the grand entrance now stopped their hands.
　Fafner and I open our mouths and continue to watch Ragne, who is looking for an enemy that isn't there. Ryner and Glenn, who were a little further away, seemed to be doing the same. Even though I wanted to be careful, I couldn't bypass them because I didn't know what would happen. They have such a look on their faces.

　Fortunately, Ragne was sensitive to the gaze of others. He immediately noticed the truth directed at him by his surroundings, came to himself, and stopped in his tracks.

''...... Ah, ah. Ah (...), it's me (..) --Ah, ah, ah, haha, ah, oh my god!

　Realizing that she was the enemy that made Rastiara cry, Ragne mocked herself and scratched her head in frustration. The nostalgia I had felt from her turned to conviction as I listened with trepidation.

'Lagne ....... Perhaps you are one of the 'Stealers of Reason' ....... How can you ...... be one of those without the Apostle-sama?

　I don't know how, but I can only assume it happened.
　Hearing my view, Rustyala looked up and muttered.

'La, Ragne-chan is ......?'

　Ragne, alone, continued to scratch his head so wildly that his nails bled. Then, after a few seconds, with a loud sigh, she returns to her usual expression. Returning to the friendly, aloof and cheerful girl, she answers.

''--Kuch, ugh, phew ....... Ha, haha, don't worry about the two of you. I've already figured out most of it, you know.

　The magic remained thick and the madness seemed to have faded.
　Very calmly, Lagune analyzed his situation and explained to us.

''No, this is what it means to be 'the one who steals the reason'. The one that is an example of throwing away something important for something important. Oh, it's a really shitty rule. A rule that robs you of the meaning of your birth without any explanation. You won't even know what you're doing. Even if you've got the strength, the rest is just getting weaker and weaker. It's really a terrible story. Hahaha.

　It's become the same kind of thing as me and Fafner, Ragne confessed, looking very light. But that is not a light thing for me to say after a thousand years of battle. Even though I knew that he was a grudge enemy, the words naturally spilled out of my mouth.

''Well, it's not too late, Ragne!　It's better to get rid of all of that before you lose everything that's important to you: ......!
I don't like it. Of course I'm not going to lose, throw away, or lose. I'm going to steal all the logic of the world, conquer the price and make this power my own in the true sense of the word. --Yes. All of it will be mine.

　The denial was quick, the will was firm and there was no hesitation. It was a quick enough answer to understand that it was the same 'stealing of reason', but Ragne was different.

　The same location may have led to the same place, but the workmanship is different.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get to the "reason-stealer" in a different way.
.
　That's the "what if" of me and your fathers. If we hadn't met the apostles and walked on our own, we could have been just like Lagne now - we could have been like Lagne.

　I felt as if I was looking in a mirror somewhere, and then Lagune, who had been staring at me for a long time, suddenly disappeared.
　It was as if he hadn't been there all along, and Lagune, as he was called, was cut out of the world.
　Realizing that this was the technique used to kill your father, I looked around with alarm.

　Rastiara, who was closest to me, also lost sight of Ragne and was astonished. And Fafner, who was probably Ragne's companion, was also troubled with the same look on his face.

''Oi, Ragne!　I can't see that either!　Who are you targeting?!

　It was a question that had to be asked, though the answer wouldn't come back to you by asking, but it was a question that had to be asked.
　Fafner's magic is often indiscriminate over a wide area. With a fluke of magic, even a vanished Ragne could attack.

　Fafner stopped attacking and probed the position of his companions.
　It was the same for Rastiara and me, and everyone else on the first floor - but only one of us. There was a person who understood Ragne's position, which even us 'the ones who steal reason' couldn't understand, and tried to pass on the information regardless of whether he was a friend or foe.

''Rastiara-chan!　She's ignoring you and heading for the saintly lady!

　Glenn, who had been fighting with Ryner, shouted with conviction.
　Rustyala didn't doubt it. Fafner doesn't doubt it either. They both started moving towards me at the same time.

Nosfies!
There you go!
You don't need to come in here!　--ZEA WIND!
You're the one coming in here all of a sudden!　You'd be surprised!

　Of course, if they aimed at the same place, their paths would intersect. The two met eyes, and on the spur of the moment, their magic intersected as well.

　Rastiara tried to blow them away with a gust of wind magic, but Fafner was able to withstand it with a film of blood.
　And I - I can't continue to watch as the two men resume their battle.

　Suddenly, Ragne's face filled my vision.
　It appeared right in front of my eyes and nose and put its hands around my neck.
　Despite the fact that I was bracing myself with Glenn's advice, I couldn't avoid or prevent it.

''--!

　The arm that killed your father.
　The trauma is in front of me in a double sense.
　It was too much for my body to tremble and stop moving.

'Ugh, uu ......, Lagne Kaikwola ......!
Now, now, that's not the point!　Mr. Nosfi, you're back on track!　I'm happy to finally be able to talk to you properly now!

　Ragne talks to me in the same tone as when we spoke on the forty-fifth floor, tightening my neck.
　It doesn't matter how many tears I have in the corners of my eyes, he doesn't care how many cold, painful words I spell out.

''A lot has happened today, really. ...... We escaped from that underground mansion, got ready at Foozeyards Castle, waited healthily for Kanami's brother, and admitted that he was my dad after we killed each other, but he died easily ...... and cried a lot of tears, too. So, can you fight me, Nosfi-san?

　First, he confirmed my wariness.
　But honestly, there is no way there is.
　If there was, my body wouldn't be trembling so much.

　While I felt like crying, I suddenly felt uncomfortable with her uncharacteristically leisurely approach to her belief in surprise attacks. The same is true now that I think about it, it was the same when I was on the 45th floor. It's only because I've given it some time that I've realized it, but it's strange that Lagune doesn't kill me without question.

　Is he letting his guard down after killing his biggest and most powerful enemy, your father?
　Or is there some reason why he needs to give me special treatment?
　Before I can answer that question, Ragne asks again.

''I'm asking you if you've found Nosfi-san's 'best' properly.

　Perhaps, as Lagune, he meant to make the question clearer for me, who couldn't answer it, but this one was only more confusing. I didn't know what that had to do with the will to fight.

'Guh-uh ....... Wow, is that my 'best' ......?
'Yes. I have been searching for the 'first' for a long time. The meaning of life that you have been seeking for a long time. You must have worked hard to find that answer, Mr. Nosfi.

　I thought a very important question was being asked.
　This is important to Ragne and to me.
　It's just too obvious a question for me.

'My 'number one' is always your father!
But he's gone. He's dead. What will you have to rely on to get through life without him?

　Ragne shook his head that the answer was no good.
　I've been told to stop clinging to someone who's already done and show me the next answer.
　I just can't accept that.

...... I have not given up!

　Just a moment ago, I swore to Rastiara.
　I swore to Dea and Snow as well.
　I swore that I would never give up again and that I would leave your father in charge of me.

'It's as good as dead!　Your father is coming home!　I'll be back!　That's what I'm for!　With my magic, your father will surely save you!

　He shouted to Ragne that this was the meaning of his birth and the reason he was alive now.

　Lagune frowned as it was shouted in front of him.
　He looked terribly uncomfortable listening to my answer. I've been expecting a different and better answer, but that's the kind of face I've heard ...... as if I'd heard a too shallow answer.

It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on some of the most valuable items.　That's the power of Nosfi-san that you've reached, Nosfi-san, and of course it's best for you to use it yourself.

　I don't know who told me this, but Lagune seemed to know about my powers.
　On the contrary, he seems to know more about it than I do and tells me how to use my magic.

''Is that okay? [Dead people don't come back to life]. It's only one life, that's why people can bet their souls on only one life. If even one person comes back to life and disrupts [human reasoning], that would negate the very foundation of human strength. If you don't let the dream of being brought back to life with magic remain a dream, ...... people will be weak forever.

　Ragne, as a person, was very decent and tried to teach me to be very right.
　But I'm not a decent person anymore and I'm sick of being right.

'I hate that kind of reason ...... I hate. I hate it. We all want our loved ones to be alive. We dream of the moment when the dead person comes back to life and says 'good morning' again. If that dream comes true at the point of weakness, I will be weak as much as I can be.
'............. If only I had that power, even I might be able to beat you, ......?　What's important now is that this is the only power that can change the world. If we give that power to a pawn of the world like that, no one else will be able to overturn it. The winner of this place, me or Mr. Nosfi, whichever wins will carry everyone's power on their shoulders and move forward, that's right!　The stronger survivor fights the world with the thoughts of his departed loved ones!　That's the right way to be a human being!

　Ragne shouted strongly. From its content, I can guess a little bit about her feelings. I'm sure she wanted me to answer, 'My worst enemy is Lagune' or 'My worst enemy is the world'.

''Still, I want to save your father ....... I will never give up ....... Because this isn't the power to fight someone else. It's the power to save something important, that's what I learned from your father .......

　And yet, I still talk about dead people who have passed away and refuse to move on.
　I'm aware that I continue to fabricate my own lies like a child.
　Ragne scolds me for not being a parent and not being independent.

'...... You've noticed it by now, haven't you?　To the countless 'magic threads' hanging over me and your body right now!　What's truly terrifying is being manipulated from behind the scenes by an entity that doesn't even show a shadow, let alone a figure!　I'm a hundred times better than I am than I would be if I had to perform the 'Elixir of Immortality' on Kanami's brother!　We can give the world a whirl!

　"The magic thread. Out of place, I thought it was a word choice that was close to your father's sense of style.
　I know what Ragne means. I know what you mean by that 'magic thread' isn't even magic, but it controls us like magic. In other words, it could be called fate. That feeling has been around for a thousand years. Even when I was crying on the forty-fifth floor just now, I felt the 'magic thread' or something like that. We are being watched by an icy gaze. It's been a thousand years ago and always has been.

　--I know.

　But I'm sorry Ragne, but your father is my priority. That's the only thing I can't change as a Nosfi Fuzzyards.

'I know. But even if I did, ....... Your father can do something about it ....... If only your father was here, I'm sure he'd do something about it ......!
f*ck you--!

　For the first time, Ragne was enraged.
　Her too-dense magical power also interlocked with her, intensifying her nature as she bounced around. Like the great whirlpool of the ocean, Ragne's body tried to suck in everything - but the power soon subsided.

　The heat that lit up Ragne's face and the suction caused by the magical nature of his face instantly subsided.
　As declared earlier, Lagune was becoming able to control his new magical power while keeping his mind at a normal level. Then, after calming his emotions, Ragne showed a blank expression that reflected a strong disappointment.

''...... Okay, I get it. However, if you don't want to give it to me or fight, I will never give you Dad's corpse. From now on, I'm going to pull out Aikawa Kanami's magic stone and 'get along' with it to become even stronger. Of course, I'm not going to use stupid rules to reduce my heart in order to stay the strongest in the world. I won't be defeated until no one else is left alone in the world. ...... So--

　Ragnet expressed his will and squeezed his hands tightly together.

''I'll take that 'immortality' for myself.
'Gah, ah, ah, ah!　La, lagne: ......!

　He squeezes my throat so hard I feel like my neck bone is going to break and I stop breathing.

'Does it hurt?　I'm gonna make it hurt a lot more than that!　Haha, I'm not going to resort to that anymore!　Even if you don't want to, you can do whatever you want!　This castle is full of medicines, magic tools, torture devices, and more!
Light Arrow!

　Before my throat was crushed, I activated my magic.
　I unleashed my full-length attack magic at zero distance against Ragne, who was both a grudge enemy and a trauma. At the same time, I placed the sole of my right foot against her stomach and pushed her hard.

　With the impact of her physical and magical power, Ragne let go of her clenched hands and retreated significantly.
　However, there was no damage in sight. Both the arrows of light and the kick were prevented by the crystal that seemed to belong to 'The One Who Steals the Reason of the Earth'.

　I also express my intentions to Ragne, who was flung to near the stairs of the great hollow.

''Zee, I absolutely hate ......!　No matter what you're going through, I won't let that stop me!　I'll never be as good as you!　But I can't crush my feelings for your father!　I will not make a mistake at the end of this 'magic'!

　Strangely, my voice and my body weren't shaking anymore.
　I could admit that I couldn't win, accept that I was scared, understand that I was wrong as a person, and yet I could still decide to resist Ragne.

'...... It looks like you finally got your 'courage', Nosfi-san. Too late for that, though.

　Ragne replied with a slightly dumbfounded look.
　He then pulled the Heart of Hermina from his waist and held it in his right hand. Her left hand lightly touches the 'Treasured Sword of the House of Aleis, Lowen' and hides it behind her waist, making it cover the crystal like a small hand. Instead of using the twin swords because of the two famous swords, she took her original stance.

　In contrast, I cannot take a battle stance.
　Honestly, I can express my will, but my heart is still defeated. Most importantly, if she repeats the covertness I just mentioned with the 'Heart of Helmina' in her hands, I don't know how to prevent it.

　While only the idea that you shouldn't fight properly is circulating in your mind - reinforcements are falling from the top of the atrium.

''--【Impulse Break】Wuwu!

　For a moment, I thought it was Ragne's attack, but that was quickly negated by the sight in my eyes.
　Snow-san, who had fallen from above at high speed on the 'Dragon Wind', had released a full-body flying kick at Ragne.
　Probably, he was looking at the situation around the second or third floor and trying to time it. Hence, she attacked when I moved away from Ragne and approached the atrium.

　She had spread her blue wings, enlarged her limbs, and covered her skin with dragon scales.
　As far as I know, this is the highest level of 'dragonization' among the 'demonization'. I know that joking power firsthand from the battle a thousand years ago. In addition, she also has non-attribute magic on her feet.

　Lagune was able to react to a vicious blow that was sure to shatter just by its snatch. She catches Snow's sole with the crystal small hand in her left hand.

　However, the 'dragon wind' that followed was not prevented from attacking him.
　As Ragne nearly bends to her knees due to the wind, Snow adds on with killing intent.

''Aaaaaaahhh--!　Ragnarok!　How dare you!

　The moment Snow-san was received, she flapped her wings and added her downward momentum.
　Naturally, both 'Dragon Wind' and 'Dragon's Roar' were additionally activated.
　All of the blood on the first floor of Fuzzy Yards Castle became a wave of blood that lashed towards the edge. Cracks appeared on the exposed sturdy floor, and the storm hit everyone, friend and foe alike, as if it was going to explode.

'This is ......!

　At last, Ragne kneeled, and at the same time, the floor beneath her was completely shattered and gouged.

　I thought it would be better to cover Snow-san, but even as I watched, it was hard to stand with the waves of blood and the 'dragon wind'.
　This explosion in a place where it was just a pattern of melee. With Snow-san's intrusion, the first floor was completely engulfed in chaos.

　I was still trying to decide my next move when the voice came.

''Saintess!　Miss!　This way!

　It's the voice of Persiona Quager, a female knight who can be trusted wholeheartedly.
　Persiona, Noir, Dia-san, and Yotaki-sama are riding on top of the completely 'wolfified' Sera, running down from the second floor and pushing forward in the storm.

'Penetrate!　--Flame Arrow!

　Dia-san seemed to have finished kneading enough magic on her back, scattering particles of light and sprouting the apostle's unique wings of light on her back. Then, using the most immense magical power in the place, the magic was unleashed.

　Its aim is the entrance to the castle, the great door protected by blood.
　The name was 《Flame Arrow》, but it was no longer fire. The white light that swallowed everything became a waterfall and struck right beside it. In an instant, the blood that covered it evaporated, and the door melted into a hole in the sludge.

　An escape route was secured.
　Ragnet must have been watching it from the side.
　He activates the power that seems to be his trump card with an unadorned tone.

''--[Hoshi no ri]!　Turn this strength into a weakness, reverse it!

　At the same time as that statement, the impact of Snow-san's 《Impulse》, "Dragon Wind" and "Dragon's Roar" that had filled the first floor - all of them disappeared.

　Instead of being gradually cancelled out, they were reduced to zero in an instant.
　Furthermore, Snow-san herself was also experiencing abnormalities.
　The wings and scales that symbolized the dragon were gone, and he had returned to being a straight human being.

　Snow-san stared at his hands in the air above Ragne, in the grand entrance, amazed at this phenomenon.

'Forced release ......, not!　Oh, you're healing!　All of them!

　In contrast, Ragne is unfazed. He quickly thickened his body's magical power and used the power that had been running amok earlier. However, it was a cry as if he was tightening the reins of the rampaging beast and saying to it.

''Star magic, draw it in!　Hoshi no ri] goes after the naked girl!　Next time, turn that life over to death!

　Ragne stretched her defensive left hand upwards and tried to pull Snow-san's body in the air.

　That hand was miserable and clothed in something more terrifying than magic power.
　If you are caught, you will die. The more I foresee that, the more I feel an ominous malice.

''--Snow-san!

　It was his brother, Glenn, who shouted and speared it.
　He had escaped Ryner's opponent during the storm and had finished throwing his stringed dagger. He then dexterously twisted the string around Snow-san in midair and saved her from Ragne's clutches by pulling her closer.

　Ragne was able to escape a desperate move with multiple trump cards and complained to his companions.

'Why are you in the way ......, Fafner!
No, that's pretty great!　Glenn!　I'm dividing up quite a bit of magic, and I've escaped control a few times before!

　Fafner had also changed his position a bit in the storm. And he was more pleased than anyone else that the manipulative Glenn had saved Mr. Snow.

'Then why are you still using it!
d*mn, that's a good point!

　But instructions fly from the Lord, Ragne, and he reluctantly tries to gather the blood at Glenn's feet and swallow it up. Seeing Guren being dragged to the bottom of that unlikely earth, Snow-san, who has landed, rushes over to him.

''Gu, brother Guren!
"Mr. Snow, me and Elle, we're good!　I'd rather go out there with everyone else--

　He declined and turned his gaze to the empty exit on the first floor. Dia-san and the others are waiting there. Furthermore, nearby, the manipulated Elmirad can be seen swallowed up in blood, just like Glenn. It looks like Ryner and Reaper are striking down with the support of Dia-san and the others who have joined them, and Fafner is just about to make them pull back once they are done.

　In the midst of a situation that has been painted over in just a few moments, Dia yells out while beckoning them to join him.

'Hey, Snow!　You said we'd get our shit together, didn't you?

　Snow frowns and runs off, leaving his brother with just a few words.

'...... I'll be back again!

　Glenn laughed at that and took it in and disappeared completely into a pool of blood.
　And my hand, which had been watching the turn of events, was pulled back hard.

'Nosfi!'

　Rustyala grabbed my hand and urged me to run away with her.
　I follow along with it, almost falling down. However, of course, Fafner activates his magic to prevent the two of us from escaping alone.

''--[Bloodbane]!

　The cloak of blood that Fafner wore became a cord. It branched out and began to swim through the air like a monster's tentacles. It was as smooth as a snake and as swift as a bird.
　But now there is a girl in this place, a girl who shows unparalleled strength in magical battles at this distance.

''-- "Flame Arrow (Fall Flower)!

　The magical arrows fired by Deer in front of the exit shoot out all the blood tentacles and vaporize them.
　Fafner clicks his tongue and has no choice but to move to catch us on our own feet.
　But when Fafner realized that he was the only one chasing after him, he stopped and turned around.

''--?　Hey, Lagune!　What are you doing so calmly!

　There was Ragne, walking awfully slowly.
　His eyes, which had been the abyss itself just a moment ago, were reversed and dyed with a thin white dew of disappointment. It looked as if he had lost all motivation. She then turned to Fafner, who was getting desperate, and replied a little apologetically.

'No, I mean, they were all worth less than I thought they would be, so ....... As long as I'm going to kill them all someday, it's not enough to force me to go after them now ....... It's better to prioritize the castle, which will be our base of operations, for now. You haven't swallowed the top floor yet, have you?
The castle?　That's the basis of warfare.　You told me to kill all the people you see!

　I continue to watch the exchange between the two of them in the rear as Rustyala pulls me along.

'Ah, I feel like I said that ....... I'm sure I said it. But I had to confirm a lot of things first, so .......
'Huh!　You know, after all that talk...

　Fafner stopped his angry voice midway through.
　Like me (・・・・・), he sensed Ragne's condition.

'The young lady and Mr. Nosfi, Ryner and Maria, the senior and the President ...... all of them were all shining ....... It looked like a very expensive life .......

　Ragne continues to stare at us as we flee and continue to talk to himself.
　But he doesn't meet my eyes as I look back at him. It's as if she continues to look into the void in the too dark nighttime street.
　Looking at her, Fafner muttered quietly, "Just becoming ...... is just becoming?

'And ...... they're all coming back anyway. As long as Kanami's brother is here, you'll be carrying ...... your 'immortality' carefully. We're going to kill you .......

　Because of the same 'thing that steals reason', Fafner and I were able to understand Ragne's current situation a little better.
　It seemed as if Lagune was less affected by becoming the 'one who steals reason', but that was never the case. In particular, the priorities in her mind have changed drastically in the wake of my earlier question and answer and my all-out attack on Snow-san. Because she's twisting that 'price' with her mental strength, she just looks better than the other sides, but the truth is--.

"Hey, Mr. Nosfi.

　At the end of that Ragne's call, we succeeded in escaping from Hoozeyards Castle.
　As we crossed the bridge in front of the castle and made our way down the hill, my face was severely contorted as Rastiara continued to hold my hand.