338 335. Second turn.txt






 The Stealer of Blood is blocking my path.
  This time, however, it was my turn to offer a dialogue.

"Fafner, I will use my power to bring your father back to life. So please get out of the way there.

 We know that Fafner has been robbed of The Scripture and The Heart and is being manipulated by Ragne.
 But there should be a difference in Fafner's ability to resist if I tell this story or not. If he knows that your father will come back to life, he will try his best to lose, being a follower of this, and he will try his best to lose. Above all, I want to stop Fafner's outburst before the soldiers behind him enter the castle.

'No more (・・・・・・・).

 However, that expectation was betrayed with just one question.
 Fafner stood up and magically manipulated the blood at his feet. Instantly, about twenty of the blood tentacles I saw before are generated and come at me as if throwing a net.

''-- 《Zeerewind》!

 Quickly, the liner behind me released his full force of wind and pushed back the web of blood.
 I leave my defenses to him and focus on the dialogue.

'Why?' Your father, Master Kanami, is coming back to life. And you, of all people, refuse to do that? You, the knight who was most fond of Lady Kanami: ......
'Yeah, I'll refuse to be the only one: ....... I'm sorry. I found out while I was knighting that Ragne guy ....... That kind of 'hope' is making us more unhappy .......

 Things are different than they were yesterday.
 Fafner, who was positive when he was controlled by me, has become bizarrely backward-looking (negative).

 Is it the influence of Lagne, the current master, or is it the influence of Lagne?
 Maybe Lagune's 'reversing' power has played with his state of mind.
 Without retreating, I continue to persuade him.

'Fafner, you want your father to save the world, don't you? You've been saying that for a thousand years: ....... Your father has the power to save the world one day. It will be there. So, it is not Ragnae that you should have on your side now, but us, who are trying to bring your father back to life. We want you to show us your unprecedented resistance now: ......

 In the past few days, Fafner has been acting freely, even though he says he is being manipulated. If it was a lie that he couldn't go against the holder of the 'Scripture', then now is the time to disrupt Ragne's plans.

 However, despite his wish, Fafner shook his head.
 He also increases the number of blood tentacles, which is proof of his battle intent, to forty - double the number of blood tentacles.

'Yeah, I want Kanami to save the world. I don't doubt that if you come back to life now, you will be able to save the world as well. ...... It's just that that 'saving the world' wasn't that important to me - that's all.

 Fafner draws blood from the ground floor and generates a single sword.
 With that in hand, he speaks his theory as he walks through the pool of blood. He continues to spit very honestly, perhaps because of the light of the flag I hold.

'In the end, I guess my 'saving the world' was the same as Lagune's 'best in the world' ....... It's a 'dream', not an 'unfulfilled dream'. So even if it comes true, all you can do is confirm the work you can do. 'Oh. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of the situation. -- there's no point.

 A disturbing magic and killing intent fills the grand entranceway.
 Hurriedly, I argue with Fafner to calm his temper. Those are the words I can say because I was his master for a long time, a thousand years ago.

'...... Fafner, you are an intelligent knight. You knew that from the beginning a thousand years ago, didn't you? You knew it, and you were trying to save the world. You were trying to reduce the number of people suffering in this world, if only a little. You were desperately trying to reduce the voices of the dead in those ears as much as possible--
Let's just kill them all, shall we? We may not be able to stop the voices of the dead, but we can stop the voices of the dead from growing.

 Fafner stopped my admonition by spitting out too many boisterous words.

 Fafner's face was twisted in pain, but he seemed somewhat refreshed.
 Maybe it was something he had thought about for a long time. There is no doubt that your father's death was the catalyst for this, but it feels like it was originally his true feelings in his heart.

'Fafner ......, why ......?'

 Maybe he is the same as I was a thousand years ago now.
 I've been subjected to enough madness to be certain that dialogue is no longer possible, and all I can do is call his name.

''Kuhaha. In the first place, don't you think it's too unfortunate just to live in this incomplete and ragged world? Then it would be better to kill them all already. It would be better ...... to kill them all so that no one is born anymore!
"Fafner, please wait--! I'm not ready to talk--!

 With those last words, Fafner ran out.
 He must be using magic 《Blood》 at the same time. Even though it was a knee deep pool of blood, it was as if he was running across a plain.

''End of story! This one is more suited to the Ragne stuff than Kanami! That's why I'm going to side with Ragne! I choose and protect Ragne by my own will--!

 In an instant, the distance between us was closed.
 Fafner's raised bloody sword slammed into me.

Shucks!

 I blocked it with a flag of light in my hand.
 He uses top-notch swordsmanship, but this one can also use top-notch stick skills. Their intersection was equal.

 But Fafner's attacks weren't just swords.
 At the same time, the blood tentacles, which had increased to almost a hundred in number, undulated and jumped at me.

 I managed to block the blood sword, but the blood tentacles were not able to defend themselves in time.
 Naturally, there is a difference in the first move between those who had the battle in mind from the beginning and those who wanted to interact until the end.
 Ryner pulls the collar of my unworthy clothes from behind.

''--[Tauschus Wied]!

 A hundred stakes of wind pierced and offset the tentacles of a hundred blood.
 During the current conversation, Ryner must have been preparing for it all along. Then, in response to my crisis, he forcibly switched his standing position - not me, but Ryner's sword crossed with Fafner's blood sword.
 The two Helvilleshains face each other face to face, sparks flying.

'I won't let Ragne kill you ......! Temporary, but Lord is Lord! I'll protect that guy for sure: ......!
'That's the line over here: ......! This one is temporary, too, but mainly Nosfies! You'll never let me do it: ......!

 Seeing that clash of killing intent, I feel that the dialogue is now over and the hostility has been confirmed.

 Frankly, I still wanted to continue the dialogue. Just like my admirers, I wanted to throw words at this Fafner endlessly and defenselessly, just like the people I admire.
 The new real 'magic' I had arrived at - 'Elixir of Immortality' - I'm confident that I specialize in it.
 I also know that it is 'immortality' for times like these.

 But reason warns me that it cannot be done.
 My new real 'magic' is a one-time thing.
 The person who will use it is at the 'top' of Hoozeyards Castle.
 I'm not going to be able to use it in this first floor.

 I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get away with it.
 While I was talking to Fafner, the soldiers behind us had caught up and were now trying to get into the castle. When I saw them, I shouted to the rear to stop them.

'--Gentlemen, please stop! The castle is no longer united with the enemy's 'Blood Stealer'! It is no longer possible to fix it! We have no choice but to destroy it from the outside!

 The soldiers in front of the castle entrance hear me and interrupt my advance.

'All hands, halt!
'Stupid ......! I knew it was thin, but our castle is already ......!
Originally, castles were for the protection of the people! What are you going to do if you hesitate to break it here!
'Send the voice of the saint to the surrounding knights! Whoever has a free hand will attack the castle itself!

 Furthermore, the soldiers would also carry out their instructions without question.
 Thanks to the miracle shown well in advance. In less than a few seconds, the castle begins to shake from the attack from the outside.

''The main body of the Thieves of Blood will be controlled inside by us! Ladies and gentlemen, attack from the outside! Look at the light from my flag! Please don't hesitate to ask!

 As I shouted that, Fafner, who was slicing and dicing with Ryner in front of me, jumped backwards in a big way.

''Tch! Nosfy, you're a pain in the ass--!

 With a click of his tongue, he put his hands on the ground and manipulated the blood in the castle.
 As the water level in the sea of blood dropped, he felt the flowing blood on the walls grow thicker.
 He increased the thickness of the walls and fortified the castle's defenses.

 Looking at the situation - after all (...), he was convinced that the weakness of the castle's walls hadn't changed in a thousand years.

 Everyone is initially fooled by the solidity of its blood wall, but this is not something that is [absolutely unbreakable] like the crystal of Lowen Alais. Just like Dia broke it down in the morning, if you can push it through with simple firepower, you can break it with it.

 Of course, the magic of a hundred or so knights wouldn't freak me out.
 But a thousand to ten thousand. If the knights continue to attack the castle continuously, the wall of blood will one day reach its limit depending on the amount of material they have.

 I point to the faded magic power Fafner wears and urge him to surrender.

''Fafner, please give up. As long as I continue to strengthen and brainwash the soldiers outside, you will have to turn most of your blood and magic power outward just to protect the Lord's foothold at the 'summit'. It is no longer a complete siege and annihilation war. As long as you are in this form, you have no chance of winning: ......
Ha, jeez. So what?

 But Fafner doesn't take it up.
 He laughs off the fact that I'm not that much of an inferior force in front of me, the same 'stealer of reason', taking on an army of a country by myself.

'Hey, Nosfi. In the first place. Did your physical condition or your magical power level ever have any effect on the outcome?
There's no .......

 The reasons behind Fafner's confidence were compelling enough to make me nod my head.
 Fafner's laughter intensified at such an honest reaction from me.

''Kuhaha! I know, right! In other words, we 'stealers of reason' will always be even until the fight is over! The only difference between victory and defeat is the difference in 'unconsciousness'! Oh, the usual! None of this is always the case!

 Hence, they would not surrender until they were defeated.
 After reinforcing the castle, Fafner immediately runs out to resume the battle.

'And hey, you think you know all my weaknesses, don't you! I know your weaknesses. You can't cut down a piece that needs to be cut down, you death-hating bastard!

 And it wasn't me who Fafner aimed at, who was assisting him in the rear guard, but the liner in front.

 Leaving behind all the tentacles that grew from under his feet, Fafner single-handedly fleshes out the liner.
 That's unthinkable on this scaffold. Even though Ryner is preparing himself, he is unable to dodge the flash from his blood sword.

''--Kuch!

 Reiner's right side is slashed and he grunts.
 But immediately, the injury is transferred to my right side.

 However, Fafner had predicted its recovery. Caught off guard, he returns the blade that gave his enemy the fatal wound and goes to cut off his enemy's head.
 Although Ryner was caught unawares by the first blade, he calmly blocked the next one with his twin swords. But before he could catch his breath, Fafner's left fist attacked him.

 Ryner twisted his body to catch it with his shoulder.
 Fafner's physical strength is leaped thousands of times higher than that of an ordinary person by stifling the power of the dead. The impact of his fist reverberates to the marrow of his bones, and pain rushes through his entire body. The reason my bones don't shatter is because of Ryner's own sturdiness and the strengthening of my magic.

 And both the damage and the pain are also transferred to me 'instead'.
 Ryner will remain unharmed.

 Naturally, Fafner, who also anticipated the recovery, did not stop attacking.
 A series of attacks. The blood tentacles that were waiting for me bellowed like whips and struck Ryner from all sides. With that, Fafner himself continues to apply the chase of his sword and fists. Regardless of how much they are recovered, they keep on attacking - again and again and again - over and over again.

 It's a breathless series of strikes that maximizes the physical strength of the 'Stealers of Reason' on top of mobilizing all of the skills such as 'Swordsmanship', 'Body Technique', and 'Magical Combat' that were inherited from the dead.
 In response, Ryner couldn't fight back even once, and repeatedly took fatal wounds, swearing while biting his teeth.

''-- d*mn it! Even with the enhancements, this is it! The difference in self-power, yet!
The only thing that matters is that the knight in the front is this guy, no matter how strong the 'one who steals the truth of light' is. If you're going to let me deal with you, bring Tida or Aleiss!

 In a fight that lasted only a few seconds, the number of fatal wounds crossed double digits.
 However, Ryner still remains unharmed.
 Normally, those who don't know the true nature of my magic here would move to wait and see. However, Fafner, who knows that I'm just carrying everything on my back 'instead', will not let up. He continues to attack me through the liner.

 And finally, the fatal wounds caused by 'The One Who Steals Blood's Reason' have crossed the triple digits - I've been stuffed with three orders of magnitude of mortal pain, and I unbearably poke my knees in the air.

'......!

 Seeing this, Fafner smiled as he fought with Ryner.
 I guess he was convinced that his own battle strategy was a good fit. In contrast, the fighting Ryner showed a bitter profile and shouted to me from behind.

''Nosfi! Enough! Turn off my 'replacement'!
If you break the auxiliary magic now, you'll be shredded in an instant!

 I shouted back as Ryner, who would have been killed a hundred times, refused to help me, bringing me back to my jumping consciousness.

'I can't get in shape over here when I'm in a situation where I'm never going to get killed! Come on, you just run up there! I've played along with your selfishness so far! The rest will go according to the 'original plan'!

 Then I tell him to head for the stairs.
 Although there are not many words, I know what Ryner wants to say. He wants me to stop my selfish 'Fafner's Persuasion' and quickly move on to the 'original plan' that we decided on in advance.

"...... I get it, Ryner! Hold Fafner there, even if he dies, while I head out!
What? Hey! Seriously, you're going up there!

 Fafner must have thought that I would definitely continue to help Ryner. The moment I really cut off all of Ryner's assistance and was about to head to the steps of the castle alone - I was clearly upset.

 That upset was the ideal gap to start the 'original plan'.
 As if the timing was indicated, everyone (...) started to move.

''--It's now! Dear!
Oh, don't miss! Maria!

 From behind the main entrance, the two girls who had entered the castle from a different route emerged.
 At the same time, Ryner took a large distance from Fafner.

''--! I knew you were coming! But that's the extent of the surprise!

 Even though I was upset that I had abandoned Ryner, Fafner was unfazed by the arrival of a new hand.
 He was close to a hundred battles from the battle a thousand years ago, and he was able to read through the magic at this time.

''-- Resonance Magic 《Flame Arrow, Guardian Flame (Aegis)!
Aegis, the Flame Arrow Protectorate Flame!

 A magic comparable to 'The One Who Steals the Reason' was unleashed.
 In an instant, countless flame-like mirrors were generated and floated around Fafner. Red stars floating in the bright red grand entranceway.
 Seeing this, he stops moving.

''This, is this a resonance magic ......? It's also a Sith and Alty's ......!

 The look on his face is one of "impossible".

 Fafner understands almost all types of magic due to his ability to use the skills of the dead. He also possesses a countermeasure for all of those types. That's why he understands the abnormality of 《Flame Arrow, Guardian Flame (Aegis)》 more than anyone else, and is sincerely surprised by the magic that doesn't exist in the article.

 I know the feeling. This Flame Arrow Guardian Flame (Aegis) is the resonance magic of those two people who were the worst of friends - Sith and Arti. Anyone who knew them a thousand years ago would be hardened at first.

''Dia, I've blocked all the escape routes!
'Oh! --Flame Arrow!

 Then, a vicious white light that was too vicious to be called a flame arrow (Flame Arrow) was emitted from the palm of Dear's hand.

 Fafner avoided that heat ray by leaping to the side.
 However, it reflected the mirror of fire at its back.

''--! I knew it would happen!

 Fafner quickly put the bundled blood tentacles between them and prevented a two-stage heat ray.
 However, only the first shot was prevented.

''Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot!

 Dia-san continuously shoots the heat rays that seem to be 《Flame Arrow》 incessantly, and without aiming at it either, she continues to shoot them with all her might.

 A hundred heat rays reflect diffusely off the flame mirror.
 Reflecting and reflecting, reflecting and reflecting, their speed is unnoticeable, and more than a thousand white lines are drawn, trapping Fafner in a white cocoon.

''--Nosfy!

 And that's when a large, silver-furred wolf emerged from behind the grand entrance. Its huge body rushed through the bloody foothold without a care in the world and approached me.
 Atop that wolf is Rustyala. She was screaming at me, reaching out her hands to the limit.

'--Yes!

 I grab her hand, pull her in, and climb on top of the wolf.
 A moment later, a voice and magic is released from the white cocoon that should have been completely closed off.

'Let me go or ......! --Fresh Blood Magic, Early West Saint War of the Second Year of the New Year (Fuzzy Yards West One), Eight Thousand Eight Resonant Arrows (Quadraight Canon)!

 Along with the strange magic name peculiar to "The One Who Steals the Reason of Blood", a magic arrow that was as good as Dia-san's earlier one - a different kind of heat ray pierced the white cocoon.
 While eating that Dia-san and Maria-san's resonant magic on herself, Fafner aimed at me with abandon. But that level of persistence is within the expectation.

''-- 《Dragoon Arder》!

 The last one to invade the castle from a different route, the 'Dragonized' Snow, spread his wings and entered in between.

 Countering the heat rays of Fafner's heat rays were the wind bullets that pressed down on the 'dragon wind'.
 Immediately, I will help that wind bullet. With the thoughts I borrowed from Snow-san, I work on my light magic that has seeped into her blood and draw out all the talents that lie within her body.

 As a result, 《Dragoon Arder》 pops with a sound that seems to break my eardrums.
 The explosion caused Fafner's heat ray to lose its aim and hit the castle walls. Seeing the castle's shaking intensified like a great earthquake, Snow-san let out a voice.

''...... Nah, I managed it! With this sword, enhanced magic, and 'Safe Dragonization', even I can fight head on! Even if your opponent is a guardian (Guardian), you can still go to ......!

 Snow was amazed at the power he had drawn out. But now was not the time to be impressed, Rastiara instructed him.

'Snow! We're not the guardians (guardians) today, we're our backup!
'Yes! I'm the little fish on the stairs from the sky--!

 Rastiara and my riding wolf make it to the stairs and run up the stairs at a brisk pace. As they move, Snow-san also uses the central stairwell to head up.

 'Wolf' and 'dragon'.
 We move at a speed that makes the most of that 'demon return', but Fafner, who is wrapped in vicious magic, cannot chase after us.

 This is exactly what was planned.
 We left Fafner behind and proceeded all the way to the upper floors.
 The second floor, third floor, fourth floor, fifth floor and so on - along the way, there were times when blood dolls and that "something" stood in the way of the stairs. But it was blown away from the side by Snow-san, who flew through the stairwell to match the altitude Sera was advancing at.

''--[Dragoon Arder]!

 A wolf's legs run down the stairs that are neatly vacated by that 'dragon wind'.
 Occasionally, an enemy that has escaped Snow's magic will attack us, but we will handle it with Rustyala's sword and magic.

 Our sprinting never stops.
 From the fifth floor to the tenth floor - and then on to the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth floors.

'...... Rastiara, Sera. That went well.

 Honestly, things are going better than I expected.

 I was able to smack the Fafner guy with his most hated - first-time, sustained, high firepower 'magic' - using Ryner as bait.

 He was also able to, by accident (・・・・), cleanly separate the two sides. Maria, Dear and Ryner holding down Fafner. The four of us, Rustyala Sela Snow and I, who take your father's body from Ragne.
 Perciona's absence would mean that the soldiers outside were well commanded by her.

'Right! Snow is good too! It's looking good!
'Ehehehe ......! I can do my best now! All those scary enemies, but no fear either!

 Praised by Rustyala, Snow-san suddenly increases the momentum of her flight and magic.
 But his voice echoes as he chastises us for our tone. The blood in the castle we run in shapes and forms, becoming mouth and throat, emitting sounds.

'--Masakana (・・・・)'

 It was the voice of Fafner, who should have been fighting downstairs.

'You've turned the tables on me so far without thinking, ....... But, Nosfy," he said, "you really thought you could get away from me. Do you really think you can escape me? No. Do you think they're getting away with it now? ...... There's nowhere to run in this castle. It's all in my stomach.

 I knew it, but his voice - even in faraway places - can reach me, even in faraway places - magic.

'Nosfi, do you remember what Kanami said a thousand years ago ......? This me, the real value of the power of The One Who Steals Blood's Reason is not "manipulation of the dead." ......! That the most troublesome power is in 'Idenshi manipulation' - and the 'labyrinth building' that goes with it!

 No matter how much he shouted, the 'Blood Stealer' Fafner had no means of traveling a long distance at a moment's notice.
 But there is one nasty power instead.
 It's the power to 'summon' someone else in another place.

''--Kuhahaha! I didn't think you guys would choose to fly inside the castle and not outside it, but ....... I've got it all set up in here too. One hell of a thing: ......!

 Blood rains down at the sound of his voice.
 Not on the steps of the castle where we run, but in the central atrium.

'--, ------ ----!

 It was a screeching voice that cut and caressed his skin with a blade.
 Not of a person, but of a monster.
 The most distinctive of them all - the voice of an insect.

 With a rain of blood, a lone insect-shaped monster flies in from the upper floor.
 Its shape is close to that of a bee, and the insect's unique compound eyes and hard-looking joints are noticeable. It has six sickle-like paws and four thin wings. Two large stingers between its legs. They were about three times the size of the one we're looking at, and their color was ochre. It's a stinging, disastrous, eerie monster.

''--Do, [Dragoon Arder]!

 Snow unleashed a spell against the monster in the sky that had swooped in and attacked him.
 But the monster moved at a right angle in midair and easily avoided it. And without stopping, the monster moved at right angles once more and charged at Snow below.

 Its scythe-like paws swung and clashed with Snow's great sword, causing the metal to strike.

 With the momentum of the fall, the monster passed by Snow and changed direction again downward. It's unusually agile, even though it's in the air. Against that movement, Snow stops it in midair and mutters a word.

''What, eh ......? Could it be, brother ......?

 I asked my brother to the monster.
 The blood answered it.

''- Yeah. This is Glenn Walker's true form, the true identity of the "monster" who killed his own family in just a few years of his life. In other words, a pseudo 'half-monster'. You're just about to become a compatriot who's going the same way as me: ......!

 In a somewhat happy voice, he told me about Glenn's background.
 Although Snow-san and Glenn are brother and sister, neither of them are adopted by the great aristocratic Walker family and are not related by blood. It's a good thing that you're not the only one, because you're not the only one.

 And that turmoil has had a significant impact on the battle.
 It's an aerial battle that is normally Snow-san's sole occupation, and he's all about defense. Even though her eyes are catching up with the large monsters that are flying around in all directions, her body is not moving to attack.

''This is ......! Rastiara, let's help Mr. Snow: ......!

 We had been doing well up to this point, but here I felt Fafner's move sting a lot. In the face of their incompatibility, I approached Rustyala to rescue him.
 But--

"Nosfi! Good!

 Before we could make a move, it was denied by the man himself, Mr. Snow.

 Mr. Snow was defending himself for only a few seconds. He immediately released 'Dragon Wind' in the air and went on the offensive. He also returned his expression to its original optimistic one, asserting that he could afford it even if Glenn was his opponent.

''It's okay! Serra, you go ahead! This is just like the 'original plan'! All of us will do our best to help Nosfi, with all of our thoughts and feelings, to get him to Kanami! Just think about moving on, Nosfi!

 He then mentioned all of our 'original plan'.

 In other words, our 'original plan' was to 'use the Foozeyards army to enter the castle from all sides, and for now, all of us will attack Fafner and somehow get me to the roof.

 Unlike the first raid on Foozeyards Castle, this raiding operation was decided in just a few minutes.
 We don't have a convenient 'future vision'. There is no promise of absolute victory. That's why we decided that this was the best thing to do.

 And now Mr. Snow is working properly according to the 'original plan', which was for each of us to think and act on the spot. He is shouting that he alone is enough.

 Sera, who was in a wolf state when she heard that argument, first hung her head and agreed. Following that, Rustyala, who was on top of her, nodded and shouted back.

''Alright, Snow! Win that weird Glenn!
'Yes, Lady Rastiara! Teach my brother a lesson! I'll catch up to you soon!

 Snow-san replied like a subordinate, releasing the magic power in her body.

 It was her own all-out effort during 'dragonization' that she herself had always avoided.
 That is now assisted by the "one who steals the logic of light" and it is being demonstrated without any cost.

 The only thing that makes her a dragon now is her wings.
 The limbs remain human.
 However, the magic power becomes the dragon itself.
 It is neither a man nor a monster, but a powerful yet completely different kind of magic power, just like the one that steals logic, is generated

 The authority of violence that once made an entire continent admit to being the 'strongest' without question, is now born here.

'Aaaaaaahhhh, aaaaahhhh, aaaaahhhh ---- !!!!'

 Dressed in 'Dragon Wind' and 'Dragon's Roar', Snow reached a speed greater than Glenn's flying through the air and performed a self-destructive body strike.
 It's a battle method suited for her with confidence in her endurance. However, it's an uncharacteristic battle method for a woman who should lack courage.

 Her opponent Glenn might have had the same idea.
 He seemed to have been struck by a false sense of security and received that body blow.

 The siblings, overlapping each other, flew into the sky - but not directly to the side, colliding with the atrium fence and destroying it. Still, the momentum didn't stop. Snow gripped Glenn's hard joints tightly and continued to fly right up beside him.

 Like the fence, he destroys the blood wall of the castle. Even so, the momentum still doesn't stop. He also breaks the walls of the room behind the wall, shattering everything and anything he can find, and then he goes further and further back.

 --Before the two of them are out of sight, Sera, who has become my foot, has already started running.

 Over the twenty floors and further up.
 As planned, I just run towards the top floor for the ultimate goal of 'I will cast a spell on your father'.