At last I attacked Ragne.

　Perhaps Lagne wanted to cancel my 'immortality'.
　But what was 'reversed' was the same 'power of reason', my 'replacement' power.
　What I am carrying now, Lagune has taken on the opposite. Although the 'chanting' was incomplete and Ragne reflexively interrupted the 'reversal', there is no doubt that she still suffered great wounds to her mind and body.

　Ragne's voice, which had been clear and clear, was beginning to tremble as she learned of my condition firsthand.

'Why, why ....... Mr. Nosfy ....... Why, in such a state ....... Even me .......

　Ragne was confused. He couldn't seem to understand why I was seriously using the 'alternative' light to help her.

　I often looked around in the darkness and saw that all the blades that had been circling the rooftop had fallen to the ground in blood. I attempt to resume the 'discussion' while the attack stops.

' ...... I do not want to fight you. Ragne, you must not try to 'reverse' to me again. There is nothing more you can do, no matter how you struggle, nothing will change the outcome. Your victory is already decided. Now, please listen to me, the loser, for now.

　With a slightly eased body, he resumes his advance. In response, Lagune returns a moan of a different kind from the previous one.

''Ku, ugh, ugh, ugh--!

　I know what that moan means.
　They must be scared.
　Even if it's bloody, it's terrifying and unbearable for the side facing you to just step forward and offer a 'discussion' without any defense at all. No matter how much of an advantage you have, you will lose your cool.

''Nosfi-san, you owe me something like this ....... How can you be like this and still ....... Can you still hang in there ......?

　Ragne asked me as my mind continued to waver.
　I paused in my steps to answer the question, even as I felt my voice return to normal from the low voice.

'I can do my best. As long as the thoughts of everyone (everyone) in the Hoosiers are with me, I will continue to do my best.

　What expression does Ragne have on her face now when she hears this?
　It's impossible to confirm due to the dark magic, but her questions continue.

'Even though the world has played with you this much, you still won't give up ......?'
I will not give up. I know what I was born to do, and I'm ready to do it.

　Ragne's voice gets thinner and thinner each time she hears my immediate answer.

''Can you still say you love him after all that horrible treatment ......?
'I love you. I love your father more than anything in the world.

　Even though he couldn't see Ragne, he could see the faint meaning of each question.
　Perhaps, by its very nature, she felt like she was asking herself the same question.

'...... do you still believe in Kanami's brother?'
I believe you. I never once doubted your father.
'Kanami's brother is dead, and now Mr. Nosfi is going to die, and yet--'
But still. Your father loved me. I love him too. Even if I die, even if your father dies, even if the world ends, this feeling will not change. Yes, I believe that.
......!

　Ragne was speechless.

　However, the weight of the words right now is not just on me alone. The thoughts of Rastiara, Dia-san, Maria-san and Snow-san are also on board, which is why she is now pressured and upset.

'Well, I'm not going to lose ......!　I'm also ......, and even my feelings for my mom are ....... I didn't even shake it once!

　His voice was rising.
　Along with that cry, I also heard the sound of blood leaping - the sound of Ragne's footsteps running out.

　He must have decided that neither words, blades, nor the [Reason of the Stars] could stop me now.
　Lagne is trying to cut off all the other cards he has in his own hand and fight me.

　I can't see this Lagune's sprint.
　But that's fine.
　Originally, I have given up on capturing Ragne's figure. She is enough of a knight to take your father by surprise. I don't have any response plan and just move forward.

''--!

　A gust of wind hit my body.
　Naturally, I couldn't avoid the wind magic that Ragne would have unleashed.

　The gust of wind tangled around my weakened body and nearly caused me to lose my stance. Another whirlwind sliced through the lower half of the snake's body, which was supporting my body.

　My advance stops.
　With that, a strong impact struck my torso from the front.
　Unbearably, I fall backwards and find that my hands, which were trying to poke the ground, don't move.

　A person's body heat can be felt through my wrist.
　The palm of my hand, which feels strengthened by the magical power of the wood attribute, grips me forcefully. Ragne has come to stop me by hitting my body himself.

　Lagune pushes me down and I fall onto the ground from my back.
　I immediately put my body to work trying to shake her off, but pain and heat immediately lit up both of my wrists as they were held down. It's not the blade of the "magical materialization" as usual. From the tremendous wave of magical power spreading from the wounds, I can tell that the "Treasure Sword of the Aleiss Family" was held against my right wrist and the "Heart of Helmina" was held against my left wrist.

　Both of my arms couldn't be moved and Ragne was free.
　Taking advantage of the difference, she places her hands on my chest and releases a full-body spell.

''-- 《Dark Relays》!　Dark Down!

　After the trees and the wind, the darkness is next.
　Ragne came to invade my mind, not my body, with her dark magic from zero distance. The intelligent woman realizes that this is the only way to defeat the one who steals the logic of light, and she increases the amount of dark magic from the pendant on her chest.

　A dark feeling swells up in my chest.
　Its speed is comparable to that of the former "The One Who Stole the Reason of Darkness". The concentration is also unusual. Impatience and regret, grief and despair, all kinds of bad emotions pour in to break my heart to move forward.

　And Ragne shouts along with it.

'-- Give it up!　And when you get there, there's no one there anymore!　It's too late for everything!　It's too late to muster up the courage!　You (・・・・) didn't make it!　You'll never reach it again!　I'm not even allowed to see you!

　I thought it was Ragne's voice - the voice of Ragne, who was fiercely trying to keep me from going to my father. But I would soon find out that it wasn't.

　The distance was too close.
　The night spread out on the rooftops. Lagne's magical power, darker than that night. In the midst of the dark magic built up by that magic, I was able to peer into Ragne's face.

　However, the face-to-face Lagune did not look at me.
　He plunged his hands into my chest and turned his face down to the limit, screaming.
　It was as if he was talking to his own torso.

　It's not like he's fighting me, even though he's been telling me to fight him so much.

　-- the fire in my chest reignites, defeated by the dark magic.

　This level of mental interference is lukewarm compared to how far we've come.
　I revive my fading heart and put my strength into my arms.

　The two master swords holding my arms together were a lifesaver. Trusting in the sharpness of the two, I move my arms vertically and strongly.

Lagne, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Lagné, but I won't give up. I will reach out to your father to ask him to live to the end.

　When I thought about it, I didn't need a hand to reach for it.
　I severed my own wrists, leaving only an inch or so of connection.

　I lifted my body up, freeing myself from my bondage, but putting more pressure on my cavernous abdomen.

'...... na?'

　Ragne let out a breath of astonishment.
　At any rate, where it was originally a fatal wound, I had just become a horse rider, stitched both arms through with my sword, and shed the world's highest level of mental interference from zero distance. He couldn't believe that I was still moving.

'I will continue to reach out to you. So please, Ragne, reach out to the things that are most important to you, too.

　With both arms on the verge of shredding, I gently retreat Ragne from the top of my abdomen.

　--I succeeded in getting him to back off.

　Ragnae fell to the side as if she were falling.
　The lack of strength in her body can't be explained by the fact that she had just 'taken over' and carried some of my damage. There is more to it than that, and she is weakening.

　Was she put off by my painful appearance just to look at her?
　Maybe she was overwhelmed by my words, which showed no sign of turning.
　Or maybe it's Ragne's own mental problems--
　Is the will to be the best crumbling?
　Is it that the conditions for being the thief of reason are crumbling?
　Or is it that the conditions for being the "one who steals reason" are collapsing, or is it that something more fundamental can no longer be maintained?

Well, I still have my hand--!

　Immediately, Ragne stands up.
　Then he tries to cling to me as I try to head to his father.

　But I can't catch up with him.
　My body is moving, but Lagune cannot catch up to me.
　My legs are tangled, my body wobbles, and I can't reach him.

''Ku, uu, aaaaahhhh--!　Huh? [Hoshi no ri] I don't mind!　Stop Mr. Nosfi--!

　Trapped, Ragne relies on it again.
　He is the epitome of a useless 'stealer of reason'. When I can't help it, I wield the power given to me by the world.

　Riding on the wind of magic, the 【Riology of the Stars】 or something like that enveloped me.
　However, the result it brought was Ragne's scream.

''--Huh?　Gahhhhhhhhhh!　Goo-hoo, goo-hoo, goo-hoo--!

　Ragne had made the mistake of relying on the power he relied on in the most critical moments.
　I hear the sound of vomiting - no, I hear the sound of vomiting blood.

　And while Ragne suffers, I get there.
　Too easily - too easily - to the pedestal of blood where her father lies, the one she was guarding.

　We're arriving too early.
　I know why.
　To put it simply, I and Ragne are too good together.

　The Stealer of Star Reason is too bad at dealing with the weak.
　Furthermore, Lagune is too specialized in assassination and not suited for defensive battles. Its assassination techniques are also rootlessly high-level killers, and it is not designed to deal with a seriously injured person like me.

　As a result of that chemistry, I easily overtook her.
　According to my plan, I was actually supposed to be with Ragne when we reached this place.

　I made a bitter face and turned my body in Ragne's direction, not my father's.
　Somehow, before it's over (・・・・・), I'll find a new way to help her.

''--Lagne, that your [Star's Reason] thing is useless. Even if you were able to 'reverse' this death-hung body, it would only be a recovery magic. It's a meaningless power. ...... To be clear, you didn't have to be the 'one who steals the reason for the stars' at all. Do you understand what that means?
'Power has no meaning ......?　Meaningless meaning ......?　What do you mean--

　If Ragne hadn't been 'the one who steals the reason for the stars', she would have been able to fight us more successfully.

　And she herself should have been aware of this.
　Why does she call herself the 'one who steals the logic of the stars' when she is aware of it?
　We'll find out why.

'Lagne ......, you want to meet and check ......?'

　I'm not saying to whom.
　It's coming through in every action and word so far.

...... Ugh, shut up.

　Ragnet denies it.

'Perhaps you've made a promise that you'll see me when you're the 'best'.
'Shut up ......, shut up. Stop that stinking voice ......!　Stop sounding like you know everything: ......!
But I don't believe in that promise any more than you do in anyone else.
'No. ....... I believe. I believe in my mom's love, more than anyone else ....... I won't let anyone deny me that much .......

　Willingly, I mentioned the part of Ragne that I didn't want to be touched, but all I knew was the reality that my 'discussion' was not going to save her.

　Lagne and I are too different.
　Well, not exactly different, but rather the opposite, as you might guess.
　Therefore, my encouragement, sympathy, scolding, and pursuit may all feel like an attack to her. If a voice can be delivered to Ragne's heart, it is only from someone who is in the same situation and has made the same mistakes repeatedly. Then it's already--.

"'Now I lay down my flag'...

　I put down the ragnet and hastily begin to spin the 'chant'.

　In the darkness of this dark 'summit', I create a light.
　I transmute my magic, turning my body itself into a light that illuminates the world, not magic, not a banner, but the body itself. Blood and flesh, their souls into light, trying to sink into the loved ones at my back.

　You don't need an exaggerated technique or vast magical power to activate it.
　You only need to wish for one thing, and the 【Riology of Light】 is established.

''--Huh!　Don't let them!　--'I am a phantom chasing a phantom'!

　But it's the same for the other side.
　If you just wish for it to be in your own nature, [the reason for the stars] will be established.

''That 'immortality' thing!　You can 'flip' the real 'magic (...)' itself with my real 'magic (...)'!　I'll never bring Kanami back to life--!

　Sensing that I was about to unleash my true 'magic (...)', Ragne also tried to prepare an equivalent one.
　When it comes to this, it's just a matter of 'chanting' speed.
　Lagune is about to say the 'chant' of his life before I do.

"Oh, 'The world (you) can't even exist'!　"I'm--......!

　But Ragne stammered.
　He shuddered and broke off the rest of the story.
　I saw that, and I--.

"'I don't need the world's (your) blessing' and 'I--...... ah (...)'

　Choking on the 'chanting'.
　''I want to save your father,'' the wish to save your father was mixed with an evil thought and the 'Chanting' stopped.

　That's how shocking the "Chant" was for her life.
　It is too sad. Moreover, I could see what was on Ragnet's mind as she was unable to compose the third verse.

　Ragnet, on the other hand, cried out from the back of his throat to continue.
　Desperately, desperately, he tries to spin the poem in a voice that sounds even more painful and painful than mine.

"'I am ......, I am!　I am aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh--!

　The only thing that could be heard was a mournful cry.

　In the end, neither Lagune nor I had the continuation of the 'chanting' - the third verse of our lives never reached.
　However, our mutual [stolen reasoning], which could not become true 'magic (...)', was activated, albeit imperfectly. It's an outburst of magic failure.

　Poisons that violate the reason of the world erupted from our bodies, blowing like a great storm and filling this wide sky with it.

　Its vast magical power is of two kinds.
　The colors are the exact opposite. The white of light and the black of darkness.
　Facing me and Ragne, exactly half and half - the world was neatly divided into light and dark.
　It was as if there was an invisible wall between us - my side was brighter and Ragne's side was darker.

　The rooftop of the Fuzzyards' castle.
　Two people in the same place, yet they were in different places.
　I could see it.

　I am very light at the 'top' of the world and Ragne's 'top' is very dark.
　Ragne is alone in a dark place, screaming, "I am

　-- a budding evil thought swells up.

　Even though I shouldn't think about it, I wanted to help Ragne.
　My consciousness is distracted from the number one priority.

　As a result, the two kinds of magic power become intertwined.
　My bright realm invades Ragne's darker realm, mixing and blending, and the two kinds of reasoning overlap.
　【Riology of Light】 and 【Riology of Stars】 resonate (・・・・), although in a limited way--resonate with each other.

''Kook, ugh--!

　To be clear, the 'magic (...)' is already a mess.
　Both of them failed, missed their aim, and unleashed their own [stolen logic] with incomplete magic.
　The repercussions of that failure assaulted our bodies.

　The vast amount of magical power that covered the 'summit' flickers and flickers.
　More than a thousand colorless sparks flashed and bloomed in the sky, distorting the world again and again.

　Then, the two kinds of magic power completely blended together and became a kind.
　It was neither black nor white, neither bright nor dark, but a transparent color of magic power.
　It was as if their natures canceled each other out, and there were no more features.

　It was night, but the darkness disappeared.
　Before I knew it, the wind had stopped and the clouds had stopped.
　It was a calm sky that was neither morning nor day nor night.
　It was as if the concept of time had disappeared, and the 'summit' was silent.

　There was only one moaning voice resounding there.

''Ah, ah, ......--''

　Ragne stood alone on the 'summit', her voice leaking out of the back of her throat.
　The dark magical power that covered her became transparent. And now, Lagne's figure, covered in scars from the power of her own 'reversal' alone, could be clearly seen.

　Ragnet clenched his teeth, furrowed his brow and looked up at the empty void.
　He had lost me in this crystal clear 'top'.

'I knew it (・・・・) ......'

　Then, realizing something, Ragne nodded once and shed a single tear.

　I don't understand the meaning of that.
　However, as the feel of the person who used the magic now, I can see what both me and Ragne have suffered (...) again.

'My mom is still ....... And I'm also (...) my mom is ......--

　Perhaps now Lagné is--
　I suffered the 'reverse' of my 'desire to help'.
　Furthermore, I also suffered the magical 'reverse' of 'bringing them back to life', albeit imperfectly.
　-- that's why you look so sad.

　On the contrary, I--
　I suffered the 'reverse' of her 'desire to stop'.
　Furthermore, I also suffered the magical 'reverse' of the 'I'm going to kill you', albeit imperfectly.
　-- so I'm almost the same. It's just that everyone's thoughts have increased by a kind.

''Ha, ha, ha. So this is my third verse: ......

　Ragne's expression was as if he had gotten one of the answers he had been seeking for years.
　At the same time, he had already completely lost the light from his eyes.
　All of the battle and killing intent had dissipated, and there was no weapon blade in the air or in his hands. There was no more harshness on Ragne's face, and even a smile was floating on his mouth.

'This is the third verse ......, the truth that awaits me in my final days ....... Ah, ah, I am ....... I'm still ....... Ah, I knew it .......

　Ragne's tears have not stopped.
　There is only one streak of tears, but they keep flowing from her lightless eyes all the time. And she doesn't seem to notice it.

''Ah, ah, ah ....... Aaaaaaah, aaaaah ......--

　Finally, Ragne couldn't hold her words, she let out a sob and began to scurry around.

　Even though I couldn't understand exactly what had happened in the earlier outburst, I thought I could understand what had happened.

　The appearance of Ragne now looks exactly like it did when I once came to life in Hoozeyards Castle.
　The feeling of being too empty and sad, too meaningless and funny, of wanting to disappear inexorably and suddenly looking for a place to die. That's the kind of look you get when a doll that was supposed to be just doing what you ordered it to do, but now you're questioning your life.

'--Dark ....... Dark, dark, dark, dark. Why is it so ......--

　Ragne continues to mutter words he's heard and back away.
　He can't see anything, so he can't move forward and can only run backwards.

'Ragne ......'

　Lagne is no longer in a position to fight.
　And he is in no condition to have a 'discussion'.　

　At last, what we had dimly expected has become a reality.
　Lagne, like all of us stealers of reason, has fallen to the depths of weakness. It will be an extraordinary feat for him to climb out of it. The 'price' of gaining great power is the same in every era. It's impossible to get out of it alone, and you will never recover your spirit in one day.

'-- Ahh (...)

　When I decided that we should resume resuscitation of your father in the present, Ragne let out a cry of joy.

　I kept backing away and found the only thing visible in the dark world.
　It was the central atrium.
　He was about to step out on his own at any moment when he saw the hole.

'La, lagunet!'

　I would scream as soon as I could.
　Even though I knew there was something I should do first, my body had moved.
　I pushed my severely injured body forward, trying to advance on the bloody summit - and

What--?

　In the process, the blood on the floor bubbled up and the 'Blood Puppet' appeared in front of me.
　Its face was a Noh mask, but I immediately recognized that it was the same species as the 'blood doll' that had saved me in the 'Senate' room earlier.

''You are ......!''

　The 'blood puppet' did not respond to my voice, but shook its head to urge me to stop.
　Then it turned itself around and ran toward Ragne before me - before anyone else.

　Even now, Ragne is about to fall into the stairwell.
　This is the moment when his feet leave the ground and his body floats in the air, and he goes straight from the 'top' to the first floor, headlong.

　You won't make it in time.
　Even if I do, this will only make us fall together. That's what I judged, but the "Blood Doll" ran through without any hesitation and kicked the bloody ground.
　I hugged Ragne from the side and they both fell straight into the atrium.

　I belatedly reached the end of the stairwell, gasping for breath.

'Hah, hah, hah ......!

　Then he looked into the hole and searched for them.
　Ragne and the others were two floors below - forty-eight floors down, and they were caught in the fence.

'Thank goodness for .......'

　No matter how much power the 'Stealers of Reason' had gained, if Ragne in the state he was in earlier fell fifty stories, there was a high probability that he would die.

　Immediately, the 'Blood Puppet' moved Ragne from the fence to the corridor and shook its shoulders to take notice.
　Lagune was in a state of abandonment, but gradually his eyes came into focus. Then, when he saw the presence in front of him, he spoke out.
　I don't know what it said. But at the voice, the 'blood puppet' collapsed into shape without any response and disappeared into the ground of blood.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. Same as before. For a few seconds again, Ragne stared at the vanishing trail and looked up.

　Then he sees me peeking down from the rooftop atrium, and a light lights up in his eyes.
　I wipe a single tear off my cheek, grit my teeth again, and walk away.
　However, he doesn't seem to be in the best of shape, and he's going through the fence like I did earlier.

'Or are you heading for the stairs ......?'

　He was wobbly, but the wariness was back in Ragne's eyes.
　Clearly, having fallen from the 'summit' has given him the vitality to live.
　I am astonished to see why.

'Lagne, you are already ....... Only while you are going up will you be .......

　Now I understand completely.
　Ragnet will continue to search for the top until he dies.
　If he realizes there is no top, he will make it, even if it means jumping off the mountain.
　I'll keep dreaming of a dream that I know has no end and no meaning.

　Lagne himself has said it.
　It has become a lagne kaiwokra in itself.

'Oh, ahhhhh ......'

　I am acutely aware that my voice cannot reach her because I have seen the depths of Ragne's heart.

　The power of that 'reversal' is so strong that she refuses to allow anyone to help her.
　No matter how much I tried to explain the nature of 'the best' and 'the dream', she would never understand.

　Most critical of all was the 'chanting' I mentioned earlier.
　It was only two verses, but the difference in our lives was obvious.
　We were leading similar lives, yet the results were as opposite as our guesses.

　Even if I encouraged, admonished, or got angry with Ragne - it would only sound like the lightest words of a blessed person.

'Oh ......, father .......'

　I knew it, but I'm not the one who can bring my voice to Ragne.
　I turn around and walk back to the pedestal where my father is.
　Like Ragne, I wobble, but slowly move forward.

　Spilling blood and light from the wounds all over my body, I head to bear my father's death 'instead'.