Romis walked and waved his hands wide to the side as the patients welcomed him. He controlled the flames of the 'Flame God's Stone' that lined the walls of the room and blocked our escape route.

''Kook--!

　I snarl. The flames are lively and moving like a living thing, thick and thick, convincing me that if I touch them carelessly, they will only burn me out.

'Hmph. Thank you all for your help. It's a good prayer today, too. However, we have to deal with the two bandits who have been making a lot of noise since last night, so please forgive the prophecy.

　Hearing his voice, the patients moved out of the way of Romis's steps and made their way through the crowd that led up to us.
　Romis sighed, "Whew," and approached us, reworking his tone.

'Did I surprise you?　This move is a 'miracle' that I didn't want to do too much because it's exhausting: ......

　This seems to be one of the applications of the power of 'The One Who Steals the Reason for Fire'.
　It may be a power similar to the new 'spellcasting' power that Master used on the spur of the moment just now, but the refinement is too different.

　The master here has exhausted all of the 'magic poison' in his body, and he's short of breath. In contrast, Romis didn't even sweat.

　The difference between the two makes one keenly aware of the difference in preparation.
　Romis must have prepared for many situations, and with the help of an excellent person like the Director, he must have prepared various 'spells' with the help of an excellent person like Mr. Director.

　That's why he maintains a margin of safety in any situation.
　If it's within Fania, he has the confidence of a must-win.
　That confidence is directly expressed in Romis' expression and tone of voice.

''Are you going to shut up?　...... But I'm not impressed that both of you are showing your backside in the middle of a conversation. You guys aren't done with your errands yet, are you?　You can take it a little slower. You have some friends. I'm your lord, and I'll be responsible for taking care of you two for as many years as I can.

　With that, Romis raised his hand.
　Then the patients began to move in unison, moving closer to the wall. Then they watched us and Romis from a distance and began to clasp their hands together against the burning flames.

　It seemed to be one of the gestures used in rituals and events.
　I clicked my tongue and glared at the enemy in front of me as we lined up not only against the wall of flames, but also against the wall of people.
　Romis takes his hostility in stride and spreads his arms out proudly.

'Cooch, isn't it great?　Now I'm more than a lord, I'm a prophet who brings miracles to the world. Just shift a little bit of 'Once Upon a Time' and Phania is the morning. I can even control the laws of time.

　It seems that my biological clock was not wrong after all.

　The time in the world now is night.
　But that common sense doesn't apply in Fania, where the time is set in "The Night That Was". This can be changed with just one spoonful of Romis. Probably, at the time he started fighting with us, he had set Fania to morning and started replenishing the 'Demon Poison'.

　We can see that Romis' advance preparations will drive him into a corner.
　However, in an attempt to deny this reality, the Master appeals to the people who join hands around him.

'Ladies and gentlemen!　Don't be fooled!　This guy is taking the city private and using it for his own desires!　I saw it!　The mutilated body of a little girl in this basement!　The sacrifices made at various institutes!

　But the word doesn't get through.

　Although the terminally ill patients here are vaguely aware that the institute has a dark side, and that inhumane experiments are being conducted in the basement, they accept that it is fine and that it is inevitable.

　Above all, emotional manipulation by fire is also taking place. The people who live in Fania are made to believe that "this is best" until they die and will never change their minds.

　Hence, the Master's cry cuts through the sky.
　There was no way to escape, no way to stop the prayers to worship Romis, and the gap in power was only growing.
　In the face of that too immovable air, the master looked for a breakthrough.　

''Who is--!

　I knew who Master was looking for.
　The patients who were saved by Master in yesterday's 《Level Up》 and spoke of him as their savior.

　For example, the boy who called his master the 'Great Savior (Magna Messiah)'.
　Romis laughs, as if to end the hope that if just one person believes in the Master and not Romis, there will be a light in this siege - a light in this siege.

'In vain. As I said before, religion is all about numbers and unity. The principle (rule) is that we should all be one, believe in only one, and aim for one goal. I'm sorry, because of ......, but I have carefully nipped in the bud the 'new religion' you spawned last night. Root it out.
Did you pick it: ......?

　While we stopped to talk, the flaming giants also appeared through the door we had come from and slowly surrounded us.
　The temperature in the room rose rapidly, but the prayers of the patients around us were undisturbed and unstopped.

　While I finished preparing myself for the need to kill the unresisting Altofel congregation if necessary - I searched for the whereabouts of Tida, the 'Stealer of the Dark Reason', who would have finished that preparation before me.

　I know that she has moved from Romis' shadow, but I don't know where she is lurking.
　There's a good chance that he'll come to stab me in the back again, so I hold my dagger without leaving my master.

　In the meantime, Romis continues to speak with plenty of time to spare.

''All of the patients who were exposed to your light showed physical abnormalities. In general, they have acquired extraordinary physical strength, so I sent them to the basement as a possible 'witch'. I made sure to remind the researchers to study it carefully and experiment on it.
You ......!　I've got everybody back on their feet!　You sent me to that basement!

　Romis used soft words, but from his words, actions, and character up to this point, it could be read that "the patients who received their master's 'level up' killed every last one of them with their mouths shut.
　It also means that they died a tragic death that an ordinary person would not have been able to bear to see--

　Hence, Master's breathing starts to get very erratic.

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

　He remembered the treatment of the demons in the basement of the Research Institute that he saw last night.
　He understands that the boy who called him 'The Great Savior (Magna Messiah)' and adored him is no longer in this world, and he is almost in despair.

　In his emotions, the Master appeals to the people around him.

'You heard me!　Hey, guys!　This is the kind of guy who would use his patients for experiments if he had to!　You never know when we'll all end up in the same boat!

　But it was in vain.
　The patients did not move in the slightest.
　They could only confirm that the faith of this room was directed through the 'Altofel Faith' to the Lord Romis Neysha without a single thread.

'Didn't you hear me!　Why!
"For three years I have served my lord here in Phania with all my heart and soul. You're just a rabble rouser, a rabble rouser. Can you see the difference?　And that difference gave me the power of a 'miracle' three years ago. Like this.

　So Romis stopped the conversation and waved his hand to the side again.

　Then the fire that had been burning on his back began to grow like a tube and swell like a snake. Then it swam through the air like a released arrow, trying to eat the screaming master.

　Immediately I kick the ground to fight instead, but I'm forced to give up when several of the flaming giants who had been keeping their distance rush towards me.

'Master!　Watch out!
Ughhhh--!

　I only shouted as the flaming giant lunged at me, stopping me from going to help.
　My master avoided the flame snake's large jaws, but his body was struck by its large tail and blown to the corner of the room.

　I checked the situation as I dealt with the flaming giants.
　Neither I nor my master was mortally wounded. However, we are slowly draining our strength while suffering intermittent burns.
　The only reason we are standing now is probably because of Romis's prudence.

　As he stood up, he called out to the patients around him, "Who is there!

'Who's there!　Someone ...... No, everyone at that time was already--

　None.
　Everyone is already dead.
　Everyone who could help us has been excluded from this central sanatorium.
　Master finally accepted this fact and gritted his teeth as he lamented.

''Bo, it's my fault ....... Because of my lightheartedness in helping ......, everyone ....... Even Tiara stopped me from doing that ......!

　The master becomes regretful.

　Then, as if in a vicious struggle, he tried to emit the same Level Up light from his body as he did yesterday, but the light was painted away by the surrounding "Flame God's Stone".
　Above all, the surrounding patients' faith in Romis was interfering with the 'Demon Poison' in the room, interfering with their master's 'Level Up'.

　Understanding that this space was Romis' ally, Master gave up on the 'Level Up' and constructed another 'spell'.

　A flaming snake was swimming in the air as it chased after the blown-up master.
　Let's shift the movement of its chase (・・・・), and once again, Master shouted the 'spell technique' he used underground.

''Turn--!
'I'm surprised by that. But it's not a threat anymore. There's enough power in this room to hold it down.

　The room tried to shift again, clockwise - but Romis, who had read the change, manipulated the room's 'magic poison' and fixed the shift.
　It was a very simple response, as if he was grabbing it with his hand. However, anyone familiar with the 'Demon Poison' would know that it was a divine act.

　There was too much difference in the surgeon's judgment and control.
　Furthermore, there was a huge difference in the quantity and quality of the surgeon's 'Demon Poison' and the superiority of space.

''d*mn it!　All the 'demonic poison' of the field flows into that guy: ......!
'That's what I meant. It's also why I missed the move from the basement to the central sanatorium. Kukkaku, the Light God looks very painful, doesn't he?　On the other hand, this one is just starting to get tired. I don't mind running away at any time now, okay?　Wherever it is in the city, beyond that I'll jump with 'Miracle'.

　Our escape route is reportedly closed in multiple layers.
　As long as we are moving from that flame to flame, it will be useless no matter how 'fast' we move.

　The master's body begins to tremble at the overwhelming difference in strength.
　His mind was even weaker than his body. While the amount of 'dimensional power' leaking out of his body visibly decreases - still, Master tries to fight using 'spellcraft'.

''--Jujutsu [Flame]!
'I understand that too. It's not a threat.

　It was a flame that was capable of engulfing a person, but it was far too small compared to the Flame Snake. The moment they collided, only Master's flame was unilaterally drowned out.

　Both Master's 'spell technique' and 'dimensional power', both of which were completely ineffective.
　Of course, the sword is out of the question because its reach is too short. It's too primitive and will be burned out before you can reach it.

　Sensing my master's inferiority, I wanted to forcefully rush to support him, but the flaming giants stood in my way. Relying on their huge bodies and numbers, they build a wall without any gaps on all sides and encircle me in multiple layers.

　Romis was wary of my 'speed' and was cautiously trying to track me down.

'Don't let looks deceive you, and don't let your guard down. The swift princess there is a monster that surpasses even the 'demons'. Her physical strength comparable to that of a giant and her mental strength unafraid of high fever, both of which are extraordinary.

　I am well aware of that.
　That's probably why his prized flaming giants from earlier have never left me for a moment.

　--Perfect. It's hard to see a reversal if they fight so seamlessly.

　It wasn't the quantity of power that was fatal, but the difference in the quality of power.
　None of the 'spellcasting techniques' and 'dimensional powers' developed by my master were suitable for fighting.
　Even if they deal with the same flame, Master is a 'flame to help people's lives' and Romis is a 'flame to defeat monsters'. If they competed against each other, it was obvious that this would happen.

　As I thought, I reconfirmed that this Fania version was a dead end (checkmate) from the beginning, and Romis goes on to say that as well.

''That's right. That princess should slowly narrow the siege and hold it down carefully. Burn her limbs until she can't move. And then, checkmate.

　The way he spoke gave me a glimpse of his intent to capture me to put it to good use.

　When I realized that they wouldn't even take my life, I gave up the fight and relaxed from my body. I accepted the countless hands of the giants approaching me from every direction.

　I already knew most of the last page of this chapter by skill.

"Tiara Fuzzyaz's struggles are empty, and she bends to her knees at the amount of fire Romis Neysha's flames. With her limbs burned and unable to move, she is captured and imprisoned in the basement of the 'First Magical Research Institute'. She waits with her beloved master. The "Apostles" in Hoozeyer's. And the help of 'Gentile' Aikawa Yotaki--

　It would be an ending that is sufficiently promising for the next chapter. On the other hand, I need to avoid Romis's unexpected resistance and just have to avoid becoming "if you can't catch him, you might as well kill him".

　Having made that decision, I was grabbed by my extremities and burned while being held down to the ground.

''Kuu--!

　I didn't ignore the pain and uttered a tight moan.
　Hearing his voice, my master was worried about me and exposed the gap.

''Ti, Tiara--!
'There's an upset. The flames are loose.

　As expected, Romis did not miss that master's opening.
　Manipulating the flaming snake, he let its jaws (agito) bite into his master's torso. With that momentum, he slammed his body into the ground and held it down.

　Unlike me, Master, who has no tolerance for pain, let out a scream.

''Kuch, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah--!
That's all. Now let's just be on our guard and wait for you two to get tired. Yeah, you can pass out if you're in pain, okay?　It's easier that way.

　He doesn't seem willing to let the flames loose until we can't stand the heat and pain anymore.

　Romis is perfect.
　Now we are stunned, trapped and defeated.

'Aaaaahhh ......, aaaaahhh ......--'

　At that time, Master had dropped his example mask after being bitten by a flame snake. He was admitting defeat just like me, revealing a face that was about to burst into tears.
　What that master said first and foremost was--

'Ahhhh ......, sorry ....... Tiara ....... I've been following me and stuff, so ......, to Tiara .......

　It was an apology.
　He had expected his master to be angry at Romis to the end, and to continue to spew his resentment at him. However, it was against Master himself that he was angry. It was as if his anger at Romis up to this point was as false as the mask he had just dropped--

　At that moment, I wobbled.
　I felt my mind and body shake with a different reaction than I expected from my master.

'I'm really sorry ....... I'm sure Yotaki would not have let this happen. It's me, not Yotaki, and that's why this happened ......!　Oh, all of them, all of them, it's my fault: ......!

　The master felt unusually responsible for himself.
　If he was not good at it, he seemed to think that even this Fania event was all his fault.

'You shouldn't have met me that day ....... If I hadn't taken you out of that tower, even you wouldn't have had to go through this .......
Shh, shh, ......?

　That's not true.
　I went on this journey with my master because I expected to be able to do this.

　If anyone is responsible for this ending, it's not my master, but me.
　And yet, it's better not to have met him...

　I don't want you to say it.
　I still believe that our meeting was fate.
　Master is the "hero" of my "ideal".
　And yet...

"That boy died just as soon as he showed me around. He was as good a kid as Tiara. ...... Because of meeting me .......

　With a tear-stained face, Master regrets everything about himself.

''It's because I didn't know what I was doing and tried to imitate Yotaki ....... I was wrong, after all, I was wrong. Ever since I came to this other world, from the beginning to the end, I was wrong .......

　Finally, my favorite 'hero' himself was about to deny that he was a 'hero'

　--a wobbly mind, a high fever.

　I was confident that I could enjoy any kind of book, no matter what kind of book, no matter the trend (genre), no matter the trend (style), no matter the ending (end).
　However, the absence of the 'hero' from my world was not the only thing I could accept.

　I felt more heat in my chest than being burned by the flames, and I let it spill out of my mouth.

'No. ......'

　My chest is hot.
　It's so hot I can't stand it, so I stop closing the Fania version of the book.
　Right now, there is a sense of satisfaction in my chest after reading the book. However, something much hotter than that is lingering in my chest like a heavy weight, and it is painful.

　In a book, it would have been "impatient and desolate, and Tiara Hoozeyers was heartbreaking," but in reality, it was just one word duplicated: hot and hot (・・・・・・) hot and hot (・・・・・・) hot (...).

　As I was confused by these first emotions, Romis cornered his master.

'--God of Light, don't be so sad. You can still start over. Unlike the princess there, you won't let me die no matter what. Yes, I won't die. Heck, I'll have that head empty in no time. That's the kind of thing the city of Fania is very good at.
Well, do you want to start over?　I'm not the only one who won't die. ......?
'You will be reborn from now on as a new you who feels happy to serve me. You will be a Fania hero, not a Hoosiers. What do you think?　Aren't you looking forward to it?
'Oh, ahhhhh. ....... It's just me again. Am I the only one left again, the one everyone else has made unhappy?　This weakest and most miserable me is crappy and alone ......!　Forget everything, (...) ......!
'Yes, you'll lose a lot of memories. "Yes, you will lose many memories, but don't worry, you have nothing to worry about. I will be responsible for studying your light power and transforming it into divine, true 'magic' for you!　This Lomis Neysha, I promise!

　I can read that development with my skills.

　If I lose now, my master will be managed in the same way as The One Who Steals Fire's Reason.
　In the process, his personality would be played to Romis' advantage.

　Aikawa Uzumi is defeated and trapped. From now on, he will be subjected to the despair of despair and will have his own memories closed off. He will also forget the Tiara Fusoya's that he traveled with...".

　My heat finally exceeds the fire that scorches my body, as the future that the skill teaches me.

　My master is defeated and trapped. From now on, he will experience the despair of despair and shut down his own memories. And to forget about me, who traveled with him - I just can't forgive him (・・・・). I'll never forgive him (・・・・・・・)!

　"Not 'cold letters' but hot emotions (・・・・) pouring out of me and I exclaim.

'No!'　Master!

　Ignoring all the pain of the burns, he writhed and did his best to tell his master as he writhed.

''What Master has done is not wrong!　I was happy to have help!　It's been so much fun meeting my mentor, playing and laughing and suffering with him, and traveling!　It was fun to die for!　That's a lot of failures, but I'm a big, big fan of that kind of master!　

　I shake my whole body and try to shake the arms of the fire giants off.
　Seeing their resistance, Romis frowns and commands the fire giants.

''Tch. I knew you were still hiding your power--''

　Instantly, the left and right arms that had been grabbed snapped like twigs.
　A sound as if a thunderclap had rumbled through my brain, and heat and intense pain that surpasses the burns runs through my entire body. However, I continue to scream without any fear.

''So, it's okay!　I will never, ever be gone from my beloved mentor's presence!　And this one doesn't hurt at all!　It's fun!

　I don't know what I'm trying to tell you.
　To be honest, I think I'm wasting the extra energy I had left over.

'I'm sure the boy who showed me around yesterday is still alive!　You weren't there, you're still alive somewhere!　I definitely don't think that Master's kindness was wrong!　Not yet!　There's still a chance we'll reach a happy ending of 'We're all in this together' someday in the future!　So--!

　But I knew this was the raw emotion I was looking for.
　I guess the reason I couldn't realize what was inside of me all along was because of my own innate difference (・・・・・・・・) - 'reading (skill)'.

　But now, for the first time in my life, I am shaking off my own skills and understanding the true meaning of the phrase "there is a big difference between reading a book and actually tasting it".

　-- as long as I can protect the life of my beloved master, I don't care what the rest of the ending (end) is?

　No!　The only reason I could say that was because I had yet to have a single taste of reality!
　I met the 'ideal' 'protagonist' and just floated around like a fool because I didn't really like him yet!　
　If you really liked it, you would have wanted to see the person you loved smile!　
　If you really loved her, you'd want to make the people you love happy!
　You'll want to make your master's wish of 'We're all in this together' come true, no matter what!
　I don't want the person I love to forget who I am for a second!　I just wanted to laugh at each other all the time!　He wants to be with you until he dies, that's what I think!　You want a happy ending at all costs!　Doesn't that mean you really like it!

　Then it's not "Tiara Foods Ya'll love Uzumi Aikawa"!
　[I love Master so, so, so much] That's how I really feel!


So don't cry. ......!　Master!


　I let all of those thoughts come together and spit them out of my mouth.

　I couldn't stop them.
　I jumped out of the world of books into the real world - I almost lost someone I cared about, and only then did I finally realize - my 'love interest', a raw emotion in the true sense of the word.

　It certainly reaches my master, who was being held down to the ground by the flaming snake.

'Tiara: ......'

　With moist eyes, Master reflected my figure collapsing in the distance.

　I could see my reflection in his eyes, and I could see my reflection in mine.
　I can see me, raging with the impulse of my first love and blurting out those feelings.

　The situation sucked, but I felt a bit of a sense of accomplishment.
　I felt a real connection to my mentor and my heart.
　When I truly believed that it was worth it to tell him, even if I had to throw away all my spare energy in this worst situation--that's when I truly believed it.

It can't be (・・・・・), no (...)--

　Suddenly, Master's expression changed.

　We were indeed mirroring each other now.
　I made the confession of my life and Master fully accepted it.
　However, in the reply to my confession, he said--

Why ....... Tiara did the same thing as 'she (...)'?

　There was another girl in the mix that wasn't me.

　My heart palpitations almost stop.
　My heart, which had been so hot, suddenly cooled down, and I was terribly confused.

　However, even more than me, my master was confused.
　The sight I just saw, the words I heard, the name I just uttered - everything I saw, the words I heard, and the name I uttered - startled me, and then he turned pale and removed his gaze from me with a face that looked like he was about to cry.

'Ka, 'she' ......?　Who's that?　Who or what is it?　No, I know, I know: ......

　Master would ask himself questions, and then his breathing would become thin and shallow, almost suffocating.
　It was as if he was talking to himself, a self he didn't know, and it was maddening to watch from the side. Finally, the Master turns his face down and screams at his own chest, not at Romis or me, who is here, but at his own chest.

'I know. Because I wished it. I wished for this to happen. ......!　Ah, ah, ......!　Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh--!

　I realize that this is not the time to be sad about a failed confession.
　I knew, just by looking at him, that my master was in the middle of a greater failure than I was right now. After all, his distorted and contorted face was worthy of being described as "heart crumbling".

　If this was the case, Master would break down to the point of irretrievability.

'Master ......!'

　As he fell, he tried to stretch his broken right arm.
　But the bones were shattered, and the flaming giant grabbed my arm and wouldn't move it even a twitch.
　I bit my teeth, and with a stern look in my eyes, I tried to glare at the grasping fire giant and--

　At the tip of his broken right arm, he found a wavering line.
　There was one on his own fingertip, something that should not have been there before.

'Huh?　No, 'thread'--

　A thin, white 'thread' was caught on his fingertips.
　It was made up of 'demonic poison' and was a 'thread' that could not normally be seen.

　For some reason. Now, I could see it at this time.

　And maybe it's because of my skills, but it also gives me a strange feeling.
　As if this development, this book, this ending - this story of my master's growth and mine - was written by someone from the beginning, and all the characters 'hero', 'heroine' and 'antagonist' were just manipulated by the 'author'. --

　In the midst of this sensation, my master's heart, which had been at the limit for so long, collapses.
　The conditions of 'The One Who Steals the Reason' deepen before my eyes.