Now, one world has disappeared.
　However, it is only a world in my memory that has disappeared, and in reality, it is only the end of a recollection.

　Because of my 'past vision' for so long, I was under the illusion that I was Tiara Hoozeyers, but I'm used to brainwashing and amnesia, so I quickly bring it back to 'I am me'.

　And then he checks the situation.
　My consciousness seems to have jumped from a thousand years ago to the present (now). But this is not the day Aikawa Uzumi (me) came back to life, nor is it the world of the gentle winter ruled by Yotaki.

　In any case, time, the stage, people, and everything else had disappeared, leaving us in complete blackness.
　There was nothing but consciousness in the complete darkness. To put it simply, it's like a soul floating in the afterlife.

　When I understood that about-face and stabilized my mind, the girl who was the narrator - Tiara Hoozeyers - abruptly proceeded with the epilogue.

''--Yes, oops!　So, with this last 'blood power' thing, I'm still here for a thousand years later, and now I'm connected to my masters. In today's parlance, fresh blood magic?

　Only the voices echoed.
　Instantly, the world, which had been pitch black, turned red.
　Blood filled my vision and I felt as if I was drowning in a sea of blood.

　The horrific change made me feel a little nostalgic even before I was surprised.
　This is not the first time I've been here. As I recall, once when I was killed by that idiot (Ragne), I arrived at a bright red place similar to this one. Is the pitch-black place that I just came from close to the back of the sixty-sixth layer where I fought against 'The One Who Steals the Wind's Reason' Titi?

　So I calmly sort through the information and check my surroundings again.
　There's really nothing there.
　I don't even have my body to think about it.
　Nothingness. I can only call it a world of nothingness or an afterlife.

　--I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what to do with it.

　But it's a place I'd rather describe as the "interdimensional space" than the afterlife. It's not that much inconvenience or fear, and it's even a little bit safe. It was a space that seemed easy to live in for those who used dimensional magic. But Tiara would not agree with this naming. If I were to say from that book-mad, this is the story -- the 'line between the lines' (...).

''Ehihi!　It's as good as it gets, Master. I know.

　Tiara's cheerful voice reverberated through the space, as if she read my thoughts, "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that.
　The end of her words were oddly fished out, and I was a little annoyed. I was trying to move my throat to answer it - and I was.

----

　I'm in trouble because I don't have a throat to shake.
　With this, I can't have a proper conversation.
　The abrupt ending of "past vision" earlier, this one-sided space where only Tiara can speak, is really a selfish one.

'Oh no, even if you say the end is selfish, it's not ....... From that point forward, there really is no relationship between the "gentile" and my daughter Rastiala. The boy, or rather the 'Evil Dragon of Helllight (Fafner Helvilleshain)', comes out and ......　

　Ignoring that excuse, I focus on her voice itself.

　I can feel the activation of magic, though it's slight. Is this a combination of non-attribute and dimensional attributes? Apparently, it seems that magic can be used normally here. I activate 《Dimension》 with no chanting to permeate this space and begin to imitate magic.

''As I've said many times, it's not the 'reason stealers' that are important. No, personally, I don't hate them either: ....... But what's important in the world right now is that Yotaki sister's 'thread'. And also the 'power of blood' that I reached through my master and Helmina's book. These two--

　When she finished saying that, with a thump and a sound effect like the end of a storyboard, Tiara released a decisive line. I knew it was a decisive line, even though I didn't want to understand it because of this close contact of bodiless souls.

''These two are cursed, masters, after a thousand years (・・・・).''

　I name the new magic, admiring that it can produce such a convenient sound for sound effects.

''Ah, ah, ......, -- magic 《di-vibrate》''

　Considering that it's not air that vibrates, but magic, it was a pretty easy magic to use. When I was able to speak, I tried to stop Tiara's one-sided conversation.　

　Honestly, I have a lot to ask. I've got a lot to complain about. I even apologize. Of the many words I really have to say, the first one is--

"Saint Tiara.
'Yeah, it's me!　Shhhh!

　I called out my name.
　Tiara was not surprised at my imitation of magic and called my name back in a friendly manner.

　However, I knew that this amiability was a way to trick others, so I started by talking about 'trust'.

'You ....... The last time you were at the eleventh crossroads, all you said was a lie ....... What's the 'bai bai'? There wasn't an ounce of goodbye in sight.

　I try to blame him coldly for the time when I met Tiara again, who was 're-born' in the Allied Hoosiers not long ago. However, perhaps because I was looking at Tiara's memories just now, I'm using language similar to what I was using at the time.

　On that day, I settled with the two Aide Titties in the northern Vyasia country, retrieved Yotaki's body, which was treated as the 'ruling king (Lord)', and hurriedly returned to Hoozeyards.
　Waiting there were a pair of Ryner Tiara's who were fighting with Rastiara. And just like a story written in a book, me and Rastiara and I confessed to each other, tied up and became compatible.

''Right!　That was mostly a lie!　But it was true, too!　For example, the big reveal of Master's history with women?　Oh no, I've heard it's good to mix in a little truth when lying, and it's true!　One hee hee!

　He laughed and admitted that the day was a travesty full of lies. With that attitude I tell him in the lowest voice possible that there is no such thing as 'trust'.

'...... From now on, I'm going to talk to you like you're a liar.'
'No, I'm not. It's not that I'm a liar, it's just that people are creatures who want to keep their promises but can't.

　But Tiara defended herself in a voice even colder and lower than mine, saying that it was natural for people to lie.

　Whether she was serious or trying to go up in smoke - even I, who had acquired many skills after a long battle, couldn't read it at all. At the very least, I could only see that the current Tiara possessed a value of 1.72 or higher in 'Fraud'.

　Each and every word of that fraudulent tiara made me brace myself.
　After all, Tiara Hoozeyers, who threatened to take on the world with her "past vision" earlier, is really the saint Tiara I'm talking to now, who has escaped for a thousand years. At the very least, he has the same level of strength and nuisance as the 'Stealers of Reason'.

　I'm going to have to be careful, and I'm going to check my memory of the day I was in love with Rust Tiara.
　At that time, this guy had said this.
　I mimic Tiara's skill 'reading' and reread the events of the past with precision.

"Yeah. I copied and degraded his soul, and then it fell apart, and it's all tattered and missing. It's a bit of a stretch to call this the person in question! It's nauseating to watch, isn't it? "-- I'm just a 'magic (messenger)' with a bit of a memory of the saintly Tiara from a thousand years ago.

　It's a lie.
　I can be sure of this because I saw her a thousand years ago earlier.
　A saintly tiara doesn't give up on being herself just because she's a bit disjointed and lacks a soul.

　That day, the 'something that is not certain if it was a person or magic' that was there was definitely Tiara herself. And just as she said, there are a lot of copies springing up in the world after this millennium that can be said to be the tiara itself - and surely, all of them are real.

　Furthermore, the real thing was "Saint Tiara doesn't like her master," as she had repeated many times - but

"That's what I mean. I'm done with the old story. Master, you have to live a new story and find a new way to end it...

　This is another big lie.
　I've come to know Tiara's overly paranoid love for her.
　Even if it's thousands of years old, she has an obsession that keeps the old story going.

　In other words, the only person who was right that day was Rastiala.
　The good-natured guy had been straight-hearted, putting others before himself, desperately trying to save Tiara's life. The true meaning of that guy's words could be understood now.

"-- I won't allow it to end like that!　Lady Tiara, why are you lying to me!　Lady Tiara is qualified!　I'm qualified to express my thoughts before anyone else!　So confess here!　In front of everyone!　Clearly!　That legendary saint, Lord Tiara, loves Kanami more than anyone.　Otherwise, your story wouldn't be over!　It's not going to be over forever!

　The story of Tiara isn't over yet.
　That's a given.
　All along, Tiara has no intention of dying. There is a madness that keeps her turning the same page over and over again until she can read the last page she is happy with.
　And the main source of that madness is--

"Master, I like...

　He seemed to have read the thought again, and Tiara herself spoke the rest of the story.
　It was that even after a thousand years, Tiara Fuzzyards still loved Aikawa Uzumiami.

''Ah, Master Master ....... ''Master Master, Master Master, shhhhhh!　I really, really, really like you!　For the record, I love it to death!　I love it so much I want to kill it (・・・・・・・・)!　I love it!　Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee--!

　No more daring, Tiara echoes her confession.
　The bloody space is filled with only her love. Only, in that crazy confession, the words that stuck with me were--

'Yes!　Because this means exactly what it says!　I'm dead and I killed my mentor (・・・・・・)!　And on top of that, my love for it still hasn't subsided one iota!　That's the kind of heavy love my daughter felt!

　As far as I'm aware, that scum (Ragne) killed Aikawa Uzumi (me).
　However, Tiara talks about the whole series of events as if she were taking credit for it. She speaks as if she, too, can control the strings. I'm not able to see what's behind her words. Even though I know that this Tiara's innocent-looking tone is false, and that she's really a thoughtful big liar - no, because I know, I can't judge which one is the truth anymore.

'No, haha. It was hard to woo the girl who sensed it and bring it to a point of compassion, you know?　Because of your magic, Ayde, I had to relive some of my hidden memories!　Ayd-kun, you're the one who steals logic, but you're too much of a rebel against the 'magic thread'.

　Whenever the time comes, Tiara speaks as if she were bragging about the other side of the story.

　I'd like to ask a variety of questions ...... first, but I thought I should respond to Tiara's confession now. You may want him to play it lightly, but unlike the old me, he knew very well that this confession was not to be played lightly.

'Tiara ....... Thank you for liking me like that. ...... but I'll choose 'Las Tiaras'. I won't choose 'Tiara'. Maybe that choice will never change again.

　I'll say so.
　To be honest, a thousand years ago, I was a 'freak' as a person. Even from my point of view now, I was very unapproachable, and I was enough of a lunatic to make people think I was creepy. I thank you so much for liking me and helping me in so many ways.

　That's when, for the first time, Tiara's merry chatter stopped.
　Then, after the confession of love, a very unsteady laugh filled the air.

''--!　...... hihi, hihihi. Hihihihihi!　Hahahahahaha!　Ah-ha-ha-ha!　Ha, ha, ha, ha ....... Yes. Yeah, that's fine. It's the right thing to do. Oh .......

　I let out a huge sigh.
　Feeling a mixture of jealousy there, I ask, including a confirmation of my earlier memory.

'You set that up, didn't you?　...... because whoever I choose to be will die at 'a cost'.
'...... Yeah. If you have a heart-to-heart with your master, he's going to be in a lot of trouble. That's why I supported my daughter after a thousand years as a mess. To put it bluntly, a substitute.

　Tiara admitted.

　After that, he ran and ran and ran and ran, looking for a place to impose the 'price' - in the end, he must have made a substitute for himself.
　That was the 'Demon Stone Man (Jewelculus)' Rustyara Hoozeyers.

'So it's true ....... Even if it is, I would never give up on someone I love ....... I don't want to bend anything anymore.

　As long as I live, people around me will be unhappy. The same worries as Tida's a thousand years ago are attacking me now - and yet, I'm unwaveringly looking my way.

　Surely, the chemistry between me and Rustyala was just as someone had planned.
　But even if I was being manipulated from the 'thread' behind the scenes, that doesn't make my memories of Rustyala a lie. It's true that I met her, we laughed and explored the labyrinth, rescued each other, and had heartfelt and enjoyable adventures together.

　I love Rastiara.
　Just because there is a "curse" doesn't mean it will change.
　You can't change it, and I'm sure everyone (・・・・) would agree with me: .......

'I don't want to bend anything anymore, or ....... But is a master who thinks that way really a master?　Just like my daughter, I think even that feeling is 'made up'.　Sister Yotaki, it was made by you.

　Then Tiara asks a disagreeable question and comes to shake me up.
　It was also a proposition from Aikawa Uzumi, which has been going on for a thousand years.
　But I would answer immediately.

I don't care if it's 'made up'. I am no longer confused. Even if we ourselves are made, 'I (I) am (I) am. Even if our lives are structured with strings, the path we have taken is the path we have chosen by choice.

　I think I said the same thing in a past battle. As if to recreate that battle, Tiara tries to chase me with a tone of voice similar to that man (Palinkulon).

''Heh, hmm. Then what is that you?　Are you saying that you're a real master at continuing to play the 'ideal' of others?　Is it typical for Aikawa Uzumi to be the 'me that is me' that Yotaki's sister forced me to be?　You know yourself that it's only the skin and no substance at all, Aikawa Uzumi?　Hey, isn't there a discrepancy?　You really hate your sister, don't you?　That's the point of life!　Hey, hey, hey, are you listening to me?　Shhhh!

　Unlike the past, my mind remains as calm as the surface of a lake.
　What comes to mind is an event that happened just recently.
　The last image of the idiot (that guy) who killed each other at the 'top' of Hoozeyards Castle.
　Ragne Kaikwola, who lost the meaning of life and everything, and yet died laughing and spouting contradictory words--

Lagune said that 'I, the contradictory me' is the one I can be proud of. --and so am I (・・・・・).

　I don't disagree with the statement that I hate Yangtaki.
　At that 'summit', it wasn't just Ragne, but also Nosfy. Thanks to her lighting up the two of us scum until the end, I'm no longer afraid to move towards the truth.

'I know a lot of things have become pointless. But as a human being, you can be wrong and contradict each other at least a little bit. But that doesn't stop me from moving forward. From now on, I will keep moving forward: ...... and I promised myself that I would.

　The series of stagnant answers made Tiara roar out in excitement.

'Oh ....... How could a master who was so easily lost to himself with a light heartbeat be so strong ......!　I feel like a parent watching their child grow up, this one!

　Sure, I've grown up quite a bit compared to the me of a thousand years ago, when the trauma was triggered by a light confession.
　But I was still being treated like a child. We'll see what that means.

'Anyway, ......, all of this strength of mind is just what you guys have in mind, isn't it?'
'You know exactly what I mean, you're right. The strength of mind that Master thought he was risking his life to get was only growing in the palm of our hands!　Hee hee hee.

　It's something I've always been faintly aware of.
　And it was clear from the conversation with Yotaki after his victory over Lagune in The Summit.
　It was no surprise that Yotaki had confessed then that everything had gone according to his plan.

"Aha. And now!　All the [reasoning] that your brother had, including downstairs, is over!　Your brother has shed his weakness and gained true strength: ......!　All just like that "prediction of the future"!　Aha, aha, aha--!

　Taking that line as our cue, we began our own private family meeting.
　It must have caused a natural disaster to strike the continent that frightened Noir-chan on the edge of the Foozeyards.
　It's not hard to imagine that my dimensional magic and Yotaki's ice-cold magic clashed with each other.

　Yes.
　I can imagine it.
　But I can't remember any of the details of the battle.
　The memory of the time after facing Yotaki has completely slipped away.
　When I came to my senses, I was in that "winter world".

　From that, I can only infer one thing.

Oh. That's why (...), I lost to Yotaki, right?
'Yeah, I lost. I made sure of that through Noir-chan properly. Master became the 'best' at the 'top' of the world and earned the right to challenge Sister Yotaki. But you spouted the exact same lines as what you just said to sister Yotaki and fought with a strong heart ...... and still lost.

　The outcome of the battle is clear to me here.

　Apparently, I'm a loser, and even the memory of my defeat is taken away from me. But I'm used to that sort of thing. My agitation is thin, and I nod back lightly, "Yeah.　

'Yeah!　He was the 'best' master in this world, but everything was on schedule for Sister Yangtaki!　She fell into the hands of her sister Yotaki easily!　Yes, everything is going to go away!

　After that, Yotaki must have woken up and started behaving freely in this other world.
　I'm a little curious about what kind of events happened on the continent before the connection to that 'Winter World' - but

Do you want to see it?　I'd love to see how you lost! If you want to see, you'll have to collect my blood next. Then we'll continue with the 'past vision' again--
''No, that's fine. That much is normal, I'll hear directly from Yotaki. For that matter, what has happened to Rastiara since then?　I'd like to know more about that one.

　I shook my head.
　Certainly, I want to know about the battle between me and Yotaki. There's a high possibility that important information is scattered there to find out what's inside Youtaki's mind.

　However, my first priority right now is my friend Rustyala.

　Just before I saw the earlier "Fania Arc", I saw her at Fuzzyards Castle fighting against the three "Stealers of the Principle of Water", "Stealers of the Principle of Blood" and "Stealers of Nothingness".
　If Tiara is going to successfully guide me through the 'past vision', then I would like her to turn her viewpoint to the grand entrance rather than the rooftop of Foozeyards Castle.

　Hearing that request, Tiara let out another laugh and quickly sighed.

''--Hahahaha, that's right. Hahahaha ....... I'm already doing that ....... Haha .......

　You've set this up yourself, and you need to stop shocking me every time I put Lastiara first.

　I don't know what to say to you.
　I know what Tiara likes to say and do, but showing an 'ideal' to someone who knows it's an act will only hurt them, so it has to be half-hearted, but with my magic and skills, if I want to do an 'ideal' that doesn't make them realize it's an 'ideal', I can't help but do it. -- and I'm worried about this, and Tiara sounds a little sulky.

'If you want to know, just go and pick him up,'

　It wasn't quite what I had expected "After Rustyala" to be.

'...... to pick up?'　Is Rustyala in that 'winter world'?
''I'm there. Right now, sister Yotaki is putting 'magic strings' on the frozen creatures and taking over their brains, but ...... actually, there's a place where that thing can't reach. When you wake up, head there.
Heh. ......

　I knew that in the Winter World, hallucinations always followed me.
　However, I am impressed to find out that the reason for this is because the "magic thread" is directly connected to the brain nerves. It's quite a terrible thing to do, but we both had the awareness that Aikawa Yotaki could do this much, so we moved on to the next explanation without any problems.

''Yeeeee?　The weakness of the "magic thread" is that it's hard to extend underground. This is especially true of the labyrinth and the "deepest part". And then, Noi and I prepared a special space for it. The "mainland" Foozeyards Castle and the "Allied Nations" Foozeyards Cathedral - the basement of these two. In this place, the influence of Yotaki sister is lessened.

　Tiara had obviously prepared a place to fight Yotaki in her home town of Fuzzyards.
　I remembered the basement of the castle where I fought the 'Blood Stealer' Fafner, but I quickly shook my head.

'The 'mainland' Fuzzyards Castle is a long way away. Is the basement of the cathedral the right place to go?

　Perhaps the next time I wake up, I'll be in the Confederacy.
　Although there may be a [Connection], the cathedral is closer to me than heading to the [Mainland].

　It's not that I'm completely unfamiliar with the inside of that cathedral.
　I heard about the structure from Dia when I went to kidnap Rastiara once. I didn't go through it when I broke in with Ryner's brother, Hein-san, but there was definitely a staircase that led to the basement.

''--Yes. At the end of that staircase, my daughter Rustyala Fuzzyaz is waiting for the 'hero'.

　Tiara, a book lover, called me the 'hero'.
　I wanted to deny that grandiose and unworthy designation, but I nodded my head in indulgence, accepting it.

　I can't just shake my head at being Rastiara's 'protagonist'. That day, indeed, I was begged by her to be the 'protagonist' - I made a 'contract' with the affirmation (yes).

'Before I was born and after I died (・・・・・), that's where she continues to wait. As the new 'heroine' of this world, I've always dreamed of meeting the 'hero (hero)' of another world, all the way to ......

　Tiara said the death of Rustyala without a care in the world.

　That word sends my heart, which had been normal all along, in waves. However, I soon recover. I'm not going to be able to get out of this other world, where you can come back to life with magic. --It's okay. I told myself that, and I looked forward to seeing Lastiara again, believing that I would definitely see her again.

　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what to do with it. That was also the reason why I showed her the 'Fania version' in so much detail.

''As you know, that girl is the one--''
　The convergence of the Levantine religion that began 1,000 years ago (...)
　The end point of the "Magical Stone Line" that stretched across two continents for a thousand years (...)
　A masterpiece of the Jewelcruise, the crystallization of lost technology....
　Its existence is the very power of God that Romis Neesha wanted. At the same time, she is the ultimate in "human power". She is the sixth stage of the plan (・・・・), she is the true 'God of the Present' in the true sense of the word.

　I'm going to brag to me about the value of my own best 'make believe'.

In a story of only four years - no, I was only four years old, and that's how I arrived at Rustyala Foodsayers. She was more mature than anyone else, more pure and innocent than anyone else, more like a 'heroine' than anyone else, and connected with the 'hero' of the story. ...... just as I planned, you know.

　It's just that all that pride--

Now Tiara Hoozeyer's can move in earnest. ...... Oh, it took us a thousand years to get here.

　It's just that Las Tiara was only a sacrifice for the real 're-birth' of Saint Tiara.

　No matter how sacredly he expressed it, it was the same thing I hated about Lomis. He just imposed his 'price' on his own followers. That's also what this guy did, he put his own death on his daughter, who would have been his own blood--.

...... I'm sure I'll never forgive you to the end.

　Even though I knew I wasn't the most qualified in the world to talk about it, I had to deny Tiara.

'That's fine. No, that's fine (・・・・・・・・) -- but my master has no choice but to cooperate with me. Whatever you do, there's no one better to help you than me. For example, I'm already the only one in the world who knows what's going on in the heart of my sister Yangtaki that Master wants to know.
'Yangtaki's ......?　Did you come from there?　To the Heart of Yangtaki.

　A thousand years ago, Tiara was fighting to the death to read it.
　She says she's already achieved that goal.

'That's the perk of being a millennial winner. Being the 'last man standing', I've had plenty of time to find out. If you want to hear it, you'll have to make your way to my Rasu-chan.

　It may be a lie.
　But the current Tiara Fooziers had the dignity to make you think so.
　Unlike the "Stealers of Reason" and the Apostles, who were defeated and skipped a thousand years, she has a proven track record of success in defeating the enemy and continuing on to the next thousand years.

It's about time. The past is too much, the master's main body is running out of magic power and it's bad.

　Tiara seemed to be done with what she wanted to talk about and started to fold the conversation.
　However, there are still things I want to ask her.

''Well, wait!　I'm not done talking to you yet!

　He lined up the remaining questions in his head and immediately discarded them.
　First of all, I'll have to ask Yotaki about 'her' - but I'll have to ask him about his childhood friend from the original world. The other thing is the world beyond the "break", the power of the "magic thread", the purpose of the current tiara...

A 'slice'. It's the 'deepest part', if you want to call it that. Once you get there, you'll find out pretty easily what it is. The truth about the world that Noi has been hiding for a long time is right there. Well, it's none of our business.

　Before I could ask, Tiara answered quickly. What a caring and gentle guy, I thought - but the words that followed were selfish and evil itself.

'Yes. I don't care about the world, I don't care about the world. The only thing that matters is the story (us).

　I was a little horrified that I didn't have a body.
　I'm just saying the same thing as the tiara of my memory earlier - even after a thousand years, it hasn't faded at all. That thought gave me a sense of strength from her that the 'Stealers of Reason' did not have.

'...... That's right. I'm not going to change. I'm always looking forward to the end of the book, and I turn the pages in anticipation of the final outcome. That's what I live for.

　Although I couldn't peek inside, I had a feeling that it was the same as Tiara a thousand years ago, only there.

''Maybe no matter what Master does, it will end up being in the palm of my hand and sister Yotaki's hand, but ....... Still, I think we all expect Master to end on a high note, one that will betray our expectations. He said it's only because he's a master that he can do that--

　And then I am left to my own devices.
　The last page of the book, which neither Yotaki nor "The World" could have written.

'Hey. What would you do for the last page, Master?　After a thousand years, a year of living again, and a little stronger thanks to The Stealers of Reason, what does Master want at the end?

　The faces of people I know come to my mind when asked.

　The two 'stealers of reason' who have become like family, Nosfi and Ragne.
　Tida and Arti, who have reaffirmed their connection to each other. And even the best of friends and proudest of Rowen Eyed Titty ...... in case you were wondering, but that includes the Palinkron one.

　Then there were the friends that came to mind. Dia, Maria, Snow, Reaper, Ryner, and Sera. There are also two of them there, Hein and Hailey, with Elmirad and Glenn in line as well.
　And finally, Rustyala.

'On the last page, give me your 'answer'.

　But I was interrupted by the fact that it wasn't the right time to ask for an answer.
　At the same time, I felt a push back.

　It was a faint force, like a "thread," and it was just a push that "felt" like a push. But for sure, I felt the presence of Tiara's "hand". And I felt as if that 'hand' was telling me not to look back anymore.

　With that, my vision dimmed and the world grew distant.
　Knowing that it was a precursor to my awakening, I accepted the darkness as useless to resist.

　The question and answer in the moment of separation made it clear that Tiara's purpose was faint.
　All she still wants to do is "read the last page".

　With that wish of hers in my hand, I go back.
　With my back to the world a thousand years from now, where Yotaki is waiting for me--