"The third year of the new year.

　I learned that Sister Youtaki had also grown up without my knowledge, and I immediately set out to investigate the inside of Hoozeyer's Castle.

　I wanted to know where and what sister Yotaki had been doing while my master and I were on our journey.
　If we can find traces, we can guess the details of that new 'ice power'. In some cases, there was also the possibility that they could imitate it.

　First and foremost, the most important thing is to know. That's what I had learned from my "adventure", and I continued to run around the castle. However, in the middle of that investigation, an apostle stops me.

''-- Tiara!　We need to talk!　I have a very good story!

　A woman I'd become friends with over the past two years stood in front of me.

'Sis sister?　What is the ...... story?

　I don't use honorifics, I speak as a friend. By the way, I'm the only person allowed to use this nickname other than 'the one who steals reason'. So I am a bit proud of it.

''Hmph. It's the perfect plan to ensure that we get through the upcoming battle. The name of the plan is 'The Banner of Light', that's what we're calling it--

　However, the apostle who took the place of his sister tried to force me, his sisterhood, to sacrifice.
　When I heard all the stories that the Sith sister brought up, even my expression became muddled, even as a quintessential person.

''--Uh, you mean, I'm under the banner of the Hoosiers?
'Yes, I do!　Be thankful!　Tiara Hoosiers can be the foundation for continental unity!　Be proud to die for the accomplishment of our apostle's purpose!　You will remain in the history books forever as the 'saint' chosen by the Apostle Sith!

　In the habit of being a friend, she mentions my death without any hesitation.
　Thinking it's the same as usual Sis sister, I turn to the other Apostle Diprakra-sama who was standing behind her.

...... Now that's just what the Sith said. I've been told that you are already rumored to be a "saint" following the Savior in many places. For this reason, I've decided that you are the right person for the job. Of course, I've already spoken with the kings who are part of your family.

　Somewhat proudly, Master Diprakra goes on to tell me about my future.
　'I don't mind that my fathers sold me out, but that new role was not something I could easily tolerate.

'Wait a minute ......!　I'm not ready to be told that all of a sudden. ......!

　Right now, I have my hands full with just my sister Youtaki.
　I don't have a second to do that.

''Hm?　The banner of the Hoosiers means that it's a trump card in the fight against the 'Northern League' ...... isn't that what you like?　You will be at the center of this great comeback from adversity, won't you?

　Lord Diprakra is diligent about the human mind.
　With his thoughtfulness and observational skills, he knows what I like. Indeed, it's a very attractive proposition to be able to trump the great war that's about to happen. Just imagining being able to strike from the side with an imposing presence while the "Stealers of Reason" are fighting is exciting to me.

　However, I feel that once we get into the path of the Hoosiers' banner now, we'll never get out of it again.

　It's like, for example.
"The Tiara Foozeyers, the banner of the Foozeyers, as the 'Flag of Light,' became a symbol of hope for the 'Confederacy. However, to carry that flag was also to bear the entire fate of the Foozeyers. The Tiara Fuzzyaz, who was entrusted with the task of being a "substitute" for all things, is forced to stand in front of her loved ones at the end of her horrific battle. --All of this is in order to become an "alternative". That was the role that the girl called 'The Flag of Light' was born to play.
　The last page of the book called.

　Just the other day, I could never see myself falling into it, only because I reaffirmed my naivety. I spun the words to escape from that path, poisoning my mind with the words, "Can't stand to die?

'Where is Lady Legacy?　What did he say?　And Sister Yotaki, too: ......

　I tried to get confirmation that someone was not opposed to the plan. To which the Sith sister would answer without a pause.

'Legacy and Yotaki?　Come to think of it, you two have been working on something together lately. I haven't asked the two of you if you're up for it yet.
'What?　Those two are doing something together: ......?

　A slight deviation from my intentions brought me some surprising information.
　My eyes widened at a combination that had never happened before.

　Most of all, I felt uncomfortable that the quiet Legacey-sama was acting actively.
　It seems that Diprakra-sama was the same way, and she shows the same reaction as me.

''What?　That Legacy?
'You didn't know that?　...... Heh, you didn't know about the diplakra. Heh.
Mmm, what's the rush: ......?

　Sister Sis seemed to feel the advantage of being the only one who knew, and with a smirk and a nasty look on her face, she encouraged Diprakra.
　At that moment, she also felt uncomfortable with her strangely competitive nature.

　But now, she prioritized her own safety and asked for details about the two of them.

''Sis sister. Where are sister Yotaki and Legacy-sama right now?
That's the tower where you were first treated two years ago. You've been doing some strange research in there for years.

　Apparently they had been in the place where I had been imprisoned in the name of recuperation all along.
　It was a blind spot that that empty tower had been repurposed. That's why I can be sure that that was the hiding place of sister Yotaki for two years.

''Excuse me, Di Prakra-sama!　I'm going to go talk to the two of you for a minute!　I'll tell you the story later--!

　Sith-sama and Diprakra-sama stopped me from behind, but I didn't care and ran towards the tower.

　I had never been back to that place in the past two years, but I had never taken a wrong turn.

　I walked straight to my nostalgic home in the corner of the grounds - until I reached the entrance with a line of guards.
　However, the soldiers who spotted me looked flustered and tried to stop my steps.

''Princess Tiara ......!　In a place like this, the princess is not--
'Something like this?　This tower was the place that supported me through my illness!　Best of all, it's the place where I first met Master Gentile!　Get out of my way!

　I blackmailed the soldiers, who had been the gatekeepers, into retreating.
　Then, like a landlord, I returned to the tower in a stately manner.

　The tower, which once had only an old staircase and the top floor, had changed drastically.
　The ceiling had become unusually low, and a large number of bookshelves had been brought in and filled with researchers he had never seen before. I pushed past them and climbed the familiar stairs. What awaited me at the end of it was the first time I had ever seen the second floor. I walk through that spacious, conference room-like room and walk up the next staircase at a quick pace as well. When I reached the third floor, I saw a scene similar to the basement of the research institute I had seen in Fania.

　Around the large dissecting table, countless corpses of 'demons' were piled up around it.
　Some of the corpses had already been dissected and their organs were scattered around. In that hellish space, there was a row of faces that I recognized.

　The first was Helmina Neisha, the lord of Fania. She noticed me entering the room and stopped her work, rolling her eyes.

''What, Tiara-chan ......!　This is ......, its ......

　She swims her eyes, looking very uncomfortable, and then tries to excuse herself. I smile at her and reassure her, even though my nose hurts from the unique iron smell of blood.

'You can keep doing it! Don't worry about me!
...... Um, aren't you angry?
'I wouldn't be angry. I'm still one of the fans of Helmina's "Blood Power --but let me have a look around.
Yes, sir.

　Intensifying my speech, I let Ms. Helmina quieten down and turned my attention to the second familiar face.

　A child apostle in the center of the room was giving instructions to Helmina-san and the other researchers.
　I had never seen Lady Legacy speak so briskly before. On top of that, he was surprisingly good at leadership. Everyone in the research team listened to what he said and moved with ease.

　I tried to talk to this Mr. Legacy, but--

A tiara. I've been waiting for you to come back. I'm in the process of creating a human being from scratch in order to understand how it works. With the help of Helmina Neysha, an excellent human being there, I aim to be the one who can safely purify the demon poison.

　He turned to me before I could ask him, and he was able to answer briefly about the current situation.

　Two years ago, I had heard about the idea of creating a being that could safely purify the 'demon poison'. This was Helmina Neysha's plan to create a "Magus Stone Human". It seems that this apostle didn't hesitate to get involved in that ridiculous plan.

　Moreover, as far as I can see now, the plan that was supposed to take a hundred years to complete was about to take shape.
　Two years ago, I noticed the quality of the experimental work on the dissecting table in this room because I had imitated The Power of Blood and trained it as a mainstay all along.

　While I can't speak in amazement, Legacy-sama continues to give me the information I want.

'This will no longer be the original creation of a 'magician' ....... It would be more accurate to say the creation of an artificial 'reason-stealing thing'. As an 'Apostle', I was better suited to create a 'reason-stealing thing' than a 'Fiend'.
With Helmina's knowledge, Lady Legacie has a new 'Steal the Reason' at ......?

　If this division of labour can truly complete the safe purification of "evil poisons", then all sorts of problems will have developed. Depending on the progress of their research, the ultimate goal of "a being that can circulate all the demonic poisons on the planet" would not be a dream.

　Standing in front of the dissecting table, Legacy-sama continues to talk about the plan to reach that dream without hiding anything.

I'm going to make it bear the "curse" artificially. I've chosen to use the "charm" which is the power to guide the minds of others. This will not only make no one unhappy, but will also bring happiness, as long as it is controlled correctly.

　It seems that the aim is not to suppress the occurrence of the "curse" but to control it.
　It was a bit similar to the way to avoid the 'curse' that I am challenging now.

The idea for the 'curse' was given to me by your 'gentile'. It is said that the 'curse' of 'enchantment' can support people's hearts and has the potential to contribute to world peace. I heard that there is a precedent in the other world.

　At the end of her story, Lady Legacy turned her attention to her own collaborator. Out of the corner of her gaze, the 'Gentile' who was sitting in the corner of the room was brushing her hair.

''...... You-taki sister, you've been doing this kind of thing in a place like this, haven't you?''

　Calling my name, I approach the person who sentenced me to death just the other day.
　Sister Yotaki responds to that with a smile.

''I'll just be watching. The leader is Legacy and the Foozeyards country, and I am only an advisor. I'm only watching to see if he, as a 'human' novice, will do anything out of line with humanity, as asked by Legacy himself.
'Heh. ....... I was asked to, you know?

　I stare at it, thinking that there is no such unbelievable word for it.

　The 'thread' that stretched from Yotaki sister's feet had dyed the floor of the building pure white, just like the white garden in the example.
　And one by one, the 'thread' is connected to Legacy-sama and Helmina-san.

'An advisor, huh? It sounds like fun. Maybe I should become an advisor too.
'Legacy seems to be very close to you, and I'm sure they'll welcome you. You should be able to participate in the plan as a collaborator, not as an advisor like me.

　It was something I had suggested with a light check, but it was easily approved.

　From that lightness, I knew that the "Magus Stone Man" project was unstoppable.
　What's more, it is highly likely that the reason why I came up with the idea of assigning the role of the 'Flag of Light' to the completed 'Fiendish Stone Human' is because of Sister Yotaki's guidance.

Heh. ....... If you can join now, I'll do it .......

　Still, we can't let what happens in this tower go unchecked. I can't just accept the "Banner of Light" plan.
　The best I can do now is to participate in the plan and "Tiara Fouzouyas can only impose the role of the 'Flag of Light' on the resulting 'Demon Stone Human'," my various skills in predicting the future gave me the answer.

"--No problem, Tiara. You're welcome.

　Legacy-sama nodded without looking at me. With his back to me in front of him, I gave one true feeling to the companion I will be cooperating with.

'...... Lady Legacy, now I am a little surprised. To be honest, I thought you were more apathetic than that. And that's exactly what I didn't think you had a single thing you wanted to do in this world.
'What I want to do in this world, or ....... Sure, that's probably something I don't have. That's why I want to know. What would happen if a being like me was born? What would they think? What would you want? Where would you go? I want to see it. With you, I'm trying to make a 'person' out of curiosity - just to see.

　To my true feelings, Legacy-sama also responded to my true feelings.

　I hadn't noticed it all along, but sister Yotaki was right, he seems to have a strong affinity for me. However, the sight of his posterior as he spun those words was unsettling and unbearable to watch.

'Maybe this will teach me the meaning of my birth ....... Then I will finally know I am ....... Finally I can be a 'person' like everyone else ......!

　He looks like a featherworm being sucked in by the light of a burning fire.

　The same is true of the bloody woman next to her (Helmina Neisha). She continues to murmur excitedly, wishing for world salvation through "blood power".

"I can go. Here, we can go this time: ......!　If I and the Apostle's knowledge combined, I could reach the depths that I couldn't reach alone: ......!　In just a few moments, those who have sacrificed to this day will be able to sleep easy: ......!

　Ms. Helmina was a mad scientist-like person, but once she had assumed the position of a lord, her madness had died down. However, she found that her mind was rapidly becoming unstable.

　The two of them are moving forward towards the hope of the "Maguseki Human" project, Hikari.
　And her sister, Yotaki, is watching over them from behind.

　Looking into her dark eyes, I'm convinced of this--
　Lady Diprakra who suddenly planned the 'Banner of Light'.
　The Sith sister who was highly competitive with her fellow apostles.
　Lady Legacy, who began to search for herself like a lost child.
　Helmina who was once again obsessed with the study of blood.
　-- I see that this is the beginning of the real final chapter, which is not a one-sided effort, as sister Yotaki said, and I hastily activate my skill 'Reading'.

　I try to read the last page of this story based on all the information I can find - but I can't see the future at all.

'But today, I'm going to leave for the moment ....... Maybe Sister Sis and Master Diprakra will be looking for me. ......
Okay. Well, then, we can get someone to take it to you later. I hope you can help me out.

　I left the room after only promising to receive a progress report.

　I walked through the second floor of the conference room and out of the tower from the ground floor, which was crowded with researchers.
　He then walked towards his original location, trying to give the other two apostles the answer to the 'Banner of Light' plan.

　However, along the way, he met a master who came out of another tower.
　His expression was unrecognizable due to his black mask, but he called out my name in a bright voice that showed that he had found one more hope (light).

'Tiara!　There you are!　Now that you've decided where to go next, listen up!

　I glance at the tower behind my master.
　This is the tower where he has studied and practiced "spellcasting" for two years. This one has also been repeatedly expanded and has become huge like a large castle.

　Many researchers from other countries have been staying in this tower, and they mainly deal with and cure the disease of the Demonic Poison.

　If the tower in the corner of Fusoya's is the back research institute, then this should be the front research institute.
　And then, like a dreaming boy, Master, who knew only the front side of the road, explained the outline of his journey to me.

'I heard that in the southwest valley, there's an earth ant mixologist called the bearer of the 'Divine Iron Forge'. Let's go see that man!　There's even a story about him making bangles and necklaces that absorb 'demonic poison' and help people who are sick. If you can teach me that person's skills, I'm sure Yotaki's healing will go even further: ......!

　In contrast to my current situation, Master is in extremely good mood.
　For the past two years, excellent researchers from all over the world gathered in Fuzyards to study the "Devil's Poison" as planned, and they worked in unison - it's no wonder that my sister's illness was getting better.

　However, the research being carried out in the Huzu Yards Country is not only aimed at curing Youtaki's sister. I'm also involved in the hellish cauldron of experiments that I just saw, so like my mentor, I can't be happy about it.

　Above all, I can't stop feeling what I should call the current (...) of the world created by Sister Yotaki right now, and I can't stop being filled with unspeakable anxiety.

　I hurriedly calculated the profit and loss of my next 'adventure'.
　It won't be a problem for my master to perform 'savior' activities on my next trip. It's also easy to predict that I will be treated as a 'saint' beside him. However, I have already guessed that I can take the place of that 'saint'. If that is the case, the best thing I can choose is--

...... tiara?

　I'm thinking with a divine look on my face when I'm approached by a concerned voice. Immediately I answer with a smile.

''It's nothing, Master. I'm looking forward to that 'divine iron forging' thing. It's getting safer these days and we have more time to spare. Let's take some time to learn the blacksmithing business this time!
...... Oh. You'll have to learn it with me.
''Let's make an item for Sister Yotaki with our own hands!　Don't just rely on Mr. Diprakra, we have to make our own sometimes!
That's right, Tiara. We've already got the groundwork for creating a magic tool (item). It's not a bad time to give it a try.

　There is no need to inform Master of the bloody experiments going on behind the scenes at Foozeyards.
　Abandoning the adventure and purging the Hoosiers now will only reduce the amount of technology I can steal. If that's the case, I'll give priority to this "divine iron smith" thing first.
　As far as the world of the 'Gentile' world is concerned, there is little chance that Sister Yotaki has blacksmithing skills. If you obtain the power of the 'divine iron smith' here, it can be a hand that can be used to counter Yotaki's sister.

''Yes, let's make it together ....... With our hands, we can make a weapon (item) for sister Youtaki--''

　I knew that if I could just find one thing to counteract it, I could get out of this constant feeling of pointing backwards.

　-- Thus, I'm heading to my next 'adventure'.

　In this third year, I will succeed in imposing the 'Banner of Light' on the 'Demon Stone Man' project and gaining the skills of 'Divine Iron Forging'. I'll also finish investigating the Fuzzy Yards and figure out all the actions of my sister Yotaki until today.

　However, he can't wipe out the feeling of being on the back foot.
　On the contrary, they were worried that they might have been manipulated in every move they played. All I could think of was the fear that it was too late for me to do anything about it, and my fears were growing to no end.