The 'ordeal' was over.
　The pure white sun disappeared from the labyrinth without a trace.

　It stopped at the 99th level, which was, in both name and reality, the last stronghold.
　However, the most difficult level of the labyrinth, which was probably the most difficult level, was also burned down and changed from its original form. Just like the previous levels, it was forcibly repainted into a lava area and the ceiling disappeared.

　But the ground is still there.
　On top of it, we were facing each other.

　Right in front of us.
　At arm's length, Maria, who had exhausted her powers, was kneeling and turning her face down.

　I'm on my knees as well.
　But there was still room for me to raise my head. What's more, the sun has disappeared, but the purple-black dark clouds of the Black Shift Overlight are still hovering around us.

　The sun and the dark clouds drowned out each other.
　It was the dark cloud that won.
　The decisive factor was the aid of the dimensional attributes of the 90 layers of the labyrinth - not.

　The gaze (...).
　It's a gaze that has been felt all along, from the beginning.
　We already know that this gaze is the 'world' itself and also the 'deepest'.
　Basically, "chanting" is a deal with this and get favoritism for your magic power. However, if you use the favored magic power to erase your client, even the most benevolent "world" will rush to stop you.

　As a result, just before the sun reaches the "deepest part", Maria's "chanting" collapses and her magic power rapidly decreases.
　In contrast, me and Noi's "Black Shift Overlight" had passed through the 90th layer, and the magic power and momentum had reached its peak.

　There were many other mixed reasons, but the gaze was the most decisive factor, and there was no doubt that the match was won.

　In other words, this game.
　No matter how it happened, Maria was always destined to run out of magic power and stop at the 99th layer (here).

　I tremble in my throat as I try to tell him that.

"Maria ......, there was no way you could fight me head on right now and win ....... Even if I did, they said it should be when I was stuck in the 'deepest' ......, didn't they all say so?　Why--

　Maria's breathing is really shallow when asked.
　She is exhausted. I feel like I'm going to fall down right now.
　But hearing my words, she smiles, albeit more shallowly than her breathing.

　All I get back from Maria is a smile.
　Instead, I hear a response from behind me.
　It was the voice of the Grim Reaper, the one person who had slipped into the safety zone before this 'Hundred and Tenth Trial'.

I don't really like the words of that "apostle" ......, but I have no choice but to say it for you. You know better than anyone else. --It's not important whether you win or lose. Some things come true in defeat.

　When I turned around, there was a reaper who was trying to get into my shadow, as if he was going home.
　Further back, a cleaner, who had left two magic stones with me, was standing in the background.

　He must have fallen leisurely down the stairwell from the tenth to the ninety-ninth layer while watching our magical clash. The two of us now have the ability and magic to do that.

　''Yes.
　Both of them could have taken the option of not just watching, too.

'Reaper ....... Why didn't you stop Maria?
I'm not taking anyone's side. That's what I've been saying all along, isn't it?
'But you were supposed to be the 'judge'. I also said that you would stop anything that was not worthy of our 'duel' ....... You said you'd be the one to judge on my behalf, as I can only see 'Rustyala' anymore: ......!

　The Reaper's quick response makes me wince.
　Now I've lost my "thread" and my "writing", I'm out of the "plan", and I'm taking it out on myself, too haplessly. I know I know this, but I had to say it.

'Yeah, I promised. ......, so I believe this is not a 'duel' involving 'Rustyala' sister,
No, I don't think so. ......

　It's impossible for me to have fought such a battle on this day, at this time, in this place, and yet not be involved in 'The Plan' or 'Rustyala'.
　As I was being pushed out of the room, the Reaper continued to explain.

This 'Trial of the 110th' had nothing to do with the future of this world or the 'deepest part'. It was really a 'trial' that was just like a 'trial' as usual. Just a mere Maria sister's personal support, with no interference from Atachi!
'This is your personal ......, support ......?'

　He speaks as a matter of course, and finally points to my hand.

"Brother. Isn't what that right hand grasps the 'answer'?

　In his left hand, he held a book.
　In his right hand, he has a new grip.
　He opened his hand and looked at the red glowing magic stone.

''The One Who Steals the Reason of Fire, Arti's Magic Stone (Tamashii) ......

　I had no choice but to pull it out.
　It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get a good deal more than you think.

　--It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get your hands on it.

　It's not just the surprise of being able to surpass the Plan, but also the feeling of being scolded.
　No matter how much I said, "Arti is different from everyone else and can be 'happy' with Maria," it felt as if such a thing had been brushed aside as "unnecessary meddling.

The festivities will begin at ......, .......

　It was then that Maria's voice rang out.

　She must have regained a little bit of strength after the slight break.
　When I turned around, I was slowly trying to raise my face from its prone position by gathering that last bit of strength.

　I can see his expression firmly.
　A thin smile on his face, and somewhat distant eyes.
　He looked like he was listening intently to the hustle and bustle on the ground.
　He seemed to be nostalgic for the songs of the festival and the sounds of the fireworks.

'At last, it's the 'End of Tan Festival' ....... A thousand years ago, and a year ago ......, we weren't together until the end, so ....... So please, please invite them this time. On your side ...... and ............ you (・・・・).

　As soon as he finished, he lowered his hips to the ground.
　I can see that I don't have any strength in my body at all anymore.

''............!''

　And Maria called me "you".
　She is polite and calls the other person by her name and surname. The fact that she kept calling me "Kanami-san" to the point of insistence, and now she's saying "you".

　--I'm not going to be able to get rid of it.

　Even though I was in full control of the "curse", it was still a fierce battle.
　What's more, the one we clashed with was "Black Shift Overwrite".
　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on it.

　--Probably, the current Maria has a huge imbalance in her memory and has wounds in her soul.

　But she had a happy face.
　You can find a lot of people who have been afraid of oblivion, but this is the true meaning of the word.

　That's right.
　Ever since this 'Hundred and Tenth Trial' began, I've been smiling.
　It's as if I'm walking through the hustle and bustle of the festival, looking around and enjoying the scenery.

'Like me, he's not a little bit honest ....... So please don't leave him out of the mix anymore .......

　Maria continues to laugh at me, who was affected by the "constrictions".
　And I had no choice but to ask her to straighten up at the end.

　With Maria, who is not straightforward.
　In other words, ask her out. ......
　Arti, the 'one who steals the reason for the fire' who has been left out of the mix for a thousand years .......

'Because it's the end of a thousand years ago like that ....... For one last time, all of the "things that steal the reason" together - all together ......, go to the festival ......, go --Let's--

　While interrupted, Maria's body almost falls forward.
　Obviously, both of her arms are weak and she's not going to be able to even poke her hands out.
　Hurriedly I put the book back in my left hand back into my 'possessions' and then reached my hands out in front of me.

　I put my arms in either side of Maria and held her deeply.

　And for the first time today, I touched her.
　The heat transmitted from her body is just right, warm and comforting.

　This is where I finally realize.
　As slow - or even slower, duller, and more distant than the 'stealers of reason' so far, I realize.

　-- today, Maria really just came to deliver Arti.

　She went out of her way to say 'The Hundred and Tenth Test', something I'm not used to.
　It was because she was concerned that she had cleared Arti's 'Tenth Trial'.

　Probably, as the circumstances of a thousand years ago were revealed, Maria would have been alone in the 'between the lines' of the story for a lot of things. One after another, the magical stones of the 'Truth Stealers' were entering the hands of the 'Aikawa Uzumi', but only the 'Truth Stealer of Fire' Arti was with her. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get a good deal more than you think.

　--It's a good thing that you're not the only one too happy.

　That's what Maria thought, and that's why she began this "Hundred and Tenth Test".
　No matter what happens to Maria herself after this.
　Even if she were to forget me.
　Even if the important memories are forgotten.

　Just for the sake of her best friend, Arti...
　No, no.
　Maria is not honest.
　And I didn't lie when I said I came to support her.
　Just like her words, 《Black Shift Overlight》 was forged to the limit by her fire, beyond the original 'plan'.

　This 'Trial of the Hundred and Tenth' was also for me, who was weakened by 'Constriction'.
　Of course, it's also for the sake of 'Rustyala'. By firmly communicating our feelings of love to each other, I was also supporting her in fulfilling her love--

　I'm sure Maria is .......
　I've thought it through on my own, and for the sake of all of us (・・・・・・), I've made this choice, this '100th Trial'.

　I read that will and I shake my throat.
　I'm going to give the 'answer' to this 'Hundred and Tenth Test'.

'Maria ....... I've just aligned ....... On this side, the 'Stealers of Reason' are ....... Everyone I missed a thousand years ago, all together .......

　He grips the magic stone in his right hand tightly and hugs Maria.

　At that moment, Maria lets out a loud breath of relief in her ear.
　Then, she tries to tell you to the end.
　You can't lie about your feelings and be straightforward.

"I wish you ...... and ............ your 'happiness' ......

　App.
　But my name doesn't come up.

　He must have guessed from the residue of his memories that I was his lover.
　It's the same with Arti.
　After guessing, I just pray.
　That will be the last words of "Maria".

"I hope you'll be (......) happy," she said.

　Up to this point, I had thought long and hard about Maria's intentions.
　But it was condensed into a single word.

　It's not about winning or losing.
　It's just that you want to make me 'happy'.
　After saying this, all the strength is removed from Maria's body.

　I fainted.
　My body is safe.
　Her breathing is shallow, but she continues to breathe.

　However, I doubt that her mind is intact by any means.
　In order to say one word, Maria has burned something dear to her as firewood.

　All the memories from our first meeting until today.
　Just when I thought I had just "forgotten" it, a hand reaches out from the side.

　It was an arm with many "curse cloths" wrapped around it.
　I loosened one of those cloths with my other arm and removed it - and then

...... Huh?

　I'm not going to be able to get rid of it.
　Is it out of friendship with your hometown? Or is it an apology or sympathy for the victim of the same research institute, "God of Fire"?
　The figure of the cleaner, why?
　Is it because of the black mask?
　I'm not sure if it's the same as the one who steals the logic of the darkness, or if it's the same as Tida.

　--I'm not going to be able to get a good deal more than just a couple of days.

　A thousand years ago, I collaborated with Tida, the one who steals the truth of darkness, to rescue Arti, the one who steals the truth of fire, from the hands of the lord Romis Neesha.

"--At the time of their parting, Tida 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Darkness' took responsibility for the saved 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Fire' Arti.
　The mother and daughter who had been sacrificed in their hometown of Fania, this time.
　Next time, Tida swore in her heart that she wanted to protect them as a knight of the Fuzzy Yards--

　Thinking back, even a thousand years later, Tida was still concerned about Arti until just before the disappearance.
　Even if she 'forgot', only the emotions - the feelings - would have remained.
　Then there was the remembrance of the association.

"--I knew.
　What's important is the feelings of 'people (...)' (・・・・).
　It may indeed be important to save the 'world'.
　But it's a 'world' with 'people' -

　The words of Apostle Legacie, which the Reaper just imitated.

　Now, I felt that various sentences were being added to the book in The Possessions.
　It's not my 'writing'. Even the words of the apostle who retired a thousand years ago are connected to this point by a "real thread" - as if he is somehow following up on my imperfect and novice "writing".

　As if pushed to the side, I speak in bits and pieces.
　I spun the lines that were not in the plan.

Arti ....... Now, the "Endgame Festival" is about to begin. It's a festival: ....... So come with me .......

　It's a really bad line, but I invite you to join me.
　I'm reaching out to The One Who Steals the Reason, which has been left alone for a thousand years now.

'Just behind the scenes of this festival, I'm going to do one last magic development ....... It's no longer the 'spell' to cure my sister, but rather the development of a more difficult 'magic' ....... It's really hard, and I need your help. You might be wondering what I'm doing on a festival day, but ......, please come with me. Please, .......

　There was a slight pause as he finished his lines.

　Just a little silence.
　The magic stone in my hand sank in quietly, slowly, surely.
　It entered me, as did the other 'stealers of reason'.

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

　This is the complete end.
　The Hundred and Tenth Test of Maria is over.
　I understand it, chew on it, and declare with a shout.

'Ah, that's ......, all together ......!　In the truest sense of the word, it's all here!　'The one who steals the reason for the fire,' with Arti's magic stone, everyone's here on my side!

　It's not just the reapers and the cleaners who are watching over that declaration.
　More than anything else, I turn to my gaze (...) and tell them that Alti is on my side.

'The ritual that is about to begin is!　The moment when the 'witchcraft' that began a thousand years ago transcends all reason and becomes real 'magic'!　--With the power of 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Fire' Arti, he will exceed even 'The Plan'!　The construction of "Magic Kanami" rises to even greater heights thanks to her!　She's been around for a thousand years!　Thanks for preparing me all the way, even if I'm alone!

　As I say this, I stand up.
　With Maria's body in my arms, I turn around and take a strong step forward.

　I was a little rough, because I had a thought.
　This gave me an advantage.
　Thanks to 'Maria' cheering me up - but that just means that with that 'penetrating eye', it seemed that I was in need of support.

　Without Arti, Aikawa Uzumi is at a disadvantage.
　At the moment, Shea Legacy's party is at an advantage.
　The fact that "Penetrating Eyes" saw that trend (...).

''............!

　It was as if they were telling me that I wasn't seriously surviving for the sake of 'Rustyala'.

　The only way to get over this cruel truth is to live through it with real intent.
　It's the way to get to 'happiness' with 'Rastiara'. ......!
　Now Maria wished for me to be 'happy'... ......!

　Encouraged, I walked and mercilessly extended the biggest offense of all, the 'purple thread', from my cuff.
　The situation around me is not conducive to the 'thread'. However, having overcome the flames of the 'Hundred and Tenth Trial', the 'Thread' was forged and was easily connected to Maria in my arms.

''-- Flame, tell.

　I connect the 'threads' that are clothed in flames and begin to 'adjust'.

　Now Maria's memory is scorched and full of holes.
　If she wakes up at this point, she will be in danger of being confused by the instability of her memories and her already battered mind will collapse.
　In order to prevent this from happening, I will use the fire of the oblivion I have inherited to make it a more perfect "never happened". I will burn the shape of the memory neatly so that when I wake up, I can have a pleasant morning.

...... Now I've taken the first step toward becoming 'never'.

　The first step I had been hesitating to take for a long time.
　I started with the memory of Maria, who could have been my biggest enemy.
　Now, I'm no longer naïve (・・・・).

The only 'penetrating eye' that can inflict pain on me has fallen off the stage. I won't wake up until the End of the Tale Festival is over. As long as I don't have the magic stone, I won't be able to fight, no matter how hard I try.

　But he still carefully wraps her in dozens of 'threads' and continues to use 'oblivion' to walk.
　I won't make any assumptions. Not long ago, Maria herself said, "If you forget, you just have to remember. "Worst case scenario, let's remember with fervor. With fervor," he even said.

　There is one thing I know now, having connected the 'thread' to Maria.
　It's a truly horrible memory and a resolve that I lack right now. That is, after the end of the Plan, Maria was confident that she would forget everything and follow me to "beyond" to catch me.

　As I hurriedly walk, I cast a spell.

''-- 《Connection》''

　It is the magic of the dimensional portal.
　However, unlike when I just learned it, a solid gate is generated now.

　It is still purple in color. But the size of the gate is like a castle gate and one carriage can easily pass through it.
　As planned, I connected with the "lowest level" of the cathedral.

　I turn around and approach the cleaning lady who is following behind me.
　She takes the mask of Tida, which she no longer needs, and quickly absorbs it into me, just like Arti.

'Janitor-san - no, 'The One Who Steals the Truth of Blood' agent Neisha (・・・・)

　And then he called her.
　She is the last of the Neysha family, and she stops dead in her tracks when her name is called.

　I instruct Neysha.
　As someone who has a hold on her lifeline and her loved ones, I'm high-handed from above.

'I've strolled for ten layers of fluency. The triumph of the heroes will already be over. From that door, I'm going to go to the other 'lowest level' and immediately call my friends on the ground - no, my men. I'll head to the 100th level first.

　Hearing that, she nodded her head in a persistent manner.
　As if she is accustomed to being ordered, she opens the door of the "connection" that I just created and walks in.
　After seeing that off, I walked further.

''-- Wrap the labyrinth, Dimension!　Devour the past, steal the future, and dominate the present!　With this 'thread' that I control!

　It sounded like I was talking to myself, but I never was.
　I had to weave a story in a grandiose way so that I would never lose my gaze (...) again.
　Then, after taking a dozen or so steps at leisure, I stopped and muttered to myself.

Here.

　The surroundings are the same: lava fields.
　There's nothing else out there.

　But I can see it.
　There is a door here.

　I gaze intently at the Dimension.
　I see a transparent gate rising in front of my eyes, where there should have been nothing at all.

　It's the same quality and shape as the Connection that I just made.
　I'm going to be able to go through the door without hesitation, holding Maria in my arms.
　This is because I knew that this is also the stairway to the next layer.

　The next of the 99 layers.
　But it's not down there.
　It's not beside or behind.
　It's going beyond the dimensions to the 'other side'

　--That's the only way to reach the 100th layer.

　Passing through the transparent gate.
　It's a vast, dark space.
　It was a place where there was 'really nothing'.
　Everything was so absent that it seemed that the "nothingness" of the 99th layer just before was an exaggeration.

　I felt like I was drifting in a dark, starless universe.
　It's dark to the core.
　Endlessly wide.
　Nothingness.
　I don't even know if I am standing or floating.
　There was no sense of space, only the word "nothingness" came to mind.

　In the midst of that nothingness, I push forward without hesitation.
　I should be walking, but I'm not sure where I'm walking. I'm supposed to be breathing, but I'm not sure what I'm breathing. The absence of certain things isn't just about material things, it's also about concepts. I don't feel like I'm moving forward in distance or time at all, and even the natural order of things like gravity and light and dark are fuzzy.

　I had expected it, but it's similar to the 'dimensional chasm' and 'between the lines' of sometime ago, and almost identical to the 'backside' of the sixty-six layers.
　To be honest, I'm used to this kind of space.

　But it doesn't seem to be exactly the same, and there was a phenomenon that was unique to this place.

'Ah, finally: ......'

　I feel eyes (...) from every direction.
　It's eerie, unsettling and frightening, as if I'm moving through the lens of the eye.

　I must be in the "slit" that I am currently in. When our eyes met for the first time, the space was so vast that I felt only primordial fear.
　However, I no longer have any fear, and I just look around, deeply moved.

"Finally, I've arrived at ....... This is .......

　--this is the 100th layer of the labyrinth.

　But not yet.
　It's a level that seems to be the last floor of the last dungeon to my liking, but it's still shallow. And the 'demon poison' is thin.
　I didn't know if I could stop at this level, so I concentrated on walking rather than enjoying the scenery.

　The further I went, the more I began to feel resistance under my feet.
　Next, I began to hear a clattering sound - and before I knew it, I was walking in the pitch black shallow water.

'Is this ......?'

　We should be walking in the middle of nowhere, but a shallow pool of black stagnant water seemed to be present.
　Looking at it from a different angle with the 《Dimension》, there was something like a layer of water about three centimeters thick floating in the water.

　These 100 layers were also the hierarchy of the 'The One Who Steals the Reason of the Water' flycatcher.
　It's certainly not surprising that lakes and oceans are spread out ...... but my sister's 'trials' are over and the guardians (guardians) don't exist anymore. Nevertheless, there is a lot of water vapor.

　In addition, I also felt a gentle wave from the shallow water.
　As if to go against the ripples, I continue to walk straight ahead.

　Every time I stepped in the shallow water, bubbles that looked like dimensional magic emerged.
　They range in size from beads to soap bubbles, rich in color and faintly luminous.

　It's a strange space that has no sense of reality.
　How long did I walk with these strange bubbles in my footsteps?
　Just as you are about to confirm an impossible sense of time, it appears out of nowhere.

　I was not far away from where I was walking.
　Above the shallows, where there was supposed to be nothing, there was a large, old stone seat.

　It was about twice as tall as my height and wide enough to seat three adults.
　The back of the chair was painted with a pattern of its own. From the shape, you can see that it is a throne, but it doesn't feel very artistic. It also simply looks hard and uncomfortable to sit on.

　I quickly approach it and try to touch it.
　But before I can do so, another seat appears.

　To the right, there is a single large rocking chair, this time a rocking chair.
　Unlike the throne, this one has a better shape and material. The wooden frame of the chair is made of a flexible wooden frame and reinforced with high purity magical stones. It was even covered with a soft blanket, and it looked quite comfortable to sit on.

　While analyzing the insanity of this place, and carefully looking at the two seats, a voice comes from the abdomen, "That one is mine.

'That one's mine ....... It's kind of embarrassing to be able to look at your bedding.

　As Noi said that, he slyly crawled out of my belly and fell down into the black shallow water.

　But his body was not wet.
　It's not water as it looks, but water of a special law - or perhaps a twisted law. But there doesn't seem to be any danger, and Noi begins to crawl through the slippery shallow water in a relaxed state, as if he were back home.

　That timid Noi is releasing the tension.
　Seeing that, I'm convinced it's really safe.

　I quickly passed the crawling Noi and lowered Maria, who was holding her in a comfortable-looking rocking chair, and put her down.
　The Reaper, who had been in my shadow, followed Maria and sat right next to her, taking up a nursing position. It was a fairly large rocking chair, so it could seat at least one more child.

　But I could hear a small accusing voice behind me, "Bo, my ......". But he quickly said, "With this big body, let's make another one ......", so I didn't mind and started to voice my thoughts.

'Here's 100 layers. There's ...... more water than I thought.
...... Yeah, it's the influence of the 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Water' flypaper. But I also think it was generally like this before she came along. This place reflects the image of every soul, so ....... Of course, the image of all of us here is reflected even more strongly. I could change it if I wanted to, to make it more appropriate for the last floor, but ......, would you change it?

　Noi turned his head to the path he had walked up to this point.
　Then a path would form.
　As if by magic.

　The cobblestones, made of the same material as the throne, were paved a little higher than the shallows and stretched to the edge of the darkness.
　At both ends of the path, high candlesticks were lined up at regular intervals, lighting up the path.
　It's called a rocking chair, and it seems to be a flexible space once you get used to it.

'No, that's fine for now. But there's something else I'd rather see.
I'm aware. I've got a warding-like membrane, so use your "distance mute" to get in. Also, just take one step now (・・・・).

　Taking advice from Noi, I head to the place that is my primary objective.
　It's a large stone throne - but not behind it.

　I move away from the rocking chair and try to ignore the throne and walk past it.
　As advised, there was a warding like a dimensional wall there, so I pass through it by using the unchanted 《Distance Mute》 to penetrate my entire body.

　And then, trying to go check out what was supposed to be behind it.

----?　

　It was the first step.
　Just stepping into the back of the throne, I understand what Noi means by "just one step".