The sea is red.
　The sky is red, the clouds are red, the sun is red.
　There is nothing but red water, with not a single wave on the horizon.

　There was not a single sound and it was quiet.
　There is no wind, no smell.
　Nothing, like the end of the world, and everything stands still.
　I thought it was a frightening, strange and lonely scene.

　I was standing on such a red surface of water, and I didn't know why I was standing there.
　I didn't know why I was standing there, or how I was doing it.

　An instinctive feeling arose from the all-over red of the unknown.
　Fear, like the tips of my hair, tickled the back of my eyes.
　I want to run away, right now.
　I want to close my eyes, forget this scene, and wake up.
　It's so unrealistic, so fake, so phantom-like that I can't even think about it.

Calm down. This is a dream, Rainer Helvillestein.

　The surface of the water at my feet suddenly bubbles up, bobbing and bubbling.
　For the first time, a sound and a wave were created and my name would be called.

　I could identify the cause of this strange situation from the voice.
　The owner of the voice is the former 'The One Who Steals the Truth of Blood' agent who had recently joined us.
　The ghost-mixed demon Fafner Helvirshain.

　By the words of the ancestor, I resist the urge to close my eyes tightly.
　Remembering that I am asleep, I continue to consciously see this red dream.

'That's right. Just go ahead and surrender. ...... Don't worry, it's a common practice a thousand years ago to teach 'the art' by making people drink blood. In my home town of Fania, it's happened a thousand times. Above all, I'm an expert.

　In the dream, it was explained to me that this situation was an inheritance of magic.
　The gentle tone of voice continues, like a doctor trying to calm a patient somehow.

'Yes, I was a blood researcher. Therefore, unlike other 'reason-stealers', I will safely compare and verify everything engraved in your blood.

　Yes, now I - Rainer Helvirshine is being tested.

　Whether or not it fits with the ancestors.
　Whether or not I can 'get along' well with them.
　Whether or not I can become stronger.
　That was what depended on this bright red dream.

　No matter what it was, borrowed or not, I want to get a little strength, and I'm going to settle down as Fafner said.
　I will accept the situation without making a single wave like this bloodbath.

　I intuitively understood what was necessary for the succession.
　So I'd have to sharpen all my nerves and focus on it.

"And, let me reveal to you. The saint who was standing next to Kanami-san that day bequeathed the entire prophecy to your bloodline.

　Our own Fafner-san wasn't too focused on the inheritance.

　I could tell from his excited and slightly upturned voice that the inheritance of fresh blood magic was secondary, and that his main focus was the confirmation of the 'Saint' Tiara's relic inside me.

　He seems to be curious about what Tiara entrusted to me on the day that Christ and Rastiara 'confessed' to each other.
　Many times I said, "All I have inside me is a little memory. It's full of holes, too, and it doesn't help me at all. But he said, "No, I'm sure that girl would have left something to me!　Because it's that girl! And then he didn't believe me at all.

　Before I knew it, Mr. Fafner's faithfulness was changing saddles, and his admiration for Tiara and Las Tiaras was growing.
　To be honest, my image of Ms. Tiara is "a woman who is absurdly lax, has a bad character, leaves things to others, and should never be trusted. The reason I left the role of 'Knight of the Twin Swords' to Fafner-san a thousand years later is because I think it's either 'appropriate' or 'harassment'.

　My dissatisfaction seems to have been properly conveyed to Fafner-san, and a few words of excuse are added.

'Su, I just need to check it out a bit. Don't make that face, Ryner. Just analyze Noir's 'Star Magic' and Shea's 'Vessel of the Apostle Legacy' while also analyzing your twin-sword-experienced 'Swordsmanship': ......'

　They are really troublesome ancestors.

　Nevertheless, I'm grateful just to be able to communicate decently like this. If you ask me, I heard that he stopped pretending to be crazy after losing to Kanami, but ...... I feel like the fanaticism is still ingrained in his body.
　If there is one thing that is inexplicable about Tiara's behavior, she is too pious to be a Revanist, trying her best to find His will (goyishi).

　And that ridiculously earnest and straightforward figure, I thought, was somehow similar to my brother and sister.
　When you acknowledge that 'connection', a change begins to occur in the sea of blood.

　A bumpy ride.
　The surface of the blood bubbles up again and gradually dries up.
　It was like a dream as the land floats up to the horizon.
　But knowing that it was exactly a dream, I continued to watch the change calmly.

　In a few minutes, the new land would be completed.
　I was standing not on the surface of the water, but on a wasteland that I had seen somewhere before.

　The area was littered with dead trees and debris, and I could see the houses that had collapsed, one by one.
　There were no plants or flowers, and the whole area was a dark brown color. The rest of the house was red and gray, probably due to the slightest hint of fire and smoke. Unlike the place I was in earlier, there was a cold wind blowing and the smell of blood was firmly in the air.
　Surrounded by that color, temperature and smell, I felt a strong sense of nostalgia.

''-- Is this the birthplace engraved in your blood?

　It was no surprise that I missed it.
　It was this house where I was born that was collapsing in front of me.
　I look around at the small village that was once swallowed up by the war and easily destroyed.

"And that house is the mansion of noble blood that has been connected for a thousand years...

　Wrong.
　I want you to take a good look at the site of his birthplace, but it's not a mansion.
　Nor is it the hideout of a bastardized bloodline.

　It wasn't that magnificent, it was just a common house in a common small village.
　It may be a poor house compared to the houses in cities like the United Kingdom, but I think it is an ordinary family of today's times. That's the house I was born in.

''You're not even born of a nobleman?　Then there's some special book or lore or something: ......'

　I'm not.
　I have no special education.

　I didn't have any books or expensive fancy goods.　
　It's no wonder we were not so wealthy, including our village.
　There were no great traditions, no special strength, and they were everywhere: ...... So naturally they were burned in the war and wiped off the map of the world.

　It happens all the time.
　This kind of thing happens all the time in rural areas that are not under the patronage of a major power.
　And it is also very common that after being caught in the fires of war, there is no more place to go and no more place to return to.
　There were many children looking for merchants and bandits who scavenged the battlefield in order to sell themselves off.

　But in the midst of it all, I was lucky.
　When I lost my home and family and was wandering the wasteland, it was the regular army of the South that found me.

'............!　So that's what happened. So that's where you met your fate, the Knight of Helvirshine.''

　No, he was rescued by an unknown soldier.

　He was then transferred to an orphanage without being taken in and raised by that person.
　I don't know if that transfer was a blessing from your idea of 'Saint' Tiara-sama.
　If you say so, I can't deny that it might be so.
　But I think so.
　There was no one's intention there.
　If there was something special about me, it was--

The fact that the unknown soldier who picked me up was one of the fine 'people' who survived this world.

　On top of that, I believe it was a combination of good fortune.
　The best part of my good fortune would be to join the last of the four famous noble houses on this continent.

　From here on out, I remember it vividly.
　No, on the contrary, the memories up to this point were too painful, and as a child, I was most likely instinctively trying not to think about it.
　Anyway, I was sent to an orphanage and started a new life there.

　As a young boy, I had lost everything, and I was sad in the orphanage.
　But I never stopped and continued to help others.
　It seems that even at a young age, I understood my good fortune and tried to contribute as much as I could to the orphanage to repay the kindness of those around me.

　I think that's admirable, in spite of myself.
　His late parents must have been fine people, too. They taught me that helping people comes around and is good for you. Of course, as a child, I admired helping others because it was righteous and cool.
　That's why I was more positive and cheerful than anyone else in the orphanage at that time.

　But looking back on it now, I realize that there was another reason for my cheerfulness.
　To put it bluntly, it was my "qualities.
　Because of my high quality, I was able to be cheerful even if I lost my hometown and parents.
　The Walker family was well aware of this blatant reality, and the four noble families were well aware of it.
　Thanks to that family, I was found in a wartime orphanage where they scavenged for healthy children.

　This is not so unusual.
　Children with high potential can be bought by rich people.
　This is not the case a thousand years ago when Mr. Fafner was alive, as long as there is a status, this custom is inevitable.

　In this way, I was picked up by the Walker family and joined the ranks of the nobility.
　However, soon after that, I was adopted by the Helvirshain family.

　It was a matter of character, I was told.
　After a few weeks of questioning, the Walkers diagnosed me as unfit to be a hero.
　The spirit of helping others is good. But too much commitment doesn't make you a leader. The makings are there, but the house will not benefit if you cannot lead. This innate guardian-like character is more suited to being a knight or a squire - and it seems that the head of the Helvilshein family at the time agreed to take me in.

　From that point on, it's a fairly fresh memory for Rainer Helvilshein.
　I was taken to the mansion of the Helvirshine family, which stood in the prime location of the Allied Fuseyards, and was raised there as a shield to protect my brother and sister in the direct line.

　At the mansion, I met many people.
　First of all, my eldest brother Hein Helvirshain, whom I admire.
　And the seventh daughter, Franlle Helvirshain, who is closest in age to me.
　With this brother and sister, I can say that my real life has finally begun.

　Of course, those two aren't the only ones.
　The Helvirshain family's mansion was built in a prime location in the Allied country and was often used as a social gathering place for the four great nobles.
　However, I, a nobleman who was picked up rather than the youngest, never officially participated in the event. It was usual for me to stand back as an attendant of my brother and sister.

　Basically, the inside of the mansion, which is the main social gathering place, is the domain of the adults.
　So many of my memories are of scenes in the garden of the mansion.
　The faces lined up there were all young - or they were all eccentric people who were invited to the mansion of the four great nobles but were young - or had some kind of problem.

　One of them, I remember, was the still-young Palinclone Legacie, who wore an ill-fitting aristocratic dress. He was often in the company of his niece, Shea Legacie.

　Just around the corner, the Walker family's picked-up aristocrats were gathered.
　As I recall, there were two of them, young Glenn Walker and Snow Walker.
　Although they were far apart in age, they were the same height and were always together, and I often saw them happily chatting with a certain man.

'-- Snow, Glenn, you can't be too far away. Don't move too far away from him.

　In this big yard, he's the oldest man.
　His name is Will Rinker, I believe. The Rinker family was a branch of the Walker family, and I believe he had a sister named Teyri who was very talented in magic. He later became the first master of the Epic Seeker guild, and later became the strongest, but lost a battle with Tida, the thief of the Dark Reason, in the labyrinth, and died.

　He's not someone I have much of a relationship with in my life.
　But Fafner's fresh blood magic never let go of him and picked up his voice.

''Hey, you two can go to ....... What do you think a 'real hero' is?　Since we're here, why don't we figure it out together?

　Hero ......?
　A few familiar words came out.
　Immediately, the young dragoness Snow Walker said, "Strong enough to kill anyone!　A free man who is not trapped by anyone! He replied and was admonished by his brother-in-law Glenn next to him, "Snow-san, I'm pretty sure that's not true.
　The guild master, Will, smiles bitterly at his answer and turns to the mischievous and promising newcomer and teaches him to trust him.

Of course, strength is important. Of course, strength is important, but what is important as a hero is not the power to defeat someone, but the heart to protect someone else. If you don't defend them all, there will be no one to call a hero. Do you think you are a little short on that ability to protect yourself, Snow-chan?
'Oh, really?　I think it's definitely more important to take them down than to protect them!

　The guildmaster of the time was a handful for Snow during the bloodlust period.
　Furthermore, the same would be true for the treatment of the guild 'Epic Seeker' submaster who was listening to the conversation right nearby. Continuing the conversation, Palinclone said, "There's nothing more false than the word 'true' attached to it. I'm in agreement with Snow, you know? I picked it up, and my niece Shea next to me said, "Uncle, just because you're the farthest thing from a heroic type!　Oh, it wasn't always like this! And then the noise started and the buzz increased.

　I watched the scene from a distance.
　Not only I, the dreamer, but also I, the child, was staring at it from a distance, devouring it.

　There was a pool of blood at my feet that I don't remember.
　The one bubbling and talking is Fafner, who must be watching the memories with me.

'That's the young Glenn and the girl from "Dragon Man (Dragon Newt)" ...... over there. Does she look like me and her?　No, it is the Palinclone Legacy over there that feels like a descendant of Fania. Nevertheless, the face is more like that childhood friend of the man than the Neisha family--'

　Mumbling to a group of Walkers, "No," "No," "Not really." "But why? I'm pondering something.

　Then I hear a gentle voice from next to me.

'Rainer?　Do you care about the people of Lauravian country?

　Brother Hein, who was standing next to me, asked.
　To me as a dreamer - but not to me as a child.
　The young me honestly says, "Yes. I'm curious," he sees me nod back and continues to speak with a smile.

''People from guilds are always so lively, I'm a bit jealous of them. ...... That's right. Let's get defeated over here too, let's think about the 'real knights', shall we?　Reiner would love that sort of thing, wouldn't he?

　I loved it.
　At that time, I admired and held the idea of being a knight more than anyone else, and I considered it sacred.
　However, it was the cheerful voice of my sister, who was present, that answered the pretense of the story.

'Good!　I love those things too!　It's about a knight in shining armor.　I hope to meet you someday!

　In those days, if it was Helvirshine's mansion, the three of them would often gather together.
　I can only thank the two of them for taking good care of the nobleman after being picked up.

''Haha, Fran ....... The important thing is for us to become a great knight, not what we ask of others. Also, I always think that Fran's 'ideals' are too much of a damsel's fantasy and unrealistic.
'Mmm!　As far as "ideals" are concerned, I don't want my brother Hein to tell me how high they are!　I know that there are far more dreams in it than I am!

　I watched with a smile on my young face as my brother and sister talked amiably.
　I felt my eyes heat up a little bit at the sight that I could no longer recreate.

　Then, I, at that time, reckoned that the conversation between the two revered people had ceased and began to speak out.
　I believe in what a true knight is.

"Brother Hein, Sister Fran. I believe that a 'true knight' is one who defends the weak and frustrates the strong, helps those who suffer, and is more honest than anyone else. In other words, one who is very dedicated and never goes against the Lord, but continues to serve selflessly. He never forgets a single moment of Hoozeyer's chivalry and observes the commandments of the Revan. When it comes to a 'true knight', it would be Brother Hein.

　He wasn't trying to be flirtatious, he sincerely thought so.

　However, my brother gets the same expression as the 'Epic Seeker' guildmaster Will Linker, who is a little over there.
　It was a troubled face as an elder, with a lot of expected newcomer's assumptions.
　My brother chuckles and tells me to leave it to him.

'It's nice to hear you say that. But it's not, Ryner. It's true that I'm trying to become a 'true knight', but I'm still far from it. I haven't even found my true master.
'Far from my brother?　That's never going to happen ......, ever!　My brother is a better knight than anyone else!　The very Helvillestein of lore!　'A knight among knights' is my brother!

　Immediately, the young me denied it.
　That brother's humble appearance was cool. But I was frustrated that it was too humble and never accepted it.

'Protecting the weak and helping those who suffer ....... That's the basic philosophy of Helvirshine. It's very important. But I don't think a 'true knight' is to never disobey the Lord. --Rather, it's the opposite. It's the opposite, being a knight, but going beyond being a knight and defending it against the Lord's command. I believe that the strength of your heart is what makes you a true knight.
'Oh!　What wonderful, romantic conditions!　I'm the closest thing to it on this occasion.　I've often been told I'm above the call of duty as a knight!

　My sister answered, but I, a little girl, did not.
　Because I couldn't accept either my brother's or my sister's answer.

'Ha, really Fran is ....... That's enough for me now. It's best for you to push on with your path.
'We did it!　I've received your brother's approval!

　Somewhat resignedly, Brother Hein admitted, and Sister Fran raised her hands in delight.
　That made me feel so nostalgic and comfortable .......
　As I look at the past, I almost cry a little and my vision blurs.

　.............
　I think we were really close.
　I owe it to the Walker family's personality test that picked me up.
　I was a good fit with the Helvirshine family.

　But now that I've reviewed it, I feel a little differently.
　I think I can understand a little bit of what the late Will Rinker and the late Hein Helvilleshein said at this time.

　Brother Hein was more of a self-deprecating person than a humble one.
　Sister Fran was more of an arrogant person than a confident person.
　Of course, the two people I admire and respect overcame both self-deprecation and arrogance to become great knights. ...... Anyway, I followed the backs of those two people, a little misunderstood by my little girl, while I followed their backs.

　It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of your time.
　Someday I wanted to become a strong and confident knight like Fran's sister.
　I'm sure that I learned from their backs and continued to chase after them--


"--because you liked it (・・・・・・・・・).


　The blood at my feet bubbled and told me so.
　I reread the memories etched in my blood and my advice as an expert on blood comes in.

The boy Reiner was swallowed up in the war before he could remember anything, and was placed in a unique environment, and therefore, did not know how to love properly. Therefore, he has not known any proper love in his life. I feel that I had an unusual family love for my brother and sister. To my late brother, of course. To my late brother, of course, and to my sister's replacement, Franlleulet, I had passionate and fierce feelings for her as a boy--'

　It's an important choice.
　If you nod to this, your life will 'relate' to Fafner-san a little bit.
　On the other hand, if I don't nod to this blood voice, I won't be able to succeed in inheriting the fresh blood magic.

　I knew that, but I couldn't lie to my own heart.

''Fafner-san. It's often said, but it's not. It's true that I have a deep respect for Sister Fran. I admit that, but that doesn't mean I see her as the opposite s*x. I can't look at her like that.

　It's true that Sister Fran may have been attractive as a member of the opposite s*x.
　But what I admire more than anything else is not the beauty of her figure, but the beauty of her mind.
　What I tried to learn and follow was a spirit worthy of the name of Helvirshine.

'I followed my brother and sister's back for one reason only. It was probably because I became 'Rainer Helvilleshain'. They gave me the family name and made me the knight I've always wanted to be. In gratitude for that enormous favor, I respected my bloodline, learned the philosophy, and wished to follow my back. That's all. -- 'Fafner Helvirshine', are you not?
'I ......?　I too ......, learned a lot of things from that adoring back, and I was ......, trying to follow it somehow ......?

　On the contrary, I questioned him, and the blood's voice trembled.
　It seems that he was trying to think of a word of persuasion to somehow get me to accept the blood, but the ancestor immediately gives in.

''No, it's not.'' --everything (...), it's me (...). Because I'm the one who loved it. I wanted the affection of a woman who was my sister, and I wanted it so badly. I wanted her to love me back as a man. So I followed that back and tried my best to learn.

　I confessed clearly.
　He would honestly admit to his own childhood mind, because he still had to be honest about it.
　Only then did he have a very light tone, without any scholarly qualities.

'Well, I've always hoped that someday I could call myself Neisha. But there was no special meaning to that ......, it was just a normal first love story. It's a good thing that when you're a little girl, you can work hard to death to study, even the most tedious of studies, with a chance like that. Kuhuhaha'

　As we get older and grow up, things are revealed that we didn't understand when we were kids.
　I wonder if that is why the elders always taught me so many things to leave it to those who walked behind them. It's a little late to find out now, but it's a little nice to find out now.

　I'm sure Mr. Fafner felt the same way I did.

I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it. It's me now, so I know. I didn't adore this woman, Helmina Neysha, like a sister or anything, but I liked her as the opposite s*x. So I was desperate to stand next to her. Certainly not with you.
'Yes, no. I'm sorry.

　We can sympathize, but we are distinctly different.　
　We were born with different things, and our roots are different.

　Mr. Fafner and I are acknowledging this.
　The fact that we can't "relate" to each other is confirmed, and I instantly feel nauseated.

　It's not the young me, but my real body's malfunction.
　Therefore, this memory of the past is instantly distorted and rapidly fading away.

"Ugh, ugh--!

　The nausea was unbearable.
　I had to close my eyes tightly now.

　It was time to acknowledge this lack of reality as a dream and drown out the gentle vision.
　I wake up from the dream vision.
　I escape from the past and return to the me of the present.
　I close my eyes tightly, and the next time I open them, they are already...


　◆◆◆◆◆


'Gah!　Gah, ha--, goh, goh, goh--!

　Spit it out.
　Spluttering.
　Bright red blood stains the floor of the house, which is composed of a black liquid-like substance.

　In normal times, it would be horrific bloodletting.
　But this wasn't an injury, an illness, or even my own blood.
　I just couldn't accept the blood that had been swallowed and kicked out.

　So soon the nausea subsides and my condition returns to normal.
　Apparently, I had been standing up, and had been unconscious the whole time.
　In front of me, I recognize the two girls who are spitting out blood as well.

''Whoa, oeeeeeee--!

　Inside the house made of black mud, Noir, the black 'Magic Stone Human (Jewelculus)', had abandoned all shame and was vomiting with all his might.
　Next to him, the party leader, Shea Legacy, put her hand over her mouth. Then, seeing the blood on her hand, she screams.

''Hee, hiyaa--!　Red!　Red-iiii, oops!

　Three people, including me, had spat out blood.
　The man who made us swallow blood nodded as he put his hand to his chin like a researcher in front of us.

'Hmm. I guess not one of us fits. I thought if we could successfully inherit the magic, we could increase our strength.

　Generally speaking, in this era, one can acquire new magic by drinking down the magic stone on which the "magic formula" is engraved.
　However, you can also inherit it by drinking the blood on which the "magic formula" is engraved.
　Fafner performed the succession ritual from a thousand years ago on the three of us, but it seems that the result was a total loss.

　I was disappointed to find that the power of the man who had become 'the one who steals the truth of blood' was not connected to anyone. However, Fafner-san was the only one who had a purpose other than inheritance, so he reported the results of his investigation in an interesting way.

''But I'm surprised. The two girls' bloodlines were clearly contrived, and their magical inheritance was spared. But there was nothing in Rainer Helvirshine. --really, nothing. Even Tiara-sama's blessing, the 'Blood Thread', is nowhere to be found.

　At those words, Shea, who has a strong faith in Tiara-san, is a little pleased to say "Yay" before she gives her opinion.

''Um, I don't know what Tiara-sama's 'thread' is called, but ....... According to the original saint-sama's schedule, Uncle Hein was ...... no, I think sister Hailey was here right now, wasn't she?　When I talk to you, it's a little bit like talking to my sister Hailey ......, it's such a little nostalgic feeling.

　Mentioning the dependable presence that was once in their party, the pale faced Noir also made a small "Hailey sister ......" name and twisted his face.
　Seeing their reactions, Fafner-san replied.

''The 'Magic Stone Human (Jewelcrus)' using the knight Hine and Kanami-san as materials, Haili Weissprope? Certainly, she's the one I hear rumors about, and she certainly seems to have a strong connection with me. But already--

　If you were here now, it would be really reassuring.

　But brother was in The Nativity a year ago.
　Haili-san was a year ago in the 'World Dedication Camp'.
　Both of them died against the Palinclone Legacy.

　Mr. Fafner turned his gaze to his feet, pondering the name that might inherit his power. But he quickly looked up and re-partitioned with a positive attitude.

'There's no point in wishing for someone who isn't there. Let's give up on my magic inheritance and go in for a final check with just the power we have here and now.

　We can give up on building up our strength.
　When the conversation had reached that point, former 'strongest' explorer Glenn Walker, who was lying on a bed just a few feet away, woke up physically.

'...... I know I've said it many times before, but I want you to leave the 'Steal the Nothingness' Seldra Queenfillion to me.

　Compared to when he arrived here, he's in much better condition.
　The excessive 'demonization' has been suppressed, the vocal organs are in order, and the wounds have been sealed.
　However, his complexion was pale, which suited the term 'last light'.

　Without a doubt, the next time Glen-san released his 'demonization', he would die.
　Slowly, Fafner-san nodded back at the man who was prepared to die.

''No matter. There's an oral tradition from your hometown, but I have a feeling that Mr. Seldra himself wants more than that.

　He wants Mr. Glenn to get a little rest.
　Mr. Fafner added a series of reassuring words, urging him to rest to the limit.

'I'll leave Mr. Seldra to Glenn. Instead, I'll be sure to stop Kanami-san. Having seen that person as the 'savior' in the first place, I should be responsible for that. I'm sure I have the power to stop him, ......, too.

　He promises to stop Christ, and Shea and Noir agree to it.

'You're in the right place! By the way, I'm going to sneak my uncle's mementos back and get away with it in a chutzpah!
'Basically, I'll help Shea. But if Fafner's talking about taking down Kanami, you can at least expect some harassment cover.

　The sultry-looking Noir doesn't seem to like Mr. Fafner, but he seems to be willing to fight with him if he's fighting the same opponent.

　It's already right before we leave, but I can feel the new party getting ready, even if only in form.
　The whole time I was taking a step back and watching the situation, reassessing the situation alone.

　The reason why I had time to leisurely adjust the new party in this way was probably thanks to Christ's group choosing a leisurely, triumphant return. That very slow-moving boat trip is easy to overtake if you want to. In fact, a year ago I overtook Kanami's group traveling in the Living Legend from the land route.

　So I'm not worried about time at all now.
　What I'm worried about is the one 'bad feeling'

　-- there is no way that the fight against 'the one who steals reason' will go as planned in advance.

　It was also a kind of resignation.
　The other party is the man who contains all of the "reason-stealer" in him.
　A genuine troublemaker and my master.
　It would never go according to policy, and the prior strategy and plan would always fall apart.

　However, that doesn't mean I don't think it's a waste of time to discuss things like this.
　As I continued to watch Fafner-san, Shea and the others' discussions, something suddenly came to mind.
　It was the will of the Lord, the one I couldn't keep.

　-- "One day, we will fight the last enemy (the Rathbos)...

　The last time they told me that strange story was around the day before Christ, Nosfi and Ragne died.
　Even that day, I think we were discussing in a small room, face to face like this.

　When I heard in the mansion under the Great Sacred City that Kanami might become an enemy, I had no idea what it meant. But it's a perfect reference to our current situation. Rastiara must have anticipated this for some reason and entrusted us with the task.

　But there are only a few things that he has entrusted to us.
　Rastiara didn't even give us a plan of action, let alone a strategy or a plan of action.
　What was entrusted to us was "It's important to bond with your friends! There was only one vague wish (thing) that I was going to do.
　The other thing that was repeated was--.　

"'We're all in this together (・・・・・)'?

　I think he said it at every turn of events.
　And when Sia heard me muttering that Lastiara's will, her face brightened and she approached me.

''Oh, that's right! ''All together!''　That's why we're going!　You've been acting like you don't give a shit, like you're trying to run away!　Rai, you know what you're doing, and that's a relief!
I know, Leader. I'll make sure the timing is right.

　I'll be auspicious towards Shea, who still doubts me.

　I'll make it fit.
　I will, but, well, it won't mean much.

　I'm sure that's not what Rustyala meant by 'all together'.
　I'm not the kind of Lord who thinks in such a conventional way.
　My idiot masters are both crazy.
　That's why "All together" can't mean "Cease and desist, attack the last boss at the same time" or "Plan to align with everyone else" or something like that.

　That woman is a flowerhead who really thought that even if she dies, as long as her thoughts are understood, she'll be together forever.
　Just like my brother, it's probably not necessary for us to be all together. In fact, it's better because they're not together. It's more noble (romantic) to be aligned even though you're not aligned. And I can see you thinking a sulky thought.

　Rastiara had a bad habit of looking at people as 'stories' rather than 'people'.
　Because it's me now, and because I'm my brother's brother, I understand.
　I don't want to feel it, but I feel it even if I don't want to.
　The End of the Story Festival, which is about to begin, is also the end of everyone's story.

　That is to say--
　Mr. Fafner's story of finding the "Great Messiah (Magna Messiah)" is a story of finding the "Great Messiah".
　Mr. Glenn's is a story of finding the "real hero".
　Shea is the story of regaining the "connection" that was broken.
　Noir is the story of reaching the 'saint' you've been seeking.
　--that all the stories will be closed up at once.

　The 'thread' should not be able to reach this underground space, but there was a sense of being pulled.
　It was the result of Tiara-san's reckless special training, but I could feel the example flow (...) from everyone here.

''Rainer Helvirshine ......?　Do you have anything to say to me?　It's really, really the last time.

　Mr. Fafner looked at me, who had no input at all in the last important meeting, and asked as he approached.

　I was troubled.
　If there's one thing I want to say, it's that if we can win, it's only Rustyala Fooziers.
　That Rustyala is dead, so it doesn't matter how much we think about this and that. I swallowed the opinion that it was a good idea, and then I said something like that.

''Yes, that's true. Let's go with all our might. The past, the future, the bloodline and the 'thread' are already too complicated to predict for anyone. That's why the only thing left to do is to live out the rest seriously. Even if there is a foul kind of 'prediction of the future' or 'manipulation of destiny', let's beat it out of them.
'Yeah, that's important. It is, but it is: ......

　He knew the importance of this, but he seemed to want more specific tactics.
　I've thought for a while now that the 'logic-stealers' are too timid and anxious.

　So I had no choice but to put it into words and tell them properly.

I'm sure the most important thing is not to forget that we are all in this together. I just remembered that Rastiara once said that to me.
"'We're all in this together' ......?　Did the girl at that time say that?　Then it would be very important. After all, that's what that girl said.　
Also, Maria, Dea, and Snow are her best friends in Rustyala. I think it's important. They're really bad guys, why those three.
''Indeed, those three people will determine the outcome of the battle. All three of them have lightly overwhelmed me when I was the 'one who steals the truth of blood' agent. That's why we're all in this together. Hmm, what's still important is the number of people ......?

　Apparently, I was able to deceive her well.
　After hearing my opinion, Fafner-san began to mumble, "No, but," "That girl was gaining power like a rainbow all by herself," and "From the mechanism she was gaining, this place is--" and then I remembered the continuation of my earlier memory.

　That day.
　The day that Christ, Rustyala and Ragne died.
　In the dining room of the underground mansion, Lord Rustyala Fuzzyaz was stroking Nosfi on his lap while saying.

'Kanami, you know, just because Nosfi-chan is your ex-wife, you have a feeling that you're trying to pretend it all didn't happen, don't you?

　Rastiara jokingly dared to plow through the minefield of his friends, accompanied by the horrible truth.
　I know what that means, too, because I still know what it means.
　Rastiara realized that he was dying, he was worried about the future, and he was in a lot of hurry.
　So he dared to miss Nosfi's escape as well, and he clashed with Dea, Maria, and Snow from the heart, reaffirming his bond with his friends. As if in a hurry to get somewhere.

'Because that's the kind of thing Kanami has in her. So, Dia, Maria, Snow, Reaper and Rainer. Everyone, please.

　I thought the request meant that everyone should scold Kanami for ignoring Nosfi. But the real meaning of the request was--.

　--Please, I want everyone to defeat the last enemy, Aikawa Uzumi, together.

　The other four will be aware of that wish.
　And each of them will have their own interpretation of the situation and will be working independently.
　For example, the Reaper has been keeping an eye on Kanami for a long time, even though he's been touting himself as a 'judge'.
　The other three, Dia, Maria and Snow, are hiding in the confederacy. There are also other knights who have been associated with Rustyala the longest now that Palinclone, Brother Hein and Ragne-san are gone.

''You don't need to worry about the other side. That senior Thera is with me.

　My esteemed knight, Serra Raydant, must be in the Confederacy as well.

　She's not the only one, of course.
　There are many other people in the Confederation who can help us.
　That's why I'm not too worried about the simple aspects of strength.

"--Yes!　Alright, so finalizing the new party, that's it!　It's time to go.... I'm going to destroy this black house. Haven't you left anything in the "Final Festival"?　Minna.

　With a goofy Shea's voice as a signal, the end of the last strategy meeting is announced and we begin to leave the black mud house.
　I wasn't listening seriously, but Fafner-san, Glenn-san and Noir were following behind their leader, who was leading them with a determined look on his face.
　I follow further behind them and mutter in a small voice that no one can hear.

''Let's go. Brother, Hailey-san ......, everyone else too. Together, to the 'deepest'--

　I'm heading to the "End of the Tale Festival" to be held in the United Kingdom.
　I walk out of the tail end of that new party with my mouth hanging loose.

　Looking forward to the ending that awaits at the end of the story, except for me (・・・・).