Even after Zemeckis fell, Currier didn't release his battle stance for a while.
　He finally released his tension and stance after he saw that there was no sign of getting up completely.
　He felt a thud of strength drain out of his entire body.

''Phew.''

　I let out one distracted breath.

　--well.

　It's not over yet.
　I have to meet up with Kurohiko, Cecily and the others.

　I think about the time of the arrival of the knights who brought me the message.
　The castle and the academy will be in almost opposite positions.
　If so, the time when the knights arrived at the academy seems to be similar.
　In other words, by the time the messenger heading to the academy met with Kurohiko, the Holy Tree Knights had already been defeated.
　If that's the case, it's unlikely that Kurohiko went to the north gate.
　He should have at least received information about the Knights' defeat before he arrived.
　Besides, the headmaster is there too.
　This is the situation.
　It's hard to imagine him leaving the headmaster alone and going somewhere else.
　If that's the case, there's a good chance he's still at the school.
　It's possible that Cecily is also worried about Kurohiko and is heading to the school.
　Of course, this is all just speculation.

　--Anyway, let's head to the academy, shall we?

　And I saw the holy swords and demon swords that Rokia had picked up like stakes, driving them into Zemeckis' hands and feet and sewing them to the ground.

''Tch.''

　Currier grabbed the Revelgate again and approached Rokia.

'Tell me if you're still breathing.......move. 'I'll make sure you're finished.'
I'm sorry, but you can do that later, okay?

　If you look closely, he was breathing slightly.
　Really, though, it was a breath that looked like it could disappear at any moment.

'Why?'
Don't worry. I'll do my job. I'll take care of you. I'll make sure you don't get in trouble.

　Rokia bends down and looks at Zemeckis.

'He's a worm's breath anyway.
You're not going to let me live?
No, I'm gonna kill you later. Just a thought I'll have a little idea. I might be able to use this to lure some noise. It would be great if you were to join us.
Are you okay?

　Rokia laughs, "I would have killed you if I wasn't sure.

If I didn't know that for sure, I would have killed you. I'm a bit of a coward. Well, that's okay, I'm not getting soggy.

　Rokia points to her temples.

'Unlike this one, I haven't misjudged the competence of my opponent.
It's about you. You're not a man without a plan. All right, you're in charge.

　Rokia chuckles.

''What ... what?''
That's awfully understanding and creepy, Currier. Maybe you didn't hit the spot where you were hit by the Four Deadly Sins, huh?

　Currier clicked his tongue, chuckling.

'If you give him the occasional compliment, this is it.

　Then, lowering her eyebrows, Currier sighs.
　It makes her feel strangely nostalgic for Kurohiko.
　I'm sure Kurohiko wouldn't make fun of me like this and would either give me respect or consider my wounds.
　It's very different from Rokia.

''Then I'm going to continue on to the school--''

　My knee snapped.

....
Hey, Kukku, take it easy.

　Lokia said as she inspected the sword Zemeckis had driven into his limbs.

'I know how you feel, but you were pretty worn out from that fight earlier, weren't you?
Shut up.
Well, at least you're not dead and that's fine. That's good enough for you, Blackie.
What?

　Rokia sends the holy element into the magic sword.
　The ability of the magic sword stuck in Zemeckis is activated.
　Purple thorns arise from the position of the blade's sting and wrap around Zemeckis' body.

"He'll protect himself, he'll protect himself. I don't know about you, Cecily, but I don't know about you. I'm sure the current version of you will be slowed down even if you go there anyway.

　Currier could not immediately refute this.
　Rokia's words had a point.
　Even if he headed immediately towards it in his current state of exhausted strength, there was a high chance that he would be slowed down.
　The opponent was the opponent, and there was no way I could leave any extra strength.
　If he didn't rest his body a bit, he might not be able to become a force to be reckoned with.

And........if we sink here, that means Sagara Kurohiko is just that kind of guy. But I don't think that man is going to sink easily.
Your relationship with Kurohiko is different from mine.

　Rokia cowers her shoulders.

I won't stop you if you don't want to go. You can do as you please. I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it, but I don't want to die before I find out what the noise is. You have to think about when to stop.

　Rokia looks towards the gates.

'Oh, you're here.'

　More than a dozen students in school uniforms appeared from behind the castle gate.
　Many of them are male students with well-defined faces.
　There are also a couple of girls mixed in with them.
　You can find a familiar face among the boys.

''Isn't that one of yours?
Hmm?　Oh.

　One of the students comes up to Rokia.
　Then, once he bailed to Currier, he spoke to Rokia.

'Are you sure we didn't have to join you?　As you instructed, we've been waiting on the other side of the bridge for a long time until the battle was over, but...
If you guys hadn't died, it would have been for nothing. This time it was the wrong guy. I'll tell you another thing.

　Lokia indicated Gozth's body with his chin.

"Give him a proper burial. It's not surprising that we won, too.

　Lokia watched the corpse of Gozuto as it was being carried away.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can't help but raise the flag for your loyalty, Gozuto. It's an irredeemably stupid bastard.

　Currier didn't miss the fact that Rokia muttered that in a small voice.
　Based on her earlier conversation with her companions, Currier thought.
　Rokia probably didn't allow her companions to participate in the fight against Zemeckis.
　In such a situation, perhaps only Gozuto was forced to follow him.
　Suddenly, Currier recalled the words Hibigami had said about Rokia in the past.

''The root of that guy is probably complete with him alone.''

But not now, right?
Oh?

　Currier spoke to Rokia as they watched Gozuto's body being carried away together.

''Once upon a time, Hibigami said something like you're complete on your own. But now you have a friend. You've changed a little bit, haven't you?
Oh, yeah?

　Rokia starts playing with her throat.

'That's not the way the Hibigami thing works.
I think I know a little something about that. It's the friendships ... the connections you make with people that make a difference.
Maybe...

　Rokia's hand stops playing with his throat, and the smile disappears from his mouth.
　His eyes are on his friends.

"They were, in other words, a bunch of people who had no place to be. You'd be surprised.　There's no place for them to be when they end up in that apocalypse. They're all people who think they are rejected by the world. And yet, for some reason, they're all the same, and they keep coming back to me. And that's why they came to me. It doesn't make any sense. The fool's kingdom has grown to the point where it is known as the three largest organizations and I don't have time to read anything.

　'Hmph,' smiled Currier.

'I knew you had changed, you too.

　It was then.
　Rokia's mouth hung up at the corner of her mouth with a bite.

''Well how about it?''
What?

　Once again, Rokia begins to play with her throat Buddha.

'What you just said ... Teme, you normally believed it, didn't you?
You lied to me, didn't you?
I don't know. But even if you're lying you look at him with a believing look in your eyes. You're not even sure if he's an ally yet, but you believe him. Isn't that right?

　Rokia returns to his usual expression.
　A wicked grin, unique to him, spoils his neat face.

You should be more skeptical of people's words. In your case, it's a trap that people with half a brain tend to fall into. It's only the doubters who, once they're convinced, stubbornly believe it's the truth. But after all, a story is a story, and logic is only logic. That doesn't always mean it's the truth.
...Was that a lie when you told me earlier about your friends?

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out.

I'm not going to be able to tell you what is true. I'm sure you'll be able to find the truth by doubting yourself. Well, in other words--

　Rokia bent her head and snapped her head back.

It's just that you shouldn't trust people who talk too much. And that includes me, of course.

　Currier gasps in disgust.

'Thanks for the advice. I'll keep that in mind.'

　Good grief.
　I thought I had tried to praise him in my own way, but before I knew it, it had turned into the usual incomprehensible lecture on cryptic logic by Rokia.
　It was as if I had been lured into a maze.
　I was reminded of the words of Hibigami again.

The mind of Lokias is as elusive as a haze.

　That's a very accurate assessment, Currier thought to himself.
　It is possible that Rokia's words of advice may have come from a kind heart, depending on how you look at it.
　But with that kind of language, it would be impossible to ask me to take it honestly.
　But that doesn't mean that you can't see any blatant malice in his words.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　And.

Hmm?

　The soldiers of the castle, including Ira, peeking fearfully at us, came into the edge of my vision.

''Kyu, Currier...................We won, right?
Yeah, I'll be fine.

　Here, Currier finally sheathes the Revelgate.
　Ayla's expression shines and she runs over to him.

''Wow ... that's amazing, Currier!　I can't believe we're going to beat the Four Deadly Sins!　Oh, and--

　'Pardon me,' said Ira, bowing to Rokia.

'Thank you so much for helping Currier, oh, thank you.
Yeah, you met her at Cirrus Baths and there's no way to thank her.
I understand!

　Ira raised his voice with determination and nodded.
　Rokia nodded her head curiously.

'Do you understand?　What?
I'll spare you the trouble of looking in the open-air baths.
...Huh?

　Rokia's eyebrows move.

'Peeking, huh?'

　Rokia realizes something.

'Hey Currier ... Teme, no way.'
Come on. I don't know.

　It was funny that Rokia looked unusually frustrated, and Currier couldn't help but blurt out.

''Hmph, I don't know... hmm?''

　He notices that the soldiers and Lokia's companions are all staring at him, cheek to cheek.

　--what?

　If you look at it, Ira also has his eyes like a plate and looks like he's touched by something.

''Currier laughs like that, too?''
What's happening now?
That was a very, very pretty smile.
W--

　As he looked at it, Currier felt his ears getting hotter and hotter.

'Bah, this is ridiculous!　I don't believe it!　d*mn........why is everyone making fun of me like that.......
'What?　I'm not kidding!　Because Currier, he's really cute!
Wow. There's no way I'm cute.

　Yes.
　At best, I get s*xualized looks from men who seem to be bottomless.

'He's cute!　Even from the point of view of the female attaches!

　Ira, for some reason, was angry.
　And it looked like she was really angry.

''Wow, okay I get it. Don't be so angry........I mean, what is Ira angry about?
'Don't think Currier should be a little more aware of how pretty he is!
..........

　Currier, who had been fighting to the death with the Four Deadly Disasters just a few moments ago, was beginning to find it somewhat hard to believe that.

　-- but that doesn't mean the situation has been settled yet, does it?

　There are four of the Four Deadly Disasters.
　There are still three of them left.
　The view of the royal city from the city gates.
　The area around the top of the Great Clock Tower had been destroyed.
　While I was fighting Zemeckis, something seemed to have happened.
　The city was still noisy.

　Currier tried to put his strength into it and clenched his fists tightly
　Next, I lightly take in the holy elements.
　I feel a little bit of strength returning to my body.
　I fly my gaze to the vicinity of the castle gate.
　The horse that was tied to the carriage was gone, as if it had been startled by the battle and escaped, the entire carriage was gone.
　Currier spoke to a nearby soldier.

I'm sorry, I would like to borrow your horse.
Currier?

　Isla looks up at Currier anxiously.

''I'm going to go check on the school for a bit.

　We can't just sit around like this.

Ayla will wait in the castle. I'm sure Rokia will be here for a while, so it will be safe here.
All right. If Currier says so.
Thank you.

　Although the upper half of his body was blown off by the explosive technique, Rokia is also wearing the school's uniform, and most importantly, it's hard to imagine that the soldiers would dare to confirm Rokia's identity now that the royal capital is in a hurry.
　Besides, a soldier who had seen the battle would at least be unlikely to judge Rokia as an enemy.
　I'm not sure if they overheard the conversation about the 6th house, but perhaps because of the intensity of the battle that took place, no one seems to be bothered by that comment at the moment.
　After a while, a soldier arrived with his horse ready.

I'm not going to listen to them, even if I were to stop them.

　As he looked at the horses, Rokia spoke to him.

'You know exactly what I mean,'
I think it's a frightening thing, being madly in love with a man. It's a kind of persuasion that doesn't make any sense.
Can I ask you one question?

　The subject of Cirrus Baths came out of Ira's mouth, which reminded me.

'How did you come into contact with Cecily at the Cirrus Baths?'

　In fact, I've been meaning to ask him for a long time when I had the chance.
　As it turned out, it worked out well, but why did Rokia tell Cecily about herself at that time?

''I thought it might help stabilize the relationship between you guys.
Stable?
But I'm just raising the odds. And with Kurohiko, there's no telling how she'll react. I'm just glad it all worked out in the end.
What's that for?　I'm talking about you, though I'm sure you have an agenda.
You've been buying a lot of stuff from me, haven't you?　What is it?　Are you starting to reevaluate your opinion of me?
..........
All right, all right. Don't give me that look. The only reason I intervened in your relationship was to move the noise around.
"Noise?
That guy wants Currier Versteen to be 'dramatic' all the time.

　You want it to be dramatic, right?
　I think I've heard something like that before.

But ever since you stabilized your relationship with Kurohiko, you've lost most of your facade. It's a wonderful period of stability. It's a wonderful period of stability. If that happens, that guy will surely make his next move in the near future. I've made that decision. Noise, you living in peace is pretty boring.
Why ... why is the noise so obsessed with me?
You must really like her, don't you? I think you're the perfect choice for the kind of play he wants to play.

　The noise is still hard to understand.
　If you're looking for someone bizarre, someone from the other six houses would be more appropriate.

　--but now we have to do something about the four evil plagues.

　Currier interrupted his thoughts about the noise and straddled his horse.

'By the way, Rokia,'
Hmm?
You didn't really mean it was a favor to you to keep me here earlier, did you?
I don't see any reason to be nice to a peeping tom who makes you look like a voyeur.
'I see. It's just ... I'm really, really grateful for this one.
I'll accept the thanks, but I don't want to owe you anything. I don't want to owe you a favor and I don't want to owe you anything, either, for the rest of my life.

　Currier sniffed, smiling.

'Humph.'

　After moving his horse forward a bit, Currier turned to Rokia.

'About Isla can I leave it to you?'
I'll keep you out of harm's way for as long as I can.
Thank God.
In exchange for that, you'll help me with that plan I mentioned earlier to lure out the noise, okay?
All right, all right, all right.

　Currier was then seen off by Ira and the others and ran out of the city gates.
　He descended the hill and entered the streets of the city, which were devoid of life.
　As I drive my horse, I catch a view of the school I can see through the gaps in the buildings.

　-- Be safe and stay safe.

　While praying, Currier increased the speed of his horse.